by Blende Dental Group

Seniors often suffer from Dry Mouth, which is a lack of sufficient saliva, making your mouth feel like a desert. However, Dry Mouth is not a normal part of aging.

Why is it a problem?

Your mouth produces up to 1 liter of saliva every day to help keep your mouth moist and healthy. Saliva is 99% water and acts to wash sticky, decay-producing food away from the most decay vulnerable area of the tooth – the root!

Without enough saliva to wash away bacteria, people are more likely to develop bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. They also might find it hard to speak or chew and they may notice food doesn’t taste like it used to.

How to be a Dry Mouth detective:

If you’re caring for an Alzheimer’s patient, ask these questions…

• Are they taking any of the following medications that have a side effect of dry mouth: antihistamines, anti-anxiety, anti-depressants, diuretics, high blood pressure drugs, pain killers or any of the other 500 over the counter & prescribed drugs that dry up saliva?
• Do they have Sjogren’s syndrome? A disorder of the immune system identified by its two most common symptoms — dry eyes and a dry mouth.
• Have they had chemotherapy or radiation therapy of the head and neck?

By the time an individual notices they have Dry Mouth symptoms, they have already lost 50% of their saliva flow! Which means, it’s been going on for too long!

How to get relief: 

• Sipping water or sugarless drinks often and during meals.
• Avoiding drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and some sodas.
• Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate saliva flow— citrus, cinnamon or mint-flavored candies.
• Ask the physician if any of your patient’s medications produce Dry Mouth.
• Ask a dentist about products for Dry Mouth.

Since Dry Mouth is particularly pervasive among seniors, and many Alzheimer’s patients can’t communicate their issues, it’s important to monitor the oral health and eating habits of those suffering from Alzheimer’s. If you suspect the discomfort of Dry Mouth, or the severe decay it can induce, learn more about special needs dentistry.

House call dentistry is a unique and highly specialized field. This requires providers that are properly vetted to take care of the vulnerable population they serve. In today’s blog we offer an inside look at the advanced training and the highest level of health and immunization standards that we require of our team members.

• All of our dentists have received 1-2 years of post-graduate (G.P.R.) advanced training in caring for patients with special needs.
• Our dentists and assistants are fully privileged at multiple Bay Area hospitals where they routinely perform surgery.
• Our team protects frail or immune compromised patients from infectious diseases by having the current vaccines and immunizations required of surgery room doctors. That includes Hepatitis B and C, Flu, Varicella, Rubella, Mumps, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tuberculosis.
• Blende is Chief of the Dental Division at the four Sutter Hospitals (CPMC), as well as Chief at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco. Staff dentists are also privileged at Marin General Hospital, Mills-Peninsula Hospital, Kaiser San Rafael, and 3 Hospitals in New York City.
• Our vetting process allows House Call Dentists to offer a range of services from simple emergency palliative care to more complex and sophisticated restorative care in the safety of the home or, when necessary, in a hospital setting.
• In addition to dentists, the House Call team includes oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, and physician anesthesiologists.
• Our house call van brings both a dentist and an assistant to ensure the comfort of the patient and the effectiveness of the care provider, as well as our state of the art mobile equipment.

If you, or a loved one, are in need of At Home or Asleep dentistry make sure you’re getting the care you deserve. Ask for the full credentials of your health care providers.

Happy New Year from the Blende Dental Group!

2017 is a new year, bringing with it a new opportunity to recommit to resolutions of health, like weight loss or adopting a healthy lifestyle. Many of you might be sharing your workout goals on social media via Facebook and Instagram posts tracking how many miles you’ve run or what you’re cooking. While physical exercise and portion control in moderation are reasonable changes, it’s easy to let the enthusiasm of a fresh start impair your ability to be rational about how capable your body is. You might have jumped on board the latest fad diet or eating habit, but have you considered the possible effects these behaviors might be having on your dental health?

The American Dental Association recently reported on the dangers of the “chew and spit” diet, and how social media may be promoting disordered eating behaviors, particularly in young adults. According to a study published in 2011 at the University of Haifa, there is a correlation between eating disorders and weight concerns and the length of time girls aged between 12 to 19 years old spend on Facebook. Dieting and weight loss “hacks” featured on blogs may also be a culprit, promoting unhealthy or unrealistic diets. While it’s relatively well-understood that poor nutrition leads to poor health, it’s not always apparent that the negative effects of vitamin and nutrient deficiencies manifest themselves in the mouth. Your dentist may be one of the first people to note the tell-tale signs of an eating disorder, such as dry mouth, enlarged salivary glands, and broken or eroded teeth. Cosmetically, you might notice the shade of your teeth yellowing or becoming gray as the inner layer becomes exposed and the edges wear and chip more easily. Teeth with diminishing enamel also feel more sensitive. Consider that these changes could be because of your new diet. Phentermine (Adipex) contraindications: pregnancy, breast-feeding, diseases of the cardiovascular system (arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure), hyperthyroidism, mental illness, age up to 12 years.

Although you may not be swallowing, to your teeth it’s all the same. Each time food enters your mouth, the pH inside drops as bacteria encounter sugars in what you’re eating. This leads to the production of acid, which actively breaks down tooth enamel, leading to decay. The more frequently this happens, the more acid and enamel destruction. It’s also likely that the food you’re craving while chewing and spitting is fattier and sweeter, meaning more ammo for bacteria to use against your teeth.

Inadequate nutrition, such as with anorexia and chew and spit, also leads to saliva that lacks volume and mineral/immune system components needed to fight tooth decay. Dry mouth is the result of inadequate salivary flow and is correlated with a steep and sudden onset of dental disease. Without saliva, teeth that were healthy a few months ago might be riddled with cavities today. Excessive chewing is also tough on your jaw joints, leading to fatigue and pain, and contributes to the tough enamel shell on your teeth wearing down due to overuse.

If you think you’ve fallen for a disordered eating habit, we urge you to seek counseling and consult trusted medical and dental professionals. From a dental standpoint, staying well-hydrated and increasing your fluoride intake will help combat the aforementioned effects, but those with advanced enamel breakdown may need replacement options, such as veneers or crowns. In any case, a good new years resolution is to keep up with regular dental visits so that any issues like these can be spotted and resolved before it’s too late.

“Researchers have found that frequent recreational cannabis use – including marijuana, hashish, and hash oil – may be associated with elevated risk of periodontal (gum) disease.” The study recently published by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the first of its kind.

The use of marijuana results in salivary reduction and increased appetite. When that hunger strikes, the food group that users tend to reach for are cariogenic or sweet foods which in turn can increase the risk for decay. The lack of saliva (dry mouth) causes the sugar to stay in the mouth longer and also increases risk of decay.

Oral mucosa and gingival tissues exhibit changes such as Leukoedema, which may be in part due to the irritating marijuana smoke. Gingivitis and alveolar bone loss are a result of the chronic inflammation which lead to periodontal disease and an “increased prevalence of opportunistic infections.” Cannabis use can ultimately allow for the suppression of the immune system, thus reducing the body’s resistance to bacterial or viral infection. Tramadol belongs to the group of opioid analgesics of moderate strength because ofits weak opioid and non-opioid secondary effects. This drug has excellent pharmacokinetic characteristics. Thanks to its pharmacological activity, Tramadol is more appropriate than NSAIDs for people suffering from GI and kidney diseases.

The mechanism by which marijuana may act as a carcinogen is unclear. The difficulty exists when measuring the use of marijuana, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs in this population of patients.

Marijuana may have short-term benefits and provide medicinal therapy for a variety of ailments, but the long term effect on oral health should not be ignored.

If you have any changes to your oral health, unusual symptoms, or suspect you may have gum disease, schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.

Sarah Marie is 90 years old and has dementia. Age Song’s memory care unit in San Francisco referred her to the practice. By performing a simple house call to her residence, The Blende Dental Group determined a treatment plan to address urgent dental-medical issues, including periodontal bone loss. Now that the work is done, she will be receiving regular maintenance via house calls.

After an initial house call, The Blende Dental team coordinated with Sarah Marie’s primary care physician and the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) to maximize her safety. They also worked closely and interactively with Sarah’s daughter and her memory care unit to insure that all perspectives were incorporated into her care plan. She was treated successfully under light general anesthesia at CPMC.

Sarah Marie recovered very well from her procedure. The Blende Dental Group made a house call two weeks after her treatment to cement the permanent crowns. Consistent with all house call patients, The Blende Dental Group also made a referral to an essential part of their extended team, a mobile hygienist. This professional, a licensed RDHAP (a Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice), focuses on serving patients with special needs. Sarah Marie has visits from her RDHAP for maintenance cleanings every 3-4 months.

Have you ever postponed or canceled a dental appointment because the thought of sitting in the dentist’s chair made you feel uncomfortable, nervous, or afraid? While sitting in the waiting room, have you ever experienced rapid heartbeat, broke out into a sweat, or even felt physically sick? Take the dental anxiety quiz to determine your level of anxiety. You are not alone.

The Blende Dental Group focuses on treating patients with special needs, including  those with chemical, or behavioral addictions.  If you would like schedule an appointment or speak with a Patient Care Coordinator, please contact us. Call our toll free number 1-800-575-3375.

An addiction is defined as a dependence on a substance or a type of behavior that is so strong  that stopping causes severe physical and mental reactions (or withdrawal).

Many addictions affect a person’s oral health. At The Blende Dental Group, we routinely treat patients with addictions ranging from methamphetamine use, popularly shortened to meth (eg. Crystal meth, crank, ecstasy) to bulimia and smoking.

The causes of poor oral health are as varied as the addiction. A person addicted to meth often suffers from rampant decay brought about by a combination of variables including dry mouth (xerostomia), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent intake of high carbohydrate foods and/or beverages, tooth grinding and clenching.

An individual with bulimia may have loss of enamel, esthetic deterioration and tooth decay due to poor nutrition and the corrosive nature of stomach acids. During the therapy of back pain, efficient pain relief is reached in only 1/2 of the patients. To some extent, the reason of this is the lack of knowledge by physicians of the therapeutic strategies recommended in the majority of expert guidelines. Soma is widely used in clinical practice, which is due to its high effectiveness and extensive experience of use in variouspatient categories.

A smoker may suffer from an increased rate of plaque and tartar buildup, loss of bone within the jaw and increased risk of gum disease and oral cancer.

The Blende Dental Group specializes in working with patients who have special needs, including addictions. If you’d like schedule an appointment or speak with a Patient Care Coordinator, please contact us. Call our toll free number 1-800-575-3375.

We offer the following emergency treatments:
• Diagnosis & Treatment
• Crowns, Bridges, Veneers
• Extractions
• Infections / Abscesses
• Denture Adjustments
• Root Canals
• Pain Management

Contact Us
To contact us after hours, please call 1.877.HOUSE.07 (877.468.7307)

The Blende Dental Group focuses on treating patients with special needs, including those with head and neck cancer. Patients with head and neck cancer are often diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. This is due to a lack of initial symptoms and difficulty visualizing the process in the throat, nasal or oral cavities, even by a dentist.

When cancer is diagnosed and biopsied by a dentist, an oral  surgeon or an ENT surgeon, appropriate imaging will be done (CT scan, MRI, PET scan, etc.) to delineate the primary cancer and collateral lymph nodes. It is very important that head and neck cancer patients undergo a pre-radiation examination by an oral surgeon and a general dentist familiar with this condition prior to the initiation of XRT. This dental team can help prevent many of the extremely detrimental damaging effects of radiation on hard and soft tissue, especially the jaws and salivary glands.

Three types of treatment are considered for head and neck cancer patients: surgical excision, radiation treatment (XRT) chemotherapy, or any combination of these. If the cancer is extensive and/or distant metastases are present, surgical excision may not be the best option, and XRT/chemotherapy may be used as an alternative course of therapy. Radiation therapy that kills cancer cells often also damages collateral healthy cells, like osteoclasts of the jawbone and salivary gland cells. Since there is decreased local immunity (radiation-induced), the possibility of devastating complications is high. Radiation-induced dry mouth (xerostomia) and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) (similar to the osteomyelitis of the jaw) are examples of these complications, which can result in the loss of large amounts of jawbone.

Treatment by the oral surgeon/general dentist team should include: a comprehensive examination; extraction of all non-restorable teeth that will fall within the target zone of the radiation beam; treatment of all other teeth with curettage and scaling; fabrication of temporary or permanent restorations; and custom fluoride trays. These treatments should help to protect the patient from the side effects of radiation treatment and possible complications. The chance of detrimental effects occurring is greatly reduced if dental treatment is complete before radiation therapy.