If Your Teeth Could Talk … The Mouth Offers Clues to Disorders and Disease; Dentists Could Play Larger Role in Patient Care

Tell us what you think?

Here is the link and some comments below from a great article in WSJ on 12/27/11 about the systemic link between teeth and your overall health.

http://online.wsj.com/article/health_journal.html

“We have lots of data showing a direct correlation between inflammation in the mouth and inflammation in the body,”

Some 20 million Americans—including 6% of children and 9% of adults—saw a dentist but not a doctor in 2008, according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health this month

Dr. Ushma Patel – Center for Advanced Dentistry 770-623-8750 www.johnscreeksedationdentist.com in Johns Creek, Suwanee GA

If Your Teeth Could Talk

If Your Teeth Could Talk

Zoom in for Whiter Teeth for the Holidays

Natural tooth color can be altered by any number of things. Teeth can be stained by tobacco, foods and beverages such as tea and berries, and by deposits of calculus or tartar. Teeth can also be discolored internally through the effects of aging, injury and certain illnesses. The result can be a yellowish, dingy-looking smile. Severe staining can even occur as a result of taking tetracycline during childhood.

A generation ago, only people in the public eye had “movie star” smiles, but all that has changed. Today, the procedure is quite easy, inexpensive and within the budget of most working people.

The most commonly used procedure is called bleaching. This can be done either in the dentist’s office (chair side bleaching like Zoom), or after an initial office visit, at home by the patient (night bleaching). For most patients a combination of both procedures is recommended for optimal results.

In either approach, a bleaching agent is carefully applied to the teeth (at home, the patient uses a custom fitted mouth guard) until the teeth achieve the desired amount of whiteness. Teeth whitening doesn’t remove any of the tooth’s structure and even teeth that have had root canals can be easily whitened.

I’ve researched various options and of course, as a dentist, many companies try to engage me in offering their products. But the one I feel is not only the safest, but the most effective and beneficial to my patients is the Zoom!™ Teeth Whitening System. The process is painless and occurs in one visit, generally in less than 90 minutes. Teeth appear six to ten shades whiter (and sometimes more), and patients notice the results instantly. Even if you have highly sensitive teeth, ask me about products that are formulated to minimize sensitivity so you, too, can enjoy the benefits of a whiter brighter smile.

A bright, gleaming smile can go a long way to improve your appearance. The results can be dazzling! As always, happiness is spread with a smile, make yours one you are proud to share! Patients who have Zoom! are so astounded by their instant and noticeable results that they can’t resist admiring their smile in their car’s rear view mirror after they leave the office. For more information and a complimentary consultation on the latest advancements like Veneers or Six Month Smiles Cosmetic Braces System call Dr. Ushma Patel at 770-623-8750 or visit her at www.JohnsCreekCosmeticDentist.com.

Mention this article for a $199 TEETH WHITENING SPECIAL (Regular $299) for Take Home custom fitted whitening gel trays and professional strength gel. $400 for Zoom In Office Teeth Whitening. For the best results a combination of both is recommended. (Special Price of  $500 for both, expires 11/30/11)

Sixth Sense Technology

You need to see this Ted Talk, given in Nov 2009, talks of devices for marrying the digital and physical worlds. I was blown away and so will you.

Examining Your Teeth May Reveal Danger Of Stroke

Routine dental radiographs could uncover the risk of a stroke potential. Until recently, it was thought that most people who suffer a stroke do not have obvious symptoms beforehand. But a study done by medical researchers at the University of Buffalo shows that early warning signs may appear in the mouth.
 
Common dental radiographs can detect potentially dangerous calcium deposits in the carotid arteries in the neck. These arteries supply blood to the brain. The presence of calcium deposits is a sign of advanced atherosclerosis, a major cause of stroke. The study looked at close to three thousand new patients at university dental clinics over a two-year period. Researchers found evidence of calcification in the carotid arteries in 143 of them. They were all referred to a doctor for treatment.
 
The type of x-ray is called a panoramic radiograph. It’s a wide angle frontal scan showing the condition of teeth and surrounding bone and is a normal part of a regular dental checkup. Dentists can examine the radiograph and look for calcium deposits in the carotid arteries. Patients with signs of calcification can be referred to a medical doctor for preventive stroke treatment.
 
In this way, the routine dental checkup can become a key way of detecting patients who are unknowingly at risk of having a stroke. Just another good reason to make sure your teeth get regular attention from a dentist.

We are extremely happy to announce the our office has invested in a Digital Panoramic X-Ray machine that is used on patients as they come in for their dental check up. It is also used to check orthodontic status, tooth alignment, abnormalities in both adults and children, oral cancer, as well as screen for correct development of the jaw and teeth in children.

Dr Ushma Patel – Center for Advanced Dentistry

Sugar: The Scariest Halloween Trend

Halloween is approaching, and so are all those scary costumes and haunted houses. It shouldn’t be the ghouls and ghosts that you fear, however, but the candied apples, trick-or-treat sweets and all the soda that washes them down! Sugary and acidic foods can lead to tooth decay, and that can put a damper on anyone’s festive spirit.
 
While it would be nice if your neighbors all gave out fresh fruit or sugar-free candy (though we’re sure the kids disagree!), high-sugar sweets are still America’s favorite Halloween treat. If possible, try to limit children’s sugar intake. Encourage them to drink plenty of water while snacking – soda will only make things worse! And finally, while it’s easy to slip into a “sugar coma” and just pass out while watching a favorite horror flick, this is not the time to stray from your brushing or flossing routine. Let your children know that if they eat sweets without their toothbrushes on hand, they should rinse their mouths out with warm water.
 
If you think your child may have developed a cavity (whether the result of Halloween indulgences or not), please call us at 770-623-8750 for a check up. Even temporary baby teeth need to be properly cared for, as tooth decay can affect permanent adult teeth that are still developing below.
 
We’d like to wish you and your family the best this fall season. We hope that when the sweets of autumn runneth over, you’ll think of us (and your smiles).In my neighborhood I also like to give out a snack and toothbrush and toothpaste so that they have no excuse to brush before they go to bed that night. This year many neighborhoods are celebrating on Sunday Oct 30 since Monday is a school holiday for Forsyth County.

Costly complications of untreated or undertreated periodontitis (Gum Disease)

If Gum Disease is left untreated it leads to costly complications:

  • Further spread of infection
  • More tissue damage
  • Surgery
  • Loss of teeth
 Periodontitis potentially affects overall health:
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Pre-term, low birth-weight babies

Source: http://www.myarestin.com/

To schedule an appointment in the Atlanta area of Suwanee, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Duluth, Cumming, for a dental check-up call Dr, Ushma Patel’s dental office Center for Advanced Dentistry at 770-623-8750, visit http://www.johnscreeksedationdentist.com/ for more information.

Are you afraid of the Dentist? Have you heard of Sedation Dentistry?

I see it all the time. Apprehension. Dread. Nervousness. According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), nearly 1 in 3 people avoid dental visits due to fear. Without regular visits, oral health continues to deteriorate over a person’s lifetime. This can lead to health problems ranging from tooth sensitivity to gum disease as well as more chronic issues such as heart disease and diabetes, and social uneasiness about odorous breath or feeling embarrassed to smile. The good news is the dental industry has made tremendous advances in order to help reluctant patients receive the care they need. We do this through the comfort of sedation dentistry.

And the good news about sedation dentistry is that it allows those who have been neglecting their oral care to make major advances in the health of their mouth and smile in just one visit. With sedation dentistry, I can perform complex dental treatments in one appointment where it would have taken multiple visits to achieve the same results in the past.

So how do you decide if sedation dentistry is right for you? If you feel anxious about coming to the dentist, have sensitive teeth, suffer complex dental problems, or have an easily triggered gag reflex, talk to us about sedation. Or if you know anyone like this, help them by referring them to us. Call 770-623-8750 or visit www.JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com.

NBC Today Show:Want to live longer Drink wine, have sex and floss everyday

>>> this morning on “today’s” health, cutting your risk for heart disease. about 80% are preventable, but despite that it’s still the number one killer of both men and women in the u.s. so what should we be doing to keep our heart’s healthy? dr. kerry peterson is an internist and contribute to “women’s health” magazine. a lot of us have heart disease in our families. is genetics the whole ball game? is that true or can we really change our behaviors and make a difference?

>> genetics play a role but of course there are things you can do. if you’re a child of a parent who has heart disease you’re more at risk, especially if your dad had heart disease before age 55 or mom, before age 65.

>> the first thing we recommend is people people have heard before, exercise. the single most important lifestyle change you can make.

>> that’s correct. for both men and women, regular exercise, first off, work out the heart muscles so it works more efficiently and it reduces the likelihood of developing all the specters for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.

>> how much do you have to do?

floss everyday to prevent gum disease

Center for Advanced Dentistry - Dental Office Team

Urvashi, Joy, Susan, Michelle, Tawny and Dr. Ushma Patel with their beautiful smiles. Team photo taken at the office in the front lobby against the window treatments.

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