The Benefits of Maintaining Good Oral Health in a Covid World

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The ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak has caused a lot of changes to people’s lifestyles in the last year.  Encouraging people to stay home as much as possible has helped slow down the spread of the virus, but it’s also had some downsides – like encouraging people to skip their dental care.

We want people to know: dental offices are safe to visit.  Dentists are employing top-tier techniques to clean and disinfect their offices.  This is important because it’s truly vital to maintain your oral health, even during the pandemic.  It’s not just a good idea for your mouth; it can help protect you from the coronavirus!

Why Maintaining Your Oral Health Is Important During The COVID-19 Outbreak

There are two big factors to consider here.

1 – Poor oral health makes you more susceptible to disease

Having oral disease weakens a patient’s immune system.  If they have oral infections, their bodies’ defenses are occupied trying to fight off those infections.  Worse, untreated oral infections tend to linger, lasting for months or even years.

So anyone with active oral infections is immuno-compromised from the start.  This makes them more susceptible to catching diseases in general, and that definitely includes the coronavirus.  Keeping your mouth healthy means the rest of your body is more likely to be healthy as well.

2 – Poor oral health can make COVID-19 worse

Researchers have been looking into whether there’s any direct link between oral health and either the spread of, or not, of the severity of COVID-19 infections.  And it seems that there is.

First, COVID-19 seems to have an affinity for the mouth, and a diseased mouth gives the disease extra opportunities to breed.  This means an increased viral load is expelled every time an infected person breathes out, making it even more vital that people wear masks in public as much as possible.

Also, it seems that having poor oral health can contribute to the severity of COVID-19 as well.  Basically, the close link between the mouth and the lungs makes it easier for higher amounts of the COVID-19 virus to make their way into the lungs, not to mention the other nasal passages.  So, the infection becomes worse, and harder to treat.

In short, it truly is vital to maintain your oral health during the pandemic.  If it’s been more than six months since your last dental visit (and it probably has) please contact  Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants, 609-924-1414.

 

 

 

Oral Health & Covid-19

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Is there a link between a person’s susceptibility to the COVID-19 coronavirus, and their oral health?  Turns out, there may be!  If you have existing dental issues, you should be working with your dentist to fix the problem, otherwise you could be leaving yourself vulnerable.

The Link Between Oral Health And Body Health


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In general, your mouth is one of your first lines of defense against any diseases trying to enter your body – including COVID-19.  Because so much air, food, and liquid enters your body through your mouth, your body has robust defenses in place to help prevent disease transmission.  In a healthy person, their mouth acts as a barrier to infection.

However, for someone suffering from dental disease, it’s another issue.  There are two major factors at work.

First, if someone already has an infection in their mouth, that means their body’s immune system will be focused on fighting off that illness.  If another disease moves into the body, there will be far fewer resources available to attack the new invader.  Like fighting a war on two fronts, the body probably won’t be able to stop multiple diseases from attacking at once.

Also, many forms of oral disease create cuts, sores, or other holes in the skin within the mouth.  This creates an open door for diseases like COVID-19 to enter the body.

Of course, this is all true for literally any illness.  If you have a healthy mouth, you’re more likely to have a healthy body too.  

A Direct Link Between Oral Health And COVID-19?

Research is ongoing, but it seems there may also be a much more direct link between the coronavirus, and a patient’s health.  A new study was recently published in the British Dental Journal, based on patient outcomes among dentists in England.  

They found that patients with COVID-19 and oral disease had a much higher chance of passing viruses between the mouth and the lungs.  Disease in the mouth tends to migrate to the lungs, and vice-versa.  This, the researchers believe, is one of the key factors in creating complications in COVID-19 cases.  Patients, their bodies already stressed by the coronavirus, become far more susceptible to other viral or bacterial infections as well.

In short, it’s more important than ever to protect your oral health!  Dental clinics around the country are now reopening, so if you’re late for your annual checkup, contact Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants at 609-924-1414

Why it is Now Safe to Go to Your Dentist

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For months, most dental offices were closed due to the coronavirus, aside from emergencies. However, as cases are beginning to die down, dental offices around the country are opening again – leaving people to wonder whether it’s truly safe to finally get their regular checkups and fillings again.
The answer is yes. Dental offices are now taking many new precautions to protect you, their other patients, and themselves from the risk of coronavirus exposure.
How You’ll Be Protected When You Visit The Dentist

1 – Reduced appointment bookings
Most dental clinics are deliberately not filling all their appointment slots, to minimize the number of people who might end up waiting. Ideally, if you show up to your appointment time, you’ll be able to walk right in.

2 – Waiting Areas
If you do have to wait for your appointment you will be directed to a seat in your office’s waiting area that allows for proper social distancing, or you may have the option to call when you arrive and wait from your vehicle until your provider is ready to see you.

3 – Extra PPE
Dentists are going all out with their personal protective equipment. Expect to see people dressed more like it’s the emergency room, with full-body suits, gloves, and large plastic faceplates to protect you and them from potential disease transmission.

4 – No shared entertainment items
Unfortunately, one thing that has to be eliminated are items intended to be shared among multiple people, such as books and magazines in the waiting room, or toys for children. They’d just be vectors for disease transmission. So, we recommend bringing your own entertainment, particularly if you’re there with kids who need distractions.

5 – Increased disinfecting
Expect your dentist’s office to smell even more dentist-y than ever before. Offices will be regularly spraying disinfectant all over their offices and equipment, and after every appointment, to further reduce the chances of any viruses remaining after a patient has left.

6 – Changes to procedures

One of the biggest risks in terms of spreading disease via dentistry is that so many typical dental procedures end up creating an aerosol that could contain a viral load. For example, use of water jets instantly creates a spray of potentially-contaminated liquid after it hits a patient’s mouth. Dentists are changing their methods in numerous procedures to prevent this from happening.
In short, dentists are taking many steps to protect you in their offices. So if you’re late for your yearly checkup, don’t delay.

Contact Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants today, 609-924-1414.

Set the Course For Healthy Living;See your Family Dentist Regularly

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Regular dentist visits are an essential part of overall healthy living that the entire family can benefit from. Routine dental visits provide a number of benefits for children, teens, and adults that extend far beyond simply having a nice smile.

Healthy dental care routines and regular dental visits are great goals to have in and of themselves and are great tools in setting the course for younger generations for healthier living. Here’s what you should know about how routine family dental visits and healthy living go hand in hand!

Benefits of Seeing Your Family Dentist Regularly

It’s Been A Long Time Doc – It’s not uncommon for people to skip visits (sometimes for years or even decades. This can be due to anxiety, financial concerns, or simply assuming their teeth are fine because there’s no pain or visible damage. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. There are a number of underlying dental issues that don’t always have straightforward symptoms or visible signs that call attention, like a cavity or broken tooth.

These types of dental issues will need the trained eye and expertise of a dental professional to diagnose and treat. Regular family dentist visits are the first line of defense against dental issues and truly sets the course for healthy living. 

Overall Healthy Living – Multiple studies have shown that there is a strong link between your dental health and your overall health. Underlying issues with your teeth and gums can ultimately affect other systems of your body including the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. Regular visits to your family dentist can help reduce the risk of other serious health issues. 

Boost in Confidence and Improved Self-Esteem – Your smile is one of the first things people notice and plays a big role in first impressions. Having a healthy, bright smile can make a drastic difference in the way you feel and does wonders for the self-esteem regardless of your age. 

Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants is a family owned practice, operating in downtown Princeton, NJ for over 35 years.  New patients are welcome.  Call us at 609-924-1414 to schedule an appointment.  Free Parking.

Why Go to a Holistic Dental Practice.

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Everybody knows they should see their dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. And the benefits of regular cleanings and evaluations are pretty clear. What’s not so clear is why you should see a holistic dentist for your oral care needs, and how visiting a holistic dentist can actually benefit your health.

4 Benefits of Holistic Dental Care

Before delving into the benefits, it’s important to understand what the term “holistic dentistry” means.

  1. 1. Briefly, holistic dentistry is focused on providing care that’s beneficial for your overall health as well as your oral health. And that leads us into the first benefit of seeing a holistic dentist: Holistic dentistry focuses on the whole person, not just their teeth and gums. Traditional dental practices provide cleanings, fillings and other care that’s aimed to improve your oral health. And that’s great. But they typically tend not to consider how these treatments may be affecting your overall health. Amalgam fillings are a great example. A traditional dentist may use amalgams because they’re durable, easy to use and cheap. Filling your tooth with an amalgam restores the tooth and prevent further decay, which is great for your oral health. But these fillings also contain mercury, which, if released to the body, could pose serious health risks – especially if you have multiple fillings. A holistic dentist uses filling materials that are free of metal and harmful chemicals to protect both your oral health and your overall health as well.
  2. Holistic dentistry is focused on prevention. Holistic dentists understand the important connection between your oral health and your overall health, and they provide in-depth guidance and advice to help you develop the healthy habits that can improve both. That includes advice about your diet, managing stress and taking care of other health-related issues that could have an impact on your oral health as well.
  3. Holistic dentists provide an individualized level of care – for every patient. Everyone is different, and that means everyone’s health needs are different too. Holistic dentists know that – and they fine-tune their care to reflect each patient’s specific and unique needs. Your treatment plan will be different from any other patient’s because it will be focused solely on your health profile, your lifestyle, and your needs and goals.
  4. Holistic dentists use safe materials and safe practices. As mentioned in number 1 above, holistic dentists are very careful about the materials and techniques they use during treatment because they understand the impact those choices can have on oral and overall health, both now and in the future. Metal-free fillings are just one of many ways a holistic dentist focuses on safer, healthier materials and methods, in treatment and in preventive care as well.

Is holistic care as effective as traditional dental care?
Absolutely! Holistic dentists have the same training as other dentists – but they also have additional training in holistic approaches to care. That means you’ll have the widest number of options when it comes to selecting the best treatment for you, so you can feel confident about your treatment – and your results – from start to finish.

At Princeton Dentistry, we know your health is important to you, and that’s why it’s important to us. Our team is trained in holistic techniques aimed at helping each patient enjoy better oral and overall health, as well as beautiful, natural smiles. To learn more about the holistic practices and materials we use and to schedule your own checkup, call Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants at (609) 924-1414 today.

ORAL CANCER: 5 signs to Watch Out for

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Every year, more than 50,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society, and about 10,000 people die as a result of the disease. Many cases of oral cancer are caught during a routine dental exam or office visit. And for people who have oral cancer screenings every year (or even every six months), there’s a good chance the cancer will be caught in its early stages, when it’s most treatable.

Unfortunately, all too many people postpone their dental visits, sometimes waiting several years between checkups and cleanings. And that means oral cancer can go undetected – and grow – for much longer.

Obviously, one of the most important things you can do to make sure cancer is caught in its very early stages is to see your dentist regularly – typically every six months for a routine checkup and oral cancer screening, but at least once each year. In between visits, you can do a little self-examination to look for these symptoms associated with the early stages of oral cancer:

5 Signs

Mouth sore that doesn’t heal.
Sores are often the first sign of oral cancer, and they can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the palate and gums, or on the front or back of the lips. Not every sore is cancerous; in most cases, sores will heal and disappear within a week or so. But if you have a sore that hasn’t healed in two weeks or more – or a sore that continues to grow larger – it could be a sign of oral cancer.

Discolored “patches” in the mouth.
In addition to sores, white, pale or oddly-colored patches of tissue in your mouth or on your lips can also be a sign of cancer. Sometimes, these patches are slightly raised above the surface of the surrounding tissue. In a few cases, they may bleed.

Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are most often a sign of gum disease (which also needs prompt attention!), but it can also be caused by cancerous growths. Bleeding can occur anywhere in your mouth as well as your throat.

Hoarse voice
Cancer that develops in the throat may cause a person’s voice to become hoarse or to change in another unusual way.

Loose tooth
Most teeth become loose as a result of decay or trauma. But sometimes, a cancerous growth will push against the tooth, causing it to become loose or “wobbly.”

Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer screenings are quick and painless. First, the dentist will look for visible changes associated with cancer. Then, the dentist will use a special swab or brush to gently wipe the inside surfaces of your mouth, collecting a small sample of cells. The swab will be sent to a lab where the cells will be carefully examined. If your dentist notices an unusual area in your mouth, they may take a very tiny sample of tissue for further evaluation. The area will be numbed before the tissue sample is collected.

Regular oral cancer screenings are essential for helping you maintain not only good oral health but good overall health as well. If you notice any unusual changes in your mouth, your bite, your throat, your lips or your voice, it’s always a good idea to call the office.

And one more thing: While tobacco users are more likely to develop oral cancer, the disease can – and does – occur in anyone. Whether or not you have a history of smoking, you need regular oral cancer screenings to help you stay healthy.

Call Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants today at 609-924-1414 to schedule your screening.

How Bad Oral Health Affects Your Body

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Everyone knows poor oral health has a direct effect on the teeth and gums, causing decay, infections, gum disease, and eventually, tooth loss. But very few people realize the impact oral health issues can have on their overall health and wellness – and that means they’re leaving themselves exposed to an array of serious medical problems.

Oral Bacteria
The mouth is home to millions of tiny bacteria. Many of them are helpful, aiding in breaking down food as part of the first steps in digestion, fighting off bad breath, and even helping prevent more serious oral diseases. But plenty of bacteria found on the tooth surfaces and the soft tissues of the mouth can be very bad, not just for your teeth and gums but for the rest of your body as well.

Sure, we all know to cover our mouths when we sneeze, even if we don’t have a cold; that’s because a sneeze can contain a huge amount of germs that can be passed on to another person. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that those same germs can cause problems in our own bodies. And that’s just what medical research has shown.

Oral Health and Your Body
Gum disease is caused by harmful bacteria that cling to the tooth surfaces and eventually travel down the tooth to the root pocket where they “set up shop” and eventually weaken tooth roots and cause teeth to fall out. But long before that advanced stage of gum disease, those same bacteria can cause inflammation and tenderness in the gums, resulting in tiny openings in the gum tissue that bleed – and that can also admit bacteria to your bloodstream. Once in your blood, these tiny pathogens can travel to other areas of your body, including areas and systems most prone to the bad effects of inflammation.

Plenty of research has examined the association between gum disease and systemic diseases related to inflammation. For instance, several studies have shown gum disease can have a significant impact on diabetes – and the effect goes both ways: People who have diabetes are more likely to have gum disease (possibly because it’s much harder to prevent and control infections), and gum disease can make it much harder to control glucose levels, even raising your glucose, which in turn can make diabetes much more serious.

Gum disease and the inflammation it causes have also been linked with heart disease and stroke. Researchers think these links are probably related to the bacteria’s release of toxins that cause fatty plaques to form inside artery walls, preventing the normal flow of blood and depriving the heart and brain of needed oxygen and nutrients. The same toxins also may cause the liver to produce too many proteins, which in turn can contribute to heart disease and stroke.

And still more studies have suggested a connection between periodontal disease and some types of cancer, including kidney, pancreatic and blood cancers.

Preventing the Effects of Poor Oral Health
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy takes some work, but with good habits, you can easily get – and keep – the upper hand. It all begins with regular brushing and flossing using the right techniques (your hygienist can critique your results and give you tips to improve both these important routines). And of course, having twice-yearly checkups and cleanings is essential for catching and treating gum disease in its earliest stages, before the bacteria have a chance to cause local or widespread damage.

Want to make sure you stay as healthy as possible? Call Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants at 609-924-1414 and schedule a dental checkup today.

Comparing Invisalign® and Traditional Braces

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Since braces are often implemented at an early age, the thought of getting braces as an adult can cause some people to cringe. Invisalign ® provides a subtle solution that actually works with a comprehensive treatment plan that keeps you on the path to a healthy smile.

 What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® uses custom-shaped aligners made from a polyurethane resin to help straighten your teeth. These aligners are worn daily for 20-22 hours; they need to be taken out before eating and cleaned regularly. Every two weeks you’ll receive a new aligner with a slightly altered shape. When you’ve finished your alignment plan, Invisalign’s Vivera ® retainers will be worn  to keep your newly straighten teeth in place.

 Invisalign ® vs Braces
Braces and Invisalign ® are very different procedures. Here are some advantages of using Invisalign instead of braces:

Pros: Minimal discomfort, invisible aligners look discreet, aligners can be removed to eat and clean, no food restrictions, up to 50% faster with AcceleDent. 

Cons: Patient compliance is essential to optimal results. Invisalign is not recommended for severve cases.  

 

 On the other hand, here are a few things to remember about traditional Braces:

Traditional Metal Braces
When people hear the word braces, this is the kind they most often picture in their head. Today’s modern brackets are much smaller and less noticeable than the “metal-mouth” braces that were commonly seen in the past.

Pros: Least expensive type, allow kids to be creative in choosing different colored bands

Cons: Most noticeable type of braces

 

Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are the same size and shape as metal braces. The only difference is they have tooth-colored or clear brackets that blend in to teeth instead of bright vibrant colors. Some even use tooth-colored wires to be even less obvious.

Pros: Less noticeable than traditional braces, moves teeth much faster than plastic aligners like Invisalign

Cons: More expensive than the traditional kind, brackets can easily stain if proper care is not taken

 

Click Here if Interested in exploring Invisalign and get a $1000 Credit 

 

What is the right choice for you?
Each Invisalign® product is designed to be used by every kind of patient. They carry no side effects and are completely safe to use. Each set of aligners is carefully crafted keeping the patient’s teeth in mind to provide uniquely customized service. Ultimately, in choosing the right orthodontic method, it comes down to personal choice, budget, and, your dentists’ professional opinion.

 For more than 30 years, Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics and Implants has been providing high-quality dental care in the central New Jersey area. Call 609-924-1414 to learn more about how Invisalign ® can give you a beautiful smile.

Are Cosmetic Dental Procedures Holistic?

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More and more people choose a simpler, cleaner lifestyle by selecting alternative medicine, varied holistic providers, yoga, organic foods, better fabrics for clothing, and, natural cosmetics. They focus on positive relationships and try to practice honesty and integrity. So, in this context, seeking cosmetic dental enhancements could seem hypocritical and vain. The reality is that the benefits of aesthetic dental procedures run deeper than the appearance alone.

The mouth is a key factor in the way we communicate. An optimistic appearance and smile, along with positive words, contribute to the success of our relationships, both at work and in private life.

The smile has an important role on how we perceive others and ourselves. A beautiful, healthy smile opens the world up to us and creates positive energy. When people dislike their own smile, they find it difficult to be authentic and embrace their community. Many people, including children and the elderly who may feel uncomfortable with their teeth, can become highly self-conscious, shy or nervous about smiling or talking too much. So, restoring one’s healthy smile can have an incredible psychological impact. That said, many of the so-called cosmetic procedures do have an overall oral health benefit: straightening crooked teeth will enable improved cleaning, superior gum health, less jaw pain, less staining and better, sustainable maintenance. Replacing missing teeth and restoring the integrity of a full smile offers better lip support, increases chewing efficiency and stops the shifting of other teeth.

Holistic Dental care means healthy and improved Lifestyle
Cosmetic dental procedures can be extremely minimal. For example, a one-time tooth whitening session, before a wedding or a job interview, has proven so many times to stimulate the patient’s motivation to take better care of his/her teeth from that point forward. It encourages them to brush better, floss and watch their diet more carefully to ensure that they maintain that beautiful result.

Other procedures can range from porcelain veneers and crowns to clear orthodontics and implants. Individual patients have various needs and a dentist with a good understanding of aesthetics and function, and the holistic implication of choosing a method over another or selecting materials with low reactivity, will be able to apply the appropriate treatment. The smile is one of the most distinct human attributes and it’s something that should be carried throughout life.

3 Ways to Relax in the Dentist Chair

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We all know seeing the dentist on a regular basis – ideally every six months – is one of the most important things you can do to keep your smile looking its best and to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. But just because we know routine visits to the dentist are the right thing to do, that doesn’t mean we look forward to those visits.

Unfortunately, while many people may feel some degree of nervousness about seeing the dentist – or just about any doctor – for about 15 percent of the population, those anxious feelings are severe. How severe? People with dental anxiety or “dental phobia” often put off essential dental care, including the routine cleanings and exams that can help prevent far more serious problems from developing. That means not only are these individuals risking oral health problems, but they may also be increasing their risks for other major health issues as well.

Unfortunately, while many people may feel some degree of nervousness about seeing the dentist – or just about any doctor – for about 15 percent of the population, those anxious feelings are severe. How severe? People with dental anxiety or “dental phobia” often put off essential dental care, including the routine cleanings and exams that can help prevent far more serious problems from developing. That means not only are these individuals risking oral health problems, but they may also be increasing their risks for other major health issues as well.

3 Ways to Overcome Anxiety
For most people, fear of seeing the dentist is associated with a fear of discomfort, and typically, those feelings stem from one or more unpleasant earlier experiences. Being anxious about discomfort is certainly natural. But the fact is, pain management techniques have advanced considerably over the past few years. And that means if you’re avoiding the dentist because of a painful experience in your past, chances are there’s a technique that can significantly reduce or eliminate discomfort so you can get the care and treatment you need without worry.

So what can you do if you suffer from dental anxiety? Here are three simple steps that can help:

Choose the right dentist.
Even though dental anxiety is a very real concern, not all dentists are equipped to handle patients with significant worries about their care. Many patients with less-than-perfect dental experiences may have encountered one or more dentists who failed to take their anxiety seriously. Fortunately, many dentists today not only recognize dental anxiety and the problems it can cause, but they provide options and environments designed to avoid anxiety “triggers” for the best possible experience. Before making an appointment, visit the practice’s website and read reviews to learn how they approach anxious patients, and ask about how the practice handles dental anxiety when you call to make an appointment.

Ask about sedation options.
Choose a practice that offers different types of sedation. Pretty much every practice offers novocaine, which can be very helpful with discomfort. But many practices – including ours – offer other options, including sedatives, that can help you relax as well as increase your physical comfort. Our team is skilled in dental sedation techniques, and we can recommend the best solution based on your level of anxiety, the type of treatment that’s being performed and other factors. 

Talk about it.
Once you’ve made your appointment, the next step is to discuss your fears and concerns with your dentist. Don’t hold back – being as open as possible is the key to making sure your appointment is customized specifically for your needs. At our practice, we have many – many – patients who have dental anxiety. We know dental anxiety is a real issue, and we take it very seriously. Our entire team will work with you to customize your care so you can stay calm, relaxed and comfortable, no matter what type of treatment you need.

Don’t let dental anxiety keep you out of the dentist chair. Call Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics & Implants, 609-924-1141, to find out how we can help you get the care you need without fear or worry, so you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.