FOR THOSE OF YOU EXPERIENCING CONSTANT OR OCCASIONAL JAW AND FACIAL PAIN, our partners here at DPB can help through “neuromuscular dentistry.” (more…)
FOR THOSE OF YOU EXPERIENCING CONSTANT OR OCCASIONAL JAW AND FACIAL PAIN, our partners here at DPB can help through “neuromuscular dentistry.” (more…)
IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE THE REST OF OUR PATIENTS HERE AT DPB, you understand the importance of taking care of your heart, right? Of course! Did it ever occur to you that your measly toothbrush ranks up there with cardiovascular exercise in keeping your heart healthy? Crazy, but true! According to Dr. Guzman, “Many recent studies suggest that gum disease—and other oral health issues—are DIRECTLY related to heart problems.”
In a recent study by the American Academy of Periodontology, it was found that people with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease. An additional study found that common oral health problems, including gingivitis, cavities, and/or missing teeth are just as good at predicting heart disease as are bad cholesterol levels!
There is still a ton to learn about these discoveries and the evidence seems to be mounting each year. Dr. Guzman adds, “The bacteria you have in your mouth can enter your bloodstream through your gums. These same bacteria can then clump up in artery plaques. There is one theory gaining more acceptance that suggests the bacteria sticks to the fatty plaques in your bloodstream and directly contributes to blockages.”
Inflammation is another theory that revolves around your body’s defenses against bacteria. Oral bacteria in your bloodstream can cause your blood cells to swell, leading to clot risks and the narrowing of arteries.
The EXACT relationships between cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease are still unclear, but, as todays research suggests, there is definitely a connection. DON’T forget about all of the other things you can do to keep your heart healthy like exercising, eating healthy foods, and taking care of risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
Since it’s SO easy to treat periodontal problems, take advantage of DR. GUZMAN AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM’S HELP! And don’t forget that PREVENTION goes a long way in avoiding problems in the future!
If you have any questions, be sure to contact us! We love treating our friends and patients.
We look forward to seeing you again soon! Thanks.
THOUGH JUST AS SERIOUS, ORAL CANCER DOESN’T SEEM TO GET QUITE THE “PRESS” that other types of cancer seem to get. In the United States alone, over 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. While early detection boosts the survival rate to 80–90%, most cases aren’t caught in time for this statistic to help their chances.
Why does oral cancer so often go undetected? One of the most probable reasons is that a lot of the symptoms are not painful so people don’t even realize they have it.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should have Dr. Guzman take a look:
Although having these symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have oral cancer, getting them looked at by any of our dentists will help us pinpoint the cause and fix the problem.
The best offense is the best defense… keep those regularly scheduled cleaning appointments and checkups. Doing so GREATLY increases the likelihood that any signs of oral cancer will be detected early. It is definitely worth it.
It is our goal to keep you and your loved ones as healthy as possible. Let us know if you have any other questions about oral cancer or any of the symptoms mentioned above. Feel free to become a fan of our Facebook Page to stay informed and stay healthy!
Answer: The Principle of Divine Proportion
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE HIGHLY SKILLED COSMETIC DENTISTS HERE IN OUR PRACTICE often use Leonardo da Vinci’s “Principle of Divine Proportion” when they design your gorgeous new smile? It’s true.
When designing a beautiful new smile many factors are taken into account including each patient’s age, lifestyle, and of course, physical characteristics. In addition, there are other truisms that are associated with your teeth themselves that our doctors and team must consider—including the fact that your teeth tend to get shorter with age as they wear.
Much like a fine oil painter working on a canvas, the dentists here in our practice take our artistic inspiration and experience and turn them into awesome smiles. In some cases, procedural and design techniques include tooth lengthening or shortening. Crowns can bring subtle, yet totally different dimensions to a patient’s facial proportions. Veneers are also considered sometimes to widen your teeth or broaden a smile. It’s surprising to most people to see the big difference that tiny adjustments can make.
Just for fun, look into a mirror and ask yourself the following questions:
> Can I draw a vertical line from my pupil to a corner of my mouth?
> Does my face divide horizontally into thirds?
> Does the lower third of my face divide into thirds again (from nose to chin)?
> Does my face divide into fifths vertically (5 times the width of one eye)?
It’s interesting when you begin to notice mother nature’s “divine” and intricate connections to artistic principles.
Dr. Guzman adds, “Cosmetic dental procedures are worth the investment in altering or restoring the ideal proportions for your own physical characteristics. There’s nothing more fulfilling for our team than witnessing the often life-changing transformation that can take place for many of our patients through their smile makeovers.”
Have you ever wondered what the impact would be in your life if you had a truly beautiful smile? Have you ever wondered what it would do to your self confidence? How would that increased self confidence effect your relationships? Your career? If you’ve wondered, come in and visit with us.
Chances are, after we’re finished, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
Also, be sure to Like us on Facebook to keep up with everything going on in our practice that directly effects you and your family’s oral health. Simply click on the logo below to find our Facebook page. Thanks!
We look forward to seeing you the next time you’re in our practice.
DENTAL CROWNS ARE PART OF A NUMBER OF DENTAL PROCEDURES—and are an important component in restoring smiles and keeping mouths healthy. Here at Dental Partners of Boston, we provide our patients with dental crown procedures that are more comfortable and less time consuming. The system is called the CEREC method.
Dental crowns can protect teeth that are weak or cracked and in danger of breaking by forming a protective layer around the tooth. If a tooth has a large filling, or is already broken, or is naturally misshapen or discolored, a dental crown can also be used. Dental crowns are also used with dental implants and dental bridges to form and support other teeth in your mouth.
Crowns are used to provide a natural looking smile. Sometimes they’re made of porcelain which gives a translucent effect similar to your teeth, allowing the dental crown to blend with the rest of your smile. Porcelain crowns also have the added benefit of being very strong; creating a dental crown that will last.
We utilize the CEREC method because our PATIENTS love it! Why? Because typically, crowns are done in multiple office visits. After a tooth impression is taken, a dental lab makes the dental crown while you wear a temporary crown and wait a couple weeks. CEREC crowns are done completely in-office, allowing your complete procedure to be done on the spot to reduce discomfort. CEREC crowns are beautiful and reduce the number of visits you have to make to our office.
IF DAVID LETTERMAN HAD BEEN A DENTAL PARTNERS OF BOSTON PATIENT, THE CROWN PROCEDURE HE TALKS ABOUT BELOW WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN ONE SITTING! It would have been worth the trip to our Boston or Brookline office!
The procedure for receiving CEREC crowns is straightforward. An infrared camera takes images of your damaged tooth, sending them directly to our CEREC machine, creating 3-D images. Your CEREC crown(s) are then milled inside the machine right here in our office, providing us with the ability TO COMPLETE YOUR PROCEDURE THE SAME DAY! No annoying impression trays, no waiting for a lab somewhere else, and no uncomfortable temporary crown.
To find out how our dental crown procedure can benefit you, contact us. We’d love to talk to you. We’ll help you understand the benefits of the different types of dental crowns, including our same-day CEREC crowns.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CHANGE OFTEN, AND THINGS WE CHANGE “NOT SO OFTEN”, RIGHT? Each day we can change our clothes. That’s easy. But when it comes to our smiles… Well, we take them EVERYWHERE we go, EVERY TIME we go! What do YOU think about YOUR smile? If you could… Is there a little thing, or perhaps a big thing you’d change?
Smile design techniques and materials today, combined with the remarkable artistic eyes and training of each Dental Partners of Boston dentist, make having an absolutely gorgeous smile more affordable and easier than ever before.
Most people are a unfamiliar with the terminology behind smile design, so here are some short definitions:
What is the very best way to determine exactly what’s right for you and YOUR smile? Simply make an appointment to visit with us. We are absolutely passionate about our patients’ smiles. We’ve seen beautiful smiles make a dramatic difference in the social lives and careers of our patients. It feels good having the self confidence to smile. We look forward to your visit! Call us at (617) 848-1164.
RECENTLY, SOMEONE IN OUR PRACTICE OVERHEARD a person (NOT one of our patients!) compare dental visits to washing dishes—you don’t like it but everybody knows that it needs to be done. Well, in response, may we suggest an analogy of our own?
What if every time there were dirty dishes you could simply snap your fingers and they would be scraped, washed, dried, and back in your cupboard!
Although it doesn’t work quite so miraculously, sedation dentistry DOES work in much the same way for many people who have trouble going to the dentist—with results that “feel” faster (and really are faster).
Sedation dentistry has proven helpful to many of our patients, for a variety of reasons, and for a number of different procedures. Sedation dentistry often helps people feel like their visit lasted only a few minutes—when in fact, it may have lasted for hours.
There are many different kinds of sedation dentistry. The dentists here at Dental Partners of Boston work with you to determine what’s best for your particular situation. In some cases, sedation can be much like anesthesia during surgery. But more often, sedation doesn’t actually put you completely out. Most patients who choose sedation dentistry are awake, functional, and responsive.
One of the biggest benefits of sedation dentistry is that procedures that typically take multiple visits can be accomplished in one visit—saving you a lot of time, hassle, and stress. And obviously, the second biggest benefit is that patients who experience dental anxiety can better relax, resolving their fears or worries.
We are very proud of, and confident in, the sedation methods we use. We are on the leading edge of this service—continually updated our skills and techniques.
Learn more about sedation dentistry by asking us a question, or giving us a call. Or, next time you’re in our office, visit with one of us for more details. We look forward to helping you, a loved one, or friend better understand if sedation dentistry is for you.
Don’t forget to Like our Facebook page by clicking on the logo below!
So are we. It just seems goofy. Lots of businesses have “jumped on the bandwagon” because they think they’re “supposed” to be on Facebook. They really don’t think it through from YOUR point of view.
Refreshingly, we HAVE thought it through from YOUR point of view…
1. Content That’s Relevant
We provide short, concise information and wall posts about your (and/or your family’s) comfort, health, and appearance—things you’ll actually use and find interesting. Meaningful content at your fingertips without having to search.
2. Take Advantage Of Exclusive Offers
By Liking our page, you’ll take advantage of promotions, offers, drawings and contests that are ONLY available to our Facebook fans.
3. Being Part Of Our Practice Culture Is Easy And Fun
Fun? A dental practice… fun? YES! What’s cool about connecting with us on Facebook is that it’s honest, transparent, and spontaneous. The best way to BE ASSURED you’re with the right dentist is by getting to know us in this untraditional, and “un-staged” way. Indeed, it’s unexpected and fun! The fact is, we all prefer associating with people we ENJOY being around. It’s just human nature. YOU’LL get to know our practice culture better, and WE’LL get to know YOU better too.
And again, THANKS for being our valued patients and friends.
We understand, and here’s a quick course:
Twitter Is A Real-Time Information Network…
that connects you with information you find interesting. Small bursts of information (140 characters in length) called Tweets share a lot in a little space. Connected to each Tweet are linked rich details, deeper context, and embedded media.
You Don’t Have To Tweet To Get Value From Twitter
Whether YOU CHOOSE to tweet a lot, OR NEVER, you still have access to the voices and information that interests you. You can contribute, or just listen in and retrieve.
Why Follow Our Dental Practice On Twitter?
You may be asking yourself, “Why use Twitter at all, when there are already so many other distractions in my life?” Good question. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn from little tiny snippets. Life is busy. Sometimes there’s no time to sit down and read a newspaper article, magazine story, or lengthy blog post. You may be sitting, waiting for somebody, and have a couple minutes. Our Twitter stream provides meaningful info and/or links to things you can consume and benefit from in a minute or two.
Whether or not you are already a Twitter user, you can click on the icon below to see our Twitter feed. Then, you can decide if you’d like to sign up for your own Twitter account:
As your lifelong oral health partner, we want to be accessible to you in as many ways as possible, and to connect with you in whatever ways are BEST FOR YOU! As always, thanks for being our valued patient.
If you’re like most people, the first thing you probably think is, “The place for funny, viral videos.” But did you know that YouTube is now the #2 search engine on the web? That’s right. People love watching videos—not just for entertainment, but also to better digest the information they’re looking for.
On our practice’s YouTube channel, we try to create, and/or aggregate, some of the very best thinking in dentistry today. We do that so you can reference a hub of useful, relevant information about your oral health, your dental comfort, and your appearance.
And sometimes, we just like to have a little fun too.
So take a moment to browse the videos on our YouTube channel. We go out and collect a lot of the best thinking on the web so you don’t have to spend hours searching, or wondering about the credibility of what you’re watching.
You can see our channel by clicking on the link below:
And as always, THANKS for the trust you place in our dental practice, and for being our valued patient.