Do Your Wisdom Teeth Make You Smarter?

Don't be silly, of course they don't. Witness the lady in front of you in the lunch line as she takes 20 minutes to order a 6 inch sub. Do you think an extra set of molars are going to help her out?
All kidding aside, wisdom teeth have become a college right of passage. There's something about sitting miserably in the house for the first week of your summer vacation with chipmunk cheeks that helps transition you into the adult world.
However, the question has been raised... "If we all just get our Wisdom Teeth extracted, why did God give them to us in the first place?" Unfortunately, God did not consult me in the Creation process, or chocolate would be non-fattening and super nutritious and we'd have mini pet dinosaurs. However, a history lesson does shed some light on the subject. Once upon a time, our ancestors had thicker jaws that actually had room for wisdom teeth. Our ancestors also did not share our culinary expertise, those guys in the Geico commercials almost never cooked their food, never mind actually using a knife and fork. In fact, up until modern times, table food was contaminated with debris. This debris would get between teeth and erode them. By the time that an individual reached physical maturity (at which point they had supposedly gained wisdom, get it?), the teeth had eroded and shifted. The third molars would erupt, and push the eroded teeth back together.
You might notice our jaws are a little bit smaller and noticeably more attractive now. That is directly related to the fact that we have improved our food preparation dramatically and no longer require the same amount of chewing power. In fact (and this is fascinating!), humans are beginning to be born WITHOUT wisdom teeth! Our office has seen many members of the next generation that are not developing full sets of third molars, and some do not develop them at all!
If you're having a problem with your wisdom teeth, give our office a call at 727.733.1175 and let us know you read this blog, we'll give you a free evaluation!

Dr. Mike to be Featured in New Beauty

We are excited to announce that Dr. Mike Hopkins will be a featured cosmetic dentist in the July issue of New Beauty magazine.

Dr. Hopkins has been a follower of New Beauty for quite some time, they are on the cutting edge of all aspects of the aesthetic field. Dr. Hopkins will be discussing cosmetic dentistry, including complete smile makeovers and cosmetic teeth whitening.

New Beauty features only several dentists per state, so we are extremely honored to be a part of this prestigious publication!

March Specials

The Link Between Perio Disease and Heart Disease and Diabetes

Did you know that your mouth is an overall indicator in the health of your body? Chances are, if you suffer from periodontal disease (which 1 in 3 adult Americans do), it could increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. If you already have these conditions, perio disease could exacerbate the situation.

So how exactly do your gums connect to your heart? Periodontal disease occurs when there is a build up of bacteria in your gums, causing infection. That infection enters your blood stream, and circulates throughout your body. This can lead to a build of plaque in your arteries. Yup, plaque, that very same hard build up that hygienists scrape off of your teeth. Plaque builds up in your arteries, which restricts blood flow, which leads to heart attack and stroke.

Periodontal Disease also makes it more difficult for people with type 2 Diabetes to control their blood sugar levels. It is unclear precisely why diabetic patients are more likely to suffer from gum disease, but studies show that the presence of gum disease exacerbates diabetic complications.

Another fact about periodontal disease: once contracted, it cannot be cured. The best you can do after contracting periodontal disease is to keep it under control.

So, how do you use all of this information to optimize your health? You can start by having regular medical and dental check up. Home care, especially flossing, is essential to preventing gum disease from developing. Having your teeth cleaned at regular intervals determined by your hygienist is also crucial. For more information, or a complimentary periodontal evaluation, call our office at 727.733.1175.

Holiday Card Drive for Recovering Soldiers

This is the fourth year that we've been running our Holiday Cards for Soldiers drive. This year we've partnered with Copic Marker Scrapbooking to enlist the aid of their crafty card making friends.





With the violence escalating on a daily basis in Afghanistan, there are many soldiers recovering in VA facilities this year. It is our hope that the Christmas cards we collect will help cheer their spirits.





One special crafter deserves special recognition, Ms. Alicia Baldwin. Check out the package we received from Alicia today!

There are over 100 cards in this box!! Way to go Alicia! If you're interested in seeing more of Alicia's work, including a recap of her efforts for our card drive, you can visit her blog: http://mishaps-happen.blogspot.com/

It's not too late to participate! If you'd like to send some cards, they must be post marked by December 11th. Please send them to the following:

Hopkins Aesthetic & Reconstructive Dentistry
1952 Bayshore Blvd.
Dunedin, FL 34698
Attn: Holiday Card Drive

Black Friday Beauty Extravaganza!

Dental Tourism: NOT a vacation!

I've been seeing an increasing number of dental ads lately relating to "Dental Tourism". If you haven't heard the term before, allow me to explain. Dental Tourism occurs when a person elects to travel outside of the United States to have their dental work done. Popular destinations include Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and India.

So why have I noticed these ads, and why am I bothering to blog about it?

Several reasons really, but mostly because it's not the vacation that it's made out to be. The ads I've seen make it seem as if you're sipping a pina colada and getting a massage while having a mouth full of dental implants done. Now, I've obviously never engaged in dental tourism, but I'm positive that's not how it's done.

It's not worth leaving the country to get a few fillings. The cost of travel alone will be greater than your dental bill. It's is reasonable to assume then that most patients are engaging in dental tourism for more complicated procedures such as dental implants and full mouth crowning.

What's important to understand is that these are actual surgeries. They are not one appointment treatments, like fillings. Dental implants are a complex procedure, and require a copious amount of after care. Recently, a former patient of mine returned to the practice. She had been to South America and had all of her upper teeth extracted and an implant denture made. She had saved approximately $20,000 by having the work done in South America.

Dental implants are a tricky thing... that's why the best person to place and maintain them is an oral surgeon. Long story short, the patient returned home and had not lined up after care. There were complications, and of course she wasn't able to travel back and forth to South America several times a week. All in all, after having to purchase after care to correct several of the problems, she spent more than she would have if she had had the work done locally.

If you are considering doing extensive dental work, it is best to select a local dentist that you trust. You can then guarantee that aftercare will be included with your work, and that they will be able to address not only any medical issues that arise, but assist with the emotional aspect of your recovery. Plus, it's always great to buy American.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please visit www.allaboutsmiles.org .