A new device has recently become available for home oral hygiene. "Spin brushes" are inexpensive, battery operated toothbrushes. I checked at a local supermarket and the prices ranged from six to twelve dollars. Many of the spin brushes were designed for children and they seemed very appealing. One designed by Colgate was based on a Lego toy. I saw a Crest spin brush that looked like a cell phone. There were others based on popular cartoon characters. Most of the brushes are powered by AA batteries and had brush heads that could be replaced when they wear out.

Every dentist I've ever met would like his patient's fillings to last forever. However, while a good many restorations do sustain for the life of the tooth, no filling ever becomes an organic, integral part of it. Thus none CAN be guaranteed to last indefinitely.

Even a filling placed with the best intentions and preparation can fail for a variety of reasons. If there is not enough of an undercut in the remaining tooth structure, the filling can fall out. Occasionally a part of the tooth around the filling will break, loosening the lock, and the filling will fall out. If decay somehow recurs, the filling may become surrounded by decay, loosen and fall out. It should also be noted that, the larger the filling, the greater risk of fracture from chewing forces.

Although we don't oftenthink about what kind of tooth-brush to buy, there are differ-ences, and important ones.Toothbrushes must be pre-scribed for individual use justas medicines are.Not long ago, the hard, nat-ural bristle brush was almostuniversally recommended, andwith some dentists it still is.However, the natual bristleshave almost knifelike tips thatcan cut the gums and when usedto remove plaque under gums,can break and create irritationin the area. Consequently, moreand more dentists are recom-mending the soft, multi-tuftednylon brushes with roundedbristles. These are ideal forplaque removal.

A bad bite can cause a lot of trouble for children and parents. In dentistry, we call this malocclusion, the improper contact between teeth and jaws when biting.

There are lots of causes, including loss of teeth through decay or accident. Bad mouth habits can cause it, too, such as thumbsucking, tongue thrusting or breathing through the mouth.

The picture the dentist takes with his x-ray machine is one of the most essential tools he has in treating dental problems. It is always used with the greatest concern for your safety. In fact, the exposure takes less than a second and is less than you receive from everyday living from the rays of the sun or from natural radiation in rocks and other materials.