what's new

vaccine against dental caries

invisalign: straightening teeth without braces

bad breath solution

oral cancer, cervical cancer linked

protection against sport related mouth injuries:

cure for sensitive teeth

biofilm: microorganisms in the dental water line

mercury silver filling controversy

what are porcelain veneers and how long do they last?

does your office take dental insurance?


 

vaccine against dental caries

we all have many microorganisms living in our mouth. usually, parents pass these organisms to their new born via kisses and food sharing.  among these organisms are a special family of bacteria called s. mutans that are responsible for the majority of dental cavities. since 1970 there has been research on developing a vaccine against this family of bacteria. the researches are on two different tracks. a systemic vaccine, delivered by injection, attempt to stimulate the body to produce antibodies to this bacteria. if given to infants at one year of age, this vaccine may immunize against the bacteria, preventing it from establishing residence in the infant mouth. however, due to the potential of negative effect on the heart, this approach has run into difficulties. the second approach is more promising. first the mouth is cleansed of microorganisms using an antiseptic mouth rinse. then ready-made antibodies are applied to tooth surfaces. these special antibodies prevent s. mutans from attaching to the tooth surface. the other microorganisms in the mouth take the s. mutans place. when the antibodies are stopped there is no longer room for the s. mutans. research has shown this vaccine to last one year. the clinical phase for this second vaccine is underway. one point of concern is that in the absence of s. mutans could the other microorganisms in the mouth cause harm? the researchers are hoping to complete their clinical phase and introduce the product to the market in 5 to 6 years.   go to top
                                                                                                                              

invisalign: straightening teeth without braces

a new way of straightening teeth has been developed, utilizing 3-d imaging technology to create a series of custom plastic trays. so instead of using braces the orthodontist can move your teeth gradually with these trays. you will be wearing them at all times for two weeks, except when eating, flossing or brushing. as you replace the trays with next one in the series you teeth will move-little by little.  this treatment is only effective in certain cases when minor to moderate teeth movement is desired. it will not replace braces.                                                      go to top
 

bad breath solution

more than 90% of bad breath problems come from the mouth and are the result of special group of bacteria that thrive in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic). these bacteria break down the debris in the mouth producing volatile sulfur compound (vsc) which give off a rotten egg or sulfur like odor. the best way to fight bad breath is follow good oral hygiene and maintain regular dental visits. flossing and brushing every night is a must. don't forget to brush the tongue, which is a major food trap. there are tongue brushes designed to reduce gauging or you can use tongue scrapers. in addition oxidizing nonalcoholic mouth rinses that introduce a significant amount of oxygen to the mouth help to fight against the anaerobic bacteria.                      go to top
 

oral cancer, cervical cancer linked

a recent study at john hopkins university has discovered the human papillioma virus, or hpv, that causes most of the world's cervical cancers, seems to cause a type of oral cancer found mostly in the tonsils and the base of the tongue.

hpv is a sexually transmitted virus that infects some 40 million americans. about 1% of infected people have a specific strain of hpv that causes most cervical cancers. this same strain, hpv 16, can cause the oral cancer.

some 38,000 americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. smoking and heavy alcohol uses are the chief causes. however, about 15% of patients don't have those risk factors. some of these patients have hpv positive oral cancer.

a vaccine like treatment that has been developed for cervical cancer is now being considered for the hpv positive oral cancer.

treatment for oral cancer can be successful if diagnosed early. as part of the initial and periodic exam, dr. muradian perform an oral cancer screen exam on all of his patients, in which he note any abnormal lesion in and around the mouth.  he advises his patient and follows up with proper diagnostic and treatment steps.                                                                            go to top
 

protection against sport related mouth injuries:

the american dental association (ada) reports that over two million teeth are knocked out each year from sport related injuries. most of these injuries are preventable or at least minimized with the use of properly fitted mouthguards.

children are especially vulnerable to mouth injures due to their physical activities. mouthguards are recommended for boys and girls participating in all contact sports, including:

• football and soccer
• basketball and baseball- both count for half of all sport related mouth injuries
• hockey and volleyball
• wrestling, martial arts and weightlifting. (boxing is the only professional sport that require mouthguards)

properly fitted mouth guard should not impede speech or breathing. it should be tear-resistant, comfortable and resilient. the best fit will come from custom-made mouth guard made in a dental office, because it is custom-fitted to the shape of the individual's mouth and teeth. stock or boil down mouth guards are usually ill fitting and most likely remain in the locker room and not used.

dr. muradian provides a range of mouth guard designed for specific sports. each will be custom made for your family protection.                                                                                     go to top
   

cure for sensitive teeth:

your teeth might be free of cavities but you may still feel pain when you eat or drink cold or hot food or just when you brush your teeth. one of the most common causes is root sensitivity. as gum recede they expose the roots of your teeth. there are pathways in the root that lead directly to the nerve.

new treatment have been developed to relief this problem. they are called desensitizers. they are found in special toothpaste such as sensodyne or colgate for sensitive teeth. however, they only give partial relief and take weeks to work.

newer generation of desensitizers work immediately and require only one visit to dr. muradian office. they do not require local anesthesia and can be administrated during a regular cleaning.
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biofilm: microorganisms in the dental water line

microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protozoan are found in our public water supply. however, studies have found that their concentration increase dramatically as the water runs through long narrow water lines in dental offices. the health risk posed by the biofilm and the increase in microorganism's concentration to the dental patient and dental staff is under
intensive studies.

as per american dental association recommendation, dr. muradian has taken the following steps to address this potential health risk;

1. water lines are flushed every morning for two minutes. this step alone reduces
    the microorganisms by 96-98%.
2. only distilled water is used in delivering treatment. by avoiding public water supply,
    we are eliminating the primary source of the microorganisms.
3. water lines are flushed several times during the day with a disinfectant.

by taking these steps dr. muradian ensure the safety of the water for patient
and his dental staff.                                                                                                        go to top
 

mercury/silver filling controversy
a recent article in los angeles times (oct 25, 1999), highlighted the ongoing controversy behind mercury/silver fillings, a.k.a. amalgam. on its' own mercury is extremely toxic to humans. however, in amalgam, mercury is mixed with other metals including silver. whether, mercury in this form can cause a health risk is the subject of the controversy.

on the one hand, there are many professionals who claim that amalgam is absolutely safe. there is no scientific evidence that links mercury fillings to any malignment. on the other hand, there are those who claim mercury in amalgam fillings cause severe health problems from alzheimer's disease to leukemia.

the bottom line is that the use of mercury/silver fillings to restore teeth is controversial, not to mention unsightly. dr.muradian believes that natural tooth colored restoration, a.k.a. resin/porcelain fillings, offer benefits that are superior to traditional mercury/silver fillings. first, 'porcelain' filling is mercury free hence avoiding the controversy altogether. second, 'porcelain' fillings are bonded to the teeth making them stronger. third, traditional silver fillings require the removal of significant amount of healthy tooth. with 'porcelain' fillings only the damaged tooth area need to be removed. above all, 'porcelain' fillings restore the tooth to its natural beautiful color. therefore, dr.muradian offers natural tooth colored restorations to his patients.    go to top
 

what are porcelain veneers and how long do they last?
porcelain veneers are form-fitted restorations that are bonded to the front teeth. they are used to change color permanently, change the shape of the teeth, straighten slightly misaligned teeth, repair chips and fill in gaps. they are as strong as your teeth and resist future discoloration or chipping.

porcelain veneers require three appointments. in first appointment, dr. muradian will discuss the benefits and limitations in your particular case. at the second appointment, your teeth will be prepared conservatively for the veneers, a mold will be taken for the laboratory, and temporary veneers will be placed. on the third appointment, the veneers will be tried in and upon your approval they will be bonded permanently.                                                                      go to top
 

does your office take dental insurance?
yes. we accept traditional dental insurance. as a courtesy to our patients, we will gladly file your insurance for you. we also accept most credit cards; visa, mastercard, american express and discover. we offer third party financing.   
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