March Edition of Beverly Hills Weekly 2002

"Spring is not just about cleaning your house and closets, but also an excellent time to remind oneself about the value of cleaning your teeth. It"s extremely important that people receive a thorough dental cleaning twice a year, because it helps prevent serious problems that affect the teeth and gums, and even one's overall health.      A primary objective of dental cleaning (also known as prophylaxis) is to remove food that gets trapped underneath the gum, and which usually goes undetected by the patient. With the help of special instruments, dentists can scale and root-plane the teeth, and then polish them. If food particles remain trapped in the gums, they may contribute to inflamation and swelling of the gums, or cause cavities or bad breath as a result. These particles are almost impossible to remove through at-home flossing or brushing.      Another objective is to check for cavities that may form at the margins of old fillings and crowns, or to check for tooth decay, including worn out or cracked fillings and crowns, which, likewise, go undetected by the patient. The cleaning involves a thorough inspection and evaluation of the condition of the teeth. I also recommend preventative measures such as more frequent cleanings, how to more effectively brush teeth using the right instruments and correct toothpaste, and then get X-rays taken once a year to check for cavities in between teeth that are totally invisible to the naked eye.      As part of my evaluation, I also point out potential problems that may lie in store for the patient. If the patient already has problems with the gums, I prescribe various oral medications.      In cases where a conventional cleaning is inadequate for treating teeth that are severely stained from tobacco, tea , and coffee stains, or where there are deep pockets in the gums, there is a powerful new combination of micro-ultrasonic prophylaxis and air-polishing, which is an extremely effective form of deep cleaning. The new micro-ultrasonic instruments are fabulous because dentists can more easily access these deep pockets to remove plaque! Then, the air-polishing involves a microjet that shoots water, compressed air and sodium bicarbonate without contact between the instrument and the teeth. This results in a more thorough cleaning in between teeth and in difficult to reach areas, such as fissures, grooves and cusps, places that are often harder to reach through a regular cleaning.      As there is a lot of current research suggesting that bacteria from the mouth, and consequently from trapped food particles, contributes to heart disease, I think it's imperative that people take the condition of their teeth seriously. Brush at least twice a day, avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes, and floss at least once a day before bedtime. It's especially important to clean teeth before you go to bed. Also, if you have a dry mouth, remember to drink lots of water to increase the flow of saliva, which contributes to cavity prevention." Dr. John Ivey is a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist and practices at his offices located in the Beverly Sunset Medical building.