Use Your End-of-Year Dental Benefits!

Toward the end of the year, our office typically gets an increase in phone calls from patients looking to schedule an end of year cleaning or restorative appointment and use their insurance benefits before they lapse December 31st.

Many patients sometimes don't realize that they can't carry over benefit maximums from year to year (with limited exceptions - check with your plan administrator to see if your plan qualifies for a rollover.) With premiums increasing in cost from year to year, it's important that you use the monies that you've been allotted - otherwise you've just given the insurance company back a chunk of free cash.

We still have appointments available in our New York, NY dental office with Dr. Carmen Schuller, and we'd love to see you! Please call our office at (212) 256-9268 to schedule your appointment before time runs out.

Oral Health Complications in Cancer Patients

Oral complications occur in almost all patients receiving radiation for head and neck malignancies, in more than 75% of bone marrow transplant recipients, and in nearly 40% of patients receiving chemotherapy. Some complications occur during treatment; others, such as dry mouth, may persist for many years after treatment and lead to serious oral condition.

Oral Complications During Cancer Treatment

•	Mucositis/Stomatitis
•	Infection
•	Dental Decay and Demineralization
•	Bleeding
•	Taste alteration

Oral Hygiene Protocol for Oncology Patients

•	Use toothpastes that are specially formulated for cancer patients such as Biotene, which contains natural salivary enzymes that boost and replenish your oral defense system.
•	Use a mouthwash specially formulated for cancer patients, such as Biotene alcohol-free mouthwash.
•	Gently brush teeth, gums and tongue with an extra soft toothbrush after every meal, morning and before bed.
•	Sip water frequently and suck on ice chips.
•	Avoid hard sugar candy and carbonated soda.
•	Check for inflammation or infection and report suspicious area. Be sure to call Dr. Schuller with any questions regarding oral care during cancer treatments, and other precautions to treat dry mouth.

Periodontal Disease & Links to Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

Research has suggested that there is a link between diabetes and gum disease. People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal problems, possibly because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered one of the major complications of diabetes. Interestingly, the relationship between the two conditions goes both ways; just as diabetes can increase a person’s chance of developing periodontal disease, research suggests that efficient and effective periodontal hygiene may positively affect blood sugar levels. Visit perio.org for more information about these links.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal diseases are infections that affect the tissues and bone that support teeth. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket that is greater than three millimeters. Learn More About Periodontal Disease

Am I At Risk of Periodontitis?

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:

•	Studies show that people who smoke or chew tobacco are more likely to have periodontal diseases.
•	Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, blood cell disorders, HIV infections, and AIDS can lower the body's resistance to infection.
•	Many medications such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, blood pressure drugs and oral contraceptives.
•	Bridges that no longer fit properly, crooked, crowded teeth, or fillings that have become defective.
•	Puberty, pregnancy, and oral contraceptives change the body's hormone levels.
•	Genetics may play a role.
•	According to some studies, periodontal disease may be passed from parents to children and between couples. 

What Happens At Your Exam?

Your Comprehensive Dental Exam
includes several key components.

Step 1 - The white light exam.

The first step is a conventional "white light" exam in which the dentist or hygienist looks for lesions in the oral cavity with the naked eye and uses palpation to feel for any bumps in the neck or face. This generally takes about 3 minutes.

Step 2 - The VELscope™ exam.

The VELscope™ handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, causing tissue fluorescence from the surface of the epithelium through to the basement membrane, where pre-malignant changes typically start, and in the stroma beneath. The special, patented optical filtering in the handpiece allows the clinician to immediately view the different fluorescence signatures from the oral tissue to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue. Abnormal tissue, such as dysplasia or cancerous lesions, typically appear as irregular, dark areas that stand out against the otherwise normal, green fluorescence pattern of surrounding healthy tissue. This technology thus helps dental practitioners identify potentially dangerous growths that might have been missed with the naked eye, yet this exam takes only 2-to-3 minutes.

For more information on oral cancer please visit The Oral Cancer Foundation

Digital Diagnosis

In addition to a traditional exam our office uses state-of-the-art LED technology to detect cavities. The Midwest Caries I.D.™ is able to identify significantly more caries than traditional radiographs. In fact, clinical studies have shown that the Midwest Caries I.D.™ is 80% accurate at detecting interproximal caries and 92% accurate at detecting occlusal caries. Compare these numbers with 50% and 39% for traditional radiograph detection and it's easy to see how the Midwest Caries I.D.™ can dramatically improve our ability to detect caries in posterior teeth.

For more information on what Dr. Schuller provides during your comprehensive exam, and to set up an appointment, please call us at (212) 256-9268 or visit our website.