Latest clinic posts | DentaGama | Find a Dentist

Dental Health Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

During the 1960s and 1970s, asbestos was a widely used material in dentistry, especially in the production of dental prostheses. But in 1977, all forms of asbestos became classified as material agents with proven carcinogenic effects. How are dental health workers exposed to asbestos? What is mesothelioma, and how is it related to asbestos exposure? How can the dental health industry prevent or minimize asbestos exposure to dentists? This article explains how dentists can be exposed to asbestos, which is the leading cause of mesothelioma. The article also discusses how to prevent such exposure to help limit or prevent the disease from spreading. Knowing how dentists become exposed to asbestos and how this material can lead to mesothelioma can help the dental industry develop preventive measures to minimize the incidents of asbestos exposure among dental health professionals. The Mesothelioma Group site contains helpful information on the stages of mesothelioma and treatment options to help manage the symptoms of this disease. How Are Dental Health Professionals Exposed to Asbestos? Asbestos has been a health hazard since the 1960s and 1970s, causing a high incidence of lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers and characterized by shortness of breath and lung tissue scarring. Chrysotile is one type of asbestos formerly used in manufacturing periodontal dressing powders (PDP) and casting ring liners (CRL) utilized in dentistry. One study documented the sources and everyday use of asbestos in prosthetic materials for dentistry, including the coating of casting cylinders and dental dressings. One report, in particular, mentioned four cases of exposure to asbestos due to this material being present in dentistry materials. Three subjects worked as dental laboratory technicians, and one assisted in manufacturing dental prostheses. The report suggested that malignant mesothelioma may be associated with dental technician work. Malignant mesothelioma is cancer in the tissue lining the chest wall, lung, and abdomen. In another study, researchers mentioned that using PDPs and CRLs containing asbestos shouldn’t increase the risk of asbestos-related diseases among dental professionals. Results showed that dentistry tasks using CRLs didn’t exceed asbestos regulatory standards of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) or greater. Additionally, all samples collected during PDP mixing resulted in non-measurable fiber concentrations. These findings suggest a lack of increased risk for ARD for tasks involving CRLs and PDPs that contain asbestos. What Is Asbestos and How Does It Cause Mesothelioma? Asbestos isn’t only one material but a group of six naturally occurring minerals comprising heat-resistant fibers: Actinolite Amosite Anthophyllite Chrysotile Crocidolite Tremolite Before the public knew of asbestos dangers, manufacturers had used this material in thousands of consumer products in the United States. Some of these products are part of dentistry equipment and materials. The U.S. regulates but doesn’t ban asbestos use, although this material can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other cancers. During the removal of asbestos insulation or when miners dig for this material, asbestos can break up and produce dust. If you inhale or swallow this dust, the fibers can settle in your lungs or stomach. The fibers in these organs can cause irritation that can develop into mesothelioma. Although this process isn’t entirely understood, mesothelioma usually takes 20 to 60 years to develop after asbestos exposure. Factors related to asbestos exposure that can increase the risk of mesothelioma include: Living with someone regularly exposed to asbestos: People working with asbestos can carry the fibers home on their clothing or skin. Frequent exposure to these stray fibers can place others at home at risk of mesothelioma. Personal asbestos exposure history: You can be directly exposed to asbestos if you work in an industry that uses this material or if there are asbestos products in your home. The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers asbestos in all its forms as carcinogenic to humans. Preventive Measures Against Asbestos Exposure in Dentistry A 2022 proposal from an expert panel recommended the following measures to help prevent occupational risk in dentistry due to asbestos exposure: Obtain the necessary information to determine whether the material contains asbestos, the type of asbestos, and whether it can be airborne. Know what to do when encountering materials containing asbestos. Learn to recognize products that may have asbestos. Implement a work plan and specific written risk assessment. Wear appropriate protective equipment. Ensure that workers have appropriate training in the function, choice, and use of protective equipment. Organize training sessions with relevant field experts. Assess whether medical surveillance is necessary in case of asbestos exposure. Undergo medical supervision in the likelihood of being exposed to asbestos. Include dental health professionals in the list of professions exposed to asbestos. Conduct asbestos-related epidemiological studies for the dental industry. Follow best practices based on national and international standards for the disposal of asbestos-containing waste. Contact the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1-800-422-6237 or visit Cancer.gov to learn about asbestos exposure and how workers can protect themselves. References Prevention of Occupational Hazards Due to Asbestos Exposure in Dentistry. A Proposal from a Panel of Experts https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8955252/ Asbestosis: Symptoms & Causes https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asbestosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354637 Potential airborne asbestos exposures in dentistry: a comprehensive review and risk assessment https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34060417/ Pleural malignant mesothelioma in dental laboratory technicians: A case series https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28409856/ Malignant Mesothelioma—Patient Version https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma Mesothelioma: Symptoms & Causes https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375022

Posted by Crawford and O brein

Facts You Should Know About Teeth Whitening

A beautiful smile takes preventative oral health care and, in some cases, restorative or cosmetic treatments. One of the most common requests for cosmetic treatments is teeth whitening. With at-home products available, along with professional whitening services from your dentist, you have a variety of options. But is teeth whitening a great option for you? Are some methods more effective than others? Common Causes Of Tooth Discoloration If you’re experiencing discoloration in your teeth, a large number of contributing factors could be at play. Here are just a few that might be responsible for yours: • Age: Aging can lead to enamel wear naturally, exposing your teeth to a greater risk of stains or discoloration. • Medications: Some medications can have side effects, making your teeth more susceptible to discoloration. • Foods & Beverages: With prolonged exposure, acidic foods and dark-colored beverages will begin to discolor your teeth and erode your enamel. • Tobacco Products: Tobacco products will deposit dark particles throughout your mouth. Additionally, prolonged tobacco use will dehydrate your mouth, allowing stains to attach to your enamel. Teeth Whitening In-Office Using Zoom® and Brite Smile® whitening methods, patients will receive gel application and high-powered lights for a one-hour treatment session. These professional treatments use hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide to help penetrate the enamel and oxidize the discolored molecules within the hard tooth structure. How At-Home Whiteners Work The over the counter, at-home whitening treatments typically provide a one-size-fits-all dental tray for gel application on your teeth. While some might notice improvements in the brightness of their smiles, most don’t see the results they would otherwise while under the supervision of a dental professional. Dental Prescribed At-Home Treatments You can work with your dental professional to develop a whitening plan with the same effectiveness as the in-office formulas for at-home use. These solutions might include whitening gels you can use in your oral health routine, with customized dental trays and precise instructions for application and use. How Teeth Whitening Toothpaste Works Whitening toothpaste varieties remove surface stains from your teeth with the use of abrasives and special chemicals that dissolve stains. To see a brighter smile, you’ll need to use a whitening toothpaste for three to six weeks consecutively. Some brands instead use blue Covarine, a chemical that creates a thin microfilm over your teeth that changes the appearance of the color. Custom Whitening Trays Are Essential for Achieving Best Results At-home whitening treatments can be helpful, but they aren’t always effective because the application process or whitening trays aren’t customized to fit your teeth. When you opt for professional whitening with your dentist, you’ll achieve better results because the dental practitioner will use customized whitening trays designed to fit your teeth. With custom trays, you can be sure the whitening agent is evenly applied to all areas of your teeth. Trying to whiten at home increases the risk of uneven application that results in various shades of teeth. Whitening Will Only Restore Your Natural Tooth Color If you have naturally occurred discoloration in your teeth, not associated with surface stains or effects of acidic foods, whitening treatments will only whiten to shades of your natural tooth color. It’s imperative that you recognize your teeth can’t be whitened any brighter than their natural shade. Teeth Whitening And More In Boynton Beach Unhappy with the color of your teeth? Contact Eriks Dental Group at 561-733-4004. We are one of South Florida's premium choice for family dental care. From developing your first teeth to getting fitted for dentures, we serve the dental needs of patients in all walks of life.

Posted by Eriks Dental Group

6 Amazing Dentistry Instruments and Their Uses in Oral Surgeries

Good oral hygiene is necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Besides taking care of dental health properly, some diseases require patients to visit a dentist. Periodontists and dentists contribute to avoiding certain oral issues by using innovative dentistry instruments. Dental instruments help diagnose, handle, and treat dental issues effectively. Without these tools, a dentist would never have a complete picture of your overall dental health, and detecting potential problems would be more difficult. In this article, we are going to discuss some amazing dental instruments and their uses in dental surgical procedures. Let’s begin! Anglevators: The Anglevator is one of the most important dentistry instruments. The tool performs the functions of six dental tools, including a dental elevator, crane pick, dental chisels, periotome, luxator, and proximator. Furthermore, it is an ideal and cost-effective option for dentists to help them with their dental practices. Anglevator consists of a thin, sharp comprehensive tip that can securely wedge between the bone and root in the periodontal ligament. The tool works on the principle of levers and can easily fit the narrow surgical areas without affecting the nearby oral structure. Uses: The tool is useful for raising the root surface during dental extraction procedures. The instrument is able to fit in the periodontal ligament and cut it more efficiently with minor damage. Using anglevator, dentists can easily separate the tooth from the surrounding bone and periodontal ligament by applying apical pressure. Dental Elevators Dental elevators are essential dental instruments that play an important role in tooth extraction. The instrument consists of a thick handle that perfectly fits in the operator’s hand. The shank of the instrument can be long or short, depending on the requirement of the dentist. Likewise, the blades of the instrument have different designs to access different mouth surgical areas. Uses: The elevators help to loosen the tooth before removing it from the gum socket. It reflects the mucoperiosteal membrane in order to eliminate the tooth. On the other side, it is also helpful in removing fractured and decayed teeth and roots. The structure of the elevator helps to make the teeth mobile so that the forceps can grasp them firmly. It is also helpful in removing the intraarticular bone. It helps to split the multirooted teeth and also those who have grooves in them. Dental Forceps: Dental forceps are useful dentistry instruments to diagnose and treat oral issues. There are different types of dental forceps, including hemostatic forceps, tissue forceps, and forceps tweezers. Dentists select the forceps on the basis of the type of procedure. The instrument’s primary purpose is to assist dentists in removing the tooth during extraction procedures. Uses: The tweezer shape forceps have a self-opening mechanism, providing better control of holding delicate tissues. Tissue forceps are unique tools that help in holding and manipulating delicate tissues. While the scissor shape hemostatic forceps are ideal for securing, grasping, and applying traction to objects in oral surgeries. The ratchet mechanism of the forceps helps in clamping objects to carefully proceed with the surgical procedure. Dental Mirrors Dental procedures are not possible if you are not able to detect the problematic area. That is why dental mirrors are useful tools to help dentists diagnose the main problem. The instrument works on the principle of light reflection. A light source reflects off a mirror at an angle equal to its angle of incidence. Uses: Dental mirrors provide dentists with a better posture during cleaning and inspecting. In this way, it is healthy for the dentist to reduce their back and neck pain. It provides clear visibility with a magnified view of specific mouthparts. Many dental mirrors aid in mobilizing cheeks and tongues to see the teeth area clearly. Dental Chisels Dental chisels are the most common dentistry instruments that assist during tooth implant procedures. The instrument can be straight, bi-angled, or triple-angled to aid the dentist in straightening the pulpal floor. In addition, most chisels have a beveled cutting edge on both sides, which is helpful for splitting teeth in situations where a broken or damaged tooth must be removed. Uses: The tool assists dentists in removing and smoothening the bone area so implant material can be inserted more easily. Furthermore, it reduces the possibility of any damage, specifically to soft tissues such as the lip, cheeks, and tongue, during surgery. It also helps to avoid burns and makes the oral surgical procedure more efficient. Dental Retractor Dental retractors are unique dental tools that help to keep tongues, lips, cheeks, and mucoperiosteal flaps away from the surgical site. Usually, dentists expose the area with the help of retractors where they need to perform surgery. In this way, it helps to provide a clear view so dentists can perform surgery efficiently. Uses: Dental retractors assist in preparing the crown area of the tooth before filling. The instrument remains inside the mouth throughout the surgical procedure to aid dentists in performing surgeries efficiently. How to Get the Best Dental Surgical Instruments? The dentistry instruments that we have discussed in the article make dental practices more convenient and simpler. All are must-have tools in a dentist’s clinic. If you are looking for such amazing dental surgical products, check GerDentUSA. They have a wide variety of dental instruments to improve the flow and pace of complex procedures. Also, the tools are performance tested for professional use. Moreover, their tools have a sturdy structure with high tensile strength and durability.

Posted by GER DENT USA

How to Safely Pull Your Kid Loose Baby Tooth Ask Colorado Springs

If your child is like most kids, they are eager to reach their next big milestone. Children can’t wait to grow up. So it is not surprising when kids want to start losing baby teeth like their classmates. But do you know when it is the right time to pull your kid’s baby tooth? And is there a safe way to pull a loose baby tooth? Let’s find out! Why You Shouldn’t Pull Primary Teeth Early It doesn’t really matter when your child loses their baby teeth because the permanent ones will grow in any way. However, the first set of teeth play an important role. Temporary teeth allow children to chew food properly. They also maintain adequate space for the permanent ones to erupt properly. On the other hand, when kids lose their teeth prematurely, it can likely cause alignment issues and alter their jaw development. This premature tooth loss is often caused by tooth decay or trauma. Though your child may become impatient to lose them, it’s best to wait for baby teeth to wiggle out naturally. When Is It OK to Pull Baby Teeth? Baby teeth typically wiggle out on their own. Some children pull them out with their tongue or fingers. This is because only a small amount of soft tissue holds the loose baby tooth in place when it goes from loose to actually wiggly. In that case, it is probably OK for you to pull the tooth for them. It should be OK to pull your child’s tooth if they are at age 6 or older and their tooth is very loose (almost hanging by a small tissue). But make sure the tooth is loosened naturally and not due to a dental issue or injury. Do not pull your child’s loose tooth if: The tooth is barely loose because it may cause bleeding and pain The tooth is loose due to an oral health issue or accident Your child is under age 5 because that can later cause orthodontic problems like crooked teeth If you are unsure whether it’s the right time to pull a loose tooth, please feel free to ask Colorado Springs, Co Dentist. What’s the Best Way to Pull a Loose Baby Teeth? It’s best to let your kid’s baby teeth fall out naturally or let your kid pull their own loose teeth when they become truly wiggly. But if your child wants help, here is how to safely pull a loose tooth: Place a clean ice pack on your child’s gum near the loose tooth for a few minutes. This will numb the area and avoid pain. Grip the loose tooth with a clean cloth or tissue. Twist the tooth until it wiggles out. Be gentle but quick! Below are the things you need to avoid while pulling out a loose tooth: Don’t use a string to pull out a loose tooth. This isn’t a safe technique and may cause pain. Avoid twisting the tooth for a longer period. If it needs more than a twist, the tooth may not be ready enough to pull it out. Don’t pull out the tooth if it causes pain to your child. If your child feels pain or discomfort, see your dentist! Name: Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics of Colorado Springs Address: 5150 North Academy Boulevard Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 United States (US) Phone: (719) 413-8133 Monday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday Closed Sunday Closed

Posted by Pearl Shine Dental Clinic

Bridal Special Promotion

Save the date for your smile. We offer Smile Makeover, Cosmetic Veneers and Teeth Whitening. Please call us for details. #specialoffers #drguzak #dentist #palmspringsca #bridalpromotion