Viva Dental Studio

Viva Dental Office located In Saskatoon

[vivadental]

Landscaping in the front of the office for Viva Dental, Grass is already in since I took this photo! Come visit us!

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My Yard photos for the summer of 2014! Love landscaping

[vivadental]

Before the 18th century, this often involved tying a string around the tooth; a drum might be played in the background to distract the patient, getting louder as the moment of extraction grew nearer.

To advertise their services as ‘tooth-pullers’, many barber-surgeons hung rows of rotten teeth outside their shops. In 1727, the poet John Gay, wrote:

His pole, with pewter basins hung,

Black, rotten teeth in order strung,

Rang’d cups that in the window stood,

Lin’d with red rags, to look like blood,

Did well his threefold trade explain,

Who shav’d, drew teeth, and breath’d a vein.

As time wore on, new techniques were invented for extracting teeth. The tooth key (right) was first mentioned in Alexander Monro’s Medical Essays and Observations in 1742. The claw was placed over the top of the decaying tooth; the bolster, or the long metal rod, was placed against the root. The key was then turned and, if all went well, the tooth would pop out of the socket. Unfortunately, this did not always go to plan. Often, the tooth shattered as the key was turned and had to be plucked from the bleeding gum tissue piece by piece.

Of course, the loss of a tooth could leave a person aesthetically challenged.  Wealthy patrons were increasingly unhappy to go around in public with missing teeth. In the 18th century, surgeons began experimenting with implants. Patients who could afford it might choose between ‘live’ or ‘dead’ teeth.  With the former, the recipient would have his or her rotten tooth removed before a ‘selection of donors’, who would then have their own teeth extracted until one was found that was ‘deemed acceptable in appearance’. Afterwards, the tooth was inserted into the empty socket and fixed using a silver wire or silk ligatures.

Although desirable, having a ‘live’ tooth implanted into one’s mouth was a costly endeavour. For the thrifty costumer, teeth extracted from the mouths of the dead proved cheaper. According to one resurrectionist, ‘It is the constant practice to take the teeth out first…because if the body be lost, the teeth are saved’. During the 19th century, a good set of teeth could fetch as much as 5 guineas. Indeed, the practice was so profuse that one Professor of Anatomy at Trinity College remarked, ‘very many of the upper ranks carry in their mouths teeth which have been buried in the hospital fields’.  Unfortunately for some unlucky recipients, syphilis and tuberculosis were unknowingly transmitted into their mouths from infected donors.

[vivadental]

My yard ! Summer is a bit slow but the flowers are growing!

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The first evidence of ancient civilizations using some form of dentistry in treating oral health concerns dates back as far as 7000 BC. The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization found in the northwestern region of the Indian Subcontinent (consisting of what is now Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Iran). This area is the sight of some of the oldest evidence of man’s attempts to alleviate tooth pain. Fast forward a few thousand years and we find that the Sumerians thought worms were boring holes in peoples teeth in an effort to hide. This idea lasted up to the 1700’s, when it was finally proven false. It has even been reported that many ancient doctors mistook the nerves inside the teeth as the boring worms. In 3000 BC, Ancient Egyptian Hesi-Re was the first named dentist- his tomb inscription claimed him to be the “greatest of teeth”. Ancient Greek scholars Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote extensively on dentistry, including eruption patterns of teeth, treatments of decayed teeth and gum disease, tooth extractions using forceps and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws. The Tang Dynasty is one of the first recorded civilizations to have used a sort of amalgam filling for tooth decay. Pierre Fauchard, a 17th century French physician, can be thanked for the modern science of dentistry and has been dubbed the father of dentistry. Evidence shows that the Indus Valley people used bow drills (typically used for woodworking and bead making) to take out “the rot” from a tooth, though whatever they may have used to reseal the tooth is no longer evident in the recovered artifacts. Ancient Egyptian mummies have been found with evidence of the cultures dental surgery habits. It seems they, much like the Mayan and Aztec cultures, used small smoothed rocks and carved shells as implants for missing teeth. The Egyptians also bound replacement teeth using gold wires, the early attempts of dental prosthesis. The earliest fillings in dentistry were made of beeswax, metal wasn’t used until the Tang Dynasty, 700 AD. And the Aztecs were found to have used iron shavings, water and navel lint (baked of course) as fillings. In the middle ages, most toothaches and mouth pains were relieved by extracting the problem causing tooth. Oddly enough, however, dentistry didn’t exist as a profession and most doctors could hardly be bothered with such trivial concerns, so barbers were the ones doing the extractions.

[vivadental]

Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance are two different monsters!

Dental insurance and medical insurance are two totally different animals.  Medical insurance is about investing a small amount to hedge the risk of a potentially catastrophic medical emergency.  By contrast, dental insurance is about investing a small amount  to gain what an insurance company has deemed "the average allotted dental care" for an individual for a one year.  Oh yah, it also has a maximum. Imagine if you will a meeting with your physician where he/she sits you down to tell you that you have been diagnosed with cancer.  If you are lucky enough to be an individual with medical insurance you can feel confident that your chemo and radiation therapy will begin very shortly.  However, what if you sit down with your physician and you hear something like this: "We are sorry Mrs. Robinson but you exceeded your limit when you had your emergency gall bladder operation this spring.  You will not be eligible for coverage until the new year.  If you aren't willing to wait feel free to use your own finances for your treatment."  Or maybe they may say something like this "The procedure your require Mrs. Robinson exceeds your maximum limit.  You will be financially responsible for the remaining portion of your treatment" Something to keep in mind is that every patient has different needs and these needs are completely independent of their insurance coverage.  Consider patient Joe Schmoe.  He is a truck driving, big gulp drinkin, non flossing, chain smoking son of a gun.  His dental needs are tremendous.  Yes, mostly due to his habits or lack thereof, but we can agree he requires alot more work than Sally Sue. Sally Sue is a prim and proper flossing, tongue brushing, soft tooth brush using dental marvel.  Sally hasnt had a cavity since 6th grade. Joe hasn't had a year without a cavity.  Both Sally and Joe have the same insurance. Let's put it this way.  Sally Sue is probably going to use more of her insurance. Why? Because she cares about her mouth and will make regular checkup and cleaning appointments. Mr. Schmoe will show up when something breaks or abscesses and wont get it repaired because to fix one tooth with a root canal , post and crown will exceed his yearly maximum. So how then can an insurance company tell you what you need for dental insurance?  Everyone is different.  I get it everyday "I am not getting another cleaning this year because my dental insurance doesnt pay for it."  This from the guy that has 10mm pockets and builds up calculus that looks like barnacles on his teeth.  Its like he lives on the bottom of the ocean with Sponge Bob. People think that the insurance company knows best.  They are thinking "If insurance won't pay for it then obviously I don't need it".  Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news...Insurance companies are in business to make money.  If they actually cared about you...they would go out of business.

[vivadental]

When someone sits down in my chair and the first thing they say is: "I hate the Dentist". What! Really? Did your parents not teach you manners? Or even tell you that its impolite to tell someone you hate them the moment you meet them? What I really want to say back is, "Awe, I hate you too."  And then I begin my angry work. ..........Dear world, dentists have feelings too!

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False teeth have been around as early as 700 B.C. when the Etruscans made false teeth out of ivory and bone. Human teeth were once also used for dentures. Poor people would often pull their own teeth and sell them for money. However, this type of denture soon rotted. Rich people preferred teeth of silver, gold, or mother of pearl.

During medieval times, the practice of dentistry was mostly confined to tooth extractions. Replacing lost or decayed teeth was seldom considered. Gaps between teeth were expected, even among the rich. In the 1500s, Queen Elizabeth I filled the holes in her mouth with cloth to improve her appearance in public.

Hundreds of years ago, when false teeth were placed in the mouth, they were hand-carved and then tied in place with thread. If a person didn't have enough natural teeth remaining, anchoring false teeth was very hard. People who had full sets of dentures had to remove them when they wanted to eat.

Paul Revere, most remembered for his "midnight ride," was a metalworker by trade who constructed dentures from gold and ivory. Even George Washington suffered from tooth loss and ill-fitting dentures. The first president of the United States had dentures made of metal and carved ivory, or metal and carved cow's teeth—but never made out of wood.

In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanized rubber, which could be molded to fit the mouth and made a good base to hold false teeth. Dentures could now be made comfortable and at an affordable fee.

Today dentures are either plastic or ceramic.

[vivadental]

We will never be able to teach our dogs and cats to brush their teeth but there are some preventative measures you can use to keep their dental health in check.

In the wild, animal's teeth are kept clean and tartar-free thanks to the raw animals they eat. As unappetizing as it may sound, the muscle fibers, bone pieces and other body parts serve to both brush and floss wild animals' teeth. Most of us aren't letting our four-legged friends fend for themselves or feeding them raw meat, so we have to intervene. Common kibble not only doesn't scrape and clean their teeth but it can also build up, causing tartar issues and various dental concerns. Luckily there are some simple ways to keep your pet's teeth clean and their breath fresh.        "Just like with people, dental disease can lead to all sorts of major health issues for animals,” explains Dr. Mark Verdino, VP and Chief of Veterinary Services at North Shore Animal League America. Dental hygiene is as important to your pets’ overall health as nutrition and exercise, he adds. “Gum inflammation and tooth loss can be very painful to your animals and costly to treat, but they also can lead to more serious conditions, including damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys.”

            Estimates suggest that, by the time they are three years old, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral disease. Some of the most common symptoms in both dogs and cats include yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line; inflamed gums; and persistent bad breath. A change in eating habits or pawing at the mouth can also indicate dental disease. But since dental problems often develop gradually, it’s easy to miss the signs until there is a bad infection. That’s why it’s critical to schedule a regular annual dental check-up with your pet’s veterinarian.

It’s important to brush your pet’s teeth as early as possible. The best time to start a tooth-brushing regimen is when their adult teeth are in, at about 6-9 months old. But getting puppies and kittens used to the process earlier is important.

Avoid dental products containing Xylitol, as it is highly toxic to dogs and questionable to cats. NEVER use human toothpaste to clean pets’ teeth and gums.

You dont need pet tooth paste, simply brushing the bacteria and plaque off with water will reduce bad breath and chance of dental diseases.

Poor dental hygiene can lead to dental disease. Dental disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth and can result in oral pain, halitosis, tooth loss and periodontal disease, and it can even affect the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract and joints. Also, a pet in dental pain is not a happy pet, and the pain can affect his/her ability to eat.

So do your pet a favour, keep their breath fresh and make those teeth last! No doggy dentures!

[vivadental]

Did you know that even in ancient times, people wanted to improve the look and function of their smiles?

Ancient Times: From Greece to Rome

According to The Angle Orthodontist, Aristotle and Hippocrates first thought about methods for straightening teeth between 400 and 300 BC.

The Etruscans, in what we now know as Italy, buried their dead with appliances that maintained spaces and prevented collapse of their teeth and jaws during life. Archaeologists have discovered mummified remains in various locations that have metal bands wrapped around the teeth.

A Roman tomb has also been discovered in which the teeth were bound with gold wire, including documentation on the wire’s use as a dental device.

18th Century: A French Development

The French dentist Pierre Fauchard is acknowledged as the father of modern dentistry. In 1728 he published a book that described various methods for straightening teeth. Fauchard also used a device known as a “blandeau” to widen the upper palate.

Louis Bourdet was another French dentist who published a book in 1754 that discussed tooth alignment. Bourdet further refined the blandeau and was the first dentist to extract bicuspids, or the premolar teeth between canines and molars, for the purpose of reducing tooth crowding.

19th Century: Orthodontics Defined

Orthodontics started to become a separate dental specialty during the early 19th century. The first wire crib was used in 1819, marking the beginning of modern orthodontics.

During this period, gold, platinum, silver, steel, gum rubber, vulcanite, and occasionally wood, ivory, zinc, and copper were used — as was brass in the form of loops, hooks, spurs, and ligatures.

Edward Maynard first used gum elastics in 1843 and E. J. Tucker began making rubber bands for braces in 1850.

Norman W. Kingsley published the first paper on modern orthodontics in 1858 and J. N. Farrar was the first dentist to recommend the use of force over timed intervals to straighten teeth.

20th Century: New Materials Abound

Edward Angle developed the first classification systems for malocclusions (misaligned teeth) during the early 20th century in the United States, and it is still in use today. Angle founded the American Society of Orthodontia in 1901, which was renamed the American Association of Orthodontists in the 1930s.

By the 1960s, gold was universally abandoned in favor of stainless steel.

Lingual braces were the “invisible” braces of choice until the early 1980s, when tooth-colored aesthetic brackets made from single-crystal sapphire and ceramics became popular

Today As we arrive in the present, you need only look at your own braces to see how far we’ve come. Your treatment plan was probably created with a 3D digital model, and we’ve likely used a computerized process to customize your archwires. Perhaps you have clear aligners, self-ligating brackets, or highly resilient ceramic brackets with heat-activated wires.

Orthodontics has come a long way from the days of Aristotle, and even the bulky wrap-around braces of just 60 years ago. Regardless of your specific treatment plan, the development of high-tech materials and methods has made it possible for your orthodontic experience to be as effective, efficient, and comfortable as possible. Call our office Viva Dental Studio in Saskatoon to schedule your first orthodontic consultation!

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Tooth Worms and Eternal Suffering. In the throes of agonising toothache, could you imagine kissing the teeth of a living donkey in an attempt to cure yourself? If you can’t, that’s understandable - but it’s exactly what you would have done in the 14th century… and much more besides. The cures for toothache in the past are difficult to believe and some of them are difficult to stomach. From spitting into the mouth of frog in the hope it would take on your pain for itself to sucking on the freshly extracted tooth of a dead man, past populations would try anything to alleviate the pain of cavities and gum disease. Until the germ theory of disease was discovered in the late 19th century, how teeth became cavity ridden was a mystery. In 1890, WD Miller discovered that bacteria lived on the surface of the teeth and their acidic waste products could erode the enamel. Prior to this discovery, common lore attributed cavities to a tooth worm. The worm was a popular explanation for dental problems across the globe throughout the ages.  Ancient Babylonian priests are purported to have called upon the sun god Ra to summon the worm for them so that they could banish it with a curse and medieval Europeans would try to smoke the worms out by taking in the (poisonous) fumes of henbane. Animals, as with many folk cures, lose out in this situation, with common traditional cures for toothache in England including: wearing a necklace made of mole paws and noses, cutting spines off a dogfish or rubbing the afflicted teeth with the burnt brain of a hare or the horn of a hart. Apparently, hare brains rubbed into the gums were also used to aid the safe eruption of infants’ teeth. Lovely. Nineteenth century Americans would even bite snakes, including deadly rattlesnakes, in an attempt to get rid of their toothache. I’m pretty sure that the threat of getting bitten by a rattler would definitely take your mind off the tooth pain, so at least this one might have worked for a short time…  this is the part where you thank your modern day dentists!

[beggars-opera]

To anyone who is having a bad day, I give you this hamster wearing a flower hat.

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Many people assume you should brush your teeth right after eating, as that is when you have the most buildup on your teeth. However, it’s also when you have the highest amount of acid in your saliva, which, when combined with the abrasions of brushing, can actually assist in wearing away the enamel of your teeth. One dentist suggests rinsing your mouth out with water after eating to restore the pH balance and then brush about a half hour later.

Dentists also insist that no matter how well we brush, if we aren’t flossing we aren’t doing it right. Unfortunately, many people rarely floss, but it is actually even more important than brushing. It gets food that’s caught between the teeth that you can’t get with a brush, and protects your gums much more effectively. When asked whether you really have to floss your teeth, most dentists will reply “Only the ones you want to keep.”

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Now I know why no one wants to sit in my dental chair!

In the late 19th century, prisons across the country were looking for ways to more humanely deal with executing criminals. In 1881, noted dentist Dr. Alfred P. Southwick from Buffalo, New York, witnessed an event that would end up changing criminal executions forever. One night Dr. Southwick happened upon an intoxicated man who, while staggering around, inadvertently touched a live generator terminal and was killed instantly. At first Dr. Southwick was completely aghast, but as he thought about the event later, he realized the electric shock seemed quicker and more painless—and therefore more humane—than the more grisly methods that were being used at the time, such garroting, beheading, suffocating, and flaying. This revelation prompted Dr. Southwick to originate and successfully promote the passage of laws mandating criminal electrocution in New York and twenty other states.

In 1888 Dr. Southwick joined the state’s Electrical Death Commission, a group tasked to prove that electrocution was the preferred method; they were also charged with hiring someone to build the machine. At this point there still was no concrete idea for administering the jolt to the criminal, but Dr. Southwick did have an idea. Given that, as a dentist, he was accustomed to working on patients while they were seated, he suggested that the device be made in the form of a chair so that the prisoner could be more easily retained. The committee agreed, and they set to hiring someone to create Dr. Southwick’s electrocution chair.

The person they hired? Thomas Edison.

[johnpeterf]

Don’t forget! Brush your teeth 2x daily and floss for that perfect smile 😃😬😬 #dental #dentalcare #oralcare #dentist #cat #kittah #meow #animals #toothbrush #teeth

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The cotton candy making machine that made widely consumed cotton candy possible was co-invented by a dentist. Before it was cotton candy, the fluffy confection was called “fairy floss.” 

Cotton candy was first recorded in Europe in the 18th century.At that time, spun sugar was an expensive, labor-intensive endeavor and was not generally available to the average person.Machine-spun cotton candy was invented in 1897 by the dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton and first introduced to a wide audience at the 1904 World’s Fair as "Fairy Floss" with great success, selling 68,655 boxes at 25¢ per box (equivalent to $6 per box today). Joseph Lascaux, a dentist from New Orleans, Louisiana, invented a similar cotton candy machine in 1921. In fact, the Lascaux patent named the sweet confection “cotton candy” and the “fairy floss” name faded away, although it retains this name in Australia. In the 1970s an automatic cotton candy machine was created which made the product and packaged it. This made it easier to produce and available to sell at carnivals, fairs, and stores in the 1970s and on. As a side benefit, one would assume Morrison’s dental practice may have been helped a bit by this, although not as much as the next cotton candy making dentist who specifically targeted his own patients when selling the confectionery. Excellent idea!

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You’ve probably heard the story about toothbrushes and toilets. The theory goes that even if it is several feet away, airborne germs from a toilet flush will infect your toothbrush with fecal bacteria. It sounds pretty scary, and many people now make sure to close the cover of their toilet before they flush.

The problem is that this attitude causes people to miss the real source of worrisome germs—the brush itself. Studies have found that your toilet is one of the cleaner parts of your house, but as your toothbrush spends a lot of time removing bacteria, it ends up coated with it. Now if you have a strong immune system you should be fine, but keeping your toothbrush away from the toilet is not an effective way to keep it hygienic. What the bacteria on your toothbrush really need in order to thrive is moisture.

So if you really want to avoid germs on your toothbrush, the best thing you can do is keep it dry.