In an article running more than 1,700 words titled “16 Unexpected Ways to Add Years to Your Life,” TIME (11/5) reports that one of those ways is to floss daily, as recommended by the American Dental Association. Flossing on a daily basis “not only gets rid of food trapped between your teeth but also removes the film of bacteria that forms before it has a chance to harden into plaque—something your toothbrush cannot do,” TIME reports. Moreover, the article points out that low-grade inflammation can be caused by periodontal disease from lack of flossing, “which increases the risk of early heart attack and stroke.” Studies have also linked cardiovascular disease to oral bacteria

A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that the hops plant, known for imparting a distinctive bitter taste and aroma to beer, contains substantial amounts of healthful antioxidants that could help fight cavities and gum disease. Scientists focused specifically on studying the leaves, called bracts, and discovered that extracts from the plant prevented the bacteria responsible for cavities and gum disease from sticking to the surface of teeth and releasing certain bacterial toxins. In beer production only the flower and the vine are used while the bracts are discarded, thus making the future usefulness of bracts a distinct possibility in dentistry.

Source: Word of Mouth/Mass Dental Society

A couple of times a month I get asked the question: What’s the difference between a DDS and DMD? Here is an explanation.

DDS vs. DMD

DDS: Doctor of Dental Surgery
DMD: Doctor of Dental Medicine

The history is that all dentists were given the DDS degree in the past, but when Harvard opened their dental college they had to award all degrees in Latin, so doctor of dental surgery would not work. They settled on DMD as an abbreviation for the Latin words, Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae. Since then, other schools have copied this idea. Some schools even allow the dentist to decide which degree he or she would like.

According to the ADA, “There is no difference between the two degrees; dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. State licensing boards accept either degree as equivalent, and both degrees allow licensed individuals to practice the same scope of general dentistry.”

Dentists must complete four years of undergraduate education before completing four years of dental school in order to become a general dentist. So, most dentists have eight years of college education. In order to become a specialist, a dentist must complete an additional two to six years of post-graduate training.

Source: The American Dental Association

Here’s some interesting information regarding the benefits of chewing sugar free gum. Although nothing takes the place of a good toothbrush and floss a piece of gum could come in handy. Gum stimulates the flow of saliva which helps the mouth self clean and can be helpful for patients with dry mouth(xerostomia). Increased saliva helps restore minerals in tooth enamel, as levels of calcium and phosphate ions in saliva increase due to stimulation caused by chewing gum. It has also been demonstrated that salivary stimulation by chewing sugar free gum after snacks containing fermentable carbohydrate reduces the acid potential of foods significantly. Less acid means less chance of cavities and enamel destruction. So if you’re in a pinch without a toothbrush try a piece of sugar free gum!

Framingham Dental Group has begun to implement CAMBRA. It is a protocol to prevent cavities as opposed to “watching” decay grow in your mouth.

Risk for tooth decay

CAMBRA (the Caries Management by Risk Assessment protocol) is dentistry’s current model for managing tooth decay. It is designed to determine a patient’s risk for decay and the appropriate preventive and therapeutic approaches to each individual’s needs. Framingham Dental Group has begun to embrace this treatment philosophy and practice because 70% of all dental services provided are replacements of existing restorations, with decay the most frequent reason. After reviewing dental history, saliva reducing factors (medications, disease), recall compliance, diet, and completing a detailed clinical examination, the patient’s risk is considered high if there is active decay, recession with exposed roots, defective old restorations, visible heavy plaque, a visibly dry mouth, or diagnostic tests of high bacterial counts. The presence of removable partials, crowns, and bridges can increase plaque levels and decay risk.

Treatment plan

After risk assessment is complete, a patient’s treatment plan can be tailored with regard to the frequency of radiographs and recall exams, saliva tests, use of antibacterials such as chlorhexidine and xylitol, in-office and daily use of fluoride as well as conservative resin restorations.

First with oral or pharyngeal cancer will die within 5 years of initial diagnosis. 1 some statistics. 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer in 2013. 800 Americans will die of oral or pharyngeal cancer in 2013. 43 percent of those American dies every hour of oral or pharyngeal cancer.

Oral cancer is on the rise. Young people with no known risk factors are the group in which oral cancer rates are rising the fastest. The reason for this increase is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Seventy percent of the population has HPV or has had HPV.

Every patient that comes to Framingham Dental Group receives a thorough visual oral cancer screening. The reason is that it takes 4 years for oral cancer to develop. When caught early, the initial “dysplasia” cells can be destroyed and the patient can be cured.

There are several oral cancer screening devises that can assist our visual exam. We use the velscope. T his machine uses light to fluoresce the oral tissues and the areas of dysplasia can be more easily identified. This machine enhances visualization of the oral cavity. It is painless, tasteless and odorless. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns at your next visit.

First some statistics. 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer in 2013. 800 Americans will die of oral or pharyngeal cancer in 2013. 43 percent of those with oral or pharyngeal cancer will die within 5 years of initial diagnosis. 1 American dies every hour of oral or pharyngeal cancer.

Oral cancer is on the rise. Young people with no known risk factors are the group in which oral cancer rates are rising the fastest. The reason for this increase is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Seventy percent of the population has HPV or has had HPV.

Every patient that comes to Framingham Dental Group receives a thorough visual oral cancer screening. The reason is that it takes 4 years for oral cancer to develop. When caught early, the initial “dysplasia” cells can be destroyed and the patient can be cured.

There are several oral cancer screening devises that can assist our visual exam. We use the velscope. T his machine uses light to fluoresce the oral tissues and the areas of dysplasia can be more easily identified. This machine enhances visualization of the oral cavity. It is painless, tasteless and odorless. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns at your next visit.

As many of you know, I am a proponent of custom athletic mouthguard use. For many years, I have offered a benefit to all my patients. I provide mouth guards at a significant discount, charging only what I am charged for fabrication. I recommend mouth guards for all athletes, including those who are only involved in sports recreationally.
Recently, I treated an emergency patient for a broken front tooth. The patient received an elbow to his mouth while playing pickup basketball in his driveway. The large break was repaired with dental bonding. Over the course of a lifetime, this will need to be repaired many times. It could require a root canal, or even possibly, an extraction. A mouth guard would have prevented this.
People who complain about about pain while wearing mouth guards have never worn a custom appliance. A custom mouth guard is far superior in comfort and fit than the over the counter “boil and bite” variety. The two can not be compared.
The process is simple. All it requires is a simple impression of the top and bottom teeth and a fifteen minute appointment to perfect the fit and optimize your comfort.
I urge you to make the small investment and wear a custom appliance for participation in all contact sports.

In my pursuit to learn and implement new and exciting technologies to my practice I’m pleased to announce that I am certified to provide short term orthodontics to my adult patients. Six Month Smiles is the brand name of this type of orthodontics and it joins Clear Correct and Invisalign as options at Framingham Dental Group. Please feel free to ask about these services at your next appointment.

What Is Six Month Smiles?
Six Month Smiles® is a modern twist on tried-and-true orthodontics. There is little debate within the orthodontic community that braces are the most widely used and most effective method to give patients straight, healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. Six Month Smiles has taken the best aspects of braces and modified the treatment and the materials to give adults a common-sense, cosmetic solution that fits your lifestyle. Here is what makes Six Month Smiles so innovative …
Average treatment times of only six months
Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok™ clear brackets and tooth-colored wires are barely visible
Use of braces has shown to provide the most conservative and predictable final result
Six Month Smiles Patient Tray Kits™ ensure that your appointments are fast and comfortable
Low forces and short overall treatment times increase comfort, safety, and hygiene
Six Month Smiles is typically less expensive than traditional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers
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There are two questions I’m frequently asked regarding sedation dentistry procedures in my office. The first question involves concerns about being completely “knocked out.” The second question seeks information on pain management.

A great strength of oral sedation is the fact that you are never unconscious. You are in a state of relaxation that allows you to be comfortably drowsy. If a problem or concern arises during treatment, you are able to let me know. I am constantly monitoring your breathing, pulse, and blood pressure. This allows me to keep you in a comfortable state throughout the procedure. Sedation medications produce a state of amnesia. You will be awake and comfortable but will, most likely, not remember having the dental work done.

My expectation is for you to experience no pain. When you are relaxed and comfortable local anesthetics are able to be administered with a high level of efficiency. When I combine nitrous oxide with the local anesthetics, I am usually able to use less anesthetics and less injections are necessary. The result is little to no post operative pain regardless of the complexity of the procedures performed.

Sedation is a great alternative for patients who have trouble with conventional forms of treatment and have been procrastinating necessary procedures due to their fears. Or, it may be something you seek just because a more comfortable experience is possible.

I am available by appointment for consultation regarding sedation dentistry. This service is available for my current patients and referrals of their friends and family. Please call my office at 508-872-0041. More information can be found at www.drtutin.com.

I’ve recently finished one of the most rewarding cases of my dental career. It involved a patient who had a lifetime of disappointing and ineffective treatments which resulted in long term avoidence and fear of the dentist. She became a new patient, referred for sedation dentistry by an existing patient. I’m proud of our sedation dentistry procedures and successes. Everyone knows someone who is afraid of the dentist. I’d like to share our process with you.
The key to the success of a sedation case starts when the patient actually calls my office. The patient’s first impression needs to be positive and she shoudn’t feel judged. The patient’s ambivalence is strong. My staff is trained to help the anxious person feel at ease and begin to guide her through the process. Once the patient takes the initiative to make that first phone call, we are motivated to assist her in any way possible to the next step – the initial visit. We provide detailed, warm, and calm advice with no pressure or judgement.
The first visit is just a consult. I talk to the patient about past dental experiences and review her specific fears of dentistry. We work together to discuss the procedures that I use and to make the patient feel confident that this will be her best dental experience ever. An important part of this visit is the taking of a thorough medical history. I review all medications, both prescription and over the counter, as well as pre-existing conditions. I use specific sedation drugs based on each patient’s history. I choose drugs with the least amount of side effects and best results. The only dental procedure that takes place on this first visit may be a set of radiographs in order to start the treatment planning process.
In my next blog, I’ll detail the actual medications and steps that I use in sedation dentistry so that patients are relaxed and ready for their dental work.