Osteoporosis, the loss of bone mass as we age, could affect half of all Americans over 50 by 2020. It is defined as bone loss of about 25 percent, which results in fragile bones that fracture easily. Its reputation as an old person's disease stems from the fact that bone loss doesn't hurt and osteoporosis victims can go years without a clue they are susceptible to the condition. You can guard against bone loss even if factors outside your control put you in one [...]
Originally, these ideas held because no one really knew how to maintain a great smile over a lifetime. Unfortunately, "popular wisdom" still prevents some people from recognizing how modern dentistry can keep teeth natural, attractive and pain free. Do any of the following notions sound familiar? If so, get ready for a little relief! A woman can expect to lose a tooth for every child The Reality: This myth used to be true in many cases, but thankfully with modern medicine and dentistry, there's [...]
We have come a long way in the treatment of serious, life-threatening systemic diseases. Part and parcel of healing more aggressive diseases are—more aggressive therapies. And sometimes as a result of forceful care, complications arise that demand attention of their own: oral problems. When an individual is very sick, nutrition becomes more important than ever. Oral problems can interfere with normal function—eating, speaking, swallowing—just when the patient needs it most. Early evaluation by a dentist can help preserve a patient's oral health. So please, [...]
While nobody enjoys getting lectured about a bad habit, it's important to have all the relevant information available to you, especially when it involves health implication. So if you need any extra motivation to help you quit smoking, we'll discuss some of the lesser known problems it can cause. It isn't just your lungs that suffer! Of course, anyone can understand the relationship between smoking and lung cancer, but there are serious oral health implications too. Gum disease significantly increases with smoking, as nicotine [...]
Dentistry, like any other science, has evolved over time. We've come a long way from the old days of "drill and fill" to a new era of sophisticated technology and technique. And along with this growth has come a new understanding of sterilization and infection control. With a variety of serious illnesses that can be cross-communicated, sterilization protocols have been dramatically refined. And for our practice, there is no "enough." For starters, we use physical barriers over every possible surface. We use disposable products [...]
Beware of the oral complications of this respiratory disease In years past, asthma attacks could be unpredictable and difficult to control. Today, medications have been developed to control attacks—in some cases preventing them from occurring at all. If you—or a member of your family—still suffer the attacks, check with your physician about new treatment methods. Although we may not know its exact cause, most people are familiar with asthma, the chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult. Asthma may be triggered by allergens such [...]
Do you snore, and has your partner compared it to the sound of a giant band saw slowly slicing through the house? Ever wake up groggy and grumpy after a "full night's sleep?" If the answers are "Yes" and "Yes," you could be suffering from sleep apnea, a not-so-funny condition in which sleepers actually stop breathing for brief periods overnight. For most of us, snoring can be reduced or eliminated by wearing a simple oral appliance at night. It enlarges the airway by positioning [...]
Here's to Health in 2018! We care about you as patients and as friends too! As we all try to get healthier in the New Year, here are some common resolutions that can improve dental and overall health. Make the New Year tobacco-free! Do whatever you need to quit smoking—seek out a program, a patch, a support group. Half a million North Americans die annually from disease caused by cigarette smoking. It doesn't have to be! Check your blood pressure and cholesterol. See a [...]
Use Them or Lose Them! What if someone gave you free money to spend on improving your smile? With one string attached: use it all by New Years', or lose it. Well, for those fortunate enough to have insurance, be sure to take advantage of your plan's benefits before they expire at the end of the year. Most dental insurance policies have a dollar limit to the amount of treatment provided over the calendar year. Benefit money not used by December 31 is NOT [...]
Women of all ages are prone to changing levels of progesterone in the body. And progesterone—especially when you are pregnant or taking oral contraceptives—causes some bacteria to grow in awesome numbers. Unfortunately, the bacteria associated with gum disease are among them. Are you taking progesterone medication? Tell us if these ring a bell: Provera, Amen, Cycrin, Norlutate, Norinyl, Otho-Novum, Ovral, Triphasil—among many others. In the face of such drugs, an existing periodontal problem may worsen, or the disease can develop suddenly in apparently healthy [...]
