Dr. Maddahi's online newsletter for September 2018
An t i - Ag i ng DENTISTRY MONTHLY NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2018
The Remarkable Advancements in Dentistry
In the more than three decades I have been a dentist, I have seen a lot of changes. Between technological improvements and changes in patient behaviors, dentistry has come a very long way. I would go so far to say that 80 percent of what I do today, I did not learn in dental school. It’s quite remarkable. From a technological perspective, when I graduated from dental school, my graduating class was one of the first to learn about porcelain veneers. At the time, there was also virtually no education on dental implants, which, by contrast, are very common today.
not nearly as effective or aesthetically pleasing as veneers.
Because dentures are often removable, people may choose to sleep with them out or only wear them when they eat. Neither of these situations is ideal; only wearing dentures part of the time can negatively influence the position of the jaw, causing additional problems. These problems are generally solved by veneers and more so by dental implants. Dental implants have become the go-to
option in replacing damaged or missing teeth. They maintain the integrity of the jaw and the beauty of the smile in a way dentures never could.
There was much greater emphasis on tooth restoration using metals, such as silver amalgam (which is made using mercury) and gold. The gold would often be placed under porcelain, which would offer greater strength and provide a closer match to tooth color. I stopped using silver fillings in 1998, and I eventually phased out metal fillings altogether. Instead, I only use porcelain, which is fabricated to be much stronger than it used to be. Porcelain can also be color-matched to your existing teeth to create a nearly seamless transition. In fact, today’s porcelain veneers, as well as dental implants, look so amazing when you smile that no one would know you had them unless you told them. That brings up another major difference between today and back then. In the past, when people lost teeth or wanted to restore cracked, chipped, or missing teeth, dentures and partials were the answer. Dentures, in particular, used to be very common.
From the patient perspective, I’ve noticed a few curiosities. When I graduated dental school, there was a higher number of patients losing their teeth to gum disease. Thanks to greater awareness and better oral care habits, this isn’t as common. What is more common, however, is the number of cavities. In my first decade practicing dentistry, the number of cavities I saw was going down. That changed about 15–20 years ago. Since then, there has been an uptick in the number of cavities people are experiencing. The reason for this, as I have shared in the past, is dry mouth. More people are taking medications with the common side effect of dry mouth. This is why I developed a mouthwash (as part of the Oral Essential line of products) to help combat this side effect. While it doesn’t deal with the root cause of dry mouth, it goes a long way toward preventing cavities. As with all technology, there are many more advancements to come in the field of dentistry. I always challenge myself to stay ahead of that curve, and I’m excited to see what the next generation of dental technology has in store for us all.
Today, thanks to the advancements in dental technology, much of the industry has moved away from dentures and partials. These options are
-Dr. Maddahi
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INVOLVED BUT NOT OVERBEARING Parent-Teacher Etiquette to Support Your Child’s Development
Helicopter parents are the bane of every teacher’s existence. With the return of back-to-school season, it’s vital to find a happy medium between the tiger mom who bares her teeth at the smallest setback in her child’s schooling and the laissez-faire parent who is totally disengaged from their kid’s education. Here are a few tips to keep you involved in your child’s educational development while fostering relationships with their teachers in a way that won’t drive all of you up the wall. 1. Be a little empathetic. Teachers are some of the hardest-working people in the world, wrangling the disparate needs of around 25 children day in and day out while attempting to get them to actually learn something. It’s a high-stress, low-paying job. In the midst of grading 300 research papers written by 12-year-olds, the last thing they need is the added pressure of concerned parents bearing down on them. If you can approach a teacher from a position of understanding and be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, you’ll be off to a good start. 2. Show up and keep an open mind. Ask any teacher in the country, and they’ll undoubtedly tell you that one of the best predictors of a child’s success is whether or not their parents make an appearance at parent- BEFORE AFTER &
teacher conferences. Your engagement should go beyond that. Use the teacher’s preferred method of communication to stay in semi-regular contact with them— always ensuring that you keep an open mind about any praise, suggestions, or concerns they have about your child. 3. Teach your child to take responsibility. Aside from leaving your kid completely to their own devices, one of the worst things you can do is swoop in to solve their problems for them at the slightest hint of adversity. Maybe that D your kid got on their algebra test really was their fault. It’s important to acknowledge your child’s missteps, but you should also try to equip them with the tools necessary to advocate for themselves. Learning to articulate what’s going wrong or what they need from their teacher will help them to develop positive and effective communication skills. The key is to work together with your child’s teacher without being overbearing. Don’t come in with guns blazing at the first sign of an educational slip. Think of your kid’s schooling as a collaborative effort — maybe one in which you’re a little less involved than the teacher — and you’ll be giving your child the best chance of success.
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THE BEVERAGE BARGAIN
Why Our Favorite Drinks Stain Our Teeth
We all have our beverage vices: coffee, wine, tea, soda, kombucha ... the list goes on. The problem, as you know, is that many of our favorite beverages come with a trade-off. They may be delicious and make us feel great, but they discolor our teeth. Why is that? Why does green tea, for example, turn our teeth an unappealing shade of gray? Read on to find out why your favorite drinks transform your teeth from bright white to a duller color. Coffee. One of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee is responsible for turning teeth beige. The staining is caused by compounds called tannins. Tannins are “polyphenolic biomolecules,” and they also have astringent properties. That “dry” feeling you get after you take a drink of certain beverages is caused by tannins. Tea. Different kinds of tea have different staining properties. Green tea, for instance, will give teeth a dull gray coloration, while black tea gives teeth a yellowish hue. Even different types of herbal teas can stain your teeth. If you
drink a lot of chamomile or mint tea, over time you may discover your teeth have taken on a beige appearance. Kombucha, another tea product, will also stain your teeth.
Red wine. Like tea, red wine will stain teeth and give them a pale gray appearance. And just like tea and coffee, tannins are to blame.
Dark juices. Blueberry, cherry, pomegranate, and other dark juices are a big problemwhen it comes to staining. They can often discolor teeth faster than coffee or red wine. What can you do? There are a few steps you can take to reduce staining without giving up your favorite drinks. When it comes to coffee and tea, drinking though vented or slotted lids will help protect your front teeth. When it comes to red wine and dark juices, drinking through a biodegradable straw can help, but in this case, your best course of action is to rinse your mouth out with water shortly after consuming your drink, and brush your teeth with a whitening toothpaste as soon as possible.
Have a LAUGH
LATE-SUMMER Panzanella
Panzanella, a Tuscan favorite, is a salad that features hearty chunks of bread instead of leafy greens as its base. What could be better for a late-summer cookout?
INGREDIENTS • 1 small loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large tomatoes, cubed • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cubed
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced • 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds • 20 basil leaves, chopped
• Salt, to taste • Vinaigrette
DIRECTIONS 1. Place a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add bread and 1 teaspoon salt, and toss often for 10 minutes or until toasted. 2. In a large bowl, mix vegetables and herbs. Toss in bread and your favorite vinaigrette and mix again. 3. Serve immediately or let sit 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Inspired by FoodNetwork
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Dentistry Then and Now The 3 Keys to Parent-Teacher Etiquette Transformations From the Office of Dr. Maddahi Why Do Our Favorite Drinks Stain Our Teeth? Late-Summer Panzanella Have You Heard About Mauritius? INSIDE 436 N. Roxbury Dr. #202 Beverly Hills, CA 90210
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Island guests and locals can fearlessly scuba dive around the brilliant reefs, swim with dolphins, kite surf, and find lots of other ways to enjoy the warm ocean waters. Walk Through History More than a tropical escape, Mauritius is an island full of history and culture, so there are plenty of opportunities to learn about the island’s layered past. You can visit one of the historical rummeries or explore Mauritius’ two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can also check out Aapravasi Ghat, the Immigration Depot, and Le Mourne Brabant.
MARVELOUS MAURITIUS A Secret Island of Adventure
Taste the Memories A day spent playing on an island is always better with great food. Influenced by its French, Creole, Indian, and Chinese heritage, Mauritius offers a vast menu of delicious dishes to try, from curry to dim sum. And the rich soil and bountiful ocean provide more than enough fresh fruit and seafood to go around. Despite its amazing vacation potential, Mauritius is all but unheard of to people in the United States. This means travelers can find amazing five- star resorts at unbeatable prices! With this in mind, isn’t it time you got to know the island of Mauritius?
Just over 1,000 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean lies the small island of Mauritius. The island is often overlooked by the rest of the world. Most people are more likely to have heard of the island’s most famous extinct occupant, the dodo bird, than the island itself. This is shocking when you discover how much fun there is to be had in this tropical wonderland. Adventure Awaits Looking for fun in the sun? Start your trip to Mauritius with a hike up the lush Lion Mountain, or take time to snap a photo of the Seven Coloured Earths, where volcanic soil has created sand dunes of seven distinct colors. And what’s a trip to an island without the beach? Beautiful coral reefs surround Mauritius, keeping sharks away from the pristine beaches.
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