How Cavities Begin

“Cavity.” The word does not sound as menacing as “rotting enamel” or even “tooth decay”, but that’s exactly what cavities are. Unfortunately, cavities are so common amongst individuals ranging from young children to the elderly, that everyone dismisses them as normal and easily repaired.

But is there something we aren’t considering? We were made with teeth, and we need them to chew and digest our food to survive… so something is wrong if they are showing signs of decay!

Cavities form from acid-producing bacteria and their acidic waste caused by sugars that they consume. Plaque, the substance left behind by these bacteria, accumulates all around the tooth, down along the gum line, and in all the cracks ‘n’ crannies (large or microscopic) that compose of the enamel crown. Tooth enamel is made mostly of calcium, and this acidic plaque nesting against it causes it to literally rot and wear away. When the decay forms a breakthrough — a completely hole through the enamel — it is now a cavity and must be filled before the vulnerable dentin & pulp inside becomes infected.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Upcoming Announcements and Events

Here are a few classes, seminars, and/or meetings that I am excited to attend this spring, starting tomorrow:

Premier Research Labs by Dr. Bob Marshall
Irvine, CA
January 29-31

The Shepherd’s Conference
Grace Community Church
Sun Valley, CA
March 3-7

IAOMT Spring Meeting
Galloway, NJ
March 18-20

California Dental Association
Spring Scientific Sessions & Annual Meeting
May 14-16

I will be reporting back on some new findings really soon.

Dr. Boyajian
Los Angeles, CA

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

How Bioesthetic Dentistry Helps You

There are so many reports, complaints, misdiagnoses out there for/from people who do not have the slightest clue as to what is causing their headaches or jaw problems. Years of switching from doctor to doctor and medication to medication can really bog one down; it becomes his/her lifestyle, always taking medical tests and trying to find out what is going on with his/her body!

This should not be considered “normal”, especially when a solution to all of that jaw pain, neck pain, ear pain, damaged teeth, and uncomfortable, ineffective mouth movement can be easily achieved.

Bioesthetic dentistry is based on aligning the teeth to work in harmony with the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) of the jaw to promote a naturally cooperative and functional chewing system. When your teeth are out of their places (which is often the case) — even slightly rearranged from growing up with a habit of grinding them, for example — minor adjustments are made in the mechanics of your chewing system, but major repercussions can ensue. Crookedness, wear and tear, unexplained pain and migraines, and discomfort are all symptoms of this problem.

However, bioesthetics is to the rescue. Treatment is usually easily carried out, realigning teeth and jaw joints to their proper positions, and allowing time for the muscles and tissues to strengthen and turn the correct movements into your habitual movements. Goodbye headaches, restricted/noisy jaw movement, and crooked, worn teeth; hello straight smile, comfortable chewing, and freedom!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Holistic/Biocompatible Dentistry

An important philosophy saturates everything we do here at Dr. Boyajian’s office. The understanding that health for the whole body is crucial for the health of individual areas of the body has been lost through developing technology and modernization of our society. We believe wholeheartedly that the only way your mouth can truly be healthy and beautiful is if the rest of your body is nourished and well. There is no use in trying to treat a certain bacteria infecting your mouth if the cause of the problem is in your stomach, for example. Many problems arising in the mouth have been linked to heart disease and unnecessary hormonal imbalances, yet dentists, time and time again, could not completely eliminate the problem in the mouth, because the root problem was not recognized.

We also believe that it is important to use biocompatible materials in our dentistry. The standard chemicals, medicines, tools, and substances used today are often detrimental in some way or another to good health and wholesomeness. We use the best materials available, meaning that they do not affect the promotion of good health, and they work harmoniously with the body’s natural strength and beauty.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Bioesthetics Dentistry

So why should you choose a dentist who practices bioesthetics? Well, a bioesthetic dentist not only understands how the chewing system as a whole unit works at its best, but has also been specially trained to restore proper functionability and harmony between all aspects of oral anatomy to those who do not have those benefits. A bioesthetic dentist knows how to fix the root problem, not just the effects we see or feel on the outside! This is very important because, as I mentioned earlier, dentists have traditionally been trained to treat those surface problems, such as worn-down teeth or jaw pain. Bioesthetics treats the culprit so you never experience those symptoms!

Another bonus is that you don’t have to keep coming back so frequently for irritating toothaches or similar hindrances to a healthy, beautiful mouth. Once it’s done, it’s done for a very, very long time!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

The Games They Play

Why do the dental insurance companies want me to lose my teeth?

This may seem like an odd question but it seems like they really do want you to lose your teeth. After all, their services don’t quite meet our needs completely. So where is the problem rooted?

Well, to begin with, the insurance companies are there to make a profit — only to make a profit. I do not blame them for this. Businesses need to be financially stable and reasonably profitable in order to continue providing services.

But here is the rub: to gain profit, they need to either collect more money or spend less money. This means they are in complete conflict with paying for patients’ dental care. It is a delicate balancing act between how much they have to pay out to keep the majority of the subscribers’ content. This is you and your company, because you would not knowingly want coverage if you had to pay extra for care, yet your employer would certainly want to see his employees satisfied with their benefits. So the insurance companies need to pay out just enough to keep everyone satisfied, while still making a profit.

You see, they are in an indirect conflict with providing care for you. They manage this by rules and regulations customized for each plan or for each employer. For example, one plan may pay for crowns without a wait time, but another may require a wait time. Consultants are paid to review the treatment, but these are often lay people that have no credentials at all and are not qualified to make dental decisions. When a particular claim comes up for debate, they then bring in a dentist to review it. Like in Las Vegas, “the house always wins.”

Insurance companies will use the power of the printed word to confuse you and escape from covering your claims. They will insinuate that your procedure is not covered, and, therefore, you probably should not have it done. The onus of responsibility of the insurance companies to pay is relieved and future financial problems are avoided. They will also deny services randomly because there are a percentage of people, vulnerable to either ignorance or the companies’ deceit, that do not fight back.

So how can you as the consumer win this game?

1. Do not consider the insurance company your friend or a source of dental wisdom.

2. Develop a health model with standards for your body. This can be done with the help of you dental health practitioner. You should ask the questions about what you need to do to be 100% healthy.

3. Accept the fact that you do not have dental insurance but only a dental benefit.

Remember, be true to your teeth and they will be true to you. Or just floss the ones you want to keep.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

A Simple Refresher

“It looks like you’ve had more plaque building up lately. Are you flossing every day?” Oops, I haven’t even thought about it since my last visit. “Be sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Just five minutes each morning, and five minutes before you go to bed will make a huge difference in the health of your teeth and gums.” I know, I know, you’ve been telling me the same thing for years.

People often do not realize the value of every cleaning appointment made with their dentist. You walk in, browse through a magazine or newsletter as you wait to be called in, take a seat in the operatory, and open wide as the hygienist’s tools whirr and buzz away. Then, when the cleaning is over and your teeth are sparkling, you are told once again that you must keep on brushing and flossing daily.

But are you really convinced that the instructions given you are as important as they say? Or do you nonchalantly drive home, disregarding — even forgetting — the advice given to you, and returning to your hit-and-miss brushing or flossing routine? Well, there is hope! Your next session could open many doors to discover the wonderful benefits associated with the basic instructions your dentist gives you! And that’s the best part: it’s easy!

A very important attribute that people often overlook is the fact that cleanings are more centered on educating you than the actual cleaning itself. The dentist’s office and staff are resources, so take advantage! Maybe the habits you have settled into are incorrect, or perhaps you have been too embarrassed to ask about a particular problem. Don’t ever hesitate to ask questions. They are there to help you and teach you valuable lessons on caring for your oral health. Be diligent in applying the information, and commit to transforming these better habits into YOUR habits!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

My Brushing Routine

Well I can’t believe I am doing this, but it seems like a good idea to lead by example and share with you how I brush my teeth. Please bear with me.

My routine is preformed 2 times daily, once in the morning and once before bed. I am consistent six days a week, although it may vary depending on how tired I am.

The sequence is floss, then brush, then hydrofloss. Not very exciting, but very practical.

Flossing needs to be taught to you by a dental professional. I use the “wrap around the middle finger technique” that leaves the other fingers free to direct and control the floss. I will floss each side of a tooth ten times. Any floss will do, but I prefer the non-waxed floss because it gives me satisfaction when I hear it start to squeak. I like to floss first because I then use the brushing to remove the dislodged bacteria .

Brushing should take at least four minutes by the clock. How much day dreaming can you do looking at yourself for four minutes twice a day? I find an electric toothbrush to be more efficient and I can very effectively brush in 2 minutes. I use a Rotadent because I think it is the best on the market.

Next is a tongue scraper. This helps with odor control.

Lastly I use a waterpik called a Hydrofloss, also the best on the market. I add a couple cap-fulls of BreathRX to help me with odor control.

Total time: 4 minutes.

Best wishes,
Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Should Cavities in Baby Teeth Be Filled?

This question was posted by one of our readers, Jess:

I have a question about dentistry. My son is almost six years old and was recently taken to the dentist. He has ten cavities. 7 of which you can hardly see, like tiny brown ‘pin’ dots. One is a hole and hurts him. The dentist wants to get them all filled even though the ones in front would fall out soon.. I want to tell the dentist to only fill in the bigger cavities and wait a while for the tiny pin hole ones. Is that okay to do? What are the dangers of keeping a tiny cavity like that, especially the ones closer to the front which he will lose soon? Also, can I tell his dentist which ones I want filled? Or will the dentist only fill all or nothing?? Thank you so much for your answer in advance.

Dear Jess,

For the most part, teeth should be fixed as soon as possible. Cavities have a tendency to grow quickly in children, however baby teeth (sometimes called primary teeth) will most likely fall out. Baby teeth are lost over a 5- or so year time frame. The question for the ones with cavities is: will they be lost first or will they abscess? Your dentist should be able to give you an idea as to which ones are at a higher risk for abscess and help you decide a good time frame to follow for treatment.

This situation begs another question as to why your son has so many cavities. This should be addressed so he does not have a repeat experience with the permanent teeth. I encourage you to work with your son in developing good oral hygiene habits as well as good eating habits to help him enjoy a a healthy mouth for the rest of his life.

I hope this answers the questions.

Respectfully,

 

What is a Full Exam?

In our office the full exam is the initial gathering of all the important information about the patient. The information includes existing tooth conditions, dental history, health history, x-rays, photographs, study models, periodontal review, cancer screening, TMJ exam, orthodontic analysis and esthetic analysis.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com