Blog—Educational

For years we have known that patients with calcified carotid artery have an increased risk of strokes.  Well, recently in the “triple O” journal (Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology) noted that incidental observation of these calcifications could identify patients in need for further assessment and possible treatment. With all the “negatives” that…

E-cigarettes, better known as Electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDD), are the new trend in smoking cessation.  I have many patients and close friends that are using these devices to finally quit smoking.  They work by vaporizing nicotine along with other flavoring, as an alternative for smoking regular cigarettes.  Some E-cigarettes are even nicotine-free and have become…

There was a great article recently in the JAMA (Journal of American Medical Assoc.) on robotics & surgery.  As expected robots are also making its way into medicine and dentistry.  I am working closing with technology in order to perform guided surgery in patients, especially for implant placement and corrective jaw surgery….more to come. Here…

The ADA is reporting that the US dept of Treasury is easing the rules on Flex spending accounts (FSA).  The “use-it or lose-it” rule does not apply.  Now you are able to carry over $500 of unused FSA funds at employer discretion.  Currently there are 14 million families that use FSAs to pay for medical…

In a new study from University of Louisville, researchers found that a common bacteria found in gingivitis / gum disease known as “porphyromonas gingivalis” worsens arthritis.  Although we have suspected this for some time, now we are seeing research to support such claims by our patients.  They also found that the presence of this bacteria…

When treated in a timely fashion, dental infections or “abscesses” can normally be managed in the an office setting.  Unfortunately if left untreated, dental abscesses can have serious consequences requiring hospitalization. In the past few years, during the economic downturn/recession/depression, we noted an increase in the number of patients presenting to our office with serious…

Recently I have had a few patients that  presented to our office with difficulties regarding their teeth during pregnancy….one even had a miscarriage possibly due to an infection of an impacted third molars.  Sometimes we tend to forget the mouth is connected to the body!  However, there are numerous studies showing the link between poor…

As a routine most surgeons prescribe pain medications to help reduce the expected pain and discomfort after surgery.  In most instances in oral surgical procedure some sort of opioid/narcotic pain medication is used as part of this regimen.  In some patients constipation is a rare side-effect of narcotic medications.  Some will even go as far…