Introducing… Antioxidant Therapy!

A New Way To Protect Your Oral Health

Our office is introducing a new unique approach to addressing problems with the inflammation and bacteria in your mouth that cause disease and decay. The antioxidants in PerioSciences gel and toothpaste will neutralize free radicals that cause the oxidation of our tissues and result in inflammation, infection and eventually disease.

About PerioSciences

PerioSciences researches, formulates, and markets topically applied, antioxidant-based oral care and oral hygiene products. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, PerioSciences has established a new category of products – antioxidant-based oral care. PerioSciences is committed to world-class research and to providing the most advanced products for oral health. Using a state-of-the-art business model, PerioSciences partners in sales and distribution with dental professionals, hygienists, and specialists as well as and other medical professionals and medi-spas.

A revolutionary product category

In the 1970s, it was for hair. Researchers and developers realized that most hair treatments were harmful to hair, so they found ways to incorporate nutrients into products, resulting in a new product category. The first products were sold through exclusive salons by professionals who were in the best position to explain features and benefits of the high-end products.

In the 1990s, it was for skin. Scientists and dermatologists found that antioxidants could have dramatic results on skin cells. As they incorporated these natural compounds into skin care products, they created another new product category, “cosmeceuticals.” Again, professional aestheticians and medi-spa owners—along with dermatologists and plastic surgeons—became the logical channel for providing the advanced products to patients and clients who wanted the most high-caliber skin care available.

Today, it is for oral care. A major focus in science and medicine in recent years has focused on the interaction of oral health with overall, systemic health. At the same time, research has shown that new technologies, including antioxidants, can be incorporated into oral care products. Once again, dental and medical professionals are at the forefront of a sweeping trend for a novel product category and are in the best position to educate their patients on the best-in-class products for optimal oral health.

A unique approach to oral care

Historically, oral care products concentrated on eliminating bacteria in the mouth. Alcohol, the primary ingredient in many products, kills bacteria but also dries oral tissue. However, dry tissues create a fertile environment in which bacteria can actually thrive.

Another anti-bacterial agent is hydrogen peroxide, which is included in many breath products as well as in teeth whiteners. Published research has shown that hydrogen peroxide triggers an oxidation process that leads to a condition called oxidative stress—a precursor to inflammation.

The PerioSciences approach is to work in concert with the body’s natural defense system in the oral cavity. Saliva has natural antioxidants and natural anti-bacterial agents. The antioxidants in PerioSciences products complement those in saliva, and our polyphenol components work with the saliva’s antimicrobial agents. Altogether, our natural ingredients are gentle on soft oral tissue, but provide powerful plant-based antioxidants and polyphenols to enhance the salivary system.

Patient-focused benefits

Some oral care products are designed around a certain feature or function: anti-cavity, whitening, anti-bacterial, and so on. The PerioSciences strategy is to develop products that meet the needs of patients, and provide a combination of benefits for their condition. Smokers want ingredients for breath-freshening and for counteracting the negative effects of nicotine. Health-minded people want the most advanced products available for maximizing their oral and systemic health. Some patients want ingredients that can relieve dry mouth or taste changes due to medication. People with serious oral diseases want high-powered products that address infection and inflammation but are also soothing and pleasant to use.

The PerioSciences commitment is to develop products that focus on comprehensive oral care benefits for patients.

Convenience for the Patient with Innovation

Because dental and medical professionals are in the best position to interpret the vast research published on antioxidants, PerioSciences sells its high-end line of oral care products through dental offices and medi-spas. The line will not be available in stores or pharmacies. During office visits, patients can sign up online for the easy and convenient shipment, including auto-refills. PerioSciences ships products from the warehouse directly to the patient’s home so professional offices do not need to maintain inventory, but we do stock a small amount of product so our patients can walk out of the office with product in hand. Be sure to ask Dr. Berdy or your hygienist about PerioSciences during your next trip to the office!

3-D Printing: Prosthetics, Dental Appliances and More!

The Future is Here! (Almost)

The growth of 3-D printers is offering an explosion of benefits for medical manufacturing. As use of the technology grows, the implications for the production of  medical products, from prosthetic devices to dental appliances, are just now being realized.

According to the New York Times “state-of-the-art prosthetic replacements are complicated medical devices, powered by batteries and electronic motors, and they can cost thousands of dollars. Even if children are able to manage the equipment, they grow too quickly to make the investment practical.”

3-D printing offers a practical and cost-effective method of producing medical devices, that given the price, have previously remained out of reach for far too many of those in need.

For dental offices, 3-D printing takes the efficiencies of digital design to the production stage. By combining oral scanning and 3D printing, dental labs can accurately and rapidly produce crowns, bridges, stone models and a range of orthodontic appliances.

 

With a 3-D printer doing the hard work, we soon will eliminate the need to do manual modeling and will be able to fabricate dental appliances quicker and at a fraction of their current cost.

 

For those eager for the day when everything from scheduling to finished restoration can be achieved digitally and quickly, the future is (almost!) here.

Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?

Celebrities and fashion models might always seem to have perfect pearly white teeth (photoshop helps!). For the rest of us, it isn’t always that easy. There are many causes for yellow teeth, but they fall into two broad categories: extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration.

Extrinsic stains are the ones that we find on enamel, the hard protective surface on the visible areas of the teeth. These stain are mostly due to diet, such as heavy consumption of coffees, colas, sweets, and red wine.

Additionally, smoking and chewing tobacco are well-known culprits behind extrinsic stains, as is poor dental hygiene, which allows dental plaque to accumulate on the teeth.

Intrinsic stains occur within the tooth, when various factors alter the light-transmitting properties of the enamel and the underlying dentin.

Numerous medications can cause intrinsic stains. If children take the antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline while their teeth are still developing (before the age of 8), their teeth may turn brownish-yellow.

Aside from extrinsic and intrinsic stains, two other factors can contribute to yellow teeth: genetics and aging.

Similar to your complexion or the color of your eyes, you may simply be born with teeth that appear more yellow (or more white) than other people’s teeth. Part of this has to do with the thickness of your enamel, which is semi-translucent. That is, if you have thin enamel, the true color of your naturally yellowish dentin will shine through.

Similarly, your enamel thins as you age, making your teeth appear more yellow.

Are your teeth worth it?

I was watching my dog clean his teeth and thought wouldn’t it be nice if as we ate our food, our teeth cleaned themselves? Instead of a wonderful slice of San Francisco sourdough bread, I could grab a man chew out of my bag and go for the clean teeth look and get rid of my dog breath. Or, if I was a cat I could go to the vet and, for a mere several hundred dollars, have my molars scaled and get rid of that fish breath that my owner hates. But would he measure my gums, check for cavities, give me a fluoride rinse, do an oral cancer screening and give me a toothbrush?

Next time you have your teeth cleaned at our office, know that you will have the best of the best taking care of your teeth and gums!

How To Pick The Right Dentist?

Not many people “enjoy” going to the dentist, but sometimes the experience can go from merely uncomfortable to potentially disastrous.  Given the news lately, we though it would be helpful to give our readers a few tips to make sure that they are picking the right dental office to care of their oral health.

1. Referrals

The best way to make sure that you have a good experience at the dentist’s office is to choose a dentist who’s been recommended by others you trust. Ask family, friends, neighbors or coworkers for their recommendations. If they like the experience at their dental office, chances are, so will you!

2. Professional Associations

Professional associations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and the American Academy of Periodontology maintain lists of their members which can be a helpful resource when you are looking for a reputable dentist or dental specialist.

3. Dental Insurance Benefits

Your dental insurance provider will maintain a list of participating providers in your local area. Just remember, these list aren’t maintained according to the quality of the services provided. It is still important to include other factors in your final decision.

4. Meet for a consultation

Many dental professionals offer complimentary consultations. For example new patients at our practice can meet with Dr. Berdy, discuss their case, and review potential treatment options, free of charge. So if you’re still not sure whether or not a potential office is the place for you, ask to meet with the doctor and then make your decision.

Mouthwash: Yea or Nay?

Many of our patients inquire about the best mouthwash or other oral rinses to use in order to compliment their brushing and flossing. This post will explain a few things you should know.

Brushing is meant to do just that, compliment flossing and brushing. In no way should it be considered a replacement for a consistent and thorough brushing and flossing regime. That is the only method for keeping you mouth clean and healthy.

That said, rinsing out your mouth is a good method of removing loose food and debris and is a useful practice after meals. In that respect, it does not really matter what you use to rinse. Water does the job just as well as mouthwash.

If you are going to use mouthwash, there are two main types to consider. We divide oral rinses into two main categories:cosmetic and therapeutic. Most “whitening” and “fresh breath” rinses fall in this category. These contain hydrogen peroxide which may or may not help white teeth (the jury’s still out).

As for fresh breath, no rinse “treats” bad breath. The best these rinses can actually claim is to “mask” bad breath. If someone is having a consistent problem with bad breath, the causes can range from periodontal disease to oral cancer. The only way to be sure is to schedule an examination with a specialist, like a periodontist, to diagnose and treat the condition.

Therapeutic rinses on the other hand are designed to address a particular problem such dry mouth or plaque removal. The active ingredients in these rinses can be fluoride, which aids cavity prevention, or xylitol, which is known to fight tooth decay.

The important thing to remember though is that mouthwash cannot replace brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for professional cleanings. In other words, mouthwash? It doesn’t hurt, but to do the job right, just remember to brush and floss like mom taught you!

Just Don’t! Do-It-Yourself Orthodontia

A new craze is sweeping through YouTube and dentist agree, it’s absolutely crazy. According to some over-ambitious YouTubers, the new “it” treatment in orthodontics is D.I.Y. teeth straightening or gap closing using plastic aligners and elastic bands.

Thousands of unsuspecting viewers are logging on to the Internet and taking the advice of amateur orthodontists who advice that they can straighten teeth for a fraction of the cost of traditional orthodontia. The problem? When something sounds too-good-to-be-true, it usually is.

Rubber bands and other types of homemade braces can cause root damage, gum recession, and weaken the underlying bone that supports our teeth.

Dr. Berdy and other dental professionals warn that these types of treatments can cause periodontal problems and, in extreme cases, even lead to tooth loss. Orthodontists (hopefully working with an expert periodontist!) are able to take X-rays, make models of your teeth and jawline, and can anticipate the effects of orthodontic appliances.

So from Dr. Berdy’s mouth, hopefully, to your ears, when it comes to dental work, it’s usually best to trust your dentist, not the Internet.