Taking care of a young child can be a challenging experience for new parents, and one that’s filled with obligations and responsibilities. When it comes tending to your child’s needs, thinking about their teeth might be one of the last things on a parent’s to do list. Many parents aren’t even sure when to take their kids in for a dental checkup for the first time, or when to start oral care. As an experienced practicing dentist in the Santa Monica area, Dr. Koshki has answers parents are looking for to help them care for new teeth.

The first thing to realize is that, although young children are likely not consuming solid foods or candy that could expose them to excess sugar, that they’re still at risk for developing decay and other dental issues. To help prevent this, start providing them with oral care as soon as their teeth begin to come in. For children under 2, use a wet toothbrush without toothpaste and do some gentle brushing. For children over 2, a soft children’s toothbrush with child toothpaste will suffice.

You should care for their teeth as often as you care for your own: twice a day at least. If you start introducing sugar treats like juice into their diets, just make sure you don’t let them go to bed with anything, but water in their bottle. And remember, there is no minimum tooth number your child has to have before they have their first dental visit. It’s definitely better to do it sooner than later. For more dental tips, and for treatment from a top surgical and cosmetic dentist, the dedicated team at Dr. Koshki’s Surgical & Cosmetic Dentistry is standing by with the expertise you needs.

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ClearCorrect is a clear aligner used to straighten teeth as an alternative to traditional braces. Similar to other clear aligner brands (like Invisalign) available to dentists certified to offer them to their patients, ClearCorrect straightens teeth using a series of clear, custom-made, removable aligners that gradually move teeth a little bit at a time, eventually correcting the alignment of teeth to elicit a new, revitalized look.  You will also be able to care for the health of your teeth and gum tissues more easily, which is perhaps the best healthy advantage to having straighter teeth. Scientists agree:  Your healthy mouth is the gateway to your healthy body.

Your ClearCorrect Process:

Are you considering treatment with ClearCorrect aligners? If so, here’s what you need to know:

Your records — including impressions, photographs and radiographs, along with a prescription for your custom-made aligners — are sent by Dr. Koshki to the ClearCorrect laboratory, where an exact 3-D model of your teeth is created. Your ClearCorrect treatment team then maps out a complete treatment plan showing the gradual realignment that will reposition your teeth from their current position to where Dr. Koshki wants them to be.

ClearCorrect Treatment: How it Works

ClearCorrect treatment involves four phases of aligner therapy. Each phase requires a new set of aligners that are worn for a three-week period. The time between each phase allows for control and flexibility.

ClearCorrect aligners are worn all the time, except when eating and drinking, or while brushing and flossing. Designed with aesthetics in mind, ClearCorrect aligners are barely noticeable and won’t have an impact on your daily routine.

After wearing each aligner set, results will be noticeable as your teeth begin slowly adjusting and aligning to your desired smile. Periodic check-ups with your dentist are required so your progress can be evaluated and you can be given the next set of aligners. This sequence will continue until you have achieved your new, ClearCorrect smile.

Treatment time can vary from 6 months to two years, depending upon your specific condition and degree of misalignment. Dr. Koshki’s patients typically are in treatment for about 9 months.

Who Can Benefit from ClearCorrect?

ClearCorrect currently is available to treat most adults and teenagers. Dr.  Koshki offers a courtesy, no obligation evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate for ClearCorrect.

ClearCorrect can be used to treat the following orthodontic conditions:

• Crowded teeth
• Spacing between teeth
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crooked or turned (rotated) teeth

In cases where ClearCorrect is not suitable for certain misalignment cases or complex bite problems, traditional orthodontics may be recommended. Dr. Koshki can refer you to several excellent orthodontists for more traditional fixed, or bracketed orthodontics.

When it comes to dental issues, teeth whitening is one of the most discussed elements of dental care, and one that receives a lot of public attention. It makes sense when you think about it; we all want to have those perfect and radiant movie star smiles. Nevertheless, there is some debate about whitening and many of us understandably have plenty of questions. To that end, here at Moeiz Koskhi Surgical & Cosmetic Dentistry, we want to make sure everyone has the right information, and we’d like to provide you with the facts when it comes to whitening. Just remember, for whitening procedures that are safe, only trust your dentist, and steer clear of home remedies.

1. Whitening is not bad for you teeth, and will not cause permanent damage to you enamel, or any tooth structure.
2. There has been recent concern over the toxicity of whitening agents. Though the agents used in whitening can in fact cause damage if misused, they are not inherently dangerous. This is not unlike medication and treatment provided by your doctor. In the wrong hands, many medical procedures can be harmful. That’s why it’s important to only trust a well trained professional like Dr. Koskhi.
3. Toothpaste whiteners do work, but not as you may expect. They don’t change the color of the teeth, and only remove surface stains.
4. Whitening typically lasts from six months to two years depending on each patient’s habits. Smoking, red wine, and coffee consumption all have a negative impact. For more information on whitening and to inquire for treatment, contact our office today!

Allerdent, a new therapeutic toothpaste delivery system is available by prescription for people with allergic rhinitis.

Allerdent is designed for daily use as part of a normal tooth brushing regimen and enables users with allergic rhinitis to incorporate immunotherapeutic allergy treatment into their routine activity.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a diagnosis associated with a group of symptoms affecting the nose. These symptoms occur when you breathe in something you are allergic to, such as dust, animal dander, or pollen. Symptoms can also occur when you eat a food that you are allergic to.

This article focuses on allergic rhinitis due to plant pollens. This type of allergic rhinitis is commonly called hay fever or seasonal allergy.

Causes

An allergen is something that triggers an allergy. When a person with allergic rhinitis breathes in anallergen such as pollen, mold, animal dander, or dust, the body releases chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.

Hay fever involves an allergic reaction to pollen.

Plants that cause hay fever are trees, grasses, and weeds. Their pollen is carried by the wind. (Flower pollen is carried by insects and does not cause hay fever.) Types of plants that cause hay fever vary from person to person and from area to area.

The amount of pollen in the air can affect whether hay fever symptoms develop.

• Hot, dry, windy days are more likely to have a lot of pollen in the air.
• On cool, damp, rainy days, most pollen is washed to the ground.Hay fever and allergies often run in families. If both of your parents have hay fever or other allergies, you are likely to have hay fever and allergies, too. The chance is higher if your mother has allergies.

We face a lot of pressure to look youthful. This pressure comes from both internal and external sources. Many people decry this “youth movement”, but it’s not new. What is new is how we achieve this youthful look. In decades gone by, only the steel blade of a surgeon could reverse the ravages of time. In modern days, we look to more healthy ways to maintain both our youthful looks AND our youthful health. Your mouth is truly the gateway to your youthful health. Brushing and flossing is just the beginning. Dr. Koshki and his hygienists may recommend the use of products and tools to keep your oral tissues healthy and free from bacteria, free radicals and inflammation that lead to decay and gum disease.

How Does My Oral Condition Make Me Appear Older?

Have you ever heard the expression that an older person is said to be “long in the tooth”? That’s because recession and other aspects of periodontal disease can make teeth appear longer and misshapen. Old amalgam fillings and bondings can make teeth look dark and discolored; also a very “aging” effect. Decades of grinding teeth can make them short, which makes the face look caved in on profile; the lips appear thin and sunken in. “Smoker’s Lines” around the mouth are unsightly at any age. Angular Chelitis is inflammation of one or both corners of the mouth caused by yeast development in the area. This can cause deep cracks or splits in the lips and may extend onto the skin of the face; definitely an aging look.

How Can Your Dentist Help You “Stay Young”?

Dr. Koshki advocates a healthy diet including lots of organic fruits and vegetables which are rich in anti-oxidants and nutrients. He advises all his patients to brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes, and floss at least once a day. Use the rinses and/or tools that have been recommended specifically for each patient’s best results. Dr. Koshki wants his patients to lessen their chances for developing cancer, diabetes and heart disease. He urges the cessation of smoking, processed sugar and over consumption of alcohol. See Dr. Koshki for an “Anti-Aging Dental Evaluation.” He can determine if changing old fillings and bondings along with teeth whitening can give you just the “lift” that you need. Dental lasers can help stop unsightly oral sores from developing, and Dr. Koshki can prescribe medications for cracks and sores to give you immediate relief. If your teeth have been severely worn down due to grinding, he can explain how building your teeth back up with crowns or other restorations can make a huge difference in your lips, cheeks and profile. Porcelain veneers on the front 4 to 6 teeth may be all it takes to turn back the clock!

I Plan On Having Botox, Fillers and A Mini Facelift – Isn’t That All I Need?

Of course having injectables, fillers and surgery are excellent temporary ways to look refreshed and more youthful. Dr. Koshki has both friends and family who have used these techniques and he is not against them; on the contrary, Dr. Koshki would like to partner with your dermatologist or surgeon to compliment your results using dental anti-aging solutions to give you the youthful appearance of your dreams. Let’s all be our youthful best, not only because it looks good, but because it feels good.

While oral hygiene habits and diet influence the risk of tooth decay, genetics are also at play in regards to susceptibility for dental caries development … genetics that can also determine hair disorders

Strong enamel is obviously crucial to dental health, as it protects teeth from caries and decay, so those with structural abnormalities in their enamel can be at an increased risk for such dental issues. A new National Institute of Health study has found not only that enamel structure can influence an individual’s predisposition to caries, but also that keratin can affect enamel structure.

Using genetic and intraoral examination statistics from 1,092 study participants, researchers found that epithelial hair keratins – proteins associated with strong hair that play a large role in maintaining the strength and integrity of the sheaths that support hair shafts – are essential organic components of enamel. As part of tooth enamel’s protein composition, keratin can influence tooth enamel structure and integrity.

Additionally, the study found that individuals that had keratin mutations associated with hair disorders also had abnormal enamel structure that resulted in tooth weakness, thus increasing the risk of dental caries.

The full study (“Hair keratin mutations in tooth enamel increase dental decay risk,”) was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, and can be found online here.

A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men in their 30s who had severe periodontal disease were three times more likely to suffer from erection problems. While this study suggests an association between erectile dysfunction and periodontal disease, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) believes more research is needed before conclusively linking the two.

According to Nancy L. Newhouse, DDS, MS, President of the American Academy of Periodontology and a practicing periodontist in Independence, Missouri, “Research has indicated that periodontal disease may be associated with vascular disease, which is a common cause of erectile dysfunction. However, the association is thought to be related to inflammation; there is no direct evidence that one disease causes the other. Therefore, periodontal disease may be associated with or considered a risk factor for erectile dysfunction, but does not necessarily cause it.”

Periodontal disease is a chronic, inflammatory disease that attacks the gums and supporting bone structure of the teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. Several studies have linked periodontal disease to other health complications such as heart disease and diabetes.

While there is no direct causal relationship between periodontal disease and erectile dysfunction, Dr. Newhouse encourages all men to take an active role in the health of their teeth and gums before it affects other areas of the body. Research published in the Journal of Periodontology found women are almost twice as likely as men to receive regular dental check-ups. In addition, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 64 million Americans, or almost half of U.S. adults, have periodontal disease. Of that, 56 percent of men have periodontal disease, compared to over 38 percent of women.

Men’s health is uniquely impacted by periodontal disease in a few key areas.

Prostate Health: Research found that the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an enzyme created in the prostate that is normally secreted in very small amounts, is secreted at higher levels in men with periodontal disease and prostate cancer than men with just one of the diseases.

Heart Disease: Studies indicated periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are associated and may actually increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Both periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are chronic, inflammatory conditions; researchers believe there is a connection due to the commonality of inflammation.

Impotence: As the study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine indicates, a man’s periodontal health could affect his sexual health. Another study done by the American Urological Association found that prolonged chronic inflammation, like that found in men with periodontal disease, can cause damage to blood vessels which can lead to impotence.

Cancer: Recent research found men with a history of gum disease are 14 percent more likely to develop cancer than men with healthy gums. More specifically, 49 percent of men are more likely than women to develop kidney cancer, 59 percent were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer and 30 percent more likely to develop blood cancer.

To help prevent periodontal disease, everyone, regardless of gender, should receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation (CPE) from a dental professional on an annual basis. A CPE is used to examine your teeth, plaque,
gums, bite, bone structure and any risk factors you may have for periodontal disease.

Your annual Comprehensive Periodontal Screening is more important than ever: Please schedule your appointment to see Dr. Koshki and Team today!