I have been a client of Marotta Laboratory for many years and I recognize their attention to detail and pride in their workmanship.   I was surprised to read that in 2010 38% of the dental restorations in the US were made by foreign laboratories, up from 17% in 2006.  Most of the foreign work is done in China.  Some domestic laboratories send their work overseas and some dentists deal directly with overseas dental labs.  I have never considered using an inexpensive overseas laboratory.  I am glad that quality laboratories like Marotta are still in business and that there are still dentists out there who want to provide quality dentistry for their patients.

The ADA has more information on mouthguards at http://ada.org/2970.aspx including discussion of dental emergencies and the advantages and disadvantages of stock, boil-and-bite, and custom fitted mouthguards.  Also look at my blog entry about mouthguards: http://drterryshapiro.com/blog/?p=140.

“Health” is the most searched topic on the web, and the ADA’s new website should be the leading source for oral health information.  Dr. W. Carter Brown, chair of the ADA Council on Communications stated, “We believe that informed patients are more likely to make better health choices and understand the benefits of having an ADA dentist as part of their oral health for a lifetime.”

I have been a member of the ADA since graduating from dental school – it is our professional organization.

The equine dentist explained how the horse’s bite problem interfered with how he holds the bit in his mouth. She then described how this may cause specific problems when the horse is ridden.  My friend was amazed as his horse always has exactly those problems.  She said that the horse should improve after his bite is corrected, but he would have been a better horse if the problem were corrected when he was young.

The horse has had two treatment. Only a certain amount of the tooth can be removed at a time without risking infection to the pulp. The next treatment is in six months.  My friend was surprised to see that the equine dentist was using a standard battery powered drill with a long right angle shaft to grind the horse’s teeth. The horse was sedated.

The moral of the story is that everyone should have regular dental care, even horses.

Most emergency visits involve toothaches that could have been avoided with regular checkups.   In Florida there were more than 115,000 ER dental visits in 2010, costing more than $88 million. This figure includes more than 40,000 Medicaid patients, representing a 40% increase from 2008.  But still 56% of Medicaid-enrolled children received no dental care.

The use of an emergency room for dental treatment is very expensive and very inefficient.  The recession has contributed to the situation because when a family member loses a job, dental care takes a back seat to food and rent.  The problem is also exacerbated by the low Medicaid fees for dentists.  Few dentists participate in state Medicaid programs.  A shortage of dentists in rural areas is also a contributing factor.

http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300069.

Coronary plaque that causes atherosclerosis is a soft and greasy substance of cholesterol and inflammatory cells that circulate in the bloodstream.  Eye plaque is a cholesterol filled bubble broken off from other atherosclerotic plaque.  But dental plaque is different: it is made up of bacteria, proteins, sugars and salts.  Buildup produces acid that leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

Poor oral hygiene is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.  This is probably due to the inflammation produced by the plaque and with damage from the oral bacteria released into the blood.

Veterinarians report that periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem in dogs and cats. This can lead to painful infections of the mouth, which can spread and become life-threatening.  By the age of two, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some type of periodontal disease.  The best prevention is regular brushing and regular visits to the vet.

The AVMA offers an informative video giving detailed instructions on how to brush your pet’s teeth. There is even an entire website devoted to pet dental health: www.petdental.com.

February is also children’s dental health month:  is there a connection here?

I understand that my website is my online persona and I update it regularly so it is informative and easy to navigate.  I launched my website, drterryshapiro.com, in 2006 when there were few dental websites, but I recognized at the time that people would search the web for a dentist, even as they increasingly search there for everything else. (Surprisingly, Aaron was skeptical about the need for a dentist’s website.)  Nevertheless, people very often find me from my website.

Readers learn about my dental practice and my approach to dental treatment, they ask questions, get answers, look at our photos, read and listen to our testimonials, and become great patients.  I am amazed that even today most dentists do not have a website.  It is how we present ourselves to the public.  So enjoy clicking around and drop me an email with your suggestions or questions!