Are your teeth giving you a headache?

Do you suffer from headaches? Have you been diagnosed with migraines? Many people live their daily lives with severe headaches or facial pain without any relief. Other symptoms common to headache sufferers are ear pain and congestion, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, and even neck tension or pain. Unfortunately, many people have been treated by numerous physicians throughout their lives without any improvement in their symptoms. The last person most people would turn to for a cure would be their dentist; however your bite could be the cause of your chronic headaches!

Many headaches can be part of undiagnosed Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or an abnormal bite. 90% of all headaches are considered “muscle tension headaches,” and can be directly related to a person’s unbalanced bite. Many people diagnosed with migraines can actually be suffering from these muscle tension headaches.

This syndrome is the source of chronic pain for many, and can result in severe wear, or fracturing, of your teeth and restorations, leading to tooth loss. This viscous cycle results in an even more unbalanced bite causing a person’s headaches and pain to worsen over time. Most people would never think that their dentist could help with headaches, but we are improving the lives of our patients every day.

CLICK HERE to read the Oakland Press Article

Depending on a dentist’s training and experience in this area, they should be able to determine if a patient has a poor bite through a thorough exam and precise measurements. People are often frustrated because previous forms of treatment have been unsuccessful. Fortunately, we are able to tell if a person is a candidate for this type of therapy before any action begins. This makes people very comfortable with pursuing this treatment when they are confident they will benefit from it.

Dental Tip of the Month
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis? Looking for answers?
Dr. Doolin and Dr. Haddad will be giving a presentation that includes discussing the latest techniques in headache and TMJ treatment at the Women’s Lifestyle’s Extravaganza October 22nd and 23rd at 1:00pm at Macomb CC Sports and Expo Center.
Their presentation:
“”Exploring the Hottest Topics in Dentistry: Cosmetics, TMJ/Headache treatment, and Sleep Apnea,” will be given both days of the event. The doctors will be available throughout the day answering questions and providing additional information for attendees.

New Research on Teething Gels

The FDA has recently advised against teething pain relievers containing benzocaine (the active ingredients in most over-the-counter teething gels.) The FDA says it can cause a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood stream.

Try these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the FDA:

• Offer your child a chilled (not frozen) teething ring made of firm rubber
• Gently massage your child's gums with a clean finger
• Should benzocaine use be necessary, use the gel or liquid sparingly- not more then four times a day

Try: Baby Orajel has a new Naturals line that's benzocaine-,alcohol- and dye-free.

For additional information contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Caring for your child's teeth

Healthy teeth are important to your child's overall health. From the time your child is born, there are things you can do to promote healthy teeth. For babies, you should clean teeth with a soft, clean cloth or baby's toothbrush. Avoid putting the baby to bed with a bottle and check teeth regularly for spots or stains.

For all children, you should

* Brush teeth with a fluoride toothpaste

* Provide healthy foods and limit sweet snacks and drinks

* Provide low-fat milk and dairy products high in calcium

* Schedule regular dental check-ups

Forming good habits at a young age can help your child have healthy teeth for life.

For additional information contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Why Your Dentist may be the most important Doctor you see this year…

The days of a dental cleaning consisting of a quick “buff and polish” are over. Today’s dental visit should be more like a physical. Many findings during a dental visit can have a major impact on your overall health.

1. Blood Pressure: At every dental appointment, your blood pressure should be taken. High blood pressure is a sign that your heart is working too hard. If your blood pressure is too high, a visit to your medical doctor is recommended.

2. Oral Cancer Detection: At every dental cleaning, a thorough cancer screening should be conducted. Oral cancers are on the rise and are easier to treat and survive the earlier they are detected.

3. Sleep Apnea Diagnosis: Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition that involves a person stopping breathing several times throughout the night. Small airways, large necks, and snoring are good indicators that sleep apnea is present, or may be present in the future. Some dentists have screening equipment that can actually test you for sleep apnea. At that time, a referral to a sleep physician or a sleep appliance made by the dentist may be recommended.

4. Gum Disease : Bacteria in your mouth leads to bleeding gums and bone loss around your teeth. According to the ADA, 78% of the adult population has some form of periodontal (gum) disease. In addition, periodontal disease is not just an infection that affects your mouth, it affects your entire body. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and a weakened immune system. Therefore, your dentist should be measuring and monitoring your gums with each cleaning, and when necessary, treating your gum disease accordingly.

Dental Tip of the Month:

Want to live longer…Floss!

In today’s society, we are rushed, stressed, and over committed and it comes as no surprise that we are all looking for ways to save time. Many of my patients feel that they have no time to floss. While this seems like a valid excuse, you may have less time on your hands if you don’t floss.

• If you start flossing today, you could add up to 6 years on to your life!

• 6 years would be an additional 3.1 million minutes.

• Let’s say you are a REALLY slow flosser and it took you 5 minutes per day.

• Let’s say you floss every day of your 100 year life- you would spend 182,500 minutes of your life flossing.

• This would leave you with an additional 5.6 years to do whatever you want!!

To Chew, or Not to Chew?

click "here" to read the Right Bite article

The great debate over chewing gum-

Here are some pro's and con's, you decide what you think:

PRO's

• Relieves Dry Mouth- stimulates the salivary glands
• Sugar free gum helps fight decay by stimulating salivary production and neutralizing acid in the mouth
• Xylitol and other ingredients in brands of gum help to remineralize teeth, again fighting decay
• Freshen breath
• Satisfies snack cravings
• Reduces ear discomfort while flying

CON's

• Sugary gum can promote tooth decay by bathing the teeth in sugar
• Although gum can freshen breath temporarily it can mask underlying problems
• Aggravates the TMJ

Please contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry for additional information 248.656.2020

Have you ever thought about changing your smile?

Are you self-conscious when smiling for pictures? Do you ever put your hand up in front of your mouth when you laugh to hide your teeth? Do you want to regain that healthy, youthful smile you used to have? Maybe it’s time for you to finally invest in yourself and transform your teeth into the beautiful smile you have always wanted.

Cosmetic dentistry is performed to fix a variety of problems. Maybe you are uncomfortable with the size, shape or spacing of your teeth and are interested in porcelain veneers or bonding. Maybe you have crowding or crooked teeth because you never had orthodontics or stopped wearing your retainers. You may also be an excellent candidate for porcelain veneers, sometimes referred to as “instant orthodontics.” Maybe years of wear and tear dulled your once-bright smile, and you would like to rejuvenate it with advanced whitening techniques. Or maybe you have older dental work that looks unnatural and keeps you from smiling as much as you would like.

Whatever factors may be inhibiting your smile, Dr. Doolin and Dr. Haddad can help. Both Dr. Doolin and Dr. Haddad have been committed to excellence through continuing education. They are two of the few dentists in the area who have completed post-graduate training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. “We feel that because of the rapid pace of change in Dentistry, our patients deserve to have their doctors learning these new and improved techniques. Our goal is to keep improving ourselves to better serve our patients,” says Dr. Haddad. By undergoing this intense cosmetic training, Dr. Doolin and Dr. Haddad have achieved clinical abilities that few dentists in the country possess, allowing them to provide their patients with only the best restorations and care possible.

Here are some things for you to consider when choosing the right cosmetic dentist… because not all cosmetic dentists are the same!

1. Continuing Education and experience: Dentists NEED to stay trained and educated in the latest technology and materials. Achieving great cosmetic outcomes takes a combination of artistry, proper technique, and an eye for detail. There are materials available today that are far superior to those used in the past; however, these materials are extremely technique-sensitive. Accordingly, your dentist needs to be specifically and properly trained on their use.

2. Before and After Smile Gallery on their website: Every dentist has their own approach and style, however seeing examples of smile makeovers they have performed on other patients should be a huge deciding factor for you. The goal for all smile enhancements should be a healthy, beautiful, and most importantly, a natural smile. No one should know that you have dental work in your mouth. They should only know that you have an attractive smile that exudes confidence and beauty. Make sure that the examples of the cosmetic dentist you are considering demonstrate that.

3. Comfort, Service, and the overall experience: Very few people truly enjoy going to the dentist, and many may even be fearful when considering especially larger cosmetic procedures. Therefore, some dentists choose to offer services that aid in making the experience more comfortable. Some of these amenities may include: refreshments before or after your appointment, massage chairs, headphones, nitrous oxide gas, and oral sedation or other relaxation methods. If these are services that you would value as a dental patient, inquire at the office you are considering to learn if they are offered.

Dr. Doolin and Dr. Haddad have changed the lives of hundreds of patients in the area by giving them the smile of their dreams. This is your opportunity to have them do the same for you. For more information, please visit www.rochesteradvanceddentistry.com or call our office at (248) 656-2020 for your personal smile consultation.