Fear of the Bike

Getting Over Fear of Dentistry is Like Learning to Ride a Bicycle.

Why?

Because when you are learning to ride a bike the main problem is fear of falling.

Remember when your dad or mom taught you how to ride a bike? He or she ran alongside the bike and held the bike up so you wouldn't fall. For ten minutes, you rode the bike while your parent held you up. Once you got over the speed and steering hump, it was easy. The hard part was the fear of falling.

Learning to ride a bike is what is called a binary activity. Either you are riding or your are falling. No in-between. Falling...riding. Failing...succeeding.

Learning things that are binary like this is difficult. They are difficult because people don't like to fail.

In our office we love teaching people how to be comfortable in the dental chair. We hold up the bike while they learn to ride. This reduces the fear of failure. Then, if the patient doesn't give up after ten minutes, in a blink, they're fine.They always say it's a sort of miracle. And that they never thought they would get over their fear and especially not that easily. It turns out, getting over the fear of dentistry is just like leaning to ride a bike.

Easy with a good teacher who will hold up the bike for the first little bit.

Are you a "dental phobic"? Give us a call. We can help.

Periodontal Disease: A Serious Threat To Teeth and to General Health

Hi,

Dentists have been diagnosing and treating periodontal disease for a long time. We have always known it to be the major cause of the loss of teeth in adults. And we have been pretty successful over the years in helping patients overcome their gum disease and become dentally healthy.

Dentists have always been concerned with the detection and control of gum disease as a part of helping their patients keep their teeth healthy through their lives. Now we know that this effort is part of a larger picture and that we must be aware of the part that gingivitis and periodontal disease plays in our patients’ general health.

The Bad News

In July of 1998, the American Academy of Periodontology launched an effort to educate the public about new findings which support what dental professionals had long suspected: Infections in the mouth can play havoc elsewhere in the body.

Evidence has continued to mount to support these links. We now know that people with periodontal disease are at higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, preterm births and respiratory disease. And most recently, a possible link has been identified between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer.

How does this work?

Periodontal bacteria can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs and begin new infections. Additionally, periodontal inflammation is associated with increased circulating levels of certain proteins, such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP) that are associated with multiple systemic illnesses. Research continues to explore these links to understand more about how the connections work.

So What Can You Do?

If you value your oral health as well as your overall health, a thorough periodontal evaluation is a good idea. Of course, our regular patients have this kind of evaluation at their initial visits with us and at every regular checkup.

Recently, improved methods of detection of periodontal disease in its very earliest stages have become available and we have been adopting these methods as they are proven. Modern methods of treating periodontal disease, such as PerioProtect, have made treatment much, much more comfortable and effective. You can check out PerioProtect at www.perioprotect.com. We hold Premier Certification in PerioProtect and have enjoyed very good results with our perio patients here in our Dutchess County office.

No one should lose their teeth or get sick from gum disease.

We can help. If you would like a free group of articles telling about the connections between periodontal disease and serious general health issues, just send us e-mail to DrSteveRoss@aol.com and we'll get it right out to you.

Here's a good You Tube video showing dental hygienists talking about their PerioProtect experience and how it helped their patients: www.youtube.com/user/perioprotect.

Dental Implants: Replacement Teeth That Look and Feel Like Your Own

Last Wednesday I spoke with a patient who needs to replace a missing tooth and wanted to know all about the use of an implant to do it. After we talked she suggested I add the information to our blog site, so here it is.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in decent oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.

Many people get kind of anxious when they think about something being put into their jawbone. But if you talk to people who have had implants, they will tell you that the whole procedure was simple and was not painful or uncomfortable and they always say they were amazed by how easy it was.

Sometimes things sound scarier than they actually are.

Dental implants allow us to replace missing teeth without the need to use teeth on each side of the space to hold the replacement. This dramatically reduces any trauma to the other teeth -- a good thing, right?

Here's how it works. The first step is for the dentist who will place the actual implant in the jaw to check out the site and make sure all is ready. I like to ask a trusted colleague to do the placement of the implant. I have some favorite periodontists and oral surgeons I have worked with for years and who really know what they are doing. We plan the work together to determine the best position and other factors to ensure the best and most successful placement.

After the implant is in, there is a period of waiting while the implant and the jawbone kind of marry and the implant becomes completely solid to the bone. It is rock solid at that point. During the waiting period a little cover is placed on the implant and if needed, a temporary replacement tooth is placed to eliminate the space if it is in the visible zone.

OK. Once the implant is ready, I take over. It usually takes me two visits to do what is needed to create and place the new tooth and attach it to the implant. Sometimes, if the situation is complex it can take more than two visits. These are comfortable visits.

Here's what dental implants can do.

- Replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth.

- Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture.

- Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.

Implants are:

Esthetic. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will know that you have a replacement tooth.

Tooth-saving. Dental implants don't sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!

Reliable. The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement. The success rate is 90%-98% in my office.

Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth. You know that your confidence about your teeth affects how you feel about yourself, both personally and professionally. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don't feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own!

If you are missing a tooth, or several teeth, or if you are wearing a denture that is loose or troublesome, let us show you how implants can help you. Don’t let anything stop you from having a strong, healthy, attractive, comfortable mouth and smile. We are here to help! Give us a call at 845-297-6206, or send e-mail to DrSteveRoss@aol.com, or visit our web site at DrSteveRoss.com.

We’d love to help you.

Did You Know That A Bridge Or A Crown With Chipped Porcelain Can be Repaired?

OK, now you've done it! You have this beautiful porcelain bridge or crown and it chipped. Because it's a bridge or a crown, it is not removable from the mouth (it's bonded to your natural teeth).

Now what?

Well, cheer up. Today's amazing adhesive dentistry techniques can almost always allow us to repair the chip with strong composite resin bonded right to the porcelain that is chipped.

First we have to be sure the chipped area is clean and strong -- no weak parts. Then we treat the porcelain with a mild organic acid solution. Next, we apply a porcelain coupling agent called silane.

With that done, we brush on a bonding agent and chemically harden it with that special light we always use for adhesive dentistry.

And finally, the composite resin material is sculpted into place. And hardened with that light.

All fixed.

The repair, being made of resin, is not quite as strong as the original porcelain. But it is plenty strong and after all, we make fillings and inlays out of composite resin and you chew fine with it.

So if you chip your bridge or crown, don't panic. Call us. We can help.

It’s important to know that not everything can be fixed. It is possible to have enough damage that the bridge or crown will have to be replaced. But it takes a lot of damage for that to be the case.

21st century dentistry is amazing. There has never been a better time to be a dental patient.

Have any kind of dental problem? Call us at 845-297-6206, or send e-mail to DrSteveRoss@aol.com. And do visit our web site at DrSteveRoss.com.

Snap-On Smile: Another Way For A Dental Makeover

Snap-On Smile has been around for a little while. I discovered it early and have accumulated a lot of experience with it.

Here's a Q&A about Snap-On Smile.

What is Snap-On Smile?

Snap-On Smile is a dental appliance that involves no drills, no cutting down of existing tooth structure, no needles, and it is removable. It’s non-invasive, meaning it is also reversible. It fits directly over existing teeth and can be applied to a variety of situations.

It’s made with a specialized resin which allows the appliance to be made as thin as 0.5mm without compromising strength.

What kind of material is it made out of?

Snap-On Smile appliances are made of a crystallized type of resin called “Acetyl Resin”. It is unlike acrylic, which makes it more durable and non-staining. The material is also used in heart valve replacement as well as other applications in dentistry. NASA uses it as well within their aircraft cabinetry for its durability. It is very strong.

Does it come in different shades like crowns do?

We can choose from 23 shades and 18 smile designs, giving us an array of choices for your appliance.

Who is a candidate for Snap-On Smile?

Snap-On Smile is used for urgent situations requiring change on very short notice, dental phobics and medically compromised patients, such as chemo or radiation treated patients. It can also be used in some cases of periodontal disease as a periodontal splint for mobile teeth by strengthening the teeth going through periodontal treatment. This splint method is also helpful because the patient can easily maintain excellent oral hygiene.

Snap-On Smile can also be used in certain situations to test a new look for patient having a cosmetic makeover.

And here's a good thing: Sometimes a person is really wanting to create a new smile, but the money is just not there yet. That person can get a lot of help with Snap-On Smile as a transition to the "real deal". We've done that a bunch of times.

Snap-On Smile is not intended to restore or repair decayed teeth. Teeth should be free of decay or other significant defects or disease before a Snap-On Smile appliance is made.

What are the steps to receiving Snap-On Smile?

If a Snap-On Smile is decided on, we will take an upper and lower impressions of your teeth and record your bite using a special bite material. Then we will choose the preferred shape and shade together.

The impressions and bite registration, along with our detailed prescription, is sent to the Snap-On Smile laboratory for fabrication. When the Snap-On Smile is received from the laboratory (this usually takes about two weeks), we will try it onto your teeth and verify that it was constructed according to our prescription and that it fits properly (it almost always does, but we're careful). And we will show you how to use and care for it.

Does a Snap-On Smile appliance look natural?

Sometimes it is amazingly lifelike and natural. But also remember, a Snap-On Smile fits over your natural teeth and so it adds some contour and a little bulk. If your natural teeth are large or prominent, the Snap-On Smile will add a little to that. We need to decide together about this before we go ahead. In some cases, the teeth may feel bulky even if they appear to look close to normal size. This takes getting used to, and that usually happens in a few days. This is an important decision. Not everyone is a Snap-On Smile candidate.

How long is a Snap-On Smile appliance expected to last?

They should last 1-3 years assuming careful use and care. And remember, if your natural teeth need to be changed or repaired, there is the possibility that the appliance will no longer fit.

How do I care for Snap-On Smile?

This is critical. You need to remove and clean your Snap-On Smile after meals and snacks and before sleeping. The appliance is best maintained by brushing the internal and external surfaces. To obtain the best results, clean with a soft toothbrush. We can supply you with a special cleaning material for your Snap-On Smile and it works real well. Of course you will rinse the appliance very thoroughly before re-inserting it. And you must also clean your natural teeth before you re-insert the appliance, or if this is not possible, at least rinse your mouth very thoroughly.

Can you sleep with a Snap-On Smile appliance?

For normal dentition, we do not recommend sleeping with your Snap-On Smile in place. We do make an individual exception to this in specific cases.

Will it change my bite?

It depends. Sometimes we use Snap-On Smile to accomplish exactly that for specific treatment purposes. We create a prescription for the appliance that takes this into consideration. Occasionally, there is a slight increase in the bite dimension. But unless we intentionally choose to increase the bite, If there is only a very slight increase in occlusion. Any change is minimal at most.

How does it attach?

Snap-On Smile uses the natural curvature of your teeth to hold it in place (due to the material's flexibility) by utilizing the heights of contour of each individual tooth. It will not be loose in normal function.

Can you wear a Snap-On Smile appliance every day? Will it break or tear?

Snap-On Smile can be worn every day, all day. We want you to remove and clean it before going to bed and not wear it in sleep unless we advise you to wear it while sleeping.

It will break if enough force is placed on the appliance. Care is required just like any other dental appliance. You can't crack walnuts or open bottles and we cringe if you try to tear off beef jerky with it. The specially formulated resin is durable, but it can be abused to the point of breakage. We rarely see breakage.

Is it heat tolerant?

Yes, it can tolerate hot food and drinks. It can not tolerate boiling or near boiling and should be cleaned with warm water.

Does it maintain its color?

Yes. It is made out of a non-porous, microfilm material that does not allow anything to adhere to it. It is non-toxic and hypo-allergenic. The crystallized resin has the ability not to absorb any food debris, bacteria, or discoloration. Red wine and drinking coffee will not be a problem. If you smoke, the appliance can become stained.

Can we do a try-in?

Yes, we can have a try in. However, there will be a charge if any additional appointments are needed.

Can material be added to a Snap-On Smile appliance?

Yes, a little material can be added to the margin for minor repairs or tears. This is reserved for unique situations.

So Snap-On Smile is amazingly useful. Take a look at the Snap-On Smile web site (snaponsmile.com). Call me if you want to talk about your specific situation. We'll be glad to evaluate you and give you good advice. 845-297-6206. Or send e-mail to DrSteveRoss@aol.com. Or visit our web site at DrSteveRoss.com.