My Holistic Dentist San Diego

D is for Dental Cavities

August 5, 2010 – 11:32 pm

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines dental cavities or “caries” as the “result of bacteria on teeth that breakdown foods and produce acid that destroys tooth enamel and results in tooth decay”.

I see the result of sugar and poor diet on teeth every day. This coupled with inadequate oral hygeine/home care is the difference between dental health and decay. When I see the effects on the oral cavity, it makes me wonder what sugar, processed foods, and improper diet does to the body as a whole in terms of acidity, plaque in the arteries, inability to detoxify, and breakdown of the organs and immune systems. It is a humbling thought.

The acid stays present on the teeth because of either poor brushing and flossing habits (oral hygiene) and/or the presence of too much acidity in the saliva, which feeds the decay-causing bacteria and causes it to flourish. Children from age 6 until adolescence are at risk for cavities because their constant exposure to sweets, whether in the form of all-too-prevalent candy or ‘good-for-you’ fruit juices, which contain a high degree of fructose. While fructose is a natural sugar, it is still a sweet and will feed the bacteria that causes tooth decay. My youngest patient is currently two years old and has cavities.

In my holistic dental practice, I strongly espouse the basics. What you do every day to maintain the health of the mouth pays dividends on many levels. Keeping your mouth and gums bacteria free and thus inflammation free has become recognized as having a role in the health of your heart and blood vessels. Brushing and flossing really are important. Yes often it is inconvenient, but once a day is all you need to maintain your teeth in a healthy state. If you have trouble with inflammation, maybe twice a day with regular cleanings will be necessary.

If you have bleeding gums when you brush or when you have cleanings done at the dental office, or if you have pocketing over 3 millimeters when measured by your dentist, then more than the basics may be necessary. Often deep cleanings or root planing is recommended. However, I have found that bringing the inflammation down first is more effective than just deep cleanings. I have spoken about the holistic gel treatment I do in my dental practice in previous posts. What I haven’t spoken about is the overall effect it has on the health of the mouth.

Basically, less bacteria and less inflammation leads to less plaque and less decay. Really healthy gums means healthier teeth. The two go hand in hand. With this foundation, good home care and a good holistic dentist who is focused on the preservation of your teeth, you will have your teeth for a lifetime.

By admin | Posted in Dental Nutrition, Oral Health | Tagged cavity teeth, dental caries, gum disease, holistic dentist, oral hygiene, tooth decay | Comments (0)

Holistic Dentist Views on Gum Surgery

August 3, 2010 – 8:17 am

I’ve been talking a lot lately about gum disease as it is so foundational for the health of your mouth and your body. I am going talk about gum surgery today and when it should be used. First of all, surgery should not be the first option, but when it is necessary, it can and often does save teeth. That is because gum or periodontal surgery has come a long way over the years.

There are techniques including bone grafting techniques that have evolved over the years. The types of things that can be done and the results possible are quite impressive. It of course depends on the knowledge and skill of the practitioner and the healing capacity of the body. The main difference is that instead of cutting gums back to where the bone is, often times bone can be added to support and strengthen the teeth.

Lasers can also play a role in gum surgery at the periodontal office. Instead of using a knife the periodontist can sometimes use a laser to cut tissue and coagulate the blood. The main advantage of this technique is that often there is recovery and healing that leaves the tissue and bone levels better than before. In other words there is more bone and gum attachment after the healing is complete.

While it is not faster than traditional surgery, the results can be as good or sometimes better. Although not applicable in every situation, laser surgery definitely has its place. Most periodontists in San Diego charge around $1,000 per quadrant and there are four quadrants in the mouth. Unfortunately, the treatment needs to be completed within a 2-3 week period, so it is not something that can be done over time.

I have found that most patients first want to try the conservative and non-surgical approaches first. I have had good luck in my office with patients who will do the necessary home care required to reverse gum disease.

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged gum disease, gum surgery, holistic dentist, laser | Comments (0)

Holistic Dentist’s ‘3 Steps to Gum Health’

July 31, 2010 – 1:43 pm

I wanted to start a discussion of just what lasers can do for gum health. There is a lot of information currently available about gum disease and overall health. Research has found that with gum disease, coronary artery disease is almost twice as likely to occur. Coronary artery disease results in a thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries. It may be that bacteria that causes gum disease enters the blood stream and increases clot formation in blood vessels.

Even though up to 80% of the population suffers from some form of gum disease, it is not always apparent or obvious. This is because it rarely hurts until the damage becomes quite advanced. The common warning signs of gum disease include gums that bleed when brushing or flossing, swollen or tender gums, red gums, and spaces that develop between teeth. Other warning signs include bad breath or bad taste, long teeth from extreme gum recession and/or a change in your bite.

What can be done about this common problem and how can we maintain our teeth and gums so that we keep them healthy for life? As a holistic dentist practicing in San Diego, I have years of experience treating gum problems. I have found that there are basically three levels of care that work in conjunction to improve gum health. I first remove the plaque and hard deposits that cause bacteria buildup and gum inflammation. I then use natural products in the office and recommend other products for home use to continue to lower inflammation and promote healing of the gums. I then use laser gum treatment to stimulate the gums and eliminate the pocketing that promotes gum disease.

This protocol offered at my holistic dental office is one that almost any patient can do because it is less painful than most of the other options and less expensive as well. Compared with surgery, it is a lot less painful and less expensive. With this approach to gum treatment, I have found that patients can go from moderate gum disease, with 4-6 mm pocketing, to a healthy 2-3 mm pocket range. Quite a difference for them, and they are very happy they were able to avoid surgery. Surgery is always an option, but wouldn’t you rather try the conservative approach to treat gum pain and periodontal disease first?

If you are local to San Diego, we will be happy to answer your questions to see if holistic dentistry may be the right approach for you.

By admin | Posted in gum disease | Tagged gum disease, gum pain, holistic dentist, holistic dentistry San Diego, laser gum treatment, periodontal disease | Comments (0)

The Age of Computerized, Clear Braces – Part 2

July 29, 2010 – 12:46 pm

Yesterday I discussed the ClearCorrect method to having straight teeth using transparent, removable tray liners. This approach to straightening teeth supports a holistic lifestyle because of its ease of use, and even highly sensitive patients who prefer to see a biological dentist have used them successfully.

But you may have some concerns about whether ClearCorrect will work for your smile. ClearCorrect can help you achieve your best smile whether your teeth are crowded or spaced. It can correct most overbites and underbites and can straighten and align teeth that are crooked or turned. Certainly, an actual assessment of your case will be necessary, but ClearCorrect has a very broad application and the chance are good that you can benefit from treatment in one or more of the following ways:

• Improve the way you bite with your back teeth.
• Improve the alignment of your front teeth.
• Improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile.
• Improve the overall health of your teeth and mouth.
• Improve the ease of caring for your teeth.

The ideal situation for invisible braces is slight to moderate crowding of upper or lower teeth, especially in the front. A lot of spacing between the teeth makes this treatment more difficult. The first step is for your doctor to evaluate your teeth and talk about any goals you have for your smile. Once you and your doctor establish ClearCorrect is the right treatment option for you, your doctor will create a custom treatment plan for you. Impressions, photos, and x-rays of your teeth will be taken for records and guidelines for the ClearCorrect lab to make your custom aligners.

Your doctor will send the guidelines to ClearCorrect with a prescription for your custom aligners. ClearCorrect then uses your records to create exact 3D models of your teeth and from there on works with your doctor every step of the way. Following the precise instructions provided on your prescription, ClearCorrect maps out a complete treatment plan of gradual adjustment that takes your teeth from where they are currently to where you and your doctor have envisioned them turning out.

Once completed, you and your doctor will be able to preview the projected results of your treatment in your “treatment set-up,” a computer representation of your teeth before and after treatment. When both you and your doctor are satisfied with the projected results shown in your treatment set-up, the manufacturing process begins. Using the latest digital mapping and molding technology, ClearCorrect creates your custom aligners with computer precision. ClearCorrect then sends your aligners to your doctor for delivery to you.

The progress you make in wearing your aligners will be gradual and fit into your daily routine. You’ll wear your aligners all the time, except while eating and drinking or during daily tooth care, such as brushing and flossing. The smooth surface finish on ClearCorrect aligners withstands clouding from wear. They are so clear they are barely noticeable, minimally invasive and removable. ClearCorrect is designed to fit your life and daily routine as perfectly as it fits your teeth

With each aligner tray, you’ll be able to see the difference as your teeth slowly adjust toward your target smile. Follow-up appointments are usually short, and because ClearCorrect treatment is flexible, you can schedule appointments with your doctor to fit your availability. You don’t have to be concerned about being too busy.

Generally the aligners will need to be changed every six weeks or so. Results are faster the more you wear your aligners, and ClearCorrect was designed to be effortless and non intrusive in your life so you can easily wear your aligners. You really only need to take them out when you eat or clean your teeth.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll forget you’re wearing your ClearCorrect aligners. And they’re so clear that others in your life won’t notice them either. Once you and your doctor decide to begin treatment with the ClearCorrect system, you’ll receive your aligners in sets at periodic follow-up appointments.

Eventually you will have the smile you’ve always wanted

By admin | Posted in Teeth Straightening | Tagged adult braces, biological dentist, braces cost, clear Braces, cosmetic, crooked teeth, straight teeth, straighten teeth | Comments (0)

The Age of Computerized, Clear Braces- Part 1

July 29, 2010 – 2:14 am

As a San Diego holistic dentist providing cosmetic dental care, I want to offer my patients all the benefits of straight teeth and a beautiful smile. Now ClearCorrect can be a simple alternative to traditional braces for adults without wires and brackets.

The ClearCorrect method is comfortable, convenient and affordable. You won’t have any reason to hide your smile, as is so often the case with unsightly and often uncomfortable metal braces. Using ClearCorrect, your dentist or orthodontist will be able to straighten your teeth by using a series of clear and customized removable aligners. Each aligner moves your teeth just a little bit at a time until you eventually have straight teeth.

ClearCorrect is also an alternative to the better known Invisalign brand of clear and removable braces. While ClearCorrect does not have the same market recognition as Invisalign, it uses a virtually identical technology and is more affordable. Another benefit of using ClearCorrect is that it is virtually invisible. We all want to feel that our smiles are as radiant and expressive as can be and if we reach adulthood without this being the case, then clear braces can be a very viable solution.

This is especially true for adults who cannot imagine themselves wearing wires and metal bands, especially those who have already had that experience in their teens. Sometimes teeth shift over times and even if you have been through it once before, more orthodontic work is sometimes necessary. Unlike traditional braces, you can show off your smile while you straighten your teeth into the ideal smile you’ve always wanted.

In the case of Baby Boomers, who may have been waiting for the technology to improve, ClearCorrect’s custom fit and irritation-free comfort make it a desirable option that may be the right one. I find that this group of patients are often attracted to holistic and alternative approaches to dental care and can appreciate the benefits of ClearCorrect’s user-friendly design.

By admin | Posted in Teeth Straightening | Tagged adult braces, braces cost, clear Braces, cosmetic dental care, crooked teeth, invisible braces, san diego holistic dentist, straight teeth, teeth braces | Comments (0)

Holistic Dentist Talks about Gum Disease – Part II

July 20, 2010 – 1:54 pm

As a follow up to yesterday, I am going to outline what I have found works best in my holistic dental practice to treat periodontal disease. I see a lot of health conscious people in my practice, but when it comes down to it, who isn’t interested in being healthier? It is just a matter of education and presenting the right choices and options.

There have been quite a few patients I have seen with bleeding gums and sore gums that had gingivitis or gum disease. They had been told they needed gum surgery and came to me as a last resort, to see how I could help them avoid this expensive and painful treatment. If you know someone who has had gum surgery, they will tell you that they will never do it again. It is not fun.

What I have found works best is to first lower the inflammation in the gums, because on a simple level gum disease is an inflammatory process that usually goes unchecked for months and years. To do this I use special rinses in the office and a gel treatment that both feeds the gums directly and lowers inflammation by safely removing and killing bacteria. I also have patients do specific things at home to accomplish the same thing. These are things that anyone can do. They are not hard but very necessary to cause healing to take place. This is one of the approaches I employ in my San Diego holistic dental practice.

Once the inflammation and resulting pain has improved, I find that everything goes better from that point on. Deep cleanings and other treatment go easier, are less painful and have a more dramatic effect on the improvement of the gums. In other words once the inflammation is down and the right home care is in place, the amount of treatment necessary to heal gum disease tends to be much less.

So back to actual cases; after the gel treatment I did an overall cleaning and a fine cleaning 2-3 weeks later to follow up. How gum disease is categorized is by measuring the gap between the tooth and gum. If it is between 4-6 mm then you have moderate gum disease. What happens in almost every case in my office is that most of the pocketing resolves with simple cleanings. However, there are usually areas that are more resistant and need more treatment. That is when I either do deep cleaning or laser periodontal treatment.

By this time there has already been a significant improvement in the overall health and pocketing of the gums. This makes the deep cleanings and laser treatment simpler, cheaper and more effective as well. Also, if the gums aren’t all inflamed and sensitive, it won’t hurt as much. It can make a significant difference.

Basically the approach is to progress from the simple to the more complex, building on the success and improvement already achieved. The difference is that most offices treating periodontitis start with deep cleanings, and we employ it at the end when it will have a much greater impact on the healing of the gums.

The results I have seen using the approach described above is that patients who were facing gum surgery totally healed and their pockets improved from 4-6 mm to 2-3 mm which is considered normal. They are happy to say the least, as they did not have to face expensive and painful surgery. I am always amazed at the healing capacity of the body, even the gums. As always, the earlier you treat gum problems the better.

By admin | Posted in gum disease | Tagged bleeding gums, gingivitis, gum disease, gum surgery, holistic dentist, laser periodontal treatment, periodontal disease, periodontitis | Comments (0)

Holistic Dentist Talks about Gum Disease – Part I

July 19, 2010 – 2:58 pm

If you have been told you have periodontal disease or gum disease, you’re not alone. An estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of the disease. Periodontal disease ranges from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. At the end of the day, if the process goes unchecked and untreated, you can even loose your teeth.

The problem is that dentistry offers very few easy and simple ways to handle and reverse gum disease. There are differing opinions and treatments that are offered depending on the doctor you choose. I’ve actually had cases where one dentist does not recommend any treatment beyond simple cleanings, a second dentist recommends an involved appointment and treatment protocol including root planing, and a third dentist recommend referal to a periodontist who is a specialist who does gum surgeries to eliminate the pocketing and diseased tissue. Keep in mind all three recommendations were for the same patient.

How can there be such a difference of opinion and recommended treatment you might ask? Well, the simple answer is that people, including doctors, are a product of their education and experience. If they were taught to refer involved cases out, they will do so. If they were taught that root planing is the right treatment for any gum pocketing, that is what they are going to recommend.

In the end the patient is left with little good news. They have to choose between treatment recommendations that are involved, expensive and painful, when all they want is a cleaning. Many patients will just not pursue the treatment, besides, “I’ve gone this long without doing all this fancy and expensive gum work. Why should I do it now?”

On the other hand not addressing the problem doesn’t work either, as it will continue to worsen until you reach a point of no return and face either gum surgery or losing teeth. So there is a real motivation to treat the problem as early as possible and not to wait. If a dentist says that you have gum disease and/or pocketing, my recommendation is that you don’t ignore it. You have a condition that needs treatment to reverse and hopefully cure. Based on the above some of you may be thinking, “Is there any good news doc, or are you just trying to depress me?” Well, there actually is some good news I can share that might help.

Over my 25 years of practicing dentistry, I have seen every kind of situation and treatment protocol out there. Based on the questions I have been asked over the years, it seems that the overiding interests people have are, “What treatment will work and what is the minimum that I can do to take care of this situation?” As a holistic dentist in San Diego, my patients gravitate toward conservative approaches using natural products and treatment whenever possible. This approach dovetails well with my personal and professional philosophy. As it turns out, I have found the conservative approach can often be very effective in treating gum disease.

I will explain in detail what I mean by this in tomorrow’s post. I will use real life examples from my practice of cases that I have treated and the actual products and sequences that worked. As always if you are looking for a San Diego holistic dentist you may call us to discuss your case. Often times a second opinion when it comes to gum disease is time and money well spent.

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged gum disease, gum inflamation, periodontal disease, san diego holistic dentist | Comments (0)

Study Finds 1 In 4 Kids Have Never Seen A Child Dentist or Pediatric Dentist

July 17, 2010 – 1:03 pm

A study just came out concluding that 1 in 4 children under the age of 11 have never seen a child dentist. This is in California where dental education is higher than many other areas in this country and worldwide. In addition, many of these children were covered under insurance or Medicaid, so lack of insurance and cost should not have been a deterrent.

Researchers from UCLA and from the California HealthCare Foundation found that underprivilaged kids were less likely to have visited a childrens dentist in the previous six months – or even in their entire lifetime. Also, Latino and African American kids saw a pediatric dentist less, even when they had the same insurance. One solution was to raise re-imbursement to Medicaid dentists and increase the network of dentists.

According to the study, 54% of the kids who had insurance, 27% of the publicly insured kids and only 12% of the kids without insurance saw the kid dentist within the last 6 months. These numbers are not good. According to Dr. Pourat from UCLA, “Having insurance isn’t always enough, we need to address the other barriers that keep children from getting the help they need.”

As a holistic dentist this is of special concern to me because I know good habits are hard to come by. If our children get used to going to a pediatric dental office, especially a pediatric dentist they like and learn to trust, they are so much better off than waiting till something bad happens or they are in pain and have to go under stressful conditions. In addition their dental health will be better and their home care habits will be instilled early and correctly.

Basically, good habits once instilled never seem to leave you and good health is best supported through taking consistent action throughout life, not just when the need arises or worse yet an emergency.

Please, start taking your kids to the children friendly dental office as early as possible. Usually the best time to start is when they are 4-5 depending on the child. If there is something that needs addressing before, by all means bring them. We view pediatric dentistry as truly important for children to accept and get used to.

If you are looking for a San Diego kid friendly dentist who focuses on biocompatible materials for their teeth feel free to call our office. We have a kid area with puzzles, things to draw with and toys. Kids seem to love coming to our practice and we really enjoy them as well. By starting early, your kids will benefit their entire lifetimes.

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged child dentist, children friendly dentist, holistic dentist, kid dentist, pediatric dental office, pediatric dentist, pediatric dentistry, San Diego kid friendly dentist | Comments (0)

Prevention for Holistic Dental Health

July 10, 2010 – 5:10 pm

I recently ran across an article about a study done in Australia where the objective was to determine the effectiveness of preventitive measures in decreasing cavities and the need for unnecessary dental work. This was especially interesting because it dovetails with my philosophy that more dentistry is not necessarily the best approach. I have found over the years that the conservative approach to oral health is usually the best.

What the researchers found in this study was that the program, which by the way was non invasive, was effective in lowering new and recurrent cavities. Not only was it effective, it was effective to the tune of more than 40 percent. That is huge. Imagine, by following preventitive care and proper home care you can have a significant effect on the number of cavities you get. This also means that you will have less dental work to fix and re-fix your teeth during your lifetime. I like the sound of that.

Says study co-author Associate Professor Wendell Evans, “Unfortunately, the current payment rebate and remuneration process is weighted towards rewarding fillings performed and crowns fitted.”

Thankfully the focus of dentistry is still on prevention. Regular check ups, proper home care / oral hygiene, and having your dentist teach you the ABC’s of how to keep your teeth healthy for your entire life are goals and habits I would encourage everyone to adopt. The average time between cleanings should be 6 months unless you are one of those lucky people who don’t build up tartar. Young ones should start going to the dentist, hopefully a holistic dentist, at around 4 years of age. Just find someone who loves working with children.

As far as I’m concerned, preventive dental health is still better than the cure.

By admin | Posted in Oral Health, holistic dentistry | Tagged cavities, crowns, dental work, fillings, holistic dental health, Oral Health, oral hygiene | Comments (0)

Hope for Root Canals

July 9, 2010 – 1:37 pm

This is kind of exciting. A lot of people have asked me about root canals. Are they healthy or not? Well a lot depends on the individual situation. However, there are some real questions. I ran across an article discussing a future alternative to having to do a root canal to save a tooth. Keep in mind that this is experimental at this time and is not as of yet available to the public.

“Scientists are reporting an advance toward the next big treatment revolution in dentistry – the era in which root canal therapy brings diseased teeth back to life, rather than leaving a “non-vital” or dead tooth in the mouth. In a report in the monthly journal ACS Nano, they describe a first-of-its-kind, nano-sized dental film that shows early promise for achieving this long-sought goal.

Nadia Benkirane-Jessel and colleagues note that root canal procedures help prevent tooth loss in millions of people each year. During the procedure, a dentist removes the painful, inflamed pulp, the soft tissue inside the diseased or injured tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. Regenerative endodontics, the development and delivery of tissues to replace diseased or damaged dental pulp, has the potential to provide a revolutionary alternative to pulp removal.

The scientists are reporting development of a multilayered, nano-sized film – only 1/50,000th the thickness of a human hair – containing a substance that could help regenerate dental pulp. Previous studies show that the substance, called alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone, or alpha-MSH, has anti-inflammatory properties. The scientists showed in laboratory tests alpha-MSH combined with a widely-used polymer produced a material that fights inflammation in dental pulp fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are the main type of cell found in dental pulp. Nano-films containing alpha-MSH also increased the number of these cells. This could help revitalize damaged teeth and reduce the need for a root canal procedure, the scientists suggest.”

I will continue to research this potential game changer in dentistry and no doubt will be writing more about it. So stay tuned

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Carey O'Rielly, DDS