Dentist Dunwoody: Women and Oral Health Issues

As a woman, why do I have to worry about oral health?

Everyone needs to take care of their oral health. But female hormones can lead to an increase in some problems, such as:

•Cold sores and canker sores

•Dry mouth

•Changes in taste

•Higher risk of gum disease

Cold sores are small, painful sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1.  Once you are exposed to the virus, it can hide in your body for years. Things that trigger the virus and lead to cold sores include:

•Getting too much sun

•Having a cold or infection

•Having your period

•Feeling stressed

Cold sores can spread from person to person. They most often form on the lips and sometimes under the nose or chin. The sores heal in about 7 to 10 days without scarring. You can buy over-the-counter drugs to put on cold sores to help relieve pain. If you get cold sores a lot, talk with your doctor or dentist about a prescription for an antiviral drug. These drugs can help reduce healing time and the number of new sores.

Canker sores are small ulcers inside the mouth. They have a white or gray base and a red border. Women are more likely than men to have canker sores that recur. The cause of canker sores is unknown. Risk factors include:

 •Fatigue

•Stress

•Having your period

•A cut on the inside of your cheek or on your tongue

•Allergies

•Celiac disease

•Crohn's disease

Canker sores most often heal on their own in one to three weeks. See your dentist if you get a large sore (larger than a half inch, or about the size of a dime). You may need medicine prescribed to treat it.

To help with pain:

•Avoid hot, spicy foods

•Use mild mouthwashes or salt water

•Try over-the-counter pain medicines

No proven way exists to prevent canker sores.  If you get them often, talk with your dentist.

Another issue women experience is burning mouth. It is most common in postmenopausal women.  Women with this condition describe a burning feeling in the mouth or tongue.  Unfortunately, the cause is unknown, but given that it occurs in the mouth, it might be linked to:

 •Hormones

•Dry mouth (which can be caused by many medicines and disorders such as Sjögren's syndrome or diabetes)

•Taste problems

•Nutritional deficiencies

•Use of ACE inhibitors (blood pressure medicines)

•Anxiety and depression

•Dentures that do not fit

•Infections (especially fungal infections)

Talk to your doctor or dentist if you have burning mouth.  Treatment depends on the cause — if it can be determined — and might include adjusting your dentures, vitamin supplements, or pain or other medicines or referring back to physician for a global diagnosis.

Taking good care of your teeth and gums can help you avoid or lessen these oral health problems.  If we can be of service, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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Dentist Dunwoody: How Do You Find a Good Dentist?

That’s really a tough question.  And for our practice (in Sandy Springs, GA) it’s even more difficult because we don’t advertise using conventional methods.  Ninety-five (95%) percent or more of our patients are referral based, either from an existing patient or another referring dentist.

Given our history and experience, we recommend asking for referrals from a co-worker or a neighbor.

If you have relocated from out of state to another city or state and want to find a good dentist, get a referral from your previous dentist or at least their second opinion.[1]  This is probably the best option as your previous dentist probably knows someone he went to school with or has a professional affiliation with.  It is unlikely that he would give you wrong advice.  If you simply are not happy with the services given by your current dentist, you can ask for recommendations from your co-workers, friends, family members, and other trusted individuals in your life.  We have found that once someone makes a referral, the referred patient will go to our web site or reviews to validate the referral.  A combination of a trusted referral borne out by independent research will usually lead you to the right dentist.

How to Find a Good Dentist?

If you are planning to undergo any kind of dental treatment, you need to make sure that you get the services suited to your needs.   Choosing a quality dentist with the right skills and experience is the deciding factor in the success of the treatment.  While price is a factor, a well-respected dentist with long standing roots in the community is not going to be overpriced.  You certainly would not want to base your decision on an inexpensive root canal and crown treatment which could turn out to be ineffective in just a few months.  Dental issues are no small matter. You should in no way compromise on the quality of the dental treatment based on price.

If it’s cosmetic dentistry you are seeking, then look for a prosthodontist.  Prosthodontic dentists are with the passage of time gaining popular recognition as patients become more familiar with the advances in dentistry and how they can enhance their everyday lives. They are expert dentists with a post graduate ADA recognized degree from a dental school centered around a complete knowledge of dentistry, where function and aesthetics are combined in the final result.

Location of the Dentist

Again this is a tough one.  You should not necessarily choose a dentist whose office is pretty close to where you work or live.  This will surely help you in case of a dental emergency, but with a quality dentist as a general rule you shouldn’t have emergencies.  Obviously, if you can find a quality dentist close to where you work or live in Atlanta, you will reduce hassle for you in driving many miles just for treatment which requires frequent visits.  But for twice a year cleanings and examinations a few more miles shouldn’t create any issues.

Whichever dentist you choose in your locality, always make sure that he/she is a certified member of the American Dental Association (ADA).  When you are comfortable with your referral, compare the services, charges, dental insurance formalities, and other determining factors, before choosing a suitable one.  After you find all the above conditions satisfactory, simply call for a consultation.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] Or you can make an appointment with us – 404-256-3620.

Dentist Roswell: The Good News About Root Canals

Root Canals are virtually pain-free.  Patients used to worry about root canals, and rightfully so.  Once synonymous with serious pain, today's root canal procedures are almost pain-free.  Usually the pain associated with root canals is caused by waiting until the infection has become all too tolerable.

Root canals are needed when the dental infection, or tooth decay reaches the pulp chamber of the tooth. The infection destroys the nerves located within the root of the tooth, eventually causing the tooth to die. Years ago, the only option for this type of dental problem was a tooth extraction. Now, thanks to the progress in dental technology, often your infection can be stopped with a topical medicine applied to the tooth. And where this is not successful, the tooth can be saved with a root canal.

If you're in need of root canal therapy, you may be having trouble eating or sleeping.  A toothache or sensitivity to hot or cold is common for those with infected pulp, and you may even have swelling or tenderness in the gums.

The best course of action is not to self-diagnose and don’t procrastinate.  Only a dentist can properly diagnose the pain and provide you with the appropriate treatment.

If you are experiencing symptoms of an infection in your teeth, don't ignore them!  Our goal is to save your tooth rather than extract it, and with good reason.  Missing teeth can cause bite problems, shifting teeth and bone loss.  The vast majority of preventative treatment or root canal procedures are effective, and a successful procedure can help you keep that tooth for a long time.

If we can be of assistance or answer any of your questions, please give us a call or email us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

Thank you for all your referrals.  We truly appreciate them.

Information included is not dental or medical advice.  For your specific information

 be sure to consult your dentist.

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ADA Accredited Prosthodontist is Your Cosmetic Dentist: Buckhead Atlanta

Prosthodontists are dental specialists certified in tooth restorations such as implants, bridges, crowns, dentures and veneers to give you the best smile possible, more important they provide the right smile. They are ADA accredited specialists in esthetic and cosmetic dentistry.  After graduating from dental school with a D.D.S. or equivalent degree, prosthodontists receive three additional years of rigorous specialty training in a university or hospital ADA accredited graduate education program.

If you are seeking cosmetic, implant or reconstructive dental work, you should see a prosthodontist, because prosthodontics is the only specialty recognized by the ADA that is involved with esthetic and cosmetic dental restorations and implant restorations.   None of the other specialties are taught both the form and the function of restorative dentistry.  Patients should understand that terms like ‘Cosmetic Dentist’, ‘Implantologist’ or ‘Implant Specialist’, are not designated specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.  While these terms may be very descriptive, they are also terms that attempt to get around ADA designated specialties.

Prosthodontists are experts in the dynamics and esthetics of a smile, the preservation of a healthy mouth and the science of tooth replacement.  With the passage of time prosthodontic dentists are gaining popular recognition with respect to their qualifications to offer state-of-the-art procedures and techniques as patients become more familiar with the advances in modern dentistry.  Of the 170 thousand dentists in the country less than two (2%) percent are trained prosthodontists.  So, when your dentist refers you to a prosthodontist you should know you are in well trained hands.

Many of those referring specialists think of the prosthodontist as the "conductor" of a dental treatment plan, the professional in the process with the big picture in mind.  They usually lead a team of specialists to develop ideal solutions to your dental needs because they are responsible for the final restoration.   They provide the highest level of dental care being expertly trained in many different clinical disciplines with the anticipation that a working knowledge of various disciplines is necessary to produce optimal results for the patient.

The combination of all these various disciplines rest comfortably within the purview of a prosthodontist’s training and expertise.  A comprehensive approach by a prosthodontist as the conductor is the best way to get your inner confidence boosted, your personality improved and the right smile.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Scheinfeld received her prosthodontics degree from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1988.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC                                                                                                            

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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Roswell Prosthodontist: Considering Dental Implants

Important Facts to Help Make Your Decision

Many people are unaware of the consequences of losing their teeth or the effects of wearing partial or full dentures upon their jaws and bones. When teeth are lost, the surrounding bone immediately begins to shrink [atrophy].  Implant treatment, for tooth replacement therapy, can be the optimal treatment plan. Here are some important facts to take into consideration.

• Wearing dentures [plates] accelerates bone loss, and old dentures become loose because of resulting bone loss. It is possible to watch and wait for bone to disappear to the point where treatment success of any kind is doubtful.

• At the end of a five-year period, only 40% are still wearing the original partial denture made for them. This is not a great testimonial to value and utility. Those lucky enough to have a functioning partial denture after 5 years are still losing valuable supporting bone.

• Of those patients who wear a partial denture, 50% chew better without it.

• One study showed that after 8 years, 40% of the supporting teeth [abutments] that the partial hooks onto were lost through tooth decay or fracture.

• Patients with natural teeth can bite with about 200 pounds of force. Denture wearers can bite with approximately 50 pounds of force. Those wearing dentures for 15 years or more can bite with only about 6 pounds of force, and their diet and eating habits have had to been modified accordingly.

• The average lower full denture shifts from side to side during chewing and is a significant problem that new denture wearers must get use to and accept.

• Denture wearers have decreased nutritional intake, a ten year shorter life span, and 30% of denture wearers can only eat soft foods.

• The single tooth implant success rate is above 98%, and unlike a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the implant are no more at risk than if no teeth were missing.

• Implant-supported bridges or dentures have 95% success rates over 10 years without the severe loss of supporting bone.

For bone maintenance, the health of adjacent teeth, the longevity of the restoration and patient comfort, implant therapy is the treatment of choice. Implants can restore chewing function to the equivalent of someone with natural teeth.

If you have questions or want to know if you are a good candidate for implant tooth replacement therapy, please call our office in Sandy Springs.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A               

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620 

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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Dentist Buckhead: How Much Do Teeth Cleanings Cost?

So you got a mailer coupon with the offer of $49.95 for a regular cleaning & $19.95 for an exam & x-ray.  Is it a cheap gimmick?  A lot of the time it is, it just depends on the practice.  If it’s a mature practice you might want to question why they are giving away services.  Is it a loss leader used to get you in and pressure you into other dental procedures?

On the other hand, if it’s a new practice, then providing discounted services is one of the few methods a new practice has to introduce itself to the surrounding community, no different than a new restaurant trying to showcase its menu.  The genuine intent is to build a relationship by showcasing the practice.

Dental costs will vary widely, depending on where you go and the quality of the practice you see.  With respect to continuing care (on your next 6 month visit), a teeth cleaning charge is going to range somewhere around $65 to $89.[1] Often dental insurance will cover some or all of this cost for a specific number of cleanings per year.  The doctor’s exam is $45 to $55 and the 4 basic bite wing x-rays are around $59 to $72.  Depending on your insurance this might be covered anywhere from 60 to 100% after a small deductible is met.   Periodic X-rays ($32 -$135) are needed to see if any problems are developing inside the teeth or around the jaw bone, and are generally required before cleaning the teeth of a new patient (which is why some practices offer coupons to defray the initial cost of a first visit). These are also often covered by dental insurance.

The main goal of professional teeth cleaning is to prevent gum disease, which is the primary cause of tooth loss.  Dental hygiene is imperative, and cleaning your teeth is the first step toward their long term preservation.  In a standard cleaning, a dental hygienist (working under a dentist's supervision) removes soft plaque and hard tartar (mineralized plaque that builds up on the teeth and can only be removed with professional instruments) from above and below the gum line on all the teeth. The process requires one office visit and usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

The more extensive deep cleaning process called scaling and root planing is done by quadrants (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) at a cost of about $100 -$400 per quadrant depending on the severity of the problem or $400 -$1,600 for the entire mouth. This is where you run into problems with couponing dentists.  But more often than not, if the mouth is in such poor health the dentist will refer the patient to a periodontist.   Most dental insurance includes these procedures.

Again, your goal is a healthy mouth which an integral part of your overall health.  Oh, and by the way, just because you had your teeth cleaned professionally, the jobs not done.  You have to do your part by brushing and flossing daily if you want to keep them.   If you have additional questions, feel free to email or call our office.  Our goal here is to create an informed healthy patient.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC                                                              

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] However, depending on how long it’s been since you have been to the dentist and what extent your oral healthcare has been neglected, it can be more if there’s a need to do a full mouth root scaling.

Top East Cobb Prosthodontist – Novy Scheinfeld, DDS

If you have seen the show Extreme Makeover or even heard about it - you have probably come to understand that "Cosmetic Dentistry" (or Aesthetic Dentistry) has the power to change people's lives.  The reality though, is that the term can be confusing because many "cosmetic" dentists are not trained by any program recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA).  Prosthodontics is the only discipline of cosmetic dentistry that is recognized by the ADA. And a Prosthodontist is not just trained in one simple discipline - it is a post graduate degree in dentistry where by a skilled, artistically and technically trained dentist creates an anatomically correct smile- the right smile- that is uniquely crafted to fit each person's individual attributes. Most dentists are not trained prosthodontic graduates of a dental school - rather they take short continuing education courses in conjunction with trial and error experience to be able to understand how size, shape, color and symmetry all work together to create what a prosthodontist is trained in during their post graduate work. It may appear as simple as a little contouring or as extensive as a full mouth reconstruction using veneers, crowns and implants; it’s the training that makes it appear effortless. The prosthodontist is trained to create the smile that implements the use of veneers, crowns, bridges and dental implants to ensure that the right smile is as perfect a fit both functionally and aesthetically as your individual characteristics will allow.

The program is so rigorous, that of the 170 thousand dentists in the United States, less than 2% are trained prosthodontists.  Dr. Scheinfeld received her prosthodontics degree from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1988.  Her prosthodontics’ instructor Dr. E. Neal Kopp practiced with her for 14 years until his passing in 2008.  In addition, Dr. Sidney Tourial, an adjunct Emory Prosthodontic professor and this year’s GDA President has been in the practice for over 20 years.

Schedule dental visits for you and your family today by calling The Right Smile Center in Sandy Springs at 404-256-3620. Our dental office is conveniently located on Carpenter Drive off Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, and we serve patients from Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buckhead, Dunwoody, East Cobb and surrounding communities. We welcome new patients and will be happy to answer all of your questions in person. Our dentists and team look forward to making you, and your loved ones, smile!

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC                                       

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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