Another excuse to eat chocolate:
A team of researchers from universities in Melbourne, Australia, studied the effects of daily dark chocolate consumption in 2,013 individuals at high risk of heart disease over a decade, their findings are that Dark variety can help heart-risk patients and cut diabetes!
We are pretty excited its FRIDAY! #smile!
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is exactly what its name suggests. The substance is a by-product of blood (plasma) that is rich in platelets. Until now, its use has been confined to the hospital setting. This was due mainly to the cost of separating the platelets from the blood (thousands) and the large amount of blood needed (one unit) to produce a suitable quantity of platelets. New technology permits the doctor to harvest and produce a sufficient quantity of platelets from only 55 cc of blood drawn from the patient while they are having outpatient surgery.
PRP permits the body to take advantage of the normal healing pathways at a greatly accelerated rate. During the healing process, the body rushes many cells and cell-types to the wound in order to initiate the healing process. One of those cell types is platelets. Platelets perform many functions, including formation of a blood clot and release of growth factors (GF) into the wound. These GF (platelet derived growth factors PGDF, transforming growth factor beta TGF, and insulin-like growth factor ILGF) function to assist the body in repairing itself by stimulating stem cells to regenerate new tissue. The more growth factors released sequestered into the wound, the more stem cells stimulated to produce new host tissue. Thus, one can easily see that PRP permits the body to heal faster and more efficiently.
A subfamily of TGF, is bone morphogenic protein (BMP). BMP has been shown to induce the formation of new bone in research studies in animals and humans. This is of great significance to the surgeon who places dental implants. By adding PRP, and thus BMP, to the implant site with bone substitute particles, the implant surgeon can now grow bone more predictably and faster than ever before.
Safety: PRP is a by-product of the patient’s own blood, therefore, disease transmission is not an issue.
Convenience: PRP can be generated in the doctor’s office while the patient is undergoing an outpatient surgical procedure, such as placement of dental implants.
Faster healing: The supersaturation of the wound with PRP, and thus growth factors, produces an increase of tissue synthesis and thus faster tissue regeneration.
Cost effectiveness: Since PRP harvesting is done with only 55 cc of blood in the doctor’s office, the patient need not incur the expense of the harvesting procedure in hospital or at the blood bank.
Ease of use: PRP is easy to handle and actually improves the ease of application of bone substitute materials and bone grafting products by making them more gel-like.
Is PRP safe? Yes. During the outpatient surgical procedure a small amount of your own blood is drawn out via the IV. This blood is then placed in the PRP centrifuge machine and spun down. In less than fifteen minutes, the PRP is formed and ready to use.
Should PRP be used in all bone-grafting cases? Not always. In some cases, there is no need for PRP. However, in the majority of cases, application of PRP to the graft will increase the final amount of bone present in addition to making the wound heal faster and more efficiently.
Will my insurance cover the costs? Unfortunately not. The cost of the PRP application (approximately $400) is paid by the patient.
Can PRP be used alone to stimulate bone formation? No. PRP must be mixed with either the patient’s own bone, a bone substitute material such as demineralized freeze-dried bone, or a synthetic bone product, such as BIO-OSS.
Are there any contraindications to PRP? Very few. Obviously, patients with bleeding disorders or hematologic diseases do not qualify for this in-office procedure. Check with your surgeon and/or primary care physician to determine if PRP is right for you.
Dentists have issued a warning about popular fruit drinks and smoothies after it emerged some can be as acidic as vinegar.
Fruity drinks are commonly given to children by well-meaning parents to ensure they get their ‘five a day’.
But an investigation found many contained a high acid level which can erode tooth enamel.
Hidden danger: While parents mean well giving children seemingly healthy fruit drinks, they can contain acid levels which are damaging to teeth, warn dentists
The warning came as official figures revealed dental problems were the third most common reason for child hospital admissions last year.
A This Water drink with lemons and limes had a pH level of 2.7 – more acidic than vinegar, at 2.9.
This is at the upper end of the acidity scale in which 7 is neutral and 1 is extremely high.
Tooth enamel begins to be destroyed higher than level 5.5 on the scale.
Other drinks tested – including Tropicana orange juice, Copella apple juice and Innocent smoothies – all had acid levels ranging between 3.3 and 3.8. The most acidic was Coca-Cola, with a pH level of 2.5.
Dr Kathy Harley, dean of the dental faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons, said many parents are unaware that the combination of high acid and sugar can destroy young teeth.
Once-a-week treat: Dentists warn it is better for children to eat fruit with their meals or to have cheese or other alkaline food to combat the effects of acidic drinks
She warned last year that 50 per cent of five-year-olds have signs of damage to their tooth enamel caused by excess acid in their diet.
Manufacturers are not required to publish the acid levels in drinks.
Department of Health figures show dental problems were the third most common reason for children to be admitted to hospital in England in 2011-12 – beaten only by viral infections and disorders related to premature birth.
Government advice states that everyone should have five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, with 150ml of fruit juice counting as one portion.
Dr Harley said it would be better if children met the target by eating fruit with meals and for juice to be a ‘once a week treat’.
Dentists also advise drinking water after having juice to wash away some of the acid.
This Water said its products were ‘not meant for children’, adding: ‘The recipe in question is made with fresh lemon and lime juice so it is going to have a natural acidity.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2147329/Fruit-drinks-acidic-vinegar-rot-away-teeth-enamel-dentists-say.html#ixzz1vX61qwfn
These are some great teeth! #funny
(Source: ocdentaltimes)
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to your complex jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a “clicking” sound, you’ll be glad to know that these problems are more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles (muscles of mastication) do not work together correctly. TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.
No one treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely and treatment takes time to become effective. Dr. Polyakov can help you have a healthier and more comfortable jaw.
TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the “cushion” of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth or trouble opening your mouth wide.
The more times you answered “yes,” the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.
There are various treatment options that Dr. Polyakov can utilize to improve the harmony and function of your jaw. Once an evaluation confirms a diagnosis of TMJ disorder, Dr. Polyakov will determine the proper course of treatment. It is important to note that treatment always works best with a team approach of self-care joined with professional care.
The initial goals are to relieve the muscle spasm and joint pain. This is usually accomplished with a pain reliever, anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant. Steroids can be injected directly into the joints to reduce pain and inflammation. Self-care treatments can often be effective as well and include:
Stress management techniques such as biofeedback or physical therapy may also be recommended, as well as a temporary, clear plastic appliance known as a splint. A splint or nightguard fits over your top or bottom teeth and helps keep your teeth apart, thereby relaxing the muscles and reducing pain. There are different types of appliances used for different purposes. A nightguard helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension at night and helps to protect the cartilage and joint surfaces. An anterior positioning appliance moves your jaw forward, relives pressure on parts of your jaw and aids in disk repositioning. It may be worn 24 hours/day to help your jaw heal. An orthotic stabilization appliance is worn 24 or just at night to move your jaw into proper position. Appliances also help to protect from tooth wear.
If your TMJ disorder has caused problems with how your teeth fit together, you may need treatment such as bite adjustment (equilibration), orthodontics with or without jaw reconstruction, or restorative dental work. Surgical options such as arthroscopy and open joint repair restructuring are sometimes needed but are reserved for severe cases. Dr. Polyakov does not consider TMJ surgery unless the jaw can’t open, is dislocated and nonreducible, has severe degeneration, or the patient has undergone appliance treatment unsuccessfully.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful Mothers out there! We wouldn’t be here without you!
From The Ladies at the Front Of our Office…Happy Mother’s Day!
To the woman who was there for my very first #SMILE! Happy Mother’s Day!
Caffeinated drinks may give a temporary boost but play havoc with your teeth Teenagers’ love of energy drinks is taking a terrible toll on their teeth, scientists have warned. A study published in the Academy of General Dentistry charted an alarming increase in the consumption of both energy and sports drinks among young adults in the U.S. who use them to help get through the day. But they said the habit is causing irreversible damage to teeth as the high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the glossy outer layer of the tooth In some cases it can take as little as five days for the eroding effect to begin. ‘Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda,’ said lead author Dr Poonam Jain, from Southern Illinois University. ‘Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.’
Researchers examined the acidity levels in 13 sports drinks and nine energy drinks. They found that the acidity levels can vary between brands of beverages and flavors of the same brand. More… Mother who had surgery to correct her ‘S’ shaped spine must now watch her daughter, 13, go through the same ordeal To test the effect of the acidity levels, the researchers immersed samples of human tooth enamel in each beverage for 15 minutes, followed by immersion in artificial saliva for two hours. This cycle was repeated four times a day for five days, and the samples were stored in fresh artificial saliva at all other times. ‘This type of testing simulates the same exposure that a large proportion of American teens and young adults are subjecting their teeth to on a regular basis when they drink one of these beverages every few hours,’ said Dr Jain. Sweet-tooth: A can of Monster Energy contains 54g of sugar while a can of Red Bull contains 27g of sugar. They were two of the nine energy drinks tested in the study. The American Heart Association recommends having no more than 30g of sugar a day The researchers found that damage to enamel was evident after only five days of exposure to sports or energy drinks, although energy drinks showed a significantly greater potential to damage teeth than sports drinks. In fact, the authors found that energy drinks caused twice as much damage to teeth as sports drinks. With a reported 30 to 50 per cent of U.S. teens consuming energy drinks, and as many as 62 per cent drinking at least one sports drink per day, it is important to educate parents and young adults about the downside of these drinks.
THE ENERGY DRINKS TESTED IN THE STUDY
Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, MDX, Full Throttle Fury, Rip It, Red Bull Sugar Free, Monster Assault, Von Dutch, Rockstar
Damage caused to tooth enamel is irreversible, and without the protection of enamel, teeth become overly sensitive, prone to cavities, and more likely to decay. ‘Teens regularly come into my office with these types of symptoms, but they don’t know why,’ said Academy of General Dentistry spokesman Jennifer Bone. ‘We review their diet and snacking habits and then we discuss their consumption of these beverages. They don’t realize that something as seemingly harmless as a sports or energy drink can do a lot of damage to their teeth.’ Dr Bone recommends that her patients minimise their intake of sports and energy drinks. She also advises them to chew sugar-free gum or rinse the mouth with water following consumption of the drinks. ‘Both tactics increase saliva flow, which naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal,’ she says. Also, patients should wait at least an hour to brush their teeth after consuming sports and energy drinks. Otherwise, says Dr Bone, they will be spreading acid onto the tooth surfaces, increasing the erosive action.
