Silver Fillings- A Thing Of The Past?

By Arthur Kezian

Did you know that if you replace silver fillings you may be protecting yourself from the toxic effects of mercury?  People have always had to deal with dental cavities, but now you need to worry about mercury exposure too!  Silver amalgam fillings often contain about 50% mercury and many consumer advocacy groups are saying that they are dangerous. 

You can take action even if you have had the same fillings for decades. Dr. Arthur A. Kezian, who uses white fillings, can replace old silver fillings with new non-toxic ones.

What Are Amalgam Fillings?

Amalgam fillings are silver in color and contain a mixture of metals such as copper, tin, silver and mercury.  As a filling material they are inexpensive and durable, sometimes lasting up to forty years.

Why Is Mercury Dangerous?

Mercury present in silver fillings will vaporize into a gas when the filling is irritated or rubbed vigorously.  This leakage of mercury increases with more and more stimulation against the silver filling.  Mercury is believed to be a neurotoxin, and your body has difficult time expelling it from your tissues.

How Dangerous?

This question is very difficult to answer and quite controversial.  Many expert dentists and toxicologists debate over the safety of this amount of mercury exposure. Currently the FDA is reviewing peer reviewed literature and clinical studies to make a final recommendation. However, as of 2009, the FDA has issued a statement saying amalgams are safe for people over the age of six.  It is a fact that mercury leaks from the amalgam fillings and people with them have been documented to have higher levels of mercury in their bodies. However, these levels typically do not reach unsafe levels. 

Should You Replace Silver Fillings?

This question too is a challenging one.  If you are exposed to mercury in other ways in your life you may want to consider undergoing a replacement to limit your exposure. However, replacing fillings can be a tricky procedure.  It is strongly recommended that you consult a dentist to undergo a complete history and oral exam. Together you can determine a treatment plan best suited for your needs.

Dr. Kezian prefers composite resins to avoid the potential toxic effects of mercury and because composite fillings look better aesthetically. Make an appointment today for a free consultation.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.

How to Care for Your Teeth before Going to Bed

By Arthur Kezian

Your teeth need a lot of care and it is your responsibility to provide it. The healthier your teeth are the happier you look and the more confident you are when talking. It is something you need to do every day and frequently, when you wake up, after meals and also before you retire to bed. Your dental hygiene practice should ensure that both your teeth and gums are clean and healthy at all times. In this article you will learn that there are several ways to care for your teeth before going to bed. These ways include brushing, flossing, and rinsing, all which should be done efficiently.

Brushing

Brushing your teeth is an activity that you should do with utmost care. It should help you prevent plaque from clogging in your teeth as well as preventing your tooth from tooth decay. You should place your toothbrush on your teeth in a 45 degree angle, being careful to brush all corners of your teeth. The brush movements should be gentle and made in a circular motion or an up and down motion.

 in the evening is important to your health and is something that should be done after meals. Dr Kezian and his staff would advise you not to take any additional food after brushing your teeth as this can accelerate tooth decay.

Flossing

Dental floss is an important part of any effective dental care routine. It is a fast and effective way to keep your teeth clean and healthy. To be more effective, it should be done at the end of the day, just when you are about to go to bed. Flossing is helpful in removing plaque and any other food particles that you could not remove using your normal brush.

The floss you use should be clean. Be careful to floss between every tooth. Sometimes flossing the back teeth can be difficult, but the more you floss, the easier it gets.

Rinsing

Your smile is important and reflects the health of your teeth. There is no specific brand of mouthwash that is necessarily the best. You can use any ADA-approved mouthwash. Warm salt-water rinses every now and then can also be good for your gums. Your dental homecare is very important, so make sure to brush, floss, and rinse faithfully.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777

-N.S.

Answering Your Top Dental Emergency Questions

By Arthur Kezian

Okay, so you're not a successful dentist. So, what do you do if you run into problems with your smile?

Read the answers to these 3 questions.  That way, the next time you encounter a dental emergency, you'll be prepared to deal with it!

1.       "How do I know if I'm having a dental emergency?"

This can actually be a tricky question to answer, because some dental emergencies are less dramatic than others.  If you lose a tooth in a tennis match, you know it's an emergency!  But what if you're not in blinding pain?  What if you just have a nagging ache that won't go away?  Should you call your emergency dentist?

Yes!

Anytime your teeth don't feel quite right, you should call an emergency dentist and arrange to have it checked out.  After all, better safe than sorry!

2.       "What if it looks worse than it feels?"

Some dental emergencies look downright awful -- like a filling that falls out or a tooth that cracks when you're out to dinner -- but don't hurt, at least, not right away.  Does that mean it's not a true emergency?

No!

In either of those cases, the integrity of your tooth has been compromised.  All it takes is a couple of innocent little bites to cause major damage to your already-weakened tooth.  And, trust me, that's something that's going to hurt a whole lot! 

Even if you're not in any pain, it's better to pay a  dental professional a visit right away.  That way, you can prevent minor issues from turning into major, expensive, invasive problems.

3.       "What's the harm in waiting?"

Waiting to call your emergency dentist is like inviting pain.  After all, dental pain -- or any other kind of pain -- doesn't just go away all by itself.  Before you know it, that dull ache can turn into a mind-numbing throb.

Plus, the longer you wait to call your Los Angeles emergency dentist, the higher your odds of suffering permanent tooth damage.  In fact, even relatively minor tooth problems can quickly escalate into nerve damage.  After all, each of your teeth is connected to a network of tissues, nerve endings, and blood vessels.  If any one of those things is damaged, it can lead to major -- and permanent -- problems.

Sadly, dental emergencies can lead to problems for your entire body if you ignore them long enough.  For example, if one of your teeth is infected and you don't do anything to take care of it, that infection can spread to other parts of your body -- leaving you feeling terrible all over!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.

How Cracked Tooth Syndrome Affects You

By Arthur Kezian

If you've got tiny fractures in your teeth, you're dealing with something called Cracked Tooth Syndrome. So, how does this change your life?

1.      It causes pain when you're eating

This is the most telling symptom of Cracked Tooth Syndrome -- the pain only occurs when you're eating. Sometimes, it can cause a severe toothache. But, unlike other dental problems, the pain from cracked tooth syndrome will go away when you stop eating. 

However, you won't necessarily experience pain during every meal.  You may only feel pain when you bite into certain foods.  You may even develop tooth sensitivities to hot and cold foods.

2.      It can be difficult to diagnose

Because the pain from Cracked Tooth Syndrome can be so random, it can be difficult to diagnose.  You and your Los Angeles dentist will have to figure out exactly when the pain occurs and narrow down the causes from there.

Adding to the challenge -- in many cases, the fractures associated with Cracked Tooth Syndrome are too small to show up in an x-ray.  Instead, a dentist will have to use special tools to locate the fractures.  It's not a painful or lengthy process, but it is a little more tedious than just snapping an x-ray.

3.      It can be made worse by bad habits

Some instances of Cracked Tooth Syndrome can't be ignored.  If you eat a lot of crunchy foods, you might develop fractures in your bottom molars -- where most of the chewing is done.  Or, if you have a filling in one of your teeth, it can make the entire tooth weaker -- leaving you more susceptible to developing fractures.  Even misaligned teeth can lead to fractures, because uneven bite pressure is being put on each tooth.

However, there are some things you can do to make your Cracked Tooth Syndrome worse.  If you grind your teeth, clench your teeth, chew on ice, or chew on pens, your odds of developing fractures -- or making existing fractures worse -- go up.

4.      It requires quick treatment

As with any dental problem, the sooner you can take care of it, the better.  The longer you put pressure on these fractures, the worse they can get.  And, as you might expect, the worse they are, the more painful they can be.

Unfortunately, if your fractures are severe enough -- like if they go all the way to the roots of your teeth -- your dentist may not be able to fix them.  Instead, he may have to replace the affected teeth with dental implants.

In most cases, though, you can solve the problem with porcelain crowns.  By covering each affected tooth with a crown, your dentist can prevent further damage from happening.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.