Dr. Anne A. Nicholas

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a pain-free way of tackling dental decay that reverses the damage of acid attack and re-builds teeth as new.  ScienceDaily (Aug. 23, 2011)

This new technique promises procedures that can eliminate tooth decay and the need to drill and fill teeth forever.

Tooth decay begins when acid produced by bacteria in plaque dissolves the mineral in the teeth, causing microscopic holes or ‘pores’ to form. As the decay process progresses these micro-pores increase in size and number. Eventually the damaged tooth may have to be drilled and filled to prevent toothache, or even removed.

The key is to catch tooth decay early so that your dentist can determine the best treatment to stop the decay!

Unfortunately many people have a fear of dentistry and put off treatment until more extensive treatment is required. Many patients have a tendency to ignore or put off recommended bi-annual check-ups and ignore signs of decay that cause existing problems to get worse and possibly hide early signs of decay in other teeth.

At the University of Leeds researchers have developed a revolutionary new way to treat the first signs of tooth decay. Their goal is to educate and train dentists about this process and provide them with a peptide-based fluid that your dentist will literally painted onto the tooth’s surface. The peptide technology is based on knowledge of how the tooth forms in the first place and stimulates regeneration of the tooth defect.

“This may sound too good to be true, but we are essentially helping acid-damaged teeth to regenerate themselves. It is a totally natural non-surgical repair process and is entirely pain-free too,” said Professor Jennifer Kirkham, from the University of Leeds Dental Institute, who has led development of the new technique.

The ‘magic’ fluid was designed by researchers in the University of Leeds’ School of Chemistry, led by Dr Amalia Aggeli. It contains a peptide known as P 11-4 that — under certain conditions — will assemble together into fibres. In practice, this means that when applied to the tooth, the fluid seeps into the micro-pores caused by acid attack and then spontaneously forms a gel. This gel then provides a ’scaffold’ or framework that attracts calcium and regenerates the tooth’s mineral from within, providing a natural and pain-free repair.

The technique was recently taken out of the laboratory and tested on a small group of adults whose dentist had spotted the initial signs of tooth decay. The results from this small trial have shown that P 11-4 can indeed reverse the damage and regenerate the tooth tissue.

“The results of our tests so far are extremely promising,” said Professor Paul Brunton, who is overseeing the patient testing at the University of Leeds Dental Institute. “If these results can be repeated on a larger patient group, then I have no doubt whatsoever that in two to three years time this technique will be available for dentists to use in their daily practice.”

The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, Sedation and Implant Dentistry is always looking for new procedures and technology to help you improve your oral health. Call 760-340-1030 and ask to schedule an appointment with Dr. Anne A. Nicholas to discuss ways of improve your overall oral health.

For those of you in the Palm Desert, Palm Springs, or all the Coachella Valley area who feel pain when you sip your morning coffee or who cringe each time they brush or floss, The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is here for you.

Dr. Anne A. Nicholas has been treating this common problem for the 20 years. The first line of defense against tooth sensitivity is proper oral hygiene. Incorrect brushing and over-brushing can result in receding gums, which leads to the exposure of microscopic tubules in the dentin. When these tubules are exposed, acidic, hot, cold, and sticky foods can then reach the nerve cells in the teeth causing discomfort.

Here in our Palm Desert dentistry practice, our knowledgeable staff can determine if your brushing style is contributing to your tooth sensitivity and get you on your way to proper oral care habits. Dr. Nicholas usually recommends over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste that will alleviate tooth pain after several applications. Most drug stores, Wal-Mart, Target and grocery stores carry it. However, some Palm Springs patients may need in-office procedures such as fluoride gel treatments available at The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry.

Don’t worry if you have sensitive teeth in Palm Desert and want to have your teeth whitened. Here in our practice, Dr. Nicholas can determine which professional tooth whitening or at-home whitening procedures will work for you. Call our office today to get relief from your sensitive teeth.

Contact Information: 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, California.

Call today to improve your oral health! 760-340-1030

Two types of tissue surround your teeth.  Gingiva or (gum) is the first type we will discuss.  It is pink in color and thick and appears dense under a microscope.  This tissue forms a tight seal around your teeth and serves as a layer of tissue that blocks bacteria from penetrating the underlying bone.  It also serves as a shield to protect teeth from the trauma from brushing eating and other things that would cause damage.

The second type of tissue, (mucosa) which is found directly below the gingiva, is a thin red layer of tissue which appears loose under a microscope  This tissue does not seal securely around your teeth, and is easily damaged by trauma.

Over time recession of the gingiva occurs, and protection is lost and the natural defenses against bacterial penetration and trauma have been decreased.  In this situation, no healthy gingiva remains to protect the tooth, and professional treatment from a Periodontist like Dr. Anne A. Nicholas is now necessary.

No matter how meticulously the patient tries to control the bacteria, there is a greater chance of it penetrating and affecting the underlying supporting bone around the tooth.

Many patients who have and are experiencing gingival recession often have root sensitivity to hot and cold foods and are noticing unsightly appearance to the gum and tooth.  At this point a gingival graft is necessary to treat this problem.

Dr. Nicholas completed a post-doctoral program in Periodontics & Dental Implants at Loma Linda University in 1992. She utilizes her extensive training and experience to treat gingival recession and generally extracts thin pieces of tissue from the roof of the mouth, or gently from other adjacent areas, to provide a stable band of attached gingiva around the tooth. During this procedure tissue is placed to cover the exposed portion of the root.

The gingival graft procedure is highly predictable, and the results restore the tissue around the tooth and natural appearance.

For additional information about Gingival Grafts, contact Dr. Anne A. Nicholas by calling 760-340-1030 and requesting an consultation to review your curtain situation.

I’m Dr.Anne A. Nicholas and I enjoy using my extensive dental training and specialized artistic skills to design treatment plans unique to each of my Palm Desert cosmetic dental patients.

In order to achieve an attractive, yet natural looking result, I do much more than recommend specific procedures. I consider the shape, alignment, color and condition of the teeth. In order to create a balanced look, the facial shape and coloring is taken into account. The Palm Springs patient’s age, health condition and lifestyle all influence the plan.

At The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry, there is no one size fits all treatment plan.

My artistic abilities have been perfected over several years of creating smile transformations for my Palm Desert, CA dental patients. I am constantly receiving the latest training in new techniques and materials.

Even fairly recent cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers have advanced considerably. Dental implants are a truly remarkable solution for our California dental patients who have lost one or more teeth.

I would love to design a personalized smile makeover for you. When the work has been completed and you are enjoying your new look, it will only be obvious to those who see you all the time. Others will assume you have always been blessed with a naturally beautiful and healthy smile.

The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2 in Palm Desert, California.  You are welcome to stop by and visit with Dr. Nicholas about the best options available for you.

Call 760.340.1030 today to improve your smile!

If you require dental crowns, talk to Dr. Anne A. Nicholas at The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry about how you feel about the color of your existing teeth surrounding the tooth or teeth where the crowns will be placed. If you are satisfied with the color of these teeth, Dr. Nicholas will then select a color that matches the crowns.

If you determine that they are dull looking or won’t match the crowns, teeth bleaching may be an option for you. If you feel you would like to whiten or lighten your teeth, ask Dr. Nicholas about options available for whiting those teeth before the final restorations are placed in your mouth. You want to make sure you do this before the final restorations are made; once the crowns are placed in your mouth, it will not be possible to change their color without redoing them.

The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is located at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2 in Palm Desert, California.  You are welcome to stop by and visit with Dr. Nicholas about the best options available for you.

Call 760.340.1030 today to improve your smile!

Definition of EDUCATION: the action or process of educating or of being educated; also: a stage of such a process; b: the knowledge and development results. [1]

At The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry, every member of our staff is here to help patients understand what is required to maintain good oral health. We are committed to the education process, by providing our patients information and imparting knowledge about dental science that results in effective dental care.

Today, we would like to inform our readers about the importance of good dental hygiene, by providing information about dental caries and how to avoid them and maintain good oral health. You may be wondering what are dental caries? The MedlinePlus Encyclopedia provides the answer to this question.

Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or a cavity, is a disease where bacterial processes change carbohydrate like sugar in food left on teeth to acid that demineralises hard tooth structure (enamel, dentin, and cementum).[1]

If demineralisation exceeds saliva and other remineralisation like from fluoride, these tissues progressively break down, producing dental caries (cavities, holes in the teeth). Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. If left untreated, the disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death.[2]

Dental caries is a disease that is found in people around throughout the world. The presentation of caries is highly variable; however, the risk factors and stages of development are similar. Initially, it may appear as a small chalky area that may eventually develop into a large cavitation. Sometimes caries may be directly visible; however other methods of detection such as radiographs are used for less visible areas of teeth and to judge the extent of destruction.

Dr. Anne A. Nicholas and her hygiene staff advocate preventive and prophylactic measures, such as regular oral hygiene, including two yearly visits to The Palm Desert Center For Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry to have your teeth cleaned and learn more about dietary modifications, to avoid dental caries.

Acquiring a personal hygiene care process that consists of proper brushing and flossing daily is necessary. The purpose of oral hygiene is to minimize any etiologic agents of disease in the mouth. The primary focus of brushing and flossing is to remove and prevent the formation of plaque. Plaque consists mostly of bacteria which you can help control.

For more information about dental caries and to learn more about how to properly brush and flossing techniques, contact The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry by calling 760-340-1030 or stopping by the office which is located at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2 Palm Desert, California.

[1] www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/education
[2]Cavities/tooth decay, hosted on the Mayo Clinic website. Page accessed May 25, 2008.
[3] MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Dental Cavities

Dr. Dale A. Miles adjunct professor at the University of Texas, and professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology at the Arizona School of Dentistry, recently gave a webinar where he addressed the issue of dental X-rays safety. In this blog we would like to share with our patients some of the information he shared with the group about this topic.

Dr. Miles asked the question, are dental X-rays safe? Dr. Miles has determined after many years of research and study, the individualized radiographic exposure of radiation that we are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to our daily exposure from things like, cosmic radiation and naturally-occurring radioactive elements (for example, those producing radon). The table below compares our estimated exposure to radiation from dental X-ray with other various sources. As indicated below, a millisievert (µSv) is a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (such as X-rays).

Annual estimated average effective dose of equivalent received by a member of the population of the United States:

SOURCE       Average annual effective dose equivalent

(µSv)   (MREM)

• Inhaled (Radon & Decay Products)                         2000    200
• Other Internally Deposited Radionuclides                390    39
• Terrestrial Radiation                                                          280    39
• Cosmetic Radiation                                                            270    27
• Cosmogenic Radioactivity                                                  10       1
• Rounded total from natural Sources                     3000    300
• Rounded total from artificial Sources                       600    360
• Total                                                                                      3600    360

NOTE: As a comparison, dental Panoramic X-rays  6-13
Intraoral X-ray      0.005 *(approximate effective radiation dose)
Cone Beam Volume     43-468
Medical CT maxilla-mandibular volume   2100

It is clear from the above chart that the amount of radiation from dental X-rays is negligible, very low as a comparison to other sources of exposure. Dr. Miles pointed out equivalent risks to (Film Base X-rays) or another way of looking at risk, is to look at other related daily activities, that is, situations in which a person has a one in a million risk of dying.

Risk Situation

• Living in NY NY for 2 days breathing the pollution increases risk of death to 1/1,000,000
• Canoeing for 6 minutes
• Cycling for 10 miles
• Riding in a car for 300 miles
• Drinking water in (Miami) for 1 year
• Smoking 1.4 cigarettes • Flying 6000 miles
• Working in a coal mine for 3 hours
• Drinking diet soda, 30 cans
• Living in Denver for 2 months (mile high City)…natural radioactivity

Source: B.L Cohen and I.S. Lee, “Catalogue of risks, Extended and Updates”, Vol. 61, September 1991

Dr. Miles concludes that dental X-rays are safe and should not be a concern for dental patients. As technology change, X-ray equipment continues to develop techniques that improve and limit the amount of radiation exposure.

At The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, procedures and techniques are in place to provide a safe environment for all our patients.  For example, mandatory use of Thyroid Collars is required on all pregnant women and patients who have cancer or have had cancer. Every necessary precaution is in place to protect and in sure the safety of our patients.

Contact Dr. Anne A. Nicholas for question or concerns you may have concerning X-rays. The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is located at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, CA. Feel free to call and schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas by calling 760-340-1030.

At The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry we provide a wide range of dental services. This flexibility saves you time and keeps your total dental health in mind. Our emphasis is on total preventive care for you.

Our doctors and staff provides the highest-quality services for restoring mouths that have been damaged by dental disease and injury. Our primary goal for you is to achieve and maintain optimum oral health through advances in techniques, and technologies.

Services we offer include periodontal maintenance/care, crown lengthening, dental implants, gingivalplasty, frenalplasty, vestibular deepening, coronal repositioning, osseous regeneration, bone grafting, gingival grafting, connective tissue grafting, ridge augmentation, tooth extractions, sedation dentistry and more.

To learn more about the service we offer, contact “The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry” by calling 760-340-1030 or feel free to stop by our office at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, California.

“A smile costs nothing, but gives much.  It enriches those who receive it, without making poorer those who give.  It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is to poor but that he can be made rich by it.  A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship.  It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble.  Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.  Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile as much as he who has no more to give.”

-Anonymous Author

( SMILE)

“The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry” is sure you realize the importance of a simple smile and the impact it has on your success and happiness. Your smile should be inviting, calming, reassuring and positive. Those of you who are in business or are entrepreneurs work diligently toward your goals, looking for opportunities and taking risk to succeed. We are confident and positive a smile will encourage your contacts to take a chance on you if you are confident about your teeth and your smile. Of course, your success can’t be directly correlated to a smile, but the positive attitude that comes along with a healthy, genuine smile just might play a bigger role than you ever imagined.

To help improve your smile, Dr. Anne A. Nicholas offers dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, and Zoom, a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of enamel and dentin. The Zoom light activated whitening gel’s active ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide. As the Hydrogen Peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, bleaching colored substances while the structure of the tooth is unchanged. The Zoom light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. A study has shown that use of the Zoom lamp increases the effectiveness of the Zoom gel by 26% or more, giving an average improvement of eight shades’. Factors that decrease whitening include smoking and the ingestion of dark colored liquids like coffee, tea and red wine.

The ADA recommends that you have your teeth checked by a dentist before undergoing any whitening method. At “The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry”, Dr. Nicholas will examine you thoroughly and take a health and dental history (including allergies and sensitivities), observe hard and soft tissues, placement and conditions of restorations, and sometimes x-rays to determine the nature and depth of possible irregularities. She will then make recommendations on which tooth whitening proceedure is right for you.

Contact “The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry” by calling 760-340-1030 or stop by our office at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2, Palm Desert, California to schedule a tooth whitening consultation.

A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the restoration and replacement of teeth. Most prosthodontists receive two to three years of additional training after dental school in a program accredited by the American Dental Association based either at a hospital or a university. The training includes reviews of the literature, lectures, treatment of patients and laboratory experience in fabricating restorations.

The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry has a prosthodontist as part of the team.  Dr. Scott Adishian has a certificate in prosthodontics from the U.S.C. School of Dentistry. He has undergone intensive training in restorative and cosmetic dentistry and is skilled in all aspects of oral function and health. Whether a patient is having trouble with the alignment of their bite, in need of tooth replacement, or simply desiring a more cosmetically beautiful smile, Dr. Adishian can quickly assess any problem and provide a solution. With more than 25 years of teaching experience, Dr. Adishian has coordinated all aspects of patient care and provides a comprehensive treatment plan for all of your dental needs.