People who have lost some or all of their adult teeth typically look to dentures, or, more recently, dental implants to improve a toothless appearance. Despite being the preferred treatment for missing teeth nowadays, dental implants can fail and .

So thank you Columbia University Medical Center. Why am I thanking CUMC? Because the research they are doing might just help you grow a few  new teeth using your own stem cells.

In simplest terms, the process is like this:

• Insert a special scaffold made of natural materials
• Direct stem cells within the body to the scaffold
• Let the body do needs to for about nine weeks

In an animal study, this recipe has shown success in growing a fully integrated, new, natural tooth in place of a missing tooth. In addition, alveolar bone and periodontal ligaments grew to support the tooth. The only outside substance required for the procedure is the human molar scaffold, made from natural materials.

It almost makes me want to lose a tooth just so I can try growing it back. Almost.

Posted in Dental Implants, Crowns, Headlines

This week's video is on how to find a new dentist if you have relocated by finding people to refer you and doing a little online research.

Hey it's Anastasia with Hump Day Happenings.

The question this week came via social media and Facebook. That question was that someone had relocated to a new town or city and are looking for a new dental practice to make their home. So are there any online resources that they can check out to help them find a new dentist, or do they start asking around and asking people with pretty teeth?

I gotta tell you it's going to be a combination of both. You're gonna do some profiling. First, you are going to find people with teeth, and if they are pretty teeth, definitely find out who they are going to.

Once you find the name, go ahead and Google it. Once you find the website, go ahead and go to it. If it's too cartoony - nope - Next! You want to make sure the website is professional - is there a picture of the doctor? What does their smile look like? Is there a picture of the team? What does their smile look like? Is it warm and inviting for you as a patient? Then check out what their services are - what is their philosophy or vision? Do they accept dental insurance?

I'm not sure if you said you had dental insurance or if it doesn't matter. First off - dental insurance - be grateful that you have it, but don't allow it to dictate the health care that you deserve to have. So what you need to look for are their financial options - generally this should be located on their website. The financial option that I recommend you look for is CareCredit. Hands down, if you find this, you will get the health care you deserve.

I would also check out associations - such as, American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Online resources to check out - just type in a zip code at 1800 Dentist, Find A Dentist, and Doctor Base.

These are great online resources, do I would do a combination of all. Find the people with pretty teeth, check out the website, check out the associations, look for financial options, and look for additional services, because today's dentist and today's dentistry, less is not more. So here's hoping that helps you find a new home for your health.

Till next Wednesday, you what to do - go to HumpDayHappenings.com, ask me an oral health related question, take what you learn, and make a difference with it.

Posted in Braces, Pediatric Dentist, Crowns, Headlines

Stem cell research has been a pretty controversial topic around the world for the last few years. Some love the idea, others find it morally unsound but new research out of Japan is hoping to take the ethical controversy out of stem cell research by using teeth. 

The research, which is from a study led by K. Tezuka from the Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, explains that dental pulp, when taken from extracted teeth, could be a go-to source for stem cells similar to embryonic cells and could have the potential to form different cell types.

The study is published online in the Journal of Dental Research, June 16, 2010.

Tezuka goes on to say that there aren't very many places in the body where these cells can be harvested with a minimally invasive procedure; so of course, knowing that these cells can be taken from extracted teeth is a highly attractive option to explore. Other researchers not involved with this study have said that it is a great hope for advancement in the future but it isn't for everyone. The findings could help find cures for human disease but the answers may be years down the road.

To read more on the research of stem cells from teeth, check out the Journal of Dental Research.

Posted in Dental Implants, Gum Disease, Pediatric Dentist, Crowns, Headlines

Most dentists here in Denver these days will tell you to avoid dental implants by keeping your natural teeth (or as much of your natural teeth, including the tooth roots) for as long as you can. There are conditions and criteria useful in making the decision of when to keep teeth vs when to place dental implants. Some of these factors are:

1) What is the condition of your gums and the bone around the teeth? Whether you wish to keep your existing teeth and have them fixed or get dental implants, you need enough bone to support them. Bone grafting can be done to create new bone in your jaw to support dental implants.

2) How healthy are all your teeth as a whole? For example, if you are considering a set of dental implants to replace a single molar, what is the condition of the teeth around that molar and opposing (touching when you bite) that tooth? If surrounding teeth are also in failing health, it may not be too long after you replace the 'problem' molar that another tooth weakens and begins causing you problems. In some cases, treatment for teeth grinding (bruxism) may help your overall teeth health by evening out and mitigating some of the stress on your teeth, and help you avoid crowns and later implants.

3) Did you put off, skip, defer, or otherwise avoid treatment for this issue before now? Be honest. Why? If it was for financial reasons, dental financing is still available with many dentists that can smooth out some of the expense. If your concern was more around fear or anxiety of having the work done, talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry, which can help many patients 'get over the hump' of going to the dentist when they know a procedure will take place.

4) From a preventative standpoint, are you taking care of yourself and your mouth right now? Are you brushing, flossing, and going to your cleanings? Are you avoiding the sugary foods that cause tooth and gum issues? Are you still smoking? Most of us have at at least one hygiene habit we could get better at, which will only help us keep our teeth (or dental implants) longer.

5) What are your goals and budget? Are you willing to spend more for a longer-term solution now?

6) If you are replacing a single tooth, more and more dentists are advocating for the use of a dental implant instead of a dental bridge ( video ).

Live in south Denver and need dental implants? Consider a specialty practice like Professional Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, located at Havana & Hampden in Denver.

Posted in Dental Implants, Sedation Dentistry, Crowns, Headlines

When traditional approaches to bruxism just aren't enough, what do you do? Until now, that has been the question for dentists all over the world. But over the last year in Europe, the answer seems to have risen. Grindcare, which uses electricity to assist people that suffer with teeth grinding, has been created.

Easy to use and pain free, Grindcare is looking to become a choice method for relief of bruxism. It is being reported that patients using Grindcare are seeing greatly reduced grinding while they sleep. The product has an electrode that is placed on the temple in order to measure and capture temporalis movement while sleeping. If the patient swallows, jaw clenches or makes other significant movements with their face; the machine will record such movements. When Grindcare detects those movements going forward, it will a pulse into the electrode, relaxing the muscle associated with the grinding movements in a pain free fashion, alleviating the need to grind.

During a study conducted to see how well the device works and to evaluate the device's safety, it was tested on as many as fourteen volunteers at the Aalborg University and the University of Aarhus. During the five week study period, the device was turned off and on without the individuals knowing the times that the machine operation was initiated or stopped as they slept. The study showed when the Grindcare device was on; it cut bruxism activity by as much as fifty percent. This reduction reduce wear and tear on your teeth, and avoid dental crowns and dental implants. If you are a chronic grinder or know someone who is, Grindcare is worth taking a look into. Right now, it appears to available only in Europe, but could become available in Denver or the US quickly, like DMG's Icon drillless cavitiy filler did.

Posted in Dental Implants, Gum Disease, Crowns, Headlines