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Trouble thinking? Better see the dentist. Study Shows Connection between Gum Disease and Memory Problems
December 11, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DFrom Dentalblogs.com: We know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults. It also causes an increased risk for health problems, from heart attack and stroke to diabetes complications and low-weight births. But new evidence shows that periodotnal disease can impair mental function, outside of the established connection between gum disease and Alzheimer’s or dementia. The newfound link may stem from inflammation in the body that originates in the mouth.
The study, led by Dr. James Noble, involved 2,350 subjects of various genders who were tested for periodontal disease, then underwent a series of mental skills assessments. Adults over 60 with a high level of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen that causes gum disease, were three times more likely to forget a three-word sequence after a time lapse. The higher the pathogen level, the greater the potential for forgetting the sequence.
Published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, this US study by Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York relates periodontal disease to cognitive dysfunction. More research is necessary to support the findings. Read the Reuters press release here.
For more on your local Atlanta, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Duluth, Cumming Dentist visit www.JohnsCreekFamilyDentist.com
Why Aren’t You on The List My Company Says Are Preferred Providers?
December 3, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DAlthough we accept most PPO Dental Insurance and help you get most out of your benefits, we are not on any PPO/HMO/DMO list. We’ve been asked “Why Aren’t You on The List My Company Says Are Preferred Providers?” occasionally when a patient’s company switches to an HMO/PPO plan. I could give you a wishy-washy, sugar coated answer like some dentist do. But I think my patients deserve the real answer.
Three or four insurance companies solicit every dentist each month to join their plan. Contrary to popular belief there is no quality control or screening process even though it sounds like you will be joining an elite family of dentists. The “elite” are simply whoever signs up. “Preferred Provider” is an insurance industry term, it has nothing to do with a dentists skills, knowledge or experience.
THE FREE LUNCH
The promotional material we get from these multi billion dollar insurance companies is very appealing. It appears everyone wins in this deal: the patients now get FREE or greatly reduced) cleanings, x-rays, exams and perhaps even fillings. Even the major treatment is much cheaper. They’re ecstatic! Your employer has much cheaper dental insurance premiums to pay each month they’re ecstatic! If you have been following the profits of the HMO/PPO industry, you know they are making money hand over fist. The insurance executives are the most highly paid in the business world. So we know they are ecstatic too.
This must be the mystical free lunch at last. Who could lose? Unfortunately someone has to absorb the cost of all this free or cheap treatment. You guessed it, it’s the HMO/PPO dentist.
Now, You ask, “Why would anyone work harder for less money?”
Well my friends, that’s the $64 question. Let’s look at why anyone would do this. The insurance industry dazzles dentists with promises of wealth, endless patients and busy practices. Then they add, “Oh did we forgot to mention that you have to give away many services for free and cut the rest of your fees 30-40%? But don’t worry about that,” they point out, “because you will have two to four times as many patients to try and see in order to make up for the lost revenue. You’ll just have to work faster.”
Ok, so that’s the dentist complaint. What about you, the patient. How does all this affect you? Here’s how; Understand that an HMO/PPO dentist is paid 6-10 dollars per month per family or patient whether or not that patient ever shows up in your office. Now if that patient does want to come in and get there teeth cleaned or a filling done (which the dentist is by contract required to do for FREE) do you think that dentist (or anyone else in the practice) actually wants that patient to come in? Of course not. He doesn’t make any money when the patient comes in. Does it make any sense to pay someone not to perform their craft or practice to their profession?
Now do you see why it might be difficult for you to be seen for a routine visit or in an emergency in one of these practices? The biggest complaints from patients about HMO/PPO practices are they can’t get an appointment and they never see the same dentist twice. Is there any mystery now as to why?
TOO MANY CUT CORNERS
In my opinion, to be an HMO/PPO dentist I would have to sacrifice quality, service and the personal attention we give to our patients. In short we would have to give up our ethical and clinical standards. I won’t do that and it’s an easy choice to make. I won’t practice on roller skates, sacrificing quality for the sake of quantity. As an HMO practice we would have to use cheap labs, cheap materials, work faster and cut corners. Some of the corner cutting would come in the area of sterilization, by not providing as many disposables as we now do. My patients are too important for us to do that to them. The medical profession has all but lost the war to the insurance industry. The story has been well documented in a recent TIME magazine cover story. The dental profession still offers you the freedom to choose your own dentist and level of care. And as long as that continues, I will endeavor to provide you with the best dentistry has to offer. You deserve nothing less.
Sincerely,
Sealants for Children – Dentist in Johns Creek, GA
November 30, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DToday I’d like to talk to you about the advantages of preventative dentistry. Many of the difficulties older generations experience with their teeth are ones that can now be avoided through a lifetime of routine preventative dental care.
This care begins with regular visits to the dentist from an early age. By the time a child is old enough to develop molars and cooperate with a dentist’s requests, he is old enough to receive a crucial preventative treatment: Sealants.
Sealants are just as they sound. They seal back molar teeth to keep out harmful bacteria and therefore prevent the formation of decay. I generally apply sealants to children’s molars as the molars come in, between the ages of 6 and 13. I carefully clean and dry the tooth and “paint” on a clear, plastic, protective coating. It’s a little bit like a clear coat of nail polish, but for a tooth. The sealant protects the tooth’s surface and crevices from harmful bacteria and decay and is shown to last for years, and in many cases, long into adulthood. Sealants are recommended by the American Dental Association and have been shown to reduce tooth decay tremendously. We’re talking about 90% to 100%! The best part is that for a fraction of the cost of a filling you can prevent yourself or a loved one from ever needing a filling, root canal or crown.
This not only adds up to a smart choice for the health of your child’s mouth, but also for your pocketbook as the costs of repairing decay can add up to a lot more than the costs of preventing it. Many insurance carriers offer coverage for sealants and many times they cover them 100%. The one downside is that they only cover them until your child reaches age 12 or 14. So it pays to have them done while they are young and prevent countless unnecessary dental procedures in the future.
Sealants do not take long to apply and never require the patient to be numbed. So it is one of the most pain free procedures we offer. We generally see children to apply sealants and they can go back to school to resume their day right after their appointment. They are even able to eat on them immediately following their application. Our office is central to the Alpharetta, Suwanee, and Johns Creek area school districts to make routine visits easy and convenient.
Once your family is in the habit of visiting the dentist on a regular basis, it waylays fears and procrastination and helps the whole brood maintain clean, healthy, and fresh smiles. Sealants are just another measure that will help ensure your children’s long-term dental health.
Do your children have dental sealants? Why or why not?
Botox injected into the masseter muscles of the jaw to treat TMJ, an inflammation of the TMJ joint in the jaw
November 20, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.D
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alex Rivkin shows Dr. Ordon and Dr. Stork how he injects Botox into the masseter muscles of Suzannes jaw to treat her TMJ, an inflammation of the temporal-mandibular joint in the jaw.
Blazing Strides in the Dental Experience
November 14, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DYou may remember the worn leather chairs, the hum of the drill, and the drab office interior that was synonymous with dentistry decades ago. You probably remember gigantic X-ray machines and dark fillings, and felt like your dentist’s office was more akin to an old corner of a hospital than a comfortable, friendly place to be.
We think your entire experience at the dental office should be a pleasant one. We offer clean, spacious surroundings filled with plenty of natural light. You’ll enjoy beverages and snacks in our reception area and find comfortable amenities in our private patient treatment suites. At Center For Advanced Dentistry we use technology such as patient education DVD’s and Intra-oral video cameras to teach you about your teeth and show you what we see inside of your mouth, bringing you into the process of learning about and caring for your oral hygiene.
Aside from a warm environment, accommodating and gentle staff, and patient education tools, we invest in our patients’ comfort and safety. Our low dose digital X-ray machines significantly decrease your exposure to any radiation. Instead of being awake and remembering everything that happened during your appointment, you can comfortably dose off into sleep with a small pill that we give you right before your treatment. What used to take days and weeks to rebuild in your mouth can be done in a fraction of the time in far fewer appointments. And the materials and options available today have allowed many dentists like myself to offer an alternative to orthodontics with options such as dental veneers which is also referred to as “instant orthodontics.”
Best of all, that common culprit, the cavity, can be treated with white materials to help you maintain a gorgeous white smile, absent of any mercury fillings.
Today’s progressive dentists also offer great financial terms, so your budget does not need to be a deterrent to seeking quality, professional, and comfortable care. There’s even a zero-interest CareCredit to help with dental and medical out of pocket expenses that our office has available for your consideration.
It all comes down to making it an easier, more pleasant experience for our patients. We see you in less time, providing patients with significantly reduced levels of discomfort and anxiety. By the way, if you are unsure about your dentist’s recommended course of treatment, we offer a second opinion at no charge.
Do you have any dental hang-ups? If so, do the new technologies reduce your apprehension about visiting your dentist?
Now Open Wide! Dentist in Alpharetta, GA
November 5, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DI’d like to share some exciting news about dental repair. Many patients who haven’t visited the dentist in awhile are surprised by the astounding advances in dentistry. Not only are appointments more comfortable, but your choices in how to treat dental decay or missing, cracked, or chipped teeth have grown exponentially.
Here is an overview of just a few of the popular choices you have today. Of course you should discuss your individual circumstances with your dentist so you can decide together which option best suits your needs.
Glass and Resin Ionomers
Ionomers offer many benefits to patients. The white color of glass and resin ionomers blend nicely with natural teeth. Using glass ionomers often achieves a smaller filling because your dentist may not have to remove as much of the tooth’s structure to prepare the tooth for the filling. Additionally, glass ionomers can release fluoride which is beneficial in fighting tooth decay. Ionomers are generally not placed where a great deal of chewing pressure will take place.
Porcelain or Ceramic Material
Ceramic is revered for the natural, translucent white appearance it gives teeth. This versatile material can be used for crowns, inlays, onlays, and full veneers. Porcelains are highly resistant to wear, but can also scratch the teeth it comes in contact with should its surface become rough. Porcelains tend to retain their white color so it is important to take care of your surrounding teeth so a discrepancy in color between natural teeth and veneers doesn’t become apparent.
Many dentists today favor these choices over amalgam fillings, including myself. While the jury is still out over the safety of amalgam fillings, there have been some convincing studies that lead me to believe the mercury in amalgam fillings can seep into a person’s body and cause adverse health effects. Additionally, amalgam fillings can lead to cracked teeth and they are not as aesthetically pleasing as their newer and safer alternatives.
I hope I’ve opened your mind to some possibilities. There are several more options such as porcelain fused to metal, indirect composites, and indirect restorative dental materials. This should give you a starting point to discuss the possibilities with your dentist. We’re thrilled to be able to offer you the custom choice that is right for you.
What kind of research do you do before choosing a course of treatment for your dental work? Do you rely solely on your dentist for advice or do you take to the internet? How about peer recommendation? I’d love to hear what is important to you when making decisions concerning your dental health.
Halloween Cash for Candy Buy Back Program
October 30, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DThis Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to our office on Tuesday, November 3rd between 9am and 5pm. We are leading this anti-decay movement by giving away dollars in exchange for cavity-provoking candy. Tell me what you think or what you do?
The candy must be unopened. Please no bites. The candy will be donated and sent to our troops through a local charity.
Taking your children to the dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets all together would really give your teeth and your children’s teeth a healthy boost. Kids can still have all the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well.
Halloween is approaching, and so are all those scary costumes and haunted houses. It shouldn’t be the ghouls and ghosts that you fear, however, but the candied apples, trick-or-treat sweets and all the soda that washes them down! Sugary and acidic foods can lead to tooth decay, and that can put a damper on anyone’s festive spirit.
If possible, try to limit children’s sugar intake. Encourage them to drink plenty of water while snacking – soda will only make things worse! And finally, while it’s easy to slip into a “sugar coma” and just pass out while watching a favorite horror flick, this is not the time to stray from your brushing or flossing routine. Let your children know that if they eat sweets without their toothbrushes on hand, they should rinse their mouths out with warm water.
Ever since becoming a dentist Dr. Ushma Patel from Center for Advanced Dentistry has had a tradition of not only passing out a limited amount of candy/chocolate (so they do come) but also gives the children in her neighborhood a toothbrush and a nutritious snack bag. This has turned to be a win-win, the parents love it and the kids love it too as they do their rounds walking around they appreciate the snack.
Visit us on the web at http://www.HiTechSmiles.com or http://www.JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com
Whoopi Goldberg talks about Gum Disease on The View- It can kill you
October 21, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DWhoopi Goldberg talks about Gum Disease on The View- It can kill you!
Whoopi’s personal experience with gum disease sheds light on how serious it can be and how easily it can be prevented. She had an infection in her face and needed to have emergency gum surgery. She had great dental insurance but did nothing with it. For years and years she let her mouth go and is loosing teeth and loosing bone. Entire mouth is connected to the entire immune system. Cardiologists are now speaking to dentists. She further said she is going to loose her teeth. Check out this important video.
Sending your Teen to the Dentist
October 19, 2009 — Dr. Ushma Patel D.M.DSchool is in swing and your teen has a full plate with homework, friends, and perhaps a part-time job or first love. They’re likely implementing privacy barriers (i.e., closed bedroom doors and secret text messages) and trying to take charge of their own, separate lives.
This coming of age is a tough transition for parents and teens alike. You’re at a crossroads when you set up health appointments for your child and trust him or her to both attend the appointment and accurately relay medical information back to you. You want to give your child space and demonstrate your trust, but feel it’s your duty as a parent to ensure his or her health and well-being.
I know this is an important transition for families and like to partner with them to bridge the communication gap that frequently occurs during this time between parent, child, and provider.
I’d like to share with you helpful tips to transition your teens into taking charge of their own dental health.
- Remind your child to arrive 10-15 minutes early to check-in and complete any paperwork.
- Prior to the appointment, have them write down any dental concerns they would like to
discuss with the dentist.
- Equip them with their insurance card and co-payment monies as applicable.
- Schedule the appointment so a parent can attend if it pertains to major decisions such
as cosmetic dentistry, orthodontia alternatives, or dental repair work.
We welcome teens to come alone to their appointments and will work to make their experience a positive one through a timely appointment and a detailed explanation of their oral check-up. We’ll also provide them with post-appointment instructions on how to maintain their oral health care.
Additionally, our office staff will follow up with a phone call to parents to relay any pertinent information about their child’s visit. As a family-centered practice, we understand this time of transition and have the tools in place to make it a success for everyone involved! As always, we invite open discussion and ask you to call or stop in any time we can help your family with dental care questions or concerns.
Which dental health practices do you need help reinforcing with your teens? Flossing? Routine brushing? Which behaviors would you like us to help curb? Teeth grinding? Nail biting? Chewing on pen caps? We’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, be well!
Dr. Ushma Patel
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