The Laser Dental Group

Our mouths are a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. When we clean our teeth, the aim is to knock out cavity-causing bacteria, while allowing beneficial oral bacteria to thrive. Now, researchers have developed a sugar-free candy, which contains dead bacteria that bind to bad bacteria, potentially reducing cavities. The importance of good oral health has been emphasized by doctors for years. Poor oral health has been linked to many conditions, from  Alzheimer’s disease  to  pancreatic cancer , not to mention  cardiovascular disease . To promote better oral health, a team from the Berlin-based firm Organobalance GmbH, Germany, created a new candy, which they claim reduced levels of ‘bad’ bacteria in study subjects’ mouths. Their research was published in  Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins . They note that after we eat, bacteria on the surface of the teeth release acid, which can dissolve the tooth enamel, leading to cavities. The most com

If you have children you know how difficult it is to get them all smiling and looking in the same direction.  Jason Lee, a wedding photographer started taking pictures of his daughters and they are anything but boring.  We posted a couple here for you to enjoy but you should really see his Flickr account to see the scope of his work.     

Researchers at Columbia University in New York suggest that if you look after your gums, you could also be reducing your risk of heart disease. They claim that improving dental care slows the speed with which plaque builds up in the arteries. Writing in a recent online issue of the  Journal of the American Heart Association , they report a prospective study that shows how improving gum health is linked to a clinically significant slower progression of  atherosclerosis , the process where plaque builds up in arteries and increases a person’s risk of heart disease ,  stroke  and death. Lead author Moïse Desvarieux, associate professor of Epidemiology at Columbia’s Mailman School of Health, says: “These results are important because atherosclerosis progressed in parallel with both clinical periodontal disease and the bacterial profiles in the gums. This is the most direct evidence yet that modifying the periodontal bacterial profile could play a role in preventing or slowing both d

Digital Dental Radiography has been around since the late 1980's.  When compared to conventional x-rays, digital x-rays have many benefits.  They are more environmentally friendly, as there are no toxic chemicals to dispose of and they produce no waste. It provides instant imaging.  There s no developing process which saves time for both the patient and health professional. The digital images can be shared more easily with another health professional, saving the patients' time and money in the form of duplication charges. Storage, organization, stability and ease of chronological comparisons of past radiographs are also great advantages of digitalization. The most important feature of digital radiography is the significant 80-90% reduction of radiation required to produce an image. According to the National Council on Radiation Protection, we are all exposed to background radiation on average about 300 mrem per year.  (A unit of radiation is measured in rem, and th

When you come in for your appointment, most of you will be asked to fill out a patient update on our IPad.  This is important for a few reasons.  First, although much of your information is indeed the same, there may be minor changes.  Now that we are trying to go paperless, it is important that you verify that the information that we have, was inputted correctly.  Also since we are sending more and more information via e-mail and text message, we need to have both your e-mail and cell phone numbers.  Finally, it is an important part of every medical exam for us to verify your medical history.  This article from the Academy of General Dentistry mentions some of the changes which will require you to fill out a new medical history update.  ( The Academy of General Dentistry’s core purpose is to advance the value and excellence of general dentistry through a commitment to the education of general dentists and their patients. For more information about the AGD, visit www.agd.org .) 

A common problem many people have is that they brush too hard, causing recession of the gums.  This picture following shows an example of a patient with this problem. As you can see, the tooth roots are exposed, causing sensitivity.  This can make it very difficult to enjoy ice cream!  We were able to repair the problem in a single visit with composite filling materials. The patient was as pleased with the results as we were.

Today we saw a patient with decay and existing silver fillings in the front teeth. First it was necessary, to remove all the decay and existing amalgam (silver) and composite (bondings).  This next picture shows the remaining tooth structure. Finally, we put in the composite, shaping the teeth to match what she had originally.  The patient was very happy with the result.

T oday’s dentistry is a far cry from years past. Patients today need not settle for obvious silver fillings because there are treatment options available that look just as beautiful as—if not better than—their own natural teeth. What’s more, many patients can be treated today without metal, and more and more tooth structure can be conserved, thanks to minimally-invasive techniques designed to help preserve natural dentin—an important part of healthy, strong teeth.   What many people might not know is that the same innovations that are revolutionizing business and technology are being clinically proven to enhance the precision and longevity of modern dental treatment options. Also, such technologies are making today’s modern dentistry more convenient, less time consuming, and more patient-friendly.   Introducing the E4D Dentist™ system—Modern Dentistry that Fits Your Lifestyle For example, with the E4D Dentist system, instead of using traditionally