Wayland Dental Blog

Growing up, I can remember most of my friends at one point or another getting braces. It seemed to be a right of passage. But I cannot remember seeing adults walking around with metal gleaming from their teeth like we kids. Today, that is not the case. There are plenty of adults that had orthodontics as a child and let their teeth relapse into the old position, or those that never did have the treatment and are interested today. Depending on the goals of the patient, at Wayland Dental we can satisfy a patient’s needs for straighter front teeth in about 6 months. The system we use is called Six Month Smiles and it works in the same way as traditional braces at the orthodontist, but because we are only concerned with the cosmetic corrections of the front teeth and not the lengthy process of changing the bite in the back, most cases finish in 5-6 months. We are also a provider of Invisalign to straighten the teeth and this is a good option for those who are resistant to having any braces on their teeth or like the freedom to remove the aligners at times. In general, the use of Six Month Smiles is cheaper, faster, and more predictable though. So if you look in the mirror and feel that you would like to have cosmetic correction of your crowded, crooked, or spaced teeth, but felt that braces are just for kids; ask us all about Six Month Smiles and how it can give you that dazzling smile you have always wanted.

At times, we get questions from patients about why they need to visit us on a regular basis. We hear comments such as ” It seems like it would be ok if I just came when something started hurting.” When I hear questions about why regularly scheduled of dental visits are needed my first thought is, “Let me count the reasons why!”

There are a number of reasons why you should be visiting us on at least a semiannual basis. One of the most important is demonstrated by our old friend Albert Einstein.  At Wayland Dental we conduct a thorough oral cancer examination at each hygiene visit. This includes examining the tongue (Albert’s checks out ok), under the tongue, throat and palate. Oral cancer kills one person every minute, and we are dedicated to help reduce that number.  If you smoke and drink alcohol, you are at an increased risk of developing this cancer. Self screenings are difficult due to the difficulty visualizing any lesions and knowing what to look for. But, if you ever experience a swelling, sore area, discolored area, or any combination of those in the mouth, you should call us so that we can check it out. Ignoring the warning signs of oral cancer can be fatal. Unfortunately, oral cancer is typically painless until it is at an advanced stage, but with proper screenings and routine visits, it can be caught early and dealt with. Make sure you come to see us at least every 6 months! It could save your life.

Comedians have a great way of capturing the everyday experiences in life and making them humorous. Jerry Seinfeld made a whole career of it. Take a look at this article from Readers Digest by Billy Crystal and laugh along with me about his experiences at the dentist. Through the humor, he is absolutely correct, the dental profession along with the entire world has become specialized. At Wayland Dental, we ensure that our patients get the very best care, and often times that means utilizing a team approach to get the job done, just like Billy Crystal is going through. Enjoy: http://www.rd.com/funny-stuff/billy-crystal-goes-to-the-dentist/

This is the time of year when we are reminded that we have much to appreciate in our lives. Watching the evening news makes us realize how fortunate we are to live in the country we do and be associated with the communities we live in. We should also be very thankful for the personal and business relationships that enrich our lives. At Wayland Dental, we are flattered by your choice to visit us for your dental services. Each patient brings a unique perspective to our office and we truly love the opportunity to be a part of your “health care family”. This Thanksgiving, we at Wayland Dental wish you a festive and joyous holiday. We have much to be thankful for, including the privilege of serving our family of patients. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

On September 9th, the Wayland Board of Health is discussing the efficacy and safety of having the town water fluoridated. As your dentist, I am in favor of this measure to help to prevent decay in children’s adult teeth as they develop. I am currently looking for Wayland residents to drop by to our office to sign a petition supporting fluoridation. I believe that this program is beneficial for the health of our children, which can help them to have a decay free life. We were highlighted recently in the Wayland Patch. http://wayland.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/board-of-health-plans-to-take-up-fluoride-question-sept-9?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-1-post&newsRef=true
Thanks for the support and choosing to keep our kids healthy. As a Wayland resident, you are welcome to drop by the meeting on September 9th to voice your opinion.

I hope that you have learned over the years that you cannot trust everything that you read on the internet. In fact, most of us have learned to be skeptical of almost everything we read. That is the way the world is now. The same can be said for me. In particular, with the dental studies that I read. Keeping up in this profession requires among many other things, a dedication to reading the most current literature about new products, studies, and procedures.
I came across a study recently that you might find interesting. It basically states that those with more teeth have better memories than those with fewer. It also suggests that not having teeth may actually create physical changes in the brain to catalyze such effects. Since it is well accepted that the mouth is not an isolated environment in relation to the rest of the body, this is entirely possible.
You can see the Fox news article about the study here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/07/26/chew-on-this-fewer-teeth-linked-with-worse-memory/?intcmp=obnetwork
A link to the abstract is here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eos.12060/abstract
I’m not sure that I buy the conclusions just yet, but these results could indicate that the dentist may help you to stay sharp as a tack throughout your entire life! Brush, floss, stay smart.

For many years we have been blessed to have the majority of our local community water supplies treated with low levels of fluoride. The impact that this has on the health of our children’s teeth is well documented. When the tooth enamel is forming, long before the tooth pokes through the gums, the fluoride ion ingested by drinking the water becomes part of the tooth and renders the enamel much more acid resistant. This results in fewer cavities forming. Unfortunately, the level of fluoride in the water is not at a level that provides a topical protection for fully formed teeth already in the mouth. To protect these teeth, we use a professionally applied topical fluoride varnish, and we recommend the use of fluoride rinses and toothpastes. We are strong advocates of preventive measures to keep your oral condition healthy, and fluoride is one of the most effective means of doing so.

The ascendency to become a King or Queen has traditionally taken years of grooming and instruction. The culmination resulting in the crown being placed to signify the title. Dental crowns are not used to signify the leader of a nation, but to protect a tooth which has a crack, large filling, or has had a root canal. The time frame to seat a dental crown is also not quite as exhaustive as a King’s crown, but for those that have experienced it, the process can be long and frustrating. After the initial visit to numb the tooth, drill it, take a messy impression, and make a plastic temporary to cover the tooth, the patient has to return in about 2 weeks to go through the numbing again, take off the temporary and fit the permanent crown. Hopefully it fits perfectly and the process can end there. If it isnt perfect, another visit is needed to make it so.In my office, we are able to “coronate” your tooth in a single visit. No messy impression, no plastic temporary, and no second visit. We use a technology called CEREC which is a 3-D scanner that enables us to photograph your tooth and make the permanent tooth colored crown right away! Imagine being able to be crowned in a few short hours rather than a few weeks. At Wayland Dental, you are always treated like the King or Queen, just without the wait!

The horrific events at the Boston Marathon on April 15 have once again given us pause to reflect on our lives and those of our loved ones. We have once again been shaken by a sick act that has tragically taken innocent lives and maimed many others forever. In the past, events such as this have brought us as a nation and a people closer together. We are reminded that what is truly important are those around us and how meaningful those relationships are. I am truly grateful to have a loving family, group of friends, employees, colleagues, and patients that enrich my life and make me a better person. If there can be a silver lining in such tragedy, I hope that you realize the same.

A common misconception that many dental patients have is that the use of fluoride is strictly to be used with children. We have been led to believe this primarily because dental insurance companies often cover this benefit only for younger patients. The fact of the matter is that a professionally applied fluoride treatment is a great benefit for all patients. In this practice, patients come to us because they care about their dental health and expect to have a lifetime of use from their teeth. One way to ensure this is to incorporate the use of a fluoride varnish at your next hygiene visit. The benefits of this application last for months, unlike the use of at home rinses. Here’s how it works: the fluoride ion gets incorporated into the enamel of your teeth and renders them less susceptible to the acids in the foods we eat and from the bacteria that produce cavities. For children with teeth still developing, the fluoride in many town’s water is used to create a stronger enamel when the tooth makes it’s appearance into the mouth. But this form of fluoride is not as helpful for those of us whose teeth are already fully developed. Used in conjunction with at fluoride home rinses, this varnish will help prevent weakened tooth structure from developing cavities and will help the enamel to repair itself. So the next time you are in the office, ask us more about the benefits of a professionally applied fluoride varnish. Adults are encouraged to play along with the kids in this game.