The story begins when a healthy 63-year-old Miami man began having trouble walking. Within months, he was paralyzed below the waist and confined to a wheelchair. He was unable to move his limbs and, eventually, unable to get out of bed. His condition worsened and his paralysis extended to his diaphragm, which ultimately led to his death. What led to his symptoms and eventual death? ……his denture adhesive, Poligrip.
Just months after his death, a groundbreaking study published in the medical journal Neurology established a connection between the zinc found in popular denture adhesives brands and serious nerve damage. The study showed that patients who used heavy amounts of denture cream suffered zinc overload,… (Read More)
February 24, 2011
No two dental practices are alike! Each takes on the characteristics of the practitioner who owns it. The personality of the owner is probably the key to how that office “feels” when you walk in the door. Some practices may feel “clinical and efficient”, while others feel somewhat more home spun and laid back. The dentist’s personality is reflected in his or her treatment preferences as well. The fact that different dentists will suggest different plans to treat your condition does not necessarily mean that one plan is better than another.
In my experience, all dentists will suggest what they feel to be the very best plan for any given patient. The differences between… (Read More)
February 11, 2011
I had a reader e-mail me an insurance related question this past week and wanted answer that question as well as a couple of other insurance related issues.
Patients will sometimes balk at treatment not covered by their dental insurance. Dentists will often hear, “Just do what my insurance covers. I don’t want anything extra.” In fact, a recent ADA poll showed that a lack of dental insurance was the No. 1 reason most patients gave for not visiting a dentist. So, here are some frequent questions patients often ask about dental insurance.
Why doesn’t my insurance cover all of the costs for my dental treatment?
Dental insurance isn’t really insurance (defined as a… (Read More)
February 8, 2011
With more than 24 million diabetics and 57 million pre-diabetics in the United States, nearly a quarter of the nation’s population, there are a lot of people affected by diabetes. The most up to date research shows the connection between dental health and diabetes has never been more critical.
As an indication of our general health, the rapidly rising rate of diabetes should be ringing alarm bells everywhere. The litany of health implications from diabetes is a long and grisly list. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. That is probably vastly understated because as many as 65% of deaths from diabetes are attributed to heart attack and stroke. People… (Read More)