----

Dr. Ari RO$cnblan Dr. Zh' Simon

Td . (310) 273-1'100 f.-ma,' on(O(li pct><>9021 0.,",,",

ERIO REPORTER WinteT issue 2006

~ IMPROVED TREATMENT FOR RE SEA RCH UPD A TE

RECEDING GUMS

R eceding gums are a problem for many people. The treatment of choice for this condition has been soft tissue grafting, which involves grafting Before - recession

gum tissue from the roof of a patient's mouth and transplanting it onto the reced­ing guml inc. Today, a Jess invasive treatment is available for certain patients that does not require tissue grafting from the palate, therefore reducing patient dis­comfort. Our periodonlal practice has successfully performed this procedure hun­dreds of times, improving a patient's existing gum tissue by adding a safe, com­mcrciallyavailable growth fac tor called Emdogain. This product, which has been used in more than 400,000 patients worldwide, promotes the natural rcallaehment of the gum tissue to the tooth. If you arc concerned about receding gums, ask Dr. Rosenblatt or Or. Simon if this trcannent is right for you.

The case on the right was tTealed for recession with the usc of Emdogain. After - recession corrected without the use of a gra ft

Gum Inflammation May Be Linked to lncreased Risk of Alzheimer's

Dear Patient,

A s most people know, Alzheimer' s sure to inflammatory gum di sease multi­

We hope you find the ar­ disease is a neurological disorder plies Alzheimer' s risk. A new study of

ticles and updates of re­ that causes a gradual deterioration of the dementia in identical twins suggests that

lated medical infonnation brain. One of the most tragic features of exposure to oral inflammation early in life this disease is the way patients slip away, qlladruph!l· one 's risk of developing Alz­useful. Feel free to con­

tact us for any questions slowly losing memory and other brain heimer' s disease. We can 't conclude that that you may have. functions over a span of years. Swedish good ora l health can prevent Alzheimer' s,

researchers have found that patients begin but it's clear that chronic gum discase Best wishes for the New to show symptoms, such as memory may have severe conscquences later. Year. lapses, reasoning problem-solving ability, Similarly, a recent report by the Na­

verbal fl uency and attention skills, years tional Periodontal Disease Coalition reaf­before the disease is diagnosed. These finned the link between ora l health and

Yours truly, symptoms may be warn ing signals, but overall physical health. The new research doctors need better screening tools to dis­ added to already strong cvidence suggest­tinguish those changes from the decline in ing that specific oral bacteria may later brain function that can occur naturally prompt serious ailments of the body or­Dr. Ad Rosenblatt with age. gans and the heart.

Dr. Ziv Si mon Meanwhile, University of Southern California researchers found that expo­

Page 2 Dr. ,... i ROH nbh.u , Dr. Z i>· Simo n

Overdentures Offer Greater Security for Denture Wearers

I t may surprise you to learn that nearly 10 percent of adults 18 or older have lost their teeth, and by

age 65 , nearly 33 percent of the population is miss­ing their teeth, according to the Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health. That's the bad news. The good news is that periodontists· can provide 1m­plants to support teeth that look and feel just like their own. Patients missing all their teeth usually have a complete sct of dentures, but these may be uncomfortable at times, shifting while the person

___talks or eats. Complete implant replacements can be very costly, since thcy require multiple implants per arch.

An alternativc may be an implant-supportcd overdenture. Dental implants are placed into the jaw and bond to the jawbone to form an anchor. Den­tures are created to attach to the implants, literally locking the replacement teeth into place. This treal­ment allows patients to have fewer implants placed (2-4 implants versus 6-8 per jaw), while the patient 's existing dentures are adjusted to fit the implants.

One of the advantages of implant-supported full bridges and dentures is that it replaces some of the tooth rools, which will better preserve_the jaw'_=~

bone. They also help to keep the bone healthy and intact.

DENTURE

_-----CONNECTlNG BAR

GET O VE R THE GRIN D

D o you often wake up with a dull headache or a sore jaw? Do you sometimes find yourself clench­

ing your teeth? If so, you may have a condition called ·;bruxism." _ _ __

Many people don't realize they are grinding their teeth because they do it while they sleep. However, the clenching and grinding may be quite audible and disturb sleep partners. Others who grind their tecth morc quictly may not realize they are doing it until their dentist di s­covers specifi c wear spots on their teeth.

People who grind or clench their teeth may wake up with a headache, earache or toothache because their fa­cial muscles may be sore and the jaw joints tender. Be­sides this discomfort, bruxism can eventually damage dental restorations. loosen or fractu re teeth, and damage the temporomandibular joints on eaeh side of the mouth that connect the lower jaw to the skulL As the tooth enamel is worn away, teeth may also become very sensi­tive to temperature changes and pressure.

DENTA L. IMPL.ANTS

Why do peoplc begin to grind their teeth? Some­times, patients will begin the habit in response to pain or discomfort from colds, ear infections, or allergies. .Olhers may begin as a way to_cope with stressful situa­tions, problems in sleeping, an abnormal bite, or crooked or missing teeth.

Regular dental checkups can help detect damage in the early stages. Your dentist can help you prevent the grinding by giving you a "nightguard" that can be worn while sleeping. Custom-made from soft material to fit your teeth, the nightguard slips over the teeth in one jaw and prevents contact with the opposing teeth, relieving some of the pressure of grinding and clenching.

If stress contributes to bruxism, it may be helpful to find ways to rclax , such as listening to music, reading a book., taking a walk or enjoying a wann bath. Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the side of the face may also help relax muscles that arc sore from clenching. If you have been grinding your teeth fo r a while, see your den­tis! for help.

Th ~ P ~ rio R~portu Pag~ J

T AMING THE BAD BREATH BEAST

F ew things can be more embarrassing than bad breath. Left untreated, bad breath can hurt your

work life, social life and sex life. While many manufacturers promote home remedies to tame the

beast, they only mask the underlying source of the problem.

Bad breath can be caused by many factors, such as gum di sease, a dry mouth or certain medical

conditions. Drs. Rosenblatt and Simon urge people to AVOID the following ineffective home remedies to

tackle bad breath :

1. Excessive use of mouthwash Most mouthwas hes contain alcohol, which dries and damages soft

oral tissue. The result? You' ll end up with breath worse than what you already have! Any 1II01lih rimes

conta ill illg lIIore thall 25 percent alcohol call also illcrease the risk of amI alld 1/11"001 c,,,,cer by as

lIIi1ch as 50 percenr!

2. Breath mints - Long-lasting sugar cand ies subject teeth to acid attacks, increasing your risk for

cavities.

3. Chewing gum Chewing gum only masks bad breath. Try drinking water throughout the day in­

stead.

4. Mint chew tobacco Smokeless tobacco causes gums to recede and increases the chance or losi ng

the bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place. Even worse, it causes oral cancer.

S. Vodka martinis or sour mash whiskey - Alcohol dries the mouth, worsen ing the problem.

6. Brushing with household cleanser - Many chemicals used for household clean­

ing are poisonous and should not be consumed.

7. Intestinal cleansing methods Bad breath does not originate from the stomach. Did you know Actually, anaerobic bacteria in your mouth produee smelly sulfur compounds that that... ?----_. -- - - - - - ­cause bad breath. An Iowa dentist was the 8. Tongue piercing - Anything that allows you to harbor more bacteria on your mOdel for the farmer figure I

. . . In Grant Wood's iconic tongue, like tongue Jewelry, mereases your chance of bad breath. American Gothic painting?

He posed with the artist'sInstead. prevent bad breath bv doinl! the followin!!: sister In 1930. I. Brush and floss regularly.

2. Drink plenty of fluids.

3. Brush your tongue and consider a tongue cleaner, a fl exible tool that can follm.

the contours of the tongue. A light scrapi ng over the tongue twice a day will

fectively remove the majority of bad smel ling debris, food, and bacterial residue.

4. Only use oral hygiene products that carry the ADA Seal of Approval.

S. Have your teeth cleaned periodically by a dental professional.

The Peri" R e p " " u P age "

H A PPY A N I VE RSA RY DR . R OSENBLATT!

Last September Dr. Rosenblatt celebrated 25 ycars of his dis­

tinguished practice in Beverly Hills. His staff threw him a

surprise party, inviting all his current and previous staff to join in

celebrating his accomplishments. £very single staff person came!

Attesting to their admiration for Dr. Rosenblan, fOllTlcr staffers

flcw in from Chicago, Tennessee, Santa Fe, San Francisco. and

drove in from all around Southern California.

Dr. Rosenblatt thought he was simply attend ing the "hygiene meeting" marked on the office calendar, until

--h-e-enlered therestaurant and saw, t(t1rts ~c:n !CTprise, ever)' onc or his past empl~s:-II'it""""'''''W1rtrrrt"...-1 his eurrent staff, there were tears of joy, 11 lot of laughter and many toasts. Most importantly, there was the reali­

zation of how blesscd this practice has been to have a tcam ofsuch special and loyal people.

Americans Are Gaining "Srnileage" from their Tax Returns

M any Americans spend their lax refunds on periodontal

plastic surgery. according to an online poll of consumers

conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology. One

out of four periodontists polled said they perfOIlTl most periodon­

lal plastic surgery procedures during 'tax time' - thc months of o April through June. Periodontal plastic procedures arc surgical

procedurcs involving the soft tissues around tccth and dental

implants that can enhance a patient's smi le. These procedures

also establish the groundwork for restorative and csthctic den­

tistry and improvt: tht: estht:tics of your gum lillo! .

--.. Or. An R"""nbl." O r. 701.-Sin"",

P ER IO R EPO RT ER

9400 Brigluun Woy Sll ite 311 Beverly Hills. California 90210 (310) 273-1900

Address correction requested