Dr. Bob’s Tooth Truth Blog

Words from the mouth, heart and mind of a caring dentist

Dr. Schwans COVID-19 Open Letter to Patients

June 2020

Feeling Overwhelmed by COVID19? Here Dr. Schwan discusses the steps his office has taken to keep you safe.

We hope this email finds you and your family in good health.  We have taken extraordinary measures at Dr Schwan’s office to ensure the safety and continued superior quality of dental care that we provide.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice so that when you receive care, it is both safe and comfortable.

Our office exceeds all infection control guidelines required by the American Dental Association, the US Center for Disease Control & Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Dr. Schwan has carefully evaluated and instituted some changes in the office to remediate concerns with COVID 19.  When it is time for your next appointment:

  • Our office will screen before and when you arrive for your next appointment by taking your temperature and asking questions.
  • We will require that you wear a mask and gloves upon entering our office and if necessary, supply you with these.
  • Our reception area will no longer have magazines and provide for social distancing.
  • We will need your help and cooperation to arrive on time so that we can avoid any wait before your appointment.
  • Once you’re seated, we will ask you to use an antimicrobial mouth-rinse of Colgate Peroxyl or the new IosRinse.
  • Our treatment area is now having all the air purified 5 times per hour by our new Airgle unit that uses carbon, hepa and ultraviolet modules with automatic monitoring of the air quality.
  • Our superior suction system has been upgraded with the use of chairside Isovac and Purevac units which remove over 95% of any aerosols.

Our staff is using the best PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to minimize any risk of cross contamination.  

We have installed an in-office laundry area to provide a constant supply of carefully cleaned and maintained uniforms.

We will be using the latest electrostatic device for maintaining a hospital grade decontamination of all office surfaces with environmentally safe Purkil Bio.

A major resource for making these changes has been:

https://www.dentalpracticemastery.com/drsekhon-presentation-watchnow

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we have taken to keep everyone safe.  To make an appointment, please call our office at 610-431-0700 or visit our website at www.drschwan.com or www.chestercountydentalsleepmedicine.com

Thank you for being part of our family.  We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Yours truly,

Dr Bob Schwan and Staff

Neck & Back Pain Prevention

Chronic pain in the neck or back is one of the most common ailments of everyday life. Repetitive movement or lengthy sessions in front of the computer, lifting the laundry or even abruptly getting out of bed can trigger a painful spasm in our neck or back muscles.  So what can be done to prevent this common curse?

Harvard Medical School has put together an excellent article available online titled: “Back Pain: Finding Solutions for your aching back.  What follows is a synopsis of that article and a few other helpful suggestions. 

Good posture is the first step toward avoiding problems.  Envision a straight line going through your spine with your head pulling you upward as high as possible.   Your head is a 20lb ball that you carry all day long.  Your neck and back will thank you for carrying that ball in a balanced position rather than off the spinal center line.  Sit and Stand Tall!

The stomach and back muscles protect our spinal column from injury.  If the muscles are flaccid, before getting out of bed in the morning or after a long sitting session, be sure to do some isometric butt squeezing or mild stretching before you hop out of bed or jump up from your chair.

Some helpful stretches include: 

  1. Squeeze back your shoulder blades together while sitting  
  2. Lean against a wall corner to stretch your chest out,  and finally grab your shoulder with the opposite side arm and raise your elbow, switch sides and repeat.
  3. That’s it! There is no 3rd step!

Aerobic exercises safer for your back are low impact bicycling, swimming and walking.  The more overweight you are, the higher is the risk for your abdominal fat throwing off the balance of stress on your spine.  Nicotine from smoking reduces blood flow to the spinal column and results in a higher risk for osteoporosis.

Finally develop back healthy habits:

  • While standing keep one foot on a small step stool and switch often.
  • Take a break after standing or sitting for a moderate period.
  • Always use hand support on knees or solid object when bending at waist
  • When sitting, keep your knees higher than your hips.
  • Repetitive chores like vacuuming should be for short 10 minute sessions followed by another motion or activity.

If you are unfortunate enough to have back/neck pain, I highly recommend reading “Healing Back Pain” by John E. Sarno, M.D.  This explains the source and remedy of more than 80% of all cases without drugs, surgery or exercise.

Till Next Time,

— Dr. Bob

Why Are My Teeth Wearing Away?

Rather than the abrupt changes that can occur from an accidental injury to the teeth, the subtle changes that can also occur from various forms of wear and tear can sneak up and cause considerable damage before you or your dentist sounds the alert that something is in fact damaging your teeth.  Loss of tooth structure can be caused by: Abrasion, Erosion, Attrition, Abfraction or a combination of these.ScrubberCleft in Gum

Abrasion is the loss of tooth structure from mechanical wear due to very abrasive toothpastes or aggressive scrubbing with a toothbrush.  Brushing damage shows up as recession and clefting of the gingiva around the necks of the teeth and the teeth appear to be worn smooth.  A high fiber diet can contribute to the problem and even more so the wearing of ball bearing jewelry in the mouth.  Significant damage to the edges of the front teeth can be caused by nail biting or using the teeth as a tool to strip wire.

Erosion is the loss of tooth structure due to acidic ph below 5.5.  Every time we eat or drink any carbohydrate (starch or sugar) our mouth takes a plunge into the acid abyss.  Fortunately saliva comes to the rescue and buffers the acid back above a 5.5 ph after one half hour.  In the absence of saliva for people with “dry mouths” decay Acidcan run rampant.  Acidity in the mouth can be worsened by frequent consumption of food or beverage or treats; this can be made even worse for patients with Gerd or stomach reflux.  Erosion of the enamel results in a thinning of the front teeth and potholes in the back teeth.  Fillings appear to be high or rough in teeth subject to acid erosion.

Attrition is the loss of tooth structure where the teeth touch each other from normal or abnormal function.  Bruxism can result in the most significant attrition since it usually occurs while we are sleeping; the uncontrolled pressure on the teeth can be nine times stronger than what we usually Bruxismapply while we’re awake.  Bruxism is commonly associated with the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea in adults and children.  Bruxism is also the leading cause of migraine headaches which develop in the morning.  Bruxism can lead to individual tooth mobility and/or pain as well as TMD syndrome effecting the masticatory muscles and jaw joints (TMJ).  Non painful signs of Attrition include the shortening of the front teeth to the point where yellowish/brown dentin undeAbfraction-6r the worn enamel can be seen and all the teeth become flat after losing their anatomic curves and inclines.

Abfraction is the loss of tooth structure caused by excessive pressure on the teeth that results in tooth loss or damage not in an area where teeth actually function or rub against each other.  Bruxism or hyper functioning of the teeth can result in loss ofAmalgamFx-2 tooth structure on the sides of the teeth near the gum tissue where the zone of tooth flexure or bending occurs.  The other type of damage that can occur is the formation of a craze line that progresses to a crack and ultimately can result in the tooth fracturing.  The most common cause of tooth fracture is an old amalgam that is leaking and developing recurrent decay in the tooth which will swell like a cork in a bottle and eventually split the tooth.

So what can be done?

Many of the answers to your questions already exist in archived articles in this blog which you are welcome to explore. The most important step for you to take is to have a complete evaluation/exam by a dentist thoroughly knowledgeable on these subjects.  There are many simple preventive steps that can be taken and if the need arises, the miracles of modern dentistry will help you find a solution.

OMNICAM 3D Dental Camera

Dr Schwan is as excited as a newborn baby to announce the arrival of the Omnicam 3D Dental Camera which is the very latest upgrade.

baby

The Omnicam can take a full color 3D image of the entire mouth that makes possible precise and predictable results for all our natural tooth colored restorations that can be done in one visit.      

The Omnicam also correlates its images with those taken by our new Galileos Comfort Plus Cone Beam Scanner.  This enables us to place implants and the associated restorations with results unmatched by any other existing system.

sirona-implantWhile the Omnicam gives us precise images in the mouth,

The Galileos Comfort Plus provides a map for the surgeon to carefully place the implant in the proper location with the best bone support while avoiding delicate structures such as the mandibular nerve and other anatomic anomalies.

The next time you visit our office, you may hear a new tune being played by the Omnicam 3D Dental Camera as it gathers up data for another photo impression of someone’s mouth.

conebeam_laser

Dr Schwan Welcomes Galileos Comfort Plus Cone Beam CT

Dr Schwan is excited to welcome the arrival of the Sirona Galileos Comfort Plus Cone Beam CT.  

Galileos Plus

 

Images taken with a Cone Beam CT are rapidly becoming the Standard of Care.  With a single 14 Second Scan, the Galileos can deliver very informative 3D images that include Panoramic, Saggital, Axial and Coronal views of varying anatomic thickness for Superior Diagnosis and Treatment Planning.

Diagnostic Images

For our family of patients, just to name a few benefits. Cone Beam Imaging can provide a new higher level of predictability in the planning and placement of implants.  The precise location of infections and their treatment.  Evaluation of the TMJ.   Airway assessment for effective treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.  Furthermore, the Cone Beam Images blend seamlessly with our Cerec 3D CAD CAM system for precise fabrication of implants, crowns and bridgework. 

View of Airway

Since the Galileos Comfort Plus is Sirona’s Flagship, it will be constantly upgraded as new technology and software permit.  The latest addition is the Plus which represents the taking of a superimposed photo that is synchronized flawlessly with the 3D images.

Photo Overlay

Best of all, the Typical Patient Radiation Exposure  for Cone Beam CT ( 12 to 120 microsieverts)  is very low when compared to Conventional CT Scanning  ( 2100 microsieverts).

Smile Makeover

UnknownThe idea of a Smile Makeover does not have to be expensive or intimidating and it is available to anyone beyond only models in Glamour magazine.  It begins with a sharing of past dental office experiences and what desirable expectations can be reasonably met with future care.  Every patient that visits one of our highly trained Hygienists will experience a Smile Makeover every time they come in for a periodic exam and dental cleaning.

Teeth Whitening is readily accomplished with proper guidance from our dental health professionals; it offers a quick solution to stained and dingy teeth that need to be brought back to their original color.

The normal and sometimes abnormal wear and tear on teeth can result in a rough or very uneven anterior smile line; this can be quickly improved with a limited occlusal adjustment which is the equivalent of having your tires balanced or your favorite hunting knife honed, sharpened and polished.  Many times, Mother Nature delivers teeth slightly out of alignment or in an esthetically poor position and these can be corrected with very conservative reshaping and polishing.

A gummy smile can be corrected with Diode Laser treatment that can finally expose the naturally attractive smile that has been hidden by too much gingiva around the necks of the anterior teeth. This can be done under normal local anesthesia with minimal healing time and a low level of any Unknown-1discomfort.

Instant Orthodontics can be accomplished by placing veneers or crowns on teeth that are too small or malposed.

severely worn dentition can cause bite collapse, increased facial aging and muscle and/or joint   problems.  This can be corrected with new dentures, crowns or onlays to restore the normal architecture of the mouth.

Finally, we now have the ability to completely replace the original teeth with implant supported teeth that come the closest to what God gave you.

Smile Makeovers can range from the very simple to more complex.  Thanks to modern dentistry the process can be carefully planned and accomplished with a high level of predictability and comfort.

 

 

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Bad Teeth? You made them that way! But there is Good News!

My parents had Bad Teeth and I’ve got the same problem! 

No Way!  What you have is Bad Habits.

What Bad Habits you ask?

Acid Eroded Teeth

  • Frequently eating or drinking starch or sugar containing food or beverage  during the day.
  • Brushing right after you eat.
  • Scrubbing the teeth like bathroom tile.
  • Rinsing your mouth after you brush with water or worse, mouthwash.
  • Constantly sipping water from your designer sports bottle.

Yeah but I’ve always done that!

Time to review the facts:

  • Every time you eat or drink, the normal bacteria in your mouth break down the carbohydrates with an increase in acidity that lasts for one half hour after the last mouthful.  So if you eat or sip all day long your mouth is constantly acidic.
  • If you brush during this acidity, your teeth are softer and get literally worn away by your brushing.
  • The brush is very stiff from the last use of toothpaste; scrubbing action is like giving your teeth thirty lashes for bad behavior.  First soften the brush by rubbing with your thumb under warm water and then only use a vibratory motion with pressure to clean.
  • There are beneficial ingredients in toothpaste that should soak in for at least one half hour but if you rinse, all that potential benefit goes down the drain.
  • Many popular mouthwash formulas are acidic to “kill bacteria” but also make your teeth softer.
  • Saliva is very protective of your teeth because it neutralizes the acidity and helps to fight the bad bacteria.  But every time you sip water or any other beverage, you’re washing away or diluting the saliva.

So what should you be doing to save your teeth?

  • Try to eat no more than three times a day and if you snack, try to eat a combination of food that is not acidic.  Foods that can reduce acidity are milk, cheese and nuts.  Avoid vinegar, citrus, fruits and starches.
  • Wait at least one half hour after drinking/eating before brushing;  if you must brush right away, use water or an alkaline mouthwash (baking soda or “Biotene”) to reduce the acidity first.
  • The best brushing stroke is given by an electric toothbrush (Sonicare or OralB’s vibratory motion) which you can simulate with your manual brush which just takes longer.
  • Mouthwash should be used first to reduce the  bacteria count in your mouth, then floss or pick between the teeth and finally brush with a good quality toothpaste.  Lastly do not rinse but spit out the extra toothpaste  and allow the beneficial ingredients to soak in.
  • If you have real sensitive teeth or extensive dental restorations, be sure to use a low abrasive toothpaste which can be any of the products for sensitive teeth such as Sesnsodyne’s Pro-Enamel.

If you take the time to develop Good Habits, you’ll be rewarded with Great Teeth and Healthy Gums.

Cold Sore Connection To Alzheimer’s

“Warning: A Cold Sore Could Cause Alzheimer’s” is the latest article featured in Dr. Mark Stengler’s “Natural Healing” newsletter via Bottom Line Press. 

There is growing evidence that Alzheimer’s may be caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) which typically causes fever blisters or cold sores on the face and in the mouth.  HSV1  attacks the peripheral nervous system and once infected, you always have the virus lying dormant which  will occasionally reactivate when triggered by stress or fatigue.

Flareups of HSV1  in the brain can cause damage associated with Alzheimer’s.  The brain defends against the HSV1 by producing beta-amyloid protein.  The presence of HSV1/beta-amyloid along with genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer’s may result in inflammation in the brain activated by stress and fatigue.I

If testing for elevated immunoglobulins G & H caused by an  HSV1 infection is high then the following  supplements should be considered:

  • Lysine: is an amino acid that blocks arginine, another amino acid that HSV1  needs to reproduce.       Dose: 500 mg, three times a day.
  • Vitamin D: renders HSV1 dormant.  Your Dr should test for desired blood level of 70-80 ng/mL.          Dose:  400 IU/day.
  • Curcumin: the active ingredient in Turmeric (Curry) inhibits HSV1.           Dose: 200-400 mg turmeric extract with 95% curcuminoids daily.

An active infection with HSV1  can be treated on a chronic basis with a Doctor’s Rx for a daily dose of 500 mg of the antiviral drug valacyclovir (Valtrex).  The effectiveness of this therapy should be checked annually by testing for antibody levels.

Breaking News!     Go to the following site (copy and paste address)  for a new approach to Alzheimer’s and other related conditions:

https://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS

 

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