Conebeam CT Scans: Risks, Benefits and Uses in Dentistry
Recently there was a long cover article in the New York Times regarding the overuse of Conebeam CT scans in dentistry. This article brought up some of the negatives of these types of scans, primarily the amount of radiation associated with them. However, there are uses for these machines in dentistry, and when used appropriately, […]
Puff the Magic Dragon – Smoking is BAD for Your Teeth
I am currently up in VT with a bunch of friends, and every hour or so, most of the group heads outside for their ritual cigarette. Smoking, although a declining trend , is still prominent in the USA, especially among my generation, those in their 20’s. No matter what people claim, if they smoke, they […]
Dentistry in Politics – Obama, Pelosi, Clinton – Universal Healthcare
President Obama’s most recent push to reform healthcare in the USA is the talk of the country. At dinner tables, casual encounters, and town-halls nationwide, Americans are discussion how this healthcare bill, if passed, would effect the country. In terms of dental care, this bill could be tragic to the current system in this country. […]
Oral Health – Your Mouth is a Portal to Your Body
Your mouth is not just a hole used for eating and talking! Your mouth is truly a portal to your entire body, and health problems in the oral cavity can contribute, and are related, to health problems throughout the body. For example, periodontal disease, or the loss of attachment of teeth, has been linked to […]
Dental Costs – The Dentist Costs Too Much…. Or Does It?
One reason people don’t go to the dentist is because it is expensive. However, in the long run, going in for your regular 3,4, or 6 month dental visit will save you money in the long run, LOTS OF MONEY! Say you get your regular checkup and it costs you $400 a year. That includes […]
Dental Questions – What are Cavities and Fillings?
When acid producing bacteria build up on your teeth, trouble is sure to ensue. Cavities are the bane of a dentist’s existence. Without them, we would most likely be out of the job, living on the streets, injecting ourselves with the left over novocaine. However, even the miracle chemical Fluoride has far from eliminated cavities. […]
What Causes Cavities? Tooth Bugs – Streptococcus Mutans
The key player in dental caries (cavities) is a gram-positive cocci called Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). S. mutans attach to the surface of the tooth. When fermentable carbohydrates, like soda, candy, etc., are introduced into the mouth, S. mutans processes them and make acid. This acid is what eats away at the surface of the […]
Pain Free Dentistry Using Dental Anesthetics
Unless your dentist has a numbing personality, dentistry is best performed under controlled local anesthesia. Cocaine was one of the first effective local anesthetics used in dentistry, then came the all too popular novocaine, and today, lidocaine is the most commonly used dental anesthetic (although it is usually still referred to as novocaine by the […]
Top 3 Reasons why People Don’t Go to the Dentist
My father, Dr. Jan Linhart, has now been practicing dentistry for 30 years. I myself, though, have only been practicing for about a month at NYU dental school! The other day I saw a pretty young woman at the school for the first time. She had not been to the dentist in well over a […]