J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC

Last week I discussed clenching, which is vertical force put on teeth. Grinding or bruxism is lateral (excursive) forces put on teeth that cause teeth to rub together and wear. Both of these are very destructive to teeth, joints, and muscles.

Some people present with symptoms relating to these two issues, but more often than not, people do not have symptoms. We dentists know that patients who present with signs of tooth wear are riskier to treat. Riskier because the “issues” are often times, and maybe even most often, not treated. This is a significant reason for tooth structure breakdown and shorter life-span dental work.

There are many reasons people grind or clench their teeth.… (Read More)

Of the many issues that this pandemic is causing, stress may be at the top of the list. Dentists are seeing a sizable increase in patients complaining of symptoms of joint, muscle and/or tooth pain directly associated with an etiology of grinding and/or clenching.

Although methods of relaxation are important to get through the stresses of life, it may not be enough to prevent symptoms in the TMJ, muscles and teeth, especially in the subconscious (i.e. sleeping). Many times, patients are aware of the symptoms, but don’t realize the origin of the problem.

Studies have shown a link between tooth grinding, clenching and headaches. For people who grind or clench, the muscles that open and… (Read More)

Most people will admit that nice looking teeth make a person more attractive than not so nice-looking teeth. Apparently, there are other benefits as well. In a study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) they found:

• Virtually all Americans (99.7%) believe a smile is an important social asset.
• 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex.
• 74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.

The survey then went a little deeper. Photographs of individuals with different levels of attractiveness in their smiles were shown to 528 adults who represented a statistically valid cross section of… (Read More)

Full of scary décor, haunted houses, and creepy costumes, Halloween really is the most “spooktacular” time of year. However, it just wouldn’t be the same without tons and tons of candy! Whether you’ve bought a few bags for trick-or-treaters or your little one comes home with enough to feed a small army, it is important to remember how a few too many pieces can impact your oral health. With this in mind, read on for five Halloween candy tips to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape this time of year.

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If you have read these columns in the past, you have seen me write about periodontal (gum) health and its relationship to systemic health. There is a slew of scientific evidence that poor periodontal health is not good for you systemically. It has been linked to heart disease, stroke, low birth weight babies, diabetes and more.

Gum tissue health is an easy thing for patients to be lax about, or even ignore. Why? The main reason is that gum problems do not hurt, unless they are so severe that tooth loss is inevitable. It is the chronic inflammation in the gum tissue, regardless of whether it hurts or not, that has the potential to affect… (Read More)

Dental practices are as different as people are different.  Some practices may feel clinical and efficient, while others feel somewhat more home spun and laid back.  The dentist’s personality is reflected in his or her treatment preferences as well.  The fact that different dentists will suggest different plans to treat your condition does not necessarily mean that one plan is better than another. 

As I ended last week, the most important thing any health care provider can give is their time. Listening to patient desires and expectations is the key to a long-lasting dentist or other health care provider relationship. Patients who feel comfortable with their provider are able to be better participants in health… (Read More)

I attended a continuing education course a while back entitled “Hit Man or Healer?” The course was given by a well-known leader in the dental profession. The basic premise of the course was the notion that we have a lot more science, studies and data available today to be able to make better decisions about the treatment that we dentists recommend to patients. The concept is called evidence-based dentistry.

The idea is that if a very structured examination and diagnosis is done, treatment recommendations can be made based on science. The problem is, all too often the diagnosis leads to suggestions that without the proper dialogue can make the dentist look like a “hit man”… (Read More)

I attended a continuing education seminar before COVID entitled, “Making it Easy for Patients to Say Yes”. The name of the seminar is a bit deceiving. You might think that it was about how to “sell” people into dental treatment. It was quite the opposite.

I am a firm believer in educating patients about their own dental health with the help of things like photography, which I discussed last week.  I also think it is important to spend as much time as necessary to bring the patient’s dental I.Q. to a level that allows them to make more educated decisions about the degree of dental health they wish to achieve. Some people require more… (Read More)

Most of us like a sweet treat or beverage every once in a while, even though we have always been told that sugar impacts oral health. But how bad is it? It seems like sugar is added into everything these days which makes it incredibly difficult to avoid. Continue reading to learn exactly what sugar does to your teeth, what you should cut out of your diet, and what you can use instead that won’t cause harm to your smile.

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I remember seeing a commercial for a cholesterol medication in which the person playing the doctor says, “I wish my patients could see what I see.” I think there are two ways to look at that statement.

The commercial showed an image of animated artery walls clogging with particles of plaque, clinging to one another, making the opening of the artery smaller and smaller. This is a visual that is easy to understand.

The second, and more subtle way to take this statement, is the doctor wishing that patients could see what happens to people over time, with and without compliance to taking medication or changing their diet. If patients could only understand and use… (Read More)