J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC

Dentists play a key role in screening patients for many disorders relative to nutrition and in providing appropriate referrals into the health care system. Although the importance of integrating diet and nutrition guidance into dental care has been advocated for decades by educators, it continues to be ignored except by a handful of prevention-oriented practitioners.

Many of the world’s most significant health problems are linked to poor dietary practices, including over-nutrition and under-nutrition. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in health, and dental professionals have the opportunity to be a critical link between discovery and wellness.

There is a great deal of evidence linking oral infections, including periodontal disease, nutrition and immunological response. We have clear… (Read More)

There are five major reasons that people do not get the necessary dental care they need. They are money, time, lack of concern, fear and trust. Let’s take a quick look at each one and see what dentists try to do to overcome these obstacles for patients.

Although you may think that money would be the number one reason people avoid ideal dental treatment, it is not. Even in tougher economic times, money, although a significant barrier for many, is still not the number one issue for most. Yes, dental care in some cases can be a significant investment. With insurance company’s unwillingness to raise the bar, as I have talked about in previous columns,… (Read More)

Last week we 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 www.thetowncommon.com.

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 plight, proper oral health can come to the rescue.
Clinical studies confirm that treatment of gum disease reduces oral inflammation, which removes the factor that triggers the body’s inflammatory response which, in turn, plays a major role in compounding the effects of diabetes.

Dental treatments… (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 has already been affected by this disease. 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… (Read More)

Dental caries (cavities, decay) is still very prevalent in today’s society. There are many factors that contribute to dental decay. In addition, there are some people who are more susceptible to decay than others. In a recent article in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), sugar-sweetened beverages, one of the main culprits for dental decay, was discussed.

Dental decay is a multifactorial disease characterized as an infectious process during which carbohydrates are fermented by specific oral bacteria at the tooth surface. This results in acid production and enamel breakdown. It should be noted that the beverages described in this column are not the only things that lead to dental decay. Anything rich in… (Read More)

In a recent study published by the American Dental Association (ADA), visits to the emergency room (ER) for dental related issues have doubled nationwide over the last decade. Last year, over 2.1 million people visited the ER for a dental “emergency”, most of which could have been prevented with regular dental visits.

In another recent collaborative study between the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, they confirmed that most of these ER visits were for dental pain and infections that were not related to trauma. This is an increasing burden on the taxpayer and the healthcare system. ER visits can be 10 times more costly than if the… (Read More)

Over the course of my 22 years in dentistry I have witnessed some significant changes in the materials that are used to restore teeth. In fact, most of the materials I use today were not in existence when I started to practice. The demand for materials that are tooth-colored have taken over. There are very few patients who ask for gold or silver fillings any more. And, while some of these newer materials are white, there are many factors which need to be considered in determining what material is appropriate for each individual situation.

As I said last week – The best dentistry is NO dentistry. Prevention of decay and other factors that require teeth… (Read More)

Here are a few answers to questions asked by readers:

Jim H:  I was recently told by a dentist that I need a root canal, a post, periodontal crown lengthening surgery and a crown. The total cost of treatment is $3500! Do I have any alternatives?

That is a difficult question to answer without seeing the specific case but here are some thoughts. There are quite a few things to consider. The first is the general condition of the teeth. If you have numerous other dental problems that need to be addressed, you must prioritize these and decide if the cost of doing them all is something you can afford. The last thing you want… (Read More)

Head and neck surgeons are knowledgeable about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and show generally positive attitudes and beliefs about HPV education and vaccination, according to a new study in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. However, 68.9% reported that their daughters had received or would receive the HPV vaccine, while 55.8% reported that their sons had received or would receive the vaccination.

The relationship of HPV to oropharyngeal cancer is now well-established, with 40% to 80% of cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the U.S. estimated to be related to HPV, noted the U.S. team of researchers. The incidence of OSCC has been increasing over the past 30 years in many parts of the… (Read More)

As I discussed last week, dentistry is full of old, new, and emerging technology. For example, the different ways to use dental implants over the last 30 years has been a major game changer in the field of dentistry. Likewise, CAD/CAM technology (computer-aided design and manufacturing of dental restorations) has seen steady growth over the same 30 years. Here is a little background on the some of the reasons this technology is here to stay.

Let me start by saying that the best dentistry is NO dentistry. Prevention of decay and other destructive things that happen to teeth is the best line of defense. Having said that, the fact of the matter is, there are… (Read More)