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Spring/Summer 2012
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We like you so please “like” us on Facebook ® by going to WWW.dralanmazer.com!
Produced to improve your dental health and awareness “We Care About Your Smile”
Dentally SpeakingDentally Speaking......... with Dr. Alan L. Mazer .........
Summer Is Smile Season
Just smell that sweet air! Everything we were longing for has arrived – it’s warm, it’s bright, and nature is at its best. Welcome summer, one of the seasons I love the most.
Some of you may be participating in graduations or weddings, others may be vacationing out of town, but for sure, most of us will be enjoying outdoor family activities like barbecues and sports.
Lois and I will be heading off to Cape Cod once again this summer to spend time with our daughter and her family. We always look forward to beaching, biking and spending those special times with our two granddaughters in the Cape Cod sun. What could be better?
Whatever your plans, my team and I want you to enjoy this wonderful time of year safely. Please wear sunscreen, stay hydrated and if you or your children are active in sports, book right away for your protective mouth guard.
And, if looking your photogenic best is a priority this summer, we will be happy to schedule a teeth cleaning or whitening consultation. Just give us a call.
Enjoy your summer and smile!
Yours in good dental health,
Alan L. Mazer, DMD
Double-Edged Meds: BisphosphonatesBone-building drugs may affect oral health
The next time you come in for an appointment, we may be asking you the following important question: are you taking any bisphosphonates medications for bone-building or cancer treatment such as Fosamax? The reason for the question is simple: doctors suspect a link between the use of bisphosphonates such as Fosamax®, Aredia®, Actonel®, Aometa®, and Boniva® and a rare condition known as osteonecrosis, also called bone death, which includes the following symptoms:
n pain, swelling, or infection of the gums or jaw; gums that do not heal; loose teeth; numbness or a heavy feeling in the jaw; drainage; exposed bone.
Initially research pointed towards patients with cancer as being chiefly at risk, but now dentists and doctors are seeing cases in otherwise perfectly healthy patients who are being treated for bone loss.
The American Dental Association recommends that before starting bisphosphonates, patients have a comprehensive dental exam and treat any tooth or gum problems immediately. In addition, while on bisphosphonates, you must ensure your home care is impeccable: brush regularly, floss daily, and keep your dental recall appointments. If invasive dental care is necessary, we will discuss the implications with you, and choose the most conservative treatment possible. Please be sure to let us know if you are taking, or if you are considering taking, bisphosphonates.
Accept Our GratitudeFor your referrals
We’d like to thank all of you for sending your family, neighbors, and even business colleagues to our office. These referrals mean a great deal to us! They tell us that we’re doing a great job for you and your family, and that you trust us to do the same for other people that you know. As professionals, the real brass ring is knowing that our team is providing gentle, caring, and excellent dentistry to you and yours.
Infants & Children
Teenagers
Young Adults (20s-30s)
Midlife & Beyond
Milestone
l Healthy gums & teeth
l Arrival of permanent teeth
l Proper spacing & bite alignment
l Protection against sports injuries
l Eating a varied diet
l Greater social awareness of a nice smile
l Fresh breath has become important
l Peer pressure: tobacco, alcohol, power drinks
l Fashion trends like tongue piercing
l Risk of caries, gum disease, enamel erosion
l Greater awareness of mouth-body link
l Focusing on health & fitness
l Increased risk of gum disease
l Continued interest in appearance/lifestyle
l Celebrations (graduations, weddings, etc.)
l Continued interest in appearance & health
l Increased risk of oral cancer
l Receding gums, root cavities, loose teeth
l Hormones decline & bone mass decreases
l Teeth may become worn & stained
l Oral hygiene instruction
l Early orthodontic assessment
l Prevention & monitoring with regular visits
l Custom-fitted mouthguard
l Fluoride advice
l Positive reinforcement of 4 nutrition 4home care routines & professional care
l Education about fads that harm oral health
l Strategies for fresh breath & healthy smiles
l Regular preventive & maintenance checkups
l Educational tips to maintain a healthy mouth
l Monitoring for bite issues & jaw joint disorder
l Consultation for whitening & cosmetic treatment
l Regular exams to intercept emerging issues
l Natural-looking restorative treatments
l Beautiful youthful cosmetic options
l Maintenance of existing restorations
l Monitoring of function, appearance, & investment
What We can offer
Your Teeth’s Natural Life and what you need to do...
issues
ONE
Clues That Reveal Family Secrets About:Brushing & Flossing!
tip top answers Too Good To Be True?try it! You’ll like it!
The ancient Egyptians did it. The Greeks and Romans did it. And oh, those Vikings! Now you can too. Add pizazz with exotic cardamom!
Cardamom seeds can be crushed or used whole to add a heady aroma to curries, rice dishes, and breads. A member of the ginger family, there are several varieties, but green or true cardamom is most commonly used for cooking and to spice up chai tea.
Spices are often used in traditional South East Asian medicine and cardamom’s vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and electrolytes are consumed for a pick-me-up to help improve digestion and circulation and to soothe respiratory ailments and throat problems. It has also been used as an antibacterial mouthwash. Find recipes online!
Aftercall for a consultation todaY!
What is a crown?n Sometimes one is custom-fitted over your damaged tooth to protect and strengthen it so you won’t lose it.
n One or more can be specially fabricated for attachment to neighboring teeth to bridge a gap.
n A crown can also be placed on top of an artificial tooth root implanted into your jawbone to form a completely new tooth.
How will I look with one? n You can choose a gold or silver look, but most people prefer materials that match the rest of their smile.
n Ceramic crowns can be as translucent as your own enamel and are an excellent choice if you have metal allergies.
n When placed over metal for additional strength, ceramics still look natural, but they are not quite as translucent.
Say It Again, Sam! Here’s looking at you!It appears that kids, even as young as 4-6, are heeding their parents’ message
that healthy is good and sugar is bad, according to a small study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
When a popular recognizable character from television or toys appears on a cereal box, it creates a halo effect, so kids think it tastes better. No character? No contest. Kids prefer the same cereal when it’s called Healthy Bits over Sugar Bits.
Children really do find the familiar appealing, so keep up the repetition. Avoiding sugar and eating healthy are excellent lifelong lessons, and seeing you make home care and dental visits your priorities, will also make them theirs.
Have you noticed anyone self-consciously covering up their smiles? Embarrassment about stained teeth, fillings, or visible tooth decay is a sure sign that a dental visit is overdue.
Do you notice seeds, pepper, or other small bits of food caught in a smile well after mealtime is over? It’s time to brush up on brushing and flossing!
FIVEWhen’s the last time you bought dental floss? A couple of months ago? Everyone in the family should floss at least once a day. Little ones will need assistance.
FOURDried-out toothbrushes are unused toothbrushes. It’s worth checking and reminding everyone that they need to brush for two minutes at least twice a day.
THREEHave you noticed bad breath or coated tongues instead of healthy-looking pink ones? It’s important to brush the tongue as well as the teeth.
TWOONE
We’re always happy to help with a thorough checkup and a home care refresher! ML1
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Before
27933-71255 ML12-3
office information
Information included is not dental or medical advice. For your specific information be sure to consult our office. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please contact us directly.
Contents may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. © PATIENT NEWS (800) 667-0268
Printed with vegetable-based ink.
Getting in the Technology Groove
There is always something interesting happening at our practice and when the months pass between your appointments, catching up can be difficult. But thanks to Facebook® and Demandforce®, staying in touch is so much easier.
On Demandforce, you can now confirm your appointments, make appointments, refer friends and family, write reviews and
take surveys all on line. We look forward to reading your comments about our staff and dental services. We depend on your input to help us excel in patient care.
On Facebook, I’ll be posting ideas to inspire you, informative articles, events and office happenings. When
you access my Facebook page by going to my website at www.dralanmazer.com, make sure you click “like”! You may be a winner of a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card.
alan l. mazer, dmd, Facd, Ficd140 Terryville RoadPort Jefferson Station, NY 11776-1330office HoursMonday 9:00 am – 6:00 pmTuesday 1:00 pm – 8:00 pmThursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pmFriday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Alternate Fridays 8:00 am – 1:00 pm Alternate Saturdays 8:00 am – 2:00 pmcontact informationOffice (631) 473-0666Fax (631) 473-0679Email [email protected] site www.dralanmazer.comoffice staffPaula, Esmeralda................... Dental HygienistsRhonda ......................... Scheduling CoordinatorPat, Rebecca..........................Dental AssistantsLois ................................Practice Administrator
Top 3 Reasons to BondLooking great is only one of them!It’s already
paid for so … Why aren’t you using it?
As summer marks the half-way point to the expiration of your dental insurance, ask yourself whether you are taking full advantage of the policy you’re paying for. It surprises me how many patients miss their dental appointments when they have insurance coverage. If you’ve missed your scheduled date because you’ve been busy with life (as we all get), you’re losing hundreds of dollars in treatment each year. Call now to book your recall appointment ... we have more appointment times available in the summertime! We’ll fit you in!
So Long and Welcome
Loud congratulations go out to Tej, our Stony Brook student dental assistant who will be receiving his DDS degree from Stony Brook University on May 19th. Tej will be leaving our office and will begin a residency program at Stony Brook University. We will miss him but are confident that he will make a wonderful dentist.
We welcome Rebecca, our new Stony Brook student assistant. Rebecca is assisting Dr. Mazer on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays and is excited about learning new techniques and being part of our dental family. Her cheery disposition will make you feel welcome and comfortable.
Not everyone wants or needs a complete cosmetic makeover to enjoy a fantastic improvement in their smile. Just updating tired stained fillings in your front teeth can make a remarkable difference, and when you replace older worn-down silver fillings at the back of your mouth, you can actually look as though you’ve never had any dental work done!
One --> Many patients choose white bonding materials which are very affordable. It’s used mainly for fillings and comes in a wide variety of shades that we can customize to match your teeth.
Two --> Bonding is so strong and natural looking that we can sculpt it by hand to…
--> correct chipped and cracked teeth--> cover stains and fill gaps
between your teeth--> strengthen and support
thinning enamel
Three --> Bonding is a very convenient process that we complete here, often in only one or two visits. No inconvenient delays waiting for a lab to manufacture anything.
If you are tired of your dingy looking fillings, or want to hide a flaw here and there, we can help you decide what would be the best choice for you. Call us and make an appointment for a new smile.
