I never believed that an oral appliance could ever reduce the amount of migraines a person had.  I am now a true believer.  I had experienced bad migraines most of my life.  When I would start to get one I knew my day was over.  I would try just about everything to make it just go away.  NOTHING worked!  I would have to take a nap, or more less go to bed for the night.  Having three children and a very busy lifestyle we all know that it is impossible to just go to bed at 3 or 5 in the afternoon because you can’t handle noise, light, or any sort of movement.  The migraines took over my life, in a way that I could not function on a daily basis without anticipating I would soon have one. 

     I started working for Dr. Berard in November of 2008.  Soon after we opened I went through all the new patient exam questions with him and when asked if I had headaches or migraines, I told him I have them all the time, horrible ones, to the point of ruining my plans for the day (sometimes for a couple of days).  He told me we could do some TENSing and run the K-7 (computer jaw tracking system) scans on me to check how my facial and neck muscles are.  I was a little nervous, only because I was unsure of the procedures outcome.  Sooner than later, by choice, I was hooked up to the K-7 for some pre-scans and then TENSed for 1 hour.  After the hour of TENSing, he ran the post tensing scans.  We took a few different impressions of where he wanted my bite to be and that was it.  Dr. Berard sent everything out to the lab for them to create the orthotic, which I was going to have to wear all day except when I ate.  I was ok with it only because Dr. Berard said it could reduce my migraines.  I did believe him, after all, I was up for anything that would take these migraines away!!  

    About three weeks later, my orthotic was here!  Can you imagine how very anxious I was?  SO…..  Dr. Berard TENSed me again for another hour, and tried in the orthotic, which fit perfectly to my teeth, with a little adjusting, and was made of hard acrylic material.  It felt a little strange, but like I said, I was up for anything!!  So I wore the orthotic, which did take a little getting used to, for a week or so.  Dr. Berard then asked how I was doing with it.  I thought about it for a minute and replied, “I haven’t had a migraine or even a slight feeling of a headache this whole week.”  As time has gone on, over 3 years, I have had about a handful of headaches, and who doesn’t?  When you have a stressful day, kids are acting crazy, or just in need of that sugar fix!!!  That is about the only time I get one.

      I am now going to be getting all of my upper teeth restored in porcelain so that I do not have to wear the orthotic anymore, because my new porcelain crowns will put my jaw where it was when wearing the orthotic.  We will open my bite just a couple of millimeters.  Can you imagine that my "bite" is what was causing the horrible migraines?  My bite!  About 80% of the population has a misaligned bite, which may cause a variety of issues.  TMD, Migraines and Headaches, and Muscle tension from clenching and grinding are just a few I want to mention.

 

     I have a great deal of appreciation and respect for what Dr. Berard has done for me and have recommended him to many of my friends and family members, and always will.  He understands Nueromuscular Dentistry in a way that I believe no other Doctor in Traverse City does.  The continuing education he has put himself, and us as team members through, is truly remarkable.  

Denture Care

     Dentures are a vital part of the every day lives of many adults.  Often referred to as false teeth or a plate, dentures help give a more youthful appearance to those who have no teeth and help with speach and chewing food as well.   A complete denture replaces all the teeth on either the top or bottom or both.  A partial denture replaces missing teeth with some teeth remaining in the mouth. 

     Dentures need to be cared for as you should teeth.  They should be rinsed after eating if you are not able to brush them.  Using a soft bristle brush with denture cleaner will help preserve the denture and keep it in the best condition possible.  You may use a mild hand or dish soap to clean your denture, however, avoid using toothpaste and other household cleansers as they may be too abrasive.  This can cause small scratches in the tooth or acrylic material allowing bacteria to become trapped.

     Many people choose to wear their denture or partial all day and then take them out at bed time.  That is a good idea as it gives the tissue inside of the mouth a chance to "breathe".  Continue to brush the gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every day with a soft bristled brush and a mild toothpaste if you wish.  When you remove the denture make sure that you store it in a container with water to avoid drying the denture out.  Also remember that dogs love to chew on dentures so if you live with a Rex, Rover or Fido make sure that you are storing it up out of their reach as well.   

     Many people with dentures are under the false impression that once they have dentures there is no need to return to the dentist, however, it should still be a very important part of your life. Your jaw bones and gums can shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing.  You should plan on having your dentures and oral tissues evaluated once a year and your dentist should do an oral cancer screening, checking the mouth for sores and bumps that should not be there.  This yearly exam will let us know when relining or rebasing your denture is necessary.  Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease.  Even dentures that "fit" comfortably need to be evaluated and replaced, usually after 5-10 years.                                              Smiles, Holly


  

Suffering from a Cracked Tooth?

You may have a very common problem in your mouth!

Teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods or ice or by biting on an unexpected hard object.  Teeth with or without restorations may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with typical "silver" alloy restorations are the most susceptible.

Symptoms and Signs of Cracked-Tooth Syndrome may include the following:

• PAIN ON CHEWING
• PAIN ON COLD AIR APPLICATION
• UNSOLICITED PAIN ( USUALLY LEAKAGE OF SUGAR INTO TOOTH CRACK)
• NO X-RAY EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM
• EASY VERIFICATION OF CRACK WHEN TOOTH IS PREPARED FOR RESTORATION

Treatment of Cracked Teeth:

1.  Simple Crack:  The majority of cracked teeth (about 9 out of 10) can be treated by placement of a simple crown (cap) on the tooth.  When the tooth is prepared for the crown and a temporary restoration is placed your symptoms usually leave immediately.  If this is the case with your tooth we will place the final crown at your next appointment. 

2.  Complex Crack:  Occasionally, (about 1 out of 10) the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth.  If the pain persists after placement of the temporary crown, you may have a crack into the nerve of the affected tooth.  This tooth may then require root canal therapy before the final crown is placed.  On occassion a tooth may crack or fracture to the point where it is no longer able to be saved and will have to be removed.  That is why it is so important to see the dentist on a regular basis. 

Please be sure to visit us if you are showing any of the above listed symptons.

MI Paste is HERE!

We are so excited to tell you about MI Paste

 and MI Paste PlusTM.! 

This special tooth "conditioner" is a blend of calcium and phosphate that restores teeth suffering from acid erosion.  MI Paste can be applied in the office or at home.  There are many benefits to using MI paste including preventing and reversing white spots (often from ortho), reducing tooth erosion, and relieving dry mouth.  Many people use MI Paste to relieve tooth sensitivity caused by exposed roots , tooth whitening and cavities. 

Hundreds of Medications that we take every day have a listed side effect of "dry mouth".

 MI Paste helps relieve dry mouth by restoring a "normal feeling" of saliva to the teeth and gums. 

If you are taking drugs to treat cancer or are receiving chemotherapy or head and neck radiation, you may be suffering from dry mouth.  In addition, nausea associated with chemotherapy can result in stomach acid being present in the mouth.  This can lead to dental erosion and decay. 

Talk with any one of our ENVISION Dental Team members about how you can start protecting and healing your teeth.

No more flossing excuses!

There are many excuses I've heard over the years why people do not floss.  All of which are not hurting anyone but the individual giving the excuse.  The bottom line is if you do not floss on a regular basis (at least every 24 hours) you leave food debris and bacteria in between your teeth that your toothbrush can't reach.  Would you leave food out on your kitchen counter for a couple of days and then pack your lunch?  Yikes!  The reality is bacteria are living, breathing and moving organisms around your teeth. Flossing breaks up this pesty party going on in your mouth. So, all the talk you hear at your dental appointment about the importance of flossing is to give you the inside scoop we already know. Maintain a healthy diet, good overall health, regular dental visits, and toothbrushing and flossing after meals will give you the confidence you need for your next dental appointment. No excuses!    -Lynne.

Nutrition and your Dental Health

While most of us know that what we eat has an effect on our body, not everyone realizes that food and drink also have a MAJOR effect on our teeth and oral health and especially on the development of tooth decay.  This means that many of the things we eat are actually causing us to get cavities, but it also means that there are plenty of foods out there that actually help make teeth stronger and less prone to developing decay.

Take for example the loving mom who wants to encourage the little ones to have a healthy snack.  She offers some dried fruit, maybe in the form of raisins, pineapple or cherries.  While these do have health benefits they are also sticky foods that become lodged in the grooves of the teeth.  The sugars contained in these foods keep acid production going and if repeated regularly can lead to tooth decay.  Another common snack food for toddlers and young children are gummie snacks or fruit snacks.  Because these are sticky they are also very common culprits for causing tooth decay.

Carbohydrates are also converted to sugars as they sit in the grooves of teeth and in between teeth causing the teeth to become vulnerable to attack by acids.  Common snacks like crackers and cereal need to be followed by flossing and brushing to help prevent cavities from forming.  We have to be aware of how long we are leaving residue from foods on our teeth and allowing decay causing bacteria to attack the teeth.  It is a good idea to limit the eating of sugar containing food items to mealtimes only.  The flow of saliva is increased at mealtimes and helps to neutralize acids more quickly.  Saliva circulates in the mouth and is normally capable of "rinsing" acids from the teeth.

Juice, soda and the ever popular sports drinks are some of the most common causes of decay in teens and young adults alike.  These drinks are high in sugar content and/or acid content and are commonly sipped all day long.  Sipping these drinks throughout the day does not allow the body to naturally protect itself by removing the acid from the teeth with saliva.  The saliva is constantly being replaced with the sports drink soda or juice leaving the teeth vulnerable.  These drinks are best to be consumed with a meal or in a short time frame so that the saliva can protect the teeth as intended.  It helps to follow these drinks with a swish of water to rinse some of the acid from your teeth. 

We also need to use some caution in daily consumption of acidic fruits like grapefruit, lemons and limes.  These foods can cause erosion of tooth enamel when consumed on a regular basis.  Avoid sucking on lemon and lime slices as they have a very high acid content.

So you're probably beginning to wonder what in the world you can eat that is not going to be harmful to the teeth and I do have some answers for that!  Foods that are rich in Vitamins A, C and D are vital to healthy teeth and gums.  Vitamin A has been linked to the healthy formation of teeth and skin.  It also contains antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals which cause disease.  Vitamin D forms after being exposed to sunshine and is found in food sources as well.  It promotes calcium absorption which is essential for strong teeth and bones.  Vitamin C promotes healthy teeth and gums, boosts the immune system and is also an antioxidant. 

Take a look at the list of Vitamin rich foods below and keep in mind that what we eat DOES affect you and your health.

The BEST foods for healthy teeth are cheeses, chicken, nuts and milk!!!  And WATER, WATER, WATER.

Vitamin A Foods *  Liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, mango, spinach, cantaloupe, mozzarella cheese, egg yolks and milk.

 Vitamin C Foods * Red and green hot chili peppers, guava, bell peppers, herbs like thyme and parsley, dark leafy greens like kale, mustard and garden cress, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kiwi fruit, papaya, oranges, clementines/tangerines and strawberries.

Vitamin D Foods (Fat Soluable - needs to be eaten with fats to absorb) * Cod liver oil, Fish with raw Atlantic Herring providing the most vitamin D, fortified cereals, oysters, cavier, fortified tofu and soy milk, salami, ham and sausages, fortified dairy, eggs and mushrooms.

Healthy Gums, Healthy You!

     Gingivitis begins 48 hours after you brush.  If you do not remove all of the plaque and food debris from your teeth bacteria begins a destructive path in you gums.
    
You body's immune system, fighting with the bacteria in your gums, starts to destroy the support system of your teeth.  Your teeth are supported in your mouth by bone and connective tissue.  The connective tissue will deteriorate first, then the bone with start to deteriorate until the teeth become loose and have to be taken out.  This process is called periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease not only causes tooth loss but also increases the risk for heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, endocarditis, upper respiratory infections, and contributes to decreased kidney function. 

    Your Dentist and Hygienist can keep you informed of any signs or symptoms you may have so that you can receive the proper treatment.  Preventative dental care and avoiding smoking are the best ways to keep from getting this serious disease.

Your Hygienist,  Lynne