Got Bloody Gums?
Posted on July 25, 2008 | Filed Under Teeth Tips
OK, this isn’t as fun and sexy to talk about as cosmetic dentistry but it’s time to sound the alarm on one of the most common diseases around. It’s GUM DISEASE folks and 75% of Americans have some stage of it.
Sadly, most people think that it’s normal when gums bleed. If you washed your hands and they started to bleed, wouldn’t you get a little worried? Of course you would, yet most people don’t get worried about bleeding gums because no one is telling them it is serious gum disease that could be deadly!
The news about gum disease and it’s connection to our overall health continues to come up again and again in research and medicine. It’s time to get deadly serious about the disease that most of the planet still does not take seriously.
Here’s the good news! In our office we have the systems and technology to get gum disease under control 98% of the time without specialist surgery.
To schedule a gum disease check, call (314) 576-3000.
So, How Do I Choose a Toothbrush, Anyway?
Posted on July 22, 2008 | Filed Under Teeth Tips
Contrary to toothbrush marketeers, a gentle brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush is just as effective (and less damaging!) than a vigorous scrubbing with a stiff-bristle toothbrush.
Your tooth enamel is quite thin. Years of aggressive brushing can begin to wear away the enamel and make the teeth sensitive.
Brushing too hard can also damage your gums.
My office all supplies toothbrushes that I personally trust. Ask the front desk for assistance at (314) 576-3000.
Can Your Smile Make You Rich?
Posted on July 19, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
A survey done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 74 percent of American adults believe an unattractive smile can harm a person’s chances of career success. Julia Roberts was at one time the highest paid actress in Hollywood. She also was voted as having the best smile in the business. Think there’s a connection?
As you age, your facial skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Much of this is actually caused by what’s happening inside your mouth! For starters, your teeth get shorter as you get older. You don’t always notice it because it happens gradually. At the same time, your teeth are shifting incrementally each year.
By the time you surpass the age of fifty, your teeth will most likely be in a different position than when you were twenty years old.
The good news is that strategic dental work can soften folds and wrinkles and perk up sagging. You can erase five to ten years off your face with dental minilift procedures.
Interested? Call for a free consultation with Doc.
In an Era of Speed, Quality is Still Valued…
Posted on July 18, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
Will all of you under 40 indulge me for just a moment while I reminisce about “When I was Growing Up?” Once in a while, I’m reminded of the higher quality with which things used to be made. Cars, furniture, clothing, appliances and yes, even dentistry were MADE TO LAST.
My dad, Dr. Sam Pagano, practiced dentistry in St Louis for over 50 years. Many of his techniques are lost today. Yet, his techniques resulted in quality dental work that lasts.
Case in point: My dad and I were having breakfast at Sunrise Café on 141 and Olive Blvd. A 91 year old woman by the name of Josephine came up to our table. She looked at my dad, waiting for him to recognize her. Turns out, he filled her teeth 40 years ago. She proudly announced that she still had those same fillings and that her current dentist wanted to know (and I quote): “Who did all of this beautiful work in your mouth?”
In another outing, my dad and I ran into a former patient of his who proudly displayed the dentures my dad had made for him – IN 1953! Over 50 years later, these dentures were still working for this patient.
In earlier times artisans and craftsmen spent years as apprentices in order to Master their skills. I was fortunate enough to get an apprenticeship fresh out of dental school, working with my dad for nearly ten years. I learned as much from him as I did in school, if not more. By mastering the fundamentals of dentistry and focusing on quality, I had a strong foundation on which to embrace the technological advancements that have been made in dentistry.
Despite my excitement at learning new procedures and acquiring the latest technology, I know that these aren’t substitutes for a firm grounding in the skills of providing quality dentistry that will last.
To Fix The Problem, You Have To Identify The Cause
Posted on July 12, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
A woman was referred to me who had constant pain in her front tooth and had been advised to extract the tooth. I observed that the problem tooth was constantly being hit by the tooth directly underneath it. I adjusted her bite. It immediately felt better. The next day her husband said he’d heard no more complaints about the tooth.
The same woman I just mentioned was looking to invest a sizeable amount on dental procedures in several different offices around town. She was recommended to me for a second opinion.
After examining her I knew she suffered from headaches, neck aches and low back pain. She was shocked that I knew this. All of the treatment other doctors had advised was correct — EXCEPT — there was one key component missing. She had a jaw joint that was out of place and no one addressed that.
Over time, this condition had created other dental problems, which included missing teeth on the side where the jaw joint was out of place. And of course, she had pain as a result of her condition.
Her proposed treatment addressed every aspect of her dental health — except her jaw joint problem. By individually consulting different doctors for various aspects of her treatment, she was trying to renovate her mouth without an overall coordinated plan.
Bad Breath? Tender Gums?
Posted on July 6, 2008 | Filed Under Teeth Tips
I’m not a fan of spending money on drugstore mouthwash. Why? I use Tooth and Gum Tonic™ for all patient visits. It definitely costs more than drugstore mouthwash, but there’s just no comparison between the two.
I’m Italian, so a good analogy would be the quality difference between frozen pizza and pizza from Cicero’s in the Loop. Would you even bother eating frozen after that?
When it comes to my patient’s health, I get pretty picky about what I use in their mouths.
Tooth and Gum Tonic™ has all natural ingredients. This mouthwash is made of herbs and essential oils that are organically grown and contain exceptionally high quality extracts, which are alcohol-free. It is said that this product is an anti-microbial and rebuilds the infected tissues because the plant extracts have a known anti-inflammatory response to the tissues.
One study showed the Tonic to be the most effective mouthwash in controlling bad breath of all products tested. This product is definitely worth considering if you suffer from chronic halitosis, or have chronic bleeding gums due to gingivitis or after surgery or any dental work, for that matter. It’s only available in dental offices who use it. If you’re interested in taking some home, ask my staff about it. The cost is higher, but the results speak for themselves.
Guaranteed Dental Work?
Posted on July 4, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
Recently I was told that my practice of guaranteeing all of my work is uncommon. My dad practiced that way and I carried on his policy. But … I DO expect my patients to take care of their teeth as well. So, to clarify, as long as you maintain regular cleanings and take care of any gum disease, my work is guaranteed.
