General, Cosmetic, and Neuromuscular Dentistry
February 14th, 2012
Two quantities a and b are said to be in the golden proportion φ if:
This number and the “Golden Ratio” has had amazing significance in art and design for at least 2400 years. The Parthenon, the most well known example of Greek architecture, displays this proportion in its façade. And the statues which resided in this temple are said to embody the golden proportion as well. This ratio is found in nature everywhere, and has been used by artists, architects, and mathematicians in a variety of ways.
The principles of golden proportion apply to the parts of the face as is discussed in the attached article concerning “human attractiveness.” It so happens that the golden proportion is used when we restore teeth as well. One very important element of a beautiful smile is the relative widths of each of the front teeth. The upper front teeth (the central incisors) are 1.618 times the width of their neighbors, the lateral incisors. And the canines behind the lateral incisors are .618 the width of the laterals as viewed from the front. If the proportionality rule is broken in the display of each tooth’s relative width to its neighbor, the esthetic result is severely compromised. In addition, there is a similar appropriate proportion relating the height to the width of each tooth. Teeth are supposed to be taller than they are wide. If they are too long or too short (think squarish) relative to their width, again they are not as esthetically pleasing to the eye as they could be.
There are other proportionality rules which we use to “design” our cosmetic restorations. Using the newer porcelain materials which are both strong and strikingly life-like, we can perform amazing smile enhancements which make patients smile – beautifully!
If you have any questions about cosmetic dentistry, we invite you to contact us at (908) 359-6655 or via our website at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com.
LEARN MORE: See a video about the effect of ratio on human attractiveness on the Huffington Post.
Tags: attractive smile, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, dentist, dentistry, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, general dentist, general dentistry, golden proportion, Hillsborough Dentist, hillsborough nj, Hillsborough NJ Dentist, Hillsborough NJ dentistry, smile
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February 9th, 2012
Sleep Apnea: Hidden Illness for Women Can Lead to Real Dangers
Attached is a link to an ABC News article about sleep apnea in women. In the article, there is a good example of how driving can be quite dangerous for people with undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea. And, the misconception that only big, snoring men have this condition is highlighted. We screen all of our patients for Obstructive Sleep Apnea with a questionnaire and a simple evaluation of any potential airway blockages If you have any questions about Sleep Apnea, please feel free to call us at 908.359.6655 or send a question via our website @ www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com.
READ the ABC News article-Sleep Apnea: Hidden Illness for Women Can Lead to Real Dangers
Tags: dental appliance, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, Hillsborough NJ Dentist, obstructive sleep apnea screening, obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, oral appliance therapy, OSA, sleep apnea treatment, sleep disorders
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February 6th, 2012
Celebrities Snore Too!
Do you snore? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Celebrities and sports stars snore too! And, the more you snore, the greater the chance that you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a condition that occurs when the soft palate relaxes too much and blocks your airway during sleep.
In this video, produced by the Harvard Medical School, Shaquille O’Neil is the patient. Members of the Sleep Medicine team talk about OSA — explaining its signs, symptoms and complications as well as steps that can be taken to address and treat the problem. Watch the video to learn more.
WATCH THE VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment at Designs for Dental Health
All patients at Designs for Dental Health are screened for Obstructive Sleep Apnea during their regular examination and cleaning appointments. Patients who are at risk are referred to their family doctor or a local sleep center for evaluation. The only true way to know if you have sleep apnea is to have a sleep test. If appropriate, Dr. Nadler can provide a dental appliance which repositions the lower jaw to help open the airway during sleep. Comfortable and easy to use, this snoring appliance allows patients to sleep all night and wake up feeling more refreshed. If you have more questions about OSA or want to schedule an appointment for a sleep apnea screening, please call us at 908-359-6655 or visit us at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com.
Tags: dental, dental appliance, dental appliances, dental treatment, dentist, dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea screening, obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, oral appliance, oral appliance therapy, OSA, shaq, shaq OSA, shaq sleep, shaq sleep apnea, shquille o'neil, sleep, sleep apnea, sleep apnea treatment, sleep dentist, sleep dentistry, sleep disorder treatment, sleep disorders, sleep medicine, snoring
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January 12th, 2012
Is Dental Decay On the Rise Again?
Well it certainly has seemed like it in our office this week. Not only have we seen more “cavities” than normal, but more of them PER PATIENT! And, naturally, none of these people are too happy. We’ve heard this question on several occasions: “Why am I getting cavities?!?” So, consider the following at least a partial answer to that question.
As has been discussed in earlier blog entries, cavities result according to this simple formula:
Bacteria + Food + Time = CAVITIES or GUM DISEASE or both
Bacteria are in the plaque which sticks to the teeth and grows every 24 hours.
Food is any carbohydrate, but especially sugar in any of its forms.
Time means how long it takes bacteria to produce acid from the food – about 20 minutes.
Want to prevent cavities? Eliminate any one of these three contributing factors. That’s it!
So, if you remove the plaque well every day — no cavities.
If you don’t ingest “bad” foods or drinks (e.g., candy, soda, etc.) OR if you clean such foods off your teeth shortly after ingesting them (i.e., cut down the TIME) –no cavities!
Yes, we understand that everyone eats some junk and has some plaque on their teeth, but applying a few simple rules will go a long, long way to help you prevent cavities and gum disease in your own mouth! Generally, when we see patients with cavities, we see substantial plaque. And, these patients are all brushing their teeth. Maybe these suggestions can help:
- Use an electric toothbrush! Our favorite is the Sonicare, but any electric brush will accomplish more than a manual brush from our experience.
- Brush the vulnerable parts of the teeth and gums. Especially the gumline where the teeth and gums meet. Cheek-side and gum-side. Aim the brush at an angle towards the gumline, and the biting surfaces of the back teeth where all the food and plaque catches in the grooves.
- Do something to get between the teeth where we have seen a lot of decay lately. We used to call these “flossing cavities” because of the plaque stuck between the teeth. If you hate flossing, use a pick, mini brush, electric “flosser” (which are pretty cool and quite popular now) or whatever…
- Use a good toothpaste with fluoride. Forget the whitening toothpastes as they can cause sensitivity and some may be too abrasive. We really like ClosysII which has worked really well for many patients and me. We insist that patients undergoing “major” dental work use this product to stay healthy during treatment.
- BRUSH BEFORE BED always and then do not eat or drink anything except H2O!
- Be careful what you eat or drink a lot of. Sports drinks have sugar, soda in all forms, or whatever can get around your teeth and cause cavities. Moderation or quick removal are the keys.
- Call us if you have any questions or would like some Oral Hygiene Instruction. It will be our pleasure to help!
We can be reached at 908.359.6655 or via our website at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com . We’ll follow up and expand on some of these suggestions in future blogs. Let us know if you have any suggestions for topics you’d like addressed. May you have a happy, healthy and cavity-free 2012!
Tags: cavities, cavity, cavity prevention, dental, dental decay, dental floss, dental health, dental treatment, dentist, dentistry, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Nadler, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, Dr. Richard Nadler, flossing, general dentist, general dentistry, health, Hillsborough dentistry, Hillsborough NJ Dentist, Hillsborough NJ dentistry, oral care, oral health, smile, teeth, tooth care, toothbrush
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December 27th, 2011
Is Being Healthy one of your New Year’s Resolutions for 2012? A great place to start might be a visit to the dentist. Did you know that gum health is related to heart health and cardiovascular disease as well as premature births and low birth weight not to mention associations with diabetes, osteoporosis and other conditions? And, since most problems in the mouth develop undetected by patients until they are significant, prevention is the key which helps our patients to stay healthy.
Take advantage of our New Year’s New Patient Special this month at Designs for Dental Health to start the year on a healthy track. Call us at 908-359-6655 to schedule your appointment today. This special offer if for new patients only. Appointment must be made by January 31, 2012 and scheduled between 1/2/2012 and 2/29/2012.
January New Patient Special
Questions? Want to learn more about the dental procedures we offer at Designs for Dental Health? Fill out the contact form to the left or explore our website for more information at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com
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December 2nd, 2011
Some mouth guard manufacturers have claimed in the past that their appliances could boost sports performance and now there is evidence supporting this statement. A recent article published on Medscape Dentistry and Oral Health and a study published by the Journal of the American Dental Association claim that mouth guards worn during athletic activity may do more than just protect the teeth.
One study found that athletes wearing a mouth guard inhale more oxygen and exhale more carbon dioxide with each breath than athletes who do not wear a mouth guard, whether the athletes without a mouth guard breath through their noses or mouths. Another report claims that biting on something hard helps to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, potentially improving the ability to exercise without fatigue. In yet another study, testing the Pure Power Mouthguard brand “mouth guards were custom designed to put each athlete’s teeth in ideal occlusion. The effect…is similar to wearing orthotics, and getting the user’s jaws aligned can improve the alignment of the rest of the body.” In this study athletes wearing the mouth guards were able to jump a bit farther, bench press slightly faster, and score somewhat higher on Wingate anaerobic tests than those not wearing them.
Athlete LeBron James uses a mouth guard to protect his mouth. Could it also help make him play better?
I have actually seen several demonstrations where improvements in strength and flexibility are seen just by repositioning the jaw. That must be why many professional atheletes like LeBron James wear them. And the ideal jaw position is the same one that we use when treating patients who have TMJ problems. Regardless of the ability of mouth guards to boost athletic ability, they are important to protect against injuries to the teeth during sports activities.
If you currently use or are considering getting a mouth guard, the American Dental Association recommends a custom-made guard from your dentist for the most protection and the best fit. They are more expensive than stock types or boil-and-bites because they are created from a custom dental impression so they fit better, are more comfortable and are more likely to stay in place.
Click to read more basic information about the use of mouth guards on the ADA website.
Considering getting a custom-made mouth guard? Have questions for Dr. Nadler about mouth guards? Please give us a call at 908-359-6655 or visit our website @ www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com
Tags: athletics, custom mouth guard, custom mouthguard, dental, dental appliance, dentist, general dentist, Hillsborough Dentist, Hillsborough dentistry, Hillsborough NJ Dentist, Hillsborough NJ dentistry, mouth guard, mouthguard, sports
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November 14th, 2011
I do not often “borrow” from my colleagues, but a Fellow from the Institute where I study, Dr. Scott Tamura, has created a video to help his patients to understand Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) and I absolutely love its simplicity. It’s called “TMJ FOR DUMMIES” and can help anyone to understand the fundamentals of this condition which I have spent years studying and attempting to explain to patients.
Click the link to view the video: TMJ For Dummies
For those who suffer with headaches, jaw discomfort or uncomfortable bites due to TMD, we offer relief and a feeling of renewed well-being because we use state-of-the-art technology and non-invasive techniques to relax aching muscles and return the jaw to a physiologically comfortable position. So, enjoy the show, and please feel free to call me if you have additional questions or would just like more information. I wear one of these orthotics myself and can give you a first hand account of how much it has helped me.
Feel free to call me at 908.359.6655 or via our website at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com.
Tags: dental, dental appliance, dental treatment, dentist, dentistry, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Nadler, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, Dr. Richard Nadler, general dentist, k-7, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, TENS, TMD, TMD symptoms, TMD treatment, TMJ, TMJ symptoms, TMJ treatment
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October 24th, 2011
Sleep Apnea Screenings at Designs for Dental Health
Do You Sleep as Well as You’d Like?
Roughly 20% plus of our patients do not! The reasons for this lack of quality sleep range the gamut from emotional to physical, and the variety of sleep disorders is as long as it is fascinating. No matter the cause or the disorder, whether sleep apnea, insomnia or a range of other sleep disorders, people need a regular and appropriate amount of restful sleep to stay healthy. 
Those who do not sleep well will eventually exhibit symptoms of sleep deprivation and directly associated health issues.
What Are The Health Risks?
- Heart disease and strokes
- High Blood Pressure especially when difficult to control
- Adult Onset Diabetes
- Depression and anxiety
- Memory loss and impaired concentration
- Obesity
- GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Daytime Sleepiness
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Do you have any of the conditions listed above?
- Do you feel like you need more sleep when it’s time to get up in the morning?
- Do you feel very sleepy during the day?
- Have you been told that you snore?
- Do you ever wake up at night choking or gasping?
Many of our patients who answered “yes” to more than one of these questions and were appropriately screened for sleep issues have had these issues resolved — they are living healthier lives and feeling great!
How Can We Help?
Dentists have the perfect opportunity to help every time you visit them. The major sleep issue to which we have been alluding is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is an AIRWAY issue, and every time you open your mouth in the dental chair, your dentist is looking down your airway! Dentists trained in Dental Sleep Medicine can easily screen you for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and guide you if additional steps are needed and where to get them.
Our entire team not only has the necessary training, but the belief that it is our responsibility to help our patients be as healthy and comfortable as they can be. So, throughout the month of November, we are offering screenings for Obstuctive Sleep Apnea – Free! The screening will include a comprehensive questionnaire, evaluation of the airway and a consultation about our findings. And, we’ll even extend this offer to your friends, family and coworkers.
We are excited about all that we have been learning about Obstructive Sleep Apnea and, for the first time in our history, the potential to actually save lives. So, since November is the month of Thanksgiving, we offer this service to you as our way of giving THANKS for all our blessings and to you, our patients.
Simply call our office @ (908) 359-6655 or visit our website @ www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com to arrange your free screening – and, please act soon as availability is limited. As always, feel free to call or email us with any questions you may have about OSA or dentistry.
Tags: dental screening, dental treatment, dentist, dentistry, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Nadler, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, Dr. Richard Nadler, general dentist, Hillsborough Dentist, Hillsborough dentistry, Hillsborough NJ Dentist, Hillsborough NJ dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea screening, obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, OSA, sleep apnea, sleep apnea screening, sleep apnea symptoms, sleep apnea treatment, sleep disorders, snoring
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October 14th, 2011
Basic Description of Oral Cancer
Cancer can affect any part of the mouth including the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and hard or soft palate. The most common symptom of cancer is a sore in the mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal. Another common sign of oral cancer is pain or numbness, which does not go away, or a change in the way the teeth fit together. Other signs and symptoms of oral cancer include:
- A lump or thickening in the cheek
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil or lining of the mouth
- A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
- Difficulties in chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the tongue or jaw
- A color change of the oral tissues
Who is at Risk?
Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly one person per hour, 24 hours a day. Of those newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in five years (around 57%).
Gender – Oral cancers are about twice as common in men than women. This is because men are more likely to use tobacco and alcohol over long periods of time and in large enough quantities to cause these cancers.
Age – The likelihood of developing oral cancer increases with age, especially after age 35. Half of all oral cancers are diagnosed in people older than 62.
Tobacco and Alcohol – About 80% of patients with oral cancers use tobacco. The risk of developing these cancers increases with the amount smoked or chewed and the duration of the habit.
- About 70% of al patients with oral cancers drink alcohol frequently. These cancers are much more common in drinkers than non-drinkers.
- The combination of smoking and drinking heavily raises a person’s risk much more than either by itself.
Sun Exposure – Many patients with cancers of the lip have outdoor jobs associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Diet – A diet low in fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of developing this cancer.
HPV Infection – According to a recent article in Time (October 5, 2011), the number of head and neck cancers linked to the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) has increased sharply over the past two decades. This virus may account for more cancers than tobacco or alcohol, a new study finds. Overall, the risk was greatest and rising in men. HPV is best known as the virus that causes cervical cancer in women, but because of better screening, the rate of such cancers has declined. The good news is that patients with HPV-positive oral cancers have better survival rates than those with cancer due to other causes, possibly because their tumors have less genetic damage, which makes them more responsive to treatment.
Bottom Line
One of the real dangers of this cancer is that, in its early stages, it can go unnoticed. It can be painless, and few physical changes may be obvious. The good news is that your dentist or doctor can, in many cases, see or feel the tissue changes, or the actual cancer while it is still very small, or in its earliest stages. It may appear as a white or reed patch, or a small ulcer similar to a canker sore. Because so many benign changes occur in the mouth, it is important to have any sore or discolored area of your mouth, which does not heal in 14 days, looked at by a professional. Other symptoms include: a lump or mass which can be felt inside the mouth or neck, pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing, any wart-like masses, hoarseness which lasts for a long time, or any numbness.
The only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy of the site. This procedure is not painful or expensive, and takes little time. It is important to have a diagnosis as early as possible, and your medical doctor or dentist may refer you to a specialist to have the biopsy performed.
Conclusion
Most oral cancers could be prevented if people did not use tobacco or drink heavily. Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol use sharply reduces any risk of developing oral cancer, even after years of use. Many oral cancers may be found early by a combination of routine screening exams by a doctor or dentist or by self-examination.
Tags: dentist, dentistry, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Nadler, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, Dr. Richard Nadler, general dentist, general dentistry, Hillsborough Dentist, Hillsborough NJ Dentist, oral cancer, oral cancer screening, oral cancer signs, oral cancer symptoms
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October 7th, 2011
Options for Sleep Apnea Treatment Presented at Sleep for Life Event
Dr. Nadler educates participants about sleep apnea treatment options using dental appliances.
Dr. Nadler was recently invited to give a lecture on Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) at the Somerset Medical Center. He was invited to speak by the medical team at Sleep For Life in Hillsborough, who organized the event in celebration of Sleep Technician Appreciation Week. All speakers presented options for sleep apnea treatment.
Over fifty people were in attendance at the event, including members the Somerset Snoozers Sleep Support Group, Sleep for Life sleep technicians, medical and office staff, Somerset Medical Center staff and invited doctors.
Dr. Nadler described the SomnoDent and Herbst dental appliances, used at Designs for Dental Health for sleep apnea treatment. He spoke about who could benefit from Oral Appliance Therapy and what features are important in choosing a dental appliance. After the presentations, event participants were able to view models of the appliances and ask Dr. Nadler questions about how they function and their use for OSA treatment.
Dr. Nadler spoke to participants about sleep apnea treatment with dental appliances
Other presentations included a lecture on surgical solutions for Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Drs. Adrianna Hekiert and Amy Lazar of ENT & Allergy
Associatesas well as an overview of sleep disorders by Dr. Namita Joshi, Medical Director at Sleep for Life.
Dr. Nadler and the team at Designs for Dental Health give a special thank you to David Orloff, Robert MacAffrey and AnnaMarie Bordonaro from Sleep for Life for their invitation to participate in the event, the staff at Sleep for Life for their warm welcome and our dental appliance reps from Christina LaJoie at Great Lakes Orthodontics (Herbst appliance) and Courtney Snow at SomnoMed (SomnoDent appliance) for their contribution of materials for the event.
Read more about symptoms and treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea at Designs for Dental Health
See more photos from the event!
Have questions for Dr. Nadler about sleep apnea treatment with dental applicances? Submit it on the form to the left of this article and Dr. Nadler will be in touch by e-mail within 24 hours!
Tags: dental, dental appliances, dentist, Designs for Dental Health, Dr. Adrianna Hekiert, Dr. Amy Lazar, Dr. Nadler, Dr. Namita Joshi, Dr. Richard M. Nadler, Dr. Richard Nadler, general dentist, herbst, neuromuscular dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance, oral appliance therapy, osa treatment, sleep apnea, sleep apnea treatment, sleep disorder treatment, sleep disorders, sleep for life, somnodent
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The principles of golden proportion apply to the parts of the face as is discussed in the attached article concerning “human attractiveness.” It so happens that the golden proportion is used when we restore teeth as well. One very important element of a beautiful smile is the relative widths of each of the front teeth. The upper front teeth (the central incisors) are 1.618 times the width of their neighbors, the lateral incisors. And the canines behind the lateral incisors are .618 the width of the laterals as viewed from the front. If the proportionality rule is broken in the display of each tooth’s relative width to its neighbor, the esthetic result is severely compromised. In addition, there is a similar appropriate proportion relating the height to the width of each tooth. Teeth are supposed to be taller than they are wide. If they are too long or too short (think squarish) relative to their width, again they are not as esthetically pleasing to the eye as they could be.
