Long Island Dental Excellence

Every year millions of pairs of athletic shoes are thrown away, clogging landfills and wasting a lot of good, reusable material. Nike has created a solution and we want to be a part of it! That’s why we are sponsoring Rockville Centre’s first athletic sneaker recycling drive.

In conjunction with Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe* program, any brand of old athletic shoes can be donated FOR ONE DAY ONLY, Saturday May 17, 2008 in Rockville Centre, NY. Through the Reuse-A-Shoe program, the worn-out sneakers are collected, processed and recycled into material used in sports surfaces like basketball and tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people around the world.

We invite you to bring as many pairs of worn-out athletic sneakers as you wish to the Rockville Centre Recreation Center, 111 North Oceanside Rd., Rockville Centre, NY on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10am to 2pm ONLY.

The guidelines are simple!

* Athletic shoes only - any brand, any size, any color
* NO cleats or dress shoes
* NO shoes containing metal
* NO wet or damp shoes

* Reuse-A-Shoe is part of Nike’s Let Me Play campaign. Let Me Play gives excluded youth around the world access to sports and a chance to play. In the US, Nike has been helping New Orleans rebuild their communities by resurfacing playing fields, providing Nike sporting goods, and supporting community-based programs. For more information, please visit www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe.

A mischievous 2 year-old Shipoo (Shitzu-Poodle) named Cosmo recently got into a pack of Trident gum. But, what is safe and innocuous to humans is toxic and potentially fatal to dogs. Cosmo spent three days in the animal hospital on IV dextrose with blood tests every six hours, and was in danger of developing hypoglycemia, low potassium levels and an idiopathic liver necrosis. Fortunately, this pooch had no lasting ill-effects. It turns out that Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, is toxic to dogs. This is not a well-known problem, and veterinary journals are only beginning to document the serious danger this presents.

Artificial sweeteners have been used for years and over that time many new variations have been developed. Sorbitol is another artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, toothpastes, cough medicines, diet foods, diet drinks and ice cream. Although they are considered to be safe in “normal” doses, excessive use can lead to irritable bowel syndrome in humans. The British Medical Journal recently cited two cases where patients experienced sudden weight loss, bloating, diarrhea and gastrointestinal pain. Both individuals had high sorbitol levels and admitted to chewing 15-20 sticks of gum per day.

The use of sugar-free gum/foods is still an effective way to reduce sugar intake and the incidence of tooth decay, when used or consumed in moderation. Xylitol-containing chewing gums are even showing some promising evidence that they may reduce the incidence of dental cavities. It is urged, however, to refrain from giving pets any products containing xylitol or sorbitol and to store such products out of reach of pets.

The American Heart Association has published new guidelines as of April 2007 regarding the use of preventive antibiotics prior to dental treatment. Previously, patients with certain heart conditions, particularly mitral valve prolapse, were advised to take antibiotics before dental treatment to prevent infective endocarditis (IE).The guidelines recommend that many conditions that routinely called for the use of prophylactic antibiotics in the past no longer benefit from such use. In fact, such unnecessary use of antibiotics can lead to adverse reactions in patients ranging from mild to severe as well as the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Studies suggest that patients with conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease, bicuspid valve disease, calcified aortic stenosis, and some congenital conditions, are more likely to have infective endocarditis as a result of everyday activities such as brushing and flossing than from a dental procedure. Conditions where preventive antibiotic use is still advised prior to dental treatment include artificial heart valves, a history of infective endocarditis, certain specific congenital heart conditions or a cardiac transplant where problems in a heart valve have developed. Of course, when in question, check with your cardiologist regarding any concerns about the severity of your condition.The American Heart Association emphasizes that the maintenance of optimal oral health and good daily oral hygiene practices are more important in reducing the risk of IE than taking preventive antibiotics prior to dental visits.

  October was National Dental Hygiene Month - a perfect opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of regular dental hygiene appointments.  While we have the tendency to refer to these visits as “cleanings”, they are really so much more!At each visit, your entire mouth will be carefully examined for gum disease, growths, lesions and any abnormalities that would affect your general health.  Teeth will be cleaned and polished to remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line, eliminating bacteria that lead to cavities, bad breath and gum disease.  Each tooth and filling will be individually examined and evaluated to determine its state of health.  With the use of radiographs (as needed), the intraoral camera and additional advanced technology, bone levels and restorative needs can be easily assessed.  Fluoride will be applied to teeth to prevent decay and root sensitivity/root caries for adults.  Sealants can be easily applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth as protection against future decay.  And lastly, our hygienist will customize a personal home and preventive maintenance program for you, and inform you about the dental products that are appropriate for your particular needs.We emphasize prevention as a lifestyle pattern for dental and overall health, leading to improved long-term oral health, a reduction in dental costs, a bright smile, fresh breath and increased self-confidence.  And while we realize that most people do not enjoy the thought of going to the dentist, we strive to make your experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible.  We look forward to seeing you soon!