Smile Designs by Flawless Dental
FALL 2009
From the Dentists
When it comes to oral health, your teeth can tell us a lot about what’s right and what wants more attention. But patient needs often have to do with matters that we can’t detect on radiographs or during examinations.
What do you think about our staff, office environment, treatment, pricing, educational information, referrals, and scheduling? What would you like us to change?
We’re constantly trying to upgrade care and improve our services. Please let us know how we are doing. Next time you come in for a checkup and we ask you to open wide… tell us what you think. When it comes to your mouth, we’re all ears!
Yours in good dental health,
Dr. Parisa Safaei and Dr. Ruhi S. Khanna
A Change of Seasons
FALL INTO STEP WITH PREVENTATIVE CARE
You can try to ignore it, live for the weekend, and stay in those shorts ‘til the last minute, but you can’t help noticing that fall has definitely arrived. Green leaves have turned to red, evenings have gone from light to dark and for many kids, soccer practice has turned into hockey tryouts and back-to-school. While you struggle with the busier workload and trundle the kinds off to classes, don’t forget that the change of season means teeth need extra attention too.
If your kids are like most, a summer full of sun and games, gooey sweets and irregular eating can leave young teeth vulnerable and in need of attention. It’s a good idea to schedule a thorough dental checkup to get those smiles in tiptop shape. Ask us about protective mouthguards and other safety gear that can keep teeth out of harm’s way on the hockey rink or playing field.
If you are thinking about getting some dental care sometime this year, now’s the time. Many treatments can take weeks to complete once treatment options are sorted out and insurance considerations are resolved. That’s why it’s especially important to come in for a visit to get things on the go as soon as possible, before your 2009 dental insurance expires. So give us a call!
You Can Do It
DISCOVER YOUR INNER BALANCE
It’s all about the balance. Really. A lifestyle that balances work with stress-relieving play and that pays attention to nutrition and diet is a healthy one. That’s the macro level. At the micro level, small imbalances in the pH of your blood, for example, can create changes in your pH of your saliva, altering your mouth’s environment. In other words, your oral health can impact and be impacted by your overall health and here’s how…
Plaque, the thin film on your teeth is a biofilm and a bacterial ecosystem within the larger bionetwork of your mouth and body. When the scale tips so that good bacteria are overtaken by those that are harmful, red swollen gums that bleed easily, gum and bone recession, and tooth loss can occur.
Tartar, is the conspicuous, cement-like substance that plaque hardens into when you allow it to build up. Tartar can break the natural protective seal that gums provide, allowing oral bacteria into your bloodstream. Experts believe that toxic bacteria from your gum infection can trigger your immune system into a constant state of alert.
Gum disease has been linked to systemic and inflammatory diseases including heart and stroke, osteoarthritis, diabetes, cancers, and lung diseases.
These complex interactions mean that a one size fits all approach to life, health, and your oral heath care is no longer sufficient.
Just In Time
YOU GET TO DECIDE!
Are you an adherent of the Before Flossophy or the After Flossophy? People can be surprisingly passionate about when to floss… before or after they brush. Even dentists can’t always agree. In a poll conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology, 40% recommend before, 36% after, and 25% don’t think it matters. Truthfully, as long as you remember your home care routines and maintain your recare schedule, we will be happy!
So, in no particular order…
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Floss once – to clean between your teeth and below the gumline.
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Brush gently at least twice a day – to remove food and bacteria from your teeth, gums, and tongue
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Rinse often throughout the day – plain water can keep bacteria at bay when there’s no time to brush.
Weighing In
FIGHT DIABETES!
Did you know that diabetics are more likely to have gum disease than others and that those with gum disease find it more difficult to control blood sugar levels? Or that 90% of people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight? Weight loss and exercise could go a long way to preventing or managing diabetes – and your oral health!
A regular routine of physical activity is ideal, but still, you can find inventive ways to burn calories! Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Try hiding the remote. Research shows that thin people get up and move around more, tend to fidget more, and sit less. Do some eco-exercise – instead of driving, ride your bicycle when you can.
It’s important for everyone to maintain healthy routines for oral and overall health.
Prime Attraction
GET WHAT YOU NEED
Is 50 really the new 40? It seems so. Men and women today feel and act ten years younger than their biological age. Midlife is a strong, powerful time of life in every way and you can see the influence you command in the number of products tailored just for you. A prime example is the number of aesthetic innovations created to enhance your smile, like beautiful natural-looking crown and implant restorations.
You’ll like them because…
You’re an experienced and savvy consumer
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Long-lasting natural-looking materials resist chipping, staining, and cracks.
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Improvements in options and technology have made procedures more time-efficient and patient-friendly.
You’re health conscious
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Your damaged or discolored tooth can be covered, protected, and strengthened with a single crown.
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Bone loss can be prevented by anchoring a permanent new tooth into the jawbone by combining a single crown with a dental implant.
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Missing teeth can be replaced with several replacement teeth attached to a secure crown or implant bridge restoration to prevent your other teeth from drifting and altering your ability to eat, speak and socialize.
You love to look great
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Crowns made of natural-looking translucent porcelain are beautiful and designed to blend in so well with neighboring teeth that no one can tell that you have then.
Don’t let your smile give away your age. Let us give you a midlife smile with style! Call us to schedule a consultation.
7 Tips For A Tiptop Smile
WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Improving the color, shape, or position of your teeth can improve the way you feel about yourself. Here at a glance are seven tips for a tiptop smile that looks completely natural.
Teeth Whitening: Instantly brighten your smile
White Fillings of Composite or Porcelain: Make tell-tale dark fillings a thing of the past
Tooth-Colored Bonding: Cover deep-rooted stains, repair small cracks or chips, fill in gaps, and recontour teeth
Cosmetic Veneers: Conceal spaces, crooked, chipped, or discolored teeth
Crown Restorations: Restore severely damaged or broken teeth
Dental Implants: Restore appearance and function
Crown/Implant & Bridge Restorations: Replace missing teeth and prevent further damage to your smile
10 Implant Imperatives
Bone loss in your jaw will always follow the loss of a tooth. Dental implants can help you to avoid facial changes, speech changes, and diet changes that take place over time as teeth shift, jawbone recedes, and in extreme cases, cheeks take on a collapsed look. Dental implants can replace those lost teeth and help you to look great.
Here are some reasons why dental implants are now the treatment of choice for many people who need to replace missing teeth.
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Implants… require only normal brushing and flossing for maintenance;
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…are anchored permanently in your jawbone;
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…preserve and strengthen the underlying bone just like the roots of your natural teeth;
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…do not alter or compromise adjacent healthy teeth;
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…require no plates that can affect comfort and fit;
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…can replace the form and function of only one tooth or two, or can replace teeth in an entire jaw;
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…can anchor dentures to prevent shifting, or replace partial dentures and bridgework;
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…are without any age barrier;
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…are safe and reliable (hundreds of thousands are placed every year – all over the world);
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…look completely natural so that no one will know you have them… unless you tell!
Call for a complementary consultation. Safe, reliable and natural-looking dental implants may be your solution.
