New Robotic Patient Helps Train Future Dentists

 

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2011-06-showa-hanako-realistic-robot-novice.html#jCp

    
Scientists at Japan's Showa University say they have been able to perfect a sort of robot practice dummy that dental students can practice on and get some sort of a realistic reaction to different mistakes being made during the practice. The robot will move its mouth as though it is engaging in conversation and will even gag or choke if the student is doing something that would most likely make a real person do the same. Even more lifelike, this robot will also occasionally come down with the need or shake its head and even simulate the need to close its mouth if it has been open too long and too wide.
Of course a robot that has a rubber coating that feels a little too much skin and will actually train its empty robotic eyes on you could actually be quite unnerving but the makers of the robot say that once the students get past their initial misgivings, this particular robot will go a long way towards getting patients familiar with the interactions of an actual patient without causing such patient as much discomfort. The robot, Hanako 2, is as lifelike as she is in large part thanks to an unlikely partnership between the researchers and Japan's top sex-doll company, Orient Industry. Orient worked hard to make sure that Hanako's skin, tongue and mouth were all built in order to look and feel as close to a real human as possible. It is because of these attention to details, paired up with the small sensors all around the robot's "skin" that make Hanako so convincing and such a good training aid.
While the robot was originally created over a decade ago, the Showa researchers say this is a vast improvement over their original model.
By Oliver VanDervoort

Natural Remendies For Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

 

For years people have gone the all-natural route instead of pharmaceutical medicines.  Today many people turn to herbal & natural remedies for many reasons.  A couple of being it is cheaper than the alternatives & you are not getting the chemicals found in traditional medicines.

 

For those of you that drink Green Tea, did you know that is  good for fighting dental cavities by getting rid of bacteria

 

 

 

Celery, Apples & Cheese also help keep bacteria away

 

 

 

 

 

 

To ease that toothache you may have, you can use Clove Oil, Vinegar & you can place an Ice Bag on your face wherever the pain is.  Those things will help you ease your pain until you can get into the dentist

 

 

Most people push aside a little Parsley that comes on your dinner plate, but if you have somewhere to be after dinner & don't have time to brush your teeth or any gum on hand, eat the Parsley and it will do the trick.

 

To whiten your teeth rub the white side of the Orange Rind against your teeth & rinse after a few minutes, or you can make a paste using a few Strawberries and Baking soda, let it sit on your teeth for a few minutes then rinse.

 

Those are a just a few examples on how you can use natural herbal remedies that are all natural and healthy for you :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is a Dental Hygienist ?

A dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive medical care, typically, but not limited to, focusing on techniques in oral hygiene.

Common procedures performed by hygienists include cleaning, scaling and root planing, taking of prescribed radiographs, dental sealants, and provide instructions for proper dental care.
Educational and licensing requirements in U.S. To become a dental hygienist in United States, you must graduate from a dental hygiene program, with either an associates degree (most common), a certificate, a bachelor's degree or a master's degree from a dental hygienist school that is accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).

The dental hygiene process of care has five steps:

Assessing the patient: This includes, but is not limited to, a full review of the patient's medical history, necessary x-rays to be taken, a clinical exam, and a periodontal assessment.
Dental hygiene findings: Assessing of data pertaining to a client's condition in terms that will help identify problems so as to lead to a creation of an order to apply available professional therapies. The diagnosis of disease in most jurisdictions may only be performed by the doctor.
Planning: creating a sequential treatment plan for the patient. The treatment plan will vary based on the patient's immediate needs.
Implementation: Carrying out the plan.
Evaluation: Determining the effectiveness of the work that was performed.
Over a period of months or years a dental hygienist may have his or her work evaluated several times, altering the diagnosis and plan numerous times as the client's condition changes.

How Soda Impacts Your Body

Weight:
 Drinking one soda equates to consuming 39 pounds of sugar per year. Regularly consuming sugary drinks interacts with the genes that affect weight. Sugar- sweetened beverages are linked to more than 1800,000 obesity-related deaths a year.

Brain :
 Having too much sugar in your diet reduces production of a brain chemical that help us learn, stores memories & process insulin.  Consuming too much sugar also dulls the brain's mechanism for telling you to stop eating.

Kidneys:
The high levels of phosphoric acid in cola's have been linked to kidney stones & other renal problems  Diet cola is increased with a two-fold risk- especially when more that two servings a day are consumed.

Digestive System:
The carbonation in soft drinks can cause gas,bloating, cramping & exacerbate the effects of irritable bowel syndrome.  Caffeine can also  worsen episodes of diarrhea or contribute to constipation.

Bones:
Soda consumption has been linked to osteoporosis & bone density loss, likely due to the phosphoric acid & caffeine in soda.

Heart:
Chronic diet & regular soda consumption leads to increase risk of heart disease, including heart attack-stroke.

Lungs:
The more soda you drink, the more likely you are to develop asthma or COPD.

Teeth:
The high levels of acid in soda corrode your teeth-almost as badly as drinking battery acid.

Old Time Dentistry: A Little Walk Through Time

 

 

Ancient Bridgework secured with brass bands

 

Dentistry sure has come a long way since the dark ages!  Back in about 300 B.C. ancient dentists were building dental bridges to replace missing teeth and holding them in place with brass bands.  These days, modern dentistry allows us to replace missing teeth with a simple dental implant procedure.

Dark Ages Dentist

 

The Dark Ages of Dentistry must be where people’s overwhelming fear of the dentist originates.  In this depiction of a dentist extracting a patient’s tooth, we can see that the patient is clearly in distress.  Keep in mind that back then, there was no novocaine, no laughing gas, no anesthesia of any type to alleviate dental pain.  Dentists in the 1700’s recommended using “soot” to clean teeth.
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Laughing Gas

 

With the invention of nitrous oxide sedation, “laughing gas”, we could finally have dental procedures and tooth extractions without pain.  It didn’t take long for doctors to realize that you had to mix the nitrous oxide with oxygen to prevent serious complications with your patient!  Nitrous oxide was invented in 1794 by Thomas Beddoes and James Watt.  It began being used for dentistry in 1844.
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He fixed his teeth, alright!

.Dentists and dental products have been popular in advertising for as long as advertising    has existed.  The gentleman in this advertisement for Dr. Shiffman looks really happy to have a big, gaping hole where his tooth use to be.  Dental implants in one form or another have been found throughout ancient history.  Ancient Egyptian mummies have actually been found with functioning dental implants in their jawbones!

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity ?

Did you ever drink something hot or cold and feel a sharp, shooting pain in one or more of your teeth? You probably have tooth sensitivity: potentially caused by a myriad of different problems.

 

Here is a list of things that can cause sensitive teeth:

• Receeding Gums
• A Cracked Tooth
• Teeth Grinding (Also known as Bruxism)
• Whitening Products (Especially if overused.) Note: Some people have a natural sensitivity to whitening products, so it's common to have some sensitivity after use.
• Gum Disease
• Brushing your teeth too hard or with a hard bristled toothbrush.
• Foods that have a high acid content, like citrus fruits, tomatoes, vinegar.....diet soda....

There are a variety of remedies out there to try, such as:

• Desensitizing Toothpaste (there is a wide variety available at the drugstore)
• Sealants
• Brushing with warm water or rinsing with warm salt water
• Add foods rich in vitamin D to your diet.

The most effective remedy is the common sense approach.....limit your usage of harsh mouthwashes, use a soft bristled toothbrush and keep up with your routine dental cleanings!

Dental Hygiene For Men

Here are some of the risk factors for developing gum disease:

Being male: Men are more likely to suffer from gum disease than women.

Being African-American: Black men are more likely than white men to develop gum disease.

Lack of funds and insurance: People at the lowest socio-economic levels tend to have the most severe gum disease. This is largely because they don't have access to (or can't afford) regular dental care.

Age: As we get older, our gums gradually recede, exposing the roots of the teeth to plaque. We also produce less saliva, which plays an important role in rinsing plaque out of the mouth.

Genetics: If your parents lost teeth to gum disease, you are at greater risk.

Neglect: Not brushing and flossing regularly.

Poor diet: Sugary snacks and drinks encourage the growth of plaque, and crunchy snack foods can damage enamel and teeth.

Clenching, grinding teeth: Chronic teeth grinding can sometimes result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. The chronic grinding may also damage tooth enamel and wear teeth down. This kind of damage can lead to the need for a host of expensive dental work, including bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures.

Smoking: Recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of gum disease. In addition, following periodontal treatment or any type of oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process and make the treatment results less predictable.

 

The Best Toothpastes: Did Yours Make the Top of the List ?

Real Simple, October 24,2010

Brush up on what you brush with.  Of 44 tubes tested, these squeezed out the others:

 

Best Foam : Aquafresh Iso-Active Whitening Fresh Impact
This gel's plentiful bubbles forth up when they hit your tongue  & penetrate deep between your teeth, leaving behind a deep scrubbed feel

Add caption

Best Innovation : Arm & Hammer Whitening Booster Plus With Enamel Strengthening
If you already have a toothpaste that you love, top it, with this liquid- calcium -concentrate  It lightens stains & can help fill in tiny cracks.
                                                    

 

 Best Overall : Colgate Total Enamel Strength Toothpaste

This gel-paste hybrid keeps your mouth feeling clean & fights germs for 12 hours. Plus, it protects enamel from acids found in foods & drinks.

 

 

 

 

Pro's Healing Pick :Tom's of Maine Clean & Gentle Care

It has been shown to soothe bitten cheeks, sore gums, and even an achy throat with licorice root!

 

 

 

 

Best Botanical : Burt's Bees Fluoride-Free Natural Whitening Toothpaste

This herbal wonder fights plaque with cranberry extracts, polishes with silica & it contains no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.

 

 

Best Whitening : Luster White 7 Toothpaste

With- you guessed it-seven polishing agents, including bamboo, silica, & peroxide, this stain blaster can brighten teeth in one week.  Testers loved this mild, sweet flavor too.

 

 

Best for Sensitive Teeth : Crest Pro-Health Sensitive Shield

 

It forms an imperceptible barrier around teeth to claim delicate nerves that are agitated by pain triggers, like hot and cold drinks.

 

 

Best On-The-Go : Supersmile Quickee No-Rinse Paste

Squirt a dollop of this no-rinse paste onto your tongue over your teeth to fade stains with calcium peroxide & freshen breath in an instant

 

 

 

Sjogren's Syndrome-Dry Mouth Affects Your Oral Health

Many people have never heard of this disorder....for some it is a simple inconvenience, but to the more severely affected, it is debilitating.  

What is Sjögren's Syndrome?

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands. Today, as many as 4 million Americans are living with this disease.

• Although the hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, Sjögren’s also causes serious complications throughout the entire body...
• It can a primary disease (all by itself) or a secondary disease, on the heals of other autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and others.
• It is a progressive disorder
• Having chronic dry mouth can cause a variety of oral problems: higher incidence of cavities, mouth sores, burning tongue, swollen salivary glands, thrush and oral infections.

  The important thing for people with Sjogren's to remember is to stay hydrated and manage the symptoms, rather than letting them continue without treatment.  If you have Sjogren's or if you think you may have it, contact your healthcare provider and make sure you see a dentist regularly.

 

 Often, your doctor and your dentist can work together to help you manage your symptoms.

 

Coconut water is an excellent source to hydrate the body and is reported by some to have a profound effect on combating the annoying symptoms of Sjogren's.

 

Dry Mouth Survival Tips

·       Eat soft, moist foods if you have trouble swallowing or with your teeth chipping and breaking.

·       Sjögren’s patients should eat smaller, more frequent meals to stimulate saliva flow.

·       Avoid salty, acidic or spicy foods and carbonated drinks that may be painful on your dry mouth or interfere with digestion in Sjögren’s.

·       Help prevent dental decay by using oral products containing the sweetener xylitol.

·       For dry mouth, increase your intake of liquids during the day. Remember that small sips of water work best.

·       Sjögren’s patients should avoid mouthwashes and rinses that contain alcohol or witch hazel. These ingredients can aggravate oral dryness and burning. 

·       Chew sugar-free gum or suck on hard diabetic or sugar- free candies to help increase saliva .

Apply vitamin E oil or moisturizing gels to dry or sore parts of the mouth or tongue for long-lasting relief. Use the liquid oil or punch holes in vitamin capsules.

 

Coconut water is an excellent source to hydrate the body and is reported by some to have a profound effect on combating the annoying symptoms of Sjogren's.

 

 

*For more information about  Sjogren's :  http://www.sjogrens.org/

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The Baskin Robbins of Toothpaste!

This company offers a very unique approach to oral health, offering products that are not only fun to use, but are better for you!
Ever heard of holistic toothpaste? BREATH PALETTE offers 18 different flavors of toothpaste that all have:
...

-No Sugar
-No Alcohol
-Low effervescence
-Less abrasive particles
-No synthetic surface-active agents

***The Breath Palette toothpaste sets include a wide variety of flavors from Strawberry to Lavender to Cola, but they still make your mouth fresh and clean your teeth! Use a different one each day, as there are dozens of unique flavors to start and end your days. Choose from FOUR different packs of 7 toothpastes.

The Breath Palette features:

• Pack of 7 toothpastes in choice of FOUR versions
• Pack 1: Tropical Pine, Monkey Banana, Grapefruit, Blueberry, Kiwi, California Orange, Strawberry
• Pack 2: Lightly Salted, Green Tea, Tsugaru Apple, Kyoto Matcha, White Peach, Kishu Plum, Grape
• Pack 3: Green Tea, Rose, Vanilla, California Orange, Cola, Lavender, Grapefruit
• Pack 4: Fresh Yoghurt, Honey, Cola, Vanilla, Caramel, Pumpkin Pudding, Dark Chocolate

• Cleans teeth with ultra-fine microbeads
• Prevents plaque with xylitol
• Less foaming
• Small and portable

• Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Water, Glycerin, Cellulose Gum, Menthol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Honeysuckle Extract, Butylene Glycol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Rooth Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sapindus Mukurossi Peel (Soapberry) Extract, Xylitol, Glycyrrhiza Galaba (Licorice) Extract, Fragrance

 Labels: in Japanese
They also offer mouthwash in different flavors

What To Expect On Your First Visit To The Visit

A first trip into a new dentist office can seem overwhelming especially if you don't know what to expect. Usually as soon as you walk in you are bombarded with paperwork.
What to expect:
...

1. Paperwork: When you get there, you will be asked to fill out the new patient packet. This includes medical history and contact information, HIPPA Policy, Consent for treatment and some other inner office papers that they are required to have on file
2. Full Mouth X-Rays: Depending on your dentist, this will be done as FMX or Panoramic. This is a necessary step that they must take because it gives the dentist a view of the condition of your dental health at that time as well as reveals some of the work that has previously been done by another dentist.
3. Comprehensive Exam: This is the point that the dentist is actually looking at your teeth and examining their health status. Depending on the the dentist's finding, a Perodontical Evaluation may follow.
4. Suggestion Plan Of Care: (Treatment Plan): This is the where you find out what the dentist saw during your examination, what he/she suggests as course of treatment, and what the cost for it is.

TIPS For Making The Process Easier:

1. Prepare for the paperwork: Prior to going to your first dental visit, gather all of the pertinent information that will need, such as Insurance or Coverage Plan information, medical history and a list of any and all medications that you are currently taking.
2. Do the paperwork ahead of time (if applicable): Some dental centers have their new patient information packets available for downloading on their websites. Prior to your first visit, check out their website and see if they have them available. If so, download them, fill them out and take them with you. This alone can save an extra 15 minutes in the office as well as give you more time to gather the essential information.
3. Be Early, Be On Time: For your first visit, you always want to be there approx 15-20 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This will allow the time for you to fill out paper and for them to ask any questions that they have.
4. Don't Freak Out Over The Treatment Plan: The treatment PLAN is just that.. A PLAN. It is not written in stone. Remember that dentist is not making this stuff up. What is on your treatment plan is a diagnosis from the doctor and plan of action that they would like to take. A treatment plan is developed with the goal of bring you to optimal dental health. However, again it is a plan. You have the choice as the patient to decide if you would like to proceed with the whole treatment plan, do 1/2 of it or none at all. What is done is your call.

4 Supplements That Dental Professionals Need To Discuss With Periodontal Patients

June 10, 2014

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“Immune Response” might easily be defined as the immune system attacking microorganisms that cause disease in our bodies. As we age, the body is less able to assimilate the nutrients required for optimal health, so we need diets high in fruit, fiber, vegetables, and the right supplements. This is where antioxidants play a role. Antioxidants prevent cell oxidation and lower the occurrence of disease, aging, and cancer. It is a fact that periodontal disease is more prevalent in 60 year olds than 20 year olds — even though seniors are more dental savvy and brush better — and it’s likely due to the body’s inability to fight off bacteria and chemicals as easily as when you are young.
Loma Linda University researchers³ ran a study a few years ago showing that a nutritional supplement alone, without any other dental treatment, significantly combatted the effects of periodontal disease, with less bleeding and smaller pocketing present. The nutritional supplements used in the study were grape seed extract, CoQ10, folic acid, and echinacea.
Here are some of the documented effects^1,2 that these supplements had on periodontal disease:

• Grape seed extract: Is a powerful antioxidant with 20 to 50 times the potency of vitamins C and E. Naturopaths have been using it for years to help treat arthritis, skin problems, and other inflammatory conditions. For periodontal disease in particular, it prevents the bacteria from colonizing. This is an important fact because it’s the colonization of bacteria that has made us look at plaque now as a biofilm, which also helps give it credence and its link to many systemic diseases. Biofilms are aggravated colonies of bacteria in their pure form. Biofilms are highly resistant to antibiotic treatment and are responsible for otitis media in kids, bacterial endocarditis, Legionnaires’ disease, and cystic fibrosis. They are also responsible for infections that hospital patients can get from catheters, implants, etc.
• CoQ10: Improves healing. It’s vital to the production of cellular energy and immune system function, and has been used in medicine for congestive heart failure, Parkinson’s and cancer. A woman naturally will produce 50% more during pregnancy to aid in development of the placenta. One of the significant things about statins and CoQ10 is that statins (like Lipitor) can lower CoQ10 levels, so it is important to take supplements to keep CoQ10 levels even.
• Echinacea: Inhibits enzymes that break down tissue.
• Folic acid: Ensures development of normal gum tissue. It binds to endotoxins (byproducts of bacteria) and renders them neutral. It can prevent periodontal disease, and it can help in healing if taken during periodontal treatment. It can even prevent re-occurrence if taken after periodontal treatment.

All of these supplements must still be taken with a diet high in fruits and vegetables to ensure proper immune function. But wouldn’t it be nice to be able to talk to your patients about this and help them understand the links and how important supplements are as we age?
Many companies now support the need for change toward treatment of total health of the patient. One such company is Pharmaden,⁴ which deals with nutraceuticals (vitamins and supplements to improve dental as well as physical health). Other companies such as Oragenics and Xlear exist as well and can help dentists and physicians educate and treat their patients about improving their overall health.
The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health is at the forefront of bridging the gap between medicine and dentistry to help educate and improve the lives of patients. AAOSH is about helping medicine and dentistry better understand the groundswell of science happening around them, as well as how to integrate it into their practices for better patient care. Through their annual scientific sessions, AAOSH brings together companies like Pharmaden, Xlear, Oragenics, and others that help dental and medical professionals learn new technologies and clinical research to treat patient’s total health. It is only through more knowledge and advanced skills that we can empower each other and ultimately our patients. We could just go with the status quo and not change a thing, but why would we, when medical costs are soaring, and diabetes, periodontal disease and other inflammatory disease are rampant, yet easily curable? It only takes a click to begin, so do it www.aaosh.org.
Bobbie DelSasso, RDH, BS, graduated from Marquette University College of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene Department in 1979. She was a coordinator for a Seattle Study Club for 15 years, event planning, and is a practicing hygienist for the director of that study club for 25 years. Bobbie is the executive director with AAOSH (American Academy for Oral Systemic Health), and she can be reached at delsasso@me.com.
References:

1. Neiva RF, Steigenga J, Al-Shammari K, Wang H-L. Effects of specific nutrients on periodontal disease onset, progression, and treatment. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2003; 30:579-588.
2. Brock GR, Butterworth CJ, Matthews JB, Chapple ILC. Local and systemic total antioxidant capacity in periodontitis and health. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2004; 31:515-521.
3. Harpenau L, Cheema A, Zingale J, Chambers D, Lundergan W. Effects of nutritional supplementation on periodontal parameters and c-reactive protein. Abstract submitted for publication. University of the Pacific.
4. www.PerioEducation.com