Spit Won't Quit

Spit Won't Quit

No one likes to get their blood taken -- it's just not fun!!  But it's the only way that we can be tested for diabetes, anemia, cholesterol levels, and many other important health issues.  Well, that may soon be changing!

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University are saying there may now be a much easier way to detect illness -- Spit!

Yes -- good old saliva contains DNA, enzymes, hormones, proteins and lots of other good stuff that are making it a great candidate for medical testing.  And best of all, it's simple and painless to collect.

Recently, trials have been done with saliva to test for heart disease risk, HIV, hormone-related diseases, children's performance in school, and even a woman's ability to have good relationships with men based on their feelings for their fathers!  (As strange as it may seem, that last one is based on levels of stress hormones found in saliva when women discuss relationship topics!!)

It's tough to even compare the ease of spitting in a cup versus having a needle poked into your vein.  As Dr. Steven Hirschfeld of The National Institutes of Health said, "We like tests that are fast, inexpensive, and can be repeated multiple times."

Saliva already has lots of jobs.  It softens food as you chew, it helps your tongue to taste things, it's the first step in digestions, and it cleans the inside of your mouth and rinses your teeth.  Most people produce one to two liters of saliva every day!!

If you feel like your mouth is always dry, be sure to let us know.  It could be caused by medications, aging, or possibly a serious medical condition.  And get prepared for the day when instead of someone saying, "please roll up your sleeve for a blood test," they simply ask you to spit in a cup!

If you have any questions about dry mouth or any other dental issues, please remember that here at DeLand Smiles, we are here for you!

Snoring - It Can Kill You!

Sure - snoring is annoying.  But can it actually be deadly?

No - this does not mean being strangled in the middle of the night by a severely annoyed spouse or partner!  But the fact is, snoring is often related to sleep apnea, a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen during a night of heavy zzzzz's.

One obvious problem this causes is being tired during the day, contributing to automobile and workplace accidents.  But even worse, sleep apnea, which is experienced by 30 million Americans, has been scientifically linked to obesity, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks & diabetes.  So if that low rumbling sound that keeps the entire neighborhood awake isn't enough, now there is much more reason for concern.

But wait - it actually gets worse.  A study performed at The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine has just shown a significant link between sleep apnea and cancer, showing this condition increases the risk of cancer death by almost a factor of five!

"This is really big news," said Dr. Joseph Golish, a professor of sleep medicine with the MetroHealth System in Cleveland.  "It's the first time this has been shown, and it looks like a very solid association," he said.
There is no doubt that snoring can be much more serious than just a nighttime disturbance.  So what can you do if you or a loved one may suffer from sleep apnea?

Fortunately, there are many ways to have this condition treated, all the way from simple dental appliances, to surgery, to wearing nighttime contraptions that make you look (and sound) like Darth Vader!  Your dentist and physician can recommend the appropriate treatment for you.

At DeLand Smiles, we would be glad to take a look and discuss your snoring issues or any other dental questions you may have.  Let's make tonight a quiet one!!

WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?

As World Hypertension Day quickly approaches, we are forced to recognize the ill-effects of High Blood Pressure (HBP) & the importance of screening tools we have at our disposal.  HBP effects every aspect of the body…from your head to your toes…and can be fatal if left uncontrolled. 

In the dental industry, we are fortunate to see our patients at least twice per year – more than most see their primary care physician.  This allows us to regularly screen for any Blood Pressure (BP) issues and help prevent any other health issues from occurring.  Amazingly, many health problems first show symptoms in the mouth, but HBP is not one of them.  For this reason, a BP screening is provided. 

Some people think a Blood Pressure Screening is silly & doesn’t have a place in the dental office.  But here’s a true story that will hopefully change your mind—and yes, it happened recently in your town. 

A man (we’ll call him Joe) arrived at a dental office for treatment.  It was standard office protocol that BP was taken prior to any dental procedure & Joe thought it was silly to have his BP taken.  Joe’s BP was high & in an unsafe range, so the dentist advised Joe be seen by his Primary Care Physician (PCP) for a BP evaluation.  Joe was disgruntled & walked out of the dental office without treatment and decided to just go to another dental office where he could have treatment done without having to worry about someone taking his “silly” BP.  It was later found out that Joe appointed with another dental office that did not screen for BP prior to dental procedures and, unfortunately, had a heart attack in the dental chair.  Yes, a Heart Attack!

Could this event have been prevented?  Yes.  In order to understand why, we first need to understand what blood pressure and the numbers associated with it actually mean.

A Blood Pressure Screening measures the amount of pressure and stress put on the artery walls of the heart.  The higher the pressure, the more stress and work the heart has to endure, leading to a shortened life span.  (According to the American Heart Association (AHA), even a moderate increase in pressure leads to a shortened life span.)  The amount of pressure on the heart is associated with numbers—systolic and diastolic.  Simply put, the top number (systolic) tells us how hard your heart is working when it is contracting vs the bottom number (diastolic) which tells us how hard your heart is working when it is resting. 

A healthy blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 or less.  A person is considered pre-hypertensive (at risk for HBP) when the top number (systolic) is above 121-139 or the lower number (diastolic) is 80-89, and anything over 140-179 (systolic) or 100-109 (diastolic) is considered hypertensive, meaning the person has HBP and the heart is having to work harder than it should.  [If you are diabetic and your top number (systolic) is 130, then you are considered having HBP.] Any numbers greater than 180 (systolic) or 110 (diastolic) qualifies as a hypertensive crisis, according to the AHA, meaning you have severe HBP resulting in organ damage. 

So how does all of this affect your dental appointment?  Any dental service provided, whether it be a cleaning or a crown, effects your blood pressure.  If you walk into a dental office for treatment and your BP is already in the “high” range before we do anything, it will only increase once treatment begins.  Anesthesia, anticipation, pain, stress, etc all increase BP further.  And remember, according to the AHA, even a moderate increase in pressure leads to a shortened life span.

The heart is like any other muscle in the body that can become overworked & fatigued.  The difference is that the heart is your lifeline and an overworked or fatigued heart results in life-altering or fatal complications.     

So the next time your dental provider wants to screen for HBP, don’t think it’s silly & walk out of the office disgruntled like Joe—be thankful that someone is looking after your safety and health.  The ability to catch things at an early stage can prevent a lifetime of complications, or something even more fatal.

IT'S EASY BEING GREEN

Cloverleafs, Pots of Gold, Leprechauns…pretty soon everyone will be wearing something green for fear of the pinch.  Yes, I’m talking about St. Patrick’s Day…the day when everything turns green – rivers, beer, icing, etc.  So much green is packed into one of the biggest party days of the year that it made me think…what if that same thrill & excitement about being green could last all year?

OK, most of you are thinking how quickly you would tire of the color green & how the actual thrill & excitement doesn’t come from wearing the color green, but from the actual fun you have when participating in an environment that brings us all together for a common cause.  So I looked deep inside & found a way to be green all year…Environmentally Green! 

There are many ways a person can be Environmentally Green, but as a leader in my profession, I wanted to go a bit further & ensure my dental practice was also Environmentally Green – that was the tough part.  Below are just some of the ways we can help to put your mind at ease when considering how our dental office effects your environment.

1)      Digital radiography – 90% less radiation for patients & decreases harmful chemical waste

2)      CAD/CAM Cerec technology – reduces transportation emissions from laboratory transportation

3)      Steam autoclave – to reduce chemical aerosols during sterilization

4)      Cassettes for instrument processing – reduces use of many sterilization bags

5)      Garments are laundered on site – to reduce fuel consumption

6)      Appointment reminders are sent through email & text – to reduce excess paper

7)      Unused bulk elemental mercury is recycled

8)      We use only latex-free materials – to reduce patient sensitivities

9)      Appliances are Energy Star rated

10)  We reuse our dishes

11)  We carpool

12)  Oil-free compressor – to improve air quality for our patients

13)  High-efficiency HVAC System – to produce less pollution

14)  Programmable thermostats

15)  Energy efficient water heater that is insulated – to save energy

16)  Exit signs use LED lighting

17)  Computers standby or hibernate after inactivity &monitors enter sleep mode after inactivity

18)  Toner cartridges are recycled

19)  We purchase recycled ink-jet cartridges

20)  Electronic communication – to reduce paper consumption

Are there more things that we do that are not listed?  Yes. 

Are there additional things that we could be doing to be more Environmentally Green?  Yes. 

Being environmentally conscious in a healthcare environment can sometimes make you feel like Kermit, but for the most part, it is pretty easy – especially when you choose to commit to your patients, your community and your future, as we at DeLand Smiles have done.

Not bad for a St. Paddy’s Day inspiration!

NEED FOR SPEED

There are many cars on the road today—many popular makes & models that top out at speeds of 150mph or so…and then there is a class of cars that is so unique and rare that they set themselves apart  from any other cars in the industry.  This elite set of cars has over 600 horsepower & can go zero to sixty in almost 3sec or less.  This elite set includes cars such as the Aston Martin One-77 with its 7 liter – V12 engine and 750hp (only 77 made & are already sold) and the Bugatti Veyron Supersport housing a quad turbo W16 engine and 1183hp!  And yes, that number is correct!

Most people lead busy lives, have jam-packed schedules and would love to purchase a car from the elite group-- if only to speed throughout life & accomplish more in a day.  For most, the purchase is unattainable, but the experience is not…let me explain.

I recently scheduled my annual eye check-up.  Nothing too involved, just a regular check-up.  I promptly arrived 5 minutes before my scheduled appointment and saw one name ahead of me, but a room full of people.  “This can’t be good,” I thought to myself.  I had rushed from work to make the appointment in the first place, and now I was waiting...and waiting…and waiting.  They continued to call names from others in the waiting room, & I continued to wait…50 minutes!  I had another appointment, so could not continue to wait & rescheduled my appointment.  (This was the first time I had to wait so long for my eye doctor, so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt & rescheduled.)  “This can’t be happening again”, I thought to myself-- The situation reminded me of my previous medical provider who consistently kept me waiting 45mins to 1.5hrs—for routine check-ups as well!  (Needless to say, I have since changed my medical provider to one who does not keep me waiting.)

As a dental provider, we have patients and we have a reception area.  We also know the level of commitment it takes to keep our patients in a ‘reception area’ vs a ‘waiting room’.  As a dental provider, we must live by a schedule daily and because of our negative experiences with other offices, we committed 2 years ago to never keep our patients waiting.  We know & understand how valuable our patients’ time is and respect their time so much that we committed to paying our patients if they have to wait.  Yes, you read correctly…we pay our patients if they wait. 

So do we have 1183 horsepower like the Bugatti Veyron Supersport?  No.  Do we have the speed of an Aston Martin One-77?  No.  But we DO have an entire team that has committed to doing everything in our power to stay on time & respect yours.  You won’t be able to purchase a Bugatti at our office, but we will certainly provide you with a Bugatti experience…just schedule an appointment and take us for a test drive:)

A Heart to Heart

 

This time of year, many people are giving their hearts to someone else—no, there’s not an organ donor convention in town, but the symbolism of unconditional love is in the air.  Emotions are heightened with each chocolate savored, each flower received & each jewelry box opened.  We prepare our hearts for one day out of the year, but is our heart ready for the other 364 days?

Relationships aside, the heart is a pretty amazing organ.  It sustains our life, all while keeping constant rhythm.  To many, this is taken for granted and goes unnoticed, but to those with heart disease or a heart defect, they are fully aware of its lifeline of importance.

This week honors many holidays that revolve around the heart… Valentine’s Day, Women’s Heart Day, World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day & Have a Heart Day—this one is of particular importance because it focuses on being more aware of your food choices. 

We know that heart disease claims more lives than most--On average, one American dies of heart disease every 35 seconds!  So, let’s consider 5 heart-healthy tips you can implement immediately to decrease your risk of heart disease & ensure your heart is ready for another year.

Tip #1:  Floss Daily – The bacterial that causes plaque in your heart arteries is the same bacteria that causes plaque around your teeth.  Flossing breaks up the bacterial colonies so they don’t multiply as fast & helps to decrease the inflammation in both your gums & your heart. 

Tip #2:  See Your Dentist – Regular dental visits (at least twice a year) provide you with an ability to catch things early.  The visits not only include cleanings that use special instruments to decrease bacteria, but exams for oral cancer, and screenings for both tooth & gum health-- to help prevent tooth loss.  (Studies have shown that people who keep their teeth live an average of 7-10yrs longer).

Tip #3:  Create Good Eating Habits – “You are what you eat” truly applies.  If you eat foods that are mostly healthy, then you will be mostly healthy…and this rule applies to anything you consume.  (And No, if you eat a lot of sugar, it doesn’t make you sweeter!)  Talk to your doctor about revising your eating habits and create a plan that best suites you.

Tip #4:  Exercise – Organs are muscles, and the heart is no exception.  Like muscles, the only way it becomes stronger is via exercise.  Remember - everything in moderation and nothing without consulting your doctor first.  If a sports activity is of interest, consult your dental provider to see what type of mouthguard would be best.  Mouthguards not only protect teeth from injury, but can now be made to improve your strength & performance as well.

Tip #5:  Rest – For our organs to grow & function properly, we must obtain an adequate amount of rest.  For most, this amount is quantified as ~8hrs each day (ideally at night).  Rest should not only come in a physical form, but emotional & spiritual as well.  To renew ourselves as a whole, it is recommended we sleep for our physical well-being, relax for our emotional well-being & renew our spirit with a meditational, motivational, or devotional activity. 

So don’t wait …implement the 5 heart-healthy tips above and let the next 364 days be a journey of love…for yourself.. 

Not a Tool of the Trade

This week provides us with a couple of interesting days…Beer Can Appreciation Day & Peanut Brittle Day.  Over the years, we have dealt with many teeth issues involving both beer cans & peanut brittle—both of which cause similar teeth problems, but since today is actually Beer Can Appreciation Day, we thought we would take the opportunity to discuss some of these teeth issues.

Beer Can Appreciation day began in 1935 to celebrate the day the 1^st beer was sold in a can.  Beer can collectors from all over the world use this day to show off their assortment of beer cans.  Beer can collectors must also be beer enthusiasts because these cans are not unopened.  In order to preserve the integrity of the can, the beer collector carefully opens the can from the bottom, empties the contents (…into his/her mouth presumably), then keeps the can.  For those of you that are not beer can collectors, and are a little less cautious when opening your beer, we offer a bit of caution …don’t use your teeth!

For some reason, people think of their teeth as tools!  Some of our patients have used their teeth as bottle openers, scissors, flashlight holders, ice picks…and the list goes on.  All it takes is one faulty move to break or damage a tooth, both of which bring about a great deal of pain and expense.  A good rule of thumb is this—if it’s not food or drink, it doesn’t belong in your mouth (with the exception of floss & a toothbrush, of course).

So if you are a beer enthusiast, go find a great can of beer.  If you are a beer can collector, show off your collection.  Just remember, your teeth are only tools when chewing—food that is.