Riverside Dentists Visit the History of Dentistry

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Learning about the lives and habits of humans passed can be interesting. Considering the advancements of dentistry today, you may wonder how our ancestors must have corrected the dental problems of their times. Discoveries of ancient remains have shown that as early as 7000 BC, humans seemed to have already attempted to alleviate tooth discomfort. In this article, your Riverside dentists outline the milestones that the art of dentistry has taken throughout history.

Tooth Care Through Time

  • Remains from a Neolithic graveyard in Pakistan contain teeth with near-perfect holes carved out of their centers. The teeth, which dated back to approximately 7000 BC, were molars (located in the back of the mouth), so cosmetics were not likely a motivation for the dental work.
  • Researchers have recently discovered a 6,500 year old human jaw bone with an interesting story to tell. A tooth attached to the bone showed traces of beeswax filling, which experts believe was intended to reduce discomfort from a vertical crack in the tooth’s enamel. (more…)

Riverside Dentists Discuss Academic Stress and Oral Health

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Another school year just began, which means many students are hitting the books and letting their usual oral hygiene habits fall by the wayside. This is especially true during stressful exam weeks, when students often sleep less, consume more caffeine and tobacco, and experience a great amount of pressure and anxiety that can potentially cause dental health problems such as bruxism, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and gum inflammation.

The Link Between Stress and Oral Health Problems

A recent study was conducted that examined the effect that academic stress has on gum health. Students were assessed four weeks prior to final exams, and again on the last day of exams. Out of all participants, 23% developed severe gingivitis over the four-week period. Gingivitis is an early phase of gum disease, which is a chronic bacterial infection of the periodontal (gum) tissue. Researchers believe the correlation between stress and gum disease is due to students neglecting their normal oral hygiene habits when they are under pressure. Bruxism (teeth grinding) often occurs due to high amounts of stress, as does TMJ disorder. Also, stress reduces the amount of saliva produced by the mouth, which increases the risk of tooth decay, as saliva normally protects teeth from decay by washing away harmful acids and bacteria that are responsible for cavities. (more…)

Dental Associates of Riverside Discuss Tobacco Use and Oral Health

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When people think of health issues related to smoking, lung cancer and other respiratory-related illnesses usually come to mind. However, smoking can have detrimental effects on your oral health, as well. Today, our Riverside dentists share some facts about the hazards of tobacco use.

Tobacco and Your Oral Health

  • Research suggests that tobacco use may be one of the leading causes of periodontal disease.
  • Studies show that smokers have more tartar buildup than nonsmokers. Tartar is a buildup of plaque (the sticky film that forms on your teeth naturally every day) that hardens. You cannot remove tartar by brushing or flossing, it must be removed by a dental professional.
  • Studies also show that smokers are three to six times more likely to have gum degeneration than nonsmokers.
  • Smoking makes the treatment of gum disease very difficult because smoking prevents healing in the mouth.
  • Smokers are less likely to experience redness and bleeding of the gums, so spotting gum disease is very difficult.
  • Of the people who have mouth cancer and some types of throat cancers, about 90% have used tobacco.
  • All tobacco products can pose a threat to gum health, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco.
  • A study conducted at Temple University showed that 18% of people who had formerly smoked tobacco from a pipe or a cigar had moderate to severe gum disease, which is three times the amount found in nonsmokers.
  • Gums can recede due to smokeless tobacco.
  • Smokers are six times more likely to develop mouth cancer or some type of throat cancer than nonsmokers.

Dental Implants Explained by Riverside Dental Group Associates

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More than half of Americans will have lost one or more teeth by the time they reach their middle years.The most common causes for tooth loss include gum disease, tooth decay, sports injuries, automobile collisions, and accidental falls. However, the result is always the same: that missing tooth can have an adverse impact your quality of life and your overall appearance. Missing teeth make it harder to speak and eat normally. They also increase your risk for tooth decay and gum disease which could lead to significant health problems later in life. Traditionally, dental professionals have used removable bridges and dentures to replace missing teeth and while these solutions work for some people, other want a solution that offers more stability. That solution just might be dental implants.

The Anatomy of a Dental Implant

Implants refer to an artificial tooth root resembling a metal screw. During a dental surgery procedure, your dentist literally implants these screws into your jaw. After the bone heals around the implant securing it into place in a process called osseointegration, (more…)

Corona Dentists Discuss the Dangers of Tongue Piercings

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strongly advise against getting an oral piercing. Below you will find more detailed descriptions of the potential damages of oral piercings.

Chipped Teeth

For those who have had a tongue piercing for four or more years, 47% have chipped teeth. Chipping can occur while people sleep, talk, eat, or chew on the jewelry used in the piercing. For the lucky ones, the chipping only damages the enamel of the tooth, and a simple filling or bonding procedure can repair the damage. For others, the fracture may extend deeper into the tooth, resulting in the need for crowns, root canal therapy, or tooth extraction.

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Riverside Dentists Discuss the Stages of Gum Disease

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, is an inflammation of the gums that can lead to the destruction of the tissues and bone that surround and support your teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease leads to tooth loss. Over 75% of Americans have some type of periodontal disease, so recognizing early warning signs is essential to maintaining a healthy mouth.

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Moreno Valley Dentists Discuss the Prevention of Cavities

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Reports show that one in five Americans have untreated cavities. The reason behind this lies in the fact that many people are not aware that they indeed have a cavity.  When a cavity is left untreated, the result is often costly and painful dental work, and eventually, tooth loss. In today’s blog, our Moreno Valley dentists would like to share preventive measures to help you keep cavities from forming.

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Riverside Dentists Discuss the Oral-Systemic Connection

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Good oral hygiene habits not only protect the health of your mouth, they also help maintain your overall health. An increasing number of studies link a series of illnesses and diseases to oral health. While researchers have documented some connections better than others, a common link is bacteria.

Portal to Your Body

Think of your mouth as a portal to the rest of your body. What lives and grows in your mouth does not necessarily stay there. While most of the bacteria in your mouth are harmless, some cause tooth decay and infection. When left unchecked, these bacteria can enter your body through airways or your blood stream. Bacteria can cling to droplets of moisture, which you can then inhale into your lungs. Once in your lungs, these bacteria can cause pulmonary infection and pneumonia. More commonly, bacteria can enter your blood stream through the gums. Gum disease largely enables this process. (more…)