According to a Survey published in USA Today, December 27, 2010, 47% of the respondents noticed someone's smile, followed by the eyes ( 31%) , smell (11% ), clothes (7%) and lastly, hair (4%).

Based on this survey, whitening one's teeth can have a far greater impact than anything else .

drsmile@bouldersmiles.com

posted by Mark J. Birnbach, DMD at 2:54 PM

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Should someone replace a missing tooth?

Losing a tooth not only affects your ability to chew, it creates further problems.

If someone removed one book from a shelf full of books, the books on either side would tend to shift towards that space. The same is true in the mouth. This shifting alters the bite which can trigger pain in the jaw joint ( TMJ) This shifting also means that spaces will open up between the teeth , which allows food to get stuck there. Not only is this annoying, it accelerates the formation of new cavities/decay. And it creates problems in the gums and bone as well.

The opposing teeth can shift as well as there is nothing for them to bite against, compounding the problems.

There may be several alternatives to replacing a missing tooth. Some of these will be discussed in another post.

posted by Mark J. Birnbach, DMD at 1:16 PM

Thursday, April 22, 2010

This blog has moved

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posted by edanjou at 12:56 PM

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Are Bridges Obsolete?

Truth is, bridges aren't the best dentistry for most
folks who lose one or more tooth.

The fixed bridge was the best dentistry had to offer for a long
time.

A fixed bridge provides one or more fake teeth that are
held onto the teeth on either side of the missing tooth by crowns.

That means removing good, healthy tooth structure in order to fit a
crown. Replacing one tooth required treating 2 other teeth.

It used to be the best dentistry. Now implants
are a preferred way of replacing a missing tooth.

An implant doesn't require crowns on the surrounding
teeth.
It's a one tooth solution to a one tooth problem.

If you have a bridge already, you also know that the
gums under the missing tooth (or teeth) often develop
problems. It is hard to floss and brush there, and
there is sometimes infection and bone loss as a result.

As a result of the difficulty in cleaning under the false tooth, new decay may form, necessitating that a new bridge be made. Sometimes the decay causes so much destruction that a tooth may be lost, meaning yet another tooth needs to be crowned.

Fixed bridges were a fine form of dentistry for a long
time, but now implants are often better.

If you have a fixed bridge that is wearing out or
causing you problems, you may want to consider
implants.

posted by Mark J. Birnbach, DMD at 11:42 AM

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Test- Evaluate your risk for heart disease

There is growing scientific data to link the health of one's mouth , especially gums and bone, to over all health. In fact, last week , the news carried an item which stated that a still born child's death was directly related to the mother's periodontal condition.

Want to learn if you are at risk for life threatening conditions related to your mouth?

click on the following link to take a self assessment test.

http://service.previser.com/aap/default.aspx

posted by Mark J. Birnbach, DMD at 9:31 AM

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Your Heart and your mouth

What is the dirtiest, most disease ridden part of the human
body?

Nope. You are wrong. It isn't that.

It's your mouth.

Yuck.

And gums are what protects your mouth from getting inside
your body.

Gums are maybe the most important part of your body's
immune system.

If you brush and it bleeds, that is not a good sign.

If it hurts when you get your teeth cleaned, that is not a
good sign.

Gingivitis is the start of gum disease. It describes gums that
bleed or are inflamed.

Periodontitis is the advanced state of gum disease. When
gums deteriorate, bone underneath dissolves away. That
leaves the teeth's roots exposed to the dirty mouth and
that advances not just gum disease, but heart disease.

That's right. Many studies show that gum disease cause
bacteria to leak into the body and they latch onto the
heart, its valves, and the arteries feeding the heart
with blood.

So gum disease and heart disease are closely related.

What can you do about gum disease? Two things at
least.

One, is you can floss, brush, and use various good home care
practices.

Two, See your dentist and hygienist. A thorough cleaning involves
the dentist or hygienist going in below the gum line and
scraping away the accumulated film of bacteria that is
stuck to the teeth.

Sometimes, dentists are using lasers for deep scaling.

Sometimes, they use ultrasonic devices. We use
both.

Is it painful? Just a bit uncomfortable. The hygienist put on
a topical anesthetic, no needles.

Some folks will need to get numb for their procedures.

You may remember the old saying " the knee bone connected to the hip bone"

Your mouth ( gums and teeth) are connected to your heart.

Healthy mouth is necessary to have a healthy heart

posted by Mark J. Birnbach, DMD at 8:44 AM

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