Use Less Invasive Dentistry as the First Alternative
Posted on September 21, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
Sometimes the cause of your tooth pain is not always indicative of a clear cut procedure. Here’s a classic example of what I mean: Let’s say you bite down too hard on something and experience pain. If the dentist is too eager to do a root canal or extract your tooth he/she might miss that you just “sprained” your tooth. Read more
Anti-Aging Benefits of Keeping Your Natural Teeth
Posted on August 27, 2008 | Filed Under Teeth Tips
Want to know what happens to your teeth as you get older? They wear down, like tread on tires. Ever so gradually, the distance between your chin and nose diminishes until one day you realize that you’ve got lines around your mouth and you just, well …look older, but don’t really know why. That’s one reason to consider crowns or overlays on your back teeth – this procedures restores the lost vertical distance created by wear. It’s almost like having a facelift!
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.
Why I Favor Minimally-Invasive Dentistry
Posted on June 5, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
I usually recommend milder treatments to alleviate conditions before resorting to treatment like extractions, surgery or root canals. For example if your tooth had a 3 surface cavity, many dentists would give you a crown and build up (a $900 procedure). I might start with a 3 surface filling to see if that alleviates your problem. If the filling doesn’t hold up, you may need the crown in 6 months, but often times the less invasive procedure will suffice.
