Has drinking that coffee become torture? Eating ice cream become agony? Does eating citrus fruit cause too much pain to bother? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not alone. With an estimated one in eight adults suffering from the painful condition known as sensitive teeth, chances are even if you aren’t, someone you know is. But what causes sensitive teeth - and what can you do to correct it? If you or a loved one are one of the nearly 40 million Americans who experience pain and sensitivity while eating, keep reading. What Causes Sensitive Teeth? There is no one cause of sensitive teeth. Many factors can contribute to sensitivity, or just one. It can be caused by everything from consuming highly acidic foods like citrus and soda, to brushing too roughly or with too hard a toothbrush bristle. On the more serious end, sensitive teeth can be caused by teeth grinding, gum disease, receding gums, enamel wear, fractured teeth, cavities and exposed dentin on the teeth. All these issues can make it easier for hot, cold and acidic foods to reach the nerves of the tooth, causing the pain and sensitivity we feel when we consume them. Can I Fix Tooth Sensitivity Myself? If you are experiencing sensitivity while consuming certain foods – or even when your teeth are exposed to cold air - there are treatment options available. We recommend you first examine your diet. Are you eating a diet that is high in acidic foods or citrus? Try cutting back on or eliminating those foods from your diet and see if the sensitivity wanes. The next step you should try is switching to sensitive toothpaste. Sensitive toothpaste can actually fill in some of the microscopic canals in your teeth that lead to the nerves, preventing them from exposure to whatever is causing the sensitivity in the first place. If sensitive toothpaste is still not enough, schedule an appointment with Dr. George for an exam. At the Dentist If you are unable to resolve your tooth sensitivity at home, it's time for a visit to Dr. George. There your teeth will be evaluated, and several options may be discussed depending on the reason your teeth are sensitive. For receding gums, a gum-grafting procedure may be recommended, or for teeth with exposed dentin, inlays, onlays or crowns may be applied. You may also require a root canal or filling, or it could be as simple of a fix as applying a sealant to the teeth. If you have any questions or concerns about your tooth sensitivity, please contact Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

You’re probably used to hearing about all the things that are bad for your teeth these days. Soda, candy, highly acidic foods - if it tastes good, chances are it's bad for you, right? Well, if you thought you had to give up all your favorite foods to save your teeth, we have some great news. Some of the foods we love the most aren’t just "not bad" for your teeth - some of them are actually good for your teeth. If you’re looking for ways to snack smarter but still enjoy your food, these oral health-friendly foods may just put a smile on your face! Say Cheese! A recent study in General Dentistry magazine claims that while all dairy benefits your teeth thanks to the calcium it contains, cheese is especially good at neutralizing plaque acids in the mouth. While it's not clear why cheese specifically does such a great job at this (other dairy products did not change the plaque pH significantly enough), researchers hypothesize it could be a combination of the calcium and the need to chew cheese to digest it - something that is not necessary for the other foods in the study. Wine Wine and cheese go together like, well, wine and cheese. If you were worried your favorite glass of red was bad for your teeth due to the acidity, here’s more good news. Red wine contains an amino acid called polyphenols, which have been clinically proven to ward off oral bacteria. So next time you have that slice of oral health-friendly cheese, why not enjoy it with a nice glass of wine? Almonds Almonds are low in sugar but packed with protein and calcium - and they’re filling, too, so just a handful can give you the energy you need to get through that mid-afternoon slump. But they’re also great for your teeth, so next time you’re craving something crunchy, swap the chips for a handful of delicious almonds. Fruits and Vegetables Fruits and vegetables have a variety of benefits for your oral health. While some are packed with fiber (which scrubs your teeth while you chew) others have calcium, which helps strengthen tooth enamel. Others like citrus fruits can be harmful to the teeth if the teeth are not properly cared for, but citrus is still packed with vitamins and does your body good. There’s really no fruit or veggie that doesn’t benefit your oral or overall health in some way, so nosh away without the guilt! Coffee While many people automatically think "coffee stains" when they think of coffee’s effect on the mouth, believe it or not, coffee is great for your teeth. When consumed with sugar substitute or no sugar at all, coffee has the ability to neutralize some plaque acids in the mouth, as do certain teas, such as green tea. To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 970-812-0355.

Great news for lovers of red wine! The adult beverage has been found to have many health benefits over the years, including lowering blood pressure; protecting the brain from brain damage after stroke; preventing a condition called angiogenesis, which causes an overgrowth of blood vessels in the eye that can lead to blindness; preventing colon cancer; and even preventing breast cancer - just to name a few. So, what’s the key to all these benefits? The answer is a group of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. "There are over 500 different types of polyphenols, all of which are naturally occurring in plants. In the case of red wine, the polyphenols are found in the skin and seeds of the grapes," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. Polyphenols have four classes: flavonoids, lignans, stilbenes and phenolic acid. Though research has not yet been conclusive, it is believed that polyphenols may affect gene expression, and our genes may affect how our bodies handle polyphenols. For example, some studies have found that polyphenols can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Another study found that the higher the flavonoid levels in a person, the lower their risk of obesity! But now, a new study is touting another benefit of polyphenols - specifically the polyphenols you consume when drinking red wine - and this time it could benefit your teeth! The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and comes from the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid. In this particular study, researchers took a closer look at how polyphenols called P-coumaric acid and caffeic affected the oral biome. In the study, P-coumaric acid and caffeic (which notably are also found in cranberry juice and coffee) helped prevent harmful plaque and bacteria from sticking to the teeth and gums. "The P-coumaric acid and caffeic acted almost as a shield against plaque," says George. "But they were found to be even more powerful when combined with streptococcus dentisani bacteria, which is a powerful probiotic." Great news, right? A little swish of red wine and you don’t need to brush tonight, right? Well, not exactly, says George. "Unfortunately, in order for that to work, the scientists in the study say you’d have to swish with red wine for about 47 hours," George says. "But the good news is that if scientists can derive some of those helpful polyphenols from red wine, they could someday make a really amazing toothpaste." In the meantime, keep indulging in that occasional glass of red wine without feeling guilty, George says. "Between what we do know about the health benefits of polyphenols and the emerging research about what we don’t yet know, in some small way or another, that glass of red wine is doing your body good!"

The data are in and it doesn’t look good: Skin cancer rates are on the incline. In fact, here in the United States, non-melanoma skin cancer rates skyrocketed by 77 percent from 1994 to 2014. Experts estimate that trend will continue, increasing 7.7 percent this year alone. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and can occur anywhere on the body - the arms, back, feet, legs, scalp and even the lips. But despite how common skin cancer is, and despite the illness having a good survival rate, many people aren’t aware of how dangerous it can be. Dr. Alexandra George is a dentist in Wexford, Pennsylvania. She says one of the dangers of skin cancer that many don’t realize is that skin cancer can easily spread. "Skin cancer on the face or lips, for example, can spread to the mouth, which then becomes oral cancer," says George. Experts say skin cancer rates are increasing because the ozone layer of our atmosphere is decreasing, thanks in no small part to pollution. As pollution continues to increase, so too will skin cancer rates. Thankfully, according to George, there are ways to prevent skin cancer, or at least reduce your risk of developing the illness. "The first key to prevention is protection," says George. "That means you need to cover up when you go out in the sun." At a bare minimum, George recommends wearing sunblock on all exposed areas of skin, including the ears and lips. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that you wear a minimum of SPF30 at all times, and that you follow the instructions on the bottle, reapplying as directed. "The sun breaks down the sunblock over time, so it's important to reapply it," George says. If you plan on spending time at the beach or pool this summer, that reapplication is imperative after going in the water. But don’t think you only need sunblock when you're sunbathing. You still need to wear it anytime you go outside, and ideally you should be wearing protective covering too, George says. "Wide-brimmed hats can protect the ears and nose, and long sleeves and long pants protect the arms and legs," she says. George agrees it may be a hard sell to convince people to wear long clothing in summer, but that and sunblock are your best defense against skin cancer this summer. "At the very minimum, make sure you’re wearing sunblock," she says. "Yes, it’s one more thing you have to do, but it's so much easier to apply sunblock than to undergo cancer treatment."

There are many reasons to undergo orthodontic treatment, from simply wanting a straighter smile to needing treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders or to eliminate a bad bite. With all these benefits to wearing braces, orthodontic treatment is well worth the cost. But one commonly believed benefit of orthodontic treatment in general has been recently discovered to be untrue, and it may take you by surprise. A recent study from the University of Adelaide in Australia found that the commonly held belief that realigning the teeth makes patients less likely to develop cavities and tooth decay is simply not true. The theory was that better alignment allowed for easier brushing and flossing – and while this is usually still true, what isn’t true is the notion that the teeth somehow require less care post-orthodontic treatment than before orthodontic treatment. The study looked at dental records from patients from ages 13 to 30, tracking their oral care habits. It also monitored the number of filled, lost and decayed teeth. Researchers found no difference in the rates of these dental issues among those who wore braces in the past and those who didn’t. So, what does this mean? It means that orthodontic treatment is not a free pass to neglect your oral hygiene, and proper care – including brushing and flossing - is still necessary to maintain your oral health. To learn more about proper oral health and care following braces, please contact Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

A recent study conducted by the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, has found that children who experience oral infections or who have bad oral hygiene may experience atherosclerosis as adults. Atherosclerosis is defined as fatty plaque deposits that clog the arteries and thicken the walls of the blood vessels. This in turn restricts the blood flow through the arteries and reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are absorbed by the body. Arthrosclerosis can be a precursor to numerous dangerous and deadly conditions like heart disease, angina, kidney disease and carotid artery disease. As if those risks weren’t bad enough, the plaque coating the arteries can even break free of the artery walls and become trapped, causing a heart attack or stroke. If the plaque blocks an artery leading to a limb, it can cause tissue death or gangrene - and in extreme cases it can even lead to amputation or death. Until recently, researchers have believed that arthrosclerosis is caused by lifestyle choices such as smoking and by medical conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol or triglycerides. However, according to the Finnish study, it may be at least in part caused by poor oral hygiene early in life. "Most of the studies conducted that link poor oral health to medical conditions are looking at adults, not children," says Wexford, Pennsylvania, dentist Dr. Alexandra George. "This study is quite groundbreaking in that it’s examining the oral hygiene of children and following them to adulthood." According to George, it is also the first study that links poor oral hygiene in children to cardiovascular disease. But the good news is now that we know there’s a possible link, there is time to curb it. "Yes, there does appear to be a connection between poor oral hygiene in kids and adult cardiovascular disease," says George, "but the good news is that with children, there’s time to turn things around." For example, according to George, two of the conditions that were noted in the study were childhood gum disease and childhood dental caries (also known as cavities). George says despite the grim outlook, if parents and dental professionals can manage to prevent these conditions early in life, they can in theory reduce a child’s risk of developing conditions like arthrosclerosis later in life - and it's easier than you may think! "Preventing oral health conditions like dental caries and periodontal disease is as easy as brushing twice a day and flossing once a day," says George. "It’s literally as simple as that to protect your child’s teeth and gums today and their overall health tomorrow. What could be easier?"

Think back to your last dental exam: Did Dr. George measure the periodontal "pockets" between your teeth and gums? You may be wondering why - and what exactly she was measuring. It's called the gingival sulcus, and though it’s quite a mouthful (both literally and figuratively speaking) it’s a lot easier to understand than it sounds, especially when you know what you’re looking at. The gingival sulcus can best be described as the space between the tooth’s surface and the gum tissue that surrounds it. The sulcus is a V-shaped groove that goes around the circumference of the tooth’s base. Simply put, the sulcus is what keeps your gums attached to the tooth’s surface. When we measure the pockets of the gums, we are measuring the sulcus. The sulcus should be no deeper than 3mm. Anything deeper is considered periodontal disease, which can cause and contribute to everything from diabetes to stroke to heart disease. Deep gingival sulcus can cause gum disease because the pocket openings allow plaque and bacteria into the gums and then the bloodstream. If the gingival sulcus becomes too infected or pulls away too far from the teeth, there are methods of caring for this issue that can repair damage and prevent any current damage from worsening. If you do have deep pockets and your gingival sulcus is damaged, Dr. George may recommend something called a root planing and scaling procedure to help deep clean the bacteria and plaque from the teeth and gingival sulcus pockets. A root planing and scaling procedure uses special tools to scrape the plaque from the teeth below the gum line. Then the gums are planed, or smoothed, back to the tooth so the gingival sulcus reattaches itself. In some more severe and advanced cases, root scaling and planing may not be quite enough to repair damage caused to the gingival sulcus by periodontal disease. In these cases, Dr. George may recommend a gum-grafting procedure. Gum grafting entails either transplanting gum tissue from elsewhere in the mouth to cover receded sulcus or surgically reattaching loosened sulcus to the teeth. To have your own gingival sulcus checked, schedule your annual or semi-annual oral health exam with Dr. George by calling 724-220-2347 .

When you have temporomandibular joint disorder, you are likely all too familiar with the pain and stiffness this joint condition causes. You probably also know that the pain caused by temporomandibular joint disorder isn’t isolated to just the temporomandibular joint. In fact, this condition can cause pain to reverberate throughout the rest of the head and upper body. It can even cause seemingly unrelated side effects such as tinnitus (ringing of the ears). If you’re wondering why your temporomandibular joint disorder is causing you so much pain and wondering what other muscles and bones could be affected by this joint misalignment, keep reading. Masseter Muscle The masseter muscle is a muscle in the face that allows you to chew much of the solid foods you consume. The masseter connects the mandibles to the cheekbones and is described as being almost parallelogram shaped. The masseter has two sections: the deep section and the superficial section. Because of the location of the masseter muscle, it is very often irritated by the movement of the temporomandibular joint when it is out of alignment. This is one of the many reasons having temporomandibular joint disorder makes chewing painful and difficult. Mandible The mandible is your lower jawbone – the bone that is most likely misaligned with the temporomandibular joint. The mandible is used in speaking and chewing and is the only movable bone in the face. The mandible is also the strongest and largest bone in the entire face. Temporomandibular Condyle The temporomandibular condyle is a ball-shaped joint that facilitates the movement of the jaw when it opens and closes. Ideally, when the jaw opens and closes, the condyle should come out of its socket and move forward. Then, when the jaw closes, the condyle should return to the socket. With temporomandibular joint disorder, this doesn’t happen. Instead, the condyle often travels too far and becomes stuck so it cannot return to the joint where it belongs. This causes the surrounding muscles to spasm and the jaw to freeze. Temporalis The temporalis is another muscle that aids in chewing. It is a fan-shaped muscle that covers the temporal bone, stemming from the temporal fossa. The temporalis is the most powerful muscle in the temporomandibular joint and is the joint that hurts when we grind our teeth or clench our jaw – behaviors that could contribute to or stem from temporomandibular joint disorder To learn more about TMJ disorder or to schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

Imagine if your jaw ached when you opened and closed your mouth, or sometimes you heard a telltale clicking or popping sound when you spoke or chewed food. Sometimes you might even experience stiffness in your jaw that feels like a precursor to lockjaw, or your jaw may lock up against your will and you have no way to correct it. You think you may have temporomandibular joint disorder, but without a proper diagnosis, you can’t be sure. So, you do the logical thing and schedule an appointment with a dentist. But how do you know your dentist is using the right method to diagnose the problem? And what exactly is the right method? In the old days – and in many modern-day practices - disorders such as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJD, were partially diagnosed using something called articulating paper. Articulating paper is a sheet of paper that patients bite down on to show the alignment of their bite. It was a good idea in theory, but over time dentists realized that articulating paper has some pretty big pitfalls. Namely, while you can see the alignment of the bite, you cannot see which teeth bite down first or hardest, nor can you see the dispersion of pressure on the bite. Enter the Tekscan, or T-scan, machine. The T-scan machine is the best tool available to any dentist to measure dental occlusion (where the upper and lower jaw meet in the mouth) from a bad bite (called malocclusion) or temporomandibular joint disorder. A T-scan machine measures how the teeth make contact with each other, and the force with which they do so. The T-scan machine delivers instant results via a small, hand-held device that connects to a computer. By reading the data gathered by the T-scan, Dr. George can determine whether you have malocclusion or TMJD and can better formulate an accurate treatment plan to get your teeth looking and feeling their best. When you choose a dentist who uses the T-scan machine, you are choosing to benefit your bite with the newest and best occlusal measurement technology available today. To schedule your own T-scan, please call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

Spring. It’s a time of renewal and hope. The snow melts, the flowers bloom and the summer birds return to their nests. We humans celebrate by swapping our dark, heavy coats for pastels and jackets, and if we’re really motivated, we deep clean the house. But why should our homes get all the love? What about our smiles? That’s right – spring is the perfect time to spring clean our smiles, too. Here are some great ways to make your smile beautiful this spring! Try Something New With the recent introduction of toothpaste tablets, designer flavored dental flosses and toothpastes, and xylitol gum, now is the perfect time to try a new oral health product to add some excitement to your care routine. Get (a) CleaningThe fastest and easiest way to get a spring-clean mouth is to schedule your regular oral health exam and cleaning. There’s no better feeling than a truly clean mouth with two rows of sparkly-clean teeth, to boot. Your exam is also your opportunity to diagnose any oral health issues and "clean house" in your mouth. Show Your Colors With winter darks being packed away and spring brights coming back out of hibernation, why not pick a few colors that will help make your smile bright? Blue or blue undertones help neutralize yellow and make your teeth look whiter. That goes for shirts, decorative scarves and, yes, even lipstick. Tackle Your Issues Suffering from jaw pain or temporomandibular joint disorder? Spring is the perfect time to get in control of your oral health and begin treating these ailments before the official kickoff of vacation season this summer. Imagine enjoying your favorite foods again this summer instead of missing out another season due to the pain. Start a Construction Program Spring is the perfect time to begin your full-mouth reconstruction journey. Tax refunds are here, the holidays are over, and the kids are finishing up with school. Now is the time to focus on yourself and make the improvements to your health and appearance you’ve been putting off while helping everybody else. Carve out a little you time and speak to Dr. George about getting new dental implants, partials, bridges, bonding or veneers and spring forward to a more beautiful smile. To schedule an oral health spring cleaning, give Dr. George’s office a call at 724-220-2347.

Marathons. Triathlons. Tough mudders. Whatever your endurance sport, training and performing is a major plus for your body. From your heart to your muscles to even your mental health, physical activity has a holistic positive effect on all the systems of the body. But there’s one area of your body that may not be so lucky if you’re not careful. It’s your mouth, and endurance training can really put it through the ringer. If you participate in any kind of endurance sports – or even just put in a grueling workout at the gym – here’s what you should know about protecting your oral health. Dr. Alexandra George is a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. She says participants in endurance sports need to be extra mindful of their oral health. "It’s natural when straining your body to grit or grind your teeth," she says. "That is why it's imperative that when you are participating in endurance sports you wear a mouth guard. A mouth guard is also useful for protecting teeth against accidents like falls or being accidentally hit in the mouth while being active." Another natural thing to do when performing an endurance sport is to breathe through the mouth. This forceful breathing can be dangerous to the teeth because it dries the mouth out at a faster rate than normal mouth breathing or nasal breathing. If you breathe through the mouth while participating in sports, be sure to increase your fluids to compensate! "When performing in sporting events many people choose to drink sugary electrolyte-enhanced beverages that can be bad for the teeth," says George. "If you drink sugary sports drinks, the combination of dry mouth and excess sugar is upping your risk of cavities and bad breath. If you must drink sports drinks while active, be sure to alternate sips with water, or rinse your mouth out with water when your sports drink is finished." Because of the extra wear and tear on your teeth from endurance training, it is important that you visit your dentist more frequently than you might think. George recommends you stop by your dentist’s office at least two or three times a year to be sure that your oral health is solid and there is no damage to your teeth. Remember: Your oral health, or lack thereof, affects your total body health, which can affect your sports performance.

If you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, you’re probably familiar with trendy drinks as well as trendy foods. Right now, beverages from rose to kombucha are having their moment in the spotlight - and some of them even have purported health benefits. But are they true? And what’s the tradeoff? Can a good-for-you drink taste as good as one that isn’t healthy? Here’s the lowdown on some trendy beverages - and whether they’re really as good for you as they claim to be. Kombucha. It’s got a funny name, but this trendy fermented tea beverage supposedly packs a wallop of probiotics and prebiotics, substances that stimulate microorganism growth. Unfortunately, however, it also packs something else "Kombucha is very acidic," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. "And that acid can be very bad for your teeth." Not only that, but studies have shown it doesn’t really do much for your health. "It probably won’t hurt your health, but there’s been no proven benefits to your health, either," says George. "Experts say if you really want to get the benefits of pro- or prebiotics, you should stick to yogurt or yogurt smoothies." Another trendy beverage that claims to be better for you than the rest of the pack is sparkling water. You know the brand. But again, even though it's lower in sugar than traditional soda, sparkling water is still really acidic, and acid erodes your teeth, causing enamel damage that leaves teeth susceptible to cavities. So, is there a trendy beverage that actually is good for you? Yes! It’s called matcha green tea, and believe it or not, it’s everything it claims to be. "Matcha green tea’s only real threat to your health is that it could discolor your teeth a little bit," says George. "But otherwise it's got some great benefits." Those benefits include a ton of antioxidants, reduction of oral inflammation, and a bunch of antibacterial properties that can help kill off some of that nasty oral bacteria responsible for cavities and bad breath. Basically, matcha is everything kombucha aspires to be. Even better, matcha isn’t just good for your mouth - it’s been popping up as an ingredient in everything from face masks to smoothies. "Matcha green tea really is a wonder ingredient, as long as you use it wisely," says George. That means brushing your teeth well after drinking to avoid staining, and if you do drink it, not overloading your tea with sugar or honey, which will feed the very bacteria you’re hoping to eradicate by drinking matcha in the first place. Recent studies have also shown that drinking too-hot tea can cause throat cancer, so be sure to indulge in your matcha green tea at a reasonable temperature.

Some like it hot – their tea, that is. But if the findings of a new study are any indication, it may be best to let that cup of tea, coffee or bone broth cool down quite a bit before drinking it. That’s because, according to a research study recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, drinking scalding-hot tea could do more than just burn your mouth: It can cause esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer is admittedly not the most common type of cancer. In fact, in the United States, esophageal cancer only affects 1 percent of the population. But rates of the disease are much higher elsewhere on Earth - mostly in Asian countries like Iran and China, where tea drinking is not only much more common, but teas are also served much hotter than they are in America. "The theory behind the increased risk in cancer is that the hot tea is causing cellular damage by repeatedly injuring the tissue in the esophagus," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. "Think of it like getting skin cancer from repeated sunburns, except it’s from hot liquid." In the study, researchers took several temperature measurements of participants’ tea. They measured the tea’s actual temperature as well as the temperature at which the participant chose to consume their cup of tea. A staggering 317 new cases of esophageal cancer were diagnosed during the study. What the researchers found was that the hotter the tea, and the less time that passed between the tea being poured and being consumed, the higher the risk for esophageal cancer. The results were then compared with samples from people who drank 700 ml of tea each day at lower temperatures. Individuals who drank the hotter tea (over 140 degrees Fahrenheit) had a 90 percent higher risk of developing esophageal cancer than those who did not. "It's important to note that this is not exclusive to just tea," says George. "It can happen with any hot beverage. Tea was used in the study because it is the second most popular drink in the world – the first being water. It’s also important to note that drinking too-hot tea once or twice probably won’t cause esophageal cancer. The study followed regular tea drinkers who regularly drank tea above a certain temperature."

Over time, our teeth can become worn down and the edges softened. This is normal wear and tear on teeth, and it can happen no matter what we eat – especially if we eat a lot of hard or crunchy foods. But what isn’t normal is chipping or cracking of the teeth. Imagine this. You just finished lunch and decide to chew a piece of sugarless gum to help clean your teeth and freshen your breath. No harm there, right? But as you chew, you feel a crunch. Uh oh! Your tooth just cracked. Now, granted, it probably wasn’t caused by the gum, but gum can loosen old fillings, and an already weakened tooth can crack with very little pressure. Now what? Should you leave that chip alone, or should you fix it? Depending on the size of the chip and the location of the tooth itself, it may not seem worth it to get it fixed. But believe it or not there are valid medical reasons for getting a chipped or cracked tooth fixed. Protect Your Enamel Depending on the location of the chip, when you damage a tooth you can chip into the tooth’s outer protective layer, the enamel. Chipped enamel may not look like a big deal, but it can leave the tooth vulnerable to decay and cavities. That’s why it’s important to have the tooth evaluated by Dr. George, even if you think it's no big deal. Go Back to Your Roots Enamel damage can not only harm the surface of your teeth, but can also lead to infection of the roots of your teeth. That’s because when the enamel is damaged, bacteria have an easier way into the dentin and roots of your teeth. Keep Growing A chip may not seem big now, but remember that wear and tear? Well, if your chip gets worn down naturally or the tooth itself is weakened, the chip can get a lot bigger, a lot faster. It Looks Bad Depending on where the chip is located it might just look bad, and honestly, that’s enough of a problem to warrant fixing it. You are entitled to a beautiful, healthy smile, and that includes having all your teeth completely intact. To have a chipped or cracked tooth repaired, call Dr. George at 724-220-2347.

Do you have a "gummy" smile? Do your gums cover your teeth unevenly? Do you feel like your teeth are too small or your gums cover too much of your teeth? Are your gums receding? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may not have realized there is a treatment option that can correct all of these problems. Yes, that’s right - the same procedure can correct both receding gums and too much gum tissue. It’s called gum reshaping or gum contouring, and it can change where your gums sit on your teeth and transform your entire smile. What Is Gum Reshaping? Gum reshaping and contouring is an in-office medical procedure that either reduces or reshapes the gum line either for medical or aesthetic reasons. Gum reshaping is done with lasers that cut away the overage of gum tissue that sits on the teeth, creating a more streamlined gum line. Thanks to the nature of the laser, it can actually cut the gums in such a way that they sit evenly on your teeth and frame them perfectly. The laser then seals the gums, stopping them from bleeding and, in the case of patients using the treatment for periodontitis, seal any newly cleaned gum pockets and prevent bacteria from reentering them. After the Procedure Gum recontouring sounds painful, and before lasers, it used to be. But today's procedures are more comfortable than ever, thanks to the laser itself. Laser cutting allows for less bleeding, as does sealing off the wound with the laser. This also causes less inflammation, which in turn enables a faster healing time and an easier time practicing excellent oral hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing. While it may not seem like a good idea to floss newly recontoured gums, it is imperative to take good care of the teeth and gums during the recovery period to prevent infection. Pain following the procedure is generally well tolerated and can usually be managed by over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen, which is also an anti-inflammatory. We also recommend soft foods for the first week following your gum-contouring procedure. To speak to Dr. George about gum recontouring or any other cosmetic dental procedure, please call 724-220-2347.

Wine drinkers around the world who enjoy a specific type of sparkling wine may have a new reason to cut back on their favorite bubbly beverage. It seems prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy that’s been touted as a cheaper alternative to champagne, is causing a lot of oral health problems. The effervescent drink has been rising in popularity globally, but dentists are cautioning that, while delicious, the Italian-made prosecco could be causing damage to drinkers' teeth. Much like champagne (that is only made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France), prosecco is a sparkling wine made from grapes that can only be grown in Veneto, Italy. But prosecco has the benefit of being just as delicious as champagne and far more affordable – and thus more drinkable. Unfortunately, prosecco does have a pretty big drawback: It has been found to cause serious damage to the teeth. That’s because the fizzy prosecco has a high level of acidity – a pH of a little bit more than three, which is the equivalent of drinking orange juice or soda. But shockingly prosecco has more sugar than soda! Between all that sugar and all that acid, those tiny bubbles are wreaking havoc on teeth, causing something that dentists have dubbed a "prosecco smile." So, what is a prosecco smile? It’s a smile marked by a white line across the teeth caused by damage to the tooth’s enamel. The good news is that a prosecco smile is totally preventable. Yes, there’s always the option of simply not drinking the buoyant beverage, but where’s the fun in that? If, like an increasing number of consumers, you must have your prosecco, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your teeth are protected from those bad little bubbles. Limit Your Intake No, you don’t have to give up prosecco - or any other drink - as long as it is drunk in moderation. But because of the acid and bubbles in prosecco, it’s a wise idea to limit what you drink in one sitting. Rinse, Repeat As you drink, alternate sips of prosecco with water. This will help rinse off the teeth as you drink and keep weakened enamel to a minimum. Hold Off on Brushing When you drink prosecco (or any other acidic beverage, for that matter), you weaken the tooth enamel, making the teeth softer and more vulnerable to damage. To keep enamel damage to a minimum, do not brush teeth immediately after drinking prosecco. Wait at least 30 minutes so the enamel has a chance to re-harden before you pull out your brush Enjoy Don’t let potential damage ruin a great glass of wine. Just put these tips into practice and enjoy! To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

Augmented reality. It’s one of those futuristic, high-tech-sounding terms we’ve all heard once or twice but have no idea what it really means. Well, augmented reality is a little bit like virtual reality, except it changes what is already there - in other words, it allows you to see a projected image of something over an already existing thing or image. This fascinating technology is already being used in everything from video games to car repair and civil engineering – and it soon may have a new use: at your dentist’s office! You read that right - augmented reality could be coming soon to a dental clinic near you. Here’s why. Imagine you are preparing to invest in something you’ve wanted for a long time: a healthy, beautiful smile. But in order to do so, you need to invest in a full-mouth reconstruction – a deluxe smile makeover, if you will. The problem is, for the amount you’re investing, how can you be sure you’ll get the results you want? That’s where augmented reality (or AR) steps in. A new startup in Switzerland is developing software that uses augmented reality to superimpose an image of a made-over smile onto the faces of patients seeking to undergo cosmetic dentistry procedures, and it could change the whole industry. "Being able to show patients what kind of results they can expect will be a game changer," says Dr. Alexandra George of Wexford, Pennsylvania. "For some patients it's hard to imagine what that might look like." George performs everything from teeth whitening to full-mouth reconstruction in her Pennsylvania practice. She says the new software will be a useful tool for dentists. "The software doesn’t just superimpose an image – you can actually adjust that image," says George. "So if the patient doesn’t like what they see, they can make changes." And that’s very good news for both patients and dentists. "We want patients to be satisfied with their smile," George says. "If they’re able to get a better idea of what they can expect, that will eliminate any surprises in the end. And if they see something they don’t like, it empowers the dentist to be able to correct the treatment plan before the treatment even begins." That can save valuable time, money and frustration. "Bottom line, it’s your smile, and it's your money," George says. "We want you to be satisfied with our work, and if this software can create realistic expectations of what your final outcome looks like, everyone wins."

Let’s face it: It can be hard to get away from the office to get to a dental exam. Plus, with so many adult Americans suffering from odontophobia (fear of the dentist), a lot of people simply don’t make it a priority. But what if you didn’t have to leave the office to get your dental exam? What if your dentist dropped by for a work-based house call and came to you? Well, the future is here and so is the dentist at a new startup that’s sending dentists to business offices to do in-office exams and cleanings for employees. The startup follows other oral health startups like those braces-by-mail companies. It offers dental exams and cleanings in the comfort of your own workplace, usually in an empty office or conference room. Great idea, right? Wrong! So, what’s the problem with in-office oral health? After all, it is a timesaver and would solve a big problem for many people. But there are bigger problems created by this type of dentistry. First of all, getting your teeth cleaned and scraped – something that can cause bleeding - is not something to do in a conference room where you just had a board meeting and celebrated Bob from HR’s 46th birthday. Dental offices are sterile environments that are cleaned thoroughly between patients. All materials used are either disposed of properly or sanitized properly. Most office conference rooms don’t have an autoclave sanitizer or proper disposal system for materials containing bodily fluids. Next, think about how your job makes you feel. Even if you love what you do, it can get stressful. Do you really want the stress and tension of being in the office added to the stress of being at the dentist? How can you relax if you spend your entire cleaning worrying about that big report that’s due in three hours? Most dental offices go the extra mile to make patients feel comfortable and relaxed during your visit. Finally, think about what may be required at your exam. Do you want your boss to see you in bitewings? Your HR person to hear you under nitrous oxide? Probably not. While in-office dentistry seems to have its heart in the right place, dentistry is one field that’s better left in-office: a dental office. To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

If you’re under treatment for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, you may have been prescribed occlusal splint therapy. The name sounds complicated and maybe even a little scary, but occlusal splint therapy isn’t as mysterious as it seems. In fact, it’s used to treat a multitude of oral health problems. What Is an Occlusal Splint? An occlusal splint goes by many names, but you may know it by its most common name: a bite guard. Generally, occlusal splints are used to keep the teeth in line and protect them from bruxism (teeth grinding), but they can be used to treat many different conditions. Occlusal splints are made at your dentist’s office and are custom-fit to your individual mouth, so you’re not stuck with an awkward and uncomfortable "boil-and-bite" type of bite guard you can buy over the counter. Reasons for Occlusal Splints There are actually many different reasons for a dentist or neuromuscular dentists to prescribe an occlusal splint. They can be used to treat:

No one likes finding out they need a crown on their tooth, but crowns are nothing to be afraid of. In fact, crowns can even be a good thing. Think of them as a deluxe filling, if you will: well made, secure and luxurious. But the type of crown you need is another story - and the answer depends on several different factors. Crowns are typically used when the area of the tooth that needs a filling is too big. The dentist makes a cap that fits over the tooth while leaving the main structure of the tooth intact. The crown looks and feels like a natural tooth and keeps away the decay from the base of the tooth. There are several different types of crowns to choose from. Here are the types and what they’re best used for. Porcelain Crowns If you need a crown on one of your front teeth, your dentist will likely choose a porcelain crown. Porcelain crowns, much like resin fillings, look natural and blend in with the rest of the teeth. They are also durable enough for the front of the mouth. Gold Crowns Gold crowns sound regal, don’t they? But instead of sitting on top of your head, a gold dental crown sits over your tooth. Considered among the most durable types of crowns, gold crowns can’t break or fracture or even damage the underlying tooth. Metal Crowns Much like gold crowns, metal crowns are extremely strong but still gentle to the teeth. They also can be fitted to the tooth with a very small amount of natural tooth needing to be removed. Porcelain / Metal Fusion Crowns A crown made of porcelain that is secured to a metal underpinning is a durable option commonly used for back teeth. Think of them as the Le Crueset of fillings - offering the beauty of porcelain with the durability of metal. Though Dr. George will determine which crown type is best for your individual tooth, it helps to know why one crown may be selected over another. For any further questions regarding your crowns or any other dental procedure, please call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.