Spring 2011

Thank you for all your referrals. We appreciate them!

Produced for the Patients of Drs. Herrero & Martenson

Chronic Jaw Or Facial Pain?We can help

Do you suffer from chronic jaw or facial pain? Then you could have Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). TMD involves the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull and the muscles that surround it. Over ten million North American adults suffer from TMD which affects both appearance and overall health.

Causes:n Stress (teeth grinding and

clenching)n An uneven biten Arthritisn Jaw dislocation or injury

symptoms:n Chewing difficulty n Jaw and facial painn Headache and earache n Clicking or grating

sounds when chewing, yawning, or talking

possible side-effeCts:n Impaired biten Tooth and restoration wear and damagen Tooth loss

Over time, TMD can cause serious tooth and bite issues, affecting your appearance as well as your health. Let’s discuss your particular dental problems before they become even larger ones.

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Waste Not, Want NotBenefit now!

We just love it when we get to be the bearers of good tidings! This is our chance to remind you that for most people, January signifies renewal time for insurance benefits. That means you get to begin the year with a clean slate and a fresh start for your smiling future.

Early in the new year is an excellent time for an examination so that we can monitor your oral health and review your home care regime. It’s a great opportunity to consider cosmetic or orthodontic procedures you might have been postponing. Once we’ve assessed your oral health, we’ll be happy to sit down with you to help map out your personal treatment options.

Make this your year to have a healthy, happy, fabulous smile. Don’t waste a minute of it!

Yours in good dental health,

Dr. Dale B. HerreroDr. Jill A. Martenson

Let’s face it – all mature adults experience the effects of gravity and a life well-lived on their appearance. Though when teeth are missing, the bite and facial structure can alter, exaggerating signs of normal ageing and creating a sunken aged appearance. You may be surprised to learn that dental implants, which were invented as a permanent way to replace teeth and to avoid bone loss, actually have a cosmetic benefi t and can even prevent the need for a surgical facelift.

Implants have two parts: a root made of biocompatible metal and a custom-made enamel tooth crown which is attached to it. Here’s how they can help save your oral health and appearance… Immediate placement after tooth loss can save supporting bone, adjacent teeth, and your great looking smile. Implants can be an attractive alternative to a denture or bridge. An implant-supported bridge can be used when more than one tooth is missing to provide greater stability and save underlying bone. An implant-supported denture can solve the problems of eating, speaking, and socializing associated with wobbly fi tting dentures and permanently removes the need for adhesives.

We are committed to helping you prevent tooth loss, but when the need arises, we’ll be happy to discuss whether implants are a suitable option for you. Not only can they save your looks – they look and feel natural too!

A Face-Saving Option

� t � li� your smile & your confi dence!

Go Ahead!

Consider permanent dental implants

A� an onion!From time immemorial, onions have been used as a food remedy for a

myriad of health issues. Why? Raw or cooked, onions have anti-infl ammatory, anticholesterol, anticancer, and antioxidant properties which may help with many diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. It might surprise you to learn that onions are one of the best foods for your smile too!

Because they contain an antibacterial compound that kills many types of oral bacteria, onions can help diminish the severity of gingivitis and periodontitis (gum diseases). Eating them raw produces the maximum benefi t.

On the nutritional front, onions contain numerous vitamins and minerals... and on top of all that, they’re inexpensive and delicious! Worried about onions on your breath? Fresh parsley will do the trick!

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Your immune system’s killer cells, known as T cells, rely on vitamin D to recognize and respond to a threat from an infection like gum disease. That’s a new discovery. Made by your own body through exposure to sunlight, Vitamin D can also be found in fi sh liver oil, eggs, and fatty fi sh such as salmon, herring, and mackerel, or taken as a daily supplement. Good to know.

Just as plaque, the bacterial biofi lm you can feel on your teeth can lead to infection and infl ammation if not controlled, other types of biofi lms can cause disease elsewhere in your body – the middle ear and gastrointestinal tract are examples. Insight into how gum diseases trigger your immune system and link to infl ammatory diseases like heart and stroke, diabetes, cancers, arthritis,

Straight To The PointUse what you know to fi ght gum disease

Alzheimer’s, and complications of pregnancy, could further science’s understanding of other biofi lm-associated diseases. Inspiring.

Finding a cure is complex. Nearly one third of the human genome is involved in gingivitis alone, and that’s the mildest form of gum disease. Plus, advances in molecular techniques suggest that human microbial systems are more uniquely individual than previously understood. Fascinating challenge.

Intriguing stuff, but sticking to the basics is still your best hope. Brush and floss daily to keep plaque from building up and hardening into tartar, and keep your regular hygiene appointments to prevent or reverse gum disease. Straightforward and effective.

Tattooing, though ancient, has really caught on with people who admire the tribal esthetic. Interestingly, in addition to the body, some nations to this day deliberately tattoo the gingivae, or gums. Motives vary: appearance, superstition, and occasionally as a folk remedy. An amalgam tattoo, though inadvertent, is also a real thing.

Sometimes a small area of blue-gray-black, which looks much like a tattoo, can appear on the tongue, cheek, roof of the mouth, gums, or lips. It is usually caused by tiny amalgam particles when you get or remove a silver fi lling, and sometimes can form over time when a fi lling rubs oral tissue while talking or eating.

Amalgam tattoos are nothing to worry about – most people never realize they have one. But if you do, we’ll be happy to take a look.

When ISN’T Candy Dandy?When it’s really something else!

Tobacco candies come in the form of dissolvable, fl avored, candy-like pellets, sticks, and strips. They are designed to give adults a smokeless way to get nicotine into their system. Trouble is, they look and taste just like regular candy, especially to children.

They can also contain a greater proportion of free nicotine which is more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream than is usual for other tobacco products. This could make them more toxic to a child than cigarettes or smokeless tobacco when accidentally ingested. For a small child or infant, it only takes one milligram of nicotine to cause illness. Larger doses can be fatal.

We support your efforts to quit tobacco and to avoid the perils of secondhand smoke – it’s essential to your health and others. But please keep cessation aids out of children’s reach.

Tattoo Who? No worries!

office information

Information included is not dental or medical advice. For your specific information be sure to consult our office. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please contact us directly.

Contents may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. © PATIENT NEWS (800) 667-0268

12263-64475 ML11-6 Printed with vegetable-based ink.

the newest member to our dental team is a Financial Coord inator/Bus iness Manager with seventeen years of experience in the dental field. She is

originally from Lebanon and moved to San Francisco in 1987 where she met her husband.

She completed her BA in Public Administration and Political Science at the American University of Beirut. She is fluent in French and Arabic and enjoys practicing her languages with the patients. She is married and has three daughters Dina, Tala and Nayla. She enjoys reading, traveling, playing the piano, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She always looks forward to visiting home where she still has extended family and friends and where she enjoys the sun, beaches, nightlife and the delicious Lebanese food.

She is enjoying working at Piedmont Dental By Design and is looking forward to assisting patients with their financial needs.

Piedmont Dental By DesignDr. Dale B. HerreroDr. Jill A. Martenson1331 Grand Avenue Piedmont, CA 94610-1019

Office HoursMonday 8:10 am – 5:00 pmTuesday 7:10 am – 3:00 pmWednesday 8:10 am – 5:00 pmThursday 7:10 am – 3:00 pm* Lunch Mon & Wed 1-2/Tue & Thur 11-11:50

Contact InformationOffice (510) 652-2911Fax (510) 652-0772Emergency (510) 652-2912Email info@piedmontdentalbydesign.comWeb site www.piedmontdentalbydesign.com

Office StaffNada ................... Financial CoordinatorKeryn ..................... Patient CoordinatorJulie, Michelle ..............................RDHDebra, Lee’Lannee, Christine ..........RDA

From The Inside OutRadiate confidence & personal power

There’s a well-known, extremely well-documented scientific phenomenon called the attractiveness effect. You know – attractive kids get higher grades, and attractive adults get paid more. Now research shows that personality and grooming can boost high school grade point averages even more than beauty. This makes sense. When you look good you feel good, and just acting outgoing even if you don’t feel it makes you happier, more optimistic, energetic, and confident.Here’s how cosmetic dentistry can light up your smile – and your charm quotient!

If you try to hide your stained, discolored, or dull-looking teeth… you might only need a safe and effective dentist-supervised whitening treatment to get rid of stains.

If your teeth are worn, chipped, cracked, or poorly positioned…

dentistry can restore, reshape, and strengthen your teeth with natural-looking crowns or bonding techniques that are cosmetically pleasing. They’ll make your smile brighter too!

If you have gaps between teeth… bridge them with beautiful enamel-colored crowns or permanent implants. Camouflaging smaller gaps with veneers will enhance and re-proportion your smile.

There is nothing more charismatic than a genuine smile straight from the heart. If you’re ready to match up the natural charm and potential you carry within with your warmest most-appealing smile, cosmetic dentistry can help. Please phone for a consultation and we’ll show you how.

After

Before

Nada Nehme, Office UpdatesExciting news

You’re invited to visit our new facebook page to check out our latest pics of the Christmas holiday décor plus other fun outings and birthdays for the 2010 year.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed our clinic through Demandforce. Your kind feedback is of great value to us!

2 Ways To Win!l Review us on www.yelp.com and you’ll be entered in a draw to win a Waterpik®.l Refer your wonderful friends, families, and colleagues! Every referral means an entry into our upcoming draw for a fabulous Claremont package!

We’re On The MoveLook for an update next issue about our

team training in Arizona!

No More Paper Trail!Please provide us with your current email

contact info. We’re trying to go paperless and it’s a great way to communicate regarding appointments or our quickcall list.