Public release date: 25-Nov-2008
Contact: Stefanie Schroeder
media@agd.org
312-440-4346
Academy of General Dentistry

CHICAGO (November 25, 2008) – Today, the average size soft drink is 20 ounces and contains 17 teaspoons of sugar. More startling is that some citric acids found in fruit drinks are more erosive than hydrochloric or sulfuric acid—which is also known as battery acid. These refined sugars and acids found in soda and citrus juice promote tooth erosion, which wears away the hard part of the teeth, or the enamel. Once tooth enamel is lost, it’s gone forever. There is a beverage that does not produce such irreversible results. When deciding between the many options available, the best thing to drink is brewed tea, according to a study in the July/August issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Apart from tasting good, brewed tea has many health benefits. Tea is loaded with natural antioxidants, which are thought to decrease incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, BDS, MSc, PhD, the lead author of the study, compared green and black tea to soda and orange juice in terms of their short- and long-term erosive effect on human teeth. The study found that the erosive effect of tea was similar to that of water, which has no erosive effect. And, when comparing green versus black, he discovered that there is a better option among those as well.

Dr. Bassiouny says that “when we look at tea and read about the benefits, it’s amazing—not because green tea is ‘the in thing’—but because there are advantages.” He adds that much research done overseas, in countries such as Japan and Europe, found that green tea was identified to being superior over black due to its natural flavonoids (plant nutrients) and antioxidants.

But, if you do drink tea, experts suggest avoiding additives such as milk, lemon, or sugar because they combine with tea’s natural flavonoids and decrease the benefits. In addition, stay away from prepackaged iced teas because they contain citric acid and high amounts of sugars. It does not matter whether the tea is warm or cold—as long as it is home brewed without additives.

Kenton Ross, DMD, FAGD, AGD spokesperson, sees patients’ erosion problems on a daily basis in his practice. “Severe cases of erosion occur monthly and are frequently associated with high rates of soft drink consumption,” he says. “This study clearly shows that brewed teas resulted in dramatically less enamel loss than soft drinks and acidic juices,” says Dr. Ross. “I would highly recommend patients choose tea as an alternative to more erosive drinks like soda and fruit juice.”

Tips to decrease erosion:

• Reduce or eliminate carbonated beverages. Instead, drink water, milk, or tea
• Skip the additives such as sugar, lemon, and milk
• Drink acidic drinks quickly and through a straw
• Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow in your mouth
• Rinse with water to neutralize the acids, and wait an hour before brushing

The AGD is a professional association of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD has grown to become the world’s second largest dental association, which is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists.

More than 786,000 persons are employed directly in the field of general dentistry. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patients’ oral health needs.

SOURCE:eurekalert.org

*This article was posted for informational purposes only and not to be construed as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or healthcare regime.

School of Dentistry offers accelerated orthodontics

By David Peregrino

Researchers at the USC School of Dentistry say they have improved upon a surgical procedure that rapidly straightens teeth, delivering a healthy bite and attractive smile in months instead of years.

Led by Hessam Nowzari, director of the USC Advanced Education in Periodontology program, the researchers have published the first case study of the successful use of a patient’s own bone material for the grafting necessary in the accelerated orthodontic surgical procedure. The report appears in the May 2008 issue of the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry.

Accelerated orthodontics is gaining popularity as a way for patients, particularly adults with mature bones, to speed up the time it takes to straighten misaligned bites and fix crowded teeth. Noted periodontist Tom Wilcko, who developed the procedure at his Erie, PA practice, offers courses in the procedure, trademarked as “Wilckodontics.”

For this case study, the USC dentists used periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics. With this technique, a periodontist or oral surgeon uses special instruments to score the bone that holds the teeth in place and then applies bone graft material over the grooves. The procedure is done under local anesthetic in the dental office.

Afterwards, as the bone begins to heal, it softens slightly, allowing teeth to be moved into alignment with dental braces in a matter of months, rather than the years required with traditional orthodontics. The cost for accelerated orthodontics typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the course of treatment.

Prior to the USC study, the bone graft material used for this procedure was bovine bone and bioactive glass particles to help the bone strengthen as it healed.

Nowzari said that his team believed they could improve the technique by using the patient’s own bone.

“Given a choice for grafts, nothing is better than a patient’s own tissue,” Nowzari explains. “It encourages new, healthy bone formation in the grafted area. It’s very safe and eliminates the risk of any disease transmission.”

Nowzari said that surgery to accelerate the movement of teeth is not new—dentists have been attempting it since the 1800s. But techniques and the science behind the surgeries have improved in recent years and are being investigated.

“We’re continuing to investigate the technique with other patients as part of our advanced periodontics program curriculum,” Nowzari said.

SOURCE:University of Southern California

*This article was posted for informational purposes only and not to be construed as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or healthcare regime.