Ever bite into an ice cream cone and experience a strange jolt of pain? Or drink something cold and feel like a needle is piercing a nerve in your mouth? New research may soon help us better treat this dental pain one day. Odontoblasts We know that the discomfort you experience is the result of...
Did you know that hormonal fluctuations, such as during pregnancy, can make your gums more prone to gum disease? Or that some individuals can be genetically predisposed to gum disease? To learn more about severe gum disease (periodontitis), check out Dr. Frederic Norkin’s article “But I brush my teeth: 10 causes of periodontitis that go...
A beautiful smile is often considered a balanced smile. When your gums show more than approximately four millimeters of gum tissue, they may seem too prominent and detract from your smile. This excessive gingival display, more commonly known as a gummy smile, can vary in proportion from person to person but overall is thought of...
When we’re around six years old, we start losing those precious “baby” teeth that came in a few years earlier. This rite of passage is a positive change often accompanied by adorable photographs, money and gifts. But when adults lose teeth it’s not only far from normal; it can affect your oral health. It’s not...
In addition to seeing patients, our periodontists are often invited to give presentations to other dental professionals. They also teach at academic institutions in the U.S. and abroad and often share their knowledge in articles and textbook chapters. In the recently published “Is Wearing a Mask Affecting Your Dental Health” Dr. Ganeles helps dispel what...
In 1926, the first dental hygienist was trained for the purpose of performing what was then called “mouth sanitation.” While today’s periodontal hygienists still thoroughly clean your teeth to help prevent gum disease (known today as dental prophylaxis), their vital roles have greatly evolved. Oral Hygiene Supports Health Our periodontal hygienists function as key liaisons...
We’ve talked about the ill effects of smoking before, for good reason. Tobacco use is one of our greatest enemies when it comes to teeth and gum health, and to overall wellness as well. In addition to causing bad breath, yellowed teeth and contributing to devastating disease such as oral cancer, tobacco usage interferes with...
A recent case-controlled study questioned if the presence of severe gum disease (periodontitis) could be associated with COVID-19. The research was conducted between February and July 2020, utilizing more than 500 national electronic records from the Oral Health Institute of the State of Qatar in Southwest Asia. Researchers examined records of COVID-19 patients who had...
In 1952, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon was studying bone healing and regeneration. He made a somewhat accidental discovery while studying how blood flow affects bone healing when he and his team discovered that the titanium optical devices they had placed in rabbit legs fused with the bone and couldn’t be removed. By 1965 science would...
A recent poll among American Dental Association members, as reported in AARP magazine, shows a 53-59% increase in teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism), chipped or cracked teeth and pain around the jaw and surrounding muscles (known as TMD or TMJ). There have even been anecdotal reports of teeth seemingly inexplicably falling out. While a direct...
