Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Will Periodntal Disease Be Cured?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Curing Periodontal Disease?

We are all healthier today because of the advances that the medical community has made. From antibiotics to surgical procedures to vaccines we are in better health than ever before. Polio has been eradicated because of a vaccine as have many other diseases. Another disease that may be on way to a defeat is periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is a serious disease that has impact on our bodies well beyond just the gingival tissues. It is well documented that periodontal disease is directly associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and low birth weight babies. It is often asymptomatic with the infection progressing into severe stages without any pain or minimal symptoms.

That could change with a vaccine being developed at the University of Melbourne and CSL, in the Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Science. According to Eric Reynolds, CEO of the CRC for Oral Health Science and the head of the University of Melbourne’s Dental School; “The vaccine will provide dentists and patients with a specific treatment, which prevents disease progression, rather than managing its symptoms and damaging consequences.”

Should you have any questions regarding periodontal disease and your dental health, please do not hesitate to contact us to arrange for a comprehensive examination to determine the level of your periodontal health. Call us 561-394-9000 and we will find a time for your appointment that works best with your schedule.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

The Importance of Clean Teeth!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Don't forget to get your teeth cleaned....it might save your life!

The importance of cleaning your teeth was truly driven home to a woman in the United Kingdom. Christine Robson was struck down by a stroke about 9 years ago.
Admittedly Christine says she wasn’t that attentive to dental needs. You know nothing hurt everything’s okay!
When she was 22, the harmful bacteria in her mouth entered her blood stream through infected gums and began the progression of bacterial endocarditis which precipitated forming a blood clot which then got dislodged in her brain causing the stroke.
She said, “It ended up I was not brushing my teeth like I should have been. “Your mouth is a very sensitive place and it plays a big part in your health.” The importance of having regular hygiene visits continues to be stressed for research has shown the direct relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease.
If you are due to have your teeth cleaned and have not scheduled an appointment, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will help you find a time that works best with your schedule. Your dental health is important to us, but your overall health is even more important. Please allow us to be a part of helping you to maintain the best health possible!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Toothbrushes…Electric or not?

The choice of the toothbrush you use today has become, in many cases, a selection process with an abundance of alternatives. So how does one decide which brush is best for them? Should I choose electric or manual? Should the bristles be hard or soft? Should it be a spin or ultrasonic toothbrush? Decisions, decisions, decisions!

The bristle toothbrush, similar to the type used today, was not invented until 1498 in China. The bristles were actually the stiff, coarse hairs taken from the back of a hog's neck and attached to handles made of bone or bamboo. Boar bristles were used until 1938, when nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont de Nemours. The first nylon toothbrush was called Doctor West's Miracle Toothbrush.

From a dentists point of view a soft brush is better than a hard to protect the gums. Hard bristles can literally brush away gum tissue at the necks of the teeth if used too hard. The technique of how you use the brush is the means of how effective it will be in removing plaque, not the coarseness of the bristles.

Manual or electric? This is an issue that is answered on an individual basis. There are claims by various companies that indicate an ultrasonic or electric powered toothbrush may be more effective under certain circumstances than a manual brush. Everyone’s mouth and everybody’s oral habits, health, risk factors and oral health varies. What works for one, may not work for the next. An electric toothbrush can be an alternative for special needs such as children that won’t or can’t brush, individuals with arthritis, those with braces and extensive dental work.
We are here to answer your questions. Your choice of a brush can be a decision made with your dentist or dental hygienist. We will take into consideration all your oral health needs and wants. Please give us a call at 561-394-9000 to schedule an appointment to have your teeth cleaned and examined. We will determine at that time the best option for maintaining your dental health!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.
2900 N. Military Trail
Suite 212
Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Floss Floss Brush Brush

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

It’s that time of year for obvious holiday cheer. Christmas trees, Hanukkah bushes, bright lights and of course the mistletoe. Yes that kiss under the mistletoe but if you have bad breath you miss out on the fun. But the mistletoe embarrassment of bad breath can be avoided. It just takes a little effort on your part.

Get back to the basics! Brushing thoroughly twice a day; thoroughly doesn’t mean you are done in 30 seconds. You can’t get all the plaque and stuff off you teeth that quickly. Make a habit of beginning your brushing in the same part of your mouth and SLOW DOWN! Next thing….flossing! Yes I know how many of us think flossing is a hassle and hate losing the battle with that slippery string. That being said daily flossing can add 6.4 years to your life. Flossing with “floss forks” is better than not flossing at all. You can get them at the dollar store 50 for a buck…great deal. Put them in your car, purse or desk. Place them next to your night stand or where you watch television.

Mouthwashes and mints just cover up the foul odor from bad breath, so be careful if your home care isn’t up to the level it needs to be, rejection at the mistletoe may right around the corner this holiday season. If you have any questions regarding your home care and how we can help you to improve your oral hygiene, we are available. Give us a call at 561-394-9000 we can arrange an appointment for you to have your teeth cleaned so your mouth can start the New Year with a fresh start too!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Dental Sleep Medicine and your health

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Snoring Can Be Dangerous To Your Health!

How many of us are willing to admit that we snore? Most people deny the act for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless the intense vibration and course sounds can wear on one’s nerves! Many a spouse loses hours of sleep due to the fact that their “significant other” snores. Loss of sleep does funny things to people. Excessive daytime sleepiness the result of sleep apnea has been implicated in the Exxon Valdez and Challenger incidents.

Lack of sleep does tend to make one do irrational things just ask the Pinellas County teenager who beat his father because he was snoring too loudly as reported in the St. Petersburg Times. Take note those of you who at least admit to yourself that you snore….you are not only at risk from Sleep Apnea but also form those around you who have to live with your snoring!

If you have any questions regarding the sleep disturbances and how you can successfully treat them, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to help you get on your way to a healthier nights sleep!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Dental Sleep Medicine & Drug Abuse

Monday, December 07, 2009

Dental Sleep Medicine and Drug Abuse

Factors that create a risk for sleep apnea are well documented; high blood pressure, snoring, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Now researchers believe that a recreational drug creates a greater risk for the affects of sleep apnea than obesity.

In a study was performed at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore sleep tests were performed on 71 people who'd used ecstasy (MDMA) and 62 people who'd never used the illegal drug. Ecstasy users had a more than eight-fold increased risk of sleep apnea compared to non-users. "People who use ecstasy need to know that this drug damages the brain and can cause immediate and dangerous problems such as sleep apnea," study author Dr. Una McCann, of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore stated.

In the study published in the December issue of Neurology
Dr McCann stressed "Sleep apnea in itself is dangerous, but it can also contribute to thinking problems in people who use ecstasy because chronic sleep disruption is known to have a negative effect on how a person functions during the daytime."
Should you have any questions about sleep apnea and the potentially lethal impacts it can have, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange for a consultation to address the concerns that could be preventing you from getting a healthy nights rest!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Dental Sleep Medicine and I Phones

Friday, December 04, 2009

Think you might have Sleep Apnea? Yes you know that you need to go do that awful sleep study in some foreign uncomfortable bed. Well while you are trying to decide if you are going to subject yourself to the test…..I Phone to the rescue. Yes there is an app that can help determine if you are indeed experiencing sleep apnea.

The people at Excelltech have created the app Sleep Analyzer. With installed on your I Phone it will record the disruptions that you experience during your night of sleep. It will store up to one month of data and then it will provide an analysis of the information it has gathered.

Obviously this is not the ideal way to have a disease such as sleep apnea diagnosed. You can take the information collected by the app and share it with your primary care physician. Sleep Apnea is a serious disease that should not be taken lightly. If you have any questions regarding Sleep Apnea, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please call at us 561-394-9000 to get you on the path to a healthy nights sleep.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.