Teeth Whitening

Dentistry, according to most dictionaries, is the branch of medicine that deals with the study as well as practice of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the diseases of the mouth, the lower jaw, and the face. It includes dental surgery procedures on the teeth for dental caries, prescription of medicines, teeth x-rays, prosthetics, and orthodontics. Dentists also take care of the teeth to prevent tooth decay by promoting proper oral hygiene.

So is there something new regarding dentistry since this info is quite common already?

Dentists emphasized that smoking is still the major factor for the occurrence of oral cancers. There is no way cancers can be detected at an early stage if people won’t have regular dental consultations, the dentists said. Thus, they advise people to keep seeing them as part of primary level of prevention.

Dentists also pointed out in the May/June 2009 issue of General Dentistry that aloe vera can be a good alternative for toothpastes because it works just the same way. It also fights cavities and heals mouth sores due to its anti-inflammatory properties, so they are very useful in caring for the gums and teeth.

Another interesting finding that is quite promising was this. Recent studies showed that 300/500 obese women have 40 types of bacteria in their oral cavity. This made dental researchers think that there might be a link between obesity and oral health, but more research is needed to prove this. Once proven, it gives new hope for persons suffering from obesity.

And did you know that sugar alternatives can keep dental caries away? Dentists have discovered the antibacterial properties of xylitol, a sugar substitute which helps prevent dental caries among children. Due to this, they have advised mothers to give their kids eight grams of xylitol two times a day.

So are there any recent innovations regarding dentistry besides this great deal of info?

Nearly four technological advances in the field of dentistry are available today. These are the following: air abrasions, digital x-rays, computerized injection systems and cosmetic imaging.

Air abrasion functions as a powerful hand piece that blows air particles into the teeth structure and removes tooth decay. It is painless, therefore no anesthetics are required.

Digital x-rays, on the other hand, are different from their conventional counterparts because they release 90% less radiation.

Computerized injection systems are used to put anesthesia on the specific area in a gentler manner. Small electrical impulses are the ones achieving this, instead of syringes being injected in the gums.

Finally, cosmetic imaging allows patients to see the “before and after” look of their teeth and smile, thus it is very effective in planning the desired outcome of dental surgeries.