It is my opinion that we need to be careful not to overreact when when we hear information such as this. One study doesn’t give us all we need to know. As you know, quality clinicians use a compilation of studies to make diagnosis recommendations for our patients. Dental x-rays have been used for decades for our patients and have done so much good for helping all of us save our teeth. We must not forget about the positive aspects of dental x-rays. If you are reading this, you probably have a tooth in your mouth that was saved because the dentist took an xray of your teeth.

Below are a few items from the ADA about what their Division of Science stated after reviewing the study.

1 – The findings of this study are based on patient recall of X-rays taken years ago and peoples memories can be unreliable.

2- Advances in X-ray technology, equipment improvements, faster film speeds, and digital x-rays have successfully reduced the radiation exposure.

3- The study was observational, meaning it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between dental x-rays and brain tumors

4- The results of the study did not appear to be dose-related as would be expected.

Five to seven years ago we invested in digital x-rays which have 50-75% less radiation than the old style of film x-rays. We also invested in lead aprons with thyroid collars, to protect your thyroid and other glands of your neck. We invested in both of these long before this, and many other studies were published. At Rocky Mountain Dental Partners strive to provide you with the highest-quality dental care available for you and your family.

I hope this helps clarify a few items from this study and from the latest news releases.

Dr. Blatter

When found in the early stages of development oral cancer patients have an 80-90% survival rate. Unfortunately the majority of cases are found as late-stage cancers, accounting for the high death rate of approximately 45% at five years from diagnosis.

Here is the newest information regarding oral cancer. Tobacco and chronic alcohol use are not the only cause for concern….

An increasing body of evidence points to a strong link between particular strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV, most notably strain 16) and a certain type of oral cancer that occurs in the oropharynx (the throat). HPV 16 is the same strain associated with almost all cervical cancer. Many experts have recommended that all adult patients over the age of 18 receive a thorough intra-oral and extra-oral head and neck exam annually. Stonegate Dental follows these recommendations for its patients now. Currently, Oral Cancer is the fastest growing cancer in young people ages 30 and younger! However the high death rate of 45% is unacceptable and we want to make a change for early diagnosis and improve the survival rate!

Providing the highest standard of care for our patients is very important. You can count on us to complete our intra-oral and extra-oral visual cancer check at every hygiene appointment. Oral Cancer Screenings allows Dr.’s Blatter, Ricks and Klein and/or the hygienist at Stonegate Dental to assess the health of your mouth. Dr.’s Blatter, Ricks and Klein recommend the Oral Cancer screening 1 time a year for all patients 13 and older. Caring for your Oral Health is our #1 priority!

Please make sure to schedule your Oral Cancer screening with your next Hygiene visit.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

April Kenworthy, RDH and Vicki Earnshaw, RDH

Case #1  Decay present on the front teeth.

The nature and size of this decay make it an ideal situation to correct with cosmetic bonding.  It is near the gum line and is not so deep that it compromises the structural
stability of the teeth.  The patient was anesthetized, and the decay was removed.

Here is a view of the prepared tooth structure with the decay gone.  The shape of the preparation is such that the resin can strongly bond and allow the color to fade into the natural color of the teeth, thereby masking any difference in shade.

Here is the finished bonding.  The shade match with the adjacent teeth is excellent, and the restorations are shaped in such a way so they reflect light similarly to the way the natural teeth would. The patient was very pleased with the end result and was not ashamed to smile any more.

Case #2 Changing the shape of teeth can make a smile more uniform

This patient wanted to change her smile and she didn’t like how the canine teeth seemed to stick out a little bit.  She wanted to change the shape of those teeth
to even out her smile.

Patient was anesthetized around her canine teeth.  The surface of the canine teeth was minimally adjusted to provide a suitable bonding surface.

Here is the final result. The smile is more even and it appears more uniform and connected across the top teeth.  Patient was very pleased with the result.

Anterior cosmetic bonding is indicated in a wide variety of situations and can improve your smile in dramatic ways.

Come find out whether Cosmetic bonding is the right choice for your smile!

I will discuss three common reasons why food gets stuck between our teeth.

1 – When we are young our gums cover the bone and fill in the spaces between our teeth.  With the spaces closed – we rarely will get food between them.  But as we gracefully age, we lose bone around the teeth, and the gums will recede.  This recession leaves spaces between our teeth and roots, which leads to food impaction around the roots.  If this food is not removed on a regular basis root decay will form – which can cause the tooth to be unrestorable.  Sometimes this recession can be corrected with some minor gingival procedures

2- The second reason food gets stuck is that our teeth, fillings, or crowns can break – leaving gaps between the teeth near the chewing surface.  These gaps are food traps everytime we chew food.  Thankfully this can be corrected with new fillings or crowns most of the time. 

3- The third reason is that sometimes when fillings or crowns are placed a gap is unintentionally left between the restorations.  This leads to the same food impaction as when a tooth or crown breaks. 

These are the top three reasons why food gets stuck between our teeth.  Most of the time these can be resolved with fillings or crowns, but sometimes nothing will help. 

If you are getting food stuck in your teeth - contact your dentist.  If you don’t have a dentist, then we would love to help you at one of our four Rocky Mountain Dental Partners’ (RMDP) offices.   

Our current promotion is free exam and xrays with paid cleaning.  Please mention this blog.

Happy Flossing!

Dr. Landon Blatter DMD – RMDP Founding Dentist