Posts Tagged Health & Fitness
Posted by Laura Nelson on June 21, 2010
By Dr. Steve Biagini
When I was in the grocery store checkout line last week, I overheard two women talking about the dentist:
“My dentist said I needed a crown. I don’t know why he can’t just fill it,” said one.
“Be glad it’s in the back,” said the other, “These caps on my front teeth don’t match, and I’ve got an ugly black line near my gum.”
Patients have many questions like that every day in our practice.
There are several situations that call for crowns. Most often, it’s because a tooth is broken down because of a large area of decay. A filling isn’t strong enough. If the tooth is in front, a crown can be made to exactly match other teeth. Also, a tooth that has been root canaled should be crowned. After a root canal, the tooth loses its blood supply and becomes more brittle and susceptible to fracture.
To put in a crown, the tooth is shaped so the crown can be slid on over the tooth–much like a thimble slides over your finger–and cemented in place. The crown covers the tooth, protecting it from further breakage or decay.
Several types of crowns are available. The first is a full gold crown. Generally done on molars only, they are shiny yellow. An excellent material, the gold stands out, and patients have been moving away from them in recent years. The second type is a porcelain fused to metal crown (PFM). This type is used most often, but does have a couple drawbacks.
When used on front teeth, the natural translucence of teeth is lost. Light cannot pass through the tooth because of the metal composition of the crown. The second issue is the dark line right at the gum line, which cannot be completely concealed.
One of the biggest breakthroughs in cosmetic dentistry is the Porcelain Empress Crown. New bonding technology has allowed dentists to bond these ceramic crowns directly to teeth. This strong bond has made the crown strong enough to function under even heavy chewing pressures.
These all porcelain crowns are the most beautiful and natural-looking crowns I’ve ever placed in a patient’s mouth. There is no metal so they have none of the drawbacks of a PFM. A newly developed pressing system allows them to fit the tooth more accurately, giving incredible fracture resistance.
In the last year, we’ve placed Empress crowns on front teeth almost exclusively, and wherever aesthetics is a concern to the patient. To learn more about all porcelain crowns, ask your dentist, or give us a call.
Dr. Steven Biagini, Dr. Theresa Jansky, and Dr. Mark Beck would like to introduce you to the compassion in dentistry. Glen Ellyn Family Dental Care is at 658 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn. (630) 858-0216. www.changing smiles.net
Posted by Laura Nelson on June 21, 2010
Sports massage is geared toward athletes of every kind, from world-class professionals to weekend joggers. The particulars of the massage are specific to the athlete’s sport of choice and are often focused on a particular troublesome area, like a knee or shoulder.
Aspects of massage are gaining popularity as useful components in a balanced training regimen.
Sports massage can be used as a means to enhance pre-event preparation and reduce recovery time for maximum performance during training or after an event. Athletes have discovered that specially designed massage promotes flexibility, removes fatigue, improves endurance, helps prevent injuries, and prepares them to compete at their absolute best.
Massage Envy is at 709 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn. (630) 790-4400, www.massageenvy.com
Posted by Laura Nelson on June 21, 2010
Antioxidants and Periodontal Disease
By Dr. Ruth Martens, M.D., D. Ht
We, as doctors, sometimes forget that the mouth is not separate from the rest of the body and what happens there (unlike Las Vegas) doesn’t always stay there.
Periodontal disease is infection of the connecting tissues and bone surrounding a tooth. If the inflammation is limited to the gums, it is called gingivitis. Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Up to 80% of Americans over age 45 have some form of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is a systemic disease that manifests in the mouth. Periodontal disease is now linked to oral cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung infection, pre term and low weight babies, osteoporosis and other chronic disease. More than 90% of systemic diseases have signs and symptoms in the mouth as part of their picture.
Free radicals play an important destructive role in the development and progress of periodontal tissue. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in body tissues. Patients with periodontal disease tend to have a lower antioxidant capacity–both locally and systemically. Patients with low levels of certain vitamins and minerals have up to a 13 fold greater risk of periodontal disease.
Over 200 studies and clinical trials have clearly established the close relationship between antioxidants, free radicals and periodontal disease. No known studies have been found that contradict these findings. In 1999, Dr. Grossi showed selenium has the strongest association with gum disease. Low levels of vitamins A, C alpha-carotene, and beta-crotoxanathin also increase risk. In general, the body uses zinc, copper, vitamin E, B2, B6, beta-carotene and systemic glutathione to defend against inflammation.
Lester Packer of UC Berkeley wrote extensively of the collective interaction of vitamins as an antioxidant network. They function better together and some recharge others. This means that as tempting as it may be to run out and pick up the supplements in the last paragraph, a supplement with the proper ratios of vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids and a full complement of antioxidant compounds has even stronger effects than taking individual components separately.
Up to now the primary clinical weapons against periodontal disease have been scaling and root planning (SRP), antibiotics and surgery. We know from clinical research that SRP is ineffective up to 40% of the time. When it does work, SRP reduces pocket depths by a little over 1mm on average. SRP is topical. It does nothing to address the systemic nature of periodontal disease. Surgery may be effective as a last resort, but it is painful and expensive. Antibiotics help but are temporary and do not prevent long-term recurrences.
Antioxidant therapy produces up to 3 times the pocket depth reduction of SRP alone. There is a dramatic reduction in bleeding. Antioxidants work systemically to support the body’s natural immune system. A clinical study done at Loma Linda University in 2000 gave antioxidant supplements to subjects and showed 23-44% reduction in pocket depth in just 30 days. I’ve seen improvement just as quickly in my own patients.
Foods such as salmon, walnuts, avocados, olive oil, canola oil and gac fruit are anti-inflammatory. Green tea can actually kill bacteria. Sugar weakens the immune defense and should be reduced to prevent and reduce inflammation.
Your overall antioxidant status can be measured by a simple test using the Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner. After adding supplements or changing your diet, this test can then be repeated to determine if you are succeeding in bolstering your immune system.
The bottom line is a large percentage of acute and chronic inflammation can be prevented or reduced by antioxidant supplements and foods. Don’t delay. Get that apple today.
References for this article and an archive of previous articles are available at www.martenshealth.com. Dr. Ruth Martens is a family physician specializing in natural medicine and classical homeopathy in Wheaton. For more information or to make an appointment, call (630) 668-5595.
Posted by Laura Nelson on May 10, 2010
By Shellie Carter,
Alder Healing Center
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese word representing universal life energy, the energy that is all around us. It is derived from rei, meaning “free passage” or “transcendental spirit” and ki, meaning “vital life force energy” or “universal life energy”.
Reiki involves the transfer of energy from practitioner to patient/client to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal itself through the balancing of energy. Reiki utilizes specific techniques for restoring and balancing the natural life force energy within the body. It is a holistic, natural, hands-on energy healing system that touches on all levels: body, mind, and spirit.
Here are a few benefits of Reiki:
• Balances organs, glands and bodily functions
• Releases blocked and suppressed emotions
• Relaxes and reduces stress
• Strengthens the immune system
• Relieves pain
• Enhances personal awareness and helps meditative practice.
Reiki is a powerful tool to help bring back your energetic balance. It is just one of the services offered by Alder Healing Center. Additional services include: Healing Touch, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Intuitive Readings for Health Well Being & Beyond, Meditation, Essential Oils, Detox/Cleansing Programs, Massage, and Colon Hydrotherapy and Workshops.
For more information on these services visit www.alderhealingcenter.com. Alder Healing Center is at 3925 75th St., Suite 105, Aurora. (630) 328-3928
Posted by Laura Nelson on May 10, 2010
By Dr. Ruth Martens, M.D., D. Ht
Water is essential for life, we all know this. After all, our body is 75% water. But most people think of dehydration as dying of thirst on a desert island. That is dehydration in its acute form.
Chronic dehydration may start with thirst and a dry mouth, but if water intake is not increased, ironically, thirst vanishes and is replaced by other symptoms over time. The less water in our body, the more difficult it becomes to expel waste, chemicals or toxins from the body since everything travels in a fluid highway. Less fluid also means oxygen and nutrients reach our cells more slowly–so it would be no surprise to experience slower thinking, digestion, lower energy, etc. For every 1% of water weight we lose, our capacity to do work or exercise goes down 10%. So if a 160 pound person loses 1.2 pounds of water, his physical ability decreases 10%. (1.2 pounds water = 2.3 cups)
Other signs and symptoms of chronic dehydration include: fatigue, low energy, weak muscles, longer healing time, increased or decreased blood pressure, constipation, cystitis, eczema, rheumatic pain, dry wrinkled skin (premature aging), and increased weight.
Dehydration causes an increase in histamine which can mimic allergies or asthma, cause heartburn, GERD, colitis, chronic pain or depression.
How much water is enough? Eight glasses of water a day has been touted as the gold standard for many years but for some individuals and circumstances (marathon runners, hot climates, profuse perspiration, dry weather, high altitude, wind) even 8 glasses may not be enough. The best indicator is when your urine is clear or lightly colored.
If you drink coffee, tea, soda, or juice, doesn’t that count? There is indeed water in those drinks but the body has to work to extract it. In addition, drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, sugar or other chemicals actually carry out more water when they are eliminated than you took in, making the overall effect negative. Many drugs also have a similar diuretic effect. The best option is pure, clean, filtered water. Tap water is better than no water but a reverse osmosis filter will remove chemicals, contaminants, bacteria and parasites. It is my experience that I drink more filtered water because it just tastes better.
Avoid things which dehydrate, such as: coffee, tea, soda, juice, beer, anything sweet containing aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal), sparkling water.
I started water therapy 2 1/2 weeks ago and have noticed a decrease in gastrointestinal symptoms, increased alertness in the morning (without coffee), decreased appetite and, strangely, more thirst. This could possibly be the most inexpensive therapy you will ever try. So go have a drink of water right now, and make it a double.
Dr. Martens is a family physician specializing in natural medicine and homeopathy in Wheaton. For more information or to make an appointment, call (630) 668-5595. References for this article are available at www.martenshealth.com.
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
Before
If you need dental work done, chances are you want to have as few visits as possible. In the past, crowns or restorative procedures required multiple visits. Not so at Park East Dental in Wheaton.
Park East Dental has added technology that makes crowns and porcelain fillings in a single visit so there’s no need for follow up appointments, interim temporaries, or multiple injections of anesthesia.
Cerec tooth restoration is more than convenient–it’s also healthy. The porcelain fillings are metal-free. They also feature a lifetime guarantee. Materials are chemically bonded to teeth, so the dentist can save as much health tooth tissue as possible, while providing a restoration that strengthens teeth.
After
Besides crowns and fillings, Cerec can be used to repair chipped or discolored teeth.
To learn more about improving your smile, call Drs. Dean Francis and Terry Anderson at (630) 668-1420. Park East Dental is at 1749 S. Naperville Rd., Suite 102, Wheaton. www.parkeastdental.com
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