Snap-On Smile – Removable Cosmetic Veneer Is Now Available
We recently featured one of our latest services ‘Snap-on smile’ on Today Tonight .
Some of you may have seen the footage for new dentistry that can give you a Hollywood Smile. The crew from Today Tonight came and did some filming and were asking about Snap-On Smile. Since the story went live on air, we have been inundated with calls about the latest dental cosmetic technique new to Australia. Not all patients can receive permanent improvements to their smiles and overall health with dental restorations such as crowns, veneers and implants.
Snap-On Smile is an attractive, comfortable, and affordable solution that is easy for patients to use. It is a removable appliance that simply snaps in and out over your natural teeth. Made of very thin, but extremely strong, specialised resin that resists staining, Snap- On Smile can be used for years or worn as a preview and covering over ongoing dental restorations. It should never come loose or fall out. It is an affordable, non-invasive, and completely reversible dental treatment that can quickly get you feeling better about your smile and your life! Yes, you can eat with it and it protects the teeth because it goes over the outside of the teeth. The customised appliance is available for upper and lower teeth.
Snap-On Smile offers a simple, life-changing solution for many patients of all ages: those with gaps, crooked, stained or missing teeth, patients who are not candidates for implants or bridges, people undergoing full-mouth reconstruction or implant procedures, patients who want to avoid shots and drilling, as well as those who simply want better functioning teeth quickly, or a preview of what dentistry has to offer.
For many people, Snap-On Smile can be life changing, giving you back the confidence to smile.
Periodontal Disease
A Japanese study has found that if you have signs of periodontal disease, you’re more likely to develop high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
At the start of the study, all subjects had no signs of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. They include:
- Excess fat around the waist
- Cholesterol problems – These may include high LDL (bad), cholesterol, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high triglycerides
- High blood pressure
- Problems with blood sugar
- High levels of certain blood proteins
People with periodontal disease were more likely than those without periodontal disease to develop high blood pressure and cholesterol problems during the study. There was no link between having missing teeth and developing metabolic syndrome. Researchers also did not find a link between tooth decay and metabolic syndrome.
Nutrition And Oral Health
Children
Expectant mothers may not know that what they eat affects the tooth development of the foetus. Poor nutrition during pregnancy may make the unborn child more likely to have tooth decay later in life. Between the ages of 14 weeks to four months in utero, deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, protein and calories could result in oral defects. Some data also suggest that lack of adequate vitamin B6 or B12 could be a risk factor for cleft lip and cleft palate formation.
In children, tooth decay is the most prevalent disease, about five times more common than childhood asthma. “If a child’s mouth hurts due to tooth decay, he/ she is less likely to be able to concentrate at school and is more likely to be eating foods that are easier to chew but that are less nutritious.
It is a common myth that losing baby teeth due to tooth decay is insignificant because baby teeth fall out anyway. A study notes that tooth decay in baby teeth can result in damage to the developing crowns of the permanent teeth developing below them. If baby teeth are lost prematurely, the permanent teeth may erupt malpositioned and require orthodontics later on.
Teenagers
It isn’t the amount of sugar you eat; it is the amount of time that the sugar has in contact with the teeth. Foods such as slowly-dissolving candies and soda are in the mouth for longer periods of time which increases the amount of time teeth are exposed to the acids formed by oral bacteria from the sugars
Some research shows that teens obtain about 40 percent of their carbohydrate intake from soft drinks. This constant beverage use increases the risk of tooth decay. Sugar-free carbonated drinks and acidic beverages, such as lemonade, are often considered safer for teeth than sugared beverages but can also contribute to demineralisation of tooth enamel if consumed regularly.
Adults
In adults and elders, receding gums can result in root decay (decay along the roots of teeth). Commonly used drugs such as antidepressants, diuretics, antihistamines and sedatives increase the risk of tooth decay by reducing saliva production. The lack of saliva means that the mouth is cleansed more slowly and increases the risk of oral problems. Drinking water frequently can help cleanse the mouth.
Osteoporosis may also lead to tooth loss. Teeth are held in the jaw by the face bone, which can also be affected by osteoporosis. “So, the jaw can also suffer the consequences of a diet lacking essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamins D and K.
A good diet for all is required to keep the mouth and supporting structures in optimal shape
This article appeared in the July/August issue of Nutrition Today.
Sugary Treats
Whilst special occasions like Halloween are fun for children, it is not as much fun dealing with the dental problems that can arise from eating all those sugary treats.
Children are able to collect huge bags of candy in a few hours but a lot are eaten along the way. The worst kind of candy is sweet, acidic and sticky like some of the chewy sour lollies. I recommend that children carry around a bottle of water and rinse their teeth after eating sweets on the Halloween trail.
I’d also suggest that children brush their teeth as soon as they get in from Trick or Treating and rinse every time they eat sweets over the following days as they work through their Halloween loot. For adults buying treats to give out on Halloween, remember that not all treats need to be sweets! Healthy fruit bars, pencils, erasers and small toys can all be in the mix. Enjoy yourselves but don’t let Halloween turn into a dental nightmare!
WHEN DID YOU LAST HAVE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP?
Sleep is a major factor in our health and well-being. Ask yourself now,
- Does your bed partner say your snoring keeps them from sleeping?
- Do you sometimes wake up gasping for air?
- Do you feel tired during the day, even with a full night’s rest?
- Do you wake up early and can’t fall back to sleep?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you may like to discuss your sleep problem with Dr Jason Pang who now offers the latest take home sleep test to fully understand many sleep related problems. Best of all, it can be conducted in the comfort of your own home.
For a free consultation, call today on 9904 2880.
Decay Of Baby Teeth May Be Linked To Obesity And Poor
Food Choices
A study of young children undergoing treatment for cavities in their baby teeth found that nearly 28 percent had a body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile, indicating overweight or obesity. There is a growing concern that poor food choices, including those sugary drinks and fruit juices are contributing to both obesity and tooth decay in very young children. Dental cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood, according to Healthy People 2010 – 5–10 percent of young children have early childhood cavities – and childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, reaching nearly 20 percent by 2008.
The study involved 65 children ages 2–5 who required anaesthesia due to the severity of their dental problems
The data showed that:
- Eighteen of the 65 children, approximately 28 percent, had a BMI above the 85th percentile
- Waist circumference compared to height was significantly higher in the overweight and obese children compared to the children of normal weight.
- Approximately 71 percent of the children had a calorie intake higher than the normal 1,200 per day for their age group.
It is important to educate our children about nutrition and the risks of obesity and dental decay as poor nutrition may link obesity to tooth decay.
Clean your teeth for a healthy start
Taking care of your oral hygiene is important for everyone, particularly those who’ve had a heart attack, A new study in the April issue of the Journal of Periodontology says periodontal disease may increase the risk of heart problems in people who have already had heart attacks.
Researchers from the State University of New York Buffalo did the study, which included nearly 900 people. All had survived a heart attack. They were followed for seven years. During that time, 154 of them had another heart-related problem. The problems included another heart attack, a stroke, angina or heart failure.
The researchers compared nonsmokers with and without periodontal disease. They found differences between women and men with periodontal disease. Women were more likely than men to have a second heart-related problem. Overall, men and women with periodontal disease were 43 per cent more likely to have new heart-related problems than people without the disease.
