2012 March Archive - Dr. Mitchell A. Josephs' Blog

Archive for March, 2012

Dental Treatment Pain; No more

Posted on: March 27th, 2012 by Dr. Mitchell Josephs No Comments

Q: Dear Doctor Josephs: I am an avid reader of your column and am a retired surgeon myself. As you may already know, doctors can sometimes be the worst patients. I require major dental implant treatment, crowns, bridges and extractions and am wondering how much pain this endures. Am I just being an octogenarian baby? Dr. Lou in Palm Beach Gardens

A: Don’t sell yourself short, Doc; my physician patients are great, it’s my retired dentist patients that can be a handful! A recent study in Consumer Reports surveyed readers who had dental procedures in the previous five years. Here’s the skinny: The percentage of patients who reported zero to mild pain or discomfort, was 90% for root canals, 91% for extractions, 91% for implants and 93% for crowns, inlays or veneers. At my next seminar, I will be presenting the hi-tech methods and equipment that our profession has to make dental treatment comfortable.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Mitchell Josephs will be giving a FREE LECTURE on Incision-Free Dental Implant Surgery, Digital Crowns & Veneers and Choosing a Dental Office, at the The Palm Beach Towers, 44 Cocoanut Row in Palm Beach, on Wednesday April 4^th at 4:00 pm. Attendees will receive a FREE copy of his book: “Tooth Talk”. Seating is limited. Call 561-832-2917 to register.

Dr. Mitchell Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and hosts “Tooth Talk” on WBZT AM1230 (www.radiotoothtalk.com) Dr. Josephs is a Faculty Advisory Board member at McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry and completed his residency at Manhattan’s Beth Israel Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Hospital.

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drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com
44 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480
888-DRTOOTH (888-378-6684)
www.palmbeachdentist.com

Gum Use for Juvederm, Dermal Filler

Posted on: March 20th, 2012 by Dr. Mitchell Josephs No Comments

Q: After years of gum surgery, crowns, veneers, implants and “plain old “ aging, I have ugly black holes between my teeth at my gum line. What can be done about this? Mary Lou in Palm Beach

A: Nothing ruins a date more than when some one says: “…you have something stuck between your teeth.” (except when the date goes to the rest room, never to return.) These triangular spaces, called gingival embrasures often get larger as the gum in between, shrinks. We call this condition “blunted papillas.”

A novel use of Juvederm helps add plumpness to these areas, often filling the ugly black holes. Dentists in many states now, including Florida, are already trained and licensed and insured to perform this procedure as well as Botox and Dermal Fillers on the face. (Yet, at this point, only dentists, would be trained in the treatment of the gums with Dermal Fillers.) Email us for a link to a video of this procedure.

Dr. Mitchell Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and hosts the “Tooth Talk” radio on WBZT AM1230. (www.radiotoothtalk.com) Dr. Josephs is a Faculty Advisory Board member at McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry.

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drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com
44 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480
888-DRTOOTH (888-378-6684)
www.palmbeachdentist.com

Silent Drills; Almost

Posted on: March 13th, 2012 by Dr. Mitchell Josephs No Comments

Q: I hate the dentist because of the sound of the drill. When will we have a silent drill? Artie in Boca

A: I’m sorry, could you speak up? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of my drill! Most modern dental drills operate on an air turbine system. This causes a high-pitched whine that sends some patients through the roof and has kept half the US population from setting foot in a dental office.

For several years now, many offices use electric drills, which use a small electric motor within the drill itself. They are much quieter, faster, more efficient, cleaner and cooler when it comes to the cutting of tooth structure. Less noise and less vibration adds to greater patient comfort. They are expensive for the dentist, but I feel worth the investment for any modern, hi-tech dental office.

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drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com
44 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480
888-DRTOOTH (888-378-6684)
www.palmbeachdentist.com

When a Root Canal is Not Affordable

Posted on: March 6th, 2012 by Dr. Mitchell Josephs No Comments

Q: I need a root canal to save a tooth, but cannot afford it at this time. Is there an alternative?..SJH in Hollywood

A: Albert Einstein once said: “Honey! We’re out of toilet paper! More profoundly, he also said: “Any intelligent fool can make things more complex. …..It takes a touch of genius –and a lot of courage-to move in the opposite direction.” (i.e. make things simple, but highly effective.)

Should finances limit your ability to save an abscessed or decay-ridden tooth with root canal treatment, consider a pulpotomy. Many patients need a low-cost, quick and comfortable alternative, besides extracting the whole tooth.

The tooth is anesthetized followed by complete removal of the decay and most of the nerve tissue (or pulp). A small cotton pellet soaked with Formocresol is placed inside the tooth, followed by a large filling. One study showed 92 % of pulpotomized teeth succeeded, while 8% failed and resulted in extraction or the need for full root canal treatment before the patient was ready financially. Cost difference? $300 for a pulpotomy vs. $1000 to $1600 for traditional root canals. WARNING: Eventually a full root canal will be needed on these teeth, but in some cases you can buy months or years until you are ready.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Mitchell Josephs will be giving a FREE LECTURE on Incision-Free Dental Implant Surgery, Digital Crowns & Veneers and Choosing a Dental Office, at the Downtown West Palm Beach Library, on Thursday March 8^th at 6:30 pm. Attendees will receive a FREE copy of his book: “Tooth Talk”. Seating is limited. Call 561-868-7701 to register.

____________________________________________________________

drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com
44 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480
888-DRTOOTH (888-378-6684)
www.palmbeachdentist.com