Dentists are cool! Really!

With so many clients working in entertainment, it's hard for us Hamlin Dental folks not to think about our portrayal onscreen. Turn on the TV on any given night and you'll like see movies or televisions shows about the lives of doctors in Boston, New York, or some other major urban center. But we never expect to see a TV show focusing on the glamorous doings of a dentist in Northridge.

Sure, there have been dentists on TV, but not too many. There was the enthusiastic Jerry Robinson on the 1970's classic sitcom, "The Bob Newhart Show." And who can't love Hermey, the misfit elf and aspiring dentist who befriended "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer"? A really good early episode of the outstanding FX series "Justified" featured an idealistic dentist and a former organized crime accountant who was inspired to change careers by, wouldn't you know it, Hermey.

Still, while every TV and screenplay writer might visit his or her dentist in North Hollywood, for the most part they never seem to think of us as a proper topic for an exciting and romantic TV show. While we understand that the life of a dentist in Van Nuys might not exactly be the life of a James Bond or a Sherlock Holmes, we also understand that the lives of real life spies and private detectives as actually quite undramatic for the most part, too. And, if doctors can inspire a million TV shows, can't the people who care for the health of the mouth get at least one?

Will a TV show about dentists with exciting personal lives ever make prime time? Who knows but, in the meantime, we'll always have Hermey.

Individualized Dental Care? Sounds Good to Us!

Well, this is interesting. At Hamlin Dental Group, it should come as no surprise that we love a big bright smile. After all, we're the dentist in Van Nuys that our people of all ages trust for a warm, gentle dental experience with from skilled and knowledgeable professionals. However, as much as we love to see the sparkling smiles of our patients, we enjoy a good smile ourselves as well!

That's why we were particularly happy to read a story this morning from CBS News.com about a new study that will help dentists to treat patients at a more individual, personalized level. From looking over a pool of over 5,000 patients for 16 years, researchers have found some interesting results regarding dental health.

For over 50 years, the dental community has prescribed all individuals visit the dentist twice a year to ensure their teeth remain healthy. The study found that for individuals suffering from gum disease, tooth loss, or mutations in their IL-1 gene, twice a year may not be quite enough, while for others, two trips may not always be entirely necessary.

"We think that now with this new information, we're able to treat patients at the individual level...instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment," says Dr. William Giannobile, study leader and chair of the department of periodontics and oral medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.  

For now, we definitely recommend our patients still visit our friendly dentist in North Hollywood, Van Nuys and Northridge at least twice a year. However, in the future, we may be able to offer even more individualized care than we do already - and that's something to smile about!

Don't Do Drugs - or Sugary Soda, for that Matter

 

At Hamlin Dental Group, we couldn't be more proud of our reputation for warm, friendly and experienced dentistry in Southern California. In fact, as the dentist in North Hollywood trusted by people of all ages, we are constantly working to ensure each patient receives the top-quality care they've come to expect from us. That drive, coupled with our natural interest in all things related to dentistry has inspired us to regularly keep up to date on the latest trends and scientific advances in the field, occasionally leading us to fascinating new stories related to the field.

One recent article to capture our attention was found at the site Medical News Today, titled "Similar Damage Caused to Teeth by Soda and Illegal Drugs". For some time, we've been well aware of the harmful effects of sugary sodas on teeth, but this study was still a wake up call for us. A case study published in a recent issue of General Dentistry found that drinking large quantities of carbonated soda could be as damaging to your teeth as methamphetamine and crack cocaine usage.   

In the study, an admitted user of methamphetamine, a previous longtime user of cocaine and an excessive diet soda drinker were studied. Researchers found the same severity of tooth erosion in each participant's mouth. The process of tooth erosion occurs when acid wears away tooth enamel, the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth. Without this protection, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked and discolored.

It should go without saying that we also recommend our patients avoid cocaine and methamphetamine use, but as the favored dentist in Van Nuys of individuals of all ages, we advise our patients to minimize their intake of soda in favor of water, as well. If you absolutely must have a soda, try to rinse the mouth with water following the consumption of soda, or chew sugar-free gum, both of which will increase the flow of saliva.

Expert Panel Recommends Primary Care Physicians Play a Role in Kids' Dental Health

At Hamlin Dental Group we like to use our blog to have fun at times - I suppose we wouldn't be the dentist in Northridge that is most trusted for our warmth and friendliness if we didn't enjoy a chuckle and a smile every so often! However, there are some issues that we can't help but be serious about, and one is the dental health of our children.

Like almost everyone, we too can get lost in internet browsing from now and then. On occasion, though, we'll come across some truly useful information, which is precisely what happened when we found a recent article on medicalxpress.com. The title of the article, "Primary care docs should play role in kids' dental health, experts say", pretty much says it all.

According to the article, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent expert panel, advises that primary care physicians use fluoride varnish and oral fluoride supplements to help prevent early tooth decay in children. "Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in American children, but only about one out of four children under 6 years old visit a dentist," says Dr. Virginia Moyer, the task force chair.

However, there is some good news. Says Dr. Moyer, "Fortunately, evidence shows that primary care clinicians can play an important role in helping to reduce tooth decay, substantially improving children's health." As the most trusted dentist in Van Nuys and throughout the San Fernando Valley, that has certainly been our experience as well.

In the fight against tooth decay, raising awareness is always commendable, so we appreciate the work of Dr. Moyers and her team! Remember to combat tooth decay by making regular appointments at Hamlin Dental!

Alcohol's Effects on Dental Health

As a local neighborhood dentist in Northridge, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood, the Hamlin Dental Group staff fields a lot of questions about candy and sugary food's effect on the health of our patients' teeth. However, we don't frequently hear about the role alcohol has to play on our teeth.

One of alcohol's biggest detrimental effects on our teeth is the fact that it decreases the amount of saliva present in our mouth. Saliva helps fight bacteria in the mouth, keeping bad bacteria at bay. Chewing gum and drinking/rinsing your mouth out with water between and after drinks can improve saliva flow in your mouth, minimizing the effects of alcohol.

There are other issues at play when it comes to alcohol and teeth. Mixers, beer, and wine that are high in acidity can wear down enamel, of course. Many also tend to betray their nightly brushing and flossing when coming home after a night out. We, as your dentist in North Hollywood and around Los Angeles, want to make a plea to remember to brush your teeth even after a night of fun!

As with most of life's indulgences, amazing dental health can still be maintained through a bit of moderation and regular dental check-ups. Come visit Hamlin Dental Group for a dentist in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, or Northridge that can help guarantee pristine dental hygiene.

Irreplaceable?

You should definitely continue to believe your dentist when he or she warns you that your teeth, once lost, are never coming back. Even here at Hamlin Dental Group a lost natural tooth will remain forever lost and replaceable only with implants or dentures. However, in the future, at least, that may not always be the case thanks to some very interesting potential new technology.

It's not like the possibility of growing new teeth later in life is necessarily completely brand new. It's a bit creepy and we can't be sure of the veracity of the news story. However, a couple of very old men in Vietnam have allegedly grown what sounds like late-life baby teeth. While that's not the kind of story a dentist in Van Nuys hears every day, it's also by its nature the flukiest of flukes.

On the other hand, a study that was published in the Journal of Dental Research and was then was then picked up earlier this spring in Science World Daily indicates that new teeth, biologically engineered from stem cells in the gums, might someday be able to regrow teeth, with far better results than modern day dental implants. This might also sound a bit creepy, the still very preliminary advances we have come from combining human and mouse cells together to create hybrid teeth that could be prototypes for the ability of a dentist in Northridge or anywhere else being able to simply grow a new tooth in your mouth when the old one is lost.

Pretty interesting but, like we said, it's a little bit of a ways off -- and even then, you'll still want to take good care of  your teeth. This procedure is likely to be time consuming and expensive. Possibly also a bit controversial. So, if you haven't visited our offices yet, it's a great time to schedule a consultation and remember to brush, floss, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash regularly. Losing even a single tooth is never going to be a good thing.