Periodontitis comprises a group of multifactorial diseases in which periodontopathogens accumulate in dental plaque and trigger host chronic inflammatory and immune responses against periodontal structures, which are determinant to the disease outcome. Although unusual cases of non-inflammatory destructive periodontal disease (NIDPD) are described, their pathogenesis remains unknown. A unique NIDPD case was investigated by clinical, microbiological, immunological and genetic tools. The patient, a non-smoking dental surgeon with excessive oral hygiene practice, presented a generalized bone resorption and tooth mobility, but not gingival inflammation or occlusion problems. No hematological, immunological or endocrine alterations were found. No periodontopathogens (A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, F. nucleatum and T. denticola) or viruses (HCMV, EBV-1 and HSV-1) were detected, along with levels of IL-1β and TNF-a in GCF compatible with healthy tissues. Conversely ALP, ACP and RANKL GCF levels were similar to diseased periodontal sites. Genetic investigation demonstrated that the patient carried some SNPs, as well HLA-DR4 (*0404) and HLA-B27 alleles, considered risk factors for bone loss. Then, a less vigorous and diminished frequency of toothbrushing was recommended to the patient, resulting in the arrest of alveolar bone loss, associated with the return of ALP, ACP and RANKL in GCF to normality levels. In conclusion, the unusual case presented here is compatible with the previous description of NIDPD, and the results that a possible combination of excessive force and frequency of mechanical stimulation with a potentially bone loss prone genotype could result in the alveolar bone loss seen in NIDPD.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

An impacted wisdom tooth is one that is entrapped completely or partially by soft tissue which can also be a cause of bacterial infections. It is important you see a dentist immediately for this condition. Infections in the mouth, gum, and jaw area can quickly travel to the brain and then you have a whole set of other problems. Why not check here for a dental plan that may off-set the cost of getting help with your impacted wisdom tooth.

What are some of the problems associated with wisdom teeth?  Sometimes wisdom teeth can cause crowding of the teeth, infections, cysts, tumors, jaw and gum disease.  Talk to your dentist about your wisdom teeth to see if they suggest that they should removed or not.

Did you know that more teeth are lost due to gum disease then though tooth decay.  Gum disease can strike anyone who neglects their oral hygiene or eats a poor diet. People with alcoholism, malnutrition, or AIDS/HIV infection or who are being treated with steroid drugs or certain cancer chemotherapies have a higher risk of gum disease. Women with tooth or gum problems are also more likely to give birth to premature babies.  Seeing a dentist regularly and proper dental care habits are important in reducing your risk of gum disease and tooth loss.

If you ever had your teeth whiten you may know the trick about drinking stain-able drinks such as coffee though a straw in order to maintain you newly whiten teeth.  However, drinking sodas, sports/energy drink and juices though a straw is also a good idea in order to help protect your tooth enamel.  Many of those types of drinks contain acids, such as citric and phosphoric, that can erode dental enamel, even if they are diet or sugar-free versions. By drinking though a straw you can position it toward the back of mouth limiting the contact the drinks have with your teeth.  Therefore helping  to preserve the tooth enamel.

Affordable Dental Plans

According to the National Association of Dental Plans, approximately half of the U.S. population does not have an affordable dental plan. The cost for affordable dental insurance can vary. Therefore, it is important to understand all your options in obtaining the most affordable dental plan coverage.

The company where you work may provide the most affordable dental insurance plan options. Dental insurance plans for individual and families are usually an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provided Organization) and operate much like traditional health insurance organizations.

A study in the current issue of the journal Anesthesia Progress looked at whether a patient’s level of pain before a root canal changed the effectiveness of local anesthesia. The research showed that the more active pain a patient felt before the procedure, the lower the pain threshold was for that patient during surgery.

Question: I was reviewing your dental insurance plans.  I am a signal dad and my son lives with me for most of the year.  We are in TX and I would like to get a dental insurance plan for him.  I really do not care about the monthly cost as long as it is a good dental insurance plan that will be able to take care of any future dental needs my son may have.  It it helps to know he had really good teeth at this point in time.  Can you tell me your best plan is.

Answer: What would be the best insurance plan would be based on your own dental care needs. Such as if you do not want any waiting periods you may wish to review our HMO or dental discount plan options. However with these options you do have to choose a dentist in the plan network of providers.     If you are wanting to stay with or choose your own dentist then you may prefer a dental PPO plan that provides that option.  Call our member service line at 310-534-3444 go over your needs and they will be able to help pick the “best” plan for you and your son.

Question: My five year old daughter has dental caries.  She currently need four filling an a possible baby root canal.  I have dental insurance but it does not cover much and I have already maxed out it 1000.00 yearly limit.  I found this is easy to do when your child’s teeth keep getting cavities.

Answer: You could look into buying and HMO dental insurance plan that dose not have any waiting periods for the services you daughter needs.  Or buy a another PPO plan with a high yearly maximum limitation then just $1000.00. However, that would mean you may have to deal with waiting periods that will not help you with your daughter current dental care needs.  I would also suggest calling your current dental insurance plan and seeing if you can increase the maximum limitation without restarting the plan.

Journal of Oral Implantology – Your jaw bones affect how you look, breath, eat, and speak, making reconstruction important for any jaw defects. Surgeons have more tools than ever to tackle such cases, but these may not be enough to ensure the jaw is fully restored. In the end, it’s all about form and function.

The authors of an article published in the current issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology described a step-by-step process to completely reconstruct the jaw using a bone graft and an implant-supported denture. Their case report is one of only a few studies that focus on the final, prosthetic phase of the process and a technique known as a free-flap fibula graft.

Question: I am 28 years old and been wanting to get braces to fix an overbite issue.  I try enrolling in a dental insurance plan to save money on adult braces only to find out after the fact they do not cover for orthodontic treatment for adults.   I need recommendations for a dental insurance plan that can help me today.

Answer: Any of our dental discount plans options will provide you with at least a 20% saving off any type of braces for at any age.  We also have HMO options that do provide for adult braces.  In order to review all our dental insurance and plan options just enter your zip code in the quote box provided. Then call our member services at 310-534-3444 if you should have any questions about the available plans

A team of scientists in Japan that is working on growing multiple, fully-functional teeth and implanting them in mice. Tooth development in humans is a complex process that depends on what’s called the “tooth germ.” This is a mass of cells formed early in life from the ectoderm and ectomesenchyme in the jaw. In the early stages, these germs are relatively simple in structure and the team from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology and Tokyo Medical and Dental University led by Takashi Tsuji hit on the idea of taking one germ, dividing it, and then growing new, multiple teeth in the laboratory.

Your child’s first teeth usually begin to cut through the gums at about six months of age, although the timing can vary among children. All of your child 20 primary teeth should come in between the ages of six months and three years. Your child will lose his or her primary teeth between the ages of six and 11.

Periodontal disease is a common condition that ranges from simple gum inflammation to a serious disease causing major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth, and loss of teeth.

Periodontal disease has also been linked with heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, as well as oral, esophageal, head and neck, pancreatic and lung cancers. Previous studies have suggested that chronic inflammation could provide the link.

Some of the risk factors for periodontal disease include:

• Genetic predisposition
•  Smoking
• Hormonal changes in girls and women, which can make gums more sensitive so that it is easier for gingivitis to develop.
• People with reduced ability to fight infection due to diseases such as diabetes or treatment for cancer are also prone.
• Medications that limit the flow of saliva can also leave the mouth vulnerable to infections.

The short answer is Yes, both vision and dental care is very important for a baby. With regards to dental a baby should see a dentist at the sign of their first tooth. Maintaining dental health for your child will not only be good for the oral health but overall well being.  With regards to vision. Babies can have issues with their vision you never know what could happen. You may need to take your child to a Optometrists for appointments

University of Georgia research has found that inorganic mercury, which was previously thought to be a less harmful form of the toxic metal, is very damaging to key cell processes.

This study is the first to compare the effects of inorganic and organic mercury compounds at the biochemical, physiological and proteomic levels in any model organism, according to the study’s lead author Stephen LaVoie, a microbiology doctoral student. Published in December in the Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, the research looked at how inorganic and organic mercury affected specific molecular processes.

A few years from now millions of people around the world might be walking around with an unusual kind of glass in their mouth, and using it every time they eat.

Engineers at Oregon State University have made some promising findings about the ability of “bioactive” glass to help reduce the ability of bacteria to attack composite tooth fillings – and perhaps even provide some of the minerals needed to replace those lost to tooth decay.

You want to start cleaning a child’s teeth when the first tooth is visible, because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.  Wipe the baby’s teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft, damp wash cloth.

Be mindful of BBS (“baby bottle syndrome.”) with is a leading cause of tooth decay among young children. When an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during nap time or at night, the baby often falls asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth.

Exposure to the sugars and acids in these liquids that pool around the teeth can cause discoloration and tooth decay.  Make sure to clean your child’s teeth after each feeding and, if necessary, give him or her a bottle filled only with water at bedtime or during a nap.

Oral and dental health care start from birth. It is very important to provide good oral health care to your child right from the start.   According to The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, they recommend bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday. Generally at this initial visit, the dentist will:

* Check your child’s teeth for decay and signs of early developmental problems;

* Explain how to care for your child’s teeth, and answer any questions or concerns you might have.  Your child should see a dentist once every six months in order to maintain good oral health and to help your child develop a positive attitude about the dentist.  Here are some additional tips

* Take your child with you when you go in for a check up so he/she can get used to the dental office and its staff.

* Avoid using negative words such as “needle” and “hurt.”

* Play dentist to familiarize your child with what takes place during a visit.

* Ask your dentist how he or she explains procedures to children.

* And answer your child’s questions honestly and sensitively.

One should always make sure they have the best at home dental care habits. Here are some tips that may help you.

1) Floss your teeth do not use toothpicks.

2) Brush your teeth gently. Brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard bristled toothbrush can damage your tooth enamel.

3) Make sure to follow directions carefully when using teeth-whitening products. They can be bad for your teeth if used improperly or too often.

4) As a reminder if you need pointers on the right way to care for your teeth, just ask your dentist.  Your dentist will gladly go over proper at home dental care.