Last week our local paper, The Intelligencer (Sunday, October 25,2015), ran a terrific article by Sarah H. Kagan, PhD, RN entitled “Getting Older Doesn’t Mean You Have to Lose Your Teeth”. Dr. Kagan is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing where she specializes in geriatric issues. Being married to a geriatric nursing…
Year: 2015
What Exactly is “Occlusal Disease”?
And what does it have to do with tricycles? Dentistry has traditionally diagnosed and treated three basic conditions relating to our teeth and their support systems: Tooth Decay (dental caries), Periodontal disease (diseases affecting the supporting structures of the teeth – the gums and bone) and Occlusal disease – those conditions affecting how the teeth…
Who's Your Dentist?
I know I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but over the last few months I’ve had occasion to ask several people I’ve met who their dentist was. What I heard in response was the name of some corporate entity, usually beginning with the letter “A”. When I then said: “No, I don’t think you…
What’s All The Buzz About E-cigarettes?
E-cigs are electrical devices that vaporize propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-based liquid solutions into aerosol mists typically containing various concentrations of nicotine. Having been marketed since 2007 or so, the use of e-cigs (vaping) has now exploded to a multi-billion dollar industry primarily targeted at young people and now heavily controlled by the tobacco industry.…
Are Dental X-Rays Safe
Most people are familiar with having dentals x-rays taken periodically at dental visits and recognize the benefits of a dental x-ray examination. Occasionally someone still asks me if these X-rays are “safe”. The short answer Is “yes”, but some explanation may be more helpful. First, dental X-rays involve a fraction of the amount of radiation…
Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common complaints we see on a daily basis at the office. There can be many different causes for dental sensitivity including overzealous brushing, using a toothpaste that is too abrasive, unsupervised “whitening”, frequent consumption of acidic beverages (i.e. soda), deficiencies in the structure of the teeth, and so…
Polypharmacy – Are you at risk for prescribing cascade with your medications?
As the population in the United States ages, so does the population of dental patients that are typically seen each day. One of the most noted characteristics of this group is the sheer number of prescription medications they take. The average 65 year old is taking five or more medications for a variety of reasons.…
4 Dental Lessons to Learn From Your Car
Now that it’s summertime and our thoughts turn to vacations and road trips, a recent post on the American Dental Association’s website for consumers caught my attention. It discussed how Americans tend to take care of their cars pretty faithfully, and yet, we don’t often perform the same routine maintenance on our teeth. The following…
Bucks County Veteran ID Card Discount Program - Helps Veterans Afford Area Services
A recent article by a colleague practicing in central Pennsylvania reminded me of my time in the service. I don’t talk about it that much, but for 2 years after completing my dental education I served as a Senior Assistant Dental Surgeon with The United States Public Health Service. I was assigned to the U.S. Coast…
Summer Travel Alert: Drowsy Driving Can Be as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
As you get ready to hit the road this summer to enjoy your favorite vacation spots, be aware that drowsy driving can lead to serious consequences for you, your family and others on the road. There are many reasons you can become drowsy when driving, the most important of which is lack of proper sleep.…
