Protect Your Teeth, and Your Health!

Gum disease has reached epidemic proportions in America
 – affecting nearly 75% of our population.¹ What’s more,
science has linked it to increased risk of a number
of very serious problems, including cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, respiratory conditions, osteoporosis, even
preterm, low birth weight babies.²

It’s a serious problem – and I wish I could offer you a
vaccine so you could protect yourself and your family
the way people have protected themselves against H1N1.

But unfortunately no vaccine exists.

So I’d like to do the next best thing – namely arm you
with the facts you need to protect yourself.

Stealth Attack

The first thing you need to know is that gum disease – what
we dentists call periodontal disease – strikes without warning.
In fact in its early and even moderate stages it usually has NO
SYMPTOMS at all. So while the infection grows and
starts causing irreversible permanent damage to the bones
of your jaw, you can feel just fine.

Even after periodontal disease has damaged the underlying
bones that hold your teeth in place, you may still
be symptom free. Or you may notice small changes – things
like some redness of your gums, a little swelling, maybe a
bit of blood on your toothbrush -- that are easy to disregard.

But disregarding those problems could mean bigger problems
down the road.

A False Sense of Security

The second thing you need to know is that there are a lot of
myths surrounding gum disease.

For example many people think having their gums bleed
when they brush their teeth is normal – or at least nothing
to worry about.

WRONG.

Bleeding is a clear sign that your gums are INFECTED and you
need to do something about it fast. I mean, how would
you feel if your feet bled every time you showered? You’d
be very concerned – and rightly so.

Folks also make the mistake of thinking that if they’re
cavity-free their teeth are in great shape—another dangerous
myth.

It’s periodontal disease that’s the number one cause of
tooth loss.  In fact, according to an American Dental
Association/Colgate survey quoted on the American
Academy of Periodontology web site, dentists in this
country say gum disease is a more pressing oral health
concern than tooth decay by a 2-1 margin.³

But how about people who ALWAYS do a really
thorough job flossing and brushing? Shouldn’t they be able
to assume they’re safe from periodontal disease?

Unfortunately, the answer is “no.”  Up to 30% of people are
genetically susceptible to gum disease – betrayed by their
genes and at risk in a way they never expected. In fact
these folks -- no matter how careful they are to always
practice good oral hygiene – are up to six times more likely
to develop periodontal disease.

Help From Experts

So what can you do to protect yourself? Get help from the experts --
namely my staff and me. We’re trained to recognize signs of gum
disease LONG before symptoms develop. And we know how to
treat periodontal problems fast – so the don’t develop into a situation
that threatens your teeth and your health.

Just give us a call at 248-433-6000 and, together, we’ll fight the epidemic and WIN.

Stay Healthy,Dr. Kaz

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1.     Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

2.     Fallacies About Gum Disease, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/fl.html

3.     Ibid.

An Epidemic Bigger than H1N1!

There’s an epidemic out there. It’s bigger than H1N1,
affecting nearly 75% of Americans¹. It can cause irreversible
permanent bone damage and tooth loss. And, even worse, new
research shows it can up your risk of some of today’s most dangerous
diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis,
respiratory disease and some forms of cancer.²

It’s gum disease – what we dentists call periodontitis or periodontal
disease – and it’s only now being recognized as the potentially life-
threatening danger that it is.

Far Worse than We Thought

Dentists have known for years that periodontal disease is a serious
infection and a leading cause of tooth loss. That’s why we remind
our patients to come in regularly for examinations and cleanings.

But even we were shocked to read some of the most recent research
on how closely tied gum disease is to other serious conditions.

Take cardiovascular disease. The American Academy of
Periodontology reports that “Researchers have found that people
with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from
coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.” ³

That’s a very scary thought – particularly when you
consider that cardiovascular disease contributes to 2,400
deaths in this country EVERY DAY!⁴

Scientists have discovered a link with diabetes, too. In fact the
New York Times reports a study by Columbia University’s
Mailman School of Public Health that found that
“individuals with elevated levels of periodontal disease
were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic within
20 years, even after adjusting for age, smoking, obesity and diet.”⁵

Little or No Warning

So why haven’t you seen more about how widespread
and dangerous periodontal disease it?

Why aren’t we holding “gum disease clinics” to protect
our families the way communities across the country
came together to fight H1N1?

Basically there are two big reasons.

First, much of the research on the links between gum disease
and other conditions is new – and it’s taking time to get
the word out about what scientists have discovered. (I’m
trying to do MY part with this email.)

Second, gum disease is as sneaky as it is dangerous. You see,
in the early and even moderate stages of the disease
there are NO SYMPTOMS. So even though bone is
being destroyed and inflammation is affecting your
whole body you have no way of knowing you’re in danger.
Nothing hurts, so why should you worry?

It’s not until later in the course of the disease – AFTER
it’s done irreversible damage to the jaw bones that
hold your teeth in place – that people begin to notice
tell-tale signs like red, swollen or bleeding gums.
And, even then, some people remain symptom free.

You CAN Fight Back

Just because you haven’t seen banner headlines yet about
the epidemic of gum disease – and the very real dangers
associated with it -- doesn’t mean you can’t fight back.

Brushing and flossing right are more important than ever
but your best defense is regular checkups. Because while
YOU may not see any changes in your gums, my hygienists
and I have the training to spot problems LONG before
you’d notice them. AND long before gum disease begins
damaging the bones of your jaw, loosening your teeth
and putting your overall health is danger.

Just give our office a call at 248-433-6000 and start protecting
yourself and your family today.

Yours in Health and Happiness,
Dr. Kaz

-------------------

1.               Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

2.               Fallacies About Gum Disease, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/fl.html

3.               Gum Disease Links to Heart Disease and Stroke, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm

4.               Healthy Gums and a Healthy Heart: The Perio-Cardio Connection, Perio.org, www.perio.org/consumer/peri_cardio.htm

5.               Gum Disease Signals Diabetes Risk, New York Times, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/gum-disease-signals-diabetes-risk/

Ice Cream Will Never Hurt You Again!

Do you say “no thanks” when someone offers you
a glass of iced tea or lemonade? And skip the sundae
when you take the kids for ice cream? All because
your teeth just hurt too much when they encounter
something cold? If so, you’re not alone.

Cold sensitivity like that is a complaint dentists hear
frequently. Even if the pain lasts just a moment it makes
it hard to enjoy the foods and drinks you love.

Stop putting up with the pain! Give us a call or come in
and speak with our team today. Just call my office at 248-433-6000.

A Simple Explanation
There may be a simple reason for the pain you feel
(in otherwise healthy teeth) when you eat or drink
something cold — or even go out into the cold air.
The crown of your tooth (the part you see) is covered
in nice hard enamel — but the root doesn’t enjoy that
kind of protection. In fact, it’s covered with a substance
called “cementum.” The cementum is considerably
softer than enamel, and can become quite permeable
as we age. A healthy tooth has nerves which run from
the outer cementum directly to the inner tooth pulp.
As long as your gums are at the proper level they cover
the cementum. But when gums recede — as a result of
improper brushing, or periodontal (gum) disease —
the cementum is left unprotected. So when you eat or
drink something cold — OUCH.

Instant Relief
Fortunately, today there’s a simple way to get instant
relief — a special protective bonding liquid that we
can apply to the root to protect your cementum and
reduce the tooth’s sensitivity. Although it doesn’t work
for everyone the vast majority of people are delighted
to find they can go back to enjoying all the frozen desserts
and ice-cold drinks they’ve been avoiding.

Guaranteed Results
If you’d like to try this treatment, simply tell our team
at your next visit, or give us a call.

We’ll apply it, then test to see if it’s worked for you.
If it has, you can say good-bye to the ouch and hello
to ice cream, icy cold drinks and other treats you’ve
been missing. If it hasn’t, there’s No Charge for the
treatment.

We look forward to taking the “Ouch” out of eating
and drinking all your favorite foods.

-Dr Kaz

Old Front Tooth Caps Don't Fool Anybody!

If you got a crown on one of your front teeth some time back, you may know the problem.

Your dentist did his or her best to match the color of the adjustment teeth (not an easy task, I promise you) and carefully slid the edge of the cap just under your gum t hide it’s metal rim- but even so, the tooth screams “FAKE” every time you smile.

To understand how that could be, it helps to take a look at exactly what front tooth caps are supposed to do.

A Virtually Impossible Situation

First, crowns need to be strong – tough enough for things like biting into a nice crisp juicy apple.  And, second, they need to look natural.

Unfortunately, with the materials available in the past, that was nearly impossible.

To get the strength they needed, dentists had to rely on crowns made of metal coated with tooth-colored porcelain. The hide the color of the metal, that porcelain had to be both thick and opaque.

Tug of War Between Form and Function

Because the porcelain fused to the metal had to be thick, old-fashioned crowns were potentially bulky.  And because it had to be opaque it was nearly impossible to truly match the teeth on either side.

You see, things that are opaque reflect light.  But your natural teeth are actually translucent – which means they let some light filter in and through. The effect is totally different – natural, and a lot more attractive.

Black Line Syndrome

To make things even worse, the dark metal shows through at the edge of old-fashioned crowns – and all the best dentists could do was try to hide that metal edge under your gum.

With luck that worked for a while- although in some folks the darkness showed right through the gum. As the years went by, however, your gums may have receded …sooner or later developing that tell-tale black line that makes it obvious the tooth is fake.

Problem Solved

Fortunately, today no one has to put up with a front tooth crown everyone knows isn’t real.  Thanks to new techniques and materials, we now have a number of esthetically excellent choices, including making crowns out of pure porcelain, or recent advanced versions of porcelain and metal crafted only of porcelain at the edge, or ultra-thin metal with light reflective characteristics not unlike the inner layers of your natural teeth!

Today’s front crowns look a lot less bulky – and a whole lot more natural looking. And that black line? Gone for good. In short, we’re not satisfied until your friends and family have no clue you’re sporting crowns right there in front of their eyes.

In fact, office like ours that have become expert in the new procedures like to say “no one has ever seen one of our crowns.”

If you’ve been living with an old-fashioned crown that makes you self conscious every time you smile – or if you have a front tooth that’s cracked, chipped or has a large cavity or old filling – these new crowns could be the beautiful answer you’ve been looking for.

If that sounds good, just give us a call at 248-433-6000.  We’ll give you all the details about how easy it is to go from fake looking to fabulous.

Yours in Health and Happiness,

Dr. Kaz

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

www.drkazdds.com ~ 248-433-6000~ drkaz@drkazdds.com

Dr Kaz is a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, here are just a few reasons why:

The AACD is the largest international dental organization dedicated to advanceing excellence in the art and science of cosmetic dentistry and encouraging the highest standards of ethical conduct and responsible patient care. Founded in 1984, the AACD has over 7,600 members in more that 60 countries around the globe.  Member of the Academy include cosmetic and reconstructive dentists, dental laboratory technicians, educators, researchers, students, hygienists, corporations and dental assistants.

AACD members pursue continuing education through lectures, workshops and publications in order to keep up to date with advancements in cosmetic dental techniques and technology.  The AACD is dedicated to excellence in cosmetic dentistry.

Visit the AACD website

New, simple NTI appliance for teeth clenching, eliminates headaches, sore teeth and stiff necks!

Do you suffer from a painful, aching jaw? Sore, sensitive teeth? Stiff neck? Tension headaches, or morning headaches? You may be unknowingly clenching your teeth while you sleep at night!

What does clenching my teeth have to do with these problems?
The high intensity contractions of your jaw muscles becomes painful and the forces generated cause pain to the surrounding tissues, joints, and other muscles. By reducing the intensity of the clenching, you're effectively minimizing the source of the pain- in many cases, in just a few days.

Has this treatment been tested?
The NTI device has been used successfully with thousands of patients. It has received marketing allowance from the FDA and complies with all requirements as an approved dental device.

What can Dr. Kaz do to help?
In one office visit Dr. Kaz can create a custom made NTI oral appliance for you!
The tiny, clear-plastic device fits over your front teeth at night and makes clenching virtually impossible. In a few days or weeks, your clenching reflex is suppressed. Morning headache pain, neck pain, sore jaws and other related pain associated with involuntary intense clenching usually begins to resolve and disappear.

Is there a difference between the NTI and the traditional dental nightguard device or TMJ splint?
Yes. Traditional flat-plane stints and other night guard devices provide a surface for you to "bite down on". New studies show, however, that these devices can actually increase the intensity of your clenching reflex. The NTI suppresses the clenching reflex by preventing the posterior teeth from contacting each other. There is no surface to bite down or bite into. The temporalis muscles are kept from contracting with their usual intensity.

Call us today to set up your appointment with Dr. Kaz, and eliminate morning headaches today!

www.drkazdds.com ~  248-433-6000 ~ drkaz@drkazdds.com

Top 10 Questions (and answers) about Botox® and Juvederm™

For more information about Botox® and Juvederm™, please call Dr Kaz Advanced Dentistry at 248-433-600.  The following was taken from www.keepthewisdom.com:

Women’s Top 10 Questions About Aesthetic Injectable Treatments*

1. Are aesthetic injectable products such as BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers safe?

BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that clini­cal data on their safety and effectiveness were reviewed by the FDA prior to approval. BOTOX® is approved to treat 20 different conditions in more than 75 countries worldwide and has been approved in the U.S. for more than 17 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. The same formulation was approved in 2002 as BOTOX® Cosmetic for the temporary treatment of the vertical lines between the eyebrows, often referred to as the “11.”

2. How much do aesthetic injectable treatments cost?

Cost varies across the country based on a number of factors, including the amount of product needed to achieve optimal results and the areas of the face that are treated.

As an example, BOTOX® Cosmetic typically ranges from $300 to $500 to treat the vertical lines between the eyebrows that often look like an “11.” Since positive effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment can last up to four months, the cost is about $3-$5 per day.

3. Will the results look natural?

Treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers can enhance the way you look. Physicians often will use multiple products, depending on the patients’ needs. BOTOX® Cosmetic is often used to relax the dominant frown muscles between the eyebrows, allowing the two vertical lines between the brows, often referred to as the “11,” to temporarily diminish in appearance. JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers work differently, by instantly filling in and smoothing out wrinkles and folds that look like the parentheses along the side of your nose and mouth, creating a smooth, natural look and feel.In fact, the NWHRC survey* found that for those women who used or would consider using aesthetic injectable treatments, more than half (52%) reported that the treatments were appealing to them to obtain a “natural and refreshed” look.

4. How long do aesthetic injectable treatments last?

Treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers are temporary. BOTOX® Cosmetic effects can last up to four months, while JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers deliver sustained results for up to twelve months.

5. Will my insurance cover the cost of aesthetic injectable treatments?

Insurance providers do not typically cover cosmetic procedures. However, it is important to note that treatment with BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A) for therapeutic purposes may be covered by some insurance carriers.

6. Are injectable treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ painful?

Injections may cause some discomfort during and after injection. Talk with your physician about pain-reducing options, such as a numbing cream, which can be applied prior to your injection.

7. Is there scarring?

No reports of scarring were documented in clinical studies evaluating treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers. Additionally, studies with JUVÉDERM™ demon­strated no increased risk of hyperpigmentation in patients of color.

8. How long do aesthetic injectable procedures take?

Many procedures can be performed quickly and require minimal down-time. Following a facial analysis by your physician, as well as a discussion of your desired outcomes, procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers require only a brief in-office visit and take an average of 15 minutes to perform.

9. Do aesthetic injectable procedures cause bruising or other side effects?

Following treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic, some patients have reported minimal bruising around the injection site area, while the most common side effects following injection are temporary eyelid droop and nausea.

In clinical trials for JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers, most side effects were mild to moderate in nature, and lasted 7 days or less. The most common side effects include, but are not limited to, temporary injection site reactions such as redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching, and discoloration.

For information on other possible treatment-related side effects, speak with your doctor or visit www.KeepTheWisdom.com for full prescribing information.

10. Will my face still have expression?

When administered by an experienced physician, you can still smile, frown, and look surprised without those lines—also known as the “11”—between your brows. Aesthetic inject­able treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers are technique-sensitive procedures, so make sure to visit a well-trained aesthetic-specialty physician for your treatment and discuss the optimal results you would like to achieve. 

* Based on results of a Harris Interactive® study from April 10-12, 2007 of a nationwide sample of 1,291 U.S. adult females aged 25 years and older. Please refer to important information on BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers on the reverse side.