Healthy Teeth : ANOTHER Reason you Should Be Drinking Enough Water ...

As if you even needed another reason, right?

     We all know that drinking enough water is essential for our health, but you might not have known how important it is for your teeth.  Here are a few ways that drinking water is helping you keep your mouth and your teeth healthier.

1)  Water neutralizes acids. Acids are the mortal enemy of tooth structure, and the bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease LOVE an acidic environment.  Many of the things we like to drink are acidic to some degree, and they acidify the entire mouth even after we have finished them.   Soda, coffee, tea, orange juice, wine and (heaven help us) energy drinks like Red Bull are some of the worst offenders.  Water, on the other hand, has a PH of 7.4, which is neutral and non-acidic. When you finish off your meal with a glass of water, you're diluting
and neutralizing a good portion of these acids, before they have a chance to harm your teeth.

2)  Saliva production.  Saliva is more than just the stuff that helps us chew and swallow our food. It actually contains lots of Calcium, and also antibodies from our immune system that help fight off bacteria.  A dry mouth is an invitation to tooth decay and gum disease. Staying properly hydrated is critical to maintaining the proper salivary composition and production.

3)  Fluoride.  When I sit down in a restaurant and the server asks me what kind of water I want, I always say "tap water". They might just think I'm too cheap to spring for the bottled water, But tap water contains trace amounts of Fluoride (in most of the country anyway) which strengthens tooth enamel and increases its resistance to acid attack.  Some folks think fluoride is only helpful when we're children, Not true. At any age, fluoridated drinking water is an important weapon in our anti-cavity utility belt.

4)  Water.....the universal cleaning solution. Whenever you want to clean anything, water is probably involved. Whether you want to clean a blackboard, or a car.....or even your teeth, you're not going to get very far without water. When we drink water, the very act of swishing it around our mouths loosens and washes down residual bits of food, decreasing the rate of plaque and tartar formation.

      Your teeth are incredibly valuable. (just ask anyone who has lost a few of theirs) You can help protect them by making sure you drink enough water.  Wouldn't a tall glass of refreshing ice water hit the spot right now?  Best of all.....water is FREE !

Not getting a GOOD night's sleep ?

 

If you haven't been sleeping well, you have plenty of company. With the COVID-19 pandemic upending our lives in so many ways, stress is at an all time high. Patients are reporting higher levels of anxiety, and more difficulty sleeping, then ever before. 

Yet some sleep problems are medical in nature and, properly diagnosed, can respond well to therapy.

Sleep Apnea

People suffering from sleep apnea have short pauses in breathing while they are asleep. These pauses may happen many times during the night, and patients are often completely unaware this is happening. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to numerous problems, such as headaches, high blood pressure, stroke, and memory loss. Feeling sleepy during the day and being told you are snoring loudly at night could also be signs that you have sleep apnea.

Yes, you can have sleep apnea and not even know it.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, your physician or dentist can prescribe a sleep test (often done at home) which can pinpoint the severity and the cause of the problem. Treatment using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device helps many people with sleep apnea.

For those uncomfortable using a CPAP device or unable to sleep with it, there are several types of oral appliances that can significantly reduce episodes of snoring and apnea.

Ask us what we can do for you.

If you suspect you might be suffering from sleep apnea, or if you have a CPAP device that you are uncomfortable using, ask us about some of the options we can offer you.

We're BACK, Baby !

After a long and difficult 2 1/2 months shutdown due to the Covid-19 crisis, our office is open and we're providing regular, comprehensive dental care again! 

As you would expect, we are taking the utmost care and have instituted new protocols to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff. As always, we are meeting or exceeding the recommended safety guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Coming into the office, you will definitely notice some changes. We ask for your patience, and that you understand these changes serve only one purpose : Keeping you healthy and safe.

Through the month of August, we will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. We are in the process of working out our schedule for the Fall and Winter months. For continued updates, please check back on our website. And of course, you can always send us an email (DrMitch57@gmail.com) or call our office directly at (212) 421-4887

We want to thank you for your patience and support throughout this unprecedented time. You are the reason we are here,  and we can’t wait to see your smiling faces !

Getting "Back To Normal" in the age of Covid-19

     

     Our patients' health is always our number one priority. In cooperation with NY State emergency regulations regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the New York area, we have temporarily suspended all routine dental treatment until June 1st, 2020. The goal is to curtail non-essential trips out of your home and in turn, help control the spread of the virus.      Hopefully, we will be resuming a normal schedule by the end of May or beginning of June. We remain available to treat any emergencies by special appointment.  If you need to reach me to discuss any aspect of your your oral health care, please call the office at 212-421-4887.
     Until we can see you again, please consider the following:

-          Excellent preventive oral care is more important than ever

-          Wear your nightguard (if you have one). These are stressful times, and stress  leads to increased clenching and grinding of the teeth.

-          Please be aware of how often your hands come in contact with your mouth. I recommend washing your hands before any action that involves touching your mouth ie. flossing, brushing.

I apologize that the current situation necessitates delaying your important routine care and treatment. I value each and every one of you and your families, and look forward to resuming regular dental visits as soon as allowed by the NY State health department and the Governor’s office.

     Thank you for trusting us all these years and we appreciate your confidence in us.

Is your dental insurance company ripping you off ?

     I tell all my patients that healthy mouth is a very important part of their overall good health. And we all want an attractive, confident smile. This is why dental insurance is such a highly prized benefit. Insurance can help you get the care you and your family need.
      Frequently, however, the benefits you receive don’t match up with what was promised to you. Your plan may pay a smaller portion of the cost than you think it should, or maybe they reject paying for a particular type of treatment. Of course, the insurance company’s top priority is not helping you get the care you need, it is making money. And the less care you get, the more money they make.
     We’ve all noticed this same disturbing trend with our medical and prescription coverage, where rising premiums, plan limitations and sky high deductibles have left us all responsible for more and more of the cost. Dental plans use some of these same methods to make sure they pay as little as possible.
       The following deceptive practices are not new, but they’ve become much more prevalent in the past few years. Dental insurance companies have spent years stacking the deck in their favor, and these are a few of the ways they do it.

1) Artificially low annual maximums.
     Back in the 1970’s, dental plans had annual maximums of $1,500. That was the most they would pay towards your care in any one calendar year. Adjusted for inflation, they should be paying roughly $6,000 in today’s dollars. Unfortunately, most dental plans have not raised their annual maximums to reflect inflation. Some have actually LOWERED them.
     You may have been told you have “comprehensive” dental coverage, but if they cut you off at $1,500 in benefits, anything more than routine preventive care will rapidly use up your yearly limit. Does your plan still have an annual maximum of $1,500 or $2,000 per year? If so, you could definitely be justified in calling that a rip-off.

2) The “usual and customary” fee scam. 
     Your dental plan has specific dollar amounts they will reimburse for each dental procedure. They call this list the “usual and customary” fee schedule, implying that it is based on average or typical fees charged by dentists in your area. It isn’t. They don’t  tell you exactly how they calculate these fees, but they always set them much lower than the real costs. When you are required to pay the difference, you might feel like you’re being ripped off. Just remember it is the insurance company ripping you off, not your dentist.
     Fortunately, there is objective, publicly available data for consumers who want to see what the real usual and customary fees are in your area. If you go to www.fairhealthconsumer.org you can search any dental (or medical) procedure and see the average fees, broken out by zip code anywhere in the U.S.A.  If you compare these real fees to your insurance company’s lowball “usual and customary” fees, you will see how wide the gap is between them.

3) Frequency limitations. 
     Human beings are individuals. You are an individual. Your dental needs aren’t the same as everyone else’s, but your insurance company probably acts as though they are. Imagine if you had a heart attack, and your medical insurance refused to pay for your care because you had a previous heart attack last year?  Outrageous, you say?
     Unfortunately, dental benefit companies do this kind of thing all the time.  Whether you need treatment for periodontal disease, tooth decay, TMJ disfunction, or many other types of restorative care, your benefits can be arbitrarily limited to a certain “frequency” set by the company.  If you break a tooth that had a filling done a year or two ago, your insurance company will probably refuse to cover the treatment because they say it is “too soon” for the tooth to be fixed again.
     This is just one example of a frequency limitation. There are many others. The insurance company is shifting costs onto the you, patient, instead of reimbursing appropriately. Yep, that’s a rip off.

4) “Preferred provider” networks. 
     Some dental plans maintain networks of “preferred providers”, and encourage you to see only the doctors in that network. Nothing wrong with that. You might assume that dentists get on this “preferred” list because of a higher standard of quality, experience or professional excellence. This isn’t the case. Dentists get on the “preferred” list by agreeing to accept lower fees than normal. Sometimes far lower. Can dentists participate in these networks and still provide good care? There are dentists who manage to do it. But it makes it much more difficult.  And it doesn’t help you to have the insurance company’s bureaucrats looking over your dentist’s shoulder, second guessing decisions about your care.
      The important question is : Are you given the choice to see any dentist you want?   Or are you required to see only dentists in their network? Some plans offer only in-network coverage, and pay you nothing (literally, zero) if you choose a doctor or treatment option that isn’t on their list.  Of course, that doesn’t stop them from collecting your premium payment. That is (you guessed it), a rip off.

        Getting these questions answered about your plan is also harder than it should be, of course. The insurance company probably has an 800 number you can call, where you will be kept on hold for a while and then transferred from one flunky to another, none of whom have the information you need, or the authority to resolve any problems.
        You could also get the information from your employer, who makes some of these decisions when they’re designing your plan options. They might not even be aware of some of the more disturbing tricks being used to restrict your care options. If your company is large enough, you might need to speak with someone in the human resources department.
      If you’re given an opportunity to choose among several dental plans, read all the fine print, and don’t just quickly check the box next to the plan with the lowest premium. The cheapest plan might save you some money up front, but it could cost you more down the road. It depends on your particular needs. The more information you have, the better.

     As with all questions about your dental health and treatment, speak to your dentist when questions come up regarding your insurance. We will do our best to help you get the benefits you’re entitled to. More importantly, we can help you get healthy and stay healthy. Whether you have dental insurance or not, regular preventive care is the most cost effective dental treatment you can get.

Another reason you should be drinking more water....

As if you even needed one, right?
     By now we all know that drinking enough water is essential for good health,  but you might not have known how important it is for your teeth.  Here are a few ways that drinking water is helping improve your dental health

1)  Water neutralizes acids. Acids are the mortal enemy of tooth structure, and the bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease LOVE an acidic environment.  Many of the things we like to drink are acidic to some degree, and they acidify the entire mouth even after we have finished them.   Soda, coffee, tea, orange juice, wine and (heaven help us) energy drinks like Red Bull are some of the worst offenders.  Water, on the other hand, has a PH of 7.4, which is neutral and non-acidic. When you finish off your meal with a glass of water, you're diluting and neutralizing a good portion of these acids, before they have a chance to harm your teeth.

2)  Saliva production.  Saliva is more than just the stuff that helps us chew and swallow our food. It actually contains lots of Calcium, and also antibodies from our immune system that help fight off bacteria.  A dry mouth is an invitation to tooth decay and gum disease. Staying properly hydrated is critical to maintaining the proper salivary composition and production.

3)  Fluoride.  When I sit down in a restaurant and the server asks me what kind of water I want, I always say "tap water". They might just think I'm too cheap to spring for the bottled water, But tap water contains trace amounts of Fluoride (in most of the country anyway) which strengthens tooth enamel and increases its resistance to acid attack.  Some folks think fluoride is only helpful when we're children, Not true. At any age, fluoridated drinking water is an important weapon in our anti-cavity utility belt.

4)  Water.....the universal cleaning solution. Whenever you want to clean anything, water is probably involved. Whether you want to clean a blackboard, or a car.....or even your teeth, you're not going to get very far without water. When we drink water, the very act of swishing it around our mouths loosens and washes down residual bits of food, decreasing the rate of plaque and tartar formation.

      Your teeth are incredibly valuable. (just ask anyone who has lost a few of theirs) You can help protect them by making sure you drink enough water.  Wouldn't a tall glass of refreshing ice water hit the spot right now?  Best of all.....water is FREE !

SNORING...... It isn't just annoying. It really is a true health hazard.

      Do you or someone you love snore?  It could be more than just an annoyance. It could be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic obstructive breathing disorder with long term health consequences.
     We've all heard people snoring loudly (just ask my long suffering wife). It is a loud and penetrating sound. It can be amazing that the snorer himself (or herself) can actually sleep through it. Approximately 45 percent of adults snore and around half that number are habitual snorers. A quarter of those habitual snorers suffer from some degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
      Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the tongue falls back and partly or completely blocks the trachea during sleep. This forces your diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the obstructed airway and pull air into the lungs. After a short pause,  breathing often resumes with a loud gasp, snort, or cough. This can happen many times each hour you sleep. You may not sleep well, but you probably won't be aware that this is happening. It can affect your blood pressure or neurological functioning, and can increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.

      If you think you or your partner might be suffering from OSA, please discuss it with your physician or dentist. There are several types of treatment that can be effective depending on the individual.  Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines (CPAP) are like little oxygen masks that apply just enough pressure to open the blocked airway. They are the most effective treatment, but not everyone can get comfortable sleeping with them. For other people, oral appliances or surgery may solve the problem.
DON'T suffer in silence. Talk to your doctor and get a sleep study done so the condition can be properly diagnosed, and if necessary, treated.

The Littlest Patients

Congratulations on the new addition to your family!
     When you bring your new baby home from the hospital, you AND your baby will have plenty of new routines to get used to. One of them should be wiping his/her gums with a soft, wet washcloth at bath time. You could also use a little wet gauze for this purpose, but  I prefer the wash cloth.  You do not need to use any toothpaste yet. Simply wrap the cloth or gauze around your index finger and rub it gently over the gums.  Not only will you be cleaning the food residue away, you will also be getting your child accustomed to having their mouth cleaned. This way, when you need to begin brushing the teeth (around 6 months, when teeth  start erupting into the mouth) there will be no surprises and fewer objections.

   
If your child still hasn't gotten her first tooth by her first birthday,  relax – some children don't start getting teeth until 15 to 18 months.  Don’t worry.
     For now, you don't have to worry about flossing. (I know.. I can’t believe I’m saying that)   I recommend starting to floss only when the spaces between the teeth close,  and you can't clean them with a toothbrush.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry do recommend that you take your child to the dentist by her first birthday, but my own practice, I think any time before the age of two is just fine. Of course, if the pediatrician notes any oral/dental abnormalities during their routine visit, you should bring your child to the dentist as soon as possible.

      In the meantime, at every well-baby visit, your baby's primary healthcare provider should take a look at your baby's teeth (if she has any) and apply fluoride varnish every three to six months, depending on your baby's risk of cavities. (Some kids don’t need this at all)  As with all types of medical care, prevention is the best way to go !

Do you or someone you love SNORE?

   
Do you or someone you love snore?  It could be more than just an annoyance. It could be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic obstructive breathing disorder with long term health consequences.
     We've all heard people snoring loudly (just ask my long suffering wife). It is a loud and penetrating sound. It can be amazing that the snorer himself (or herself) can actually sleep through it. Approximately 45 percent of adults snore and around half that number are habitual snorers. A quarter of those habitual snorers suffer from some degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
      Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the tongue falls back and partly or completely blocks the trachea during sleep. This forces your diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the obstructed airway and pull air into the lungs. After a short pause,  breathing often resumes with a loud gasp, snort, or cough. This can happen many times each hour you sleep. You may not sleep well, but you probably won't be aware that this is happening. It can affect your blood pressure or neurological functioning, and can increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.

      If you think you or your partner might be suffering from OSA, please discuss it with your physician or dentist. There are several types of treatment that can be effective depending on the individual.  Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines (CPAP) are like little oxygen masks that apply just enough pressure to open the blocked airway. They are the most effective treatment, but not everyone can get comfortable sleeping with them. For other people, oral appliances or surgery may solve the problem.
DON'T suffer in silence. Talk to your doctor and get a sleep study done so the condition can be properly diagnosed, and if necessary, treated.

Dr. Rubinstein appointed to faculty at University of Rochester's Eastman Dental Institute

     We're proud to announce that our practice has been designated a research site by the National Practice Based Research Network. This allows our practice to participate in active research efforts to improve treatment outcomes in oral and general health.
      Under a grant from the National Institute of Dental Research and the N.I.H., the network allows us to combine forces with other dental practices to create powerful and efficient research programs. The opportunity for patients to participate is, of course, completely voluntary and the information collected is kept strictly confidential.
     The D.P.B.R.N. network studies create a valuable opportunity for us to not only remain at the cutting edge of oral health treatment, but to give our patients the advantages of the most current and studied treatments in the practice of Dentistry.

Fluoride is not just for kids !

           Did you think fluoride treatments were just for  kids?  Should you consider supplemental fluoride treatments? The answer is "maybe". After all, most dental insurance only covers in-office fluoride treatments for children under the age of 18. But, does that mean it isn't necessary?

Just because we're adults, that does not mean we've become magically immune to tooth decay (Caries). And just because your insurance plan doesn't pay for it, that does NOT mean it won't benefit you.  Adults who have an elevated risk for caries should have that risk assessed, and additional fluoride can be a very effective preventive intervention.

There are several reasons an adult might require extra fluoride. Many of the prescription medications we take can reduce saliva flow or otherwise create dry mouth.  Patients who have undergone radiation treatment for cancer also have significantly decreased salivary flow, because radiation damages the salivary glands. Saliva neutralizes acids in the mouth, and also contains antibodies and other immune system factors, so any reduction in saliva increases the risk of tooth decay.

Adults often experience gum recession, which exposes part of the root surface of teeth. These areas are softer than the hard enamel at the top of the tooth, which makes them more susceptible to decay.

Today many people opt for orthodontic treatment (braces) as adults. Braces make it more challenging for patients to maintain good oral hygiene. Just ask your kids! Fluoride can keep the teeth strong and cavity-free even with the obstacle of orthodontic appliances.
Have you had a restoration done within the last year due to new decay? If you have, that puts you at a higher risk for cavities. Fluoride treatments are a great way to prevent more cavities in patients who are already prone to them.

Fluoride can also help with the growing problem of sensitive teeth. Diets high in acidic foods and beverages, general gum recession, and increased use of whitening products all tend to produce tooth sensitivity. Fluoride treatments re-mineralize tooth enamel and reduce that sensitivity.

If one or more of these conditions applies to you, consider requesting a topical fluoride treatment.

Some Helpful Informatiuon from the American Dental Association about Fluoride Supplementation.

Practice Based Research : The Future of Dentistry

     There are some big changes happening in the world of dental and medical research. Technology affords our patients new and better ways to access the information they can use to improve their health. One of the most significant is "practice based research". This is a model in which hundreds of doctors in private practices throughout the country participate in a research project together, under the guidance and support of a national organization (in our case, the National Dental Practice Based Research Network).      In my practice, we have been participating in this type of research for several years now. We want the dental care we provide to be "evidence based". That seems obvious. But how do we decide what kinds of evidence we should be using, and how we should be collecting and evaluating it? What does it mean when we say a treatment or a cure is based on "research"? 
     Historically, basic dental research in this country was conducted in teaching hospitals and academic medical centers, and a much of it still is. But full time academics often conduct their studies far from the realities of private practice, and this can hinder their vision of the ultimate goal of research: improving dental practice and patient outcomes.

"Practice based" research is a welcome and growing trend in the profession of dentistry.

Your personal private health information is valuable. And it's YOURS. Protect It !

      When we visit the doctor these days, much of our health information is collected, transmitted and stored electronically. We might enter our medical history into an iPad.  Our prescriptions are often sent directly to our pharmacies electronically, and results of our lab tests might be made available for us to view online, through an online patient portal. Even our appointment reminders may be communicated via text or email. 

     You have probably noticed some of these trends, and you can expect them to continue. Here in New York for example, there will be no paper prescriptions permitted after March of 2016. Electronic prescribing will be the standard and the rule. Very convenient and efficient, many of these changes offer us enhanced efficiency, convenience and safety.

 HOWEVER....... some of these advances also conceal potential threats to the safety and security of our information. If huge corporations like Target, Sony and Microsoft can suffer a data breach, how safe can our health information be?  Here's some interesting info about the Sony breach as it relates to health information.
     This is something to be aware of any time you hand over your insurance card or your credit card, or type any information into a computer you do not own. Digital information can be shared easily, with the click of a button.  That is what makes it so convenient. The question of how to ensure that your data is safe is complicated, but a few simple principles are usually worth following.

     There are several sources of "information insecurity" when it comes to our health information. We always think about hackers and identity thieves first. The personal information in your doctor’s computers can be valuable, and there are criminals who would like to have it.  But the more easily data can be appropriately shared, the more easily it can be inappropriately shared.  Information access is inversely related to information security. Anything you type into some computer somewhere, might one day appear on any computer anywhere.  (Unless I can find a reference to that somewhere, I’m going to call it Rubinstein’s Law). 

     The most reasonable course is to practice what I call good "information hygiene". Share only the minimum amount of information necessary, and be sure you know who will have access to it, and for how long.

     DON'T use your social security number for health identification purposes. There is really no reason to write it down, even if there is a line for it on a form. Just leave it blank. Insurance companies are no longer using SSNs for identification purposes. Now they issue their own unique identifying numbers.
     DON'T access your medical information any public Wi-Fi access. Even if you are accessing your information from the doctor's "secure portal". Remember that nothing is "secure" unless your own internet access is secure also. If you're checking the results of your blood tests from a laptop at Starbucks, you might as well post them on your Facebook page.

     DO put expiration dates on your permissions. Many forms that you sign giving access to your data remain in effect unless you specifically cancel them, often in writing. Cross out the part that says "until canceled" and write in an expiration date. I usually pick 1 or 2 years from the day I sign the form. 

    This only scratches the surface. Here is a little more reading on the subject......

    

Ask your doctor MORE questions !

     It never fails to amaze me.  I will be talking to a patient who is contemplating a difficult procedure. He or she is being very inquisitive, trying to understand their options. Suddenly, they will say something like  "sorry for asking so many questions" ! !    My standard answer (yes, I have one) is that most people don't ask their doctors nearly enough questions. Ask away.  If a patient leaves my office without knowing what they need to know, then I haven't done my job properly. I try never to let that happen. I try never to seem like I am in a hurry, or that there is some place else I need to be. Trust me, your doctors WANT you to ask questions.     

     Yet, we've often been conditioned to believe that our doctors should just tell us what to do. That we shouldn't ask too many questions. That the doctor's time is somehow too valuable for us to "waste" with excessive questions. That simply isn't the case. Information is not "extra". It is an integral part of your treatment, and you're entitled to ask for it. More than entitled, actually. You are responsible to ask for it. That is one of the most important ways in which you can take an active role in your own health care. Your doctors should encourage that !

Painless Dentistry? Yes, it is possible.

     Is it really possible to have a painless dental injection? Actually yes. In the majority of cases, new technology and techniques  allow you to feel almost nothing. (I know..... it seems hard to imagine)

So why do some people expect that their routine dental treatment will involve discomfort or pain? It may be that they are recalling an unpleasant dental experience from their past or their childhood. Or perhaps their dentist is not using all the tools our profession has developed over the past few years to improve comfort and reduce pain and anxiety.

       Fact is, very few things we do nowadays are painful at all, and even the dental injection itself (the dreaded "needle") has evolved to the point where many patients, after receiving their injection, have a hard time believing they'd had one at all.

The most important ingredient in anxiety-free dentistry is communication. We dentists always need to keep our patients in the loop, and describe what we are doing in great detail, so we can be sure our patients know that we take their comfort very seriously. Some patients (unfortunately) want to avoid "bothering" the dentist with complaints, and will suffer their discomfort quietly.  Don't.  When you give us the information we need to keep you comfortable, you're doing us both a big favor.

I don't want there to be any surprises during your visit, exept that it was better than you expected!

Dr. Mitchell Rubinstein appointed to associate resarch position at N.Y.U. Dental School

   




     We're proud to announce that our practice has been designated a research site by New York University's School of Dentistry.  The P.E.A.R.L. Network is a practice based research network that allows our patients to participate in the ongoing efforts to improve treatment outcomes in our oral and general health.
      Under a grant from the National Institute of Dental Research, these practice based networks allow us to combine forces with other dental practices to create powerful and efficient research programs. The opportunity for patients to participate is, of course, completely voluntary and the information collected is kept completely confidential.
     P.E.A.R.L. network studies create a valuable opportunity for us to not only remain at the cutting edge of oral health treatment, but to give our patients the advantages of the most current and studied treatments in the practice of Dentistry.

BABY TEETH: More important than you think !

     Many people think baby teeth aren't important because they'll eventually fall out, but this could not be further from the truth.

Parents need to be aware that baby teeth (also called primary teeth) are important because they help ensure normal jaw growth and save space for when permanent teeth come in.
Primary teeth also have a lot to do with overall growth and development.  That's why  it's important for parents to bring their child to the dentist between their first and second birthday. Three or four or five is too late for a first dental visit, and some oral health problems can be quite far along by then. An early start also gives us a chance to educate the parents and work on important things like diet, oral hygiene and fluoride usage.

Dr. Memet Oz : Bad Dental Advice..... (but great hair)

     I was not surprised to see Dr. Oz giving advice on teeth whitening. After all, he’s a celebrity doctor, and celebrities are known for their megawatt bright white smiles. Whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures we do, and people are always looking for a way to do it at home.
     Unfortunately, Dr. Oz’s method, a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda has two problems:
1) It doesn’t whiten your teeth
2) It can destroy your tooth enamel and make you much more susceptible to decay and tooth errosion. 

     Lemon juice has a PH near 2, which is as acidic as the stuff in your car battery. Acid is the mortal enemy of tooth enamel. In fact, tooth decay is caused by the acids produced by oral bacteria.

Baking soda is just an abrasive, which is not the greatest thing either, although not quite as destructive as the lemon juice. Baking soda also happens to be alkaline, but not enough to neutralize the lemon juice. 
When you combine the acid and the baking soda, their effects are magnified. The lemon acid starts to dissolve the outer layer of tooth enamel, making it easier for the abrasive baking soda to erode the surface.

      Here’s the kicker: It won’t whiten your teeth. It could actually make them darker. 

     The whitest part of your tooth is the enamel. The layer below, the dentin, is a deep yellow color. If you thin your enamel with abrasives and acid, more of the yellow dentin will show through from below.

If this sounds bad, it is. I’m not sure who gave Dr. Oz this gem, but I bet it wasn’t a dentist.

     Dr Oz is clearly a smart guy. But he’s not a dentist and he has let himself be fooled by something that seems reasonable, but is really just a very bad idea. I would hope this episode would encourage him to learn more about dental and oral anatomy and physiology, so he could better advise the millions of people who watch him on T.V.

Sealants: Not just for kids.

     Like most things, the need for dental sealants should be evaluated on an individual basis. Caries Risk Assessment is the name for the current process for determining which patients have an elevated risk of tooth decay.
     Adults who continue to develop decay in the deep grooves of the back teeth should have sealants placed in any tooth that does not already have a restoration (filling) in it.

     Dental sealants act as a barrier, protecting the teeth against decay-causing bacteria. The sealants are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of childrens' back teeth (premolars and molars) where decay occurs most often.

This is what the process looks like....

Implants: The new normal

The modern practice of dentistry is primarily focused on prevention, and the newly emerging links between dental health and total body health bear out this model. We should be doing everything possible to keep our mouths and bodies healthy, so we never need to have any teeth removed.
However, when missing teeth need to be replaced, implants should now be the frontline therapy. Dentures and bridges, less effective therapies, should be considered when an implant solution is not possible.

The video below is an excellent review of current treatment options in Implant Dentistry.

3i Patient Video