While some trends hit dead-ends, some become proven standards.  That holds true in dental care, too.  Take two examples:  wooden teeth and the toothpaste tube.  The squeezable metal tube, invented in 1892, still remains the most purchased toothpaste packaging.

Wooden teeth?  Never a good idea and, contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s dentures weren't made from wood, but from lead, ivory and springs instead!

Long before Lakewood was settled and Washington became president, the trained (or untrained) used curious dental methods, tools and materials.  In Egypt, around 4,000 BC, the first formula for toothpaste included the burned ashes of powdered oxen hooves, and the paste was applied to a patient’s teeth with the fingers.

Centuries later, during Lakewood’s early years, self-proclaimed "doctors" with black leather cases filled with painkilling "medicines" for toothaches and tooth-pulling pliers and forceps rode their wagons into our hamlet's empty lots, selling circus cures "for whatever ails ya!"

Fortunately, the science, tools and practice of dentistry have come a long way since ox paste and spring-loaded dentures.  However, dentistry today still heads in different directions, some that seem to make more sense than others do, for most patients.

The Latest Trends: Dental Spas and Bleach for Teeth

One trendiest example is a movement becoming known as "Spa Dentistry."  The Buzz doesn't know of any dental spas in Lakewood, but celebrities, beauty queens and the rich-and-famous are frequenting them in Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Chicago and Manhattan.  One spa’s marketing pitch asks, "Have you ever daydreamed what it would be like to have the smile of a magazine model or Hollywood star?" Another describes itself as a full-service cosmetic dentistry boutique providing patients with a full cache of luxury spa-like amenities.  Still another dental spa promises to improve its customer’s lives, personal relationships and more – maybe that explains why some of its patients spend up to $30,000 in fees for their dental visits!

In Lakewood, the trend is decidedly not fantasy, it’s mostly family.  And though "Family Dentistry" doesn't have the same boutique cache of Spa Dentistry, the family way still attracts doctors who see it as a better use of their professional training and skills than a niche practice that promises luxuries to patients in return for higher profits for spa owners.

One who has made a commitment to Family Dentistry is Dr. Denver Jenkins, Jr., a 1990 Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry alum who has maintained his office in downtown Lakewood for several years.  He has his own philosophy of success.

"A dental practice needs to be well-rounded and family oriented to serve Lakewood really well," observes Dr. Jenkins.  "If patients are seen on time, receive expert dental care, and get friendly service, then they're happy without all the unnecessary frills.  The key to success is in providing quality preventive and restorative care for the teeth and gums."  He also believes the adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."  Avoiding tooth decay and gum disease is a far better alternative to the greater expense of correcting problems later, he notes.  Dr. Jenkins equates a healthy patient with being a successful dentist – not surprising, since he’s close to achieving fellowship status with the Academy of General Dentistry, a nonprofit association that works for higher levels of patient care through proven technologies and procedures.

Another group, the American Dental Association, whose Seal of Acceptance is a familiar and desired logo on consumer dental care products (Crest toothpaste, for one) is studying an emerging trend that's heavily advertised to consumers on TV this year – tooth-whitening bleaching products. The ADA is withholding its approval, urging the public to be cautious, stating, "Although bleaching agents are available over-the-counter, only those dispensed through the dental office are considered for the Seal because professional consultation is important to the procedure's safety and effectiveness. The ADA advises patients to consult with their dentists to determine the most appropriate treatment. This is especially important for patients with many fillings, crowns, and extremely dark stains."

Future Dentistry: Resins, Vaccines and Sandblasting

What will the future bring?  Improved restorative materials that can be used for common fillings, says one dental scientist.

"There will be materials that better mimic the appearance and function of teeth," says Dr. Daniel Meyer, director of the ADA Division of Science. "Restorative materials such as resins, gold, glass ionomers and other porcelain compounds are increasingly popular with dentists and their patients.  Dentistry is dedicated to improving quality of care, and we will continue to do that."

On another front far from Lakewood, scientists have tested a vaccine that may one day prevent tooth decay.  Human testing was completed at a London hospital with some success at eliminating the bacteria in the mouth that cause decay.  No assurances yet that the vaccine will be safe or that it won't be without serious side effects with prolonged use.

An American high-tech company recently received FDA clearance to market a new tool to go next to the dental chair, one that uses laser-powered, atomized water droplets to "drill" tooth surfaces.  In the future, this hydrokinetic technology could be joined by "sandblasters" used to prep teeth for fillings, according to ADA President Dr. Timothy Rose in a recent ABCnews.com online chat.

"They (sandblasters) are not really drills.  It’s really a high-pressure silicate, and they are in use in the U.S.  It's a new technology, and they’ll be used more frequently in the future," comments Dr. Rose.

Back to Lakewood Today: Back to Basic Dental Care

As dental care science and marketing trends change, Dr. Jenkins says he could specialize in several niche areas of oral healthcare, but he prefers Family Dentistry because it allows him to use his training and proven methods more generally for the good of young and old in our community.

"The big push is in cosmetics and the spa movement, but that’s not where I’m philosophically at.  My goal is a well-rounded family oriented practice in Lakewood," affirms Dr. Jenkins.  "Plus, I enjoy the long-term relationships that develop with our patients, because we share a concern for maintaining optimal oral health."

General Family Dentistry may not be trendy in Beverly Hills, but here in Lakewood, it makes for sensible dental care and plenty of healthy smiles.



For more information about sensible dental care, Dr. Denver D. Jenkins Jr., DDS can be reached at (216) 221-0300.  His Lakewood office hours are Mondays and Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and one Saturday a month from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.