Belmont Dental Group

For more information on proper dental hygiene for your family, check out the links below. Located in Belmont, Belmont Dental Group is home to well-educated dentists who will provide the care and knowledge that your family deserves. Call Belmont Dental Group at (617) 209-4058 today!

• To learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for bruxism, read this WebMD.com article.

• For a comprehensive look at bruxism, including causes, symptoms, and risk factors, explore this Mayo Clinic article.

• This Medline Plus article provides information on the symptoms, causes, and treatments for bruxism.

• Read about the connection between periodontal disease and heart disease with this article from Perio.org.

• In this article from Science Daily, you can read about the link between periodontal disease and heart disease.

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Recent research has shown a significant correlation between periodontal disease and coronary artery disease.  In fact, people with gum disease are nearly twice as likely as those with healthy teeth to suffer from heart disease.

• Dangers of Gum Disease

When oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can attach to fatty plaque in the coronary arteries.Fatty proteins that build up on the walls of coronary arteries can cause them to thicken.Normal blood flow is restricted by clots, which limits the amount of nutrients and oxygen needed for the heart to function properly.Blood clots and limited blood flow can result in a heart attack.

The inflammation caused by periodontal disease also causes the liver to produce C-reactive proteins, which are a predictor for an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  Individuals with high levels of oral bacteria may also have weakened immune systems as well as an inadequate inflammatory response.  As a result, individuals with periodontal disease may induce vascular effects that have been shown to contribute to heart disease.

• Treatment

Due to the connection between periodontal disease and heart disease, anyone who experiences the symptoms of gum disease should seek immediate treatment from their dentist or periodontist.After a thorough examination, including x-rays and exams of teeth, gums, and the jawbone, the periodontist can begin appropriate treatment.Treatment typically includes scaling and root planing to remove tartar from gum pockets. Your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics.

Do you have symptoms of periodontal disease?  If so, contact the dentists of Belmont Dental Group at (617) 209-4058.  We offer a full range of dental services in the Belmont and Cambridge areas.  For your comfort, we also offer sedation dentistry, and we pride ourselves on our comprehensive, gentle dental care.

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Utilize the following resources to help you learn valuable tips on how to care for your family’s teeth.  In Belmont, the dentists of Belmont Dental Group will provide you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve. Call us today at (617) 209-4058 to learn more.

• Learn several tips on how to care for your child’s teeth with this article from KidsHealth.org.
• This article from Colgate.com provides essential information about how to best care for your children’s teeth.
• For further reading on dental care for children, check out this article from FamilyDoctor.org.
• This Fluoridation Center article offers key information about how fluoride can protect your teeth.
• In this article, you can read more about the three ways that fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.

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Bruxism is the grinding and clenching of the teeth.  Many people with bruxism grind their teeth unconsciously at night while they sleep.  Chronic bruxism can damage teeth and result in further oral health complications.

• Symptoms and Causes

Most people with bruxism report the same symptoms, including headache, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, chronic facial pain, worn teeth and tooth enamel, and sore jaw muscles. The most common causes of bruxism are anxiety, stress, and tension.  Some people may only experience bruxism under severe stress or anxiety; others, however, experience nightly, chronic bruxism.  Other causes of bruxism include abnormal tooth alignment, missing or crooked teeth, and suppressed anger.

• Dangers of Bruxism

Bruxism that occurs on a regular basis can result in serious dental problems.  Often, bruxism can cause fractured teeth.  In addition, bruxism can loosen teeth and even result in tooth loss.  This constant grinding can cause teeth to wear down so far that crowns, bridges, partial dentures, dental implants, or root canals may be necessary.  Furthermore, damage from bruxism may include temporomandibular joint disorders or changes to facial appearance.

• Treatment

Reducing stress is one of the best ways to prevent bruxism.  A few ways to reduce stress include counseling, exercising, and stretching.  Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and do not chew any non-food items, like pencils.  You should also avoid chewing gum, as this may exacerbate the problem as well. A mouth guard made by a dentist that fits over the teeth can also provide protection.

The dental professionals of Belmont Dental Group can evaluate your symptoms and determine if you have bruxism.  We serve the Belmont and Cambridge areas with gentle, expert dental care, including sedation dentistry.  To schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dentists, call us at (617) 209-4058 or visit our website.

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Dental care techniques have come a long way in recent years.  However, one of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy is practicing good oral hygiene techniques at home.  Fluoride is still one of the best ways to prevent dental decay and therefore the need for fillings and other dental repairs.  Fluoride works in three ways to help you maintain a healthy smile:

• Enhances Re-Mineralization of Teeth
  Fluoride will adsorb onto the surface of the tooth in any area where demineralization has occurred.  Demineralization is the weakening of the tooth, often caused by ingestion of sugars. Using fluoride attracts other minerals, like calcium, to demineralized areas of the tooth’s surface.  These minerals help to speed up the re-mineralization process, which keeps teeth healthy and strong.

• Aids in Decay Resistance
  Areas that are re-mineralized with the use of fluoride are actually stronger than the tooth’s original surface.  As a result, the tooth’s surface becomes more resistant to decay than it was before demineralization occurred.  Generally, teeth are composed of hydroxyapatite and carbonated hydroxyapatite.  However, re-mineralization from fluoride creates fluorapatite, a harder surface that is more resistant to demineralization.

• Reduces Oral Bacteria’s Ability to Make Acids
  Fluoride inhibits the ability of oral bacteria to create acids that damage tooth enamel.  When oral bacteria’s ability to metabolize sugars is disrupted by fluoride, the demineralization process is halted.

At Belmont Dental Group, serving Belmont and Cambridge, our trusted dentists are focused solely on your dental health.  From general dentistry care to periodontal disease treatment, we pride ourselves on providing personalized, gentle care for your dental needs.  Call us today at (617) 209-4058 to schedule your next dental appointment.

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Although your child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by their permanent teeth, it is still essential to care for your toddler’s teeth.  Learn more about how to care for your child’s teeth with this dental care guide for children:

• Start Dental Care Early
  Dental care for your child should begin even before his or her first tooth comes in.  After feedings, use a wet washcloth or gauze to gently rub down your baby’s gums.  Cleaning your baby’s gums will prevent the buildup of bacteria that can cause damage to your baby’s teeth.

• Brush Your Child’s Teeth
  Around one year old, it’s time to begin brushing.  Use a soft child’s toothbrush to brush the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of the teeth with water.  By three years old your child should be brushing at least twice daily.  Around two to three years of age, you can start using fluoride toothpaste.  Use a pea-sized amount and be sure your child doesn’t ingest the toothpaste. 

• Take Your Child for Dental Check-Ups
  Take your child for his or her first dental check-up around his or her first birthday.  Early dental appointments will allow your dentist to recognize dental problems early and help reduce your child’s fear of the dentist as he or she grows older. Schedule your child’s first cleaning at three years old.

• Prepare Your Child a Well-Balanced Diet
  A well-balanced diet is essential to dental care.  Try to limit starchy and sugary foods that produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay.  Fresh fruits and vegetables help to keep teeth healthy from the inside out and also help remove plaque during chewing.

If you are looking for a dentist in Belmont or Cambridge, trust the experienced and gentle dentists of the Belmont Dental Group.  Our patients with dental anxiety can take comfort in sedation dentistry.  To schedule your appointment, call us at (617) 209-4058 today.

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Seeing the dentist for biannual cleanings and exams is an essential part of any dental care routine, but many people skip these visits because of fear and anxiety in the dentist’s chair. Although there is nothing to cause alarm or worry, nerves can be hard to overcome. Additionally, some people are generally uncomfortable with the intensive cleaning process. Fortunately, there is a way to see the dentist without any discomfort: sedation dentistry. Discuss the ideal sedation method for you with your dentist and review the options listed below:

• Oral Medication: This is the most common form of sedation, as it is safe and easy to administer. The dentist prescribes a single dose of a mild sedative that you can pick up at the pharmacy. You simply take this medication a couple hours before your appointment and have a friend or family member drive you there. You will be in a relaxed, dream-like state for the duration of your appointment.
   
• Nitrous Oxide: The use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, used to be much more popular than it is now. The gas allows you to remain awake, but you will not feel any sensation as the dentist examines your teeth and gums. One distinct advantage of nitrous oxide is that you may be able to drive yourself home after your visit. Always consult with your dentist before driving.

To experience the blissful relaxation of sedation dentistry, schedule a consultation with Belmont Dental Group. We can provide you with the gentle dental care your teeth and gums need without any discomfort or stress. Contact us on our website, or call (617) 209-4058 to learn more.

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12/18/2011

Dental themed gifts come in any price range for parents, spouses, and children, and even your favorite dental professional.

Children are delighted with a new Dora the Explorer or SpongeBob brush.  Get a sock stuffed with toothbrushes and an adult feels richer than Midas.  During cold and flu season, it’s a great idea to toss that toothbrush away frequently. Throw in a cutesy sand timer; it takes two full minutes to brush well.

Battery-powered spin brushes are fun gifts.  They whir like a floor waxer, making quick work of greasy dental biofilm (plaque).  Rechargeable devices are great, but more expensive.  Developed to help kids clean around braces, the electric toothbrush a dental aid for anyone. 

Some electric brushes produce teeny ‘sonic’ bubbles.  These ‘cavitation bubbles’ supposedly burst in cramped places, loosening plaque.  Various manufacturers ‘claims are confounded by whether they test their toothbrushes on people, live pigs, or on dead ones.  Whatever you do for a living, it has to be better than brushing pigs’ teeth.  Let us be grateful.

There are devices to reduce the bacterial load on your brush.  They come with some pretty intimidating names, such as Germ Terminator (the Germinator?), Germ Gaurdian, Steribrush UV, or the bucolic Purebrush sterilizer.  The ZAPI UV looks like a cutesy egg, in different colors.  The batteries make it wobble and spin delightfully as it cleans your brush. 

Dentures, typically worn every day for 15 years or more, take on a breath of their own.  Dental Depot offers a device that claims to use UV light and Ozone to disinfect dentures, mouthguards, retainers and the like. 

These devices call themselves ‘sterilizers’.  Sterilization is the complete removal or deactivation of all microbial life.  Sterilization is the standard your dentist uses for his/her instruments.  Ultraviolet light performs Disinfection- reducing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.  Just so you know.

Oral Irrigation devices put Dentists and Patients at different poles of appreciation.  Patients love these high powered squirters.  It makes their mouths feel clean.  Dentists want the teeth to actually be clean; only manual cleaning will do.

Your dentist would cheerily issue a gift certificate.  Usually the request is for tooth whitening.  This time of year we have many spouses and parents offer to pay for someone’s major dental work.  Caring for someone’s health is really caring.

The sweetest of gifts is the keepsake tooth box.  There are a variety of charming ceramic shapes that preserve these personal artifacts of childhood.  Charming tooth boxes are themed like Beatrix Potter, Lillian Rose, Disney characters and the like. 

For your favorite member of the dental team, look on the web.  Ties, t-shirts, hanging glass toothbrush ornaments, key chains and charms, watches and socks…  on and on… are available. I think I have been given every one of them.  The very best gift to any of us is a card, written by you, that says anything like ‘Thank you, I appreciate who you are to me.’  Those dearest gifts we keep forever.

Dr. Jim Nager is a practicing dentist and resident of Belmont and a Clinical Instructor at Harvard.  Questions of a general nature that may be addressed in this space can be sent to drjimnager@gmail.com

Inside Flossophy is the creative and intellectual property of Dr James L. Nager of The Belmont Dental Group, Belmont , MA.

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Here are 5 great website about sedation dentistry, dental implants, problematic gaps in your teeth, dental checkups and veneers. If you are having dental problems or simply want a brighter smile, give the experienced dentists at Belmont Dental Group a call at (617) 209-4058.

• For facts about dental implants and how they can help you, check out Perio.org.
   
• Visit Colgate.com to find out why gaps between the teeth are problematic.
   
• Explore the different options for dental sedation at WebMD.com.
   
• Learn the elements of a complete dental check up with this article from the Cleveland Clinic.
   
• The American Dental Association can help you decide if dental veneers are the right improvement for your smile.

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If you experience a painful sensation when drink a hot or cold beverage, you might be suffering from tooth sensitivity, a common condition dentists see among adults.

This video explains why the teeth become susceptible to sensitivity. Wearing of the gums or enamel exposes dentin, which contains microscopic tubes leading to the nerves inside the tooth. Triggers such as cold beverages or sweet candy can set off a response in the nerves that is perceived as pain.

The professional Belmont dentists of Belmont Dental Group can help you overcome tooth sensitivity and regain total oral health. Schedule a consultation with us on our website or by calling (617) 209-4058.

http://www.youtube.com/v/AmD-EIK4VRg?hl=en&fs=1

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