Invsalign Scottsdale

 

Barely There Braces, how Invisalign Scottsdale can Help Your Smile

On average, six out of ten people have had or are in need of braces. Braces are used to help straighten teeth in the mouth. Traditional braces can be painful, unsightly, and take a long time to fix your teeth. They can also make it harder to brush and floss, increasing the risk of cavities. Invisalign braces are a fairly new practice and are quickly gaining popularity because of how they look.

Invisalign Scottsdale can help you to feel better about your smile while efficiently straightening your teeth.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign Scottsdale is a type of brace. They are clear, hard plastic moldings, known as aligners, that fit around your teeth, similar to how a mouth guard would. Because of the clear aligners, the braces are barely noticeable to the extent that people may not even realize you are wearing them. Unlike regular braces, these can be removed for eating sticky or crunchy foods and brushing and flossing. In addition, Invisalign can also straighten your teeth in a fraction of the time that traditional braces can.

What should I expect when getting Invisalign?

Invisalign will be created specifically for your mouth to fix your problem areas. You will be prescribed aligners that you will wear for two weeks at a time. After the two weeks, you will take out the old aligners and replace them with new ones. Each set of aligners is designed a little differently to adapt to your slowly shifting teeth. Unlike, traditional braces, Invislaign Scottsdale is non intrusive and painless for the patient.

My Scottsdale Dentist is committed to helping you perfect your smile. For more information on Invisalign, contact us.

Post Date: May 30, 2014

Foods For Healthier Teeth: 7 Things To Eat Right Now

We all know the basics of good oral care: brush in the morning and evening, floss each day and visit the dentist twice per year. But there are smaller, incremental steps we can take to guarantee good health, including the food we eat each day. Nutrition is important for every cell in our bodies -- and that naturally extends to teeth and gums. In particular, food choices feed the mouth's live-in nemesis: plaque-causing bacteria, according to an explainer from the Yale School of Medicine. They wrote: When you drink and munch starchy or sugary foods, you're not only feeding yourself, you're feeding the plaque that can cause havoc in your mouth ... When sugars or starches in your mouth come in contact with plaque, the acids that result can attack teeth for 20 minutes or more after you finish eating. Repeated attacks can break down the hard enamel on the surface of teeth, leading to tooth decay. Plaque also produces toxins that attack the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Avoid any food that combines sugar, acid and stickiness, adds Miriam R. Robbins DDS, Associate Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxiofacial Pathology, Radiology and Medicine at the New York University College of Dentistry. Enemy #1 in her opinion? Sour, chewy candies like Starburst and Skittles. As for brushing away the bad food, Robbins recommends caution: brushing too soon after a highly acidic or sugary meal can actually cause additional damage to teeth, the enamel of which is softened immediately following contact with "bad" food. She recommends waiting at least 20 to 40 minutes before whipping out a toothbrush. But if starch, acid and sugar (along with overenthusiastic brushing!) are tooth killers, what can we provide in place of them? Overall, look for items that stimulate saliva production, which has a neutralizing effect on acid. That's because saliva naturally contains bicarbonate, which neutralizes acid, as well as calcium and phosphate which help to "re-mineralize" the tooth's surface, according Mark S. Wolff DDS, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, also at the NYU College of Dentistry. Other acid neutralizers, like those found in dairy can also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Click here to see the list of 7 foods Below, seven foods that have been shown to help in the research or clinical practice:
Post Date: May 26, 2014

10 Celebs Who Refuse To ‘Fix’ Their Teeth

The Huffington Post
Catherine Pearson

It's sad to say, but we're in an era in Tinseltown when keeping your original teeth makes you, well, original. These days every photo you see from La La land is of another celeb flashing a set of perfectly bleached, perfectly straight (and even fake) chompers.

Of course, there's a reason why orthodontia exists, and it is hardly all about vanity. Fixing teeth and bites that really need it can help prevent tooth problems down the road and even assist with proper jaw growth.

But sometimes -- too many times, we'd say -- it's a reluctance to accept that teeth and smiles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and that imperfections are often what make them beautiful.

Here, we've rounded-up 10 celebs who have embraced their natural smiles. We applaud them, and say it's time for all of us to take back our teeth!

Click here to read more

Post Date: May 26, 2014

How is Deep Cleaning in Scottsdale Different from Regular Teeth Cleaning?

How is Deep Cleaning in Scottsdale Different From Regular Teeth Cleaning?

If you have regularly scheduled teeth cleaning performed to maintain your best dental health, you may still be told you need a special, deep cleaning in Scottsdale. The need for deep teeth cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, may be especially important for those who do not have regular teeth cleanings, or who have a pre-disposition for periodontal disease.

Deep cleaning goes between the teeth and gums to clean down to the roots, and is an effective treatment for gum disease. What is the difference between regular teeth cleaning and deep cleaning, and when is it needed?

 Regular Teeth Cleaning

Plaque is a clear, sticky film that builds up on teeth and contains bacteria. Most of this film is removed by brushing, but the toothbrush cannot get to all the plaque along the gum line. Plaque that is not removed eventually hardens and becomes tartar, also called calculus.

During a regular cleaning visit, the hygienist removes plaque, tartar and other debris from above and below the gum line. The outer surfaces of the teeth are polished help reduce future plaque buildup. The depths of gum pockets are also checked because these measurements help to show the health of the gums, and indicates whether deep cleaning may be needed.

 Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)

Generally, deep gum pockets of around 5mm or greater in depth are a sign bacteria under the gums have developed to unhealthy levels. This leads to periodontitis, bone loss, and ultimately the loss of teeth. Scaling and root planing are used to correct this problem, and is often the first step in treating periodontal disease.

  •  Scaling is a special procedure to remove plaque, tartar (or calculus), and toxins from deep below the gum line.
  •  Root Planing is the smoothing of rough surfaces on the roots of the teeth, and the removal of any root structure that is infected.

After deep cleaning has been performed and gum tissue starts to heal, gum pockets should begin to shrink. You may feel some discomfort during the healing process. Your teeth may be sensitive to temperatures, and you may experience some bleeding for a while. Special medicated mouth rinses, medications and an electric toothbrush may be recommended to help healing.

If the gum pockets do not shrink and heal after deep cleaning, periodontal surgery by Dr. Steven Poulos or Dr. Sid Stevens may be necessary to reduce pocket depth and make teeth cleaning easier.

Contact us at My Scottsdale Dentist to schedule an appointment to protect the health of your teeth.

Post Date: May 22, 2014

Dental Health and Overall Health

Dental Health and Overall Health

Healthy mouth, healthy body: The link between them may surprise you.

By Kate Lowenstein

The condition of your mouth is closely tied to your overall health. Find out how oral health is linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more.

Taking care of your teeth isn't just about having a nice smile and pleasant breath. Recent research has found a number of links between oral health and overall health. While in many cases, the nature of this link still isn't clear researchers have yet to conclude whether the connections are causal or correlative what is certain is that the condition of your mouth is closely tied to your overall physical health.

Oral Health and Diabetes

Doctors have known for years that type 2 diabetics have an increased incidence of periodontitis, or gum disease. In July 2008 the connection was further highlighted: Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health followed 9,296 nondiabetic participants, measuring their level of periodontic bacteria over the course of 20 years. "We found that people who had higher levels of periodontal disease had a twofold risk of developing type 2 diabetes over that time period compared to people with low levels or no gum disease," explains Ryan Demmer, PhD, associate researcher at the department of epidemiology at the Mailman School and the lead author. While more research is needed before doctors can conclude that gum disease actually leads to diabetes, there are already a few theories about why this might be the case: One proposes that when infections in your mouth get bad enough, they can lead to low-grade inflammation throughout your body, which in turn wreaks havoc on your sugar-processing abilities. "There are all kinds of inflammatory molecules," says Dr. Demmer, "and it's believed that maybe some attach to insulin receptors and prevent the body's cells from using the insulin to get glucose into the cell."

 

Oral Health and Heart Disease

As with diabetes, the connection between poor oral health and cardiovascular conditions has been recognized the two are often found together but it still hasn't been determined conclusively whether or not there is a direct causal relationship between them. (One reason is that there are a number of other potential risk factors such as smoking and old age that can lead both to gum disease and heart disease.) However, in a 2005 study funded by the NIH, 1,056 randomly selected participants with no prior heart attacks or strokes were evaluated for levels of periodontal bacteria: After removing the effects of the other risk factors of age, gender, and smoking, it was found that there was an independent relationship between gum disease and heart disease, says Moise Desvarieux, MD, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School and lead author of the study. One theory about why this may occur, says Dr. Desvarieux, is that small amounts of bacteria enter your bloodstream while you're chewing. "Bad" bacteria from an infected mouth may lodge itself inside blood vessels, ultimately causing dangerous blockages. Strengthening his theory is the fact that when scientists have looked at atherosclerotic blood vessels, they have sometimes found fragments of periodontal bacteria. Meanwhile, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 established that aggressive treatment of gum disease reduces the incidence of atherosclerosis within six months.

 

Pregnancy Complications and Gum Disease

For many pregnant women, gum infections stem from the fluctuating hormone levels that come with pregnancy, says Marsha Rubin, DDS, practicing diplomat of special-care dentistry at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, who sees many pregnant patients in her practice. Others neglect their oral care during pregnancy, since they have much on their minds, she adds. But that's a mistake: Scientists believe that gum disease or inflammation in the mouth possibly triggers an increase in a chemical compound called prostaglandin, which induces early labor. While this theory has not yet been confirmed, a 2001 study found that pregnant women who develop gum disease between weeks 21 and 24 are four to seven times more likely to give birth before week 37. There is evidence that poor gum health in the extreme can lead to low birth weight as well. A number of studies including a 2007 study of 3,567 Turkish women and a 2007 study of 1,305 Brazilian women found a relationship between periodontal disease, preterm birth, and low birth weight.

 

Pneumonia and Gum Disease

There has been a link established between poor oral health and pneumonia, though much of the research focuses on high-risk populations. A 2008 study of elderly participants found that the number who developed pneumonia was 3.9 times higher in patients with periodontal infection than in those free from it. "The lungs are very close to the mouth," says Rubin. "Even in a healthy mouth there is lots of bacteria, but bacteria in a not-healthy mouth can get aspirated into the lungs, causing pneumonia or aggravating COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder." Several intervention studies cited by the CDC show that an improvement in oral health can lead to a reduction in respiratory infection.

 

Pancreatic Cancer and Gum Disease

A study published in 2007 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute surveyed 51,529 American men about their health every two years between 1986 and 2002. Of the 216 participants who developed pancreatic cancer, 67 of them also had periodontal disease. Independent of the participants' smoking status, the study found that having a history of periodontal disease was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This, according to the study, could be because of systemic inflammation or increased levels of carcinogenic compounds produced in the infected mouth. Interestingly, another viable theory about why gum disease may cause type 2 diabetes points to damage to the pancreas as well. "With the pancreatic cancer study, we thought it was very interesting that you have this localized infection that has an impact on a systemic organ that is very intimately tied to the pathophysiology of diabetes," says Dr. Desvarieux. Reasons for why this might be are as yet unknown.

My Scottsdale Dentist offers complete dental care to ensure that your overall health can be the best it can be.

Post Date: May 17, 2014

Feel Relaxed and Safe with Sedation Dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ

If you ask most people what scares them the most, chances are that a number of those asked will specify that a trip to the dentist is what makes them apprehensive. In fact, for some people going to the dentist is more scary than public speaking. Fortunately, you don't have to worry because you can feel comfortable with Sedation Dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ.

What is Sedation Dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ? It is where you are given something to make yourself feel more relaxed. This can include a number of helpful sedatives such as:

  • Progressive relaxation
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Oral sedation
  • I.V. sedation (by special appointment)

Many other dentists do not offer sedation but Dr. Steve Poulos and Dr. Sid Stevens at My Scottsdale Dentist know that the patient's comfort is most important so they offer Sedation Dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ for your convenience. What they do is work with each individual to come up with a sedation solution that is the perfect fit for your needs.

Another difference is that the dentists at My Scottsdale Dentist do not try to put down the patient like many other places may do. It's subtle, but other dentists will sometimes scoff at the patient's need for sedation. However, at My Scottsdale Dentist, we know that your comfort and relaxation is important to having the best experience possible. We can perform all phases of dental care paired with Sedation Dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ and every aspect is complimentary to the individual and their unique needs.

If you want to learn more about feeling more comfortable at the dentist, feel free to contact us or stop in for a consultation where all of your needs are given top priority.

Post Date: May 8, 2014

Get to the Root of Injuries with Emergency Dental Care in Scottsdale, AZ

Get to the Root of Injuries with Emergency Dental Care in Scottsdale, AZ

Inbox (5,344)Each summer, children head off to neighborhood playgrounds and backyard swing sets in search of fun. Unfortunately, many of them end up with leaving those areas with more than just sweaty faces and tired bodies. They also walk away with damaged smiles. Thankfully, seeking emergency dental care in Scottsdale, AZ, can help parents get to the root of those damaged smiles.

Dr. Steven H. Poulos and Dr. Sid Stevens have been providing families with affordable, emergency dental care in Scottsdale, AZ, for years now. So they've seen their fair share of playground related, dental emergencies. Some of those situations involved pulp damage. When the pulp is damaged, it can impede root growth and may lead to tooth loss. One of the emergency dental care treatments that Dr. Poulos and Dr. Stevens have successfully used to address such problems is apexification.

Considered to be a part of apexogenesis, apexification is designed to help spur healing and prevent tooth loss. It often involves the use of mineral trioxide aggregate, which is a known medicament. There are various medicaments that are available to today's family dentists. However, mineral trioxide aggregate, in particular, is very effective at repairing pulp chamber and root damage. It may also be used during surgical procedures (e.g. apicoectomy) to treat endodontic infections and inflammation. That's why it's routinely used by Dr. Poulos and Dr. Stevens during emergency dental care in Scottsdale, AZ.

Depending on the severity of the dental emergency, Dr. Poulos and Dr. Stevens may need to monitor the healing process over the course of a year. This is done to ensure that the best oral health outcome possible is achieved. To learn more about how Dr. Poulos and Dr. Stevens emergency dental care in Scottsdale, AZ, may help families recover from playground and backyard swing set related dental injuries, please contact us at My Scottsdale Dentist today(480.614.1122).

Post Date: May 1, 2014