Discolored Teeth

Many different factors can cause discolored teeth.  The change in color may affect the entire tooth, or just appear as spots or lines in the tooth enamel.  Your genes influence your tooth color. Other factors that can affect tooth color include:

• Congenital diseases
• Environmental factors
• Infections

Inherited diseases may affect the thickness of enamel or the calcium or protein content of the enamel, which can cause color changes. Metabolic diseases may cause changes in tooth color and shape.
Drugs and medications either taken by the mother while pregnant or by the child during the time of tooth development can cause changes in both the color and hardness of the enamel. Common causes of discolored teeth are:

• Antibiotic tetracycline use before age 8
• Eating or drinking items that temporarily stain the teeth, such as tea or coffee
• Genetic defects that affect the tooth enamel, such as dentinogenesis and amelogenesis
• High fever at an age when teeth are forming
• Poor oral hygiene
• Porphyria
• Severe neonatal jaundice
• Too much fluoride from environmental sources (natural high water fluoride levels) or overuse of fluoride rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements

If you have discolored teeth or are unhappy with your smile, contact Scottsdale dentist Dr. James B. Miller at (480) 451-5435.  Dr. Miller can evaluate the discoloration, determine the cause and offer treatment options.

CEREC Crowns - Dr. James Miller, Scottsdale, AZ

CEREC Crowns.  Most dental restorative methods require more than one visit to the dentist. This means that on the first visit, you get an injection of anesthesia, your tooth prepared, an impression taken, and a temporary restoration put on your tooth. You make a second appointment for a couple of weeks later, get another injection, have the temporary pried off, and have a permanent restoration put on. Why go to the dentist a second time when you don't have to? With CEREC, the procedure is done in a single appointment, start to finish. Call our office to learn more and to schedule an appointment. 

BEFORE CEREC

AFTER CEREC

ZOOM! Teeth Whitening Promotion for the Holidays!

Give the gift of a whiter smile this holiday season!  ZOOM! Whitening $250.00!!  

Gift Certificates are available. Contact our office and we can have your gift certificate ready for pick-up or mailed for you!  (480) 451-5435

Happy Holidays from the dental practice of Dr. James B. Miller!

*Promotion through December 31st, 2013*

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)



 

Dry Mouth, or Xerostomia, is a condition in which your body produces less saliva and can be caused by a variety of reasons:   side effect of certain medications, diseases or infections, certain medical treatments (such as radiation) and dehydration.  Dry mouth can increase a person's risk of developing gingivitis, gum disease, tooth decay and mouth infections such as thrush.  If you are experiencing dry mouth, be sure to talk with Dr. James B. Miller at your next dental visit or schedule an appointment to discuss your possible treatment options. 

 

James B. Miller, D.M.D.

9821 N. 95th Street, Suite 110

Scottsdale, AZ  85258

Office: (480) 451-5435 

Website: www.DrJamesMiller.com

Dr. James Miller is Offering a Special $250.00 Zoom! Whitening Promo for the Holidays! (thru 12/31/13)

The Psychological Issues of Poor Dental Care

Having bad teeth can bring with it a lot of psychological issues, such as insecurities and lack of self esteem. Can repairing your teeth improve your mental health as well? The answer seems to be a resounding “yes.”

Your Mouth and Your Body

For years, medical professionals have warned that poor dental health can affect your overall physical health. They have established links between poorly-maintained teeth and heart problems, as bacteria from your mouth can slip into your bloodstream. They have also uncovered links between gum disease and pregnancy complications, like premature birth. Immune system disorders are another common concern for people with oral health problems.

Researchers have even started to explore how poor dental health can affect the brain. The Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York discovered that there may be a link between bad teeth and cognition ailments. In their study, elderly people who suffered from gum disease performed worse on memory tests than those without gum trouble. That same group also struggled more than the rest with subtraction tests.

Your Mouth and Your Mind

Beyond physical problems, having bad teeth can cause psychological issues. After all, your mouth is usually a point of focus when socializing, whether you are talking, flashing a smile, or twisting a scowl. Given the mouth’s importance, it makes sense why feeling self-conscious about your teeth can be especially damaging. Here are some ways bad teeth can trigger psychological issues.

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• Anxiety, Especially when Socializing:

If you’re self conscious about one of your most important communication tools, it can ravage your ability to socialize comfortably. People who think they have bad teeth may want to avoid doing anything to expose them, which can start an unhealthy cycle of self-monitoring and criticism. It impedes a person’s ability to speak clearly, and it eliminates one of the most effective nonverbal ways to strike up rapport: cracking a genuine smile.

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• Low Self-Esteem:

Confidence stems from feeling good about yourself. If you are always worried about your teeth, it is difficult to feel confident, and that can seriously strip away at your self esteem. Having bad teeth can also trigger self esteem issues that extend beyond how others think; in some cases, people begin to feel guilty about the state of their teeth, engaging in a lot of self criticism about their ineffective oral hygiene habits, which can exacerbate issues about self image.

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• Depression:

Anxiety, poor social experiences, low self esteem, and guilt are a recipe for depression. Not only can they all contribute to isolation, which comes with its own share of problems, but they establish a psychological state that is both self-loathing and reluctant to engage with the world. While not everyone will experience all those symptoms, those who do could sink into deep depression unless they get help.

Studies from different countries in Europe suggest that poor dental care and psychological issues can develop into a vicious cycle. Those with high self esteem tend to take better care of their teeth, and the resulting bright smiles contribute right back to the high self esteem they hold. On the other hand, people with low self esteem tend to brush less often, and then the poor state of their teeth can make them feel even worse.

That means it is important to get serious about dental care. Not only does commitment to oral hygiene contribute to better physical health, it seems to significantly influence mental health, too.

publichealthbugle.com

Tooth Anatomy

What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?

Crown— The top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.

Gumline— Where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.

Root— The part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.

Enamel— The outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body — yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.

Dentin— The layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin — where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.

Pulp— The soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

What Are the Different Types of Teeth?

Every tooth has a specific job or function (use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

Incisors— The sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.

Canines— Sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.

Premolars— These teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.

Molars— Used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface.

Bacteria in Mouth May Cause Colon Cancer

A kind of bacteria commonly found in the mouth, which is often the culprit in gum disease, also spurs the formation of tumors in colon cancer.

Scientists had previously found that the level of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the gut was higher among people with colon cancer. That was noteworthy because fusobacteria aren’t one of the usual strains found in the healthy gut.
However up to now it hasn’t been clear whether the foreign bacteria caused tissue to turn cancerous or whether the bacteria was a result of the cancer. Now, researchers report that the bacteria in fact stimulates tumors, and they identify the molecule responsible for the bug’s harmful effects.

A Common Cancer
Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide each year. By figuring out how fusobacteria spur cancerous tumors, scientists can work toward therapies that may inhibit the bacterium’s activity and possibly eradicate it altogether from colon tissue.  Previous studies have focused on a subset of colon cancer that is caused by inflammatory bowel disease, or conditions linked to inflammation of the colon and small intestines. The teams publishing studies today focused instead on a bacterium that drives cancerous tumors but isn’t related to apparent intestinal inflammation.

Colon Cancer and Bacteria
In the first research paper, a team from Harvard and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that fusobacteria are prevalent in colon adenomas, essentially early-stage benign tumors that over time can turn malignant. Working with mice that were known to develop intestinal tumors, the team was able to accelerate early tumor formation by feeding them fusobacteria.  Researchers also fed them three other bacteria strains, such as Streptococcus, that are known to be associated with colon cancer. Tumors formed at a higher rate in mice fed with fusobacteria versus those who got Streptococcus.  Unlike the other bacteria, fusobacteria were stealthy and worked at the micro-inflammation level—the Harvard team saw no large-scale intestinal inflammation.

Molecular Culprit
A second research team from Case Western Reserve University found the specific molecule that allows such stealthy invasion: a molecule called FadA. Gene expression levels of FadA were 10 to 100 times higher in colon tissues from patients with adenomas and cancerous tumors when compared with healthy participants.  Researchers also determined how FadA worked its dangerous magic: by blocking the expression of a gene that inhibits tumor growth. Both studies are published today in Cell Host & Microbe.  “We showed that FadA is a marker that can be used for the early diagnosis of colon cancer and identified potential therapeutic targets to treat or prevent this common and debilitating disease,” says Yiping Han of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.

discovermagazine.com

Implant Supported Dentures

An implant-supported denture is a type of "overdenture" that is supported by and attached to implants. A regular denture rests on the gums, and is not supported by implants.

An implant-supported denture is used when a person doesn't have any teeth in the jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants. An implant-supported denture has special attachments that snap onto attachments on the implants.

Implant-supported dentures usually are made for the lower jaw because regular dentures tend to be less stable there. Usually, a regular denture made to fit an upper jaw is quite stable on its own and doesn't need the extra support offered by implants. However, you can receive an implant-supported denture in either the upper or lower jaw.

You should remove an implant-supported denture daily to clean the denture and gum area. Just as with regular dentures, you should not sleep with the implant-supported dentures at night. Some people prefer to have fixed (permanent) crown and bridgework in their mouths that can't be removed. Your dentist will consider your particular needs and preferences when suggesting fixed or removable options.

How Does It Work?

There are two types of implant-supported dentures: bar-retained and ball-retained. In both cases, the denture will be made of an acrylic base that will look like gums.  Porcelain or acrylic teeth that look like natural teeth are attached to the base. Both types of dentures need at least two implants for support.

• Bar-retained dentures — A thin metal bar that follows the curve of your jaw is attached to two to five implants that have been placed in your jawbone. Clips or other types of attachments are fitted to the bar, the denture or both. The denture fits over the bar and is securely clipped into place by the attachments. 

• Ball-retained dentures (stud-attachment dentures) — Each implant in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture. In most cases, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped ("male" attachments), and they fit into sockets ("female" attachments) on the denture. In some cases, the denture holds the male attachments and the implants hold the female ones.

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Chewing Gum Improves Concentration

Chewing a piece of sugarless gum after lunch can not only help you protect your dental health, but also help focus to avoid that afternoon slump in productivity, according to researchers at Cardiff University in Wales.

 

The study, published in the British Journal of Psychology, evaluated the concentration of 38 participants who were given a short-term audio memory test.  Half the participants were instructed to chew gum during the 30-minute test. All of them listened to a list of numbers from 1-9 being read in random order and were scored on how accurately and quickly they were able to detect a sequence of odd-even-odd numbers. Participants also completed questionnaires on their mood before and after the test.  Researchers found that participants who chewed gum had quicker reaction times and more accurate results, especially during the later part of the test.  “It’s been well established by previous research that chewing gum can benefit some areas of cognition,” said Kate Morgan, the study’s lead author.” In our study we focused on an audio task that involved short-term memory recall to see if chewing gum would improve concentration; especially in the latter stages of the task.Interestingly, participants who didn’t chew gum performed slightly better at the beginning of the task but were overtaken by the end. This suggests that chewing gum helps us focus on tasks that require continuous monitoring over a longer amount of time.”

 

According to MouthHealthy.org, the ADA’s consumer website,clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

Chewing sugarless gum increases the flow of saliva, which washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel.

 

Only sugarless gums have the ADA Seal, and are sweetened by non-cavity causing sweeteners such as aspartame, xylitol, sorbitol or mannitol. Of course, chewing sugar-containing gum increases saliva flow too, but it also contains sugar, which is used by plaque bacteria to produce decay-causing acids. Further research needs to be done to determine the effects of chewing sugar-containing gum on tooth decay.

 

Don’t let chewing sugarless gum replace brushing and flossing. It’s not a substitute. The ADA still recommends brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning plaque from between your teeth once a day with dental floss or other interdental cleaners.

Look for chewing gum that carries the ADA Seal. The ADA Seal is your assurance that the sugar-free chewing gum has met the ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness. You can trust that claims made on packaging and labeling for ADA-accepted products are true, because companies must verify all of the information to the ADA.

 

*Visit MouthHealthy.org to see and compare a list of sugar-free chewing gums that have the ADA Seal.*

TYPES OF GUM DISEASE

Untreated periodontal disease can eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

GINGIVITIS

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Factors that may contribute to gingivitis include, diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.

PERIODONTITIS

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.

• Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
• Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.
• Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.
• Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.

perio.org

Should you suck on a pacifier before giving it to your baby?

A new study in Pediatrics, journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, reports that parents sucking their infant’s pacifier may reduce the risk of allergy development.

The ADA wants parents to be aware that licking a pacifier can transfer the cavity-causing bacteria from parents to children—increasing the possibility of tooth decay as they grow.

"A child's teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they begin to erupt," said Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist in Maine and a pediatric dental spokesperson for the ADA. "Cavity-causing bacteria, especially Streptococcus mutans, can be transferred from adult saliva to children, increasing their risk of getting cavities."

Sharing eating utensils with a baby, or the parent sucking on a pacifier to clean it, can also increase the likelihood of transmitting decay-causing bacteria.

The ADA recommends that parents protect the dental health of young children by promoting a healthy diet, monitoring their intake of food and drink, brushing their teeth or wiping gums after mealtimes, and by having infants finish their bedtime or naptime bottle before going to bed. The ADA recommends that children receive their first dental visit within six months of eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age.

May 2013 - ADA.org

CAN CHILDREN BE AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING PERIODONTAL DISEASE?

 Periodontal disease is rarely found in children, and only sometimes found in adolescents. However, children should still learn the importance of keeping their teeth and gums healthy to prevent periodontal disease in the future. Children should brush their teeth twice a day and learn how to floss properly- if children learn how to floss at an early age, they will be more likely to make it a lifetime habit. These two simple acts will help protect their teeth and gums from periodontal disease.

 As a parent, you should also be aware of the warning signs of periodontal disease, which include red, swollen, bleeding gums or bad breath that won’t go away. If your child develops any of these symptoms, tell your dental professional right away. It’s also a good idea to ensure your dental professional knows your complete family history, as genetics can play an important role in the early development of periodontal disease. 

 perio.org