Just 10 more "Likes" to reach my goal! Thanks Everyone!

Lakside Medical Center. 836 Sunset Lake Blvd.  Suite #204. Venice FL 34292

Thanks to all my new FANS! Almost @ my goal!! Just 10 more "Likes" needed. I really appreciate your support. Tell your friends & family.  www.facebook/com/drkathieallen Stay tuned for more postings, I'm loving the wonderful feedback. Thanks again, Dr. Kathie :)

Treatment for Gum (Periodontal) Disease Can Lower Medical Costs for People W/ Diabetes

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Medical costs are lower for people with diabetes who receive treatment for gum disease, according to a study presented today to the American Association for Dental Research by Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat of the University of Pennsylvania. The study was done in collaboration with United Concordia Dental and Highmark Inc.
"The study showed that periodontal treatment and ongoing maintenance is associated with a significant decrease in the cost of medical care for people with diabetes - in the amount of $1,800 per year," said James Bramson, D.D.S., chief dental officer for United Concordia. "The findings also showed that hospitalizations decreased by 33 percent and physician visits by 13 percent across the entire study population of diabetics when gum disease is treated and managed afterward." Findings related to pharmacy costs in the study population will be released in the near future.
More than 25.8 million adults and children are living with diabetes in 2011 - a number that has more than doubled since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It is really a landmark study because of its size and three-year duration. These numbers clearly demonstrate the importance of the study's findings for people with diabetes, as well as the impact the treatment of gum disease can have on the rising medical costs associated with diabetes," said. Dr. Bramson.
F.G. Merkel, United Concordia president and chief operating officer, said the dental insurer and its parent company, Highmark Inc., funded the study by Professor and Dean Emeritus Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, because of United Concordia's increasing concern with the importance of oral health on overall health and to underscore both companies' commitment to wellness.

Toothpaste w/ Chocolate Fights Cavities

Toothpaste with chocolate fights cavities

Doctoral student develops cocoa extract-based toothpaste

• View the full image

  Theodent cocoa-extract toothpaste.

Biting into a sugary chocolate bar may not be the best choice for healthy teeth. But a Louisiana-based company is taking the stand that not all cocoa-based products are equal.

Theodent has introduced the new dental productcontaining a cocoa extract and other minerals that developers say strengthens and hardens tooth enamel.

The toothpaste, which was unveiled in January, is called Theodent and it contains no fluoride. CEOArman Sadeghpour said the cocoa extract-based product will revolutionize the way people think about toothpaste.

“We want people to value the experience of brushing their teeth more,” he said. “They should care more about what they put in their mouths. Up till now it’s all been sodium fluoride or fluoride-based. We’ve been brushing our teeth twice a day with one of the most toxic elements in the periodic table.”

“It (cocoa) had the exact opposite effect (from what Nakamoto expected),” said Sadeghpour. “It makes these units of crystal (of teeth) larger. That works to strengthen the enamel of the teeth.”

Sadeghpour’s work verified the possibilities for the extract when he tested the findings on human teeth. He made a direct comparison between the cocoa extract and fluoride and found that the cocoa extract enlarges the crystals that form the teeth, resulting in a stronger enamel. Fluoride strengthens enamel by attaching to it and incorporating itself into the tooth.

According to Sadeghpour, Clifton Carey of the American Dental Association verified his results.Sadeghpour and Nakamoto, along with University of New Orleans professor William Simmons and Tulane School of Medicine assistant professor Joseph Fuselier, decided they could commercialize a product. They developed the proprietary mixture of cocoa and other minerals what are the active ingredients in the toothpaste, and founded Theodent.

The paste, which sells for $9.99 a tube, has been introduced in 171 Whole Foods stores and dental offices throughout the country. The first batch of 6,252 tubes sold out in the first three weeks, Sadeghpour said.

Unlike what one might expect, the paste has a mint, not chocolate taste. The company wants to develop a sugar-free paste with a chocolate flavor to appeal to children.

“Kids really want it to taste like chocolate,” Sadeghpour said. “We’re in a position to provide them with that.”

Happy St Patty's Day

Be safe when celebrating today!!

Fun Facts Friday

 Commercial floss was first manufactured in 1882, but Egyptians invented the first toothpaste 5000 years ago.

Tru- Align-Rectangular Collimation-Reduces Radiation To Your Patients & Team!

Tru-Align- Rectangular Collimation

Every professional in the healing arts (Medical/Dental) when taking x-rays should follow the ALARA PRINCIPLES.  It stands for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable"

The NRCP-National Council on Radiation & the ADA both recommend the above guidelines for taking radiographs.

A new device, called the Tru-Align by IDI-Interactive Diagnostic Imaging , meets these recommendations by providing a perfect alignment using rectangular collimation.

The Green Zone is a dental office that uses Tru-Align Technology to reduce dental x-ray radiation by up to five-fold.

I am proud to be a Green Zone Dentist for the past year.  Our office is committed to giving a reduced amount of radiation in every x-ray we take-for children and adults
In addition, using the Tru-Align also provides a safer environment for my team & patients!

In Summary, the benefits of Tru-Align are:

• Up to 70% reduction of radiation dose to the patients & provider
• Improve image quality due to less scattered radiation
• Reduces retakes since it aligns the radiographs
• Adapts to any round x-ray tube head-capturing images for both analog and digital radiographs
• Affordable technology
• Minimal learning curve

For more information about Tru-Align, please visit the website @ http://www.idixray.com/
Lunch & Learns: Contact Shawn Rhodus @ 941.400.5052

How Stress Can Affect Your Oral Health

Excess stress may give you a headache, a stomachache, or just a feeling of being "on edge." But too much stress could also be doing a number on your mouth, teeth, gums, and overall health.

The potential fallout from stress and anxiety that can affect your oral health includes:

So how can you prevent these oral health problems?

Mouth Sores

Canker sores -- small ulcers with a white or grayish base and bordered in red -- appear inside the mouth, sometimes in pairs or even greater numbers. Although experts aren't sure what causes them -- it could be immune system problems, bacteria, or viruses -- they do think that stress, as well as fatigue and allergies, can increase the risk of getting them. Canker sores are not contagious.

Most canker sores disappear in a week to 10 days. For relief from the irritation, try over-the-counter topical anesthetics. To reduce irritation, don't eat spicy, hot foods or foods with a high acid content, such as tomatoes or citrus fruits.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are contagious. Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that often appear on or around the lips, but can also crop up under the nose or around the chin area.

Emotional upset can trigger an outbreak. So can a fever, a sunburn, or skin abrasion.

Like canker sores, fever blisters often heal on their own in a week or so. Treatment is available, including over-the-counter remedies and prescription antiviral drugs. Ask your doctor or dentist if you could benefit from either. It's important to start treatment as soon as you notice the cold sore forming.

Teeth Grinding

Stress may make you clench and grind your teeth -- during the day or at night, and often unconsciously. Teeth grinding is also known as bruxism.

If you already clench and grind your teeth, stress could make the habit worse. And, grinding your teeth can lead to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet.

See your doctor and ask what can be done for the clenching and grinding. Your dentist may recommend a night guard, worn as you sleep, or another appliance to help you stop or minimize the actions.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Being under extreme stress may affect your mood and cause you to skip oral hygiene habits such as flossing and brushing.

If you don't take care of your mouth, your teeth and overall oral health can suffer. If you already have gum disease, skipping daily hygiene may worsen the problem. If your mouth is in relatively good health, falling down on brushing and flossing can lead to gum disease or increase your risk of cavities.

When under stress, you may also develop unhealthy eating habits, such as snacking on large amounts of sugary foods or drinks. These habits increase the risk for tooth decay and other problems.

Just reminding yourself of the importance of hygiene and healthy eating may help. Boosting or resuming your exercise routine can help you relieve stress and feel energized enough to tend to your oral hygiene and cook healthier meals. Exercise will also boost your immune system -- and that, too, is good for your oral health.

Gum Disease

Stress can cause an increase in dental plaque, even when the high stress levels are short term. That's according to a study that evaluated people who cared for loved ones with dementia and who experienced stress.

Long-term, the stress these caregivers felt boosted their risk of bleeding gums, or gingivitis, which can progress to serious gum disease.

Stress can lead to depression. And depressed patients, according to recent research, have twice the risk of an unfavorable outcome from gum disease treatment compared to those who aren't depressed.

You can't make depression or the stress disappear, of course. But experts say that learning healthy coping strategies can help reduce the risk of gum problems getting worse. Healthy coping is "problem-focused" with active and practical strategies to deal with the stress and depression, experts say. 

Remember, eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene help reduce your risks of periodontal disease. Make sure you brush twice a day and floss daily.