Here is an interesting article I saw on the web about oral cancer. Check it out.. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/27311772/detail.html

Framingham Dental Group takes diagnosing oral cancer seriously. The office uses the Velscope oral cancer detection technology to supplement our visual exam. It is non invasive and completely painless. Oral cancer can strike anyone at any age. The following are some high profile people who have been stricken with oral cancer:
Michael Douglas -throat cancer
Roger Ebert -salivary gland tumor
Sigmund Freud – cancer of the soft palate
President Grover Cleveland -cancer growth on roof of his mouth
Jack Klugman -cancer of the larynx
Babe Ruth -nasopharyngeal cancer
George Harrison -malignant lump in throat

Cerec cad-cam technology can restore your teeth with all ceramic crowns or onlays in ONE visit: No more goo in your mouth. No more multiple visits. No more temporary crowns. No more metal lines to potentially show at the gum line.

The first visit is the only visit.

I take computer generated pictures of your teeth and use them to design all white ceramic restorations. The crown is created by the Cerec machine in about ten minutes. Then I just bond it into your mouth.

The Cerec technology makes the process of restoration easier and more convenient but it’s also better than the older method. The Cerec allows me to be more conservative when drilling. Also, there is no risk of anything causing infection while you wait for your crown to be made at the lab. The bottom line is: you get a better crown in less time, with less drilling and it looks great!

I’m excited to share this new technology with you. The Cerec is in the waiting room. I hope you enjoy watching it work. If you have any questions, just ask.

I just read a study published in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics that I find interesting. It states that tongue studs can cause a gap toothed smile. People, mostly young adults, often push the barbell shaped studs back and forth against their front teeth. This can wedge them apart, opening spaces in their mouths. Add to this, a greater risk of fractured teeth and gum recession – it’s a wonder why anyone would want a tongue stud.

The following suggestions will help eliminate or significantly reduce bad breath.

1. Visit your dentist on a regular basis for a complete examination and cleaning of your teeth and gums
2. Prevent bad breath by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing, especially after meals that contain food and spices that cause bad breath. Don’t forget to brush your tongue to remove any trapped food or bacteria caught in the hair like fibers on the tongue.
3. Try chewing parsley after a meal. It contains chlorophyll, a known breath freshener.
4. To prevent bad breath from smoking—stop smoking!
5. Avoid foods such as garlic, onions, cabbage, and coffee.
6. Dry mouth or xerostomia is a major cause of bad breath. Sip water throughout the day. Chew sugar free gum to help your body produce more saliva.
7. If you use a breath freshener or candy consider one that contains xylitol, studies have shown that it can reduce cavities.
8. Occasionally use a mouth rinse of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% water as a mouth rinse. Hydrogen peroxide will help kill the bacteria that causes bad breath

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to share that Framingham Dental Group has new appointment confirmation software. The new software allows us to remind you of and confirm appointments via email and/or text message. It’s your choice; no more playing phone tag and having to interrupt your day to call us back. The new software is easy to use; all you need to do is click to activate it. Of course, all the information you give us stays with us. The process is under way and everyone will be receiving information soon. Let me know what you think!

Richard Tutin, DMD

An elephants molars measure one foot across and weigh between eight and ten pounds each.

An ancient theory blamed the “toothworm” for toothaches. The toothworm was believed to chew the interior of a tooth until it was destroyed.

During the middle ages in Germany, you would have been advised to kiss a donkey in order to relieve your toothache.

The ancient Greeks devised pliers for extracting teeth.

Saliva helps you eat by breaking apart food particles and cleaning your mouth afterwards. The average person produces 10,000 gallons of saliva over their lifetime. (no data as to how much winds up as spitballs.)

Spearmint Sparkle. Peppermint Breeze. Eggshell Shine? The next time your dental hygienist asks you to pick a flavor, consider this – the ancient Romans used a mixture of bones, eggshells and oyster shells and honey to clean their teeth! We recommend you stick with the paste.

Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s famous dentures weren’t made from wood. His four pairs of custom chompers were crafted from gold, ivory, lead and a mixture of human, donkey and um, hippopotamus teeth. (Take care of yours and you won’t have to think about it!)

Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different.

A Chinese dentist once built a tower out of 28,000 human teeth

Sharks have at least 40 sets of teeth in their life time

134,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancers this year. It will cause over 8000 deaths. The death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high not because it is hard to diagnose but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.
The demographics of those who develop this cancer have been constant for some time. Historically people over 40 who use alcohol and tobacco, including smokeless are the highest risk. However, it is now confirmed that in a younger group of patients including those who have never used any tobacco products a viral based risk has been determined. The human papilloma virus, particularly version 16, which has now been shown to be sexually transmitted between partners, and is conclusively implicated in the increasing incidence of young non smoking oral cancer patients.
It is important to have any sore or discolored areas of your mouth, which does not heal in 14 days to be checked. Others symptoms include a lump or mass inside your mouth or neck, difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing.
At Framingham Dental Group we have incorporated the use of the Velscope oral cancer screening system. It is a non invasive machine which allows us to examine the tissues of the oral cavity. It is another tool in our tool box to help with early detection. If we see something on an exam we can begin the process of diagnosis. It should be noted that most times when we see an irritation or decide to follow up on a “spot” it is negative.
If anyone has further questions or would like to speak to me about oral cancer, please call me at the office,508-872-0041.

The most common questions at Framingham Dental Group involve whitening options. People want to know what works best and how long it will take. In order to be a candidate for tooth whitening, you should be healthy and have no cavities or gum disease. Tooth-whitening products only work on natural tooth structure; not on crowns, white, or silver fillings. In the past, it was common for whitening to cause temporary tooth sensitivity. The newer techniques and solutions have almost eliminated this problem. At Framingham Dental group, we offer three excellent techniques to lighten the color of your teeth.
The first option involves a pre-packaged whitening system from Opalescence. It is sold in a ten-day supply and involves wearing trays once a day for an hour. It is a “one size fits all” type of tray system.
The second option is a custom tray system. We make form-fitting trays for the teeth and customize the whitening gels to the patients’ needs. The gels are either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. This option involves the flexibility of daytime, nighttime, once a day, or twice a day bleaching.
The third option is the most effective. It involves a one-hour office treatment of hydrogen peroxide gel. The in-office whitening acts as a catalyst. It is followed by the use of customized trays at home. This technique provides outstanding results.
If you wish to discuss the topic of whitening in more detail, bring up the topic on your next visit or give me a call at 508-872-0041

Over the years I have met many people who were fearful about going to the dentist. They had bad breath and constant toothaches which affected their quality of life. My heart went out to these people but there was little I could do. Now, as a certified DOCS sedation dentist, I can be part of the solution.
Using medication in pill form, I can  help control the anxiety which causes so many people to avoid their necessary dental work. I can relieve their pain and give them back their health. I can give people back their quality of life and smile. Most everyone is a candidate so give me a call to discuss how sedation dentistry can work for you. You can also check out www.sedationcare.com for more info.