Smile SenseA guide to your smile!

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US dentist Dr. Val Kolpakov has over 1,800 toothpastes ranging from whiskey flavoured to curry and bamboo.One dates to World War II and has a radioactive compound. One quarter of his collection is displayed in his waiting room at Michigan.

One of the items Dr. Kolpakov considers the most rare, is an English antique Geogian 1801 silver tooth powder box.Toothpaste was not invented at that point of time and tooth powder was used instead. Dr. Kolpakov bought it for £1500.

His collection contains donations from various personal collection, companies and friends from all over the world.

He is awaiting a confirmation of this unique world record, as a new category had to be created for this record.

To know more about this record visit www.toothpasteworld.com

People experiencing sensitivity while eating or drinking hot or cold food or beverages due to worn tooth enamel or gum recession can be treated with desensitizing toothpaste.

Such toothpastes has compounds that block sensation from traveling from tooth surface to nerve endings. Their use should be restricted and not used in cases where patient is experiencing pain due to caries/ cavities or due to tooth fracture.

Use of desensitizing toothpaste in every situation of dental pain can mask the cause, neglecting the proper cause and aggravating the situation.

When do I need Root Canal Treatment?

• Tooth pain while chewing
• Sensitivity to heat or cold
• Swelling and tenderness of the gum around the tooth
• Darkening of the tooth

What is Root Canal Treatment?

It is the cleaning of the infected pulp/ core of the tooth. The pulp when healthy provides nutrition to the tooth and fights against infection. When infected, the pulp is removed and the space filled with an inert material. The tooth is then restored to its original position , esthetics and function.

How long does the procedure take?

Usually it can take anywhere between 1-3 hours. If it is infected,  it might be required to be done over 2-3 sittings.

Is the procedure painful?

Usually a local anaesthesia is given before the start of the procedure. This will make the procedure painless. Postoperative pain may be experienced at times. This can be treated by use of any over the counter painkiller or analgesic.

How long does restored/ repaired tooth last?

If proper hygiene and instructions are followed , the repaired tooth can last a lifetime.

3D dental X-Ray is a easy, quick, cost effective and the latest development in dental imaging systems.

They along with compatible software can produce a 3 dimensional image to accurately confirm a diagnosis which was earlier not possible on 2 D X-Rays.

It takes around 200 exposures in a time span of 8 to 15 seconds. This is followed by reconstruction of the scan in around 30 seconds to 5 minutes. The radiation dose ranges from 36 – 74 µSv.

Some companies provide proprietary software for 3 D reconstruction. Others  let you choose open ended software.

Usually they are DICOM or PACS compatible for easier viewing.

3D dental X -Ray can be used in:

• General practice
• Implant and oral surgery
• Orthodontics
• Endodontics

Credit: Sirona Imaging systems, Imaging sciences international

Researchers at Alzheimer’s Research Center at Region’s hospital, Minnesota, US have recently demonstrated that intranasally delivered local anaesthetic ( LA ) can cause complete anaesthesia of the teeth, TMJ ( Temporo mandibular joint) and the masseter muscle thus removing the need to use a needle to deliver the LA.

The concentrations of LA where delivered intra-nasally are 20 times in the region supplied by trigeminal nerve compared to the blood or brain, thus suggesting that intra-nasal administration of LA bypassing the blood brain barrier to reach the targeted area. The trigeminal nerve acts as a conduit to transport drug from the nasal cavity to the orofacial structures in addition to the brain. The study also showed that absorption of LA into the trigeminal nerve mostly occurs in the inner walls of the nose and the maxillary sinus.

In conclusion, intra-nasal delivery of LA to the trigeminal nerve and connected orofacial structures may provide a more effective and targeted method of treating postoperative dental pain/anxiety, trigeminal neuralgia, migraine, dementia and vaccinating against diseases.

For full research text CLICK HERE

Well it is, but in small quantities.

Chocolate is good for your teeth and your overall health too. Chocolate contains polyphenols and flavinoids which are anti oxidants that inhibit the growth of bacteria that causes decay of the teeth.

Chocolate also has cocoa butter which has a coating effect which prevents the plaque from attaching to the teeth.

Chocolate is good at one ounce per day. It tastes good, doesn’t hurt your teeth and is good for your body too.

And now the down side. Dark chocolate has lots of calories, nearly 150 per ounce. That alone is a big problem that sets all the good aside.

So chocolate is not an issue if you know how to control yourself while having it. Have fun…

Inhalation sedation, relative analgesia or RA uses Nitrous Oxide ( laughing gas) to produce sedation.

Laughing gas was discovered by Humphery Davy in 1772. It has no colour, smell or causes no irritation.

• A mix of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen in the ratio of 30:70 is used.
• Nitrous oxide reaches the brain within 20 seconds and relaxation and pain killing properties are seen in 2 -3 minutes.
• Depth of sedation can be adjusted by the operator from moment to moment.
• The duration of action can be appropriately controlled. Nitrous oxide is eliminated from the body within 3 -5 minutes after it is stopped.
• Inhalation sedation is very safe and has virtually no harmful effect on the heart, lung, liver, kidney or brain.

How does it work?

Nitrous oxide is delivered using an apparatus. It mixes nitrous oxide and oxygen in required amounts and supplies it to the patient using canula and tubes with mask attached to it. The mask is placed on the patient’s nose. Patient inhales the gas. Modern machines have a double layer of mask with the outer layer being vacuum suctioned. This prevents any spillage of the gas.

Side effects:

Over sedation or increased nitrous oxide in the mix can lead to auditory problems, hallucination, dizziness and vertigo.It can also lead to nausea. To prevent nausea, it is advised to eat 4 hours before the procedure. Also if such unpleasant experiences surface, the patient should immediately tell the dentist or rip off the mask.

Inhalation sedation dentistry is safe and very efficient. Requirement of equipments, space and special training for the dentist and his staff makes it less popular buts its safety is a great advantage.

The most common current method used for conscious sedation in dentistry, is use of certain oral medications, like, anti – anxiety or sedative hypnotic drug.

The most common group of drugs are Benzodiazepins, antihistamines and insomnia medications.

Following are some of the popular drugs ( generic name) used and where:

• Triazolam – 0.25 to 0.5 mg one hour before appointment. Rapid onset of action and anterograde amnesia.
• Midazolam – 7.5 – 15 mg one hour before appointment. Ideal for short appointments.
• Lorazepam – 2 – 4 mg one hour before appointment. Useful for appointments longer than 2 hours.
• Temazepam – 30 mg one hour before appointment.
• Flurazepam – 30 mg one hour before appointment.
• Diazepam – 10 mg one hour before appointment. Most commonly used drug.

Dosages can be titrated and various medications can be used as the dentist wishes based on his analysis of the patient and experience.

Side effects:

• Retrograde amnesia – Little or no memory is a sometime useful side effect specially for the patient.
• Dry mouth – nearly all the medications cause dry mouth. This is though useful for the dentist as it makes things easier for him as he doesn’t have to deal with the saliva.
• Less post operative soreness – With sedation, apprehension and hypersensitivity to pain is reduced, thus reducing the likelihood and severity of post operative soreness.

Drug interaction:

A detailed medical history and use of software to check for drug interaction virtually eliminates and harmful drug interaction.

Oral sedation dentistry is thus a very effective and safe way to reduce anxiety and make a patient comfortable during the dental procedure.

Sometimes referred to as ‘ comfortable sedation’ or ‘ relaxation sedation’ . The purpose of sedation dentistry is to allow a dentist to work effectively by helping a patient become as comfortable as possible by the use of sedative medications. It provides a relaxing and anxiety – free experience for certain people receiving dental treatment. According to Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, 30% of of population avoids dentist due to fear.

The term ‘ Sleep sedation’ is often used in this context. That is misleading, as during this procedure, the patient is required to be able to verbally communicate with the dentist.

History of Conscious Sedation :

In the past certain drugs used to be administered to Intra – veinously ( IV) to provide sedation to the patient.

Certain dentist has been using Valium to create a relaxing environment for the patient. It also has amnesic properties and has been used since 1960′s for this purpose.

Inhalation sedation or Nitrous oxide ( Laughing gas) has also been used. It is a very safe and good form of conscious sedation. Its only disadvantage being expensive and bulky equipment and training required.

Currently, the favourite form of conscious sedation dentistry is oral sedation dentistry using oral drugs.

Whom does it benefit most?

• Person with high dental anxiety and fear.
• Severe gag reflex
• Time constraints. Chronic or acute jaw soreness
• Person with back or neck problems
• Patient who has difficulty getting numb.
• Extensive treatment needs.

Sedation in any form should not be used for a procedure but for a patients.

To read more on

Oral Conscious Sedation Dentistry, CLICK HERE

Inhalation Conscious Sedation Dentistry, CLICK HERE

A group of dentists at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital has developed a process by which lost/ extracted tooth can be used as material for transplantation into sites where bone is deficient and hence required as a foundation for future dental implants.

They developed a one – week processing method to mill the teeth into tooth transplantation material. This material can then be injected into the gums and within 2 – 3 months the bone takes up this material and become part of the original bone.

This not only gives an advantage to the person who lost his / her tooth but also for his / her relative or family member. In such a case, a father for example can use tooth material from his son’s milk tooth, to be used as transplantation material to augment his own bone to facilitate implant placement in future.

Currently , bone from other animal or artificial bone material is used. Definitely this development is of immense  importance and can usher in a new era of future rehabilitation procedures.