Desert Ridge Smiles Blog

Archive for December, 2010

New Beginnings 2011

Posted on: December 31st, 2010 by DesertRidgeSmiles 2 Comments

Let’s face it, 2010 was a tough year. Who wants to think about resolutions for 2011?! It is time to put 2010 behind you, and plan for a great 2011! Start off by setting some goals for yourself. Write them down, and share them with others. You are now accountable!

Take care of yourself. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat fish and chicken. You are what you eat! Your body, which is like a finely tuned machine, requires nutrients to function at an optimum level. If you fill it up with junk food, you will not be giving your body the proper fuel to function at the best level possible. Give yourself the best nutrition, and see how well you feel!

Drink plenty of water. Not only does it keep your insides hydrated, but your skin will be clearer, too! Years ago, I found I drank less water on weekends, and began to get migraines on the weekends. Some would say it was due to alcohol intake, which could be a contributing factor. But I found my migraines were due to dehydration! So keep yourself hydrated!

Find time in your life to exercise. Whether it is a walk around the block, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, working out in the gym, or taking yoga classes, JUST DO IT! Not only will your metabolism be better, but it is also good for your mental health. You may just drop some weight besides!

Work up to flossing daily! The main goal of flossing is to reduce the inflammation in your gums. Medical research is proving that many disease processes are caused by inflammation, including heart disease, diabetes and periodontal disease. Why not reduce the inflammation of your gums by flossing regularly, an easy non-prescription way to help control a disease process! Get started today!

Work on changing your mental attitude. See the positives in people. Recognize beauty in this world, whether the innocence of a rainstorm, or the peacefulness of the outdoors. Forgive people for their transgressions. Recognize tomorrow will be a new day, especially if today wasn’t as great as you had planned it to be. Celebrate your achievements, however small. Realize that you are human, and you may have set-backs. You are not a failure. You need to learn from the set-backs and move on again. You are loved!

Once you are able to work on improving yourself, you will feel better physically and mentally. You can then gain a true sense of inner peace by helping others, less fortunate than yourself. Feed the homeless at a shelter or build a house at Habitat for Humanity. You do not need to donate money, which may be in short supply during this recession. You will gain much more by donating your TIME! Try volunteering, and see how good it makes you feel.

Happy 2011! Make it a great year for yourself and others by establishing new habits. Make it a new beginning!

Elizabeth Fleming, DDS and staff at Desert Ridge Smiles

20950 N. Tatum Blvd Ste 280

Phoenix, AZ 85050 480-860-4300

Meth Mouth

Posted on: December 8th, 2010 by DesertRidgeSmiles No Comments

The Effects of Methamphetamine On Teeth

“Meth Mouth”

Commonly known as crystal meth, meth, crank, speed, glass, or over 100 other different names, methamphetamine can literally ruin your mouth in a very short time.

Seven Ways Methamphetamine Ruins Your Teeth:

1 – It dries out your mouth. -Methamphetamine directly inhibits saliva flow from the salivary glands. The saliva offers a lot of protection to the teeth. In short, when the saliva stops flowing, the teeth are left without many defenses.

2 – Crystal meth gives the user a prolonged “high,” which often causes them to pass out. Meth users have a tendency to pass out frequently. When they pass out, they are breathing through their mouth, which dries out the mouth. And without saliva circulating in the mouth, the teeth are at risk.

3 – Meth is acidic by nature. This has been debated. Some people say that meth isn’t acidic. Some say it is. Pure methamphetamine is NOT acidic, but most street meth contains acidic byproducts. For example, the most common method of manufacturing meth in the United States is the Red, White, and Blue Method. This method of methamphetamine synthesis produces hydroiodic acid. Other acids can be made as byproducts depending on how the methamphetamine is synthesized.

If only those that manufacture meth knew about the devastating effects of acid on the teeth — they’d probably be sure to only sell you pure methamphetamine!

4 – Meth users clench their teeth a lot. Many meth users are anxious and paranoid, mostly due to the effects of the drug on their body. When they clench their teeth, they are grinding away valuable tooth structure that has already been weakened due to the other effects of meth mentioned in this article.

5 – Meth gives the user a craving for sugary, carbonated drinks. Since the methamphetamine dries out their mouth, meth users often try to alleviate this side effect by reaching for soda or energy drinks. This only adds insult to injury for their teeth.

6 – Meth destroys the enamel. It does this by causing cavities to form and by releasing toxic chemicals that damage the teeth. In the book Treatment Planning in Dentistry by Stefanac and Nesbit it says:

“Meth mouth” typically begins with the yellowing of the user’s teeth and rapidly deteriorating enamel “flaking” off from the underlying tooth structure. Repeated use of the drug eventually leaves the user’s teeth looking grayish-brown or black stained, decayed to the gum line, and often nonrestorable. The rapid destruction of tooth enamel is thought to be a result of the heated vapors released by toxic chemicals produced while smoking methamphetamine.

7 – Druggies are concerned about how to get their next high, not about their dental health. If you’re addicted to meth, then you probably spend a great deal of time, energy, and money supporting this habit. Those with addictions of this nature are unlikely to be seeking routine dental care or even brushing and flossing regularly.

Conclusion

Methamphetamine causes significant harm to the teeth no matter how it is taken. If methamphetamine is smoked, it is much more harmful for the teeth than when injected. The book Primary Preventive Dentistry by Norman Harris says this about how methamphetamine is used:

It is thought that smokers [of methamphetamine] have worse dental effects, because the chemicals are brought in direct contact with the oral cavity, causing sores and infections. Injectors of methamphetamine do not experience the same severe dental decay; however, they do experience more severe clenching and grinding. The increased bruxism is attributed to the more powerful effects of the injected drug.

If you or someone you know is addicted to methamphetamine, try to get help as soon as possible. Methamphetamine doesn’t just affect the teeth, it affects the whole body.

Here’s a good article from Minnesota Public Radio about Ryan Hintz, a recovering meth addict, about how he is overcoming the addiction.

Article courtesy of Dr. Todd Welch, The Science of Dentistry

Are Dental Implants For You?

Posted on: December 3rd, 2010 by DesertRidgeSmiles No Comments

What is a dental implant?
In the old days, it was common for people to lose their teeth. In fact, many elderly people could expect to lose all their teeth and have to use dentures instead.

Due to the many advances in dental care and oral health over the past 50 years, today it is increasingly rare for people to lose their teeth. But when tooth loss does occur, whether it’s due to injury (a bike accident or car crash) or advanced tooth decay, dental implants are available to replace missing teeth.

Here are some of the reasons why dental implants are such a big improvement over dentures:

They look better. Dental implants look almost exactly like real teeth. Your friends and family probably won’t be able to tell the difference.
They feel better. Dental implants don’t cause discomfort (whereas dentures tend to pinch the mouth and cause pain).
They’re better for eating. Many patients find that dental implants perform almost the same as the rest of their real teeth – the implants hold up well to the daily work of biting and chewing.
No slurring your speech. With dentures, people’s speech tends to be affected – because the dentures tend to slip and move around in their mouth, altering their speech patterns. Dental implants stay securely fitted inside your gums, thus avoiding any interference with your ability to talk.
They’re convenient. Remember those TV commercials for denture cleaner that you could leave your teeth in overnight? Dentures require cleaning, maintenance – sometimes they break or get misplaced. None of these issues is a concern when you have dental implants. The dental implants stay in one place – inside your mouth – and you clean them the same way you clean the rest of your teeth.
They’re longer-lasting. If well maintained, dental implants can last for many years – often they can last for the rest of your life.
They’re better for the rest of your mouth. Dental implants are a good choice because they don’t cause any impact on the rest of your mouth; whereas with bridgework, surrounding teeth have to be filed down in order to create the bridge. Dental implants tend to be better for your overall oral health.
They make you feel better about yourself. Dental implants create a more natural-looking smile – no dentures to worry about, no bridgework to explain to others. You can get your teeth fixed and go on with your life.

Here are a few other facts to keep in mind about dental implants:

Dental implants are not for everyone. If you are healthy enough for routine dental work, you will probably be a good candidate for dental implants. People with certain chronic health conditions, heavy smokers and people who have recently received radiation treatment to the head and neck region might not be able to receive dental implants.

Dental implants take awhile to get done. Getting dental implants is a bit of a complicated process. In addition to talking with your regular dentist about the treatment plan, you might need to be referred to a periodontist or oral surgeon for implant placement, and/or to a dentist who specializes in restorative dentistry. You will go through a multi-step process where an implant is affixed into your jaw bone, your jaw is allowed to heal for 6-12 weeks, a small connector piece called an “abutment” is added to the implant in your jawbone, and then the replacement tooth or “crown” is added on top. This process does take some time, but the results will (hopefully) last for the rest of your life.

Dental implants might not be covered by your insurance. Talk with your dentist’s administrative staff to see what options you might have to pay for dental implants. Many dental insurance plans do not cover this type of complex restorative dental work. However, many dentists offer reasonable payment plans – and when you consider that a dental implant is likely to last for the rest of your life, getting it fixed “the right way” is often a good investment.

If you have questions about implants and whether they are right for you, call our office today! 480-860-4300 Dr. Elizabeth Fleming and staff at Desert Ridge Smiles