Karen P. Meyers, DDS

Birmingham, MI

1875 Southfield Rd, Birmingham, MI  48009
Phone: 248-646-2450
Experience Excellence in Dental care

  • Home
  • About
    • Dr. Karen Meyers
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Fillings
    • Tooth Whitening
    • Crowns, Caps and Bridges
    • Implants
      • Implant Supported Bridges, Partials and Dentures
    • Veneers
    • Childrens’ Dentistry
    • Sealants
    • Clear Correct® Clear Braces
    • Partials and Dentures
    • Extractions
    • Root Canal/Endodontic Treatment (Referred)
  • Forms
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Gallery
    • Smile Gallery
    • Office Photos
  • Contact

9 Surprising Habits Killing Your Teeth

March 2, 2017

Are you destroying your pearly whites without realizing it? You might be doing permanent damage if you’re a nail biter or using your teeth to rip off the price tag from that new dress.

Stop and heed this advice: Brush your teeth twice daily, floss daily, regularly visit your dentist and have a good, balanced diet. All of those things are going to protect you from damaging your teeth and enamel.

The American Dental Association has developed a list of surprising ways you’re damaging your teeth and Dr. Meyers has culled the top 5:

     1. Overdoing sugary food and drinks – even cough drops

Forget cookies, cupcakes and candy. Those are obvious cavity-promoting foods. Astonishingly enough, even things like throat lozenges can be bad. But we also want to think about where we might be getting other sources of sugar, like sports drinks and not enough water.

The good news is you can help stave off cavities by using toothpaste recommended by your dentist and keeping the sugary snacks to a minimum.

     2. Lack of water

Skip the energy drinks, flavored sports waters and ice teas if you want to dodge cavities. Instead, drink H2O. Not only is it good to hydrate your body, but it’s good to hydrate your mouth.

A dry mouth can be an environment where it’s easier for bacteria to cause cavities. Fluoride is found in tap water and some bottled water, and can ward off tooth decay. That’s why it’s important to drink as much as possible.

     3. Nail biting

Get those fingers out of your mouth! When we bite our nails, we put our jaws in a protrusive position, meaning the lower jaw projects out and moves in a repetitive, unnatural way. It can cause pain and discomfort in the jaw, plus wear down the enamel on your pearly whites.

     4. Heavy brushing

Go easy on your chompers, because brushing aggressively can abrade your teeth. Not only can it strip the teeth of their enamel, promoting cavities and decay, but it can also cause the gums to recede.

     5. Consuming acidic food or drinks

People who have acid reflux or drink lemon water can expect to see damage to their teeth, says the ADA. Acidic foods can strip the teeth of their natural enamel. Citric fruits and fruit juices, sparkling water with lemon and even certain salad dressings are so acidic that they can cause the tooth’s enamel to erode.

     6. Using your teeth as tools

You had that one friend in college who could pop open a beer with his mouth. Have you seen him since? Using your teeth as tools to open bottles, rip off tags or for any purpose besides chewing food can cause serious fractures. These can worsen over time and become infected.

     7. Thumb sucking

It sounds innocent, but thumb sucking is considered a trauma, dentists say. The habit pushes on the upper palate, forcing permanent teeth to move or spread apart. And it’s a hard one to break.

Dentists can talk to parents about proper dental care and ways to break the habit, such as using praise when a child doesn’t suck his or her thumb rather than criticism when they do, or encouraging the child to limit their thumb sucking to bedtime rather than all day.

     8.  Smoking

This is a given. Smoking has proven health consequences – like increasing the risk for oral cancer and respiratory conditions – and that extends to teeth. Huffing on cigarettes also increases plaque and bacteria, which can lead to gum disease.

     9.  Chewing ice

You take a sip of your soda, catch a couple ice cubes in your mouth and what do you do? Chew them, right? Bad move. Don’t do this often – or ever – if you want to prevent a painful injury. Ice is very hard and can cause breakage of teeth and fillings.

Filed Under: News, oral health Tagged With: dental care, eating ice

6 Natural Ways To Whiten Teeth

February 10, 2017

Meyers_Blog_13_328210148No one wants to have yellow teeth but the methods that we often use to whiten them can be invasive to some patients. The most common ingredient in dental office bleaching sessions is hydrogen peroxide and the most common ingredient in at-home whitening treatment kits is carbamide peroxide. Some who undergo whitening treatments with these chemicals have reported increased sensitivity, so we are suggesting some alternative ways to keep your pearly whites white. Here are six suggestions that may surprise you:

  1. Coconut Oil

Yes, along with being extraordinary delicious and healthy as a food, coconut oil can also help whiten your teeth. This can be accomplished through a process called oil pulling, which has been used for thousands of years.

To oil pull with coconut oil, use extra virgin coconut oil and swish the oil around your mouth in the morning for 5-10 minutes, then spit it out (preferably not into the sink, as it can lead to clogs), and brush as you normally do.

If you oil pull on a regular basis, you may soon notice that your teeth are whiter. Oil pulling also has a number of health benefits for your entire body.

  1. Baking soda

If your teeth are seriously stained, and you’re looking for a whitening solution, it’s baking soda to the rescue. The process is simple: mix baking soda and water to make a thick paste, and use this paste to brush your teeth for one week. Make sure to rinse thoroughly after you brush. You’ll soon notice that your teeth look significantly whiter.

Note: Don’t brush with baking soda for longer than a week, as this may damage tooth enamel. Stick to a week and then wait a few months before doing it again.

  1. Lemons

Lemons contain citric acid and just eating them can help to remove some staining from your teeth. However, when mixed with baking soda, it can be even more effective. For a super-powered whitening treatment, mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda, and use the mixture to brush your teeth.

As this mixture is very strong, don’t do this more than once a week — and give your teeth a break after a couple of weeks. Too much lemon juice and baking soda can have a negative effect on tooth enamel.

  1. Crunchy fruits and veggies

That’s right: simply eating crunchy, fresh fruits and vegetables can help remove stains from your teeth. This is because the act of chewing helps to remove scraps of food and bacteria from your mouth. Their crispy texture also helps to gently remove surface stains.

There are many great crunchy fruits and veggies out there — like carrots and apples — so load up your plate with fresh produce!

  1. Strawberries

Another fruit to add to your tooth-whitening diet is the delicious strawberry. Strawberries may be one of the best fruits to munch on to whiten your teeth, thanks to their combination of vitamin C (citric acid, which helps to remove stains) and malic acid. The malic acid found in these summer fruits aids in removing surface stains from your teeth.

  1. Banana peel

The inside of a banana peel is rich in potassium, magnesium, manganese and other minerals, to whiten teeth. The minerals in a banana are absorbed into your enamel and have a healthy, whitening effect. Rubbing a piece of ripe banana peel on your teeth for two minutes after brushing and flossing, before rinsing your mouth, can yield benefits.

Filed Under: News

Periodontitis Vaccine Trials to Begin in 2018

December 19, 2016

 

shutterstock_536764612News out of Melbourne, Australia this month that a team of scientists at the University of Melbourne’s Oral Health CRC has been working on a vaccine treatment for chronic periodontitis could herald a breakthrough in the gum disease, with clinical trials beginning in 2018.
Periodontitis is associated with diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and certain cancers. It is a chronic disease that destroys gum tissue and bone supporting teeth, leading to tooth loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A CDC report from 2015 estimates that 47.2 percent of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease and that its prevalence increased with age; 70.1 percent of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.
The vaccine researchers have been working on targets enzymes produced by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, to trigger an immune response. The bacterium is known as a “keystone pathogen,” which means it has the potential to distort the balance of microorganisms in dental plaque, causing disease. The anticipated response from the vaccine, researches say, will produce antibodies that neutralize the pathogen’s destructive toxins.
The findings, published in the journal NPJ Vaccines (part of the Nature series), represent analysis of the vaccine’s effectiveness by collaborating groups in Melbourne and Cambridge, Ma. CEO of the Oral Health CRC, Eric Reynolds, said in the study’s extract that he was hopeful the vaccine would substantially reduce tissue destruction in patients harbouring P. gingivalis.
“We currently treat periodontitis with professional cleaning sometimes involving surgery and antibiotic regimes,” Reynolds said, adding that the cleanings are helpful but often only temporary in halting the spread of disease. “Periodontitis is widespread and destructive,” he added. “We hold high hopes for this vaccine to improve quality of life for millions of people.”

Filed Under: News

Oral Health and Diabetes

September 15, 2016

diabetes-testing-blogWe tell our children not to eat too much sugar, because sugary snacks and drinks can cause cavities.  This information is true, of course, but we should be reminding ourselves as adults that the relationship between overdoing our sugar intake and our oral health is even more complex than we might admit.  It turns out that the relationship between periodontitis (“inflammation around the tooth,” a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and bone that supports the tooth) and diabetes is a strong one indeed.

Inflammation that starts in the mouth seems to weaken the body’s ability to control blood sugar.  People with diabetes have trouble processing sugar because of a lack of insulin, the hormone that converts sugar into energy.  Those suffering from Periodontal disease have an additional burden in the fight against diabetes, as the inflammation from periodontitis can decrease the body’s ability to utilize insulin.

To further complicate matters, diabetes and periodontitis have a two-way relationship.  High blood sugar provides ideal conditions for infection to grow, including gum infections. Fortunately you can use the gum disease-diabetes relationship to your favor: managing one can help bring the other under control.

Other problems diabetes can cause are dry mouth and a fungal infection called thrush. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva—the fluid that keeps your mouth wet.

A dry mouth may occur when blood sugar levels are high. A dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities, because there’s less saliva to wash away germs and take care of the acids they create. Dry mouth can sometimes lead to other problems, such as salivary gland infections. If dry mouth is a problem, try drinking more fluids. Other ideas to try are chewing sugar-free gum or eating sugar-free candy to help keep the saliva flowing. Some people use saliva substitutes, available at drug stores.

Diabetes may also cause the glucose level in your saliva to increase. Together, these problems may lead to thrush, which can cause painful white patches in your mouth. Thrush thrives in moist spots that may be chafed or sore, for example, under poorly fitting dentures. Smoking and wearing dentures all day and night can increase the risk of thrush. Quitting smoking and limiting the time dentures are worn can reduce the risk of getting thrush. If you think you have a fungal infection, talk to your dentist or doctor.

Additionally, if your diabetes is poorly controlled, you may heal more slowly and you increase your chance of infection after dental surgery. To give yourself the best shot at healing well, keep your blood sugar under control before, during, and after surgery. It is very important to tell your oral health care provider about your diabetes before any surgery.

 Maintaining Control

 If your diabetes in not under control, the potential for developing problems in your mouth are greater.  Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding medication, diet and exercise in order to manage your blood glucose levels.

If you have diabetes, here are some things that you can do to protect your oral health:

  • Control your blood glucose
  • Brush and floss every day
  • Visit your dentist regularly, and be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes.
  • Tell your dentist if your dentures do not fit properly, or if your gums are sore.
  • Quit smoking, as smoking makes gum disease worse, especially for diabetics.

If you have diabetes and would like to discuss oral health concerns or treatment options, Dr. Meyers would be happy to consult with you.  Please contact us HERE or by calling the office at 248.646.2450

Filed Under: News

Six Easy Ways to Improve Gum Recession

August 19, 2016

Meyers_Blog_6_REDO_No 28627237Gum recession is a common dental problem that causes concern among many people, but because of its gradual occurrence, most people don’t realize they have recession until the first signs appear. Two telltale signs of gum recession include tooth sensitivity or noticing a tooth that looks longer than normal. (Typically, a notch or “pocket” can be felt near the gum line.)

Healthy gums are critical to both oral and overall health, as we’ve discussed previously so it’s not something you want to ignore. Regular check-ups with your dentist can help mitigate ongoing recession since it will likely be caught in its early stages. There are also treatments that can repair the gum and prevent further damage.

Clinically, gum recession is the process where the borders of gum tissue surrounding the teeth pull back, exposing more of the tooth or even the tooth’s root. (This is where the “sensitivity” factor comes into play.) When gum recession occurs, “pockets,” or gaps, form between the teeth and gum line, making it easy for disease-causing bacteria to build up. Left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structures of the teeth risk damage, eventually resulting in tooth loss.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to gums receding, including:

  • Periodontal Disease: Bacterial gum infections can destroy both gum tissue and the supporting bone holding teeth in place; periodontal disease is the primary cause of gum recession.
  • Genetics: Some people may be more susceptible to gum disease. In fact, studies show that 30% of the population may be predisposed to gum disease, regardless of how well they care for their teeth.
  • Forceful or Aggressive Tooth Brushing: If you brush your teeth too hard or the wrong way, it can cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away and your gums to recede.
  • Poor Dental Care: Conversely, inadequate brushing and flossing allows plaque to turn into tartar, which can lead to gum recession.

Our Six Tips to Improve Gum Recession Include:

  1. Good oral maintenance, including proper brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash, twice daily.
  2. Maintaining a balanced diet with adequate amounts of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
  3. Try using probiotics for two-three months to improve your digestive health.
  4. Keep juices, teas and acidic drinks to meal times only
  5. Ensure lunch is nutritious – include green leafy vegetables to boost body alkalinity and improve the quality of after-lunch saliva
  6. Try not to eat or drink anything for a couple of hours after lunch each day — this gives your teeth time to interact with undiluted, natural saliva, which helps protect your teeth’s enamel.

The best way to help prevent gum recession is to regularly visit your dentist to monitor your oral health. If you have questions about gum recession or are concerned that you are looking “long in the tooth,” ask Dr. Meyers during your next visit.

Filed Under: News

Dental Fillings: Which Material Is Right For You?

June 30, 2016

Karen Meyers_Blog 3_No 257732602Thanks to technological advances, dental patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to fill cavities. They can choose between amalgam and composite fillings, which are often referred to as “silver” and “white,” respectively, or tooth-colored porcelain fillings.

Depending on the type of filling needed, and in concert with your dentist, making the choice is easier when you understand the differences of each material. Here’s the rundown:

Amalgam

Amalgam fillings, while reliable and time-tested, are being used less frequently due to the fact that composite materials have improved tremendously. These “silver” fillings are really silver amalgams containing a mixture of silver-tin alloy, copper, and mercury. They have been used for 150 years and are inexpensive and not technique-sensitive. They can last for two decades or longer.

The safety of the mercury in amalgam fillings is a question that has often been raised. Mercury is used in amalgam because it helps make the filling material pliable. When it is mixed with an alloy powder, it creates a compound that is soft enough to mix and press into the tooth. But it also hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

Many studies on the safety of amalgam fillings have been done. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluated this research and found no reason to limit the use of amalgam. The FDA concluded that amalgam fillings are safe.

“FDA has reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with dental amalgam fillings are a cause for concern,” the agency writes. “Based on this evidence, FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above.”

There are ongoing reviews evaluating the safety and effects of dental amalgams. The FDA does caution that if you are allergic or sensitive to mercury or any of the other components of amalgam, that you should choose another type of filling.

The World Health Organization has recommended that dental amalgam be phased out as part of an effort to reduce human exposure to mercury.

Composite

A composite filling is tooth-colored and therefore more esthetic, but the advantages are more than just cosmetic. Composite fillings are more conservative, meaning they can sometimes be placed with less tooth removal, according to the American Dental Association. They can also be used in smaller areas whereas an amalgam filling has a minimum size requirement. Additionally, composite fillings do not cause tooth staining over time.

The ADA notes, however, that composite fillings tend to have a shorter life span and require a completely dry environment, which can be difficult in some patients with above average saliva output or sensitive gums that bleed. However, when composites are placed correctly, they can last just as long as amalgams.

Composites can also be more expensive than amalgams and some insurance companies may cover composites only up to the price of an amalgam, and then require the patient to pay the difference.

Porcelain

Porcelain is used for larger restorations when much of the tooth is missing. It is used for inlays, onlays (also called “partial crowns”) and full crowns. Porcelain combines beauty and strength, reinforcing teeth when traditional fillings are not an option. The all-porcelain solution requires less tooth removal than traditional porcelain fused to metal crowns and contains no metal. New ceramic materials are durable and less prone to breakage than older ceramic materials, according to the ADA.

Inlays are restorations that are smaller than crowns or onlays, as they do not cover the biting surface of the tooth. Onlays partially cover the tooth and crowns conceal the entire tooth surface above the gum line. Many offices can now make these restorations in one visit, which is more convenient for the patient.

If you are in the market for new fillings, speak with Dr. Meyers to discuss what option best fits your needs.

 

Filed Under: News

Thinking Twice About ‘Dental Tourism’

June 15, 2016

There’s no denying the cost of a trip to the dentist can sometimes bust the budget, especially when the treatment involves intricate work like extractions, veneers and other cosmetic procedures.  So, when an offer comes along promising “discount” dental treatment, wrapped into an exotic holiday, more and more Americans are considering making it a package deal, but often without thinking about the consequences.

However, while it’s a practice that may definitely be cheaper in the short term, it’s also costing people dearly down the track. Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are all a part of a growing dental tourism industry. Patients Beyond Borders, a company that books travellers’ surgery holidays to Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand and other exotic locales, said the growing popularity of ‘Dental Tourism’ often comes down to cost. For instance, being fixed with a set of clear braces in Southeast Asia is almost half the price it is here at home.

The company claims that in order to avoid disaster, dental travellers should do their homework, only use internationally accredited practices and consider the hygiene and skill of the dentist. They say they recommend only approved surgeries which they have inspected, however the onus remains on the patient to do the research — despite living half a world away.

It’s a risk, many dental practitioners — including Dr. Meyers — say isn’t worth it. In America, you’re guaranteed to be seen by a qualified professional, not to mention if something goes horribly wrong you’re covered by your insurance or Medicaid. And, dental practitioners in the States must, of course, speak English. If something goes wrong in a foreign country where English is not the first language, what happens next? Certain infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and HIV may be contracted when proper preventive hygiene protocol is not followed. In America, dentists conform to stringent regulations ensuring patients are kept safe and not infected.

The most comprehensive, complex and professionally challenging of procedures are often completed in stages. An initial part of the procedure is performed, allowed to heal, and then followed up with a second or even third stage of the process. During these overseas trips, many times, what would be multi-visit procedures in the US are conflated into single visit procedures. This single sitting instead of multiple treatments may actually be medically dangerous. There are many stories of ‘Dental Tourists” who have had to get botched procedures corrected here at home, with corrective surgery far more expensive than what they went overseas to get done in the first place.

There are so many places in life where one can save money and cut corners. Your health should never be one of them. One could find oneself coming home looking worse that when one left, or potentially ill or physically harmed.

Consider too, that most dentists today have payment plans for more extensive and expensive treatments. We certainly would recommend discussing such a payment plan with your dentist, and taking your vacation separate from the dental work.

Filed Under: News

Old Teeth Tell Tales: Oral Hygiene in the Middle Ages

May 26, 2015

medieval dentistHow do our teeth compare with the teeth of our European ancestors in the Middle Ages?

Surprisingly, our ancestors weren’t as backwards as we would think. How could that be?

Those who lived in the Middle Ages lacked the greatest element that causes teeth decay: sugar!

Sugar was very rarely used, and could be prohibitively expensive. Honey was occasionally a medieval cooking ingredient and naturally sweet fruit products were also eaten. As a consequence, those who lived in that time period had a diet that was actually better for their oral health in many ways than ours: low in sugar and high in grains, fruits and vegetables and calcium.

We may also mistakenly think that these oldtimers didn’t use teeth cleaning products, because they had no access to commercial dental care products. But archaeological evidence indicates that our ancestors did manage to use homemade tooth powders and mouthwash, residue of which has been found on their dental surfaces as well as in ancient containers. We know through diaries and excavations what some of these potions contained. Sage, charcoal and pepper were popular ingredients.

The greatest risk to Middle Age teeth, then, was not diet. It was actually damage. Food was “heartier” in the bad sense. It was grittier, meat was tougher, bread was denser. Chewing on these items caused more extensive wear and abrasion on the enamel and even tooth loss.

What was clearly inferior in the Middle Ages was the practice of dentistry. It was primitive at best, fatal at worst.

In the end, the actual physical evidence of Middle Age teeth tells us the whole story. There was lower incidence of cavities but higher examples of worn enamel. Our ancestors appreciated clean, white teeth, they did the best they could with the knowledge they had, but their teeth were also subject to certain environmental stressors that we can avoid now.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: ancient diets and oral health, medieval teeth, old teeth fun facts

The Story of Fritz Pfeffer, Anne Frank’s dentist

April 13, 2015

fritz pfefferWe thought our readers would be interested in the story of a dentist made famous by a young girl. That dentist, Dr. Friedrich “Fritz” Pfeffer, was Anne Frank’s roommate, her dentist,  and her sometimes nemesis.

Unfortunately, our knowledge of Fritz has been sullied somewhat by Anne’s resentment of him. The truth is that Anne didn’t like sharing such a small space with a strange man. In her diary, Anne calls Fritz by the alias “Dussel”, which means fool. Anne never seemed to understand Fritz. She never seemed to know about his family or his struggles. But Fritz was indeed a heroic man who lived through impossible circumstances, and who died, like Anne, far too early.

Fritz Peffer was born in Giessen, Germany. He went to school to become a dentist and a jaw surgeon. He served the German Army during World War I, like many other German Jews. These Jews were proud of their German-ness and truly never could wrap their heads around the fascism of Adolf Hitler and their rejection as loyal citizens of Germany.

As a young man, Fritz was athletic and social. He rowed with the Undine rowing club (a Jewish club), he rode horses and he traveled extensively in Europe.

Pfeffer was briefly married and had one son, Werner, but he later divorced from Werner’s mother, Vera. Fritz retained custody of young Werner. Fritz then met Charlotte Kaletta, who came to him as a dental patient in 1936. They began to date and later they were engaged. Charlotte was not Jewish. As a result, the couple was unable to marry, because Germany’s Nuremberg Laws forbade marriages between Jews and non-Jews.

Fritz could not ply his trade publicly as a dentist in Germany after the Nuremberg Laws, but he managed to moonlight a little secretly and take in a bit of money.

The situation in Germany continued to deteriorate and after Kristallnacht in November of 1939 (the Night of Broken Glass), Fritz and Kaletta managed to leave Germany and flee to Holland. Before Pfeffer left Germany, he arranged for his young son Werner to be on a Kindertransport (a program where Jewish children could be sent to England to stay with families there, ostensibly to keep them safe during the war). Werner was sent to England, a move which saved Werner’s life.

The Frank family had been in Holland since 1933, as they had moved from Frankfurt, Germany. In Amsterdam, these expatriates (Otto Frank and his wife Edith, Fritz Pfeffer and Charlotte Kaletta) became friends. Pfeffer told his friends that after the war, he hoped to move with Charlotte to South America, where they would send for Werner, reunite and be free to marry and start a new life.

The Nazis invaded Holland in May of 1940. At this point, Pfeffer was forced to hide in order to save his life, and so he moved in with the Frank family of four (Otto, Edith and daughters Anne and Margot) along with the Van Pels family of three (Hermann Pels, his wife Auguste and son Peter).

Pfeffer arrived at the annex with some money from Kaletta, along with his dental instruments. While in the annex, he convinced the inhabitants that they needed to take care of their teeth for their health and in order to be able to withstand being in such close proximity. He regularly checked the inhabitants’ teeth and tried to maintain good oral health for the annex inhabitants.

The group of eight managed to hide out for 2 years (Pfeffer just for 18 months) until they were discovered by the Nazis in August of 1944. All the inhabitants of the annex were deported first to Westerbork, and then to other concentration camps including Auschwitz. Pfeffer was  deported from Auschwitz to Neuengamme, a concentration camp in Germany where he died in December of 1944. Of the eight people who lived in the annex, only Otto Frank survived. He was instrumental in the publication of his daughter’s diary.

Yom HaShoah, the day to remember victims of the Holocaust, begins on Wednesday evening. Each of the people who died had a story. Now you know the story of Fritz Pfeffer, Anne Frank’s roommate and dentist.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Amsterdam annex, Anne Frank, World War II Amsterdam Jews

False Teeth, Dental Intelligence and the Presidency

February 16, 2015

George WashingtonPresidents’ Day is a great time to think again about…George Washington’s teeth. It’s amazing how much George Washington’s dental troubles impacted his life, and unbelievably the life of the nation. It’s a reminder that dental issues can affect us all, famous and not so famous.

So, here are some fun facts about Washington’s teeth:

·       Washington did have terrible trouble with his teeth, which resulted in his need for dentures.

·       Washington was embarrassed about his dental troubles and he kept the issue secret. However, his confidential correspondence with a dentist was intercepted by British spies during the Revolutionary War and actually changed the course of history. Washington noted in a letter to his Philadelphia dentist that he wouldn’t make it back to Philadelphia, so he wanted the dentist to send him a dental scraper in New York. The British believed from this “dental intelligence” that Washington was not heading to Yorktown (which he was). So, Washington’s teeth hastened the end of the war and Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown.

·       By the time of Washington’s inauguration, he only had one natural tooth.

·       Washington’s dentures were not made of wood; that is a myth. They were an amalgamation of material from his teeth that were previously pulled, possibly the teeth of African-American slaves (we know he purchased 9 teeth) and other materials that were used at the time like animal bones, and metal objects.

·       Just because Washington’s false teeth weren’t made of wood didn’t mean that they were a great match. Washington complained bitterly about his dentures; they were poor fitting and the technology just didn’t seem to exist to help him. Modern dentists believe that the most famous painting of Washington (Gilbert Stuart’s shown above) is evidence of how poor his dentures were. They clearly push out his upper lip, and maybe his lower lip, as well.

·       Washington was known to be somewhat reticent socially. Looking back, he may have been embarrassed about his appearance and reluctant to speak in public because of his ill-fitting dentures.

You can check out all of this information and more at the Mt. Vernon website, Washington’s home just outside Washington, D.C. Mt. Vernon is also a fabulous location to tour, a lovely Virginia estate on the shores of the Potomac River with beautiful vistas, gardens, outbuildings and terrific tour guides.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Presidents' Day, Washington's teeth

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

To schedule an appointment please call us 248-646-2450.

New Patient Packet (PDF)

Hours

Monday:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday:Closed
Thursday:8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday:By appointment only
Saturday:By appointment only
Sunday:Closed

Our Location


View Larger Map

Contact Information

Karen P Meyers, DDS 
1875 Southfield Road, Birmingham, MI  48009

Phone: 248-646-2450

Connect With Us

  • Facebook

Copyright © 2024 Karen P. Meyers, DDS