Download Fall 2014-Winter 2015

A Smile Makes Life More Beautiful
Nancy R. DiPietro, D.D.S. / Steven D. Danzig, D.D.S.
2 Rolling Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096
610 896-6361
www.ddfamilydental.com
Fall 2014/ Winter 2015
Long Lasting Senior Smiles
Dental issues and needs change with every stage of life.
Senior citizens have unique dental concerns and challenges, but it is realistic with modern materials and techniques
to have good dental health. Many seniors have dry mouth
as a side effect of medications or certain conditions such
as diabetes or anemia or from radiation treatments. People
with dry mouth are more likely to have bad breath and to
form cavities. Gum disease is another senior concern. Bacteria in plaque can cause gum (periodontal) disease which
is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. According to the
American Cancer Society, the average age for diagnosis of
cancer is 62. Oral cancer can be deadly and early detection
is essential. Some recommendations are:
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Using oral moisturizers
Keeping well hydrated
Using sugar free lozenges or gum to stimulate saliva
Using a humidifier
Eating a healthy diet, low in acidic and sugary foods
and high in calcium rich foods.
Brush teeth two times a day and floss once a day.
Dentist applied fluoride or varnish to help protect teeth
from decay.
The single most important beneficial thing to do for
good oral health is to visit the dentist regularly for
cleaning and oral exams.
To Enhance Your
Appointment:
WI-FI ACCESS
iPads in our treatment rooms!
Great for:
Patient Education
Games for kids
Confirmations by
Phone, email or Text
Cracked Tooth Solutions
A chipped or cracked tooth can detract from your smile. It can cut lips, cheeks or tongue,
give decay a place to form or break further. Bonding, porcelain veneers or crowns are
ways to treat your damaged tooth. An occlusal guard may be suggested if clenching or
grinding is suspected. However, some cracks are not readily seen or even detected by xray. An intra-oral camera can aid in the detection of cracks when they are small. Call to
schedule a 15 minute appointment for a free intra-oral camera exam.
Write Reviews on
Angie’s List or ZocDoc
(Discount Angie’s List
membership available)
Check out the ZocDoc
appointment button on our
website.
CAN PACIFIERS & BABY BOTTLES RUIN MY BABY’S TEETH?
OFFICE NEWS
Sucking is a natural reflex for babies that starts before they are born. Besides a reflex
needed for nourishment from breast or bottle feeding, sucking serves as a mechanism for
comfort from pacifiers, fingers or hands. Most sucking habits are not harmful to a baby’s
mouth or teeth. However, frequent sucking or sipping anything other than water from a
bottle or sipping cup may increase the risk of developing early and extensive tooth decay.
While breast feeding is a healthy practice, continuous breast feeding can still increase the
risk of decay. Don’t try to calm a fussy baby by dipping a pacifier in honey or sugar water. If
pacifier use continues after a baby’s teeth start to fall out, it can cause shifting of the front
teeth, misalignment of the jaws and a narrower roof of the mouth. Use positive reinforcement to encourage older children to give up the pacifier.
6 1/2 years after
the birth of her second son, Caroline is
back in our office as
a full time dental assistant.
New Roles
As empty nesters, Drs. DiPietro
and Danzig have decided to help
underserved areas of dentistry
on their day off.
Dr. Danzig will be part of a
mobile team providing
dentistry to PA seniors
in nursing home
facilities as of
December 2014.
Dr. DiPietro will return to her
alma matter, Temple
University Kornberg
School of Dentistry,
as an adjunct clinical
faculty member in
Spring 2015.
10 Fun Dental Facts
1)
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but don’t use those pearly whites to bite anything harder than food!
2)
The most popular toothbrush color is blue. What color is yours?
3)
The average person spends about 38 seconds per day brushing their teeth, but dentists recommend brushing 2 minutes twice a
day.
4)
The amount of dental floss bought per person per year is 18 yards. The amount that should be bought is 122 yards (about 1 foot
a day). If you don’t floss, you miss 40% of your tooth surfaces. Make sure to floss daily.
5)
Teeth are as unique as fingerprints. Even identical twins have different dental patterns.
6)
The Statue of Liberty’s mouth is 3 feet wide.
7)
People who drink 3 or more sugary sodas daily have 62% more dental decay, fillings and tooth loss. Quench your thirst with water.
8)
The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime — enough to fill 2 swimming pools.
9)
Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s dentures weren't made of wood. His 4 pairs were crafted from gold, ivory, lead
and a mixture of human, donkey and hippopotamus teeth. Take care of your teeth to avoid custom chompers.
10) It seems children have the right idea about smiling; they smile about 400 times a day! Women smile about 62 times a day
compared to men who smile 8 times a day on average.