Want to quit?

Mark Twain once said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times."

Quitting tobacco is difficult because all forms of it—cigarettes, cigars and spit (chewing) tobacco—contain nicotine and nicotine is the agent in tobacco that's capable of causing addiction or dependence. However, you can quit once and for all. The reasons for quitting are simple: You'll lower the chances of having a heart attack, stroke or cancer, including oral cancer. A smoke-free environment is healthier for those around you. If you're pregnant, you'll improve your chances of having a healthy baby. And, the money spent on tobacco can be used on other things.


We at Suwanee Dental Care want to help you quit when you are ready. Come in and let us know and we can walk you through some ways to do it. We know you can quit!!!

The ADA has some good offerings on how quit smoking:

• Set a date to quit and stick to it. Choose a “low stress” time to quit
• Enlist the support of your family, friends and co-workers.
• Ask your dentist or physician about nicotine replacement therapy for use in cessation attempts. Using these medicines can double your chances of quitting for good.
• Remove tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia from your home, office and car.
• Seek tobacco-free environments to curve your temptations.
• Exercise. It may make you feel better about yourself and your decision to quit smoking.
• When you crave a tobacco—exercise the 4 D’s:
  • Delay—craving will pass in 5–10 minutes
  • Drink water—it will help to wash the toxins from your body
  • Do something else—distract yourself by being active.
  • Deep breathing—deep inhalations and exhalations are relaxing.
  • Anticipate problems and have a realistic plan to deal with challenges.
  • Call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to www.smokefree.gov Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled. for help.

Thank you ada.org

The Smile-Makers Smiles

"Who makes the Smiles of the Smile-Makers at Suwanee Dental Care? Who does your dental work for you?"

"What kind of image do your employees display in public? Do they represent you and your business as well as you wish they did?"

These and other questions are ones that we often hear from our friends and patients. The second set of questions are ones we often ask our clients.

More than twelve years ago, I hired a young, just a year out of dental technical school graduate, Amy Perkins, to be my main dental assistant. She worked for me for five years, got married and became a Holman, had her first child, Savanna, worked for a long while until her second child, Sadie, was born. She took a few years off but recently returned as my ace dental assistant. We touched up her smile with bonding and veneers back in the first year she worked in our practice and she has been a superb ambassador for fine cosmetic dentistry ever since. She has a million dollar smile and the caring, competent chairside manner that our patients love.

Amanda Painter, our favorite Alabama Crimson Tide fan, is another of our ace dental assistants who has had a big orthodontic makeover by Dr. Jeremy Smith at Suwanee Dental Care. Her smile beams bright and lights up half of Suwanee after dark. When we need electricity, we just plug into her smile!

When you visit Suwanee Dental Care, you'll also be seeing and served by Brooke, Angie, Andrea, Carol, Mistie, Jacueline and others that have had makeovers of their smiles so that they look great, feel good and represent us as Smile Ambassadors both in and out of the office. A beautiful smile can open doors and set the stage for career advancement, enhanse relationships and raise self-esteem. We are proud to have these fine women work with us on a daily basis and proud that they would serve as examples of fine dentistry to all who meet them. They do good work helping our patients, assisting our doctors and leading dual lives as wives and/or mothers and dental professionals. They are appreciated.

Screening is Important

Oral cancer concerns are hitting the national news circuit more and more. A recent post to CNN has caught many people's attention and has been a source of concern. To learn more visit:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/03/increase-in-oral-cancers-linked-to-hpv/?iref=allsearch

When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90% survival rate. Unfortunately the majority of cases are found as late-stage cancers, accounting for the high death rate of about 45% at five years from diagnosis, and high treatment related morbidity in survivors.

• Found early, while still Localized (confined to the primary site), oral cancer's five-year survival rate is strong: about 83%. Only 33% of all oral cancer discoveries fall into this category.
• Found while Regional (after progressed to regional lymph nodes), the five-year survival rate drops significantly, to about 55%. Approximately 46% of all oral cancer discoveries are Regional.
• Found late, oral cancer's five-year survival rate is poor: approximately 32%. This accounts for approximately 14% of all oral cancer findings.

Clearly, finding oral cancer in its early stages is key to survival. Routine VELscope Vx examinations can improve the morbidity and mortality of oral-cancer, because the VELscope Vx system assists in early detection, potentially saving lives through less invasive, more effective treatment. (Velscope.com)

Tired of the Gray/Black Lines Around Your Crowns?

Do you hate the way your old crowns have that dark line by the gums? Well an all porcelain crown may be the answer. A zirconium crown is a good alternative to porcelain fused to metal crowns (the ones that have the dark lines) for a number of reasons. First, because it’s not a metal, zirconia prevents gingival graying and black lines giving it great esthetics. Secondly, it is a biocompatible material, which means your teeth and gums like it better than metal. Third, it is strong, perhaps stronger than metal.

The process of making zirconium crown is rather complicated. Zirconium oxide is among the strongest and most biocompatible ceramics. It is then pressed at extreme pressure to form rectangular blocks. This zirconia is milled into a coping that replaces the metal part of the conventional porcelain fused to metal crown. To that coping, the laboratory technician adds porcelain to make the tooth whole. Zirconia crowns usually cost a bit more because of this specialized process.

If you want to get rid of the black lines around your old crowns, ask about all porcelain zirconium crowns.

Dental Xrays and some facts...

Dental X-ray examinations provide valuable information that helps your dentist evaluate your oral health. With the help of radiographs (the term for pictures taken with X-rays), your dentist can look at what is happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums.



As X-rays pass through your mouth they are mostly absorbed by teeth and bone because these tissues, which are called hard tissues, are denser than cheeks and gums, which are called soft tissues. When X-rays strike the film or a digital sensor, an image called a radiograph is created. Radiographs allow your dentist to see hidden abnormalities, like tooth decay, infections and signs of gum disease, including changes in the bone and ligaments holding teeth in place.


There has been some concern with dental xrays and the need for them. We at Suwanee Dental Care always want to minimize the amount of radiation exposure, protect with thyroid and chest aprons, take xrays for our patient's health, and do not take more than necessary. Here is some of the exposure levels patients run into under our care and other sources encountered everyday:

Source	Estimated Exposure (mSv)
Man Made Dental X-rays Bitewing radiographs Full-mouth series	0.038 0.150
Medical X-rays Lower gastrointestinal tract radiography Upper gastrointestinal tract radiography Chest radiograph	4.060 2.440 0.080
Natural Cosmic (Outer Space) Radiation Average radiation from outer space In Denver, CO (per year)	0.510
Earth and Atmospheric Radiation Average radiation in the U.S. from Natural sources (per year)	3.000

If you have questions about your dental X-ray exam, talk with our knowledgeable dentists.

Remembering September

I just wanted to take some time and really thank all those brave men and women who give their time and efforts to keep us and our families safe. Looking back 10 years this September has made me realize how lucky I am to be living in the United States of America. I wanted to thank not only the firefighters and police for their constant vigilance and bravery, but also the armed forces. The wars overseas have cost us dearly and I wanted them to know that we are with them as well. This is a poem dedicated to America on this September anniversary.

AMERICA
Henry van Dyke

I love thine inland seas,
Thy groves of giant trees,
Thy rolling plains;
Thy rivers' mighty sweep,
Thy mystic canyons deep,
Thy mountains wild and steep,
All thy domains;

Thy silver Eastern strands,
Thy Golden Gate that stands
Wide to the West;
Thy flowery Southland fair,
Thy sweet and crystal air,
O land beyond compare,
Thee I love best!