Happy New Year 2015!

from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36897.html

Merry Christmas!

from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36645.html

5 Scary Health Conditions Your Dentist Can Spot

The health of your mouth may shine a light on what’s happening in the rest of your body. (Kulka/Corbis)



You expect your dentist to flag cavities, but did you know your drill-wielding doc might also be able to spot trouble that extends well beyond your pearly whites?



“It’s becoming clear that we need to consider integrating oral and general health care,” says Steve Offenbacher, D.D.S., director of the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The oral cavity is the mirror to the rest of the body, so we can pick up on systemic problems by simple dental examinations.” In other words, the state of your smile may shine a light on the rest of your body — sometimes even before other symptoms show up.



Case in point: Offenbacher once told a middle-aged patient he suspected she was pregnant, based simply on the redness of her gums. “The next week, she came back and said, ‘I went to the doctor, and yes, I am pregnant!’’ he recalls. In that case, Offenbacher was the bearer of good news, but not all of the secrets your mouth may reveal are so positive. Your teeth may also provide clues about these five health-threatening conditions:



Diabetes



Your dentist isn’t just worried about how white your teeth are. In a 2014 study, nearly two-thirds of dentists said they’d refer a patient with periodontitis (inflammation around the gums) for a diabetes evaluation. Why that’s a good thing: “Diabetes is not only a common problem, but it’s also highly under-diagnosed,” says Offenbacher. Read: Lots of people have diabetes and don’t know it, which means adding your dentist to your team of health detectives is a smart idea.



So what’s the dental-diabetes link? High blood sugar may be as damaging to your oral health as the sweet stuff in a can of soda. That’s because the condition can cause dry mouth, which increases plaque build-up, making people with uncontrolled diabetes more prone to dental problems.



“[Periodontal disease in diabetics] is usually severe for their age or for local factors, meaning they have pretty clean mouths, but they still have a periodontal problem,” says Offenbacher.



Two common oral signs of diabetes: multiple abscesses on the gums and bad breath. “It’s kind of a sour fruit smell,” Offenbacher says. “It’s ketones — metabolic products associated with poor glycemic control — in their bloodstream that you can smell.”



Heart disease



Your teeth may reveal what’s going on with your ticker. A 2007 study review found that people with periodontal disease are significantly more likely to develop heart disease than folks with good oral health. Among people who have both diseases, “if the periodontal disease is treated, the heart disease is greatly improved,” says Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., a professor and dean emeritus of dental medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.



The common thread? Inflammation. “When you look in a patient’s mouth and you see chronic inflammation, you know that it’s creating systemic stress,” says Offenbacher.



Although there are no dental red flags specific to heart disease, “more severe periodontal disease is strongly associated with heart disease risk,” Offenbacher says. Signs include loose, shifting, or missing teeth, and increased probing depths, where the pockets around the teeth have deepened.



Dementia



Can tooth loss indicate memory loss? In recent British research, a lack of teeth was associated with mental decline, while a 2012 study found that older adults with poor dental hygiene were 76 percent more likely to develop dementia. This is a relatively new area of research, which means the link between the two isn’t entirely clear, says Jeffcoat. However, a small 2013 study detected Porphyromonas gingivalis — a bacteria associated with gum disease — in the brains of people with dementia, suggesting that it may play a role in the inflammation associated with cognitive decline.



Osteoporosis



Osteoporosis won’t cause your teeth to decay — but your dentist may be able to spot bone loss in the surrounding structures, like the jaw, with digital X-rays, says Jeffcoat. Normal, healthy bone should be dense both at the edges and in the interior, and when that’s not the case, “the patient is more likely to have osteoporosis,” she explains.



In fact, in a 2013 study in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, the thickness of postmenopausal women’s jawbones — as measured with a panoramic X-ray — was correlated with the bone density of their spine. This means that dentists could potentially diagnose osteoporosis, which often goes undetected until a fracture occurs, in its early stages, the scientists say.



Acid reflux disease



You may feel heartburn most intensely in your chest, but its effects may be most obvious in your mouth. If you have acid reflux disease, the constant uprising of stomach acid could wear away at the enamel on your teeth, says Jeffcoat. “You’ll usually see it in the lower front teeth,” she says. “You’ll see erosion of the teeth — they get thinner. You can’t miss it.” Another sign you may be suffering from acid reflux disease: You have a persistent sour taste in your mouth, she says.



In a 2008 study review, researchers found that about a third of adults with dental erosion also had gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Keep in mind, this erosion can happen even in the absence of chest pain — that is, you may have reflux without knowing it, until your dentist points out the damage to your choppers.



Source: https://www.yahoo.com/health/5-scary-health-conditions-your-dentist-can-spot-105279962062.html



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36500.html

Long-in-the-Tooth Dental Advice

Terry O’Brien, 73, a retired administrative assistant in Billerica, Mass., recently had to make a tough decision about her dental care.



“I always took care of my teeth,” she said. But even so, she was told she needed a crown — an artificial cap — at a cost of about $2,000.



Since she and her husband lack dental coverage, she opted for a less expensive filling. She worries, however, about how she will fund dental care long term. “I’ll make 100, I bet,” she said. “But I wonder how long my teeth will last.”



Older Americans face such situations often, because many people over age 65 lack dental insurance. Only about 10 percent of retirees have dental benefits from their former employer, according to Oral Health America, a nonprofit advocacy group.



And 22 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had not seen a dentist in five years, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported in 2012. The main factor is the cost of care, said Tricia Neuman, a Medicare policy expert with the foundation.



Traditional Medicare, the federal health program for older adults and people with disabilities, doesn’t cover routine dental care or dentures. Some Medicare managed care plans offer coverage, but it is often limited to preventive care like cleanings. Medicaid, the federal-state program for low-income people, may cover some dental care for adults, but benefits vary by state. Individual plans are available, but they typically cap payments at low levels and may not cover any advanced treatments, like implants to replace lost teeth.



That means most older Americans must pay for dental care out of their pockets.



According to 2013 data from the American Dental Association, which surveyed private dentists, the average cost of a basic examination is about $45, while a cleaning is $85. X-rays are another $27; a tooth-colored filling is $149, while a silver filling is about $125. Costs vary widely, however, depending on the market.



Artificial implants average about $4,000 per tooth, the A.D.A. found. But the bill can be much higher, after adding anesthesia and related treatments like bone grafts. Implants involve inserting a metal screw into the jawbone to serve as the foundation for a replacement crown.



Implants are an economic impossibility for some patients, said Beth Truett, chief executive of Oral Health America. But, “If they can afford it, they are a great solution to maintaining not only that tooth, but the teeth around it.” A full set of teeth for an adult is 28 (32 if you still have your wisdom teeth), and you should have at least 22 teeth to eat properly, she said. Once a tooth is lost, nearby teeth bear additional strain and it gets more difficult to chew; that leads to a cycle of poor nutrition and further tooth loss, she said.



Ed Decker, 69, a retired hospital pharmacist in Ashland, Mass., said he had poor dental health his entire life and had budgeted to make dental care a priority. “I think my family was born with marshmallows instead of teeth,” he said. Ultimately, he lost so many teeth he couldn’t chew, and had 10 implants, at a total cost of about $50,000. He was able to pay for it, he said, because of successful investments recommended by his financial adviser. “When you put in an implant, it’s like having a natural tooth,” he said.



Judith Jones, a professor at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and an authority on dental care for older people, recommends that after age 65, the bare minimum level of care needed is a professional examination and cleaning at least once a year. Poor mouth health has been linked to other ailments, like heart disease and diabetes.



Patients should brush at least twice a day for two minutes, she said. If older people aren’t able to do it themselves, family members or caregivers should assist them. Basic mouth hygiene, including daily flossing, is important to maintain healthy gums and remove tartar and plaque, which traps bacteria and can lead to infections.



People also need to be aware of the possibility of being pressured into unnecessary treatment. To find a reputable dentist, you may want to ask your doctor or your friends for a referral. And be skeptical of treatment that sounds overly aggressive. “If you go in and they want to replace every filling in your head, you should get a second opinion,” said Athena Papas, co-head of geriatric dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.



However, she noted, patients who haven’t been to the dentist for several years may have a real need for restoration work, particularly if they are on multiple prescriptions. Some medications can cause a reduction in saliva, which can promote development of cavities.



One way to limit costs for replacement teeth is to have implants on the lower jaw, and use dentures to replace upper teeth, said Dr. Papas; it’s easier to keep upper dentures in place.



Older adults on tight budgets generally should avoid cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, dentists say. But many dismiss the idea that older people don’t need to spend on oral care because they are near the end of their lives. Patients who are in their 80s, but who are fit and have a healthy lifestyle, can benefit from technologically advanced dental care “because it is estimated that they will have another 10-15 years of life span,” Helena Tapias-Perdigón, an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Dentistry at Texas A&M Health Science Center, said in an email.



Some dental schools offer discounted treatment, although some require deposits and may have waiting lists. The American Dental Association lists accredited schools on its website.



You can also ask dentists if they offer a payment plan. But read the fine print of any discount program, said Jim Quiggle, a spokesman for the nonprofit Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, since some programs offer little in the way of true savings.



Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/your-money/long-in-the-tooth-dental-advice-.html



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/36099.html

Grassroots solutions from America's dentists: Getting everyone the dental care they need

By Dr. Maxine Feinberg, DDS Published November 28, 2014 FoxNews.com



Amid all the talk of cost and access to health care come stories of innovation and grassroots solutions to get people the dental care that they need. These solutions are not the invention of big government, corporate investment or complex social programs. Rather, they are the brainchild of collaborations in and for local communities by people like you and me.



For example:



- When hospital emergency departments in Waldo County, Maine, Calhoun County, Michigan, and six counties in Maryland were inundated with low-income patients suffering from dental pain, community coalitions and partnerships with local dentists were formed. As a result, thousands have received desperately needed dental care.



- In San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Sarah Dirks, a dentist, brought care directly to vulnerable elderly people whose medical conditions confined them to nursing home facilities.



- In Vermont and Florida, Jenna Linden was a game changer in overcoming local obstacles to dental care. As a Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC), an initiative launched by the American Dental Association, she helped coordinate care for and provide oral health education to more than 2,800 people. Over the past three years, 34 CDHCs have been active in eight states.



- In New Orleans, Dave Wyatt received dental care for the first time in eight years following the loss of his business and insurance in Hurricane Katrina. He is one of the 172,000 patients since 2000 to receive treatment at a Mission of Mercy event, staffed by local dentists and volunteers totaling nearly $1.2 million in charitable care.



- Jeff Dalin, a St. Louis, Missouri dentist, started Give Kids a Smile in 2003 to provide dental services to underserved children. This year, 350,000 kids will be given dental care through 1,500 events in 49 states. Since the program was founded, Dr. Dalin, fellow dentists and volunteers have treated nearly 5 million children. Importantly, the program now serves as a gateway to keep children in the dental health care system.



With most states allocating a paltry one percent or less of their Medicaid budgets for dental services, dentists are also advocating for common sense Medicaid reforms and adequate funding to expand access. Nearly 70 percent of Medicaid enrolled children had at least one dental visit per year, compared to 15 percent who saw a dentist prior to Medicaid reform.



So, beyond the rhetoric of cost and access that have driven the health care debate and proposals that will take years to implement are the here and now community-created solutions.



They demonstrate that social innovation doesn’t have to be triangulated, legislated or regulated. As the solutions above suggest, the obstacles that underserved people face are many and complex but when communities come together with innovative grassroots solutions, we can eliminate those barriers and improve health outcomes.



In keeping with the American Dental Association’s mission to advance America’s oral health, 18 months ago we created Action for Dental Health to further encourage the already strong grassroots efforts by and with America’s dentists like those described above. Action for Dental Health has now taken root in every state in our nation.



ADA is demonstrating that the obstacles to better dental health are not a result of insufficient numbers of dentists, as some would imply.



A recent report by ADA’s Health Policy Institute should put to rest any speculation about a future dentist shortage. The new research shows that the number of dentists practicing per 100,000 people today has climbed more than 4 percent from 2003 to 2013 and is projected to climb 1.5 percent from 2013 to 2018 and 2.6 percent by 2033. The supply of dentists will more than serve our nation’s needs.



Additionally, when it comes to access for children, significant preliminary unpublished data was shared by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researcher Dr. Bruce Dye at a national conference this month. A preview of the data suggests a downward trend in early childhood caries (cavities) in the United States with increased treatment of children, indicating progress in kids accessing needed care.



These are promising developments for sure, but our work is not done.



ADA is nurturing the creativity of communities to develop programs that fit their unique needs. While others may be looking far out and far away--lobbying for laws to be changed, new educational systems to be built and the introduction of new types of providers-- the American Dental Association, individual dentists and the many public and private partners in Action for Dental Health are providing care today to the people who need it most.



Further, through public education efforts such as the Ad Council’s 2min2x campaign, we are raising awareness about how to prevent dental disease in the first place.



Our nation’s dentists are continuing to lead the way to community-based solutions that help underserved people now.





Dr. Maxine Feinberg is president of the American Dental Association.



Source: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/11/28/grassroots-solutions-from-america-dentists-getting-everyone-dental-care-need/



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35867.html

Survey: Some older adults in need of dental care

A survey of senior centers in New Hampshire shows that nearly 19 percent of older adults are in need of early or urgent dental care that may be difficult for them to access.



A total of 610 adults age 60 and older were screened last winter and this spring in the survey, which was funded by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services. The survey said 38 of the participants received restorative treatment using state funds.



The survey showed that only 18.4 percent of older adults have some type of dental insurance to help pay for routine dental care. It also showed that 28 percent have no functional top-to-bottom tooth contact, which affects proper chewing, and 15.9 percent have lost all of their natural teeth. About 5.2 percent of those with no teeth have no dentures.



Similarly, 25.4 percent of older adults have untreated decay or root fragments, and 6.8 percent are in need of periodontal care.



The report also showed that older residents living in rural areas and those with lower incomes have a much greater need for dental care.



“Oral diseases and conditions are common among our New Hampshire seniors, many of whom grew up without the benefit of community water fluoridation and other fluoride products,” said Dr. José Montero, director of public health for the state Department of Health and Human Services. “This survey illustrates that New Hampshire seniors with the poorest oral health are those who are economically disadvantaged and live in the most rural parts of our state. This is not a cosmetic issue.”



Source: http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/14701916-95/survey-some-older-adults-in-need-of-dental-care



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35757.html

New recommendations for fighting dental caries

Do you know what the most common chronic disease is affecting American children? It's not obesity. And it's not allergies, though those are good guesses. It's cavities. Or as health experts call them, dental caries.



Well, that's no big deal, right? Dental caries just affect the teeth — teeth that kids are going to lose anyway as they make way for their adult chompers. So why worry?



Dental caries are a big deal. Cavities lead to inflammation and infections that could seriously harm a child's health. And they can affect the growth and development of permanent teeth even before they break the surface of the gums. To combat the recent increases in dental caries, health experts have announced new dental recommendations for kids that they hope will reduce the number and severity of cavities in kids.



Cavities are caused when bacteria sit around in the mouth and start to erode tooth enamel. According to a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 59 percent of kids between 12 and 19 have at least one cavity, and poor and minority children are disproportionately affected. A child's chances of getting dental caries depend on a number of factors, namely diet, genetics and oral hygiene.



The AAP recently announced new recommendations for dental hygiene for children, stating that all children should start using toothpaste with fluoride when their teeth appear, regardless of their risk level for cavities. Previously, health experts worried that fluoride toothpaste might be harmful for young children who may be more likely than older kids to swallow the paste. But these new recommendations reflect the view that a small amount of fluoride is necessary to protect teeth and keep kids healthy. The AAP recommends that parents use only a teeny bit of fluoride toothpaste — about as big as a grain of sand — to brush their child's teeth. And that they start doing so as soon as the teeth start popping through the gums.



Talk to your child's doctor or dentist for more information about kids and cavities and the best ways to protect your kids from tooth decay.



Source: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/new-recommendations-for-fighting-dental-caries



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35384.html

Saliva Really Does Help Protect Teeth From Cavities

Salivary mucins work to actively protect the teeth--what's otherwise known as the cariogenic bacterium. Now, recent findings published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology reveal that bolstering these native defenses could help to fight dental caries instead of simply relying on exogenous materials such as sealants and fluoride treatments.



Lead study author Erica Shapiro Frenkel of Harvard University and principal investigator Katharina Ribbeck, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both in Cambridge, Mass., found that the body's natural defenses work in a better way to prevent tooth decay while relaying on external agents such as sealants and fluoride treatments.

"We focused on the effect of the salivary mucin, MUC5B on S. mutans attachment and biofilm formation because these are two key steps necessary for cavities to form," said Frenkel, via Medical News Today. "We found that salivary mucins don't alter S. mutans' growth or lead to bacterial killing over 24 hours," she added. "Instead, they limit biofilm formation by keeping S. mutans suspended in the liquid medium. This is particularly significant for S. mutans because it only causes cavities when it is attached, or in a biofilm on the tooth's surface."

Furthermore, she went to say that the oral microbiome is better preserved when naturally occurring species aren't killed. "The ideal situation is to simply attenuate bacterial virulence," she concluded.

Researchers said they believe that the research makes a fundamental contribution to scientific understanding of host-microbe interactions.



Source: http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/18973/20141117/saliva-really-does-help-protect-teeth-from-cavities.htm



Visit us: http://www.michelsfamilydental.com/



from paul_fjeldsted http://paul-fjeldsted.livejournal.com/35092.html