What Does A Dental Laboratory Tech Do?

Dental laboratory technicians are very important members of dental healthcare.  They make the prostheses, the actual replacements, for patients who are missing some or all of their teeth. 

Dental laboratory technicians use impressions, or molds, of a patient’s teeth to create crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental appliances. They work closely with dentists but have limited contact with patients.  In our office in Millburn we are fortunate to work with several talented and proficient laboratory technicians.  We work with labs across the country when the procedure we are providing is done best by a distant lab, however, we also work with several talented local laboratories and we do have the advantage of local dental laboratory technicians visiting our office, when necessary, to provide the best result for our patients.

Dental laboratory technicians work directly with dentists by following detailed written instructions and using impressions (molds)of the patient's teeth or oral soft tissues to create replacements for missing teeth. 

The dental technician is responsible for accurately following the prescription the dentist sends the dental laboratory so that a patient’s teeth can be restored to proper function, comfort, and aesthetics.  The prostheses they make enable people to eat, chew, talk and smile in a manner that is similar to or better than the way they did before.

Dental technicians work with a variety of materials in replacing damaged or missing tooth structure. These include waxes, plastics, precious and non-precious alloys, stainless steel, and a variety of porcelains and composites or polymer glass combinations.

The best way to become a dental technician is to receive formal education. Studying in a Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited program provides education that is based on the latest procedures and techniques. Dental technicians can begin their careers without a college degree; however, continuing education is encouraged. The best dental laboratory technicians have manual dexterity, and accuracy, artistic ability, and attention to minute detail.  The artistry and attention to detail result in the most beautiful smiles for the dental patient. We are proud of our Millburn office's commitment to providing dental care beyond compare and working with dental laboratory technicians who have the same passion.

For information about other dental topics visit www.TavorminaDentistry.com

Does A Great Smile Equal A Great Job?

Many people may consider the cosmetics of their smile to be unimportant compared to their dental health, and we certainly can understand that way of thinking.  However, the appearance of your smile and the health of your smile are usually quite connected.  Life demonstrates that cosmetics are a lot more important than one may think.

Of course, first and foremost, you want to have healthy teeth and gums.  Proper daily dental hygiene of brushing and flossing is the first line of defense against dental problems.  Next, visiting the dentist regularly, according to a health maintenance schedule that is appropriate to your personal dental health needs is necessary.  Once you are on this right track, take the time to look at the appearance of your smile.   What do people really see when you smile?  How does your smile make people feel?  Do you hold back from smiling?

The answers to these questions are really interesting when considering what a potential employer sees or is reacting to.  We all know, even if we don’t consciously think about it, that there are stereotypic impressions made by different kinds of smiles.  Unfortunately the appearance of your teeth can connote stupidity or low socioeconomic status.  It isn’t nice and it isn’t fair, but it is a harsh reality of this world. Research has shown that when people are offered dental care, it increases their chances of employment.  

The most obvious deterrent to an employer hiring you would be missing teeth that can be seen when you speak or smile.  You can understand that especially if your position would involve contact with the public, such jobs are not going to be possibiities for you.  An employer cannot take a chance that your image will translate over to the image of the company.  Especially positions of service such as reception, cashier, sales, would be off the table for you most likely, if you are missing some or all of your front teeth.

Crowding of teeth and a smile with stains or blackened decay pose additional problems.  Bad breath from gum disease and obviously dirty teeth can be a deterrent to employment as well.

There is a terrible vicious cycle happening in our country where many people find themselves unemployed for extended periods of time.  Once dental problems such as those discussed in this post appear, the cycle of unemployment is difficult to break.

Good daily prevention can help prevent this cycle, but sometimes that is not enough without professional dental care.  Whether you are unemployed or have no dental coverage of any kind, remember that visiting the dentist even once a year is not a big expense (payment plans can usually be arranged – especially if you have had a good working relationship with a dentist before you came on hard times).  Staying away from the dentist when resources are low or depleted actually will cost you more in the long run – more time and more money to restore the damage, as well as dfifficulty getting employment.

For information about other dental topics visit www.TavorminaDentistry.com

What Is A Dental Hygienist?

Many people frequently are confused by the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist.  There is a difference.  Each position serves a different function in a dental team.  Being a dental assistant should not be confused with being a dental hygienist.

A dental hygienist is the position of the person, other than the dentist, who you visit to have your teeth cleaned.  A career as a dental hygienist carries its own set of requirements and regulations, including an education of at least two years and as much as six years.  Sometimes people who are interested in dental hygiene will start their careers in dentistry as a dental assistant to gain experience and earn some money before furthering their education.

Along with the dentist, this licensed healthcare professsional provides preventative oral care. Dental hygienists clean patients' teeth and examine them for signs of disease and damage. They teach patients how to maintain good oral health. Their scope of practice—what services they are legally allowed to deliver—differs according to the rules of the state in which they are licensed.

On a typical day in addition to cleaning teeth to remove hard and soft deposits on teeth, the dental hygienist will take and develop x-rays, keep the patient's records in order recording the dental care provided, teach patients how to take care of their teeth, prepare diagnostic tests for the dentist to administer, and apply sealants and fluoride to patients' teeth.

For information about other dental topics visit DrTav.com

What Is A Dental Assistant?

A dental assistant is like the dentist’s nurse.  A dental assistant prepares the treatment room for the patient with all the instruments and supplies necessary for performing the scheduled appointment.  Part of that preparation includes the prior sterilization and organization of instruments and supplies.

Many dental assistants are involved in the monitoring of the office inventory and are responsible for ordering supplies.  Dental assistants may also do some simple clerical duties like answering the phone, scheduling patients, doing transactions, handling insurance, and educating patients.  The degree of a dental assistant’s involvement with these tasks depends on the number of staff in the office.

Once a treatment room is set up for the patient, the patient is greeted by the dental assistant and seated in the dental chair.  A bib is placed on the patient before the doctor and dental assistant proceed to provide a dental service.  It is most important that a dental assistant serve as a compassionate support to the patient and an efficient helper to the dentist. 

Dental assistants need to know dental procedures well and the dentist’s routine so that they can anticipate what the dentist needs as the procedure progresses.  Dental assistants suction water and help keep patients safe during dental procedures.  They prepare cements and medicaments needed for crowns, root canal therapy, and fillings, and mix materials for dental impressions.  They prepare custom trays for impressions and do other labwork that's for providing dental care.

Dental assistants update patient files and paperwork, filling in information in the patient’s chart after dental procedures.  The dental assistant helps the patient feel comfortable throughout the procedure and at completion of the procedure, assisting with the patient rinsing their mouth and being dismissed for any rescheduling and payment.  Dental assistants take and mount x-rays for the dentist to evaluate for diagnosis.

In NJ there are four different levels of dental assisting based on the credentials the dental assistant has earned.  A dental x-ray license is required in NJ in order for a dental assistant to take x-rays.  A high school diploma or GED is all that is usually needed to get started in this career.

At Tavormina Dentistry we are presently looking to hire a dental assistant with a dental license.  Call 973-761-5090 if you are interested in providing dental care beyond compare.

How To Maintain Healthy Teeth

We hope you care about maintaining healthy teeth.  Maintaining healthy teeth is part of maintaining a healthy smile and contributes to your overall health.  There are some simple steps for you to keep in mind.

Toothbrushing is one of the most important aspects of maintaining healthy teeth and gums.  Toothbrushing is responsible for keeping about 20-25% of your mouth clean.  It is important for cleaning the biting surfaces of your teeth, and the cheek side and tongue side of your teeth.  It is best to use a soft bristle toothbrush when brushing.  The most effective method of toothbrushing is called The Modified Bass Brushing Technique.  The toothbrush bristles are vibrated under the gums (there’s a space between the gums and the teeth), and the toothbrush is held at a 45 degree angle.  It is a very effective method for removing plaque and food particles at the gumline.  For people who have problems with dexterity, an electric toothbrush may be more effective.  A good indication that you need a new toothbrush is when the toothbrush bristles bend or every 2-3 months – whichever comes first.  If you use toothpaste, use a pea sized amount, and brush the biting surfaces first to avoid the abrasiveness of the toothpaste being placed at the gumline of the teeth, where the enamel is thinner.

Brushing twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime is suggested.  Three times a day (or after meals would be ideal, but who lives in an ideal world?!).  If you can’t brush after every meal, swish water in your mouth and then spit it out or swallow it after meals.  If you only brush once daily, do it at night before you go to sleep to get the most benefit because it causes much greater damage to go to sleep without brushing because we are not clearing out anything in our mouths while sleeping and food and bacteria left behind are left to do damage totally undisturbed.

Flossing protects the sides of your teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach, and that accounts for the other 75-80% of your mouth that requires cleaning.

The simplicity of maintaining healthy teeth depends on daily brushing and flossing.  The hard part is doing it, so get to work (please)!

For info on other dental topics visit www.TavorminaDentistry.com

Health Benefits To Spicing Things Up

Last week we started a conversation about the health benefits of spices, and today we will continue with more information for you to spice up your health.

Fennel seed is surprisingly effective at relieving indigestion.  Fennel is easy to grow, and it keeps coming back year after year.  It can settle the stomach as well as many over-the- counter products.  Fennel seed relaxes the smooth muscles that line the digestive tract, relieving flatulence, bloating and gas, as well as nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, and abdominal pain.  Store-bought fennel seed also works well.  Fennel seed can be eaten whole (it tastes and smells like anise), or made into a tea by pouring boiling water over it.  Use ½ to 1½ teaspoons per cup.  There is a caution using fennel – because fennel seed can increase estrogen levels, it should be avoided by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding or who have an estrogen-sensitive medical condition, such as estrogen-responsive breast cancer.

Garlic is known for its positive cardiovascular health effects, but did you know that it also boosts immunity, so is helpful in preventing the common cold?  To help cure or prevent a cold, add a clove or two of garlic to all soups, sprinkle garlic powder on toast, and/or mix diced raw garlic with olive oil and vinegar to add to salads or as a bread spread instead of butter. 

Saffron, a spice derived from a small, blue crocus, acts as a potent antidepressant and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for this purpose.  No one is sure how it works, but its active ingredient, corcetin, appears to enhance blood flow to the brain.  Research conducted has shown that 30mg per day of saffron powder (about one-tenth of a teaspoon) relieved mild-to-moderate depression as effectively as standard doses of the antidepressant medications Prozac and Tofranil.  Saffron can be used in herbal tea or chicken paella.

So we’ve seen quite a few spices that when added to our foods can spice up our health and quality of life. 

Remember to visit DrTav.com for useful dental and health information.

Spices With Health Benefits

Did you know that sprinkling cinnamon on your food helps control blood sugar levels and using ginger can ease nausea? There are other less familiar spices that offer health benefits as well. In some cases, spices can be just as helpful as medication for people with certain conditions – and safer.

Oregano helps alleviate osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. This favorite spice for Italian and Greek cooking contains compounds that have many of the same effects as the drug Celebrex. Oregano contains dozens of anti-inflammatory compounds that act as muscle relaxants and pain relievers. Oregano actually protects the heart by helping to prevent blood clots and irregular heart rhythms, unlike Celebrex, which may actually increase heart attack risk in some people. Use oregano liberally on salads, pizza or sauces. It also can be used in mint or spearmint tea.

Calendula, or marigold, contains powerful plant-based carotenoids – particularly lutein and zeaxanthin - that help protect the eyes. In addition to being powerful antioxidants, these compounds absorb damaging blue-light wavelengths from the sun. These compounds have been associated with reduced risk of cataracts. Calendula makes an excellent addition to homemade vegetarian soup.

Onion contains blood-thinning compounds that have a blood pressure-lowering effect. Onion also acts as a natural diuretic, which lowers blood pressure by helping the body excrete excess fluids and salt. The most effective part of the onion is the thin outer skin and fresh onion is more potent than onion powder and cooked onions.

We’ll continue with more information about spices and health next week. In the meantime, feel free to visit us at www.TavorminaDentistry.com