Dental Did You Know

All American Dentist

Did you know that the man depicted in this famous portrait, entitled American Gothic, was actually the artist's dentist? 

The artist, Grant Wood, loved the contrast between the European style window on the American barn and wanted to paint an American looking farmer and his daughter in front of the barn.  He chose his family dentist for the farmer and his own sister for the daughter.  Most people have seen this painting and did not even realize what they were looking at!

Source: http://www.grantwoodartgallery.org/grantwood.htm


R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!

News You Can Use

Maintaining A Beautiful Summertime Smile

During the hot summer months, not much feels better than going swimming in cool pool water but studies have shown spending too much time in the pool may lead to teeth discoloration.  The chemicals put into pool water to keep it sanitary have been connected to brownish-yellow teeth discoloration in those who spend six or more hours in a pool a day. 

A recent study compared the teeth of 404 participants, all of whom were either competitive swimmers or another (non-pool related) athlete. Those who were competitive swimmers experienced significantly more staining as compared to other athletes, with 60.2% of swimmers having the dental discoloration while only 12.9% of non-swimmers exhibited the staining. Other factors that contribute to dental staining were considered, including gender, age, red wine and coffee consumption, and iron supplement use.  

While the dental staining resulting from pool use may not look the best, it was generally just found on eight incisors and composed of mostly surface stain.  The study also found that the use of competition pools increased the risk for dental staining but that good overall oral health and preventative care (which was defined as regular dental checkups) were found to be protective factors.  


Source: Escartin JL, Arnedo A, Pinto V, Vela MJ: A study of dental staining among competitive swimmers. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2000; 28: 10–7. C Munksgaard, 2000


R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)-821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!

News You Can Use

Losing Your Teeth Can Damage Your Memory

Last fall, I posted about the link between chewing ability and the risk for dementia but more research has come out that describes how losing your teeth may be linked to absent-mindedness that occurs with old age, going as far as suggesting that tooth loss may be the cause of memory loss.

The previous article gave evidence that suggests the chewing motion of the jaw increases blood flow to the brain.  Recent research elaborates on that finding, stating that the chewing motion and the stimulation of the teeth send sensory impulses to the hippocampus (the part of the brain that forms and retrieves memories).  If you lose teeth over the span of your life, you do not having as many points for sending those sensory impulses which results in more memory loss as the hippocampus is not being stimulated enough to retrieve memories. 

The recent study on this subject found that older adults with more teeth performed significantly better than older adults with less teeth.  The older adults with more teeth performed better on both episodic memory tasks (tasks that involve remembering specific instances) and semantic memory tasks (tasks that involve specific facts). 

Another recent study, published by the European Journal of Oral Sciences and performed by universities in Sweden and Norway, had 273 participants between the ages of 55 and 80.  The average number of teeth for participants was 22 which is ten less than a full dentition.  All participants were put through a series of memory tests.  Researchers found that the number of natural teeth alone accounted for 20% of the variance in episodic recall, 15% of the variance in episodic recognition, and 14% of the variance in semantic memory. 

The reduced blood flow and reduced stimulation from sensory signals combine to influence the memory loss in older adults.  Additionally, denture wearers have a tendency to avoid certain foods, which reduces their intake of vitamins and minerals.  Implants were found to increase the stimulation sent to the brain and aided denture wearers in being able to diversify what they can eat.  A recent study in California also found that older adults who brush their teeth less frequently were significantly more likely to have signs of dementia.  

Maintaining good oral health while brushing twice a day and flossing once are not only good for your overall health but may be protective against memory loss. 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2344556/Losing-teeth-damage-memory-Those-fewer-gnashers-able-past-experiences.html

R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDSSmile Station Dental

2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400

St. Louis, MO 63122

(314)821-7100

smilestationdental.com

Like us on Facebook!

 

Notes from the Dentist

Introducing...

I know I have posted this letter of introduction to my patients previously but for those that may not have had the opportunity to read it, I wanted to post it again:

My dear patients and families,

I have some very good news for you and me, too.  There is a new addition to my practice. 

It is my greatest pleasure to welcome my daughter, Morgan Emery, DDS, to our dental team starting July 8, 2013.

Morgan was born at St. John’s Hospital and attended Barretts Elementary and Parkway South Middle schools.  She graduated from Parkway South High School in 2005 and from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2008.  For dental school, she chose my alma mater, the University of Missouri – Kansas City.  She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in May 2012.  She has spent the past year in an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency gaining more experience in treating special needs children and more complex dental cases at the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton. 

Morgan brings new ideas into the practice from academia and is helping the office integrate and upgrade their electronic charting.  Eventually, she plans to help the office complete their transition to being “paperless”.  In addition to her patient care duties here at Smile Station Dental, she will spend two days a week teaching dentistry to third and fourth year dental students at the dental school in Alton.

Morgan and I look forward to working together to provide our patients with excellent dentistry in a safe and relaxed environment.  We’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

With my warmest wishes,

R. Eric Emery, DDS

News You Can Use

Oral Piercings Pose Significant Risk to Oral Health

While in our society piercings may be used as a type of self-expression, oral piercings pose a risk to overall oral health.  Not only can they interfere with speech, chewing, and swallowing, but they can injure the gums as well as crack or create sensitive teeth and damage fillings. Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, and an increase in saliva.  Although not common, serious infections due to the piercing may occur, including hepatitis and endocarditis (which is an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart).

Oral piercings may increase the risk for other problems as well.  The individuals who pierce have no standardized and may have little to no knowledge of anatomy and physiology, leaving the potential for the piercing to hit a blood vessel or a nerve.  If this happens, uncontrollable bleeding or nerve damage may result. Even after the piercing has healed, the presence of the jewelry can still effect oral health. 

Metal jewelry in the mouth can create sores on the surrounding tissue which may pose a serious risk for those with metal allergies. The metal jewelry also may crack, scratch, or cause teeth to become sensitive.  There are plastic jewelry substitutes and while that may reduce the risk, it cannot eliminate it entirely. The damage done to the gums and other tissue from the jewelry moving back and forth can be quite extensive and may require the need for reconstructive surgery to correct it.  Additionally, the damage caused by the oral piercing may result in tooth loss.

If you have an oral piercing, it is imperative that you check the tissues that come in contact with the piercing on a regular basis. It is also suggested that individuals consult with a dentist before getting an oral piercing so he/she may be fully informed before committing to the decision. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, flossing once, avoiding sugary drinks, and maintaining regular dental checkups are all increasingly important for those with oral piercings. 


Source:http://www.dentaltribune.com/articles/news/usa/13693_california_dental_association_says_oral_piercings_pose_significant_dangers_to_oral_health.html


R. Eric Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
Like us on Facebook!