Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Green Tea...good dental health!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is familiar to all of us. Now we may be able to say “green tea keeps the dentist away”. Dentists keep spreading the word that flossing everyday increases your life expectancy. Now it also appears that drinking at least one cup of green tea on a daily basis will significantly increase the odds that you can keep all of your teeth into a ripe old age!

Alfredo Morabia, the editor of Preventative Medicine and a professor at Columbia University states "green tea may have bactericidal effects, which would affect teeth, but only if you drink it without sugar." Yasushi Koyama, of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and colleagues studied more than 25,000 individuals and found that people who drank at least one cup of green tea on a daily basis were 13-20% more likely to have all of their teeth as opposed to those who didn’t drink the tea. It appears there is an antimicrobial element in green tea called catachins that could be providing this benefit. Catechins have been shown to kill mouth bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, so the researchers suspect this is what gives green tea its dental benefits.

This is just another example of the unique health advantage that can be gained by adding something as simple as tea to your diet. If you have any questions regarding your dental health and your concern for periodontal disease, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to get you on your way to a healthier mouth.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Oral Hygine For Children

Monday, April 26, 2010

Oral Hygiene for Children

New parents often ask “when should my child first go to the dentist”? My answer is to them is that children are usually brought for their first visit around three years of age, but what is done prior to that first visit is extremely important.

Begin starting good oral hygiene habits early in your child’s life. This can be easily done when they are infants by wiping their gum tissue with gauze, according to pediatric dentist Dr. Sarah Hulland. She also recommends that when baby’s first teeth erupt that parents begin using a soft silicone finger brush to help them to get used to brushing. When the child is finally ready for their first real tooth brush, much supervision is necessary to ensure the job is being done properly.

Beginning a habit of flossing might be even more important than brushing. Flossing gets to areas around the teeth where no brush can go. It loosens bacteria making it easier to remove when brushing. Start flossing for your child again at an early age to have them become familiar with “fingers in their mouths”.

Teaching our children that prevention is the best form of treatment is paramount to a healthy mouth. Preventing periodontal disease will also help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with periodontal disease.

If you should have any questions regarding oral hygiene, please do not hesitate to call us at 561-394-9000. We can arrange an appointment for you to determine if you are experiencing periodontal disease and suggest ways to help you achieve a healthy mouth.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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Whiten Just One Tooth?

Whiten Just One Tooth?

There are some occasions when a person needs just one tooth whitened. Why? Sometimes trauma to a single front tooth caused it to darken. The blood vessels in the nerve chamber are injured. The pigment in the blood, hemosiderin, is released and absorbed into the tooth making it look dark.

The typical whitening agents whether over-the-counter or those obtained at a dental office will not always be effective in removing the dark stain within this single tooth. The most effective way to whiten for this situation is with what is known as a “walking bleach” technique.

In most of these instances of trauma, the nerve in the tooth has been damaged to the extent that root canal therapy will need to be performed. A small hole is placed on the back side of the tooth. It is through that access point that the root canal is completed and the “walking bleach” is performed. Small amounts of a whitening agent are placed in the previously made hole. The hole is sealed and the agents are replaced several times over several weeks. This technique has been successful in helping the tooth to return to its natural shade.

Whitening of your teeth is a beautiful way to enhance your smile. This can be even more imporant when it is just one tooth that is dark and standing out! Walking bleach can be your answer. Should you have any questions regarding the “walking bleach” technique or any other whitening solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment for you to determine the most effective means to provide you with the beautiful smile you deserve!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Keep your Teeth, Lower your Risk of Heart Diease

Monday, April 19, 2010

Keeping Your Teeth Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease

In a soon to be released study in the Journal of Periodontology, Dr. Anders Holmlund demonstrated a link between individuals with periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease.

Over a 12 year period of time, Dr. Holmlund’s team followed 7674 women and men, most with periodontal disease. In that period, 629 of them died and the researchers examined the causes of death - and for 299 of them, it was cardiovascular disease.

It has been well known that oral infections get release their bacteria into the blood stream. Dr. Holmlund stresses that those bacteria are causing a low-grade chronic inflammatory response. This fact alone is a well established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Dr Holmlund related that ''A person with fewer than 10 of their own teeth has a seven times higher risk for death by coronary heart disease than a person of the same age and of the same sex with more than 25 teeth left.'' He feels as though there is a relationship between the periodontal disease, the number of lost teeth and the degree of chronic inflammation.

Having your teethed cleaned by a dental hygienist is proven again to be an important factor in not only keeping your teeth clean but also lower your exposure to cardiovascular disease. Please call our office at 561-394-9000 to schedule an appointment to have your mouth examined and your teeth cleaned to minimize the risk of having periodontal disease.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Pregnancy and Peridontal Disease

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Pregnancy & Periodontal Disease Linked to Premature Deliveries

You are pregnant! It’s a wonderful time, so many miraculous changes occurring on a daily basis. The importance of pre-natal care is stressed form day one of discovering that you are expecting. But are you aware of the increased importance of taking care of your teeth during your pregnancy?

A study performed in England with 1000 pregnant women demonstrated that 160 had periodontal disease. Those treated for the disease were significantly less likely to have a premature delivery. According to Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation: “It is further strong evidence that pregnant women should take care of their teeth and receive appropriate treatment during their pregnancy to reduce as far as possible their chance of a pre-term birth.”

Hormonal changes affect a women’s body in a vast variety of ways during pregnancy. These changes can present themselves in the mouth as puffy swollen gums that easily bleed. This is the bodies exaggerated hormonal response to teeth not being as clean as the possibly could be. Getting your teeth cleaned at the beginning of your pregnancy and near the end will lessen the likelihood of the periodontal disease having an impact on your pregnancy.

If you have any questions about periodontal disease how it can impact your pregnancy, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange a schedule of appointment for you to achieve your goals of a health mouth and a health baby!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tired, Fatigued…Maybe You Have Sleep Apnea

We all have asked ourselves at one time or another…why am I so tired or I just don’t have any energy! Well you could very well be suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The word “apnea” is Greek for without rest. Just because you don’t snore doesn’t mean you can’t be experiencing Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Having sleep apnea isn’t about falling asleep; it’s about your tongue and the tissues of your throat falling back in your throat blocking your airway! The lack of oxygen caused by the blockage eventually awakens a person with Obstructive Sleep Apnea gasping for air. People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea are increasingly noted to have cardiovascular disease, diabetes and are overweight.

Many other disease can make it difficult to breath such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema, but this is generally noted a s a shortness of breath not a cessation of breathing! People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea are prone to excessive daytime sleepiness which may leave them susceptible to falling asleep while driving.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please contact your physician to discuss your concern. If you should have any further questions regarding sleep disorders, please do not hesitate to call us at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to discuss your concerns and get you on your way to a better and healthier night’s sleep.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Sleep Apnea and your Eyes

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Sleep Apnea and Your Eyes

The relationship between our eyes and our sleep has taken on another connection. In a study published in the April edition of Ophthalmology, British researchers noted a strong correlation between patients suffering with a disease known as Floppy Eyelid Syndrome (FES) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

A patient that is experiencing FES has eyelids that are rubbery in their texture. They easily flip up during sleep irritating and drying out the eyes. The significant common association between FES and OSA is that they both are frequent in middle-aged overweight men. The study led by Daniel G. Ezra, MD, of Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England, found the strong OSA-FES association. "About one-third (32 of 102) FES patients in our study also had OSA," Dr. Ezra said.

He felt as though the patients with OSA prefer to sleep on their sides in order to lessen their apneic events. This could be leading to intense pressure on the eyelids on that side of the face. This is one of the factors that could be contributing to FES. The study also revealed that the FES was resolved in the OSA patients who were treated with a properly fitting CPAP (continuous positive air pressure).

We continue to discover that obstructive sleep apnea is affecting our levels on levels never imagined. This underscores the importance of recognizing the problem and being treated effectively. Should you have any questions about Obstructive Sleep Apnea and how it may be affecting your life, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange for an appointment to screen you to determine if you may indeed be suffering with OSA. Let us help you get back on the track to a better night’s sleep!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Growing A TMJ!

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

TMJ Help for the Future

In today’s world of advanced medicine achievements have been made to replace broken down hips, knees and of course teeth with implants. One of the joints that has not been as predictable to replace with an implant has been the temporomandibular joint. Now a different solution to regenerate and repair a temporomandibular joint may become a reality.
At the Columbia University Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science a research team has demonstrated the ability to grow a temporomandibular joint from stem calls derived from bone marrow. This study was recently displayed in the online Early Edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, a professor of biomedical engineering, because of the temporomandibular joint intricacy it cannot be easily grafted form other bones in the patient’s own body. She expressed that "The availability of personalized bone grafts engineered from the patient's own stem cells would revolutionize the way we currently treat these defects,"

It is Dr. Vunjak-Novakovic’s hope that her technique will be to be applied to other areas that are also difficult to repair with current implant methods. If you have any questions regarding solutions for treating TMJ, please do not hesitate to call us for an appointment at 561-394-9000. We will help you find an approach to treating your TMJ that works for you!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

TMJ Noises?

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Snap Crackle Pop…It’s Not The Cereal It’s Your TMJ

You are eating breakfast, the house is nice and quiet and you notice a snapping or popping sound emanating near your ear. What is this noise? The source of this annoyance could be your temporomandibular joint or TMJ. What is happening to cause the abnormal sound?

The TMJ has a disc and ligaments like many joints.
For a variety of different reasons the ligaments can be torn or stretched. The disc can then be “displaced” off the ball within the socket of the joint so when you open your mouth the disc returns on the ball and when you close the disc again “pops” off the ball.

This might be diagnosed as a dislocated disc. Unfortunately, like any ligament in the body, when a ligament is stretched or strained it rarely returns to its previous condition. This forces an individual with a displaced disc to modify their lifestyle to minimize stress to the joint. Such lifestyle changes can entail avoiding chewing gum, no chewing ice and stifling yawns. Treatment for the displacement can be as non-invasive as a “bite plate” or as much as arthroscopic surgery. The level of pain the patient experiences often is the determining factor for the type of treatment that is rendered.

TMJ can be a very confusing frustrating disease for patients. Seeking treatment from a specially trained, experienced neuromuscular dentist is key to solving the TMJ puzzle. If you have any questions regarding TMJ symptoms and how we might be able to help you, please do not hesitate to call us at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment for you that fits your schedule to get you on your way to solving the complex problems of your TMJ.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.

Good Oral Hygiene

Thursday, April 01, 2010

McDental for Good Oral Hygiene?

Developing good oral hygiene habits begins early in life. Teaching our children to brush and floss while they are young will in all likelihood enhance good habits that they will carry throughout their lives. Unfortunately not all children have access to the most basic of dental care. In Arkansas were tooth decay is more prevalent than asthma or hay fever according to Scott Gordon executive vice president of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He noted that "Tooth decay is the most widespread of chronic illnesses affecting children ages five through 17".

The need has become so great in Arkansas that now McDonald’s is coming to the rescue and will be utilizing the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to travel to 19 elementary schools to help provide the basics of early dental care. Good for McDonald’s! We have always been aware of their involvement with hospitals and the Ronald McDonald House. Their commitment to children and their dental health is to be commended.

If you have any questions with regards to your child’s dental health please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-394-9000 to arrange an appointment to ensure that you and your child have a healthy dentition.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.