Listen to Dr. Sarah Roberts discuss Anti-Aging for Your Teeth.

Dr. Sarah Roberts recently made a guest appearance on the radio talk show Super Human Radio.  You can listen to Dr. Roberts discuss Anti-Aging for Your Teeth here.  In addition, here are a few interesting takeaways from the show, for those interested in truly understanding how to keep their smiles – and themselves – as young and healthy as possible.

1. First, the best way to maintain a youthful smile is PREVENTION.

2. Eat healthy foods.  People who eat too much junk food or are diabetic have more sugar in their blood.  Since this blood, minus the red cells, surrounds your teeth and gums, sugary blood can cause bacteria to grow and decay to occur.  Thus, teeth can rot or become discolored.  The connection between eating healthy, non-sugary foods and healthy smiles is clear.

3. Brush your teeth 2-3 times per day for about 2 minutes each time.  Use a soft toothbrush, angled at 45 degrees.  An excellent option for brushing is the Sonicare toothbrush.  Sonicare works well because it has a sonic vibration that loosens debris you can’t see.

4. If you absolutely cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chew gum.  After a meal, the pH levels in your mouth are more acidic, which can cause decay.  Chewing gum balances the pH in your mouth.

5. If your smile already shows signs of aging, you have many cosmetic options to improve the look and health of your smile, including whitening, orthodontics and procedures to lengthen teeth that have been ground down due to stress (many people actually grind their teeth while they exercise or sleep – which ages your smile).

6. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum line to make it smooth and even, which is a crucial aspect of a beautiful smile.

7. If you chose at-home whitening, make sure you chose a name brand.  Whereas many off-brands have compromised the integrity of their product, name brands put a lot of effort into managing the pH of their product.  This ensures their products are safe for tooth enamel.

8. Whatever your smile situation, there is usually a cosmetic solution.  Remember, cosmetic dentistry is not simply about aesthetics; it is also about health.  Beautiful smiles are healthy smiles.

Q&A: Why do silver fillings fall out?

The average amalgam or silver filling lasts about 10 years according to research studies.  Although I have seen amalgam (silver) fillings lasts up to 25 years in practice.  The amalgam filling material is not bonded to the tooth.  The amalgam filling is closely adapted to the walls of the remaining tooth structure but leaves microscopic gaps.  As the amalgam filling corrodes around the edges, decay may develop in these areas.

In addition to the amalgam filling corroding, it may also expand as it ages causing further breakdown of your tooth with cracks. Some cracks can be minor but others can destroy the tooth and result in tooth loss.

It is your dentist’s responsibility to check your teeth and let you know when any restorations need replacement.

Dr. Roberts Receives Dental Advanced Life Support Certification

"Dr. Roberts, a dentist who practices in Alpharetta, has recently completed an advanced training program that allows her to treat even more patients while they are safely sedated.  "Dental Advanced Life Support (ACLS for Dentists)" is sponsored by DOCS Education and represents the same training that doctors, nurses and paramedics receive.

'We're proud to offer sedation dentistry, allowing more people to obtain care while they are comfortable and relaxed,' says Dr. Roberts.

For many Americans going to the dentist is a frightful event, even though dental techniques have evolved greatly in recent years.  And estimated 145 million people avoid dental care out of fear, compromising their oral health as a result.

Dr. Roberts adds, 'I have always been very sensitive to my apprehensive patients, and now I can offer them a safe and more relaxed experience. I'm looking forward to increasing the number of people I can help.'

Dr. Roberts is a member of DOCS Education, the fastest growing dental organization of its kind.  The purpose of DOCS Education is to provide dentists with the continuing education necessary for improving patients' lives through better dental health.

'Dentistry is very high-tech today with all sorts of gadgets that get the job done better and in a more timely manner.  With sedation dentistry I can bridge the gap between technology and comfort,' says Dr. Roberts.

Contact Dr. Roberts with any questions regarding sedation dentistry, or visit DOCSeduction.com."

Fluoride. Is it safe? Should I use it? How much?

There’s been plenty of talk around fluoride lately, between the EPA’s recent lowering of fluoride limits in water and claims that too much fluoride can cause spots on children’s teeth.

Here’s the deal.

The condition some children develop, in which spots appear on their teeth, most likely comes from when a child continuously swallows toothpaste.  The condition is very rare, is not harmful, and is usually only visible to dentists.  In most cases, a non-dentist wouldn’t be able to see the spots.

The pros far outweigh the cons.

The American Dental Association states that water fluoridation “has dramatically improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans,” and is “the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay.”

In a recently released study by the ADC, scientists concluded that fluoride gel or varnish, when applied at least every six months for 4 minutes or more, is effective in preventing tooth decay and cavities in school-aged children.  Further, the ADC recommends fluoride supplements for children with a high risk of tooth decay, who do not have adequate access to water with fluoride.  Another recent study concluded that infant formulas reconstituted with fluoridated drinking water were okay, with some exceptions (please talk to your dentist for guidance).

So as with anything, you can have too much of a good thing, but fluoridated drinking water, fluoride toothpaste, and professional fluoride treatments are all excellent means of preventing tooth decay and cavities in children, which means healthier teeth and gums as adults.

Why Preventative Dentistry is So Important

Today, there’s a trend towards prevention in all aspects of the healthcare industry.  Though drugs are important and often quite necessary, prevention is better if at all possible.  Rather than have open heart surgery, one might prefer to cut down on saturated fats, for example, in order to save quality of life, lifespan, and a great deal of money.

Likewise, preventative dental care is crucial to maintaining strong, healthy teeth that last you a lifetime.  Keeping your original teeth in great working order is certainly preferable to costly surgery, drugs, dentures, or implants – though again, these things are sometimes necessary, and can be very effective.

If you don’t take care of your teeth, you should know that poor oral health is linked to diabetes, stroke, low-birth weight or premature birth, and heart and lung disease.

So how do you ensure your teeth will be around as long as you?  We’ve mentioned these three things before, but they bear repeating.

1. Floss and brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.

2. Limit your snacking – particularly on sugary items.

3. Visit your dentist regularly.

If you consistently abide by these three rules of oral care, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy white smile.

How Often Should I Go to the Dentist… and Why?

First of all, no two people, and no two patients, are the same.  So the frequency with which you’ll want to see the dentist varies, depending on your health, age, and other factors.  But the American Dental Association recommends the average person with healthy teeth visit his or her dentist once every six months.

Here are a few factors to consider, though.

First, it is crucial that children see the dentist no less frequently than twice a year.  Children’s teeth are still growing, and they are losing baby teeth.  Your dentist needs to access whether your child’s teeth are growing properly and if your child will need braces.  It is also important to create good dental hygiene habits in children early on, and bi-yearly visits to the dentist instill an important routine in children’s minds, as well as educate them on proper brushing and flossing techniques that will benefit them over their lifetime.

Second, a cleaning at the dentist is very different from what you can do at home.  What you get at the dental office is a deep cleaning, to remove plaque and tarter you can’t remove with regular tooth brushing.  You also receive a full dental exam that can include x-rays to check for abnormalities, cavity detection before small problems turn into bigger ones, and a check for signs of gum disease, decay or oral cancer.

Third, depending on how consistent and thorough you are with your dental hygiene, you may need to see the dentist more than twice a year.

My advice is to ask your dentist how often he or she recommends you – specifically you – visit the dentist.  You may get away with less frequent visits, or you may need more frequent visits.  Even if your insurance does not cover more than two visits per year, if you are an at-risk patient, you will save money in the long run by paying the minimal fees for the proper amount of checkups needed to keep your mouth – and yourself – healthy.

Are You A Candidate for a Smile Makeover?

Happiness is the best facelift. –Joni Mitchell

Your smile is so important.  Smiling and laughing are keys to more than just looking more attractive – though people who smile often are perceived as more attractive than people who do not smile as often.  The act of smiling and laughing is actually proven to reduce stress and release tension.  So smiling is important for your entire well-being.

However, some of us do not smile as often as we would like, because we’re concerned about our smiles.  If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may be a candidate for a Smile Makeover.

• Do you not smile as often as you would like because you don’t feel confident about your teeth?
• Do you feel your smile holds you back in your professional or personal life?
• Do you feel your teeth are too long, too short, too wide, or too narrow?
• Do you feel your teeth aren’t white enough?
• Do you have noticeable gaps between your teeth?
• Are any of your teeth chipped or broken?
• Do you have difficulty flossing due to crowded teeth?
• Do you feel your gums show too much when you smile?

If any of these questions apply to you, a Smile Makeover could drastically improve your self-esteem, confidence, health and appearance.