J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC Blog

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)

Studies have shown a link between teeth grinding, clenching and headaches. There are also links to people who have sleep breathing disorders, and those who take serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRI). Some brand names of these drugs are Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. Many people grind and clench their teeth for many different reasons – let’s not forget STRESS!

For people who grind or clench, the muscles that open and close the jaw can become painful from overuse, causing a range of symptoms from tension to migraine headaches to jaw joint (TMJ) problems to tooth pain. Here is a simple test – look at your tongue in the mirror without sticking it out.… (Read More)

A while back, The Boston Globe ran an article entitled “Advice for all ages: Don’t skip the dentist.” It started with, “A team of researchers from London and the University of Connecticut announced that aggressive treatment of gum disease can improve the function of blood vessel walls in the body, potentially reducing the risk of heart attacks.” 

The concept is nothing new. We have known for years of the mouth-body connection with health. However, the key to the statement above is “aggressive treatment of gum disease”.

What does aggressive treatment of gum disease mean? Basically, it means that instead of watching and waiting for resolution of gum problems on their own, whatever… (Read More)

We’re a week into the last year of another decade. Wow, does time fly! Do you have your list of New Year’s resolutions to make 2020 the best year ever? Throughout the year I’m always adding things to my list of things to do. As with many to-do lists, some of the items on it keep getting pushed down in the ranking of priorities because of the constraints of time. So, just like last year, my first New Year’s resolution is to take that list and purify it.

Many driven people pride themselves on how many tasks and commitments they are able to take on. This is difficult to sustain. Eventually, this philosophy… (Read More)

It seems that there’s always a new fad that appears online. One of the latest topics trending involves sleep apnea treatment being associated with weight loss. Because the new year is getting underway and you may be eager to drop a few pounds, a local dentist weighs in to clear up any confusion so you can know what to expect from any sleep breathing treatment you may undergo.

Thanks again to the The Town Common for another great year. At the end of each of the past 14 years, I have used this space to publish these 21 Suggestions for Success authored by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. It is the perfect time to reflect on the year past and prepare for any changes we need to make for the year to come.

How was 2019 for you? While reflecting on the past year is important, thinking forward to the year to come is even more important. The past is in the past.

Cut this out and put it on the refrigerator. Read this list often and take these suggestions to… (Read More)

Last week I discussed the importance of communication in any relationship, specifically the healthcare provider/patient relationship. Trust is mutually built as this relationship develops over time.

“There’s not enough time in the day.” Have you ever used this excuse? I said this yesterday to someone. We all tend to waste a lot of time, or at least don’t use the time we have as effectively as we could. You would think that in our technology-filled world, time management would be easier. Some of this technology actually gets in the way by adding even more of a time commitment to things that reduce interpersonal communication.

Here’s an example. It’s time to buy a… (Read More)