Is Your Dentist Keeping Secrets From You?
Posted on December 15, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry
I don’t think so. But I did like much of the information contained in an article of this title from Dr. Mercola’s website. Here’s a few followed by my comments:
Secret #1: Your dentist may not have the latest technology.
Digital x-ray: Dentists who do not have digital x-ray equipment are practicing in
the dark ages. Digital x-rays use less radiation than film. They are easier to read
and make diagnosis more accurate.
Ultrasonic Cleaning: Ultrasonic instruments vibrate plaque and calculus off your
teeth, even in areas below your gums. It is much more comfortable than oldfashioned
hand scraping.
Doc comment: I agree. Thats’ why our office has had this technology for years.
Secret #2: Your dentist may be using mercury.
Mercury is toxic. Norway and Sweden have banned the use of mercury fillings..
But mercury fillings are less expensive and easier for the dentist to use. If your
dentist does not use composite fillings, don’t go to that dentist any more. In the
US, the FDA is way behind the ball and not actively warning patients about this
like they have been mandated by the courts to do.
Doc’s comment: Very accurate. I haven’t used mercury in my office for years.
Secret #3: The lab may be more important than your dentist.
Dental labs create dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, and other
dental restorations like implant crowns. There is a huge difference in the quality
of these labs. You should be particularly wary if your dentist is using a lab in
China or Mexico. Some of the top labs in the U.S. are Aurum Ceramics,
MicroDental Laboratories, da Vinci Dental Studio, and Williams Dental Lab.
Doc’s comment: True. Aurum Ceramics is one of the labs we use a Artistic Dentistry.
Secret #4: There’s more to good dentistry than filling cavities.
A competent dentist screens for more than tooth decay. He or she should be
concerned about sleep apnea, jaw-related pain known as TMJ, oral cancer,
diabetes and hypertension.
Doc’s comment: All good points. I cover some of this in my free downloadable
electronic ebook found at http://stlouisdentistdrpete.com
My 40th High School Reunion at CBC
Posted on October 1, 2008 | Filed Under General
This past weekend I met up with schoolmates I hadn’t seen in many years. I introduced them to Martha – guys like Sam Catanzaro, who was part of a closeknit alliance of Italian kids like me. Others flew in who I hadn’t seen in decades and yet because we shared the experience of attending CBC in the 1960s, there existed an undeniable bond that erased the distance and the years. Read more
An Old-Fashioned, Inexpensive Gum and Tooth Remedy
Posted on September 13, 2008 | Filed Under Teeth Tips
Some of my patients who have been with me for a long time remember my dad, Dr. Sam Pagano, who practiced dentistry in St Louis for over fifty years. A short while ago, Dr. Sam and I were discussing long-forgotten, but effective folk remedies, when he relayed something I’d never heard mentioned in my dental studies. He told me that fifty years ago he and other dentists used tea tree oil for gum and tooth infections, swelling gums and overall gum health and that it was quite effective.
I did some research to find out more about tea tree oil. Turns out that because of its antiseptic qualities, it has many more uses than just making your gums healthy. I ordered some organic tea tree oil from Australia and will be trying it out.
I’ll keep you posted.
Look Ma’ No Cavities!
Posted on August 25, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry, General, Health, St. Louis, Teeth Tips
For Boomers who grew up with this famous toothpaste commercial, I have a news flash: At your age, it’s no longer just about cavities!
If you’ve passed the age of forty, you really should have a mid-life diagnosis to evaluate the overall state of your oral health AND to plan a proper course of treatment that will enable you to keep your teeth for the remainder of your lifetime.
Patients over forty have often shortchanged their dental health or just barely maintained their teeth and gums. With the expense of family taking precedence through the previous two decades, Boomer-aged patients coming to me for the first time are often prepared to play catch-up with their own dental health.
Today you can plan a course of treatment that will ensure you’ve got your own teeth to chew with well into your senior years. In addition, nothing is more youthful than a natural-looking white smile. Unlike your parents, if you take care now you can have both.
Tags: aging, allergies, appearance, breath, brushing, cavities, cavity, dental care, dental health, dental treatment, dental work, Dentistry, dentists, dentures, extraction, fillings, gums, implants, insurance, oral health, overall health, pain, root canal, smile, teeth, tooth
The Sedation Dentistry Debate
Posted on August 1, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
Back in the 70s, sedation dentistry was commonplace. When several deaths were reported, most doctors stopped using it and you didn’t hear about it for several decades. Thus, this “new” sedation dentistry is really not new at all. Personally, I don’t endorse it, as I have found ways to treat my patients with minimal pain. Plus, I don’t like the idea of knocking out a patient for several hours to do backlogged dental work. Sure, it’s great money for the dentist, but the slackness of the unconscious jaw makes it very difficult to ensure that the bite will be correct after the treatment. An incorrect bite can lead to headaches, neck aches, indigestion and other health problems.
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.
Sorry maam, your insurance only covers bumpers and tires
Posted on January 22, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
That’s about what your dental insurance would cover if you were a car. If you had to have your car towed to a garage, and the mechanic discovered you needed a new alternator, belts, and a laundry list of other repairs, would you say, I’ll hold off for now on the battery and belts. My insurance company won’t cover those?
Relying on what insurance will cover to get through your life’s dental care is like playing the slot machines in Vegas. You might wind up a winner, with all your teeth in your senior years. More common is that people require more dentistry than insurance covers.
People Always Look At Your Teeth & What do they see?
Posted on November 19, 2007 | Filed Under Dentistry
It’s scientifically proven that people see your smile or teeth as the 1st or 2nd thing they notice when they look at you. Did you realize this?
In some studies it is the eyes first – in other studies it’s the smile. Either way, when you come into contact with other people they ARE going to notice your teeth and smile no matter what, since the mouth and eyes are the chief vehicles for communication.
People are drawn to beautiful things and having a beautiful smile plays a huge importance in how attractive other people see you. You probably already knew this just by having common sense but over the past 20-30 years the scientific evidence clearly shows that your smile influences how you are perceived and treated by others in every situation in life.
So many changes have occurred in cosmetic dentistry in the past few years, that most people who come into my St Louis dental office inquiring about veneers, crowns, bridges and straightening are surprised to find out they’re living with antiquated notions of dentistry.
I have a free report about cosmetic dentistry that you can order by calling 800 719 6911 and leaving your address on the automated 24 hour message. If you already know you want to fix your smile, call my office at 314 576 3000.
For a bit of bad teeth humor, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoMhLoKku0U
