Fighting Oral Cancer New oral cancer screening device

Summer 2011

A Change To How We Keep In Touch!A Smile Reminder

We are making a change in our office to offer you more access to us! We’re proud to announce we’re now using Smile Reminders and Smile Dash.

We know that you’re busy and may not have time for interrupting phone calls, but it ’s important that we can keep in touch with you to remind you about appointments. That’s where Smile Reminders come in. This program will send text messages or emails to the device of your choice, so you can read it and respond at your convenience. Just let us know how to contact your cell phone, email, or personal digital assistant and leave the rest to us. Smile Dash allows you instant access to your appointments as well as the opportunity to pay online, update insurance information, and choose your personal options about the way you want to receive information from us! Register now with Smile Dash at www.smiledash.com and you are entered into a drawing for a Trip to Jamaica to be given away in November!

Yours in good dental health,

Dr. Jodi Danna

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Produced to improve your dental health and awareness

Thank you for all your referrals – we appreciate them!

Now we have new wellness exam technology that dramatically improves our ability to screen for oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer. Because early detection is essential to increase chances for successful treatment, we always check your whole mouth (tongue, lips, cheek lining, and gums). We have acquired a state-of-the-art, painless, non-invasive screening tool that helps us to see what we can’t see with the unaided eye during your routine oral cancer checkup.

What can you expect during an examination with our new technology? After conducting a thorough oral cancer examination, we’ll use a handheld device to shine a blue light into your mouth then examine the tissues through a special eyepiece. This technology takes advantage of your mouth’s natural fluorescence which is normally invisible. Using the blue light, however, we can look for specific changes in the color or structure of your oral tissues that might be indicative of abnormal cells. It takes only about five potentially life-saving minutes.

We want all of our patients to have a bright and smiling future. Recently, more than 25% of oral cancer victims have been under age forty and have none of the known lifestyle risk factors like tobacco, alcohol use, diabetes, or HIV. And because

in its earliest, most treatable stages, oral cancer usually causes no pain or discomfort, we will perform this examination for all of our adult patients every year.

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!

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.

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Team UpdatesWe wanted to let you know about

a few changes in the office. We are so thrilled for Lana, whose husband just completed Chiropractic school. Unfortunately they have moved back to Louisiana to start their new practice and be closer to family. Lana has been an integral part of our team for the last three years and will be greatly missed! We wish them the greatest success in their new life!

Renée Dather will be taking Lana’s place. She is new to the dental field but brings extensive experience in customer service and medical office administration. She has a very caring, upbeat attitude and we are excited to have her join our Team.

The rest of our Team remains the same and look forward to serving your dental needs!

office informationJodi D. Danna, DDS, PC5072 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 270Plano, TX 75093-4470

Office HoursMonday closedTuesday 7:00 am – 3:30 pmWednesday 7:00 am – 3:30 pmThursday 7:00 am – 3:30 pmFriday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Contact InformationOffice (972) 267-6244Fax (972) 267-6247Emergency (972) 267-6244 option 3Email Pam@DannaSmile.comWeb site www.DannaSmile.com

Office StaffPam ............................Office ManagerMissey, Melanie ........ Dental HygienistsAna, Brandy ..............Dental AssistantsRenée ...............Front Desk Coordinator

Allergies And PlaqueAvoid dry mouth

Mother Nature gives more than flowers in bloom for people with allergies. Sneezing attacks and running noses can make life pretty miserable, even when the sun is shining. That’s why a lot of allergy sufferers turn to antihistamines for relief.

What many people don’t know is that while many allergy medications are good with noses, they can cause problems by drying out your mouth which means less saliva to wash away debris from your teeth. Over time plaque may build up around teeth and gums and encourage cavities.

If you are taking antihistamines, the best remedy is to drink plenty of water and keep your mouth moist. Brushing and flossing after each meal will keep your smile healthy and stop plaque from getting a hold of your teeth.

A dazzling smile can ignite a room. It projects strength, confidence, and beauty. For decades dentists have worked on ways to treat dental problems. We can now change the way your teeth look and the way you feel!

Because your mouth is one of the focal points of your face, it plays a major role in how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. And now, taking steps to improve your appearance is an investment in your long-term health and well-being.

Here’s a glossary of what some of the most popular treatments can do for your smile ... apart from making a lasting impression!

Lasting ImpressionsPopular treatments can rally your smile

Whitening – Erases unappealing stains and discolorations for a brighter, whiter smile.

White Fillings – White composite, porcelain, cast glass, or resin inlays and onlays replace silver-colored fillings.

Veneers – Stains and chips, or overlapping and uneven teeth, may require veneers which are extremely thin but strong porcelain shells that are layered over the front surfaces of natural teeth. Veneers can be designed to improve the proportions of your smile.

Crowns – Teeth that have had root canal treatment or extensive restoration can be repaired and strengthened with a crown that fits over a tooth to restore its normal shape, color, and function.

Implants – If your smile is suffering because of missing teeth, implants may be the answer. They can be an esthetically pleasing alternative to dentures and bridges.

Smile MakeoversImprove the appearance and proportions of teeth that are stained or chipped, or that overlap or are uneven, with cosmetic veneers. Veneers are extremely thin but strong porcelain shells that are layered over the front surfaces of natural teeth. They can be designed to improve the proportions of your smile.