Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care is proud to host

the 2nd annual Dentistry from the Heart event:

Providing Adults with Free Dental Care on

Saturday June 8th beginning at 8:00am

www.dentistryfromtheheart.org

Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care will host a free dental care event through Dentistry From the Heart, supporting Hagerstown area residents with free dental care to the first 100+ people.  Dr. Burley will be joined by his office staff, local volunteers, and local volunteer dentists in order to provide the first 100 adult patients with a free extraction, filling, or cleaning.

Patients are asked to arrive early as the event is a first come, first serve basis.  Event registration will begin Saturday June 8th at 8:00 a.m. and patients will be seen through 5:00 p.m. that day.  Patients are also encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and snacks as they may be waiting outside to be seen.  Patients must be over 18 and bring a valid photo I.D.

This is the second time that Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care has hosted a Dentistry from the Heart event as last year was a great success and a great way for us to give forward to the home community.  This sort of outreach comes complete with improved smiles, relief from suffering, and a warm sense of gratitude.  The services provided by Dentistry from the Heart not only helps a patients’ teeth and overall health, it gives them a renewed reason to smile.  For more information, visit www.dentistryfromtheheart.org.

Dentistry from the Heart:  In 2001, Dentistry from the Heart started with dentist, Dr. Vincent Monticciolo, who wanted to give back to the community by providing aid to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance.  Dentistry from the Heart is a registered non-profit organization that services free dental work for people in need.  Since its inception, Dentistry from the Heart has grown to include over 200 annual events nationwide and provided more than 60,000 people with an estimated $6 million in free dental care.

One of the most common questions that we are asked is regarding radiation and dental x-rays.  Many patients are concerned with the dose of radiation, and question whether the x-rays at the dentist are necessary.

It is important for patients concerned about dental radiation to understand how it is measured.  Radiation dose is measured in millirems.  More information can be found at the American Nuclear Society.  But to get an idea, here are some common activities and the expected radiation dose:

620 mrem/year = the average level of radiation per person in the US

50000 mrem/year = the safe allowable dose for people that are exposed to radiation in their wok

1 mrem = two hours in a jet plane

7 mrem/year = from living in a brick house

10 mrem/year = cooking with natural gas

2 mrem/year = from sleeping next to someone else

36 mrem/year = from smoking one pack of cigarettes a day

42 mrem = breast mammogram per breast

700 mrem = abdominal x-ray

63 mrem/year = living in the Colorado Plateau area

0.5 mrem = one dental x-ray

Additionally, Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care has invested in the newest digital radiograph technology that further reduces the dose by another 80%.

The second part that people wonder is “why do I need dental x-rays?”  Dental x-rays show us things that we cannot see by simply looking inside your mouth.  Probably the most common type of x-ray taken is the “bitewing” x-ray.  This is usually taken at your checkup appointment once a year and sometimes once every 2-3 years.  The checkup x-ray shows us spots in-between teeth where cavities might be forming (“flossing cavities”).  If we are able to catch the cavity on the x-ray when it is small, we can fix it before it progresses to a large problem involving pain and expense.  Dental x-rays are an extremely valuable and beneficial tool to help protect your mouth and your health.

Please don’t hesitate to ask us any questions about your dental x-rays.  We are proud and thankful to be able to provide services to you at the highest level possible in order to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.

You knew this was coming, but resolving to floss at least once a day is a great resolution! Flossing is a hard habit for many people to get into, but flossing is also the single most important weapon against plaque, perhaps more important than the toothbrush.

Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth, including places where toothbrushes can’t reach. This can lead to gum disease. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chance of keeping them for a lifetime and decrease the chance of getting gum disease.

Why should I floss?

Floss removes plaque and debris that adhere to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces and controls bad breath. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chances of keeping your teeth a lifetime and decrease your chance of having periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay.

A toothbrush cleans the tops and sides of your teeth. Dental floss cleans between them. Some people use waterpicks, but floss is the best choice.  Many people just don’t spend enough time flossing and many have never been taught to floss properly. When you visit your dentist or hygienist, ask to be shown.

Which type of floss should I use?

Dental floss comes in many forms: waxed and unwaxed, flavored and unflavored, wide and regular. Wide floss, or dental tape, may be helpful for people with a lot of bridge work. Tapes are usually recommended when the spaces between teeth are wide. They all clean and remove plaque about the same. Waxed floss might be easier to slide between tight teeth or tight restorations. However, the unwaxed floss makes a squeaking sound to let you know your teeth are clean. Bonded unwaxed floss does not fray as easily as regular unwaxed floss but does tear more than waxed floss.

How should I floss?

There are two flossing methods: the spool method and the loop method. The spool method is suited for those with manual dexterity. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and wind the bulk of the floss lightly around the middle finger. (Don’t cut off your finger’s circulation!) Wind the rest of the floss similarly around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger takes up the floss as it becomes soiled or frayed. Maneuver the floss between teeth with your index fingers and thumbs. Don’t pull it down hard against your gums or you will hurt them. Don’t rub it side to side as if you’re shining shoes. Bring the floss up and down several times, forming a “C” shape around the tooth and being sure to go below the gumline.

The loop method is suited for children or adults with less nimble hands, poor muscular coordination or arthritis. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and make it into a circle. Tie it securely with three knots. Place all of the fingers, except the thumb, within the loop. Use your index fingers to guide the floss through the lower teeth, and use your thumbs to guide the floss through the upper teeth, going below the gumline and forming a “C” on the side of the tooth.

How often should I floss?

At least once a day. To give your teeth a good flossing, spend at least two or three minutes.

What are floss holders?

You may prefer a prethreaded flosser or floss holder, which often looks like a little hacksaw. Flossers are handy for people with limited dexterity, for those who are just beginning to floss or for caretakers who are flossing someone else’s teeth.

Is it safe to use toothpicks?

In a pinch, toothpicks are effective at removing food between teeth, but for daily cleaning of plaque between teeth, floss is recommended. When you use a toothpick, don’t press too hard, as you can break off the end and lodge it in your gums.

Do I need a waterpick (irrigating device)?

Don’t use waterpicks as a substitute for brushing and flossing. But they are effective around orthodontic braces, which retain food in areas where a toothbrush cannot reach. However, they do not remove plaque. Waterpicks are frequently recommended by dentists for persons with gum disease; solutions containing antibacterial agents like chlorhexidine or tetracycline, available through a dentist’s prescription, can be added to the reservoir in these cases.

some information taken from www.agd.org

More and more studies are finding a correlation between obesity and oral health.  A recent study showed that someone who is overweight is more likely to be diagnosed with gum disease.  The reason for this may be that fat cells produce chemical signals increasing the amount of inflammation in the body, decreasing the effectiveness of the immune system, and thereby increasing susceptibility to periodontal disease.  Inflammation of the gums also affect inflammation in other parts of the body.  Another common denominator is diet.  Diets high in sugar result in increased susceptibility to both obesity, periodontal disease, and cavities.

image taken from http://www.thetruthaboutforensicscience.com/readibility-versus-trueness/

They are fixed in place, they do not come in and out, and they do not require crowns on surrounding teeth like partials or bridges do.  They are truly the next best thing to the real thing.  We’ve seen the impact that dental implants have on people’s lives.  They not only prevent shifting and breaking of existing teeth, but they affect every meal, every smile, and every kiss for the rest of your life.

The way the implants are placed (and therefore the cost) depends on the patient, the type of implant, and the tooth being replaced.  The first step is to have an evaluation by the dentist and the surgeon who will be placing the implant.  The cost for the placement of the implant will vary according to the particular situation.  Procedures like bone grafting or sedation may be required and will change the fee.  Out-of-pocket costs will depend on how much the insurance company is willing to help.  According to the 2012 National Dental Advisory Service, the average fee for the placement of a single dental implant is between $1800-2000.

After the surgeon places the implant, the implant attaches, or “osseointegrates,” to the bone.  This process takes three to six months.  After this three to six month period, the surgeon will re-evaluate the implant and let you know when it will be ready to have the porcelain crown attached to the implant.

Usually, there will be a fee for the attachment piece that connects the implant to the crown and a fee for the actual crown.  The crown is custom made of gold alloy on the inner layer, and white porcelain on the outer layer.  The national average for the attachment piece (also referred to as an abutment) is $800-900, while the national average for the crown is $1200-1400.  You will have to check with your insurance company to find out if they will help cover that cost.

Dental implants are an excellent way to replace missing teeth.  Ask us if you might be a good candidate for dental implants, and call our office today for a complimentary insurance benefits check.

2012 NDAS: Comprehensive Fee Report.  Yale Wasserman, D.M.D. Medical Publishers, Ltd.  2012.

“Understanding Dental Implants: Comfort and Confidence Again.”  Krames Patient Education.  The StayWell Company.  2010.

Click here to check out the local news coverage

Sponsors for the 2012 Dentistry from the Heart event included:

• The Columbia Bank
• Glessner Protective Services Inc.
• Office Environments
• Grove Weatherproofing, Inc.
• BMGM Architects
• Patterson Dental
• Midwest/Dentsply/Caulk
• Sites Dental Lab
• High Rock Studios
• Keplinger’s Excavating, Inc.
• Pearl Oral Care
• Jill and Scott Hughey, MacAnswer
• James Shifler
• Charlie and Linda Stump
• Terry and Dee Jenkins
• Becky and Klaus Hein
• Jeanne Singer
• Carol Rowland
• Dale Gearheart
• Faye and Jack Slye
• Gary and Sally Hass
• Richard and Eleanor Lightner
• Tim Panther, State Farm
• Flurie, Slick, & Kinnett, CPAs, PA
• Darrell Jones
• Trinity UCC Raffle
• Martin’s, Dual Highway
• Weis, Eastern Blvd
• Food Lion, Virginia Ave
• The Cookie Jar
• Penn Ave Meats
• Café del Sol
• Fox’s Pizza Den

Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care will host Dentistry from the Heart:

Providing Adults with Free Dental Care on Saturday June 9th from 8:00am – 5:00pm

www.dentistryfromtheheart.org

Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care will host a free dental care event through Dentistry From the Heart, supporting Hagerstown area residents with free dental care to the first 100+ people.  Dr. Burley will be joined by his office staff, local volunteers, and local volunteer dentists in order to provide the first 100 adult patients with a free extraction, filling, or cleaning.

Patients are asked to arrive early as the event is a first come, first serve basis.  Event registration will begin Saturday June 9th at 8:00 a.m. and patients will be seen through 5:00 p.m. that day.  Patients are also encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and snacks as they may be waiting outside to be seen.  Patients must be over 18 and bring a valid photo I.D.

This is the first time that Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care has hosted a Dentistry from the Heart event, and it will not be the last.  Dr. Burley’s office hopes to make it an annual event as they see it as a great way to give back to their home community.  This sort of outreach comes complete with improved smiles, relief from suffering, and a warm sense of gratitude.  The services provided by Dentistry from the Heart not only helps a patients’ teeth and overall health, it gives them a renewed reason to smile.  For more information, visit www.dentistryfromtheheart.org.

Dentistry from the Heart:  In 2001, Dentistry from the Heart started with dentist, Dr. Vincent Monticciolo, who wanted to give back to the community by providing aid to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance.  Dentistry from the Heart is a registered non-profit organization that services free dental work for people in need.  Since its inception, Dentistry from the Heart has grown to include over 200 annual events nationwide and provided more than 60,000 people with an estimated $6 million in free dental care.

Providing Adults with Free Dental Care on Saturday June 9th from 8:00am – 5:00pm

Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care will host a free dental care event through Dentistry From the Heart, supporting Hagerstown area residents with free dental care to the first 100+ people.  Dr. Burley will be joined by his office staff, local volunteers, and local volunteer dentists in order to provide the first 100 adult patients with a free extraction, filling, or cleaning.

Patients are asked to arrive early as the event is a first come, first serve basis.  Event registration will begin Saturday June 9th at 8:00 a.m. and patients will be seen through 5:00 p.m. that day.  Patients are also encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and snacks as they may be waiting outside to be seen.  Patients must be over 18 and bring a valid photo I.D.

This is the first time that Hagerstown Smiles Dental Care has hosted a Dentistry from the Heart event, and it will not be the last.  Dr. Burley’s office hopes to make it an annual event as they see it as a great way to give back to their home community.  This sort of outreach comes complete with improved smiles, relief from suffering, and a warm sense of gratitude.  The services provided by Dentistry from the Heart not only helps a patients’ teeth and overall health, it gives them a renewed reason to smile.  For more information, call us at 301-739-7003 and visit www.dentistryfromtheheart.org.

Dentistry from the Heart:  In 2001, Dentistry from the Heart started with dentist, Dr. Vincent Monticciolo, who wanted to give back to the community by providing aid to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance.  Dentistry from the Heart is a registered non-profit organization that services free dental work for people in need.  Since its inception, Dentistry from the Heart has grown to include over 200 annual events nationwide and provided more than 60,000 people with an estimated $6 million in free dental care.

About 50% of people report that they have recurrent episodes of bad breath.  The American public spends about $1 billion to $3 billion a year for gum, mint, and breath fresheners.  Many people ask their local dentist about bad breath and recommendations for treatment.  In order to properly treat bad breath, one must identify the cause.

Studies have found that the vast majority of halitosis originates with the anaerobic bacterial degradation of sulfur containing amino acids within the oral cavity.  This results in the emission of volatile sulfur compounds  (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide).  And these volatile sulfur compounds stink!  Therefore, most of time, treatment for bad breath includes reduction of the bacteria within the oral cavity.

Treatment then, should begin with a dental exam and thorough cleaning.  Proper oral hygiene is important.  Flossing regularly and effectively reduces the amount of bacteria in between teeth- bacteria that can cause the foul smelling odor.  However, if oral hygiene is good but bad breath still remains, then the next most likely culprit to harbor bacteria is the tongue.

The tongue is the primary odor host of all sites in the human body.  Under magnification, the tongue can be compared to the surface of the moon after a rain shower.  Craters and peaks are covered by a thin, sticky film.  This coating is comprised of dead skin cells, blood cells, and bacteria.  Compared to other areas of the body, the tongue harbors more bacteria per square area.

Cleaning the tongue, then, is very important in controlling bad breath.  Be careful using tongue scrapers, though, as the tongue scrapers can be damaging to the tissue of the tongue.  Instead, use a few gentle sweeps with a soft toothbrush head.  Tongue scraping must be performed daily, as bacteria “bounce back” within a day.

In addition to cleaning the tongue, using oral rinses can help, especially chlorine-containing preparations (including a stabilized form of chlorine dioxide.  For more information, see http://www.frontierpharm.com/).  Listerine contains essential oils that help bad breath.  As well, toothpastes and mouthrinses containing triclosan have been shown to have direct action against volatile sulfur compounds and an antibacterial effect.

Be careful with using mints and gums containing sugar because the sugar feeds bacteria, furthering odor production as the mintiness dissipates.  Also, alcohol-containing rinses can dry out the mouth, re-establishing the odor production.  Dry mouth increases the amount of bacteria present.  This is because saliva, the mouth’s natural cleanser, is not as effective.  When we go to sleep at night, saliva flow greatly decreases.  Morning breath, then, is a result of this low saliva flow and the reason why brushing your teeth before bed is incredibly important.

These steps should address the vast majority of halitosis cases.  Additional causes of bad breath may include tonsillitis, sinusitis, and gastric reflux.  Discuss with your dentist and physician if you suspect these causes.  In summary, to combat bad breath:

Brush effectively twice daily

Floss daily: sweep and “scrub” the tooth on the front, back, and below the gumline.

Brush the back part of the tongue

Try a mouthrinse containing chlorine dioxide or triclosan

Avoid alcoholic bevrages, tobacco, sugar, and food with a strong odor

Drink lots of water

Visit your dentist regularly!

Lee, Sean, Wu Zhang, Yiming Li.  “Halitosis Update: A Review of Causes, Diagnoses, and Treatments.”  CDA Journal (2007): 35.4.  259-268.

Porter, S.R., C. Scully.  “Oral Malodour.”  BMJ.  2006 September 23; 333(7569): 632-635.

Richter, Jon L.  “Diagnosis and Treatment of Halitosis.”  Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry.  1996.

Yaegaki, Ken, Jeffrey M. Coil.  “Examination, Classification, and Treatment of Halitosis; Clinical Perspectives.”  Journal of the Canadian Dental Association.  (2000); 66:257-261.