Sustainable Medicine

Sustainability, broadly defined as the capacity to endure, has become a wide-ranging term that can be applied to almost every facet of life on earth, from a local to a global scale. For humans it is the potential for long-term maintenance of wellbeing, which in turn depends on the wellbeing of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources. The incorporation of sustainability within the practice of medicine and dentistry is a newly emerging model of healthcare that ideally will be available to all persons and is good for people and the environment.Sustainable healthcare is the practice of medicine and dentistry that recognizes the link between the environment, medicine and human health and seeks to provide better healthcare while protecting our limited environmental and medical resources. The sustainable, green approach to healthcare is much more comprehensive and more beneficial than a holistic approach alone. The following are the basic principles of ecologically sustainable medicine:

- Safe and harmless- Clean and non-toxic- Cost-effective- Non-polluting- Adaptable and flexible- Accessible to all people- Renewable- Protective of the quality of life on earth, the environment and earth?s natural resources- Synergistic with human health and planetary well-being- Connected with the web of lifeConventional healthcare, in contrast, focuses on cure and specialization, costing more money and often limiting care to only those who can afford it. Conventional medicine places emphasis on treating the end points of disease rather than employing the precautionary principle and focusing on prevention and the link between human health and the environment. In addition, conventional healthcare consumes huge quantities of resources, which are becoming scarce and many of the waste products of healthcare actually do harm. The over-prescribing and misuse of pharmaceuticals, the improper disposal of pharmaceuticals, the incineration of bio-hazardous waste and the utilization of medical products containing environmental toxins, poses a serious threat to human health. There is an undeniable connection between our health and the environment. The environment, both locally and globally, both indoors and out, is a primary determinant to your health. The WHO (World Health Organization) puts the value of clean air, clean water and healthy land for uncontaminated food and recreation close to 60% of the primary basis for a healthy life, affecting you just as much as your genetic makeup!The implementation of sustainable medicine and dentistry lies in two directions. One is the way of prevention, health promotion, and a public health priority. Here the focus will be on reducing the social and environmental problems that are now reckoned to be the most significant source of illness, disease, and premature death. The other direction is toward greater personal responsibility for health, laying upon individuals a far stronger obligation, backed by appropriate social and economic incentives, to take care of their health and simultaneously, laying upon society a stronger obligation to change those social and economic institutions that generate, or abet, poor health (D. Callahan, www.teleosis.org).How can you incorporate sustainable healthcare into your everyday life?- Eat healthy food, preferably organic and locally grown- Engage in regular exercise, preferably outdoors, walk to places- Rest regularly- Understand your local environment (where are places for you to engage in active recreation, where are places that have hazards or risks that should be avoided)- Purchase supplements and medications in small amounts (everything you buy has to be disposed of if unused)- Choose personal care products (PCPs) that are natural and non-toxic (the improper disposal and overuse of PCPs and pharmaceuticals are posing a serious threat to our municipal water system and the ecosystem)- Only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary and listen to your doctor- Seek practitioners that endorse sustainable medicine and dentistry.At ORA Dental Studio and ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio we are committed to the wellbeing of our patients, our team, our community, and the environment. We are proudly the first green group dental practice in the nation and have not only built green healing facilities, but practice green health care as well. For more information visit www.oradentalstudio.com and www.orasurgery.com.Steven A. Koos D.D.S., M.D.

The Nervous Patient Scheme

The nervous patient scheme is a very popular concept with patients. Essentially this involves taking a little extra time with the patient, particularly on the first visit. It may mean not taking the patient into the surgery on the first visit. This is part of the process of desensitisation.
On the second visit the patient is naturally less anxious because they are familiar with the building and they know the dentist is someone who they can talk to. Allay fears and explain how you can help. For example:
Homeopathy: you can choose to follow this protocol which has been found to be effective (or read The Homeopathic Dental Practitioner by Colin Lessel):
One tablet the night before and one the morning before and one hour before treatment using either:
- Argentum nitricum 30c for people who feel restless, hyperactive and anxious.
- Gelsemium 30c for people who feel weak and ill with anxiety.
- Camomile 30c drops for kids.
(Tablets are available from any homeopathic pharmacy, or the patient can order by phone from Ainsworths, 38 New Cavendish Street)
You could also try the Bach flower remedy Rescue Remedy, a few drops straight from the bottle on the tongue as necessary.
Hypnotherapy: Paul Goodhall can dramatically improve a patients perception of a dental visit, especially if the patient has a history of a traumatic dental visit. Often these subconscious fears stem form negative childhood experiences. Excellent treatment is also available for needle phobia and gagging.
Holistic Dentistry: check to see if there are factors in the current medical history that exacerbate anxiety, e.g. diabetes, steroid use. Advise the patient that eating well prior to an appointment will (by elevating the blood sugar) reduce the sensation of anxiety and reduce the risk of fainting. Some patients falsely equate appointments of a medical nature with fasting.
Diazepam 5mg one tablet the night before, one the morning before and one an hour before treatment.
Inhalation and intravenous sedation and general anaesthetic are available on referral.
Note: See inter-practice referrals section ADS 335 for GA/Sedation details.
1.8 Reminders by Text
Through our latest Kodak R4 practice management software we are able to send text message and email appointment reminders to our patients. This cuts down on the cost of administration and making calls. Using this system, particularly text messaging, will reduce the number of patients failing to attend for appointments.
1.9 Appointments at Short Notice and at Convenient Times
A major bugbear of our busy professional patients is not being able to get appointments promptly and at convenient times. By having flexible working hours, and building in reservation slots to our working day, we will be able to accommodate our valued customers.

Pregnancy Gingivitis: What Every Expectant Mother Should Know

On at least three separate occasions, I can remember having the privilege of breaking the news of a young woman’s pregnancy from my side of the dentist’s chair. I use the word “privilege” with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, however. After all, the diagnosis was only determined because of the patient’s tender, red, swollen gums. Ouch!

Talk about taking the good news with the bad . . .

Known as pregnancy gingivitis, this unpleasant condition is often assumed to be one of the natural consequences of the hormonal changes often found in pregnant women. The hormones involved, estrogen and progesterone, are secreted in progressively greater concentrations throughout most of pregnancy. While this reaction is necessary for preparing a woman’s body for the journey ahead, the resulting flood of hormones results in a variety of effects.

Hormones tell the kidneys to retain water in order to build blood volume to have enough to nourish the placenta. Thus a pregnant woman has 40% more fluid in her body. As a result, this increases the amount of fluid in all the cells in the body, including the gum tissues, which causes them to become “puffy.” Between the time of conception and the seventh month of pregnancy, hormones will triple in quantity, and then remain at that heightened level until delivery.

Meanwhile, as if she doesn’t have enough to contend with, the pregnant patient with hormones out of whack is swollen and tender and sometimes cannot do an effective job with her oral hygiene.

I am pleased to tell you that with above standard oral hygiene, this condition can be almost entirely avoided. Remember, it is the bacteria, not the hormones, which cause the gingivitis. Despite the fact that the statistics reveal 50-75% of all pregnant women develop pregnancy gingivitis, that doesn’t have to mean you. If you are reading this book after the fact, you can be assured that this condition is reversible with proper home care, techniques, tools, and medicines.

Dr. Thomas Rams, professor and chairman of the Department of Periodontology at Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, says, “There are hormonal shifts in pregnancy that reduce the gingival tissue resistance to infection, and there is also an increased risk that the hormones circulating will help promote the growth of certain bacteria and plaque, which causes inflammation.”

Rams also says, “In periodontitis, bacterial plaque infection not only causes inflammation of gingival tissues like gingivitis, but also progressively destroys connective tissue fibers and surrounding bone anchoring teeth to the jaws, resulting in the loss of teeth.”

Knowing how to minimize the bacterial biofilm in your mouth, and especially along the gum line, is the key factor in preventing pregnancy gingivitis and the escalating symptoms that often continue during pregnancy. However, a woman needs to be taught before she gets pregnant how to eliminate bacteria on a daily basis.

Because gums can be painful, puffy, and bleeding during pregnancy, the tendency is to avoid touching them. However, it is imperative that you practice good oral hygiene during pregnancy to avoid both tooth decay and gum infections. Pregnancy, with its three-fold increase in hormones, may exaggerate the body’s normal response to dental plaque.

It need not increase your risk of getting gum disease . . .

Although relatively rare, the body’s response to inflammation may produce another offset of the “joy” of childbirth: a pregnancy “tumor” (also called pyogenic granuloma). This “tumor” may develop on the gums in response to the irritating bacteria that collects there. Rest assured, however, that these growths of extra tissue are usually painless, and totally benign. However, if they get large these “pregnancy tumors” can become annoying and should be treated. Meticulous oral hygiene is the answer to avoiding the inflammation associated with these growths, and it is comforting to know that they usually subside after childbirth.

Fascinating Factoid: “Occasionally chewing sugarless gum is helpful to increase the amount of saliva in your mouth, without contributing to the risk of gingivitis. It may also be helpful in averting the nausea so common in the first three months of pregnancy.”

Brushing, flossing, and irrigating daily (all done gently but deliberately) are important in preventing gingivitis, during pregnancy and anytime in your life. In addition, it is important to pay attention to eating more healthfully for yourself and your baby, by substituting fruits, cheese, nuts, and vegetables for those sugary foods you might have enjoyed before becoming pregnant. If your gums are tender and brushing is painful, try ice, or several helpful over the counter products that will soothe painful gums. These include:

*Gly-oxide

*Peroxyl mouth rinse

*Amosan oral rinse

*Anbesol liquid

*Orajel Mouth-Aid

(Please be sure to ask your doctor if she has objections to any of these products.)

The Three Essential Steps to Healthy, At Home, Eco-Friendly Dental Wellness

STEP 1: Choose Natural, Eco-Friendly Oral Hygiene Products Growing evidence supports the idea that what goes in your mouth stays in your body, even after you brush and swish. Your mouth and gums absorb ingredients, and act as an entry point into your system. As a result, your choice of oral products is as important as the food you eat, what you put on your skin, and all the other products you choose for a healthy home environment. Small changes made to our daily habits can really add up. Some examples of natural and eco-conscious oral care products:

Dental Floss

Toothpaste

Mouth Rinses

STEP 2: Reduce Water Waste And Your Carbon Footprint During Oral Hygiene Practices Did you know the average person wastes at least 90 glasses of water every day by leaving the tap running while they brush their teeth? That means in the United States alone, we?re literally pouring down the drain 27 billion glasses of clean, drinkable water every day, just brushing our teeth. In addition to just water waste, when you crunch the numbers – the carbon footprint involved in processing and distributing that quantity of tap water translates to about 4,200 tons of CO2 per day, which is an astounding 1,553,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually just in the U.S.! The simple solution ? turn off your faucet.

STEP 3: Seek Out An Eco-Friendly Dentist, Who Embraces A Holistic Approach To Oral Wellness And Takes It To The Next Level ? Overall Planetary Health. Your ?green? home dental care routine (brushing, flossing, rinsing), works in conjunction with a customized dental program to provide you with the necessary professional cleanings, annually screenings for oral cancer, and prevention and treatment of decay and disease ? but accomplished in an eco-friendly way. A dentist is an essential extension to your at-home overall oral health and wellness. So find a dental practice that is authentically ?green? and that you love. Dentistry is a healing profession. It?s important to have a satisfying relationship with your dental wellness team, and to know they share your values for wellness of people and planet. For Chicagoans, ORA Dental StudioTM is exactly such a place, and actually is the first and only green group dental practice in the nation! It is a healing facility that was not only designed from the ground up as a sustainable green project, but also to comprehensively deliver green healthcare. For more information about this unique and earth-loving dental practice, visit www.oradentalstudio.com, call 312-328-9000, or visit them in person at 1827 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60616.

All You Need To Know About Los Angeles Dentist

The Los Angeles dental staff is dedicated not only to restoring patient’s teeth and gums to health, but focuses on preventative care and patient education. Los Angeles dental offices have a small, friendly atmosphere that puts the patients at ease. one would not find a crowded waiting room or have trouble scheduling timely appointments at Los angeles Dentist. Los Angeles dentists have

Nutrition for your teeth

Holistic dentistry works on the belief that the body is more interdependent than it seems and that the teeth and gums have a big role to play in it. They actually suggest modifications and additions in your diet to help teeth get stronger and invariably help your body too.

You must make sure that you have a wholesome diet that included proteins, minerals, vitamins and other essential good groups for a strong body and whiter and sparkling teeth.

Tips to Dental Hygiene

Holistic dentists believe that the mouth and the rest of the body are linked to a great extent. If the growth of a wisdom tooth can hurt you ear and nose, then aches and pains all over the body can be because of tooth problem. Holistic dentistry concentrates on the symptoms and tries to eradicate them with the aid of other fields of medicine. Taking care of your teeth is important and here are a few steps to follow.

Brush your teeth regularly. The most basic tip and something all our parents have been telling us forever. Brushing after every meal makes sure food particles are not stuck between your teeth and bacteria is eradicated. Flossing takes of plaque, that later leads to cavities. Don?t get carried away with pretty gels and coloured toothpastes; use a tooth paste with fluoride it also restrains bacteria and plaque.

Avoid Sugar. Sugar is very harmful for teeth. It messes with the Ph balance and attacks the teeth to produce plaque. If you must have something sweet try having it in the night. You are most likely to brush your teeth then.

Quit Smoking: If not for the obvious reason of cancer and other mouth diseases, smokers have bad teeth. Teeth lose its lustre and enamel with nicotine and make them yellowish. It isn?t great for your breath either.

Eat Right: Eat fresh fruits and celery. Fruits have the required nutrition to give your teeth added supplements of Vitamin C while celery immunises your teeth from bacteria that is harmful and makes cavities even worse.

Drink water: It is like a natural disinfectant it keeps your gums wet, promotes saliva and removes food logged in remote parts of your teeth.

Chew sugarless gum: Nowadays chewing is sugarless and harmless. Chewing gum increases the saliva in the mouth and elevates the ph balance in your mouth. Saliva kills bacteria and keeps teeth clean.

Visit the dentist periodically. Might we recommend Holistic dentistry? Holistic dentistry takes care of your teeth and gums an in turn takes care of your whole body. It uses other alternative forms of medicines like homeopathy and nutrition to promote dental hygiene. The techniques are minimally invasive and materials used for treatments are bio compatible. Dr. Ben Olstein is a holistic dentist in Australia that performs preventive and restorative procedures with holistic dentistry. You can find out more about him on www.benolstein.com.au.

Holistic Dentist – How Mercury Affects the Body As Told by a Natural Dentist

As a Holistic Dentist practicing Natural Dentistry concepts my Exton dentist office is flooded with questions and comments such as…”Dr. Robbins, I am having trouble concentrating at my job. It is like my mind is foggy.”"My daughter is at college and keeps falling asleep. She can’t concentrate on one topic for long before she gets ‘mind fog’ and looses focus.”"I am forgetting little details when doing projects at work. My eyes don’t focus on the computer screen very long before I have to take a break.”Patients relate these and similar complaints-persistent muscle aches, daily tiredness regardless of how much sleep they get, odd sensations in their arms, legs, fingers, and toes- to me during their initial biosafe dental consultation in my integrative dental practice. Although these symptoms may have other causes, mercury exposure and the resulting mercury toxicity may be the root cause of the symptoms.All of us-patients and health care professionals alike-have been led to believe, from “experts” at the American Dental Association (ADA), that the silver colored mercury dental fillings in our teeth are safe and do not harm our health. That is a lie.When I first realized that mercury in the mouth, in any form, might not be safe, I began to research the scientific and medical studies outside of conventional dental authorities. That was twenty-five years ago. Since then, I have reviewed countless clinical and scientific studies which prove that mercury is a neurotoxin and that toxic mercury vapor is released from the amalgam fillings in teeth. That release of mercury vapor from amalgam fillings occurs all day and all night – 24/7. And the mercury vapor is released at high level-inside your head.What health authority could possibly claim that such exposure could be “safe”? Why is this powerful and insidious toxin is not making headline news? I am continually appalled and angry over the political cover-up of such an important health risk to the general public.Who’s at risk? Anybody who has mercury amalgams in their mouth is subjecting themselves to potentially harmful effects of mercury. Children, pregnant and nursing women are most at risk. In fact, some states have banned the use of mercury fillings unless the patient signs a release.Removal of mercury dental fillings without protecting the patient from exposure to mercury vapor is dangerous and all precautions should be taken. Before having your mercury fillings removed be sure to check with a Holistic Dentist, a Natural Dentist or Find a certified Biosafe Dentist In your area!

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Most people associate visits to the dentist with pain and suffering. The only thing that seems to go on at the dentist is scraping, drilling, and lecturing on brushing and flossing. Over the past few years, the traditional dental visit has evolved into a more comprehensive approach, cosmetic dentistry. Now, it is not only important to have clean and healthy teeth, you can also improve your overall smile with cosmetic dentistry.

What is cosmetic dentistry? Cosmetic dentistry is comprehensive oral care encompassing all the traditional dental treatments along with additional enhancements geared toward improving your smile.

Qualifications of a Cosmetic Dentist

In addition to regular dental school, which encompasses rigorous training and internships, a cosmetic dentist is a dental area of expertise that incorporates the latest technology. Training includes several hours of special courses through an advanced school like the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies, LVI.

LVI trained dentists take from 48 to 100 hours of comprehensive training, and are taught the following technologies:

The training is focused on developing an eye for aesthetic appearances and using technological advances while incorporating the dentist’s artistic abilities.

LVI trained dentists are also concerned with making your dental visit more pleasant. You can usually tell when you walk into an LVI trained dentist’s office because it is specially designed to make you feel welcome and even pampered.

Goals of Cosmetic Dentistry

The primary goal of a cosmetic dentist is the overall health and appearance of your smile. Once any underlying decay and gum disease is brought under control, the cosmetic dentist can concentrate on completely remaking your smile. Some of the conditions treated with cosmetic dentistry include:

By incorporating a wide variety of technologies, along with their special artistic touch, a cosmetic dentist is able to create a winning smile, which in turn boosts your self-confidence.

Selecting a Cosmetic Dentist

While most dentists are capable of correcting basic problems with your teeth, a cosmetic dentist approaches oral care in a more holistic manner. He or she is concerned with giving you the best smile possible, not simply treating and correcting dental ailments. To get the best results from cosmetic dentistry, it is important to find the right one in your area. Some things to look at are:

You do not want to trust your smile makeover to just anybody. When looking for qualified LVI trained cosmetic dentists in Las Vegas, please visit the website of Drs. Bryson and Margio.

Tips to get the most out of cosmetic dentistry NJ

The market is flooded with cosmetic dentists New Jersey offering their services at competitive rates. However, here are some tips to help you get the most out your cosmetic dentistry NJ.The cosmetic dentistry NJ is concerned about the aesthetics of a smile. It aims to treat dental disorders such as chipped teeth, broken teeth, crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, discoloured teeth, and alike and thereby allow the patient to have a beautiful smile. Some cosmetic dentist NJ even help improve the shape of chin, lips, and other facial features to add loads to one?s smile.You must therefore choose the cosmetic dentist NJ who promises to offer you a complete smile make over no matter how critical the nature of your dental problem is. There are several forms of cosmetic dentistry New Jersey. The cosmetic dentist NJ may use Veneers, crowns, bonding, Orthodontics, or, in-lays to offer its patients a beautiful smile. However, the choice of cosmetic dentistry NJ procedure depends on the patient?s dental health condition.To get the most out of your cosmetic dentistry New Jersey, ask the NJ cosmetic dentist which procedure he is using and why. Also, obtain the services of the cosmetic dentist NJ who promises to use the best techniques and equipment for cosmetic dentistry.The cosmetic dentistry NJ fee depends both on what a patient wants to achieve with his/her cosmetic dentistry and what procedures and methods the cosmetic dentist adopts for achieving those desired results. Do some market research to find out what the cosmetic dentistry competitive rates are.You may use yellow pages, or the Internet to find a cosmetic dentist NJ. Thoroughly check out his/her qualifications and experience before you zero down on any one. For the best cosmetic dentistry, you may consider Advanced Dentistry. It is one of the leading dental clinics in New Jersey that offers cosmetic dentistry NJ at competitive prices.At Advanced Dentistry, your cosmetic dentistry case will be handled by Dr. Reilly, a highly qualified and experienced cosmetic dentist New Jersey. This cosmetic dentist NJ uses the latest methods and equipment to offer the best cosmetic dentistry services.As well as the cosmetic dentistry NJ, here you may also get sedation dentistry NJ.To know more in detail about this cosmetic dentist NJ, cosmetic dentistry New Jersey, sedation dentistry NJ, you may log on to advanceddentistry.net

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