Grads, Egads!

As I celebrate the end of Number One Son's high school career and his embark on matriculation at Michigan State, I am reminded of the many transitions from teen to adult.

As a dentist, the transitions from the teen years to the adult years make for some marked changes in treatment for this age group. There are issues related to growth and development to consider for these grads, such as "wisdom teeth," decay, and periodontal disease.

First, let's consider the erroneously named "wisdom teeth," dubbed by Dr. Obvious in a gray matter synaptic fury as the "18 Year Molars." Why? Because as you may have guessed, they arrive at 18 years of age. But to be truthful, "wisdom teeth" may make their presence known as early as 14 years of age and often cause numerous problems throughout life. If the "wisdom teeth" are to be removed (and most are), early extraction is more desirable than waiting out the inevitable. The teeth continue to develop, getting bigger and bigger with time and making their extraction more difficult. The summer after senior year is the prime time to remove these pesky teeth. At this age, teens are still usually covered by their parent's insurance and may still respond to parental guidance for care. Once they leave for college or jobs, many will neglect their dental health and/or may not have the means to pay for necessary treatment. Without parental influence to set up, pay for, and keep appointments, dental care takes a back seat.

Another issue that arises in early adulthood is decay. Many teens that have never had a problem with decay previously develop cavities for the first time once they head off to college. The availability of unlimited free soda in dorms and at jobs, energy drinks for all night study sessions, and a lack of attention to personal care can be to blame. Parents who have never supplied sugary drinks at home might see their children indulging a bit at college (and you hope that's all they indulge in!) and paying less attention to their personal hygiene.


Younger children are pretty much exempt from periodontal (gum) disease except in rare conditions. Once teens reach adulthood that can change a bit and we begin to take measures of periodontal condition. We record the "pocket" numbers around each tooth to establish a baseline for future years. If numbers change for the worse, more extensive patient education and treatment is initiated. Quite often a lack of attention to personal hygiene, stress, and a poor diet is the cause. This age group tends to burn the candle at both ends (really?) and is under a fair amount of stress which results in some health decline which is first visible in the mouth.

Just as most grads slowly transition to college and jobs, the changes in teen dental care are steady, predictable, and for the most part uneventful. With a little attention to hygiene and a minimum amount of professional intervention, these changes can be made with ease. Relax.

New Tools in the Fight Against Oral Cancer

Recently some new devices have come to dentists' aid in the recognition and diagnosis of oral cancers. Oral cancers do not always look scary and obvious. Check out the following pictures of various oral cancers.

They may not look scary but the facts regarding oral cancers are very scary;
- 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year.
- Of these 34,000 newly diagnosed people, 48% will be dead within five years.
- Oral cancer, unlike many other cancers, has not shown a decrease in mortality in the last 30 years.
- 25% of oral cancers occur in people with no known risk factors.
- Oral cancer occurrence is rising in young people, women, and non-smokers - those people traditionally thought of as being protected from oral cancers. This is often caused by HPV, the human papilloma virus, the same virus that causes 95% of cervical cancer.
- Oral cancer is as common as leukemia and it claims more lives than melanoma and cervical cancers.

 Several methods are available for detecting and screening for oral cancers. One method used is a "brush biopsy." These have been around for several years. It consists of a little brush that your dentist will use to scrape off some of the mucosal cells. The brush gets sent to an outside laboratory for analysis.

Another method is the Velscope. The Velscope is an early oral cancer detection device that uses a light to visualize abnormal cells. Oral cancers can be seen by the naked eye only when they are quite advanced. This is why the mortality rate of oral cancers is so high. The Velscope is an inexpensive screening tool that can be utilized to see these cellular changes early on.

The Vizlite is another device that uses light to visualize cellular changes. These methods also can detect a change in the cells below the surface of the tissue.

In the event of a positive test, all these methods would be followed up with a biopsy for definitive diagnosis.

The main purpose of these methods is to catch a cancer early on. As with any cancer, early detection is the key. All of these tests are simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive. If you have any concerns or have risk factors in your lifestyle, don't wait! Check it out. Your life could depend on it.

Now I know...

I always wondered why people had these, now I know.....
http://dentvid.com/?p=87 (watch video)

Implant Retained Dentures

People who wear complete dentures tend to lose the bone that supports the denture over years of time. The bone, especially that of the lower jaw, constantly deteriorates without natural teeth in place. This loss of bone makes it difficult for those with dentures to achieve a good fit and maintain it.


Denture wearers learn to keep their teeth in place by positioning their lip, tongue, and cheek muscles for optimal retention. Many people master these techniques for holding their teeth in place quite well, while others have issues with facial posturing and facial tension which can be undesirable.


If dentures move excessively when eating, speaking, coughing, etc., implants can be effectively used to improve denture retention.

Dental implants are most commonly used to replace missing teeth. But another excellent use of implants is in the stabilization of dentures. A couple of implants in the bone can create a button or snap to which the denture can lock. With a denture locked in place and the fear of it shifting is removed, a person can have increased confidence, better nutrition and improved facial esthetics.

When people know they have a denture that will not fall out or shift during function, the facial muscles relax, leading to an improved facial appearance. Implant retained dentures may also create fewer sore spots because the denture is additionally supported by bone, not just soft tissue.

Implants can be retrofitted into an existing denture or planned with the initial placement of a denture. If you are one of the many people for whom dentures can literally be a pain, an implant retained denture may be the answer.

Dentists warn cavities are contagious | savannahnow.com

Dentists warn cavities are contagious savannahnow.com

Whoops! Denture Blunder!