Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Fuzzy Feeling Teeth?

2012-01-31T14:32:00.000-08:00

Fuzzy kittens like Nikita (on the right) are cute. Fuzzy teeth are not so cute. Why do your teeth feel fuzzy sometimes and how can you prevent it?

Dental plaque is the reason your teeth feel like they are wearing socks. What is dental plaque? Well, here are the facts on plaque and how it affects your oral health.

Plaque is a colorless, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. Plaque forms when foods containing carbohydrates come in contact with our teeth. When we eat something containing carbohydrates like sugar or starch, the bacteria that live in our mouths have a party.

The carbs serve as food for the oral bacteria and a by-product of the bacterial feeding frenzy are acids. These acids can destroy tooth enamel leading to cavities and the plaque can also form under the gum line damaging the gums and breaking down the bone that supports the teeth.

Preventing plaque means keeping up with your oral hygiene. You have to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Flossing is not optional, to keep bacteria in check you must floss at least once a day between all teeth. Professional dental cleanings need to be scheduled every six months (more often if you have gum disease).
Eating a healthy diet and limiting snacking can also help keep plaque from taking over your teeth. Raw vegetables, yogurt, cheese and fruit are all healthy choices that also great for your smile.

If your teeth are feeling "fuzzy" it is time to make the call. Contact us today at 561-394-9000 to schedule your next visit to Dr. Mogell's South Palm Beach County office.

Is Red Bull Rotting Your Teeth?

2012-01-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Energy drinks like Red Bull may be damaging our teeth. These energy drinks have become a big business in our over-scheduled, sleep deprived lives. Most of us start the day with a cup of coffee, or two, or three... and as the day goes on we may reach for an energy drink.

Facts About How Energy Drinks Rot Your Teeth

All of the drinks like Red Bull and Monster have very high acidity levels which erode tooth enamel. The change in the pH levels of your mouth also allow bacteria to flourish. Bacteria cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Most of these drinks are loaded with sugar just like soft drinks. The sugar serves as food for the bacteria that now abounds in the mouth.

Too much caffeine can cause you to lose calcium in your urine. Bones and teeth suffer when calcium levels are too low.

Caffeine is a common stimulant in these drinks and it can cause your mouth to dry out. Dehydration or dry mouth increases the chances of tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath!

You don't need to completely avoid these drinks just follow some simple precautions. Before using any of these drinks you should check with your physician to see if they are right for you. Limit your intake of energy drinks, use the sugar-free ones if possible. Use a straw and rinse your mouth with water immediately after consuming your energy drink but wait about an hour before brushing. Because the enamel has been weakened, brushing immediately could cause further damage. Chew sugar free gum with xylitol to help increase saliva production.

Don't forget to share your energy drink consumption with your dental hygienist at your next cleaning appointment. A special fluoride toothpaste may be just what you need to avoid Red Bull rot. Please contact us at 561-394-9000 if you are experiencing pain or sensitivity.

Fibromyalgia May Be Linked to Poor Sleep

2012-01-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. Research from Norway suggests that poor sleep may increase the risk of developing fibromyalgia in women. According to the study the risk of fibromyalgia increased with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared to younger women.

About 5 million people in the US suffer from fibromyalgia and most are women. Prior scientific studies have shown that waking at night, fatigue and insomnia are common in people with the condition. This study shows that the sleep problems occur before the patients develop fibromyalgia. Dr. Paul Mork explained "Our findings indicate a strong association between sleep disturbance and fibromyalgia risk in adult women. We found a dose-response relation, where women who often reported sleep problems had a greater risk of fibromyalgia than those who never experienced sleep problems."

While many people suffer from insomnia or waking at night, others suffer sleep disturbances because of their bed partner's sleep problems. Loud snoring or the snoring and gasping sounds of a bed partner with sleep apnea provide continual interruptions throughout the night for both parties. The big difference is the partner with sleep apnea doesn't remember the wakings but the exhausted spouse can detail the night all too clearly.
If a bed partner's sleep issues are affecting your health it is time to get a diagnosis and put a stop to the snoring once and for all. Not everyone that snores has obstructive sleep apnea but an oral appliance created by Boca Raton sleep medicine dentist Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell can quiet that snore and allow an open, quiet airway all night long. For more information please contact us at 561-394-9000 today.

High Blood Pressure and Oral Health

2012-01-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

High blood pressure affects about one-third of adults in the United States and blood pressure medications to control it are among the most common prescriptions written. Blood pressure medications need to be taken but some can affect the patients oral health.

Blood pressure meds are among the types of both prescription and over the counter medications that can cause dry mouth.

If you are taking medications for your blood pressure you should be aware that some can cause a condition known as xerostomia or dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when the production of saliva slows down. Since we rely on our saliva to help wash food particles and bacteria from our teeth you may be more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Keeping the mouth moist by sipping water or chewing sugarless gum can help. There are also saliva substitutes that can be purchased or prescription substitutes may be needed in severe cases.

It is very important to keep regular dental hygiene appointments if you are experiencing dry mouth. Please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell in Boca Raton, FL at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your next visit.

Untreated OSA Causes Health Problems

2012-01-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

Many patients who suffer from OSA leave their condition untreated which is a dangerous choice.OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnea and sufferers stop breathing many times each night because their airways collapse and they stop breathing during sleep. Signs of OSA include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring and gasping during sleep. It has been estimated that almost 90% of people who suffer from this disease have not been diagnosed.

Researchers in India found that OSA patients were three times more likely to suffer from obesity, hypertension, diabetes and a condition called hyperlipidemia. People who hae hyperlipidemia have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The results of the study strongly suggest that sleep disordered breathing such as OSA is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome.

Weight loss has been shown to lessen the severity of OSA but we all know how difficult it is and how long it takes. When OSA is diagnosed the first therapy offered to patients is typically CPAP. Many patients find sleeping with the device difficult and abandon the machine and treatment of their OSA.

A highly effective treatment that is not as well known is oral appliance therapy from a dentist who is specially trained in Dental Sleep Medicine. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece worn during sleep that allows the airway to remain open. Oral appliances reduce or eliminate snoring and apnea events allowing a full night of restful sleep.

To schedule your consultation to see if oral appliance therapy is right for you please contact Dr. Kenneth Mogell at 561-394-9000 today. Your health depends on getting a good night's sleep.

Sleep Better With Cherry Juice

2011-12-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

Could drinking something as simple as tart cherry juice help the one-third of Americans that complain of sleep problems? Many people suffer from insomnia or wake frequently during the night. This poor sleep quality can impact your quality of life and lead to serious medical problems over time. Some sleep problems like obstructive sleep apnea are extremely serious.

The researchers gave adults 2 glasses of tart cherry juice per day. They found that the cherry juice drinkers slept an average of 39 minutes longer and had up to a 6 percent increase in sleep efficiency (meaning they actually were asleep while in bed). When the study participants drank a non-cherrry juice drink they did not have these improvements. The sleep benefits seem to be caused by the melatonin content of the tart cherries. Previous research had shown that tart cherries could be used as a sleep aid and since American's spend over $84 million on over-the-counter sleep aids per year drinking tart cherry juice may be a healthier, money saving alternative.

If your sleep is disturbed by loud snoring by either you or your bed partner the problem may be obstructive sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that causes the sleeper to stop breathing many times during the night. The signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping during sleep, a large neck size and high BMI (body mass index). Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated using a comfortable oral appliance worn while sleeping. This stops the snoring and allows the sleeper to breath all night long. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, stroke, impotence, weight gain and increased risk of accident due to daytime sleepiness.

If the signs of sleep apnea sound familiar to you please contact Dr. Kenneth Mogell in Boca Raton, FL today at 561-394-9000 to schedule your consultation.

Chipped A Tooth, No One Will Know

2011-12-07T11:29:00.001-08:00

It never fails, dental emergencies like a chipped tooth occur at the most inconvenient time. The reasons for the damage range from silly to serious and include people who grind their teeth so severely they cause breakage. How we repair the damage depends on factors such as the size and location of the chip, which tooth is chipped and the overall oral health of the patient.

Options for repairing a chip include bonding and porcelain veneers. For a tooth that is badly chipped or cracked a full dental crown may be needed. If the damaged tooth is one that is easily seen when you smile please make sure that the dentist has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry so that your smile will be as beautiful after the restoration as it was before the repair - maybe even better!

For smaller chips dental bonding may be sufficient. A tooth colored restoration material is bonded to the damaged surface and carefully sculpted to look just like your original tooth. The technique has some advantages but it is also subject to staining and may not last as long as a dental veneer.
Dental veneers are thin pieces of ceramic material that are created in a dental lab. They are matched to your tooth color and provide a very lifelike appearance. The dental veneers are bonded to your natural teeth and allow for the correction of chipped, discolored or misshapen teeth. A dental crown may be needed if the damage to the tooth is too severe to be corrected with the other alternatives.
If you have chipped a tooth please contact Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-271-2483 to discuss your treatment options in South Palm Beach County. Please don't delay, small chips can easily become larger, and the damage to the tooth more extensive over time.

Smiling Makes You Look Younger

2011-11-29T14:32:00.001-08:00

Smiling or laughing seems to make us look younger to others - what exciting news and no Botox required!. A study published in Psychology and Aging showed that when people looked at pictures of happy faces they guessed a lower age of the person in the photo than in pictures of the same person with an angry or neutral expression on their face.

Dr. Manuel C. Voelkle of the Max Planck Institute stated "In particular, with the rise of private- or business-related social networks like Facebook, flickr, LinkedIn and many others, it has become common practice to share pictures, often without additional background information." Researchers say that smiling has been shown to make people look more attractive, which may make them appear younger.

This research gives us another reason to smile all day long... unless you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile.Cosmetic dentistry can change your dingy, crooked choppers and give you the beautiful smile you've dreamed of. Perhaps your teeth have become yellowed or stained over time then a whitening procedure can restore your teeth to their youthful shade. The appearance of crooked teeth can be changed instantly using cosmetic dental techniques including dental veneers.

You might be surprised how quickly and easily your frown can be turned upside-down by visiting a cosmetic dentist. Please contact us today at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation.

Can Sleep Apnea Be Helped By Mediterranean Diet?

2011-11-15T12:00:00.001-08:00

Eating a Mediterranean diet and exercising can improve some sleep apnea symptoms according to researchers. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish and healthy fats such as olive oil. The study published in European Respiratory Journal looked at the impact of the Mediterranean diet on obese sleep apnea patients as compared to patients on a weight loss diet.

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep breathing disorders and becomes more prevalent as weight increases. Approximately 20-40% of obese patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and weight loss is an essential part of the treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea causes frequent stoppages of breathing during sleep. Sleep is fragmented causing excessive daytime drowsiness and other health complications.

Researchers in Greece studied 40 obese sleep apnea patients. 20 were placed on the Mediterranean diet and the other 20 were given a prudent weight-loss diet. Both groups were encouraged to walk at least 30 minutes each day. Both groups also received CPAP therapy.

The results showed that the group following the Mediterranean diet had a reduced number of apnoeas during REM stage sleep and were more likely to adhere to the lower calorie diet. While the study showed an improvement for this one stage of sleep it did not show an overall improvement in the severity of the condition. The authors feel that further studies with more patients are needed.

If you experience daytime sleepiness, weight gain and have been told you snore loudly you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. For more information about this disorder, diagnosis and treatment in the Palm Beach or Broward County areas please contact Boca Raton Dental Sleep Medicine at 561-394-9000.

Supplements Appear to Boost Gum Health

2011-11-12T12:05:00.001-08:00

A study reported in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology showed that taking a daily dose of a capsule containing fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrate (phytonutrients) improved the outcomes for patients with chronic gum disease in the two months following non-surgical gum disease therapy. Even more benefits were seen at five and eight months following the periodontal therapy.

This was a preliminary study but it appears to show that the patients who took the supplements had significant improvements when compared to those who had the standard periodontal therapy and were given a placebo. "We were surprised to see these outcomes because when the standard therapy works so well, it creates a 'ceiling effect' whereby it is difficult to improve further," stated researcher Iain Chapple. "It is difficult to assess the size of the additional clinical benefit because these patients were well-nourished and had the highest quality standard therapy anyhow. We are very interested in what the effects will be in people who are nutritionally depleted, and in those who do not or cannot access high quality periodontal care."

Good nutrition is important for all the parts of our bodies and this early research on supplements is interesting. To keep your gums in tip top shape you need to remember daily flossing, brushing after meals and visiting your dental hygienist regularly. Periodontal disease can cause extensive damage to your smile and result in extensive tooth loss sometimes requiring full-mouth rejuvenation.

If it has been a while since your last hygiene appointment please contact our Boca Raton, FL office today at 561-394-9000.

Mental Illness Treatment Should Include Sleep Apnea Screening

2011-11-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

An article in the Palm Beach Post today stated that 11% of Americans older than 12 take an antidepressant. These drugs are prescribed for reasons other than mental health issues but that is still an astounding number. The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can sometimes mimic those of mental illness - lethargy, irritability, forgetfulness. When those suffering from depression or another form of mental illness also have obstructive sleep apnea it can make the mental illness worse and possibly contribute to manic episodes. Unfortunately, screening for sleep disorders in psychiatric patients is rarely done.

A new study from the University of Utah suggests that using a simple questionnaire to screen patients may be helpful. "Sleep problems are so integral to psychiatric problems, we wanted to make sure that along with psychiatric disorders we were treating obstructive sleep apnea too," said Dr. Vanita Jain. Because many medications used in treating psychiatric conditions are also respiratory depressants it is especially important for these patients to be screened.

The questions asked included: Do you snore loudly? Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day? Has anyone observed you stop breathing during your sleep? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you over 50 years of age? Are you male? Other questions include a large neck circumference and high body mass index (BMI).

If you answer yes to several of these questions you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep breathing disorder. To schedule your consultation please contact Boca Raton Dental Sleep Medicine today at 561-394-9000. We will discuss testing for a correct diagnosis, treatment options available and medical insurance coverage..

Atrial Fibrillation Risk High in Sleep Apnea

2011-11-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Sleep apnea has been shown to increase the risk of heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (afib)for patients who suffer from the disorder. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that the risk of having an abnormal heartbeat were 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode compared to during normal sleep breathing.

The apnea did not have to be severe to raise the risk of afib. "Our focus was on individuals with mild to moderate apnea since it is those people we could compare periods of sleep where there were no apneas to periods where apneas occurred," said coauthor Dr. Susan Redline of Case Western Reserve University. This work "underscores the tight link between heart disease and sleep apnea dn the need to further evaluate the impact of sleep apnea treatment on reducing heart disease burden."

Sleep apnea treatment is vital for maintaining a healthy heart. The gold standard for treating the disease is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), however studies show that about half of patients discontinue CPAP within one year and those that do continue average only about 3 hours per night. Another treatment that has been declared effective by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is oral appliance therapy available from a dentist who is trained in dental sleep medicine. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece that is worn while sleeping and it works by gently placing your lower jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep. No more blocked airway - no more apnea events.

To find out more about oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea please contact our Boca Raton office at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your appointment.

Crowded Teeth Due to Shrinking Jaw Size

2011-11-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

The size of our jaws decrease with age causing crowded teeth in older adults according to a new study from Sweden.. The research began in 1949 when plaster molds of the jaws of dental students were made, ten years later this was repeated. Molds were again created forty years after the first round and "We found that over these forty years there was less and less room for teeth in the jaw" said researcher Lars Bondemark.

The crowded teeth come from the shrinking of the jaw, mainly the lower jaw, and although it is a small amount it is enough to crowd the front teeth. Why the jaw changes throughout life is not known but the amount of change may be related to heredity and the health of the patients bite.
These finding reflect what I hear from my patients. From middle age onward, patients complain about their teeth looking crowded or that their smile doesn't look "the same". Fortunately the crowded appearance can be corrected and you don't have to visit an orthodontist for a full set of metal braces.

Cosmetic dentistry gives an alternative for those seeking instant gratification and a beautiful smile. Using dental veneers and/or crowns the crowded appearance of your teeth can be changed in just a couple of visits. Dental veneers can also give you a brighter, whiter smile and change the appearance of misshapen teeth removing years from your appearance.

For more information about your options for changing a crowded smile please contact the office of Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell, DMD in Boca Raton, FL today at 561-394-9000. We'll be glad to give you all your options for creating the beautiful smile you've always dreamed of.

Bruxism and Your Bite

2011-10-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

Grinding your teeth? Clenching on a regular basis? You may have a condition called bruxism. Bruxism can ruin your bite, damage your teeth and cause great discomfort. It affects an estimated 20% of the population with some people being daytime clenchers and grinders and others doing the damage during their sleep.

The human jaw is very strong and the clenching and grinding that occurs during sleep can produce as much as 250 pounds of force per square inch - enough to do severe damage:

The enamel on the teeth becomes worn away exposing the dentin which causes sensitivity and pain
Cracks in teeth and broken fillings
Headaches, neck and jaw pain caused by muscle spasms due to damage to the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint)
Teeth worn flat, changing the bite and causing damage to the temporomandibular joint

Why some people experience bruxism is still a mystery, but we can protect your teeth from damage and repair any problems that have already been created because of the grinding. A custom fit orthotic device can be created that will protect your teeth and jaw joint when you unconsciously clench or grind your teeth. These devices are small and unobtrusive when worn. Using the techniques of neuromuscular dentistry we can position your jaw in a place that keeps jaw muscles relaxed and stress free. By stopping the muscle spasms that often accompany bruxism you can avoid headaches, neck pain and the orthotic will prevent damage to teeth.If you experience facial or jaw pain, jaw clicking, tinnitus, chronic headaches or neck pain then bruxism might be causing these symptoms. Find out more please contact Dr. Kenneth Mogell in Boca Raton, FL today at 561-394-9000 and ask about neuromuscular dentistry and TMJ treatment.

Zinc Denture Cream Warning

2011-10-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about denture creams containing zinc. Adverse events have been reported about overuse of the creams including nerve damage and numbness. Zinc is used in some denture adhesives because the mineral enhances adhesion. A single tube of the product is meant to last 7 or 8 weeks but there are some reports of patients using two or three tubes per week. Some denture adhesive manufacturers have removed zinc from their formulations due to publicity about this problem earlier in the year.
The FDA warning included consumer information about denture fitting. It noted that properly fit dentures should not need additional adhesive creams and urged patients with loose dentures to visit the dentist to have them relined or be fit for new dentures.
The reason that dentures become loose over time is not that they stretch out like an old pair of jeans, it is because without teeth anchored in the jaw bone the bone thinks it is no longer needed and shrinks. This not only causes dentures to become loose but also causes the "shrunken" appearance that we associate with advanced age.
Dental implants can be used to anchor a full set of dentures allowing you to eat and speak with no worry about slippage. Better yet, since the dental implants are anchored into the jawbone they help keep the bone healthy and your appearance more youthful. If you are experiencing loose dentures and would like to find out more about dental implants and find out if you may be a candidate please contact Dr. Kenneth Mogell at 561-394-9000 today. One of our Team will be happy to answer all your questions and arrange your consultation at our beautiful central Boca Raton, FL office.

Choosing A Toothbrush

2011-10-14T13:43:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago the choice in the toothbrush aisle was limited to the color handle you wanted. Now toothbrushes come in all shapes and sizes. How do you know which one to choose?

First thing to look for in a toothbrush is the bristles. Don't ever purchase a brush with bristles that are marked "Hard". Hard bristle brushes are likely to damage your gums and teeth while brushing and, while a stiff bristle brush is great for cleaning your floor, you want something gentler for your mouth.

Another choice in toothbrushes today is the material the bristles are made of. While natural bristles may be best for a hairbrush they aren't the best choice for your toothbrush. These brushes tend to wear out faster and cost more than nylon bristle brushes. There hasn't been much research done on their effectiveness so until more data is in you are better off with nylon bristles.

Toothbrush heads used to be pretty much one standard size. Not anymore - heads are made in almost every conceivable shape and size. The decision here should depend on your mouth - if you have a very small mouth that large headed toothbrush won't be very comfortable for you to use. Choose a size that you think will be a good "fit" and you are more likely to spend the correct amount of time brushing.

Toothbrush handles have also gotten fancier. While the colors and styling may draw your eye, you should really be looking for a brush that will fit comfortably in your hand. Many brushes now have non-slip surfaces which are helpful if you suffer from arthritis or another condition that affects your grip.

You should replace your toothbrush every three months or when the bristles begin to show wear. The most important choice you make about your new toothbrush is using it! Remember to brush three times each day and don't forget the floss. Proper home care can help you avoid gum disease!

Please contact our Boca Raton, FL office at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your dental hygiene appointment. Working as a team we can help you (and your new toothbrush) keep your smile healthy and beautiful.

Saliva Test Could Detect Pancreatic Cancer

2011-10-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs died from pancreatic cancer this week and the world is mourning the passing of a true visionary in the tech field. His disease is one of the deadliest cancers because early detection is nearly impossible. Like Mr. Jobs, most pancreatic cancer patients do not discover the disease until it is too late. Scientists have published a study in Gastroenterology that found biomarkers in human saliva that are different for pancreatic cancer patients and non-cancer patients. Saliva testing for this deadly disease would be an amazing breakthrough.

The researchers also found that every type of cancer they have studied so far (pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer and ovarian cancer) has shown biomarkers for the disease in human saliva. The scientists are unsure whether this is because of the diseases they chose to study all happened to have these biomarkers or due to the fact that researchers have never really looked at saliva in this way before. They are hoping that their research will provide an easy saliva test that can detect pancreatic cancer while it is still in the very early, more curable stage.

As a dentist I see the connection between oral health and whole body health every day. A future wherein your regular dental visit could also allow us to easily diagnose such devastating diseases is very exciting because most people visit their dentist much more often than they see their physician. While we are waiting for these wonderful new advances we will continue to educate our patients about the oral health/whole body health connection and every time I pick up my iPad I will probably think about Steve Jobs and what he might have created if he had more time.

Because we are in the final three months of the year our appointments are filling fast. Please contact Kenneth A. Mogell DMD in Boca Raton, FL at 561-394-9000 to schedule your visit today.

Acid Reflux and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

2011-10-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

Acid reflux is a common complaint among patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. It seems that choosing oral appliance therapy to treat your obstructive sleep apnea may also reduce the symptoms of acid reflux disease.

A small study looked at dental patients who wanted oral appliances to treat their obstructive sleep apnea. After a sleep study the patients answered questions about acid reflux symptoms. After the patients had been wearing their oral appliances they were asked the same questions. Researchers found that wearing the oral appliance reduced the acid reflux symptoms for both men and women. It is unclear exactly why the oral appliance seemed to help the acid reflux symptoms.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea including acid reflux, snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and weight gain please contact Kenneth A. Mogell DMD at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your consultation.

Check out our Fall Whitening Special

2011-09-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Going to the dentist routinely is important!

2011-05-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

Routine maintenance

Routine maintenance of your teeth and gums is very important. Routine maintenance will help keep them in good health, diagnose disease at an early stage, and also decrease the chance of gum disease.

Here are some of the benefits of keeping to a regular dentist appointment schedule:

Fresh breath

This is the least serious but the most common issue for the public. Bad breath is usually caused by a combination of rotting food particles below the gum line, possible gangrene (caused by gum infection), and periodontal problems.

As we all know, no one wants to live with bad breath, so you need to see your dentist for regular checkups. With the removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria, you will see an improvement in bad breath, as well as the removal or any irritation. Your dentist will also be able to identify periodontal disease if it is present (often signified by persistent bad breath).

Tartar removal

Tartar and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, are the major causes of serious gum disease when they are left untreated. People can have gum problems even if they are regularly brushing and flossing, so it makes sense to check with your dentist on regular occasions. For example, there are times when some food debris cannot be removed with regular brushing, which means bacteria can form in the gum pockets.

Feel better when your teeth look better

Many people avoid smiling when they have yellow, stained teeth. There are now techniques that your dentist can use to remove unsightly stains and give you a smile to be proud of. If it’s been a while since your teeth cleaned, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment with our hygienist to get them healthier and sparkling again.

Healthier Teeth and Gums

2011-05-06T05:19:00.000-07:00

Best practices for healthy teeth and gums

It is best to use a toothbrush with soft bristles, while also using toothpaste with a strip of fluoride. As you brush your teeth, always move the brush in a small, circular manner. This is the best way to reach the small food particles that are stuck in the gaps between your teeth. This type of action will also reach the food particles under your gum line.

The best way to hold your toothbrush is at an angle. You should brush your teeth slowly and be careful not to apply too much pressure. You need to ensure that you cover all areas of your teeth as you brush.

It is important that you brush in an upward motion on your lower teeth. Likewise you should brush in a downward motion on your upper teeth. You also need to brush the outside, inside and the chewing surface of all of your front and back teeth.

Never forget to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth, while also brushing your teeth.

You are advised to brush your teeth at least four times during the day, as this will prevent the accumulation of food particles and plaque building up. The best times to brush your teeth are right after breakfast in the morning, after you eat lunch, immediately after your dinner and just before you go to bed at night.

It is also important that you keep an eye on your toothbrush. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, it is time to replace your toothbrush. You should think of replacing it every three months as a general rule of thumb. If you have any questions on how to maintain a cleaner healthier mouth, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to help you achieve your ultimate oral health.

The Dentist and Sleep Apnea

2011-04-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

The Dentist and Sleep Apnea

Dentistry today is doing much more than fixing teeth. Today dentists save lives! Yes that right saves lives! How so you say. By recognizing and informing patients that they may be suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

As a dentist we get to see our patients generally 2- 4 times a year. This opportunity is fantastic to screen for disease, especially for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Our hygienists are trained to observe for symptoms that may indicate a patient is living with sleep apnea.

We recently had a patient come to our office complaining of TMJ pain. After careful evaluation, I informed that her problem was OSA. She couldn't believe that this was her problem. Then we discussed the fact that she snores, has a large neck, is somewhat over weight, has high blood pressure and often wakes up in the middle of the night. All signs of OSA. Fortunately I convinced her that I wasn't crazy! Today we received a phone call today from this very patient telling us that we changed her life. She was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and is using her CPAP nightly. She now sleeps through the night, is no longer snoring and her TMJ pain is gone.

So the next time your dentist tells you that you have a problem that on the surface looks as though it has nothing to do with dentistry. Please give the thought serious consideration. If you believe that you indeed may be suffering with Sleep Apnea. Please give us a call at 561-394-9000 and we would be willing to provide you with a complimentary screening.

White Bright Pearly Teeth!

2011-04-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

White Bright Pearly Teeth!

So you want a whiter brighter smile. Fantastic! You can do that and it’s not that hard to do. But how white do you go? How white should you expect to get? Here are some answers to those questions.

How white should you go? That is question only you can answer. It will depend upon how you see yourself and how your skin, hair, eyes and other facial features when you look in the mirror. It never ceases to amaze me that the people who you would never think would look good with brilliant white teeth, look great! So rule of thumb; beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Make your teeth as white as you are happy with their appearance.

How white should you expect them to get? If your teeth are yellowish to begin with, they generally will respond well to whitening. If your teeth are grayish they usually don’t get as white as most people would like them to. The brownish colored teeth as the most difficult to predict how the eventual results will be. Some get nice and white while others don’t.

It is so important that you follow the instructions given to you on how and when to apply the whitening materials. If you are diligent and persistent with applying the whitening material you will most likely be pleased with your end results. If you have any questions about how to whiten your teeth, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. we will be pleased to make you an appointment to make your beautiful smile a reality.

Braces today...straight teeth tomorrow

2011-04-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

Ortho today straight teeth tomorrow

Orthodontics has become a fabric of our society for our children. I am always amazed when I see an adolescent patient in our practice and they are upset and disappointed that they don’t need braces! So why has our culture widely adopted the need for straight teeth? It certainly goes well beyond just a beautiful smile.

Naturally straight teeth make for a nice appearance.

Our culture has a bad habit of parodying people with buck teeth or large gaps between their teeth. But orthodontics goes well beyond outward show of straight teeth. By beginning the alignment of teeth at an early age facial profiles can be changed. Timely intervention can prevent the loss of teeth that used to be so widely accepted as a part of orthodontic many years ago.

Another reason for orthodontics is in some children is the ability to open their airways so that they are able to breathe better. With teeth that are properly positioned they are easier to clean and lessen the likelihood of periodontal disease and cavities.

Let’s not underestimate the impact that a beautiful smile can have on one’s self-esteem, but orthodontics is much more than just straight teeth. If you have any questions regarding orthodontics and what it can do for you or your children, please do not hesitate to give as a call at 561-394-9000. We will take the time to answer your questions and get you on your way to a straighter and healthier smile.

Periodontal Disease and your health!

2011-03-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

Periodontal Disease and your health!

Sometimes it takes a personal experience or something close to home to motivate ourselves. As a dentist we are always talking to our patients reminding them to brush and floss. Not to mention the persistent reminders to have their teeth cleaned on a regular basis.

We know that good overall health can begin with the mouth. There is enough evidence of how the health of the mouth impacts the entire body. Kathi Shepherd, director of educational development and outcomes assessment for the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Dentistry and the dental hygiene program has one of those personal motivating stories. Her uncle was diagnosed with what physicians thought was a brain tumor. When surgeons operated they found dental bacteria in his brain. The infection left him paralyzed on the left side. “My uncle's teeth had not been regularly cleaned for 10 years. It was a dental infection on his brain,” said Shepherd.

You can understand why Ms. Shepherd has become a “raving fan” for people to get their teeth cleaned and to start early. “It's imperative to start early with a daily oral care routine. Now insurances are starting to cover infant oral exams even before age 1 because dental bacteria forms the minute there's a tooth in the mouth. Even for a baby, a mother should be getting in there even with a washcloth to get the bacteria off the teeth.”

Periodontal disease often is asymptomatic; even more of a reason why routine dental examinations and hygiene visits are important. If it has been more than 3 years since your last dental visit, please call our office at 561-394-9000. Our TEAM will help you to make an appointment for a dental “physical” examination to help you maintain the best dental health that you deserve.

Periodontal Disease and your health!

2011-02-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

We often hear some interesting comments while we are providing our patients with a comprehensive examination. One of the more important aspects of the examination is examining the periodontium, the gums and structures that support our teeth. Unlike a cavity in a tooth, periodontal disease doesn’t hurt until late in the development of the disease. That why it is important to assess the health of your gums on an annual basis.

What are some of the signs of periodontal disease? Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? Do you notice that you always have bad breath? Are your gums red, puffy or swollen? Are any of your teeth loose? Are your teeth temperature sensitive? If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may indeed be living with periodontal disease.

What should you expect as part of your periodontal examination? Most importantly is periodontal probings. This is when we recite a series of number, 1-10. The lower the number, the healthier that particular area of your gums are. Ideally, we want to hear 1-3! Anything 4 or above indicates some degree of periodontal disease. It never ceases to amaze me how many patients tell us that they have never had periodontal probing before. This is a procedure that should be performed on an annual basis to monitor the health of the periodontium.

Your health of your gums goes well beyond your teeth. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. If you have any questions regarding your periodontal health, please do not hesitate to call us for an appointment at 561-394-9000. We will arrange to provide you with an examination to get you on your way to the healthiest you can be!

Braces...go fast or go slow?

2011-02-21T04:27:00.000-08:00

Dental Turtle or Rabbit?

When a patient discusses with us the appearance of their smile the discussion often leads to orthodontic or instant orthodontics. That’s where the turtle and the rabbit come into play. In our society immediate gratification often is the desire, whether it is the best solution or not. In cosmetic dentistry there are opinions and values, no right or wrong, just emotions and the desire for a beautiful healthy smile. So what are the pros and cons?

When it comes to orthodontics; this is the turtle. It takes time to move teeth to the best position. This is accomplished over a period of time, depending on the severity of the case. It is accomplished with a series of wires, brackets and bands being placed on or over your teeth. With specific engineering the dentist will shift the teeth help you achieve your goal of a beautiful smile with gorgeous straight teeth.

Instant orthodontics is actually orthodontics at all. This is the rabbit of achieving a beautiful smile. With 2 -3 appointments your dentist can give the smile you have desired. This is achieved with restorative dentistry such as porcelain veneers. The appointments usually are 2-3 hours in length and depending on the goals some drilling and reshaping on the teeth may be required.
Instant orthodontics not only will give you the straight teeth you are seeking but it will allow you to change the shape, size and color of your teeth as well.

Should you have any questions regarding orthodontics or instant orthodontics, please do not hesitate to give our office a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment that will work best with your schedule and get you on your way to the beautiful smile that you yearn!

Good Dental Health/Good Health in General

2011-02-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

Good Dental Health/Good Health in General

As a dentist we see patient shirk and shrink in our chair when we speak about flossing and brushing. It’s not like we are trying to send them on a guilt trip, not at all! We now know that the research is overwhelming that periodontal disease can and is a risk factor several serious conditions.

Heart disease, diabetes, low-birth weight babies are just few. Like putting your money in a savings account at getting compound interest, so the cumulative effect of periodontal disease throughout one’s life takes on a greater significance.

Periodontal disease is an infection caused by certain bacteria in the mouth. It can only be treated by removing the bacteria through flossing, brushing and regular dental hygiene visits. Just like genetic play a role in heart disease so does periodontal disease.

How long has it been since you had your teeth cleaned professionally? If you have any questions about your oral health and periodontal disease, please do not hesitate to contact us for an appointment. We can be reached at 561-394-9000. Call us and let us help you stay on the path to excellence in oral health!

Dental Health Month....For Pets!

2011-02-08T05:44:00.000-08:00

Dental Health Month....For Pets!

A kind reminder to pet owners out there. February is Pet Dental Health Month. Now while it is not as important to have our pets have their teeth cleaned every 6 months, it is important that we brush their teeth and make sure they have chew toys that help to minimize the infections that accompany periodontal disease.

Not only is periodontal disease a common problem in people, it is the most commonly diagnosed problem in dogs and cats. If untreated, it can develop into more serious medical conditions." According to Dr. Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, "It's estimated that by the age of two 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of periodontal disease," Just like people, periodontal disease in our dogs and cats has been linked heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Let’s make sure we give our pets that extra little TLC and have a dental check-up with your veterinarian

Bad Breath...Bye Bye

2011-02-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

10 Tips to banish bad breath

Brush your teeth…………..and tongue 2 times daily. Use of fluoride toothpaste,
Brushing the teeth and the back of the tongue. Studies have shown that brushing/scraping the tongue can productively reduce bacteria that cause bad breath.

Floss 1 time daily. Remove hidden foods and plaque bacteria. Flossing will aid in the reduction
of the bacteria that causes periodontal disease, which can also cause bad breath.

Gargle with peroxide or an antibacterial mouthwash. The oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide kills mouth bacteria that causes bad breath.

Use a Fluoride Mouthwash. Not only do decayed teeth hurt, they also give off an
awful smell. Fluoride and proper dental care can prevent this from occurring.

Drink lots of water. Lack of fluids can lead to dry mouth. Due to a reduction in
saliva, combined with bacteria, can also cause bad breath.

Check your sinuses, infections can cause bad breath. Underlying infections can be
Diagnosed from bad breath. Post nasal drip, most noticeable at night
Which is why many people brush immediately when getting up in the morning.

Eat yogurt for sweet breath. It replenishes the “good” bacteria in the stomach and
“promotes a healthier mouth”. Celery removes stinky bacteria. Parsley has
antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Chewing gum with Xylitol. Makes you salivate if your mouth is dry causing bad
Breath. Saliva washes away the bacteria.

See your dentist at least every 4 months for cleanings, exams to check for decay and
gum disease that can also cause bad breath.

If self care tips do not work, consult your physician. It could be a more serious medical issue that may require attention. I f you have any questions about how you can get that sweet smelling breath back again. Call us for an appointment at 561-394-9000. We will get you back on the road to a healthier mouth and a confident smile.

Bad Breath...why?

2011-02-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

Don’t let bad breath trouble your pretty smile

The kiss, the smile, the breath……..which of these characteristics is more important to you and your significant other. Chances are it is good breath! Bad breath can affect how you feel about yourself, not to mention how others perceive you. You may not even know you have bad breath until a brave friend mentions it to you.

This blog is being presented in two parts. Today the 5 common causes of bad breath, tomorrow how to treat bad breath!

5 Common causes of bad breath

Bacteria: They breed inside the mouth. Micro-organisms hide between your teeth
And cover your tongue. When not removed properly they multiply and
Give off stinky odors.

Say Ahhhhh: Tonsils. The deep holes in them called crypts are a common area and
Can be the cause of “bad breath” or “halitosis”. Especially if tonsils are
Pitted, a smelly substance lodges in these areas causing bad breath.

Pungent Foods: onions, garlic, and fish can cause bad breath, even hours after good
Brushing.

Bad Habits: any type of smoking or chewing tobacco can leave you with bad breath

Stomach Troubles: Gastrointestinal problems can cause bad breath. Ex. GERD or
Ulcers….gases are released that can cause bad breath. Also, low-carb
Diets, which can cause Ketosis, a fat burning state in the body that
Produces “ dragon breath”.

If you are concerned that you or your loved one has bad breath, give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to find out why the halitosis exists and how to make your breath fresh and healthier!

Good Dental Health/Good Health in General!

2011-02-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

Good Dental Health/Good Health in General

As a dentist we see patients shirk and shrink in our chair when we speak about flossing and brushing. It’s not like we are trying to send them on a guilt trip, not at all! We now know that the research is overwhelming that periodontal disease can and is a risk factor several serious conditions.

Heart disease, diabetes, low-birth weight babies are just few. Like putting your money in a savings account at getting compound interest, so the cumulative effect of periodontal disease throughout one’s life takes on a greater significance.

Periodontal disease is an infection caused by certain bacteria in the mouth. It can only be treated by removing the bacteria through flossing, brushing and regular dental hygiene visits. Just like genetic play a role in heart disease so does periodontal disease.

How long has it been since you had your teeth cleaned professionally? If you have any questions about your oral health and periodontal disease, please do not hesitate to contact us for an appointment. We can be reached at 561-394-9000. Call us and let us help you stay on the path to excellence in oral health!

Dental Health & Smoking

2011-01-31T09:20:00.000-08:00

Your Dental Health and Smoking

We are all well aware of the potential health risks involved with the use of tobacco products. You can rarely spend any time in front of a television without seeing a commercial that warns you of the consequences of smoking cigarettes. The advertisers do a great job informing us about the threat of tobacco use and how it affects various parts of our bodies, but I haven’t heard them discuss the influence that tobacco products have on the mouth.

Short of the obvious, tobacco products can cause oral cancer. It has been well documented that dipping or chewing tobacco increases the chances of oral cancer occurring. But there are other problems that smoking can cause. The risk of contracting cancer of the mouth is four times higher for a smoker than for a non-smoker. This is why at every appointment we screen for oral cancer and annually encourage a more comprehensive screening for oral cancer.

Cigarette smoke has many affects on your gums; it delays the healing of wounds, and stains the teeth.
Anyone can suffer from periodontal disease, but smoking increases the risk. Heavy smokers are six times more likely to suffer from periodontal disease than non-smokers.

Your over all health is important to us, not just your teeth! If it has been a while since your last oral examination, please call us to schedule an appointment.
We can be reached at 561-394-9000. We want to make sure you remain as healthy as possible.

Periodontal Diease and Endometriosis

2011-01-17T06:03:00.000-08:00

Association between endometriosis and periodontal disease?

Okay so periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and the jaw bones. So why do researchers at the University of Michigan Health System see a connection between periodontal disease and endometriosis?

Dr. Dan I. Lebovic and his colleagues believe that the development of endometriosis is "a defect in the immune system's ability to clear retrograde menstrual flow." The connection…autoimmunity has also been implicated in the development of periodontal disease.

The study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility examined the association between endometriosis and periodontal disease. From 1999 to 2004 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that women with endometriosis had a 57% increased risk of periodontal disease as opposed to those women who did not have gynecological condition.
Dr. Lebovic noted that endometriosis may also "be augmented by an immune response to an infectious agent", periodontal pathogens.

More motivation for maintaining a healthy mouth!
If you have any questions about periodontal disease and how it can affect your overall health, please do not hesitate to contact us at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to perform a comprehensive examination and help you get on your way to a healthier mouth and healthier life!

Do you get Canker sores?

2010-12-15T05:45:00.000-08:00

Canker Sores

A canker sore is a shallow sore in your mouth that can be painful. Canker sores are also known as apthous ulcers. They are small sores that occur inside the mouth. You can also get them on your tongue and on the inside of the cheek and lips. They usually pop up alone, but sometimes they show up in a small cluster.

You may feel a tingle or burn before the actual sore appears. A small red bump rises, and then it bursts, leaving an open, shallow white or yellowish wound with a red border. This sore is usually painful.

Canker sores are not contagious. You can cannot spread canker sores by kissing someone, or sharing food. One thing that doctors have noticed is that, they can run in families. That means if your parents or siblings get canker sores, the genes you share with them make it more likely that you'll develop the sores too.

There is a connection between canker sores and stress. Twice as many women as men get them, due to the difference in hormones. Dietary deficiencies, such as not enough iron or vitamin B12, may also contribute to some cases of canker sores.

Most canker sores will heal on their own in a few days to a couple of weeks. Various over the counter medicines can help. Watch what you eat. Stay away from spicy foods and acidic foods. Be careful when you brush your teeth. It’s important that you keep your mouth clean. And have your dentist look at it to make sure that it is truly a canker sore. Your dentist may prescribe a topical medicine or special mouthwash to help heal the sores. If you have any question about canker sores, please give us a call at 561-394-9000, we will arrange an appointment to help address your concerns.

Cell Phones and Sleep

2010-12-14T04:34:00.001-08:00

Cell Phones Can Affect Your Sleep

There has been many a controversy over the past few years regarding cell phones and the radiation they emit.
No one has been able to produce definitive information that has affected the cell phone habits of most individuals. Now a study has come to light performed by scientists at the Karolinska Institute and Uppsala University and Wayne State University in Detroit that demonstrated that cell phone usage before going to sleep could be affecting our sleep quality.

This study showed that people who use their cell phones just before going to sleep took longer to get into deep sleep and they spent less time in this important stage of sleeping. The deep sleep stage is where growth and rejuvenation of tissues occurs. These patients also reported an increased amount of headaches in comparison with the control group.

This study reminds us that there are many factors in our lifestyle that can alter the important elements of our sleep cycles. The authors encourage that one should avoid using a cell phone directly before going to sleep and that the phone should not be kept directly at the bedside.

If you have any further questions about the quality of your sleep, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-705-5252. We will arrange an appointment to insure that you are getting a good night’s sleep.

Are root canals as painful?

2010-08-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Are Root Canals Painful?

While giving his State of the Union speech, President Obama made a comparison of the popularity of the bank bailout to getting a root canal. Ouch is right, but not about getting a root canal.

Most root canal procedures are marginalized by our society as comedic scenes for a television show or movie.
They portray the dentist as the “evil” one inflicting pain upon their poor suffering victim. But a 2009 consumer survey showed that an “overwhelming majority of root canal patients use positive words to describe the experience.” Let’s be honest, most people don’t necessarily want to share the embarrassing fact that they may have neglected their teeth to the point of needing a root canal. In other words the good ones aren’t discussed, just the bad. Think about it, how many of your friends in conversation tell you about how “great a root canal I had today!”

Moral of the story as always, take care of your teeth and they will tend to take care of you unlike your banks! If you should have any questions regarding root canal therapy, please do not hesitate to give out office a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment that works best with your schedule.

Is Snoring Just Snoring?

2010-08-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Snoring Can Be More Than Just Snoring!

Snoring in of itself can be annoying, frustrating and obviously noisy! The comedic aspects of snoring are often highlighted in movies or television; the seriousness of the snoring often made to seem minimal. Snoring can be but a small role in the bigger picture of one’s health in the form of Sleep Apnea. But just how does one know if they are experiencing this potentially fatal illness or just plain ol’ snoring?

Ask yourself; are you unusually sleepy during the day? This could be a sign that your snoring is more than just snoring. Take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale! This is a standard series of questions that are widely used to see how your sleep affects your daily life. It will evaluate how likely you are to fall asleep in certain situations.

Keep in mind that the quality of your sleep has an impact on many aspects of your life and overall health. Sleep apnea has been directly related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other diseases.
Treatment no longer means being strapped with a mask to your face and being hooked up to a CPAP machine. There are other options including the utilization of oral appliances to help manage one’s sleep apnea.

If you have any questions regarding snoring, sleep apnea and the management of the disease, please do not hesitate to call us. We can be reached at 561-705-5252. We will arrange for an appointment to help you find the best means to help you once again have a healthy nights rest.

Floss for Your Health

2010-08-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

Floss for Your Health

Just about every time you go to have your teeth cleaned by your dental hygienist you leave with that smooth polished feeling on your teeth. Most offices will provide their patient’s with a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and that darn floss that so many people hate!

I will admit that I am not the best flosser, but I have gotten much better and I should. Why? According to the American Academy of Periodontology, research has been shown that you are twice as likely to have coronary artery disease when periodontal disease is present.

Periodontal disease is for the most part asymptomatic. If you are experiencing pain from periodontal disease the disease has become chronic and much more difficult to resolve. Obviously the message from your hygienist and your dentist to take better care of your teeth and gums between dental visits extends well beyond your teeth.

If you are uncomfortable with flossing here’s some suggestions that may get you onto the flossing party.
Flossing forks, which can be bought at the dollar store, are a great way to begin the habit of flossing regularly. They are easy to use, no winding floss around your fingers or getting saliva all over them.
Find a time where it is convenient to floss such as while watch television or just before you go to sleep.

If you have any questions about your oral hygiene please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will be glad to answer your questions and make you an appointment to get your teeth and gums on the road to a healthier place!

Should you bone graft an extraction site?

2010-08-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

Extractions and Bone Grafts

Unfortunately sometimes whether out of neglect, trauma or just things happening, a tooth may need to be extracted. A tooth extraction is not uncommon and a routine procedure. A tooth rests in a socket and is surrounded by gum tissue and bone. When a tooth is extracted the bone and gum tissue naturally collapse.
In order to prevent this caving in that patients often refer to a bone graft is placed in the socket at the time of extraction. This is done to rebuild the bone where extraction has left an empty weakened area.

Grafting materials may enhance regeneration of natural bone and maintain the original shape and size of the jaw to maintain the bone should a patient elect to have an implant placed at a future appointment.

There are several type of bone used for grafting. The best is always going to be you own bone, autogenous grafts. There are also specially treated bone grafts that are obtained from cadavers, allografts. Then there are Xenografts which are obtained, after appropriate preparation, from another species such as a cow.

Bone grafts are the state of the art for preserving the jaw bone after having a tooth removed. If you have any questions regarding the process of bone grafts and extractions, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will be glad to help you understand your options when it involves these important decisions.

Solutions For A Gummy Smile

2010-07-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

Solutions for that Gummy Smile

As a dentist I look at the mouth as a stage. The teeth are the actors and actresses, the gums are the scenery and the lips are the curtain. With some mouths the curtain raises very low just allowing the teeth to be shown when they smile. Other mouths the curtain raises so high that it creates a “gummy smile”. Some people just can’t stand that look, they become self-conscious and want to change the way they look when they smile.

So what can you do to change this image? In some cases a referral for periodontal plastic surgery will solve the puzzle. The periodontist has the ability to change the position of the gum to make the teeth have a longer appearance and show less gums. There are also procedures where the lip can be “tacked” in place so that the “curtain doesn’t rise that high”. In mild cases a laser might be used to remove a small amount of gum tissue, again to make the tooth look longer.

The result is the stage is set to give the audience the performance that they are looking for. If you have any questions regarding how to get rid of that “gummy smile, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to make your beautiful smile a reality.

Peridontal disease and diabetes

2010-07-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

Periodontal Disease and Diabetes

Many people who have diabetes also are very susceptible to diseases of the gum and jaw bone…periodontal disease. Why is it that a diabetic is at a higher risk for periodontal disease?

Diabetics by their nature have poorer circulation of the blood. This makes the bodies challenge of getting the necessary components in the blood stream to fight infections more difficult. That coupled with the diabetic having a higher risk for infections increasing the chances of the gums getting infected.

Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. All of these facts put a diabetic prone to periodontal disease and the increases their diabetic complications as well.

Poor home care will always put any individual at risk to developing periodontal disease, but for a diabetic poor oral hygiene will predispose them to periodontal disease.

If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned recently, whether diabetic or not, please give our office a call at 561-394-9000 to arrange an appointment for a cleaning and a comprehensive examination to protect your mouth and body from the infections associated with periodontal disease.

Dentistry and Redheads

2010-07-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

The Pain of Being a Redhead

Nobody likes going to the dentist, but redheads may have a good reason. Growing body of research shows that people with red hair need larger doses of anesthesia and are sometimes resistant to local anesthesia, such as Novacaine. As a result, redheads tend to be more apprehensive about having dental work, and are twice as likely to avoid going to the dentist at all.

Researchers believe redheads are more sensitive because of a mutation in a gene that affects hair color. In people with dark brown, black or blond hair, the gene for the Melanocortin-1 receptor produces Melanin. A mutation in the MC1R gene produces a substance called Pheomelanin that results in red hair and fair skin. The MC1R gene belongs to a family of receptors in the brain and as a result, influences the body’s sensitivity to pain. A study done a few years ago showed that redheads require, on average, 20% more general anesthesia than people with dark or blond hair. Another study found that redheads are also more resistant to the effects of local anesthesia, such as local anesthesia used by dentists.

The mutation can occur in some brunettes, although much less common than in redheads. In a recent study researchers tested the MC1R gene variant finding it in 65 out of 67 redheads and 20 out of 77 brunettes. The participants were surveyed about dental care anxiety, fear of dental pain and whether they completely avoid going at all. People with the MC1R gene variant had more dental related anxiety and fear of dental pain, and are twice as likely to avoid dental care at all.

Dr. Daniel Sessler, an anesthesiologist from the Cleveland Clinic, said he began studying hair color after hearing many colleagues speculate about redheads needing more anesthesia. The original study was started because of an urban legend in the anesthesia community saying that redheads were difficult to anesthetize. “It was so intriguing that they continued the study”. Redheads truly do require more anesthesia, and by a clinically significant amount.

If you have any questions regarding your dental health please give our office a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to get you on your way to maintaining a healthy dentition and oral cavity.

Preventing Gingivitis

2010-07-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

You Can Prevent Gingivitis

We are all familiar with television commercials advocating the use of this Listerine product or that Crest product to ensure the health of your gums or teeth. They all can be of benefit in your arsenal of oral care products but what is the cause of the disease? Why do we need to use such materials to alleviate the illness?

Gingivitis is the earliest form of periodontal disease. The disease begins when we fail to adequately remove plaque that is constantly forming on our teeth. Plaque is a colorless sticky deposit of bacteria and their byproducts. The plaque acts as an irritant, think of how a pebble might irritate your foot if it is stuck in your shoe. Remove the pebble the sore on your foot heals, likewise remove the plaque and the gums heal and remain healthy!

Unfortunately, if the plaque is not removed, it will begin to form tartar. Tartar, or as the dental profession calls it, calculus, is a hard calcified substance that can not only affect the gums but also the jaw bone.

Moral of the story, make sure that you brush your teeth thoroughly and floss daily. Be sure to have your teeth professional cleaned several times each year. The impact of periodontal disease goes well beyond your mouth. It is well known that periodontal disease is directly related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and low-birth weight babies.

If you should have any questions regarding your oral health, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to complete a comprehensive examination to make sure that we are getting you on the right path of excellent periodontal health.

Dental Implants!!

2010-07-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

Dental Implants Are the Choice!

A recent subject in an article in the New York Times discussed the current trend of replacing teeth with dental implants instead of with the time tested technique of a fixed bridge. So is one way better than the other? That would probably depend upon your own values, but pros and cons exist for both approaches.
In the Times article Dr. Lawrence J. Kessler, a periodontist and associate professor of surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine was quoted “Bridges are not the standard of care anymore. In an overwhelming majority of cases, implants to replace lost teeth are by far the best long-term solution for maintaining a healthy mouth. Also, because they rarely need to be replaced, in the long run they are more economical than bridges. For most people who lose teeth, implants are the treatment of choice.”
Bridges require that the teeth supporting the bridge to be “drilled” to remove enough tooth structure to provide room for the material the bridge will be made of. In the short term a bridge may be less expensive. Your flossing is more difficult due to the fact that you must thread a piece of floss under the bridge to clean. With an implant, once the implant is secure in the bone, short of trauma, you are more than likely done with that area. You can’t get decay on metal and it flosses as if it were a natural tooth.

Implants are initially more invasive, but the tooth is being removed anyways. It has been said to me that an implant is much easier than getting a root canal! I have an implant! Before the tooth failed I had root canal…3 times! I vote for an implant any day. The implant supported crown is the closest dentistry can get you to a natural tooth. Should you have any questions regarding implants versus a bridge, please do not hesitate to call us at 561-394-9000. Our staff will answer your questions and arrange for an appointment to get you on your way to the most appropriate choice of treatment for you.

Sleep Apnea and Diabetes

2010-07-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

Diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a disorder characterized by episodes where an individual will literally stop breathing while sleeping….many times a night! New research shows that there is a strong connection between patients who have diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Recently a study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine about the relationship between diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The study had 60 diabetic individuals tested with overnight sleep studies. The results demonstrated that 77% of the diabetics had some degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The patients who had some degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea saw a considerable increase in difficulty with the control of glucose levels.

According to the lead researcher, Dr. Renee Aronsohn of the University of Chicago, "Our findings have important clinical implications as they support the hypothesis that reducing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea may improve glycemic control".

The majority of people who are indeed suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea haven’t even been diagnosed.
Being a diabetic and have undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea only complicates the delicate balance of the diabetic condition. If you are a diabetic and think you might be living with a sleep disorder, please give us a call at 561-394-900. We will arrange an appointment to help screen you to determine if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is affecting your diabetes.

Your Teeth when You Are Elderly

2010-06-02T04:08:00.000-07:00

Teeth and the Elderly

It’s a fact, we are living longer than ever before in the history of man. Medicine continues to provide us with the means to live well into our 80’s and 90’s on a regular basis. As medicine has done so much to enhance the efficiency of our heart, lungs and many organs what is happening to our teeth?

Our teeth are becoming the “victims” of the advances of science. Many of the medications that our elderly population is taking have an indirect effect on our oral health. One of the side effects of these life prolonging medications is xerostomia or dry mouth. With the reduction in saliva, bacteria which usually are washed-out or neutralized, remain in the mouth and can wreak havoc. These are the same “bugs” that cause cavities and contribute to periodontal disease.

How can we protect our teeth and prevent the damage from decay and gum disease? The most obvious is lots of brushing and flossing; and that can be enhanced as well with ultrasonic toothbrushes and toothpaste with a higher concentration of fluoride. Stimulating saliva is the key! Sugarless lemon drops are a great way to get saliva flowing and drink lots of water to keep your mouth moist.

If it has been a while since you have had your teeth examined and cleaned, please give us a call at 561-394-900. We will arrange an appointment that fits your schedule to make sure your mouth is and remains healthy.

Brsuh your teeth...protect your heart!

2010-06-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

Brush your teeth…protect your heart!

Ever since we were kids we have been told, first by our parents, your dentist and of course by television commercials, how important it is to brush our teeth. Twice a day keeps the sugar bugs away! Brushing, we were taught will help to prevent cavities! Now a study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who don’t brush enough are more at risk for heart disease than those individuals who brush at least twice a day.

Some of the results from the study of over 11,000 adults showed that those who brushed their teeth less frequently had a 70% increased risk of heart disease. The also noted that those participant who had periodontal disease had a 19% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This data was reinforced by analyzing the individual’s blood to determine levels of C-reactive protein which is indicative of inflammation in the body.

Prof. Richard Watt from University College London, the lead researcher remarked, "Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease -- furthermore inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behavior."

Your oral hygiene is obviously important for your teeth and gums. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene goes well beyond the mouth. Brushing and flossing daily will not only enhance the likelihood of a healthy mouth but will decrease the chances of heart disease. If you haven’t had you teeth cleaned recently, please call us at 561-394-9000. We arrange an appointment with our hygienist and get you on your way to a healthier life.

Pregnancy and Dentistry

2010-05-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

Dentistry While Being Pregnant

Pregnancy brings many challenges to a woman’s body; one of them being the impact of hormones upon the gums. While expecting the importance of having your teeth cleaned regularly should be maintained. When plaque is left behind on the gums, the tissue will react in an exaggerated inflammatory fashion. Flossing on a daily basis is needed even more than normally.

During the full term of carrying you should have your teeth cleaned twice, most importantly near the end of the pregnancy. After delivery, the life of a new mother takes on such responsibilities that it is often difficult to get to the hygienist.

Your oral hygiene is always of great importance, we just want you to be extra special careful to clean well and to maintain your normal visits while pregnant. If you have any questions regarding your dental health while you are pregnant, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will be glad to schedule an appointment to help you preserve the ultimate oral health you so desire!

Sleep Apnea and Car Accidents

2010-05-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Sleep Apnea and Car Accidents

It seems that every day there are more reports about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and how this condition impacts our lives. We hear about the effect sleep apnea has on our cardiovascular system increasing the risk for high blood pressure and stroke. But were you aware that sleep apnea was responsible for nearly two million drivers to be involved in either a car accident or a near miss. This data comes from the National Sleep Foundation and should be a wake-up call (no pun intended) for all of us.

Our society is experiencing some of the toughest economic times in our history and those stresses also affect our sleep. Did you know that 75% of Americans report at least one symptom of a sleep disturbance? 60% of adults report that they drove while being drowsy in the past year. 9% of men and 4% of the women in the United States have signs of Sleep Apnea. Frighteningly, 90% of the patients with Sleep Apnea haven’t even been diagnosed!

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that drivers observe the following warning signs that indicate that it’s time to stop driving and find a safe place to pull over and rest:
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
- Trouble keeping your head up or yawning excessively
- Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
- Unable to clearly remember the last few miles driven
- Missing exits or traffic signs
- Feeling restless, irritable or aggressive

If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness you may be living with Sleep Apnea. Please call us at 561-394-9000 to schedule an appointment to help determine if you are suffering with this potentially lethal condition. We will arrange an appointment that works best with your schedule to get you on your way to a healthier nights sleep.

Clear Orthodontics

2010-05-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

Invisible Braces?

Technology is incredible sometimes. In the past when people discussed braces, images are conjured in our mind that generates the visions of brace face, tinsel teeth, metal mouth and even Ugly Betty of television fame. No longer is it necessary for our children to take the mental abuse of this name calling. No longer do adults have to be self-conscious about the fact that “at their age” they are being treated with orthodontics.

Invisalign braces were invented by Zia Chishti, are transparent, removable, and moldable braces generated using 3-D computer technology. Instead of one pair of braces that are constantly adjusted, a series of orthodontic aligners are worn in succession over a period of time. The results are straight beautiful teeth without the headaches of traditional “braces”.

Invisalign is a great alternative to traditional orthodontics but similarly to the traditional approach of straightening your teeth, it takes time. Invisalign isn’t necessarily faster in achieving your goal than other orthodontic alternative. Like all orthodontics wearing some kind of retainer upon completion of Invisalign is necessary to maintain the end result.

If you have any questions regarding Invisalign please do not hesitate to give our office a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment the works best with your schedule to answer your questions and get you on your way towards getting the beautiful smile your desire.

Green Tea...good dental health!

2010-04-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

“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.

Oral Hygine For Children

2010-04-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

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.

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2010-04-21T08:46:00.001-07:00

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Whiten Just One Tooth?

2010-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

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!

Keep your Teeth, Lower your Risk of Heart Diease

2010-04-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Pregnancy and Peridontal Disease

2010-04-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

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!

Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

2010-04-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

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.

Sleep Apnea and your Eyes

2010-04-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

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!

Growing A TMJ!

2010-04-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

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!

TMJ Noises?

2010-04-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Good Oral Hygiene

2010-04-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

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.

Diabetes and Dentistry!

2010-03-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Diabetes and Dentistry

Diabetes is a very serious chronic disease that is marked by abnormally high levels of sugar in your blood due to a lack of insulin being produced by your pancreas.
Diabetes increases your risk for many serious health problems. Diabetics are susceptible to infections and other chronic diseases from the complication of the disease.
The International Diabetes Foundation has made a point of stressing the importance for diabetics to have optimal dental health in their just released new clinical guidelines.
Diabetics are particularly susceptible to periodontal disease. According to Dr. Sam Low, President of the American Academy of Periodontology; "Periodontal disease triggers the body's inflammatory response which can affect insulin sensitivity and ultimately lead to unhealthy blood sugar levels. Establishing routine periodontal care is one way to help keep diabetes under control.
Maintaining regular dental hygiene visits every 3 to 4 months will help to minimize the risks of periodontal disease. If you have any questions about dentistry and diabetes, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange for a comprehensive examination to help you maintain the high level of dental health you desire.

Your tooth is hurting.....

2010-03-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

Ouch, your tooth is causing you pain.....

You notice that your tooth is hurting, so you call your dentist and make an appointment to be seen before the toothache becomes incredibly painful. After the dentist examines you, the news comes that you have a very large cavity on the tooth. The doctor informs you that you need a root canal to save the tooth and then the tooth will need to be restored. What should you do?

Today there are various options to the problem of a bad cavity. One question is why did you get the cavity? A root canal is certainly going to get you out of pain and traditionally after the root canal is completed the tooth is restored with a post and a crown. This is a great solution to the problem. Another solution depending on the extent of the decay is to have the tooth extracted and have an implant in to replace the tooth. The advantage with the implant because it is made of titanium, decay will never be an issue on that tooth again.

Dentistry is always changing and developing advanced techniques to help everyone maintain the best dental health they desire. If you have any questions regarding root canal or implants, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to help you determine the best options for your dental health.

Sleep Apnea And Your Golf Game

2010-03-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

Sleep Apnea and Your Golf Game

Those of us who are golfers, even the worst of us, know how difficult a game it is. To be good at golf requires lots of practice and patience. Hours on the driving range and the putting green must be put in to lower your scores.
Here’s an interesting tip on how to improve your game.
If you are a golfer who suffers with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a study performed by Marc Benton, MD, of Atlantic Sleep & Pulmonary Associates in Madison, N.J. and presented at the American College of Chest Physician, showed a decrease in golf scores when treatment was initiated.

Twelve golfers with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea participated in the study. These golfers who started nasal positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment saw a drop in their mean handicap from 12.4 to 11.0.
Compliance to use the CPAP is usually a big problem for patients with OSA. The preliminary results suggest that improving their golf game served as motivation for the patients to keep up their treatment, which is important given that compliance with using the CPAP is a significant problem in the management of the sleep disorder, and “compliance was off the charts” according to Benton. For those who cannot or will not tolerate the CPAP there is an alternative – oral appliance therapy is a safe, effective and approved method of treating obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition with potential fatal consequences. This blog is not meant to make light of OSA, but to show that changes in your life style can have effects in unimagined ways. If you suspect that you may indeed be suffering with a sleep disturbance such as OSA, please call us at 561-394-9000 to arrange an appointment to begin the process of helping you to get a healthier nights sleep.

Cavities Make A Comeback!

2010-03-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

Cavities Making a Comeback

Through the middle of the 1990’s the rate of dental cavities in children had been decreasing 2-5% annually. Recently, the Center for Disease Control discovered an incredible increase of 28% in children’s cavities. Unfortunately the Center is unsure why this change is happening but they speculate that dietary changes such as highly processed foods and foods high in carbohydrates have made an impact. More bottled water consumption may also be to blame. Why these items? Carbohydrates are the favorite feast of the bacteria that cause cavities and bottled water, unlike most tap water, does not contain fluoride which has been proven to present cavities.

Current research into cavities is focusing on the genetics of the bacteria involved. At the Dental Research Institute, scientist appear to have temporarily stopped the buildup of dental plaque by these bacteria. Dr. Dennis Cvitkovitch and his team are hoping that one day a mouthwash can be created that would prevent the bacteria from growing and causing cavities.

Until this science becomes a retail reality we will have to prevent cavities in ourselves and our children the old fashioned way – brushing and flossing. Fluoride remains one of the most effective means for strengthening your teeth and for fighting cavities. If you have any questions about cavity prevention for your family please call 561-394-9000 to schedule an appointment. A regular dental examination and cleaning will put your mind at ease and set you on the path to a healthy smile.

Periodontal Disease and Prostatitis?

2010-03-03T04:04:00.000-08:00

The benefit of having a healthy mouth free of periodontal disease is often discussed, particularly with regards to the relationship of periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Now a recent article published in The Journal of Periodontology (JOP) suggested that there is a relationship between men who have periodontal disease and prostatitis! How can that be? The mouth and the prostate gland are obviously nowhere near each other so what’s the connection?

It seems that when men have periodontal disease they often have elevated PSA’s; Prostate Specific Antigens. These antigens are inflammatory markers when at elevated levels indicate prostate irregularities. The study in the JOP involved 35 male patients who had recently had a biopsy performed on their prostates due to elevated PSA levels or due to the identification of a malignancy. These individual also had a comprehensive periodontal examination performed. The study discovered that the men that had both prostatitis and periodontitis had significantly higher PSA levels than those men that either had prostatitis or periodontitis alone.

The belief is that the reduction of periodontal disease can minimize the severity of prostatitis or even possibly prevent its onset. If you have any questions or concerns about your periodontal health, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment for a comprehensive examination. Let us make sure that we are doing everything we can do to help you maintain the best health possible!

Cut Your Heart Attack Risk by Treating Sleep Apnea

2010-03-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

Cut Your Heart Attack Risk by Treating Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a dangerous condition that affects us in many adverse ways. The affect that OSA has on the human cardiovascular system has been well documented. In diabetics, if left untreated OSA can wreak havoc on sugar levels. The level of daytime sleepiness caused by OSA has been shown to be the cause of many motor vehicle accidents. Yet OSA is one the most undiagnosed conditions in North America.

The urgent need to diagnose and treat this potentially fatal condition is found in research conducted at Yale University. The researchers noted in their investigation that OSA more than doubled the risk of stroke or heart attack in patients over 50 years old!

Importantly, they discussed that OSA is a “modifiable risk factor” - meaning that if OSA is treated the risk of stroke or heart attack can be greatly diminished. Proof of this was shown by Minoguchi et al in his article in the American Journal Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. Patients who suffer with OSA have “markers” in their brains which indicate inflammation and damage to the brain. In the study, the OSA patients who used their CPAP for three months significantly lowered the level of those inflammatory “markers”.

Treatment of OSA whether with CPAP, oral appliance or life style changes works! If you believe you may be suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea please call us at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to help you determine if you are living with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Let us help you get back on the path to a healthier nights sleep.

Temporary Crowns Are Importnat!

2010-03-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

How to Take Care of Your Temporary Crown

I think too often routine procedures are taken for granted by all members of the dental team and even our patients. Such was the case recently where a patient of ours returned to our office to have two crowns placed. Unfortunately the patient’s temporary crowns had fallen out and he didn’t understand why we take the time to make a temporary crown.

One of the reasons for a temporary crown is for your comfort. Without the temporary crown the tooth may become exceptionally sensitive. Even breathing cool air can elicit a painful response from the tooth.

A temporary crown is also placed to maintain the tooth position in the jaw. It is possible that without a temporary in place the tooth can begin to erupt because there is nothing for the tooth to occlude against. The temporary crown also is there to protect your gums and help them to stay healthy while awaiting the final crown. All of these facts add up to that the temporary crown helps to make the cementation of the permanent crown easier.

If you should have a temporary crown that comes off prematurely, please call us at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to have the temporary recemented. If you can’t get to office, you can place some denture adhesive or tooth paste in the temporary crown and place it back on the tooth.

Your temporary crown is an integral part of the restorative process to ensure a smooth transition to the permanent crown. If there is a problem with your temporary crown please contact us as soon as you are able to.

Wasting Water While We Brush!

2010-02-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about how much water is wasted while we brush our teeth? Just take a moment and give this some serious consideration. Water truly is one of our most precious natural resources. It requires local municipalities to constantly be maintaining and upgrading their water purification systems. And it is just getting plain more expensive, according to the Environmental Protection Agency the average water bill for a U.S. household is approximately 0.5 of a households income.

My wife and daughter are constantly reminding me to turn off the water while brushing my teeth! Now the dental industry is answering the call with a “waterless” toothbrush which will be released this fall by according to Todd Spinelli of United Treatment Centers.

You may not save a lot of money but if everyone just turned off the water while brushing our teeth imagine the impact on our water supplies nation wide! So a new slogan for the conservationist; Just turn it off while you brush!

If you have any question about your oral hygiene and the various type of toothbrushes available to help you achieve the optimal dental health. Please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to help you clean and maintain your oral health.

Dental Sleep Medicine and Children

2010-02-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

Help Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Children

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) isn’t limited strictly to adults. Many children have OSA as well, however it can be a little more difficult to diagnose them. It is important to determine if your child is experiencing a sleep disorder to insure they get enough rest and to allow the proper growth and development.

One of the challenges to diagnosing OSA in a child is that an accurate diagnosis is hard to make without a sleep study. This normally requires that the child spend the night in a sleep center. As any parent knows - sometimes that can be easier said than done. But in the very near future OSA in children may be able to be diagnosed through a urine test!

A researcher at The University of Louisville, Dr. Saeed Jortani, has created a urine test that could be used to screen or diagnose OSA in children. Dr. Jortani was quoted, “Whatever the body does throughout the day, urine is basically a record of what’s going on for the previous several hours, and we thought if the child is under stress or if the child is having difficulty breathing, that has to affect some of the proteins in their body.”
He also shared that a stress related protein is seen in a high level in a child’s urine if they are indeed suffering with OSA. This urine test could minimize unnecessary over night sleep studies with a more accurate manner to screen patients.

OSA is a serious disease that can have potentially life altering consequences. If you suspect that your child, you or a family member may be experiencing a sleep disorder, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to help determine if your concerns are valid. Let us help you get a healthier nights sleep.

Halitois and Food

2010-02-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

Food and Bad Breath

Onions, garlic and many other foods can contribute to bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis. The source of the foul odors is from the sulfur components in the foods. Sulfur is one of nature’s special ways of creating nasty smells. The tainted odor from a skunk is made up of sulfur compounds! That is one of nature’s ways of creating a defense mechanism. Could bad breath be a way that nature defends your date from being kissed?
Well there are foods that you can eat that promote “date breath”.

Mouthwash is just masking the bad smell. Foul smelling foods can linger as long as 72 hours after being consumed according to the Academy of General Dentistry. Some suggestions to keep the problem to a minimum are to drink water to keep the mouth moist and to help rinse odor creating bacteria out of your mouth. Coffee is one of those beverages that will create an environment for bacteria to flourish. Fruit and vegetable are great sources with a high liquid content, celery is particularly good at helping to eliminate the whiff of odor producing bacteria.

Most importantly, to keep your breath kissing fresh is to brush, floss and have your teeth cleaned by your dental hygienist on a regular basis. The impact that periodontal disease has on your breath can be significant.

If it has been a while since your last hygiene visit please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will schedule an appointment with Katherine or Sherri to get you on your way to a healthier mouth and fresher, kissable breath.

Cosmetic Dentistry Fast or Slow?

2010-02-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

Cosmetic Dentistry – Fast or Slow?

Remember the childhood fable of the tortoise and the hare – today they are the turtle and rabbit. But the story remains the same – does fast or slow win the race? When a patient discusses the appearance of their smile with us the discussion often leads to orthodontics or instant orthodontics. That’s where the turtle and the rabbit come into play. In our society, immediate gratification often is the desire whether it is the best solution or not. In cosmetic dentistry there are opinions and values, no right or wrong, just emotions and the desire for a beautiful healthy smile. So what are the pros and cons?

Orthodontics is the turtle. It takes time to move teeth to the best position. This is accomplished over a period of months or years, depending on the severity of the case. Orthodontic success is achieved with a series of wires, brackets and bands being placed on or over your teeth. With specific engineering the dentist will shift the teeth to help you achieve your goal of a beautiful smile with gorgeous straight teeth.

Instant orthodontics isn’t actually orthodontics at all. This is the rabbit of achieving a beautiful smile. With 2 -3 appointments your dentist can give the smile you have always desired. This is achieved with restorative dentistry such as porcelain veneers. The appointments usually are 2-3 hours in length and depending on the goals, some reshaping of the teeth may be required.
Instant orthodontics not only will give you the straight teeth you are seeking but it will allow you to change the shape, size and color of your teeth as well.

Should you have any questions regarding orthodontics or instant orthodontics, please do not hesitate to give our office a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment that will work best with your schedule and get you on your way to a beautiful smile.

Dental Health and Coffee

2010-02-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

Coffee can do more for your teeth than stain them!

For many of us there are few things more important first thing in the morning than a cup of steaming hot coffee. From a dental point of view, you can always tell who the coffee drinkers are. At a cleaning appointment the coffee drinkers are exposed due to the presence of heavy staining on there teeth! Fortunately the stain is easily removed when your teeth are polished.

But now it has been found that an ingredient in coffee can actually be beneficial to one’s dental health. There ia an element in coffee called “trigonelline”. Trigonelline helps prevent the bacteria that cause cavities, streptococcus mutans, from attaching to our teeth. While this component of coffee gives coffee its distinctive taste, there is a surprising cavity fighting aspect to the beverage.

Now this doesn’t mean if you are a 3 cup a day coffee consumer that you should stop brushing and flossing, but it is nice to know there this added benefit in drinking coffee. If you should have any questions about your dental health and what you can do to improve it, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment that works best with your schedule to get you on your way to achieving your dental health goals.

Fish Oil For Your Teeth

2010-02-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

Fight Dental Disease with Fith Oil

Our patient’s are constantly asking us what else they can do to help maintain a health mouth. We always speak of brushing, flossing and having their teeth cleaned on a regular basis. Here are some additional suggestions that could raise your level of dental health another notch.

Changing your tooth brush regularly, make sure that when the bristles begin to lose their upright vertical nature, it’s time for a new one. Another recent study demonstrated that fish oil may help to support dental health and prevent dental disease. This was published in a recent issue of Nutrition. The study performed in Japan demonstrated that a inadequate amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, which is found in fish oil, had strong links to periodontal disease.

Many of us take fish oil on a daily basis for its positive effects on our helping to lower our cholesterol. Now we have we have another reason to take fish oil every day!
If you have any questions about periodontal disease and the impact that your diet can have on the health of your mouth, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment that works best with your schedule so we can get you on your way to a healthier mouth.

Sleep Apnea Causes Car Accidents

2010-02-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

Dental Treatment For Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is beginning to reach epidemic proportions in our country. It is estimated that 2% of women and 4% of men suffer with Sleep Apnea. It is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in the United States today.
Studies have shown that nearly 90% of the Sleep Apnea suffers have not been diagnosed or treated.

One of the disastrous effects of Sleep Apnea is excessive daytime sleepiness. A recent study, performed by the University of British Columbia Sleep Disorders Program, shows that people with sleep apnea are twice as likely to have a car crash compared to people without sleep apnea, and three to five times as likely to have a crash resulting in personal injury.

The Federal Motor Safety Administration has become so alarmed that it is highlighting sleep apnea as a key issue in the next set of regulations for the trucking industry
Sleep Apnea is a serious life-threatening condition that can have potentially lethal consequences if left untreated. Please call our office at 561-394-9000 to arrange a consultation appointment. We will find a time that works best for your schedule to get you on your way to a healthier nights sleep.

Root Canal or Dental Implant...which is best?

2010-02-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

Root Canal or Dental Implant…that is the question!

If you are being confronted with a decision on how to treat an infected tooth, what should you do? If the tooth is badly decayed your options may be limited. Often your decision is to save the tooth or remove it!

As a rule of thumb, when it is possible to save a tooth, it is usually the best solution. But there are always scenarios that lend to other ways to resolve the problem at hand.

By saving the tooth, root canal therapy might be needed. Usually following a “root canal” a crown is usually needed to restore and protect the tooth. Depending upon which tooth is culprit and how “sick” the tooth is might require considering to extract the tooth and place an implant. This too will require a crown after the implant has become one with the bone.

In today’s dental world, an implant is preferable to a fixed bridge and the implant is the closest option to a natural tooth. One nice thing about implants, since they are made of titanium, you can never get decay with this “tooth”.

Should you have any questions about root canal therapy or dental implants, please do not hesitate to give our office a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment that works best with your schedule to get you on your way to helping your maintain a healthier mouth!

Early Detection For Oral Cancer

2010-02-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

Oral Cancer Screenings Once A Year!

For many years the manner in which a dentist screened for oral cancer was with the mirror, light, and their own hands and eyes. Today that has changed as has the incidence of oral cancer.
While the occurrence of many cancers has decreased, the frequency of oral cancer increased by 11% in 2008. 40 % of those diagnosed with oral cancer didn't have the typical contributory factors such as smoking, smokeless tobacco or excessive alcohol. With early detection there is an 85-90% survival rate!

Finally dentists have the advanced technology to enhance early detection of oral cancer. Several different companies have produced the means that allows the dentist to identify areas that may be the first signs of oral cancer.

One such way is Vizilite. With this system the patient swishes a raspberry vinaigrette-like solution for one minute. The mouth is then scanned with a special fluorescent light. If there are suspicious areas the tissue in that area will “light up”. Early detection is the key in the success of treating any form of cancer.

We offer this service to all of our patients and ask them to participate on an annual basis. We are concerned about your entire health, not just your teeth! If you have any questions regarding early detection of oral cancer, please do not hesitate to contact us. Call us at 561-394-9000 and we will arrange for an appointment.

Dental Health For Our Pets Is Important!

2010-02-02T05:26:00.000-08:00

We all are aware of the importance of taking care of our teeth. The fact that periodontal disease has been shown to be directly related to cardiovascular disease, low birth weight babies and diabetes makes it even more imperative that we have our teeth cleaned on a regular basis. But what about our beloved pets teeth? According to Dr. Paul DeMars of Ohio State University Veterinary Clinic, dental disease is the number one disease for healthy pets. He recommends that we clean our pet’s teeth on a daily basis. Just like us, pets can have dental procedures such as fillings, root canal and crowns.

Horses as well need dental care on a regular basis. Dr. Lyndi Gilliam of the OSU clinic advises that horses have oral examinations every 6 months until they are 10 years old. From chewing horses create sharp points on their teeth which due to the way they chew can cause painful sores in their mouths. These points need to be shaved down to prevent those ulcerations.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Let us remind ourselves to give our pets the dental care that they deserve. If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned recently, please give us a call at 561-394-9000 and we will arrange for you to have your teeth as clean as your pets.

Dental Sleep Medicine

2010-02-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Dental Sleep Medicine

Sleep apnea is known to be potentially dangerous and fatal to the person suffering with the disease. One of the major effects of this sleep disorder is excessive daytime sleepiness. This is such a serious component to sleep apnea that in the state of Ohio, an individual who drives a school bus may be required to have a sleep study, a polysomnogram, before obtaining their license.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness can lead to motor vehicle accident with fatal consequences as was the case in Canada where a woman fell asleep while driving killing two people. In the trial was driver was acquitted because she was unaware of the sleep disorder.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a sleep disorder which may include excessive daytime sleepiness, gasping for air during sleep or snoring, please give us a call at 561-394-9000 we will arrange for a consultation to help you determine if you are suffering with sleep apnea. Don’t take this lightly, you could save someone’s life or maybe even your own.

2010-01-25T05:13:00.000-08:00

Does it bother you that you might drool because of numbness after a dental procedure? Of course!

Does speaking normally as soon as possible after a dental visit is important to you? Certainly!

Would you like to be able to eat and drink as soon as possible after a dental visit? Is that important to you? Undoubtedly!
Really, who likes the way their face feels from being numb after a dental visit? Anyone? Undeniably this is one of the most annoying aspects of going to the dentist. I know how much I dislike the feeling! Well help is on the way!

Oraverse is the answer! It is administered to you as your dental procedure nears its completion. Mind you this is not a magic wand to ending your numbing sensation but it provides a simple solution for patients who want a quicker return to feeling normal. It has been shown to eliminate that big lip feeling anywhere from 47 to 67% faster!

If you have an aversion to the sensation of numbness, this is the answer for you. If you have any question about how we can shorten the period of time you are numb, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will make at your next dental visit that your numbness doesn’t dominate your day!

Dental New Years Resolutions

2010-01-20T06:06:00.000-08:00

Dental New Year’s Resolutions!

As 2010 begins to unfold, many of us make New Years resolutions, even dental new years resolutions are appropriate to be made.

Let us resolve to floss our teeth every day.

Let us resolve to brush our teeth at least twice a day.

Let us resolve to have our teeth cleaned by our hygienist at least 3 times this year.

Let us resolve to make sure our diet does not contribute to cavities or periodontal disease.

Let us resolve to remember that periodontal disease is directly associated to heart disease, diabetes, loss birth weight babies and obstructive sleep apnea. Keeping a healthy mouth can lessen the likelihood of these diseases.

Let us resolve to have an oral cancer screening performed annually. Oral cancer is one the fasting growing types of cancer. Dentists now have diagnostic tests that allow for early detection of this potentially lethal disease.

As Albert Einstein said “we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”. Resolve to be a healthier person this year!
If we haven't seen you to get your teeth cleaned in a while, please call our office at 561-394-9000 and we will arrange an appointment that works best with your schedule to get you on your way to a maintaining a health mouth!

2010-01-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Root Canals…General Dentist or Specialist?

So you need to a root canal. Bummer! So do you need to see a specialist to do the procedure? Can you have your general dentist perform the treatment? Good questions!
For my patient’s I do complete many of their root canal needs. But like anything knowing one’s limitations is the key to success.

The number of canals in a tooth varies from tooth-to-tooth. A front tooth generally had one straight canal, whereas a molar can have 3 to 4 canals which are predictable curved or more tortuous. The twisting and turning of the canal, increases the degree of difficulty for cleaning and filling the canals. This is where the judgment and experience of the general dentist comes into to call. I have many peers who have taken countless hours of continuing education to perfect their root canal skills. I would be confident to have them perform a root canal on one of my teeth.

Personally I don’t enjoy doing root canals on molars and I feel my patients are better off having a specialist do the treatment. A root canal specialist, an endodontist, does root canals all day long. They don’t fill teeth, they don’t pull teeth, they don’t crown teeth, they do root canals and they are they do them well!

If you have any questions regarding root canal therapy, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to discuss and answer your questions and concerns to make sure you receive the treatment best suited to your particular needs and desires.

Questions about dental insurance?

2010-01-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

In today’s economy we are all getting fairly hard hit these days when it comes to the cost for health insurance. We have to ask ourselves, do I choose the HMOs, PPOs or traditional indemnity plans? And what about those Health Savings Accounts? Unfortunately our decisions are often based on what it costs. The same applies with regards to dental insurance. Are you getting all that you need to be covered to insure your dental health?

A good example of inadequate coverage is with TMJ disorders. Dental insurance barely pays for patients who have TMJ disorders. The might pay a fraction of the cost of a “bite plate”, but they don’t generally pay for TMJ
x-rays! You can’t rely on your medical insurance. They may cover you TMJ disorder…if you need surgery, but they generally don’t cover for the necessary non-surgical treatment that could prevent you from needing to have the surgery at all.

The other big issue with dental insurance is you are limited by an annual amount of generally $1000-1500 a year. Can you imagine if your medical insurance said we are only going to provide benefits your medical expenses for that small amount! OMG!

If you have any questions regarding dental insurance and how it impacts your dental health, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will try and answer your questions to help you maximize your dental insurance and maintain a healthy denttion.

2010-01-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Dental Permanency?

Like most things in life nothing is forever or permanent.
That being said often we see patient’s who has had a “permanent cap/crown come off. As it is said, nothing lasts forever, including crowns. So what do you do when a crown is displaced from the tooth it calls home?

We recommend that you call us immediately so that we can arrange for you to be seen so that if possible your crown can be cemented in again. More often than not that will be the case, but occasionally the crown can’t be put back into place. Why? Sometimes the tooth breaks or there is decay present that no longer allows the crown to fit on the tooth correctly. The sooner we see you after the incident the better the chance there is to correct the situation.

If you have any questions regarding a concern with one of your teeth or crowns, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange for an appointment to answer your concerns and questions in a prompt manner.

Can the dentist help you with your sleep apnea?

2010-01-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

Sleep Apnea and Dentistry

So what does such a serious disease such as Sleep Apnea have to do with dentistry? As it turns out, for treatment of the disease, quite a bit! Sleep Apnea is a potentially fatal disease where during one’s night of slumber they can actually stop breathing. Often these periods of apnea last 10 to 20 seconds or longer and occur several times a night. The most effective treatment for Sleep Apnea is using a machine called a CPAP. This stands for continuous positive air pressure. A mask is worn by the person who is attached to the machine. During the night it is “pushing” air through the mask to forcibly keep your airway open and allow you to breathe unobstructed.

Trouble is many people aren’t able to tolerate the CPAP for various reasons, that’s were dentistry comes into the picture. Oral appliances made by a dentist trained to treat the person suffering with Sleep Apnea can be processed. The appliance, worn over your teeth, will gently facilitate moving your lower jaw forward to a position that prevent your airway from collapsing during sleep and allow you to breathe unobstructed.

The disease still must be diagnosed by a certified sleep physician, but the solution for treating the disease can be found in the dental office. If you have any questions about sleep apnea and how we can help you to begin getting a healthier and better night’s rest, please give us a call at 561-394-9000, we will arrange for a consultation appointment that will work well with your schedule.

2010-01-05T05:52:00.000-08:00

What to do when a tooth fractures?

We all have things that break in our lives whether it is a glass, a computer or even a tooth, accidents happen and no matter how hard we try some things just can’t be mended. Such was the case yesterday when I had a new patient referred to our practice. The patient called to make an appointment saying that she “lost a filling”.
Unfortunately, it was far worse than just that, as I noted when looking at the photograph that was taken of the tooth.

The sliver filling, acting as a wedge, literally split the tooth in half. The tooth needed to be extracted. This poses a problem for the patient, obviously she is upset about having to lose a tooth and now she has to make a decision about how to treat the area.

These decisions can be frustrating and confusing for patients. Options are limited after extraction; do nothing, place an implant or have a bridge made and cemented in place to span the missing tooth. All three are viable options and will work and ultimately it is up to you the patient to make a choice. This patient decided to have a bridge made.

If you are confronted with difficult decisions regarding your dental health, please do not hesitate to call us for an appointment. We will take the time to discuss your options and help you to feel comfortable with your ultimate choice. Call at 561-394-9000 and we will find a time that works well for your schedule.

Dental Implants For You?

2010-01-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Dental Implants Are the Solutions!

If you have lost teeth and are tired of wearing a denture a solution for replacing those missing teeth are implants.

Dental implants are made of high grade titanium. The surfaces of the titanium are treated with various substances to enhance the growth of your own bone in and around the implant. With this bone growth the implants will then becomes securely locked into the bone. The act of the implant becoming one with the bone takes 2 to 3 months. After that period of time the implant is then fixed into the bone strongly enough to then restore.

Your choice of dental restoration will be dependant upon your individual needs. This would be decided prior to placing the implant so that the proper type and correct number of implants are installed.
Should you have any further questions regarding dental implants and how then can improve your life, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to discuss your concerns and individual needs to get you on your way to a happy and healthier life.

Will Periodntal Disease Be Cured?

2009-12-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

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.

The Importance of Clean Teeth!

2009-12-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-12-14T05:39:00.000-08:00

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

Floss Floss Brush Brush

2009-12-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

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!

Dental Sleep Medicine and your health

2009-12-08T09:48:00.000-08:00

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!

Dental Sleep Medicine & Drug Abuse

2009-12-07T04:28:00.000-08:00

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!

Dental Sleep Medicine and I Phones

2009-12-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T04:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

Sometimes I have to remind myself to get in touch with reality. Yes the economy is weak to say the least and their are very few businesses that have been immune to the impact of a depressed economy. And again I need to remind myself of all of the positive things in my life. One is that my family are all healthy. No one is ill or suffering. We all live with a roof over our heads, food on our tables and clothes on our backs. While there are many who don't have those blessings.

Each day brings different challenges that frustrate and challenge us. In the whole scheme of life they are but a small detour or bump in the road.

With this Thanksgiving and launch of our holiday season let's be thankful for all of the good things we have in our lives. So after you have eaten that turkey dinner be sure to remember to floss and brush your teeth.

My TEAM and I want to wish you the best of Thanksgivings and enjoy your dinner and football.

Dental Approach to Snoring

2009-11-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

IS THERE SNORING IN YOUR HOUSE?

The experts estimate around 80 million people snore in the US alone. If you also add in the spouses and children who listen to the snoring, that total is far greater!

Snoring causes many health related problems, not just the anger and frustration from listening all night. Some of these health problems are high blood pressure, increase chance of stroke, and depression from lack of sleep.

Many of you may think your family member can control their snoring, but that’s far from the truth. Snoring happens after you fall asleep, the muscles and the soft tissues in your throat relax. When they relax, this makes your airway smaller and there is less space for air to flow through. When there is less space for air to flow through, the air that does get through causes the soft palate (softer part of the roof of your mouth) to vibrate. It is the vibrations that cause the snoring sound. The other reasons for snoring are being over weight, drinking alcohol, using sedatives, and having enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

What can be done? There are a few solutions, one being surgery to remove those enlarged tonsils, adenoids and the soft tissue causing the snoring. While this is a solution, the success has not been overwhelming. The success rate has been somewhere around 20-40%. This is also a costly procedure to have done.

The most inexpensive and least invasive solution is an oral snoring device that Dr. Mogell can prescribe and make for you. How does this work? The device keeps your lower jaw in a forward position. When your jaw is in this position, it increases the space the air flows through which prevents the soft palate and soft tissues in your throat from vibrating. Your family member does not snore and you get some much needed sleep!!

If you or someone you love snores, please call our office at 561-394-9000 to arrange an appointment to get you on your way to a better nights sleep!

Periodontal Disease and Nail Biting

2009-11-10T05:59:00.000-08:00

Stop Nail Biting

It's more then just unattractive to watch, it is also harmful to your teeth. Nail biting is a difficult habit to break. This ugly habit does have obvious harmful affects to out teeth.
The habitual chomping of your nails can lead to fractured, cracked, chipped and worn front teeth. This occurs due to the excessive stress on your front teeth.
Other dental concerns that nail biters can be subjected to are damaged, sore, torn and painful gum tissue which is mainly due to sharp edges of nails.
The bacteria in the nails can spread in the mouth and the bacteria in the mouth can spread to the nail beds and consequently the blood stream.
Wearing a mouth guard is suggested as a deterrent to nail biting. We have also found that the therapy techniques like upward resting of tongue with teeth apart and lips shut prevent further tooth damage.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to call our office at 561-394-9000 to see how we can help you stop this unattractive habit

Lea P. Goldstein

Neuromuscular Dentistry and Pure Power Mouthguards

2009-11-09T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Saints Come Marching In With Pure Power Mouthguard

Not only are the New Orleans Saints marching to the best start in the history of the team at 8-0, they are crediting some of their success to the mouthguards that 40 of the Saints are wearing. Did I say a Mouthguard?

Pure Power Mouthguards (PPM) are a very sophisticated device, custom designed for each athlete using EMG scans to find that individual's most comfortable position for alignment of neurons and muscles from head and neck throughout the body.
Only dentist trained in neuromuscular dentistry can be certified to provide athletes of all kinds with the technology that enhances their performance by increasing their strength, flexibility and endurance by optimizing their bite.

Jon Gruden was quoted on Monday Night Football last week and raved about the PPM. He went as far to say that the mouthguards were among the factors that gave the Saints as advantage.

PPM’s aren’t just for professional athletes! They are for any person who wants to improve the performance in their individual game. The devices are available in three different designs to fit the desires of the athlete are their budgets. If you have any questions about the PPM and how if can help you to compete on a higher level, give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to get started toward finding the next level in your workouts!

2009-11-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

Your Oral Health Can Affect Your Unborn Baby

Studies have shown that gum disease or gingivitis may actually harm your unborn baby's health. Studies have found that women with severe gum disease are up to seven more times more likely to deliver significantly prematurely, before 32 weeks, than women with healthy gums. Current studies of gingivitis in pregnancy point to a risk level for prematurity comparable to that of heavy drinking ( more then 10 drinks a week ) and somewhat higher than most estimates for smoking. Premature babies have a wide range of health problems immediately after birth and often have a more long term complication than full term babies born after 37 weeks.
Besides delivering early, women with pregnancy gingivitis may also have smaller babies, whether they are born early or at term. Studies found that women with pregnancy gingivitis were more than three times as likely to deliver a low birth weight baby. This estimate is comparable to the well documented risk posed by smoking during pregnancy.
How can gingivitis lead to premature birth? The explanation is that when you have gingivitis, the bacteria found in plaque can enter your bloodstream through your mouth. Your body responds to infections by trauma by producing chemicals called prostaglandins, which are also a signal for labor to start. Your immune system produces prostaglandins, which can cause uterine contractions and send you into early labor.
Besides brushing your teeth and flossing daily, you should have your teeth cleaned professionally cleaned during your pregnancy. You should also schedule a comprehensive examination with your dental office. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 561-394-9000. We are here to help you maintain the best dental heath possible!

Lea P. Goldstein