It is now more than three years since we have been using the Time Lapse technology, a digital tool for documenting and visualizing modifications of form, shape, size of the teeth, gums and jaw bones.
How does it look like?
Monitoring children growth with the Time Lapse function can provide a wealth of information about the synchronicity between jaws growth and the permanent teeth eruption and alignment.
and
Dental prototyping is a useful tool now possible in a full digital format. Comparing an existing dental situation with a diagnostic wax-up (prototype) outlines the differences and provide a map for minimally invasive preparation.
Not only that it generates a much higher resolution for our diagnosis, but it allows for establishing trends and avoid the development of pathology. For children, we can intercept and guide for a harmonious and beautiful growth using the non-invasive Myobrace and for adults, valuable tooth structure can be saved and strengthened.
The 3D optical scanner is our digital eye that does not miss anything, while the Time Lapse function it is an integral part of our preventive protocol. We used them for our patients during the yearly check-up together with the saliva microbiome analysis, 3D radiography (DVT - digital volume tomography), bite & joints analysis and autofluorescence detection (precancerous lesion screening with Velscope Vx).
But the most valuable aspect of these technologies is not that we have/use them or what can be visualized; it is what our patients can learn out of them for the purpose of preserving teeth, gums, soft tissues, insuring minimally-invasive preparations when restorations are needed, and detecting very early trends towards inflammaging - the culprit for premature aging.
This is state-of-the-art oral medicine at its best.
Vitamine D, the Immune system, and not only
Vitamin D, should I take supplements, is nutrition rich enough in Vit D, does it help against cancer… it is a hot subject nowadays with studies pros and cons. According to #ZOE chief scientist Dr. Sarah Berry, balanced nutrition and maybe a multivitamin supplement should be enough. A Vit D-specific supplement might be helpful during darker months if you live in an environment with less available sun. Yale University’s scientists (https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/vitamin-d-myths-debunked) also agree that too many supplements of Vit. D is not healthy; too much sun (through exposure to UVB light, the skin generates its own Vit D) increases the risk of melanoma. For a healthy individual, 600 IU per day as a supplement is fine; for those over 70 years of age, 800 IU is fine (especially women due to menopause). Are you eating Vitamine D fortified foods (soy, almond or oat milk, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon…)?! Then, you might not need supplements.
How about the teeth, gums, the mouth — where does systemic health start? A deficiency of Vit.D increases the risk of tooth caries and gum inflammation. Especially for children, it can lead to deficient mineralization of developing teeth due to a deficient Calcium and Phosphate balance in the body. (Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients. 2020 May 19)