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Do Women Need More Dental Attention?

It’s official. Women and men are not created equal. Of course, good dental hygiene habits are necessary for all people, regardless of gender. But growing evidence shows women may be significantly more susceptible to serious health consequences unless they maintain a truly vigilant home hygiene campaign against tooth decay and gum disease. In fact, in every season of a women’s life, she is wise to take special precautions with regard to her oral health; during every monthly cycle, during pregnancy, and especially after menopause.

First, monthly hormone fluctuations result in increased salivary proteins making women prone to bad breath just prior to their monthly cycle. Pregnancy is another time for extra-vigilant dental hygiene, as a mother’s dental health impacts not only her own oral health, but also on the health of her developing child, as early as six weeks after conception. Poor oral health has been linked to premature and low birth weight babies. Further, the presence of periodontal disease in women is closely linked to the incidence of osteoporosis and simultaneously make certain they have thorough dental examinations at least twice a year, at which time recommendations can be made to help enhance your home care effectiveness.

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Digital X-Rays: What We See is What We Get

To improve your care we have invested in a new way of looking into your mouth — a procedure that is fast and incredibly precise — digital x-rays. What is even more amazing is that we get an image immediately that is large, clear, and accurate, right next to your chair . . . ready for discussion. Digital x-ray technology speeds and simplifies the diagnostic part of your treatment, and most importantly allows us to provide a much higher level of care.

REDUCED RADIATION — RADICAL RESULTS
Digital x-ray uses 50-90% less radiation than old fashioned x-rays. Additional benefits include the elimination of dark room chemicals, which is better for the environment. The highly detailed image of your teeth on our computer screen can be rotated, magnified, adjusted for contrast, and even color-coded for educational purposes. Further, we can store it on our computer files, thus saving paper. For insurance purposes, referrals or patient education, it can be accurately reproduced any number of times without losing resolution. In summary, digital x-rays are faster, cleaner, and allow us to provide a higher level of quality care.

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Dr. Julie Kangas Goes to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims

Dr. Julie Kangas traveled to Mississippi in October to provide hurricane relief to residents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Accompanied by over 40 people from local churches, the group was able to assist in rebuilding five homes in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Nearly all of the volunteers like Dr. Kangas have “day jobs” far removed from home construction, but everyone received on-the-job training to accomplish work such as plywood flooring, drywall, installation, demolition, and even roofing. Dr. Kangas found the trip to be very fulfilling and was inspired by the residents who are rebuilding their home and lives. Many Katrina evacuees have relocated to San Diego and are in need of assistance. If you would like to help, please contact Friends and Family Community Connections at www.FFCC.com.

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New Years Resolution

The New Year brings new hopes, goals, and dreams. We tend to look at our lives and plan the year ahead. One resolution that most everyone makes is to take better care of themselves. We make promises and commitments to ourselves and hope for the best.

We believe in promoting and enhancing an overall well-being here at Citracado Dental. Oral health and a beautiful smile is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. We can help you achieve the smile you have always wanted, along with an increased self-esteem, confidence, and youthfulness.

Smile makeovers, including whitening, veneers, crowns, and bridges can bring renewed life to you and your smile. Consider all the amazing benefits of a healthy mouth, and inquire about a complimentary consultation to discuss your treatment options. New opportunities await, so take advantage of what we have to offer. We look forward to seeing all of you this year.

“Prepare your mind to receive the best life has to offer.” - Ernst Holmes

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What Do I Do If I Knock a Tooth Out?

More than two million teeth are knocked out accidentally each year and more than 90% of them can be saved with proper treatment.

Holding the tooth from the crown (top part – see diagram), carefully rinse off the root. Do not scrub or remove any attached tissue fragments. Gently hold the tooth in its socket. Insert the tooth back into a child’s socket only if they are old enough to not swallow it. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a cup of cold whole milk. Avoid using low fat milk, powdered milk, or milk products like yogurt. Never put the tooth in mouthwash, alcohol or even water, because it may damage the root. Avoid scrubbing the tooth or touching the root end. Get to your dentist or local emergency room immediately (within 30 minutes), and do not forget to bring the tooth. Every minute a tooth is out of its socket means the less chance that it will survive. A tooth has the best chance of survival if replaced within 30 minutes!

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Composite Fillings vs. Amalgam Fillings

For years there has been debate in the dental profession regarding the pro and cons of using silver amalgams fillings, which contain 50% mercury, to restore cavities. While it has not been proven scientifically that mercury can harm you, we have chosen to not recommend amalgam fillings because the technology involved with them is well over 100 years old. There are also several drawbacks to them, which can cause trouble for teeth with silver fillings.

At our office we prefer to provide our patients with the newest and best alternatives available, which are bonded ceramic composite resins. Not only do they look natural, they provide a much better service and protection for your teeth, insulate against hot and cold more effectively, and if they wear down they can be repaired more easily. Amalgams are pressed into the tooth structure, causing tooth to expand and contract and increasing risk of fracture and breakage. Composites are bonded directly to the tooth structure, which strengthens the tooth making it more resistant to fracture. Composites are also more conservative because less tooth structure is removed and there is no need to go into the dentin (the live part of the tooth). Composites are completely hard when the patient leaves the office, where amalgams take up to several hours to harden. To sum up, composite fillings are the best option for restoring the longevity and health of your teeth.

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Dr. Layus’s Son Makes it Big in the Music World

Dr. Layus is very proud of his son, Dan, whose band was signed with Epic records in 2005. Dan is the lead singer for the band, Augustana. Two of his band mates reside here in San Diego, one in Dana Point, and Dan lives in Los Angeles. They actively travel and are thoroughly enjoying performing around the country. The Houston Chronicle wrote “Newcomer Augustana puts one foot in the solid soil of classic-sounding guitar-rock and the other in the ethereal sounds of contemporary Brit pop like Coldplay.”

Their debut album “All the Stars and Boulevards” and their new single “Boston” received rave reviews and is the third most requested song on KPRI 102.1. Dr. Layus did a live interview on the radio station promoting their “awesome” band. We are all very excited for their success. They truly deserve it!

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