Personal Dentistry

Quit Smoking Without Willpower

Quitting can be easy.  It doesn’t require going cold turkey.  It doesn’t require willpower.  What it does require is that you are clear about the reasons you want to quit.  And it requires you to list those reasons, keep the list accessible and frequently review and give thought to the reasons you want to quit.

My guess is most smokers would like to stop. Scary medical, dental and social reasons are aplenty.  Many smokers try to stop.  I know that some of you ‘wanna-be-quitters’ stop for varying periods of time but get back to smoking.  Now you are a ‘Stop Smoking Failure’.   

It really isn’t hard to stop smoking.  The beauty of my method is that you NEVER HAVE TO DENY YOURSELF a cigarette when you want one.  Consequently…NO WITHDRAWAL!  In fact, don’t ever tell yourself “Don’t Smoke” with this system.  For a lot of reasons both your body and unconscious your responds to the word ‘Smoke’ and ignores the word ‘Don’t’.  The more you say “Don’t Smoke” the more you’ll want to smoke.

Zap dirty dentures: Two-minute microwave treatment kills bad bacteria

One-in-five adults, including half of the over-55 generation, wear some type of dentures and many denture-wearers may think regularly using an over-the-counter cleanser would keep dentures pearly white and more importantly, germ-free.

Yet, traditional denture soaking methods often do not leave dentures completely bacteria-free. Combining the soaking cleaning program with a two-minute microwave treatment was overwhelmingly more effective to eliminate germs on the inside and outside of dentures worn from 12 days to 48 years, according to a recent study published in a 2003 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Diabetes and periodontal disease

Periodontal (gum disease) is one of the leading causes of tooth loss among adults and is also frequently linked to the control of diabetes. Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place and has also been linked to heart disease and strokes.

Dental Implants May Improve Sex Life

"In a 2005 research report, Heydecke et al[1], compared the impact of social and sexual activities by 102 adults between the ages of 35-65 years, before and after being fitted with dental implants, against people fitted with conventional dentures only. The research revealed that the subjects fitted with implant-retained dentures experienced a greater increase in comfort felt during kissing and sexual activity over a two month compared to those with normal dentures.

How To Do Everything Better

We invite you to read about a simple technique which will allow you to do everything better by increasing your ability to focus.

Dentistry requires attention to detail. Detail to steps and procedures, detail in relating to patients and detail in planning and managing the dental office.

By increasing the attention we focus on each moment we increase the effectiveness we need to be more successful and less stressed in everything we do.

Want to learn more?

Download 'How To Do Everything Better' (PDF Document)

Why The Pretty Prosper

Found this article to be interesting...

A new study finds that our preference for beauty might be hard-wired

Download This Article (PDF)

Sanitize Your Brushes

"…a single toothbrush can harbor millions of microorganisms, which translate into harmful bacteria — bacteria that thrive in the warm, moist environment of the average bathroom.”

VIOlight stops these microorganisms dead in their track. Independent studies prove that the patent-pending VIOlight system eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria that thrive on your toothbrush. That’s millions of microscopic bugs that can cause flu, colds and other illnesses, zapped in minutes!

VIOlight is the first toothbrush sanitization system made to look like it belongs in your home, not a laboratory. Designed by the world-renown Philippe Starck, VIOlight promises to fit in with any bathroom décor. Small and sleek, VIOlight is the size of an average cup or toothbrush holder. And, since it doubles as a sanitizer and holder, it won’t take up any extra space in your bathroom.

We recommend Violight for sanitizing your brushes. It is available for purchase at our offices or by giving us call at (212) 749-0600.

TOP TEN LIST - WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND NEED FROM A DENTIST

For a long time I have been interested in understanding what patients want and need from their dental experience. I asked people what they wanted and most often their answers were ‘competence,’ ‘caring,’ ‘honesty,’ and ‘no pain.’

Although these words had meaning for me, I was not clear what they meant to the people stating them. Dictionaries give definitions of words but what words mean to each of us is based on our own life experiences. A general semanticist once said, “Words don’t have meaning, people do.”

Over time my interest grew to wanting to understand what it feels like to be a dentalpatient, what it means to be a dentist, and how to improve the experience for both.It is clear that many people are not comfortable in a dental office, despite the great psychological, health and self-image benefits dentistry offers. By discovering what each person hopes to gain from the dental experience, and learning the different issues each person has with dental care (e.g., wanting to feel heard and understood, not wanting to feel anxious, etc.), I was able to research techniques and develop techniques that improve the experience for both patient and dentist.

Please click here to download the TOP TEN LIST of what patients want and need from their dental experience.

What Is Bruxism?

Source: American Dental Association (ADA)

"Keep a stiff upper lip" or "get a grip!" That's often the advice we get—and give—on how to cope with stress. If you take it literally, the result could be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws.

It's called bruxism, and often it happens as we sleep, caused not just by stress and anxiety but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked. Symptoms include a dull headache or a sore jaw. You could have teeth that are painful or loose from severe grinding. This can lead to fractures in your teeth. Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep.

If stress is the cause you need to find a way to relax! Physical therapy, muscle relaxants, counseling and even exercise may help reduce tension. Don't make your teeth the brunt of your stress.

Note: In our office we use the NTI, only FDA approved dental device to stop excessive clenching (you can't grind if you don't clench) to prevent tension headaches, decrease or prevent migraine headaches, prevent TMJ face pain and frrequently eliminate neck and shoulder pain. For more informatin visit www.headachehelper.com.

Healthy Heart -- Eat Less Trans Fat

• There are "good" fats and "bad" fats. Trans fats may be the worst.
• Trans fats are found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and shortening.
• Trans fats raise "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lower "good" (HDL) cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease.
• Trans fats may be even more harmful than saturated fats. Eat as little of them as possible -- no more than 2 grams per day on average.

You can download a free booklet from the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene which tells you how to keep a healthy diet and avoid trans fats:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/dohmhnews4-02.pdf