J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC

On April 30, 2009 I submitted a column to The Town Common entitled, “The Swine Flu and You”. Here is the first paragraph from that column:

Who knows where this pandemic will be today as you read this. At the time of writing I had just heard the first confirmed case in Massachusetts.

I don’t know about you, but apparently the Swine Flu wasn’t that big a deal, because I don’t really remember it. THIS ONE you are going to remember.

At the time of this writing on Tuesday March 16, 2020, my dental practice is scheduled to be closed for non-urgent patient care from yesterday until at least April 6th.… (Read More)

When referring to a healthy smile, many people think about a gleaming set of pearly whites. However, great oral health takes more than clean teeth! Your gums play an essential role in keeping your mouth healthy and your teeth in place. In fact, unhealthy gums could increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. Thankfully, you can easily improve your gum health with these dentist-approved snacks!

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that possesses 40 percent fewer calories than sugar and has been shown to decrease the amount of cavities that people get. It can be found in specifically formulated things like gum and mints, but can also be in chips, Jell-O, peanut butter and foods. It is important to know that xylitol, even in small quantities, is toxic to dogs.

The dental benefits of xylitol have been known since the 1970’s. Xylitol is not metabolized by the decay-causing bacteria Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), making it nonacidogenic and thus noncariogenic (not decay causing). Studies have also indicated xylitol decreases the levels of S. mutans in both plaque and saliva. As… (Read More)

Mouthguards are nothing new, but there are still far too many sports related injuries. Although most youth sport organizations have cracked down on making kids wear mouth protection, there are still injuries occurring. Taking the appropriate protective measures while on the court, field, rink, or ring can save mouths from serious injury and costly dental repairs.

Any sport that presents the chance of contact or collision with another person, object, or surface can potentially cause injury to teeth, jaws, and oral soft tissue. These sports include, but are not limited to, football, basketball, soccer, hockey, boxing, and lacrosse. Individuals who participate in sports, such as biking, inline skating, or skateboarding are also at… (Read More)

Orofacial pain includes a number of clinical problems involving the chewing (masticatory) muscles or temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Problems can include TMJ discomfort, muscle spasms in the head, neck or jaw, migraines, cluster or frequent headaches, pain with the teeth, face or jaw, anxiety and depression.

The resting position of the jaw, which is the position it should be in most of the time, is lips together with the teeth slightly separated. Breathing should be through the nose. The teeth should be touching a total of about 15 minutes in a 24-hour period of time. People who clench or grind touch their teeth much more than this. This is the primary reason people get… (Read More)

Let’s use this hypothetical situation: You have not been to a dentist in a while (pick a time frame), you are well aware you need some dental work, you were given the recommendation of a dentist by a friend…..and, you decide to visit that dentist and four other dentists to compare and make a decision who is the best fit for you. (I realize that most people don’t want to and/or don’t have the time to visit five dentists….but play along).

You already have an idea of what you are looking for. It might be the dentist who says you need the least. It might be the dentist who is the cheapest. It… (Read More)

Here are a few common questions and answers regarding dental radiographs:

I had a dental x ray while I was pregnant. I am worried that my unborn child might have been exposed to the radiation. Can you please tell me if there are any risks to my baby from this?

There is no information suggesting any risk to an unborn child from dental x-rays received by the mother. We were taught in dental school to avoid dental x-rays on pregnant patients. However, with newer technology the radiation dose to the fetus is insignificant. Prudent practice would dictate limiting x-rays on pregnant women, but there is absolutely no harm in taking x-rays if… (Read More)

Since February is the month of love, now seems like as good a time as any to talk about your heart. More specifically, how your gums can affect your heart. If you have periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, that puts you more at risk of developing cardiovascular problems. Why is that? A dentist is here to explain the gum-heart connection and what it means for you.

Last week I discussed the role and effect that diabetes has on oral health. It is not something that should be taken lightly. If you missed this column, please visit the website at the end of this column or e-mail me directly and I will send you a copy.

After reading last week’s column, it may seem frightening that there is no way out of the partnership of horrors between diabetes and severe gum disease. There are solutions. Just as poor oral health can compound a diabetic’s situation, proper oral health can come to the rescue.

Clinical studies confirm that treatment of gum disease reduces oral inflammation, which removes the factor that… (Read More)

With more than 24 million diabetics and 57 million pre-diabetics in the United States, nearly a quarter of the nation’s population, the connections between dental health and diabetes have never been more critical.

As an indication of our general health, the rapidly rising rate of diabetes should be ringing alarm bells everywhere. The litany of health implications from diabetes is a long and grisly list. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. That is probably vastly understated, because as many as 65% of deaths from diabetes are attributed to heart attack and stroke. People with diabetes have about twice the overall risk of death as those who don’t have… (Read More)