Premier Dental - January 2021

Premier Dental - January 2021

PREMIER DENTAL N EWS L E T T E R

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Many patients are curious about dental implants. Implants can be an effective treatment option for those with missing or damaged teeth. What are dental implants? Dental implants are designed to substitute for natural teeth. They look and feel as close to our natural teeth as possible. Every step to place implants in the mouth is designed to help the implant withstand the forces of chewing. A titanium implant (or post) is first placed into the patient’s jawbone. The implant substitutes for the root of the tooth. Titanium is a metal that is compatible with the human body, and human bone can fuse with and attach to the metal. This fusing process is called osseointegration, and it helps stabilize and support the implant. Osseointegration takes about three months. After this, a healing cap is placed on top of the implant. This allows the gum tissue around the implant to adapt to a shape suitable for a future crown. This takes about three more weeks. The healing cap is then unscrewed, and an impression is taken and sent to the dental lab. After the impression, the healing cap is placed immediately back onto the tooth. The patient then waits 2–3 weeks for the crown. Once the lab receives the impression of the implant, it creates an abutment and a crown. The abutment is the connector piece that attaches to the implant to the crown. It screws into the implant and sits above the gums. A porcelain crown is then placed over the abutment and glued into place. At this point, patients have a proper tooth that they can chew with. Patients can also floss, brush, and function normally. In all, it could take six months to complete an implant procedure. Those who need bone grafting may need up to one year. Am I a candidate for implants? The success of a dental implant relies on a few key factors. A full evaluation must be done of a patient’s oral and overall health. For starters, the patient must have adequate jawbone Are Dental Implants Right for Me? What You Need to Know

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structure. The jawbone is the support for the implant, so it must be strong. Sometimes, bone grafting must be done to build up weak bone structure prior to implant placement. Implant success is also based on a patient’s overall health. Patients who have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, have less success than others. (Those with controlled diabetes have better success, but it can still be difficult.) Smokers, including those who only smoke the occasional cigarette, and patients on blood thinners also face obstacles with implants. If you have a severe heavy bite or severe grinding, this may also effect the implant’s success. Over time, you may loosen the implant or other parts that hold the implant in place. Do I have other options? Of course! If you are not a candidate for dental implants for clinical or cost reasons, bridges or dentures are alternative options. If you want to discuss options to deal with missing teeth, please schedule a consultation with us. After your consultation, we will be able to provide you with a treatment plan and an estimate of costs. There are many options to give you a confident and functional smile. Don’t waste another day adapting your life to your broken smile. We can help. Learn more by calling Premier Dental.

OFFICE STAFF: PATIENT COORDINATOR

MICHELE

DENTAL ASSISTANT

CATHLEEN

HYGIENISTS

CHARLENE JULIA PRACTICE MANAGER

PETER

Happy New Year!

–Dr. Hema Gopal

1 WWW.BORDENTOWNDENTIST.COM DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

By the ‘Beet’ of Your Heart MANAGE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WITH BEET JUICE There’s an epidemic sweeping the United States, and, no, we aren’t talking about a virus. High blood pressure (aka hypertension) is a huge problem in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 45% of adults are living with high blood pressure, which can lead to numerous other problems if not treated, including heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Because of the extent of the problem, researchers have been searching for possible solutions. Many medications help reduce high blood pressure, and exercise also helps, but some studies are providing evidence of another solution you may not have heard of: beet juice. One major study published in the February 2015 issue of Hypertension looked into the effectiveness of beet juice in lowering elevated blood pressure. Going into the study, researchers knew beets were high in nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide when digested. When nitric oxide enters your bloodstream, it relaxes and widens blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. In the 2015 study, researchers monitored subjects who drank a cup of beet juice. They saw the subjects’ systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 7.7 points and their diastolic blood pressure drop by an average of 2.4 points. On top of that, the study also found that beet juice is relatively quick in lowering blood pressure. It does so within a matter of hours, which is a lot faster than a lot of common blood pressure medications, like Lisinopril. (Though Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, works very differently than beet juice.)

If you suffer from high blood pressure, should you incorporate beet juice into your daily diet? It may be worth considering, but before you do, consult with your primary health care provider, especially if you’re already taking blood pressure medication. You don’t want to consume anything that will impact your blood pressure further without professional guidance. If your blood pressure is moderately or occasionally high, beet juice may be a way to normalize it without medication. If you decide to drink beet juice, keep two things in mind: It will turn your feces and urine red — this is called beeturia and is perfectly normal — and it can stain your teeth over time. Always drink it with a straw and rinse your mouth afterward!

Don’t Try This at Home! 3 DANGEROUS DENTAL ‘HACKS’ ON TIKTOK

TikTok, the popular smartphone app for making short videos, has become life‑hack central. You can find

serious damage to their teeth. Filing wears down enamel and can even damage the dentine layer under the enamel, leading to painful sensitivity and infection.

Teeth Whitening With Hydrogen Peroxide Teeth whitening is a very common procedure that can be done at home or at the office when using approved products and following instructions. However, TikTok users are applying hydrogen peroxide directly to their gum tissue, which can do serious damage. Hydrogen peroxide destroys living cells, which can include the cells in gum tissue, and damages enamel. While most stores sell highly diluted hydrogen peroxide, TikTok users are buying higher concentrations online. Do not do this! Always consult your dentist before whitening your teeth. Removing Plaque and Tartar Buildup Dental scrapers are readily available online and at the supermarket, but they should not be used at home. In recent months, TikTok users have been showing viewers how to use these tools at home to scrape away the buildup that can accumulate around the gumline and between teeth. Without proper training, doing this at home can result in injury or damage to teeth and gums. The bottom line is that, in a vast majority of cases, people can simply avoid plaque and tartar buildup by brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day and visiting their dentist every six months. It doesn’t get any easier — or safer — than that.

all kinds of videos showing you how to make your life a little easier, including clever makeup and fitness tutorials. However, there are also life hacks that are downright dangerous, especially

when it comes to dental care. If you want whiter teeth, buildup removed, or chips fixed, talk to your dentist and see what options are available for you — and don’t try these methods at home! Tooth Filing On its own, that sounds downright horrifying, but some TikTok users have created videos showing people how to “repair” chipped or broken teeth at home. The videos feature teens using nail files on their teeth, though some have used metal files, which is even worse. Many of these videos are not faked and have spawned copycats that further spread misinformation. As a result, people do

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4 OLD-SCHOOL HOBBIES MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK January is National Hobby Month — and for good reason! As people set goals for 2021, they’re also thinking about trying new hobbies. But with so many out there, picking just one can be a hobby in itself. Thanks in part to COVID-19, many people have rediscovered old-school hobbies. Some of these have been around for decades or even longer, and others have established communities that can rely on one another for support, sharing information, and more. Here are four great examples. Making Bread Over the last year, interest in this ancient hobby has skyrocketed. Homemade bread is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought, and it’s so satisfying to watch it come together. Not to mention it’s a great skill to have! With so many types of bread to try, you’re not going to run out of ideas any time soon. In With the Old! Out With the New,

Korean Beef Rice Bowls

Inspired by SkinnyTaste.com

Ingredients

Directions

• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce • 2 tsp light brown sugar • 1 tsp sesame oil • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes • 1 lb lean ground beef • 1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated • 2 tbsp gochujang sauce, or more if desired • 3 cups cooked brown rice • 1 small cucumber, sliced • 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds, plus more for topping • 2 scallions, thinly sliced

1. In a small bowl, combine soy

sauce, 2 tbsp water, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.

2. Spray a deep, nonstick skillet with cooking oil and place over high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. 3. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger to the meat and cook for 1 minute. 4. Pour sauce over the beef, then cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. 5. Divide rice evenly into four

Collecting Cards No matter what people were into during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there was a trading card game for it. And even going into 2021, that tradition has been kept alive. When many people were stuck at home last year, they rediscovered their card collections and remembered how much fun they were. As a result, card sales went through the roof, and online card communities lit up with activity from all over the world.

serving bowls. Top each with scant 2/3 cup beef, cucumber slices, sesame seeds, scallions, and gochujang, to taste.

Take a Break

Restoring Cars Car restoration is a hobby that lets you get your hands dirty, and it’s one that you can do with your kids or grandkids. It can be not only educational for them but also fun! Together, you can track down parts, talk to folks who are also interested in restoration, and learn about the history of your car. Though car restoration can be a bit costly and time consuming, it’s certainly a journey worth taking.

Embroidering Embroidery has taken off

because it’s both inexpensive and fairly easy to get into. Plus, many people have fallen in love with its meditative quality. One of the great things about embroidery is that you can use it to make amazing personalized gifts, like pillows, wall hangings, and kitchen towels!

DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

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Inside

DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

This Issue

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Finding Your Perfect Treatment Option

Can Beet Juice Lower Your Blood Pressure? 3 Dangerous Dental ‘Hacks’ on TikTok

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These Old-School Hobbies Are Making a Huge Comeback Korean Beef Rice Bowls

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4 Items Worth Spending Extra On

4 ITEMS WORTH A LITTLE EXTRA Get More Bang for Your Buck

Toilet Paper We’ve all experienced the disappointment of cheap, one-ply toilet paper. This subpar paper is less absorbent and more prone to tearing than its higher-quality counterpart. Furthermore, low-quality TP can irritate your skin, causing discomfort and other problems. Regardless, the overall cost savings of buying low-quality TP will be negligible because you’ll end up using more to make up for the lack of ply. Plastic Wrap There are many brands of plastic wrap on the market, but several are more trouble than they’re worth. Plastic wrap is most often used to cover and save food, which means its seal or cling is of the utmost importance. Sadly, budget brands don’t have the same cling technology as name brands. While you may feel like you’re saving money by buying cheaper plastic wrap, it’s likely to leave you frustrated and with food that is only partially covered.

Not all goods are created equal. Going cheap can seem appealing (who doesn’t like to save money?), but when you use up products more quickly than expected or they just cause a hassle, you haven’t really saved. Some things are worth spending a little extra on. Here are four such everyday items. Batteries Discount and dollar store batteries are often made with low-quality materials and don’t hold their charge as well. Plus, because they’re made with cheaper materials, there’s a greater chance they will leak and damage the device they’re powering. Brand- name batteries use high-quality materials and hold a much better charge, so you will use fewer batteries and they are less likely to leak. Pro Tip: If you don’t plan on using a battery- powered device for an extended period of time, always remove the batteries before storing it.

Shoes Cheap footwear can lead to all kinds of problems. For one, cheap shoes are more likely to fall apart sooner than shoes from reliable brands, and that alone can break anyone’s budget. Worse yet, cheap shoes rarely provide the necessary foot support, which can lead to serious musculoskeletal issues, including knee problems. These may require professional intervention to fix, so take your time and spend the necessary money to get good shoes that fit properly.

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DR. HEMA GOPAL: 20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

609.298.1124