Posts Tagged ‘Dental Patients’

At The Gentle Dentist located in Shelby Township, Macomb County, Michigan we pride ourselves in the fact that we combine High technology with High touch.  Our team of dental professionals aim to make your visit to our dental office in Shelby Twp. the most positive experience at a dental office as possible.  With a light hearted, compassionate environment many of our dental patients say what a great place this is to even visit.

How then do we incorporate our dental technology with the gentle touch?  That is easy-We use the technology as a tool and not an excuse to ignore our dental patients.

The following are examples how we use technology at our dental office located at 22 Mile Rd. just west of Hayes which is 2 miles north of Sterling Heights:

• We are a paperless dental office so this means that any forms are sent to you online to be filled out in the privacy of your own home so that when you arrive at the dental office  you will only need to review the information you filled out and sign off on our tablet PC.  This is convenient when you have the time and have access to your medical and dental information.
• Digital x rays and panoramic x rays.  With the use of digital x rays your exposure to radiation is decreased by 50-60%.  The image appears on our screen within 4 seconds of exposure.  If a different view is needed there is no need to wait which is common with x ray film. This also makes us a “green dental office” since there are no harmful chemicals disposed of and used.
• Electric dental hand pieces are used for precise control of the drill and is quieter than the air driven drills used by many dentists in the Macomb County area.
• Digital photos of both your smile and mouth make communication and understanding much easier which take the guess work out of it.  These can also be emailed to you for your own use.
• Computer based educational systems are used to allow you the dental patient to have a better understanding of the procedures that are recommended to you.

These are only a few of the unique high technology tools we use for our dental patients in the Washington Twp., Clinton Township and New Baltimore areas.  For more information please visit our website at www.TheGentleDentist.com or call (586)247-3500.

So the holidays are upon us and if you are like me the access to rich and high caloric foods are plenty.  The trick is to limit food intake and closely monitor the quantities eaten.  I want to give suggestions to help so that the New Years Resolutions will not seem to be so monumental.  Obesity is a growing concern in the United States. Half of the U.S. adult population is overweight or obese. Factors contributing to weight gain include increased stress, hunger, reduced activity, and smoking habits.  The problem is that the mean weight of adults increases significantly during the holiday period. . Thats why its important to maintain a balanced weight, because even a very small imbalance can greatly affect weight gain.  Many health issues develop from over eating such as

• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems.

The following are some suggestions on how to reduce the temptations of holiday eating:

• Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a major source of calories, plus it leads to the munchies.
• Limit soda and other sweetened beverages. These are loaded with sugar and citric acid and add extra calories.
• Schedule holiday food celebrations at normal meal times. Celebrations outside the normal eating hour can unbalance natural hunger and alter eating habits.
• Use smaller plates. Larger plates hold more food and increase the likelihood of overeating.
• Eat a healthy snack or drink a full glass of water before a holiday party. Your hunger will be satisfied and youll be less likely to overeat.
• Brush your teeth when youre finished eating. Besides practicing good oral hygiene, youre less likely to munch throughout the remainder of the day

Remember that making intelligent decisions about your diet now will give you a better chance of success in 2009.

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  His motto is to relax while we take care of your smile. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years and is located in Shelby Township, Macomb County, Michigan.

Give us a call at (586)247-3500 or email DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com for more information.

This patient of The Gentle Dentist had lost some teeth because of a failed root canal and a fractured tooth.  Rather than adding more teeth to a failed system she and her husband studied the options and decided to give us a call.  They searched on the internet for options and decided to give Dr. Robert Antolak, The Gentle Dentist,  the opportunity to surgically place dental implants to eventually replace the missing teeth.  She wants to eat normal food without pain or something removable.  The most natural way to replace these missing teeth are with dental implants.  They are small titanium screws that are inserted into the jaw bone.  The bone then grows into the implant and when healed teeth can be screwed into place.  The crowns that are placed can be treated like natural teeth because of the direct attachment to the bone.  The problem with both fixed bridges and partial dentures is that food can accumulate under them.  Dental implant crowns act like natural teeth so food doesn’t build up and you can use the same biting force as if the teeth were natural.

After 1 week there was great healing and in a couple of months she will have crowns to eat on.  This is important so that adjacent teeth don’t move into improper relationships.

The surgical cost of an implant, abutment and porcelain crowns are about $3,000 for the entire procedure.  This may seem like a lot, but the value to be able to have teeth to chew on again is beyond mention.

There are some dental insurances that do cover the placement and restoration of these procedures.

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  His motto is to “relax while we take care of your smile”. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years and is located in Shelby Township, Macomb County, Michigan.

Give us a call at (586)247-3500 or email DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com for more information.