Tag Archives: patient care

Summer Is the Sweetest Time of Year | New York, NY

Now that we are officially in the midst of summer, it is time for all of our fun summertime events to begin. Unfortunately for our teeth, it is also the season so full of fun and sugar that we tend to overindulge in all of the sugary sweetness the season has to offer.

Believe it or not, but the average American consumes 50 gallons of soda and other sweetened beverages each year, according to the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, and more than 19 percent of children ages 2 to 19 have untreated cavities. This is a problem, folks. Because not only does bacteria feed on the sugars in what you eat and drink, but it creates acid that can break down the tooth’s outer surface and valuable minerals that protect teeth from decay.

“Sipping sugary drinks gives bacteria in the mouth more power to create acid that weakens tooth enamel and causes cavities,” said CDA President-elect Lindsay Robinson, DDS. “In addition, sports drinks pose many of the same risks as other sugar-loaded beverages, such as irreversible dental erosion, and should not be substituted for water.”

CDA urges people to swap out sugar-laden drinks for a glass of milk or water this summer. It contains zero sugar, acids and calories, making it fantastic for your teeth and your overall health. After all, summer’s hot – we need to stay hydrated to keep our bodies working properly.

Most importantly, protect teeth throughout during these hot summer months by brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing regularly and visiting a dentist for a complete dental checkup on a regular basis.

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Signs and Symptoms of Future Health Issues | New York, NY

Because our goal is to be the best dental practitioners we can be, it is important to stay on top of the signs and symptoms our patients display when they come in for their regular check-ups. Knowing what to look for will not only save a patient from future dental issues but can also come into play with their overall health. Our mouth the first line of defense against lots of bacteria entering our bodies that can lead to other health issues, so keep these signs and symptoms in mind while examining your patients. Understanding these subtle clues will not only make you a great dental practitioner, but will also build a long-lasting trust with your patients:

  • Heart disease. Bright red or purple gums.
  • Type 2 diabetes. Bleeding gums sensitive to touch without noticeable plaque.
  • Kidney disease. Breath has sweet ammonia-like smell.
  • Acid reflux. Worn down teeth where acid settles while in the sleeping position.
  • Oral cancer. Gums and oral tissues with white spots lasting at least two weeks.
  • Leukemia. Bright red and swollen gums; differentiated from diabetes via blood test.
  • Osteoporosis. Black spots that denote air pockets and dead bone.
  • Stress. Cracked teeth or gums that have contracted away from teeth.
  • Sleep apnea. Swollen gums and tongue in areas which air passes through.
  • Pregnancy. Swollen gums could imply hormonal changes.
  • Bulimia. Paper-thin front teeth and worn enamel; affects different teeth than acid reflux.

As you can see, the mouth can display ailments are not even related to the mouth or mouth areas. Early detection of multiple diseases and health problems can often be life-saving.

If you are interested in patient-driven treatment options, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Using Visual Technology for Case Presentations | Northridge Dentist

One of the most critical skills a dental professional must learn is to be compassionate to their patient’s dental fears or hesitations when it comes to dealing with necessary dental procedures. They are unaware of what is going on inside their mouth – all they know is that there is pain in there somewhere and they would like you to fix it. It is your job to put their minds at ease in the most basic way possible. One of these ways is to SHOW them what is going to happen through the use of visuals. If they can see what is going to happen and you address all of their questions and concerns, the procedure will go much smoother than if you explain things with technical jargon.

Dr. Albert Neff, Senior Clinical Instructor for Aesthetic Advantage in New York, NY has published the following article on the use of digital photography for case presentations.

“Case presentations that use visual technology can become the integral component of success for the modern-day practice. Our patients must be able to clearly see their existing conditions, understand treatment recommendations, and visualize the anticipated results before they can accept and approve treatment. Historically, dentists have used complicated dental terminology, x-rays, and study models to communicate a proposed treatment plan. Patients were expected to accept recommendations without being able to visualize the anticipated results. Patients often left the dental office confused about treatment recommendations and uncertain about the final outcome.”

Continue reading the article by clicking here.

If you are interested in visual technology used for case presentations, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Your Periodontitis May Complicate Your Pregnancy

It’s a beautiful time of your life when you are building a tiny human in your belly. All of a sudden, your body is changing in all of these different ways and it seems like every day is different. But did you know that your teeth are also changing during this time? It’s true. Because of all the hormonal changes, your teeth and gums will begin to become sensitive. So, before you become pregnant, it is a good idea for your mouth to be the healthiest it can be. Pay a visit to your dentist for a quick check-up.

During your first trimester, it is common to have bouts of morning sickness. Curb these instances by using a bland toothpaste and a small toothbrush. The more things you do to not make yourself sick, the better. If you happen to notice inflamed puffy gums, you may have “pregnancy gingivitis” and a trip to the dentist is in order.

Cravings are a given, but once you’ve moved on to the second trimester, it is a good idea to avoid sugary snacks as much as possible. Keeping a diet full of Vitamin C, Calcium and Vitamin B12 will help strengthen your teeth throughout your pregnancy. During this time, you may develop small temporary tumors on your mouth or lips, otherwise known as “pregnancy granuloma”.

Once you’re in the home stretch, it is wise to avoid making any dental appointments. Keeping up your daily dental routine through your third trimester will maintain your oral health until you give birth.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about health issues affected by oral health.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Why a Healthy Mouth Leads to a Healthy Body

A mouth can tell a lot about a person’s overall health, not just dental health. A lot of non-oral health issues have manifestations in the mouth or mouth area. The following are a few examples of why you not only need to practice good oral hygiene, but you should also visit your dentist regularly in order to maintain your overall good health. If you find you have some of these symptoms, it’s time to visit your dentist:

Heart disease. Bright red or purple gums

Type 2 diabetes. Bleeding gums sensitive to touch although there is no noticeable plaque

Kidney disease. Breath has sweet ammonia-like smell; very noticeable and pronounced

Acid reflux. Worn down teeth; teeth affected dependent on where acid settles while person is in sleeping position

Oral cancer. Gums and oral tissues with white spots; MUST last for at least two weeks or more

Leukemia. Bright red and swollen gums; differentiated from diabetes via blood test

Osteoporosis. Black spots that denote air pockets and dead bone; show up on X-rays

Stress. Cracked teeth or gums that have contracted away from teeth (can develop into infection)

Sleep apnea. Swollen gums and tongue in areas which air passes through

Pregnancy. Swollen gums could imply hormonal changes

Bulimia. Paper-thin front teeth; most enamel worn down; different from acid reflux since it affects different teeth

As you can see, the mouth can display ailments are not even related to the mouth or mouth areas. Early detection of multiple diseases and health problems can often be life-saving.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about health issues affected by oral health.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Periodontitis Can Affect Your Pregnancy

ThinkstockPhotos-464323669Here at Aesthetic Advantage we like to keep readers and fellow dental professionals abreast of the latest dental health findings. A new study shows that untreated periodontitis can complicate pregnancy in woman.

A study of 366 pregnant women, revealed an oral bacteria in the amniotic fluid of women whose pregnancies were complicated by preterm birth. A prior study showed that nonsurgical periodontal therapy could lower the rate of preterm birth.

Periodontitis was also found more prevalent in woman who had preterm low birth weight infants than in woman whose infants had a normal birth weight. Hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, cause an increase in the number of oral bacteria, which enter the blood and negatively impact on certain female health issues.

In addition to regular brushing and flossing, woman should visit the dentist at least twice a year, and more often if women are pregnant, suffer from bone loss or gum problems.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register for our courses today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about periodontitis during pregnancy

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Source: The Dental Tribune.com – The study was published in the first 2012 issue of the Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry.

The Rehabilitation of a Smile

A 52-year-old male with a laundry list of dental issues visited one of our senior clinicians here at Aesthetic Advantage, Dr. Larry Rosenthal, in hopes of restoring his smile and bite. After a series of tests, ranging from full-mouth visible x-rays to aesthetic/functional wax-up, it was found that he had the following issues:

  • Severe tooth wear
  • Loss of vertical dimension
  • Lack of incisal guidance
  • Premature contacts in lateral excursion
  • UR bridge with pontic
  • Discrepancy in gingival heights
  • Canines in lateral position congenitally missing laterals

Follow Dr. Rosenthal as he transforms his patient’s smile from ceramic crown fabrication to post-op cementation visit. With “a new lease on life”, the patient feels “20 years younger and just loves his smile”. And what is known as The Simple Makeover all happened in less than two weeks.

Click here to read the entire article “The Rehabilitation of a Smile”.

Contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com to learn more about our extensive hands-on programs.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Patient-Driven Treatment Options

dental continuumDr. Harry Long, senior clinician here at Aesthetic Advantage wrote the following article regarding patient-driven treatment. In it he explains that dentistry is a sector of the health care industry that prides itself on being able to be flexible in order to cater to a patient’s needs. Because of the flexibility, and ever-changing technological advancements, dental professionals have the ability to take a more personal approach when designing their patient’s treatment options. Taking the time to get to know the patient, their concerns and questions all help to give them the best possible options.

Dr. Long explains his points through two case studies. The first, a 26-year-old woman with a collapsed arch form and classically crowded dentition. The second, a 30-year-old man with collapsed maxillary and mandibular arch forms, along with crowded dentition and irritation of the interdental papilla. Both treatment options were patient-driven in order to cater to the patient’s needs.

“Ultimately, each practitioner must choose his or her own best way to get to where the profession seeks to go collectively— which is the best possible outcome for the patient.”

Click here to read the entire article “Patient-Driven Treatment Options”. 

If you are interested in patient-driven treatment options, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit www.aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.