Posts Tagged ‘dentist Media PA’

We are excited! Our Media PA dental  office has converted to 100% green energy, renewable electricity produced from the sun, low-impact water power, and wind. These forms of energy treat our planet gently, sparing the environment from the harmful effects of burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. Compared to fossil fuels, renewable solar, wind and water energy reduces carbon dioxide. CO2 gas can injure the ozone layer that protects our atmosphere from the harmful effects of the sun.

There are many other reasons we are smiling. Renewable energy is 100% American, produced by your neighbors. It is increasingly affordable. It is not subject to international disruptions. It cannot be exhausted because energy from sun, water and wind is unlimited.

As a Media PA dentist, I believe in gentle care for my patients, and protection of this beautiful Earth.  I abandoned dark metal fillings containing mercury in 1989. We long ago switched to compact fluorescent bulbs. We have never permitted dental waste to enter the water supply. And now, as you relax in our dental reclining chair, it is clean solar, wind and water power running our equipment.

Currently, renewable energy accounts for only 8% of our national energy production but we can do more. Is your dentist a “green” dentist? Each of us can reduce our carbon footprint by choosing more green energy options. I believe in gentle painless dental care, technical artistry and respect for every patient; I also believe that renewable energy is the right thing to do. What a great reason to smile!

If you are seeking gentle, quality dental care, and you are in the greater Philadelphia, Delaware County, Wilmington Delaware or Media PA area, please visit Media PA dentist or call Dr. Bodak’s office at (610) 565-2868.  I care about your oral health.

Are you “zinc-ing” too much?

Zinc, an essential mineral for our body, plays a role in mineral balance, immunity and cell growth. It occurs naturally in foods such as beef, eggs and yogurt, but it may also be found in denture adhesives. According to Dr. von Fraunhofer, MSc, PhD, co-author an article published in the current issue of General Dentistry, overusing denture adhesives can lead to “toxic levels of zinc, with adverse neurologic effects.”  How do you know if you are using too much?  You should apply only a thin film or a series of dots to the denture, according to the manufacturer’s directions, and one tube should last 1-2 months.

 Regarding denture adhesives, More Is Not Better…

If you are using larger amounts of denture adhesive, trying to keep an ill-fitting denture in place, it is time to see your dentist. Denture-wearers should continue to see their dentist every six months, for an oral examination and assessment of the fit of their denture.  The tissues of your mouth shrink over time, leading to gaps and loose dentures. Adjustments can be made in many cases, so that your denture can still fit without irritation or embarassing slips. In general, a new denture is required every five or six years.

Over-consumption of zinc, whether from denture adhesive, mineral zinc supplements or other sources, can cause irritation of your gums and nausea.  It is difficult to produce high zinc levels in your body from your diet alone. High zinc levels can lead to numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, disturbances of taste, and muscle cramps. Zinc and copper, another essential mineral, are in balance.  If your zinc levels go up, your copper levels go down. High levels of zinc can cause secondary copper deficiency. Disturbances in copper levels can produce nerve damage and and anemia (low blood count).

If you are using both zinc supplements and denture adhesives, discuss this with your doctor or nutritionist. We advise our patients to use denture adhesive sparingly, in accordance with the manufacturers’ directions, and to see us regularly for a thorough oral examination.

If you are seeking gentle, quality dental care, and you are in the greater Philadelphia, Delaware County, Wilmington Delaware or Media PA area, please visit Media PA dentist or call Dr. Bodak’s office at (610) 565-2868.  I care about your oral health.

Dr. Bodak, your Media PA dentist

Dental anxiety affects almost half of us…

Fear  of going to the dentist is so common that many of us avoid dental exams for years. And then a small cavity becomes an abscessed tooth,  or advanced periodontal gum disease takes over.  When we finally do make that dental appointment, the problem has usually become painful and expensive. 

 Why do we wait? For many of us, it is fear of the dental needle, the numbing injection into our mouth.  We may have had one painful novocaine injection  20 years ago, but that memory is still vividly alive, as if it happened just yesterday. This suffering is now needless, thanks to a new technological advance in pain control.

For those patients whose oral health has been compromised by fear of a painful dental needle, there is GREAT NEWS!  A new device is now available to make oral anesthesia comfortable and painless.  The Dental Vibe is a hand held device I use for all my patients in my Media PA dental office. It is cordless, about the size of your electic toothbrush.   And like your electric toothbrush, it is comfortable and completely PAINLESS.

How does it work?  The Dental Vibe emits a series of vibrations to the tissues of your mouth.  You remain awake,  but instantly your brain can process only the vibration. The pain pathways of your nervous system cannot handle vibration and painful signals at the same time and the vibration get there first.  In our Media PA dental office, our patients report only a pleasant, mild buzzing feeling.   At that moment, the local anesthetic can be injected without any awareness, taste or discomfort from the injection. Then your dental work can begin in comfort.

You no longer need to fear your dental visit…

If the thought of the dental needle has always been too much for you, your worries are over. At our Media PA dental office, we offer pain-free injection comfort technology to every patient, along with the highest quality restorative dentisty at affordable prices.  Many of our patients have put off needed dental work, some for years, but they are now restoring their oral health. After their first Dental Vibe injection, they all say “Why did I wait so long? I worried for nothing!”

So if dental anxiety has plagued you… 

Don’t wait and worry any longer.  Ask whether your dentist uses the latest in comfort injection systems or find one who does. If you are seeking gentle, quality dental care, and you are in the greater Philadelphia, Delaware County, Wilmington Delaware or Media PA area, please visit Media PA dentist or call Dr. Bodak’s office at (610) 565-2868. The Dental Vibe comfort injection sytem is one of the many techniques we use to ensure your comfort, which is our first priority.  

I care about your oral health.

Dr. Bodak, Media PA dentist

New Study in Journal of the American Dietetic Association Indicates Link

Healthy teeth and gums improve your smile and oral health. Most adults will have gum disease at some time in their lives. You may have it right now and not know it!  Can a diet rich in foods like peanut better and salmon help? A recent study says yes!

In my Media PA dental office, I see otherwise vigorous adults with an unhappy smile due to gum disease.  Gum disease not only leads to tooth loss and premature facial aging, but it has also been implicated in diabetes, heart disease and even dementia! 

In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Volume 110, Issue 11 (November 2010), Harvard researchers found that eating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), like those found in fish oil and nuts, may help prevent gum disease.  PUFAs have anti-inflammatory properties that benefit some types of heart disease and arthritis.  This study provides more evidence that these same good foods may also lower the risk of gum disease, such as  inflammation and infection of the gums (periodontitis).  For good oral health, I recommend foods like salmon and nuts to my Media PA dental patients.

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease in which sensitive gum tissue shrinks away from teeth, creating open pockets. These pockets accumulate infectious bacteria that cannot be removed by simple tooth brushing.  The trapped bacteria produce toxins that lead to bleeding gums, disappearing bone and eventually, tooth loss.  In my Media PA dental office, I see patients with advanced gum disease and weakened bone. They did not realize they had periodontitis because they felt no pain until their teeth started to comes loose.  These researchers studied the effect of diet on oral health among 9,000 American adults who participated in this study.  People with low PUFA diets had three times more periodontal disease. People with high fatty acid intake, especially DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) had the lowest incidence of periodontitis.

Polyunsaturated fats are found in fish oil, fatty fish like salmon, peanut butter, certain margarines, and all types of nuts. Modest portions were enough to lower the incidence of gum disease in the study participants. As a Media PA dentist, I recommend these foods for a healthier smile.

If you are concerned about gum disease, see your dentist soon. If you live near Philadelphia or Wilmington and would like to consult with an expert, gentle Delaware County dentist to discuss all your options, please call our office so we may assist you – (610) 565-2868.

Your oral health and dental care is important to me. Life is better with a healthy smile!

Dr. L. Z. Bodak-G
Media PA Dentist

Dr. Bodak, A dentist in Media PA, asks: Do you know the leading cause of death among women?  The leading killer of American women is … heart attacks, stroke and other types of cardiovascular disease. Surprised that it is not cancer? An average American woman is 10-times more likely to die of heart disease or stroke than breast cancer!  A study of nearly 7,000 people, aged 44-88 years enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study at University of California at Berkeley, has revealed a simple method to decrease a woman’s risk of death. Women who who went to a general dentist like Dr. Bodak during the previous two years reduced their risk of cardiovascular problems by at least one-third. At our Media dental office, all our patients hear about the link between oral and cardiovascular health.

Dr. Bodak has long recognized the associations between dental care and cardiovascular disease.  According to study lead author Dr. Timothy Brown, at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, “general dental care leads to fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes in a causal way.”  This study  asked whether subjects had visited the dentist and whether they had experienced a heart attack, stroke, angina or congestive heart failure during the prior two years. Deaths from heart attacks or strokes were also included in the analysis. The study included other risk factors, such as alcohol and tobacco use, high blood pressure and body mass index.

For dental care to have a protective effect in women, it should occur early in the development of cardiovascular disease.   In our Media PA dental office, we stress the importance of preventive services, such as examinations and professional, gentle cleanings at every stage of life.  Dr. Bodak recommend twice-yearly visits to to our Media dental office, as well as brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Those wearing dentures should make sure they stay clean to prevent the growth of bacteria.

So, while you are thinking about cutting down on calories, salt and fat in your diet, exercising and controlling your blood pressure to improve your heart health, don’t forget a simple tip to cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by 33% – see your dentist! And don’t forget to SMILE!

So what does that have to do with a dental blog? Plenty. It is all about form, fit and function. While we all love the looks of a great smile, your teeth have an important function; they are designed to bite and chew your food for a lifetime of proper digestion.  Just as tap shoes do not transform an elephant into a tap dancer, a mouth full of malpositioned teeth, ill-fitting crowns or loose dentures will not produce an effective bite, which dentists call occlusion.  Your teeth, ligaments, nerves, muscles and bone, all working together, control occlusion. Your teeth must be in alignment to withstand the normal pressures of chewing food. 

Inch for inch, your jaw muscles are among the most powerful in the human body.  Normal chewing places about 70 lbs/sq inch of pressure on the back teeth, and clenching your teeth can increase that force to 150-300 lbs/sq inch.  Bruxism is teeth grinding, often during sleep.  The forces in bruxism during sleep have been measured at over 1000 lbs/sq inch of force, enough to crush the front end of a car.  If normal pressure is applied evenly to your teeth, the force is comfortable.  But if you have occlusal problems and all that pressure is applied to just a few spots, the teeth, ligaments and nerves can signal pain.  Over time, the tooth absorbing this punishment can fracture. 

You may have an unstable bite (malocclusion) due to missing teeth or periodontal disease, or if your teeth are worn down or out of place.  Ill-fitting crowns or bridges can also disturb your bite.  That powerful force, misdirected due to an incorrect bite, can cause pain and damage to your remaining teeth.  The upper and lower teeth should fit together well, without causing your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) to become unstable.  TMJ dysfunction can lead to pain in your jaw or face, as well as headaches and other complaints.

 If you have an unstable on ineffective bite, bruxism, misaligned teeth or TMJ pain, see your dentist and request a bite analysis. A small adjustment may be all that is needed to correct the situation and prevent problems later. A custom night dental guard can help with bruxism, and other types of dental treatment can improve occlusion. And while we can’t guarantee that a visit to our office will give you a new superpower like tap dancing, we can relieve pain, restore occlusion and allow you to chew your food comfortably again.

You and Your Family Are Eating a  Healthy Diet for life, right?

We all know the importance of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for the health of our digestive and cardiac systems.  These essentials provide fiber, water, minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients that help protect our cells.  Dentists also recommend firm and crunchy foods, such as apples and vegetables, to stimulate the flow of saliva that helps to clean and protect our teeth.

The best food choices for the health of your mouth include cheeses, chicken or other animal protein, nuts, and milk. We believe these foods protect tooth enamel by providing the calcium and phosphorus to remineralize tooth enamel.  These minerals are removed  by acids, but can be restored by our diet.

But Here’s the Problem…

Your healthy food choices may be contaminated with tasteless, odorless chemicals like antibiotics, fungicides, pesticides, hormones and other agents that may be far from healthy.   These chemicals can run off the crops and enter our water supply, persisting for years.  Some of these compounds in higher concentrations have been linked to childhood diseases, reproductive disorders in men, and breast cancer in women.  How much is safe? We really don’t know for sure.  But we should be especially cautious regarding the diets of children and pregnant women.

So What Can We Do? 

For one thing, avoid the foods that usually test as the most heavily contaminated, the “Dirty Dozen”,  and choose the foods with the lowest tested residue, the “Clean Fifteen” .  (More to come in the next blog post about those!)  Organic foods are a great choice, because they are produced without the use of antibiotics, fungicides, pesticides, hormones and other chemicals, and have a much lower chemical residue.  Organic foods are available at local farmers’ markets; they are increasing found in supermarkets as well.  Ask where you shop and let them know you want a selection of organic foods.  

Try growing your own organic berries and vegetables.  In our backyard, we grew these tomatoes organically, along with organic peppers, lettuce, cucumber, and zucchini.  It takes about the same effort as a non-organic garden, the food is fresh and delectable, and you will be doing your body and our planet a huge favor.  Doesn’t that sound delicious?

We have all heard for many years that one small glass of red wine (3-4 ounces) each day may enhance your heart health, lower your cholesterol levels and may be associated with longevity.  Now we have see that red wine, as well as foods like grapes, apples and dark chocolate,  may have added benefit in keeping your mouth, teeth and gums healthy too.  Red wine appears to inhibit tooth decay and reduce the risk of gum disease by helping to counteract  the effect of Streptoccus mutans (S. mutans), a bacterial infection linked to tooth loss. 

Antioxidant chemicals called proanthocyanidins are found in red wine and other foods such as dark chocolate. These phytonutrients prevent S. mutans from sticking to saliva and teeth.  Italian researchers removed the alcohol from a high-quality Italian red wine. They added the nonalcoholic red wine to cultures of S. mutans in saliva, saliva-coated extracted teeth and saliva-coated calcium ceramic beads.  They found that the addition of the non-alcoholic wine prevented the bacteria from clinging to the saliva and to the teeth.  These investigators plan to extend their study to the effects of grape juice on S. mutans in the future.

Research from Cornell University and Université Laval in Quebec, Canada studied polyphenols, the chemicals in grape seeds and red wine that help neutralize the damaging effect of free radicals in the body.  Free radicals can damage our cells’ DNA.  Polyphenols from red wine also help control inflammation caused by gingivitis, or bacterial infections of the gums. Limiting inflammation may also protect against periodontal disease, a more serious form of gum disease that can lead to tooth decay or tooth loss, and has been linked to heart disease and stroke.

Unfortunately, the news is not as convincing when it comes to white wines.  White wines have lower concentrations of phytonutrients and polyphenols, and some researchers fear that the high acid content of white wine might help erode tooth enamel.

So smile tonight, when you have a small glass of red wine with your dinner and a half ounce of dark chocolate for dessert, knowing that your teeth and gums will be a little healthier. (don’t forget to brush and floss afterwards). Here’s a toast to staying healthy!

We have long known that there is a link between diabetes and gum disease, but which comes first?  Can controlling periodontal disease help reduce the risk of diabetes? The answer: Possibly YES!

Normal healthyy gum tissue is pink, not red. Healthy gums do not bleed during usual dental care.  Gingivitis, or inflamed gums, is caused by bacteria in plaque. In this mild form, it is curable. But if left untreated, periodontal (gum) disease can develop where gaps form between the teeth and gums. These gaps trap bacteria, which multiply rapidly in the mouth, and further destroy the bone holding the teeth in place. In the most serious cases, the bone dissolves and the teeth cannot be saved.

 Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates that there are nearly 60 million Americans have pre-diabetes. Many of these people will develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years.  Periodontal diseases of the gums and bony tissues of the mouth may allow pre-diabetes to progress. The gaps or pockets between the teeth and gums become infected, releasing natural toxins called cytokines. Cytokines may play a role in damaging the pancreas and disturbing sugar metabolism.  

Scientists from Denmark and the Unites States have observed in animals and humans that periodontal diseases can disturb the glucose (sugar) regulation of a non-diabetic who has pre-diabetic characteristics, thus contributing to the progression of Type 2 diabetes.

According to Dr. Preston D. Miller, Jr., President of the American Academy of Periodontology, “These findings underscore the importance of taking good care of your teeth and gums: it may be a simple way to prevent diabetes, or to prevent the progression of diabetes.”

Let’s face it, we men are less likely to take care of our overall health. Many man ignore the health of the mouth, teeth and gums for years, visiting a dentist only when they have a problem. Would you like to live a long, healthy life? Good oral health is linked to longevity, but one common factor associated with infrequent dental checkups is just being male. Men are less likely than women to see their dentist for regular preventive care. The average man brushes his teeth less than twice a day. If he smokes, he may lose half of his teeth at age 72. Men are also more likely to develop oral and throat cancer and periodontal (gum) disease.

Why is periodontal disease a problem?

Periodontal disease is a result of plaque, which hardens into a rough, porous substance called tartar. The acids produced and released by bacteria found in tartar irritate gums. These acids cause the breakdown of fibers that anchor the gums tightly to the teeth, creating periodontal pockets that fill with even more bacteria. Research has proven a connection between the chronic infection of gum disease and cardiovascular disease, which places people at risk for heart attacks and strokes. See your dentist if you have any of these symptoms:

· Bleeding gums during brushing
· Red, swollen or tender gums
· Persistent bad breath
· Loose or separating teeth

Do you take medications?

Since men are more likely to suffer from hypertension and heart attacks, they also are more likely to be on medications that can cause dry mouth. Saliva helps to reduce the cavity-causing bacteria found in your mouth. Medication for the heart or blood pressure, and others such as anti-depressants, restrict your salivary flow, increasing your risk for cavities.

Do you use tobacco?

If you smoke or chew, you have a greater risk for gum disease and oral cancer. Men are affected twice as often as women, and 95 percent of oral cancers occur in those over 40 years of age. The most frequent oral cancer sites are the tongue, the floor of the mouth, soft palate ssues in back of the tongue, lips and gums. If not diagnosed and treated in its early stages, oral cancer tican spread, leading to chronic pain, loss of function, irreparable facial and oral disfigurement following surgery and even death. More than 8,000 people die each year from oral and pharyngeal diseases, often because the disease is detected late. If you use tobacco, it is important to see a dentist frequently for cleanings and to ensure your mouth remains healthy. Your general dentist can perform a thorough screening for oral cancer.

Do you play sports?

If you participate in sports, there is a possibility of injury to your mouth and teeth. If you play contact sports, such as football, soccer, basketball and even baseball, it is important to use a mouthguard, which is a flexible appliance made of plastic that protects teeth from trauma. If you ride bicycles or motorcycles, wear a helmet to protect your face.

Taking care of your teeth

How much time do you spend taking care of your car? Yet your car will probably not last ten years. If you spend 8-10 minutes every day caring for your teeth, and visit your dentist for regular preventive care, your teeth can last 80 years or more. To improve your oral health, it is important to floss daily, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily and visit your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings. Here are some tips to better dental health:

· Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach every surface of each tooth. If the bristles on your toothbrush are bent or frayed, buy a new one.
· Replace your toothbrush every three months or after you’ve been sick.
· Choose a toothpaste with fluoride. This can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent.
· Brush properly. To clean the outside surfaces of your teeth, position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion using short, gentle strokes. To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle strokes over each tooth and its surrounding gum tissue. Spend at least three minutes brushing.
· Floss properly. Gently insert floss between teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or snap it into place. Curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and then the other.

Adapted from the Academy of General Dentistry                                                          “Dental care and oral health information you need”