Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Decade of Research Supports Salivary Oral Cancer Test
More than 47,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute. When caught early, survival rates can reach 80% to 90%. But oral cancer often isn’t diagnosed until it is too late, leading to more than 8,650 deaths annually. Researchers at PeriRx, LLC believe their SaliMark OSCC salivary test, which is now on the market, can dramatically improve those numbers and save thousands of lives.
“This is a molecular genetic test,” said Stephen M. Swanick, CEO and founder of PeriRx. “No matter what’s going on in that oral cavity, we will find that cancer if there is something there.”
PeriRx designed the test to be accurate, easy to use, and noninvasive. It begins in the dentist’s office with a thorough visual exam. If a clinician sees a lesion or some other abnormality, the patient may be referred to a specialist who then could order a biopsy to determine the presence of cancer. However, this decision for referral often is known to be difficult based on clinical assessment alone. Often, this surgery is painful and unnecessary.
“Many of these people are getting pieces of their tongue cut out. There are pieces of their lip cut out. Pieces of their face cut out. And 95% of them are benign,” said Swanick. “This test provides a benchmark, and it’s a lot less expensive than a biopsy.”
With SaliMark OSCC, if there is an abnormality or a history of smoking or other high-risk behaviors, the patient spits 2 cc of saliva. Dentists and hygienists alike can administer it. The clinician then uses the test kit’s bio bag, collection tube, and pre-paid Federal Express envelope to send the sample to the PeriRx lab. Results indicating low, medium, or high risk of cancer are available in 3 business days or fewer.
“If it’s low risk, the chances of cancer are very small. Dentists could follow that patient to make sure things are going in the right direction and the problem is resolving,” said Dr. Jack Martin, MD, chief medical officer at PeriRx. “The moderate and high risk is the same answer for the dentist. We suggest you get a cancer specialist to see these patients.”
These specialists would have the benefit of their own expertise and the quantitative results of the SaliMark OSCC test before deciding whether or not the patient would need a biopsy. The company believes the test gives specialists options in deciding how best to pursue treatment. Insurance companies also favor the 3-tiered results and their potential for eliminating unnecessary procedures.
“The insurance companies that we’ve talked to—Delta Dental, Aetna, United Healthcare—they don’t want a yes or no binary answer,” said Swanick. “It’s too simplistic, and there are too many variances of stages of cancer. We consulted the companies on that exact algorithm.”
PeriRx’s work with major insurance carriers was only one part of the SaliMark OSCC test’s development. The product on the shelves now is the result of more than a decade of work supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institute of Health, with initial discovery and pre-validation work conducted by Dr. David T.W. Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Unlike other salivary tests that look for a single biomarker to identify cancer potential, SaliMark OSCC identifies multiple biomarkers.
“Dr. Wong decided many years ago that a single biomarker is not powerful enough to get the kind of clinical information you need. You really require a combination of several biomarkers to get the kind of clinical performance to help do the best job in discriminating between people with and without the cancer you are looking for,” said Martin.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) independently found that 3 protein and 7 message RNA markers were feasible in determining oral squamous cell carcinomas from healthy controls. PeriRx refined the panel to 3 RNAs, including 2 “housekeeping” genes that validate the quality of the sample. It uses the messenger RNAs because they are more robust and easier to stabilize and transport from a dentist’s office to a laboratory than the proteins.
“It’s not every single marker you could find. There could be thousands of markers that are abnormal in a disease. But it’s not useful to measure all of them. We measure the top several markers and add them together to improve the performance of the test compared to a single marker alone,” said Martin.
“Biomarkers have to stand up against the test of time of multiple clinical trials, when you have more and more patients. Single markers may lose their power. They lose their discriminatory nature,” said Swanick. “What we’re doing is a multimarker approach that gives us unbelievable discriminatory robustness and consistency.”
Prior to the recent PeriRx trial, this technology had already been tested in several different ethnic cohorts with researchers at UCLA, and independently validated in collaboration with the NCI, unlike competing technologies, according to the company. The NCI noted the need to validate its independent findings in a prospective blinded study in the intended use population.
PeriRx validated its biomarkers in this rigorous study recommended by the NCI with very highly statistically significant results. Other tests have not been studied according to the NCI’s rigorous recommendations, Martin said. Studies performed in a simple case control design introduce bias since the controls often can be healthier than the cancer patients, and markers could be present for reasons other than cancer, such as smoking habits, ethnic group, age, and gender.
And, PeriRx conducted studies with patients with suspicious oral lesions as the intended use population as recommended by the NCI since it designed SaliMark OSCC to further quantify the risk in patients identified by caregivers as being at some risk for oral cancer, not as a general screening tool for all patients.
“Some of the other tests are planning to advocate their use as general screening tools,” said Martin. “This is fraught with concerns for raising the suspicion of cancer in millions of people who are healthy.”
According to published data, SaliMark OSCC may reveal if patients have pre-cancer dysplasia in the absence of other abnormalities. PeriRx says it has completed a prospective study, commercial assay, and regulatory processes, enabling it to finally launch SaliMark OSCC last month. And in addition to its use in finding cancer early, there is interest among patients and providers for use as a surveillance tool for survivors.
“I’ve had mothers call me about their children and they say their children are dying, because cancer came back. And they can’t take any more radiation because the radiation is killing them,” said Swanick. “And they’re begging me, ‘Can we take your test? We’ve got to find out if the cancer is coming back.’”
PeriRx notes that patients with oral cancer face significant risks of relapses as well as the highest risk of developing new primary cancers elsewhere in the body of any cancer patients. So by identifying an oral cancer patient early, Swanick explains, you’re saving that patient from possibly 2 cancers.
“The oral-systemic connection is alive, and it’s real,” he says.
With so much at stake, PeriRx believes every dentist should be using SaliMark OSCC. The industry seems to agree, with Benco Dental, Henry Schein Dental, Patterson Dental, and Darby Dental all offering it. In fact, Swanick says that he can’t think of any other products carried by all of the major distributors.
“They all agreed. They all came together and said, ‘This is cancer.’ This is unanimous. This is not prejudicial. Everybody should be ordering this test,” he said.
Insurance companies are on board too. According to Swanick, major insurers told PeriRx that as long as the test costs less than $200, they would give it a CDT code. Dentists can bill patients for the cost of the exam and for the time that is involved. Patients then can submit that bill to their insurance carrier.
Once the benefits of the test are more fully realized, Swanick expects payers to reimburse at higher and higher levels. Indeed, insurance companies have cited the solid science behind the test and plan on adding it to patients’ policies as part of their annual physicals, he said.
“We were told many times by a lot of people, a lot of big pharma companies, that we should be charging a thousand dollars, 2 thousand dollars,” Swanick said. “And we say that’s great. But what that means is that 95% of the people who we want to have this test won’t use it.”
Looking ahead, PeriRx is applying the technology to detecting other diseases. The company is halfway done with a trial using salivary markers that are very discriminatory to detect small-cell lung cancer. Tests involving diabetes and Sjögren’s syndrome are underway as well.
“Sjögren’s disease is something of great interest to dentists. People get dry eyes and dry mouth, and associated with the dry mouth are increases of periodontal disease and cavities. The problem is millions of people go into their dentist and say they have a dry mouth because it’s very commonly associated with many drugs that people take. It’s a common side effect,” Martin said. “Better diagnostic tests are necessary.”
Meanwhile, PeriRx is launching SaliMark OSCC with more than 2,500 sales personnel. Oral cancer is the most costly cancer of all by a factor of 2 because of its typically late diagnosis. The test and the early diagnosis it supports, then, could save insurance companies millions of dollars, Martin says. Oral cancer also impacts productivity and income as patients who are diagnosed rarely go back to work. But most importantly, PeriRx says, the test will save lives.
“Oral cancer is the most aggressive cancer out there. It’s a vicious killer, and it is almost always diagnosed in stage IV, so this test is a lifesaver,” said Swanick. “We are going after this cancer, full-bore.”
Dentistry Today ~ Stephen M. Swanick (left), CEO and founder of PeriRx, LLC, and Dr. Jack Martin, MD, chief medical officer at PeriRx
“This is a molecular genetic test,” said Stephen M. Swanick, CEO and founder of PeriRx. “No matter what’s going on in that oral cavity, we will find that cancer if there is something there.”
PeriRx designed the test to be accurate, easy to use, and noninvasive. It begins in the dentist’s office with a thorough visual exam. If a clinician sees a lesion or some other abnormality, the patient may be referred to a specialist who then could order a biopsy to determine the presence of cancer. However, this decision for referral often is known to be difficult based on clinical assessment alone. Often, this surgery is painful and unnecessary.
“Many of these people are getting pieces of their tongue cut out. There are pieces of their lip cut out. Pieces of their face cut out. And 95% of them are benign,” said Swanick. “This test provides a benchmark, and it’s a lot less expensive than a biopsy.”
With SaliMark OSCC, if there is an abnormality or a history of smoking or other high-risk behaviors, the patient spits 2 cc of saliva. Dentists and hygienists alike can administer it. The clinician then uses the test kit’s bio bag, collection tube, and pre-paid Federal Express envelope to send the sample to the PeriRx lab. Results indicating low, medium, or high risk of cancer are available in 3 business days or fewer.
“If it’s low risk, the chances of cancer are very small. Dentists could follow that patient to make sure things are going in the right direction and the problem is resolving,” said Dr. Jack Martin, MD, chief medical officer at PeriRx. “The moderate and high risk is the same answer for the dentist. We suggest you get a cancer specialist to see these patients.”
These specialists would have the benefit of their own expertise and the quantitative results of the SaliMark OSCC test before deciding whether or not the patient would need a biopsy. The company believes the test gives specialists options in deciding how best to pursue treatment. Insurance companies also favor the 3-tiered results and their potential for eliminating unnecessary procedures.
“The insurance companies that we’ve talked to—Delta Dental, Aetna, United Healthcare—they don’t want a yes or no binary answer,” said Swanick. “It’s too simplistic, and there are too many variances of stages of cancer. We consulted the companies on that exact algorithm.”
PeriRx’s work with major insurance carriers was only one part of the SaliMark OSCC test’s development. The product on the shelves now is the result of more than a decade of work supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institute of Health, with initial discovery and pre-validation work conducted by Dr. David T.W. Wong of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Unlike other salivary tests that look for a single biomarker to identify cancer potential, SaliMark OSCC identifies multiple biomarkers.
“Dr. Wong decided many years ago that a single biomarker is not powerful enough to get the kind of clinical information you need. You really require a combination of several biomarkers to get the kind of clinical performance to help do the best job in discriminating between people with and without the cancer you are looking for,” said Martin.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) independently found that 3 protein and 7 message RNA markers were feasible in determining oral squamous cell carcinomas from healthy controls. PeriRx refined the panel to 3 RNAs, including 2 “housekeeping” genes that validate the quality of the sample. It uses the messenger RNAs because they are more robust and easier to stabilize and transport from a dentist’s office to a laboratory than the proteins.
“It’s not every single marker you could find. There could be thousands of markers that are abnormal in a disease. But it’s not useful to measure all of them. We measure the top several markers and add them together to improve the performance of the test compared to a single marker alone,” said Martin.
“Biomarkers have to stand up against the test of time of multiple clinical trials, when you have more and more patients. Single markers may lose their power. They lose their discriminatory nature,” said Swanick. “What we’re doing is a multimarker approach that gives us unbelievable discriminatory robustness and consistency.”
Prior to the recent PeriRx trial, this technology had already been tested in several different ethnic cohorts with researchers at UCLA, and independently validated in collaboration with the NCI, unlike competing technologies, according to the company. The NCI noted the need to validate its independent findings in a prospective blinded study in the intended use population.
PeriRx validated its biomarkers in this rigorous study recommended by the NCI with very highly statistically significant results. Other tests have not been studied according to the NCI’s rigorous recommendations, Martin said. Studies performed in a simple case control design introduce bias since the controls often can be healthier than the cancer patients, and markers could be present for reasons other than cancer, such as smoking habits, ethnic group, age, and gender.
And, PeriRx conducted studies with patients with suspicious oral lesions as the intended use population as recommended by the NCI since it designed SaliMark OSCC to further quantify the risk in patients identified by caregivers as being at some risk for oral cancer, not as a general screening tool for all patients.
“Some of the other tests are planning to advocate their use as general screening tools,” said Martin. “This is fraught with concerns for raising the suspicion of cancer in millions of people who are healthy.”
According to published data, SaliMark OSCC may reveal if patients have pre-cancer dysplasia in the absence of other abnormalities. PeriRx says it has completed a prospective study, commercial assay, and regulatory processes, enabling it to finally launch SaliMark OSCC last month. And in addition to its use in finding cancer early, there is interest among patients and providers for use as a surveillance tool for survivors.
“I’ve had mothers call me about their children and they say their children are dying, because cancer came back. And they can’t take any more radiation because the radiation is killing them,” said Swanick. “And they’re begging me, ‘Can we take your test? We’ve got to find out if the cancer is coming back.’”
PeriRx notes that patients with oral cancer face significant risks of relapses as well as the highest risk of developing new primary cancers elsewhere in the body of any cancer patients. So by identifying an oral cancer patient early, Swanick explains, you’re saving that patient from possibly 2 cancers.
“The oral-systemic connection is alive, and it’s real,” he says.
With so much at stake, PeriRx believes every dentist should be using SaliMark OSCC. The industry seems to agree, with Benco Dental, Henry Schein Dental, Patterson Dental, and Darby Dental all offering it. In fact, Swanick says that he can’t think of any other products carried by all of the major distributors.
“They all agreed. They all came together and said, ‘This is cancer.’ This is unanimous. This is not prejudicial. Everybody should be ordering this test,” he said.
Insurance companies are on board too. According to Swanick, major insurers told PeriRx that as long as the test costs less than $200, they would give it a CDT code. Dentists can bill patients for the cost of the exam and for the time that is involved. Patients then can submit that bill to their insurance carrier.
Once the benefits of the test are more fully realized, Swanick expects payers to reimburse at higher and higher levels. Indeed, insurance companies have cited the solid science behind the test and plan on adding it to patients’ policies as part of their annual physicals, he said.
“We were told many times by a lot of people, a lot of big pharma companies, that we should be charging a thousand dollars, 2 thousand dollars,” Swanick said. “And we say that’s great. But what that means is that 95% of the people who we want to have this test won’t use it.”
Looking ahead, PeriRx is applying the technology to detecting other diseases. The company is halfway done with a trial using salivary markers that are very discriminatory to detect small-cell lung cancer. Tests involving diabetes and Sjögren’s syndrome are underway as well.
“Sjögren’s disease is something of great interest to dentists. People get dry eyes and dry mouth, and associated with the dry mouth are increases of periodontal disease and cavities. The problem is millions of people go into their dentist and say they have a dry mouth because it’s very commonly associated with many drugs that people take. It’s a common side effect,” Martin said. “Better diagnostic tests are necessary.”
Meanwhile, PeriRx is launching SaliMark OSCC with more than 2,500 sales personnel. Oral cancer is the most costly cancer of all by a factor of 2 because of its typically late diagnosis. The test and the early diagnosis it supports, then, could save insurance companies millions of dollars, Martin says. Oral cancer also impacts productivity and income as patients who are diagnosed rarely go back to work. But most importantly, PeriRx says, the test will save lives.
“Oral cancer is the most aggressive cancer out there. It’s a vicious killer, and it is almost always diagnosed in stage IV, so this test is a lifesaver,” said Swanick. “We are going after this cancer, full-bore.”
Dentistry Today ~ Stephen M. Swanick (left), CEO and founder of PeriRx, LLC, and Dr. Jack Martin, MD, chief medical officer at PeriRx
Friday, September 18, 2015
The worst things you can do when you have sensitive teeth
By
Nadia Stennett
Because sensitive chompers need a little bit of
TLC…
When the pain and
discomfort of tooth sensitivity hits, it’s hard to ignore. Sensitive teeth have
the ability to ruin an otherwise enjoyable meal or night out with friends. And
if you’re not informed, you could be unknowingly making yourself even more
susceptible to a world of dental agony.
Thankfully, with a little
care, it is possible to get on with your life, without aching teeth getting in
the way.
Here are four things you
should give a miss to improve your tooth sensitivity, starting today.
1. Hot or
cold food
“Sensitive teeth are
usually thermally reactive, so eating very hot or cold things like hot soups
and ice-blocks will set them off,” explains dentist, Dr Alexander McEwen.
However, if you’re not keen
to bid farewell to ice cream and hot chocolate just yet, you can try using a
specialised sensitive teeth toothpaste to help protect your enamel and decrease
your sensitivity. A recent study in the Journal of Dental Sciences found
regular brushing with toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth is highly
effective for preventing the pain of thermal reaction in most people.
2.
Anything sugary
If you’re one of the many
people suffering from tooth sensitivity due to cavities and tooth erosion, the
last thing you want to do is eat anything laden with sugar. Not only does sugar
have the potential to cause more cavities and get stuck inside existing ones,
leading to irritation, it’s also the perfect food for bacteria, who will have a
field day on it and attack your already tender teeth in the process.
“It’s very common for
sensitive teeth to react to sweet foods, especially if tooth decay is present.
I recommend choosing lower sugar foods like fruits and vegetables instead,”
says McEwen.
3. Acidic
drinks
“Acidic drinks like fruit
juice, diet soft drink and wine can dissolve the tooth structure and expose
more dentine, leaving you susceptible to increasing pain,” explains McEwen.
But it’s not all bad news.
You can still enjoy the occasional acidic drink by using a straw, which will
allow the liquid to bypass your teeth, and your enamel to remain untouched in
the process.
4. Tooth
Grinding
Otherwise known as bruxism,
tooth grinding typically happens at night when you’re asleep, or when you’re
least aware you’re doing it, and it’s estimated up to70 per cent of all cases
of it are a result of stress, which can play havoc with your entire body.
“Tooth wear caused from
regular teeth grinding can lead to more dentine exposure and overload teeth,
making them even more sensitive, so it’s essential to get on top of it,”
advises McEwen.
Try reducing your stress
load by allowing yourself some time out each day. And if your teeth grinding
still doesn’t ease up you can ask your dentist about a bed-time mouth guard to
help.
Friday, August 21, 2015
The Real Reason You Have Bad Breath—And How To Get Rid Of It
Follow this three-step strategy for a fresher mouth.
In fact, in separate studies, scientists in Japan found that “tongue coating” had the greatest impact on producing volatile sulfur compounds in people’s mouths. This would also help explain why your breath is most likely to stink in the morning, since the compounds build up overnight.
Bad breath stinks, but what can you actually do about it? Chew some gum?
Suck on a mint? These strategies offer some benefit, but they’re short lasting.
And brushing your teeth? Very important, but not that effective as a
treatment by itself, according to a scientific review by researchers in Brazil.
You need a complete strategy.
So let’s start with the root cause of bad breath: volatile sulfur
compounds (VSC). While they sound more like fumes you’d emit from your butt
than your mouth, scientists say these substrates are what typically lead to
halitosis.
Volatile sulfur compounds are thought to arise from the interaction of
oral bacteria that occurs in conditions like gum disease and infections, and
within pockets and crevices of your teeth.
But your tongue is the real problem, according to a report in the Journal
of Clinical Periodontology. Turns out, its large surface area—with all the
tiny cracks and grooves—allow it to harbor lots of the microorganisms that lead
to volatile sulfur compounds.In fact, in separate studies, scientists in Japan found that “tongue coating” had the greatest impact on producing volatile sulfur compounds in people’s mouths. This would also help explain why your breath is most likely to stink in the morning, since the compounds build up overnight.
Which brings us to that complete strategy.
1. Clean your tongue. This helps disturb and remove the bacteria that create
volatile sulfur compounds, and leads to a reduction in their odor. You can do
this by literally brushing your tongue, but an even better approach is to
scrape your tongue from back to front with a plastic tongue scraper.
When you brush your tongue with a little toothbrush, you might just be
moving smelly bacteria around to different places on your tongue. But the
larger surface area and flat design of a tongue scraper allow it to carry more
bacteria out of your mouth when you scrape it forward, says Denis Kinane,
B.D.S., Ph.D., the dean of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine.
According to a Cochrane review of scientific literature, people who use a
tongue scraper reduce volatile sulfur compounds by 42 percent, compared to 33
percent in those who brush their tongue. Plus, the effects of the tongue
scraping last longer.
2. Brush and floss twice a day. This isn’t a surprise, of course. You’ll remove tiny food
particles and microorganisms that can lead to those volatile sulfur compounds.
If you don’t floss, try it and then give the floss a sniff. Smell nasty? You’ve
probably uncovered a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria—and hopefully
gained motivation to start flossing regularly. Keep in mind that gingivitis and
periodontitis can lead to volatile sulfur compounds and bad breath, so regular
dental checkups are a must.
3. Keep your mouth well-hydrated. When you experience “dry mouth,”
dead cells on your tongue, gums, and cheeks might build up. Without enough
saliva to wash them away, bacteria will begin to feed off the dead cells and
multiply. This produces a bunch of sulfur-related molecules that trigger bad
breath, Dr. Kinane says.
If you frequently feel like your mouth is dry, try an over-the-counter
rinse like Biotene, which has been shown to help with dry mouth. If your breath
really reeks and you don’t have a rinse around, simply swish your mouth out
with plain water. The rinsing action will physically remove some of the stinky
bacteria, says Dr. Kinane.
By The Editors of Men’s Health
Research and reporting by Christa Sgobba and Marygrace Taylor
Research and reporting by Christa Sgobba and Marygrace Taylor
Hillcrest Dental Group
511 Hayes Lane Petaluma, CA 94952 (707) 763-2654 www.hillcrestdentalgroup.net |
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Friday, May 1, 2015
The Truth about Teeth Whitening: What to Consider Before Bleaching Your Teeth
Teeth whitening treatments are arguably the best marketed dental treatments available; just about everyone has heard of Zoom!, even if they aren’t looking to get their teeth bleached. While there’s plenty of information available about teeth whitening, there’s just as much misinformation. Below, we help clarify some truths about whitening, so you can get a better understanding of what to look for and expect.
In-Office Teeth Whitening vs. Take-Home Whitening Kits
Many patients believe that in-office, or laser and light-activated teeth bleaching is somehow better than other methods. Whether you should choose the at-home or in-office method depends on why you’re looking to get your teeth bleached and how much time you can give to treatment.
In-office teeth whitening is best for patients who are in a time-crunch – they have a big event coming up and need instant results. While the light used with in-office teeth bleaching helps activate the whitening agent, it does not produce dramatically different results that would lead patients to choose one treatment over the other.
Take-home teeth whitening kits produce the same whitening results, just in a different method. If you have about two weeks to dedicate to whitening your teeth, you can do so from the comfort of your own home.
Most Patients Will Experience Some Tooth Sensitivity
Even drugstore teeth whitening strips will create tooth sensitivity, but any discomfort can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Additionally, there are some brands of teeth whitening treatments that tend to produce less sensitivity on average, so it’s important to check with your dentist about what to expect with what they offer.
For Some People, Teeth Whitening May Not Work
Standard whitening treatment is best for patients whose teeth have been stained by food, drink, and even tobacco. But some things that discolor teeth, such as medication, aging, and health problems may not be positively affected by teeth bleaching. In these instances, a treatment like porcelain veneers might be indicated over standard whitening.
Hillcrest Dental Group welcomes patients into their Petaluma cosmetic dental office to learn more about teeth whitening, treatment options, expected outcomes, and alternate treatments. For more information about our whitening procedures, contact Dr. DeBerardinis and her friendly dental team.
In-Office Teeth Whitening vs. Take-Home Whitening Kits
Many patients believe that in-office, or laser and light-activated teeth bleaching is somehow better than other methods. Whether you should choose the at-home or in-office method depends on why you’re looking to get your teeth bleached and how much time you can give to treatment.
In-office teeth whitening is best for patients who are in a time-crunch – they have a big event coming up and need instant results. While the light used with in-office teeth bleaching helps activate the whitening agent, it does not produce dramatically different results that would lead patients to choose one treatment over the other.
Take-home teeth whitening kits produce the same whitening results, just in a different method. If you have about two weeks to dedicate to whitening your teeth, you can do so from the comfort of your own home.
Most Patients Will Experience Some Tooth Sensitivity
Even drugstore teeth whitening strips will create tooth sensitivity, but any discomfort can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Additionally, there are some brands of teeth whitening treatments that tend to produce less sensitivity on average, so it’s important to check with your dentist about what to expect with what they offer.
For Some People, Teeth Whitening May Not Work
Standard whitening treatment is best for patients whose teeth have been stained by food, drink, and even tobacco. But some things that discolor teeth, such as medication, aging, and health problems may not be positively affected by teeth bleaching. In these instances, a treatment like porcelain veneers might be indicated over standard whitening.
Hillcrest Dental Group welcomes patients into their Petaluma cosmetic dental office to learn more about teeth whitening, treatment options, expected outcomes, and alternate treatments. For more information about our whitening procedures, contact Dr. DeBerardinis and her friendly dental team.
Friday, April 17, 2015
CEREC Crowns VS Traditional Dental Crowns
The wide-spread use of digital dental technology has made receiving certain treatments, especially prosthodontics, quicker and more comfortable. Restorations using CEREC, for example, provide natural-looking results in a shorter amount of time.
But what do crowns produced using CEREC provide that the traditional dental crowns do not? The technology truly is a huge differentiating factor, with a significant benefit for patient experience.
The Fabrication Process
CEREC employs computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology; the program accurately captures and relays 3-D images, which are used to precisely manufacture and fit a crown. The crown is created in-house, while standard dental crowns are hand-made from impressions at a dental lab – the skill of the lab technician having an effect on the finished result.
Time Commitment
CEREC restorations take single visit, often under two hours, to complete, which is not possible with traditional crowns. Getting a standard dental crown requires the use of molds, temporaries, and a 2-week turn-around time for care.
Aesthetics and Cost
Digital imaging in the production of crowns also helps with accuracy and the look of the finished product. Because CAD/CAM technology enables a high level of precision in designing and milling a crown, the new tooth closely mimics the adjacent teeth.
While it’s true that a solid-ceramic crown, the kind produced by CEREC, can be more mostly than a metal-over-porcelain crown – the investment in cosmetic effect and the time-savings often makes CEREC preferable over standard methods of restoration.
If you have questions about dental crowns, or how to get same-day dental restorations – call Hillcrest Dental Group’s Petaluma cosmetic dental office to speak to a member of our team.
But what do crowns produced using CEREC provide that the traditional dental crowns do not? The technology truly is a huge differentiating factor, with a significant benefit for patient experience.
The Fabrication Process
CEREC employs computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology; the program accurately captures and relays 3-D images, which are used to precisely manufacture and fit a crown. The crown is created in-house, while standard dental crowns are hand-made from impressions at a dental lab – the skill of the lab technician having an effect on the finished result.
Time Commitment
CEREC restorations take single visit, often under two hours, to complete, which is not possible with traditional crowns. Getting a standard dental crown requires the use of molds, temporaries, and a 2-week turn-around time for care.
Aesthetics and Cost
Digital imaging in the production of crowns also helps with accuracy and the look of the finished product. Because CAD/CAM technology enables a high level of precision in designing and milling a crown, the new tooth closely mimics the adjacent teeth.
While it’s true that a solid-ceramic crown, the kind produced by CEREC, can be more mostly than a metal-over-porcelain crown – the investment in cosmetic effect and the time-savings often makes CEREC preferable over standard methods of restoration.
If you have questions about dental crowns, or how to get same-day dental restorations – call Hillcrest Dental Group’s Petaluma cosmetic dental office to speak to a member of our team.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Family Dentistry: Is Fluoride Treatment Important?
Minerals
and vitamins are building blocks for our body's health and immune system.
Calcium, for example, helps us grow strong bones and teeth, while potassium
plays an important part in nerve function, muscle control and more. In the same
way, our teeth benefit from fluoride. Fluoride
is a mineral naturally found foods such as fish and certain kinds of tea.
Fluoride helps form the basis of developing teeth by strengthening the structure of enamel during infancy and early childhood. Fluoride also reduces the effects of acidic bacteria on our teeth and gums, preventing the formation of cavities.
Fluoride helps form the basis of developing teeth by strengthening the structure of enamel during infancy and early childhood. Fluoride also reduces the effects of acidic bacteria on our teeth and gums, preventing the formation of cavities.
So Why is Fluoride Important?
The
benefits of fluoride have been extensively researched and documented since the
early 1900's, when scientists discovered that a lack of fluoride in drinking
water resulted in widespread tooth decay and gum disease. In 1945, Grand
Rapids, Michigan, became the first town in the U.S. to fluoridate its drinking
water, and the results were astounding. Eleven years after the water was fluoridated,
incidents of gum disease and tooth decay among children in the area had
decreased by 60%! 1
Modern Fluoride
Treatment
Today,
fluoride is an active ingredient in virtually every toothpaste on the market.
According to the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, 200
million people receive fluoridated water, and over 13 million children take
part in a school-based fluoride mouth-wash program. As a result, tooth decay
has been in decline, and is now considered a preventable condition for most
people.
Concentrated
fluoride treatments are a standard part of good family dentistry, as they can
be effectively used for both adults and for children’s developing teeth.
Fluoride can be used in the treatment of gum disease, or for cracked teeth,
untreated cavities, cases of dry mouth, or patients who have a lot of fillings or hard-to-clean dental work.2 Fluoride
treatment can be included in regular dental cleanings, and is found in
over-the-counter mouthwashes, too.
If you have any questions about how fluoride treatment can help members of your family enjoy better oral health, call our Petaluma, CA family dentist today for more information.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial
Research (1)
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/topics/fluoride/thestoryoffluoridation.htm
Monday, March 16, 2015
How Do Veneers Work?
A dental veneer is a thin piece of porcelain that cosmetic dentists place on top of your teeth in order to achieve a certain aesthetic effect. Think of veneers as similar, in some ways, to a contact lens – a thin layer of material used to augment and improve a natural look or function.
There are different types of veneers, applied via different methods that help you achieve a better-looking smile. But all dental veneers work by concealing and covering flaws and damage in the following ways:
Building up of tooth-colored resin - Resin veneers camouflage cracks, chips, and deep staining on teeth by way of building up a composite material that looks just like your real teeth. Your cosmetic dentist “paints” this material on your teeth, with the result being teeth that look flawless and damage-free.
Covering natural teeth – What most people know as veneers are the thin shells made of porcelain, as described above. Your dentist will buff down a small amount of tooth enamel so that the shell lays flush on your teeth and doesn’t looker thicker than any of your surrounding natural teeth.
There are also “no-prep” veneers that work the same way as regular veneers, by covering up flaws on teeth; however, the “no-prep” style of veneers are typically thinner and require either buffing down a smaller amount of dental enamel, or none. After preparing your teeth, veneers are bonded in place with strong dental cement.
Veneers can help you achieve a whitening effect for your smile, and can even make teeth look straighter, if you’re struggling with mild crowding or gaps between teeth. Many cosmetic dentists will work with you to help you pick a desired shade for your teeth, especially if you’re getting veneers on all of the top teeth in your smile zone. Because veneers are bonded in place, they can last for many years with proper care.
If you have questions about how veneers can help you cover damaged teeth, or disguise flaws on teeth, contact Hillcrest Dental Group today for your cosmetic dentistry consultation. We customize treatment to fit your needs, as well as your goals for an improved smile.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Recovering from Oral Conscious Sedation
Sedation dentistry makes it easy for fearful patients to get the dental care they need. If you’re considering sedation for the first time, it’s important to know what goes on during your appointment and what recovery will be like.
Sedative medications utilized in sleep dentistry are safe and have been widely used for many years to help patients relax. You can expect the following during the recovery process for oral conscious dental treatment:
Oral conscious sedation uses milder sedatives that pose decreased risk of side effects and are non-habit forming. Recovering from sedation is a comfortable process that only requires rest and relaxation for the day – and sometimes less, depending on the level of sedation and the length of your dental appointment. At Hillcrest Dental Group, we help anxious patients get comfortable dental care with oral conscious sedation. If you have questions for our Petaluma sedation dentists, please call our office for more information.
Sedative medications utilized in sleep dentistry are safe and have been widely used for many years to help patients relax. You can expect the following during the recovery process for oral conscious dental treatment:
- Provide Your Dentist with Your Medial History before Treatment - Health conditions, such as diabetes, and habits like smoking can affect what sedative medications are chosen for you, the overall sedation effect, and ultimately your care instructions for the recovery process. Be sure to disclose your medical history, as well as any medications you’re currently taking, so your dentist can provide you with accurate after-care tips.
- Bring a Friend –You’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Different sedative medications have different half-lives, so you may still be experiencing sedative effects after your dental appointment is over, making it unsafe for you to drive yourself home.
- Avoid Eating and Drinking for 6 Hours Beforehand – Some patients may experience nausea as the sedative effect wears away. Because of this, it’s important to avoid eating and drinking before your appointment, to prevent stomach upset. If you feel light-headed or dizzy after treatment, eating light foods can help prevent this feeling.
- Take the Rest of the Day off Work - You’ll need to take some time to relax and let the sedative effects taper away. During this time, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, reduce activity, and do not attempt to drive or operate other machinery.
Oral conscious sedation uses milder sedatives that pose decreased risk of side effects and are non-habit forming. Recovering from sedation is a comfortable process that only requires rest and relaxation for the day – and sometimes less, depending on the level of sedation and the length of your dental appointment. At Hillcrest Dental Group, we help anxious patients get comfortable dental care with oral conscious sedation. If you have questions for our Petaluma sedation dentists, please call our office for more information.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Your Cosmetic Dentistry Options
Cosmetic dental treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all method; there are plenty of procedures that help address overlapping aesthetic concerns, but some are better suited for certain goals than others.
If you feel that your smile could use some improvement, take a look at our list of common issues we hear from patients about their smiles’ appearance. Our Petaluma cosmetic dentistry office provides patients with as many options as possible, so they get the smile they want.
Gaps between teeth – Minor gapping between teeth, which doesn’t require the intervention of more complex treatment (like braces), can be corrected with cosmetic procedures. Placing veneers or crowns on teeth creates a smile with just the right spacing. When applying crowns and veneers, teeth are buffed slightly to accommodate prosthetics, with the finalized procedure filling out any gaps between treated teeth and neighboring teeth. The number of teeth to be treated and your budget for cosmetic care will determine which route you’d prefer.
Stained or discolored teeth – We help lift or disguise stains on teeth with teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. Our in-office and at-home teeth bleaching systems remove deep-seated stains on your smile caused by coffee drinking, red wine, or other food and drink with heavy pigment. If your teeth have been discolored in way that cannot be corrected with teeth bleaching, we help you get a bright new smile with veneers. We help you pick just the right shade for your veneer treatment so your teeth are as bright as you’d like.
Cracks, chips, and decay – Teeth that are showing signs of wear and tear, or have been affected by decay can be made to look flawless and healthy. We place dental crowns that cover teeth and prevent further cracking or chipping, and stop the spread of decay to healthy teeth. Best of all, our office uses CEREC imaging and milling technology to make your crown right in our office, in under an hour. After getting crowns, your smile will look flawless.
Too-small teeth – Not everyone has teeth that are completely uniform in appearance; you may have one or two teeth that are just slightly smaller than the rest of the teeth in your smile zone, compromising the balance of your smile. We use porcelain veneers, shells of tooth-colored material, to augment specific teeth in your smile for an even, picture-perfect look.
No matter what issues you’re experiencing with your smile, we have treatments that can help. Contact our office for more information about your cosmetic dentistry options.
If you feel that your smile could use some improvement, take a look at our list of common issues we hear from patients about their smiles’ appearance. Our Petaluma cosmetic dentistry office provides patients with as many options as possible, so they get the smile they want.
Gaps between teeth – Minor gapping between teeth, which doesn’t require the intervention of more complex treatment (like braces), can be corrected with cosmetic procedures. Placing veneers or crowns on teeth creates a smile with just the right spacing. When applying crowns and veneers, teeth are buffed slightly to accommodate prosthetics, with the finalized procedure filling out any gaps between treated teeth and neighboring teeth. The number of teeth to be treated and your budget for cosmetic care will determine which route you’d prefer.
Stained or discolored teeth – We help lift or disguise stains on teeth with teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. Our in-office and at-home teeth bleaching systems remove deep-seated stains on your smile caused by coffee drinking, red wine, or other food and drink with heavy pigment. If your teeth have been discolored in way that cannot be corrected with teeth bleaching, we help you get a bright new smile with veneers. We help you pick just the right shade for your veneer treatment so your teeth are as bright as you’d like.
Cracks, chips, and decay – Teeth that are showing signs of wear and tear, or have been affected by decay can be made to look flawless and healthy. We place dental crowns that cover teeth and prevent further cracking or chipping, and stop the spread of decay to healthy teeth. Best of all, our office uses CEREC imaging and milling technology to make your crown right in our office, in under an hour. After getting crowns, your smile will look flawless.
Too-small teeth – Not everyone has teeth that are completely uniform in appearance; you may have one or two teeth that are just slightly smaller than the rest of the teeth in your smile zone, compromising the balance of your smile. We use porcelain veneers, shells of tooth-colored material, to augment specific teeth in your smile for an even, picture-perfect look.
No matter what issues you’re experiencing with your smile, we have treatments that can help. Contact our office for more information about your cosmetic dentistry options.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Welcome to our blog!
We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.
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