Sunday, July 1, 2012

Naples Dentist, Mai Huynh-Le, Receives 2012 Fellowship Award from the Academy of General Dentistry

CHICAGO (June 26, 2012) - The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), a professional association of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public, is pleased to announce that Mai Huynh-Le, DMD, FAGD, of Naples, Florida, received the association's 2012 Fellowship Award during the AGD 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibits, held June 21 to 24, in Philadelphia.

The Fellowship Award is presented to dentists who seek to provide the highest quality of dental care by remaining current in their profession. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Huynh-Le completed 500 hours of continuing dental education, passed a comprehensive exam, and fulfilled three years of continuous membership in the AGD.

As a recipient of the Fellowship Award, Dr. Huynh-Le joins more than 6,700 active AGD Fellows who understand that providing great smiles and good oral health for their patients are the result of going above and beyond basic requirements.

"We are proud to honor Dr. Huynh-Le for her commitment to the profession," says AGD President Jeffrey M. Cole, DDS, MBA, FAGD. "She has distinguished herself professionally among her peers and is a role model to both her fellow dentists and to the members of the community."

Dr. Huynh-Le graduated from Medical University of South Carolina in 2003 and currently practices dentistry in Naples, Florida. In addition to the AGD, Dr. Huynh-Le is a member of the ADA and AACD

Dr. Huynh-Le and her husband, Dr. Long Huynh, have 3 children, Dawson, Daniel and Katie.

Dr. Huynh-Le can be contacted via the Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry website at www.MyParkDental.com or by calling (239) 263-1151.

About the Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. AGD members stay up-to-date in their profession through a commitment to continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD is the second largest dental association in the United States, and it is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to patients' oral health needs. For more information about the AGD, visit www.agd.org.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Possible Dental Causes of Headaches

Headaches can be classified into three categories: muscle contraction (tension) headaches, vascular (migraine, cluster) headaches, and traction-inflammatory (secondary) headaches. 9 out of 10 headaches result from tension-type which is often mistakenly believed to be caused by psychological tension (depression, anxiety, nervousness).

The pathophysiology of the majority of headaches is tension of muscle contraction from the neck, head, face, and jaw.

The following are signs that your headaches might have a dental origin: clicking, popping jaw joint(s), soreness/tired joint(s) in the morning, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, moderate to severe tooth wear, back or shoulder pain. If you have an unstable bite, every time your teeth come together during functional chewing, swallowing (over 2000 times per day), and parafunctional movements as described above, the facial muscles have to work extra hard and as a result become strained. When muscles are in constant strain, tension headaches occur.

PFCD dentists are well trained to help patients overcome or prevent pain related to unstable bite. A Splint Guard Therapy Device can be fabricated in-house to stabilize the teeth, making certain that every time the upper and lower dental arches come together, this device distributes the force evenly among all teeth. This is a reversible process, and the most conservative therapy available. Once the patients feel comfortable with the appliance, further dental treatment can be done to duplicate the bite already established.

For information on this topic, or any topic of dental interest, please see our website at www.myParkDental.com or call us at (239) 263-1151.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Overdenture As Possible Treatment

There are many reasons for tooth loss which has negative impact on function, aesthetics, and self-image. An overdenture is one of many modalities of treatment for patients with completely or partially edentulous dentition. Overdenture supported by the patient's own remaining teeth or by osseointegrated implants can be utilized pending the condition of remaining teeth and bone.

For overdenture supported by teeth to be successful, the endodontic procedure has to be effective. The retained root canal treated tooth is reduced to the gingiva thus increasing crown and root ratio, providing better retention, and significantly preventing rapid bone loss. In addition, sensory feedback as well as chewing efficiency is greatly improved compared to conventional complete denture.

Overdenture supported by osseointegrated implants is the standard of care nowadays, especially for completely edentulous mandibular arch. Research has showed no significant difference between roots or implant supported prostheses in regard to stability, retention and aesthetics. Therefore, PFCD dentists evaluate each individual patient and formulate a treatment plan to fit thepatient accordingly, pending each patient’s current dental condition and his or her wishes.

For information on this topic, or any topic of dental interest, please see our website at www.myParkDental.com or call us at (239) 263-1151.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Toothpaste - not such a simple matter these days.

Dentists and hygienists are regularly asked by their patients: 'what’s the right toothpaste for me?'

With many selections of OTC dentifrices currently available, it can be overwhelming and confusing to select the proper toothpaste. The answer can vary, depending on the condition of specific patient: hypersensitivity, dental erosion, tartar, stain, plaque buildup, gingivitis, halitosis, high caries rate, dry mouth, etc.

The use of whitening toothpaste has been on the rise, understandably for a cosmetic, rather than a therapeutic benefit. Dentifrice abrasives from whitening toothpaste are a major cause of tooth paste abrasion; a condition that did not exist before dental hygiene products were available. RDA (Radioactive Dental Abrasivity) of less than 250 is safe for normal use. Certain inactive ingredients might trigger sensitivity/intolerance response. So before you direct the above question to your dental professionals, be prepared to voice your chief concern or be asked a few questions prior to your question being answered.

If you have questions, or want more info, visit us at http://www.myparkdental.com/ or call us to schedule your appointment at (239) 263-1151.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Oral Cancer Very Common Worldwide

Did you know that oral cancer is the 6th most common cancer worldwide? 95% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. 75% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are tobacco users. An individual smoker who also consumes alcohol has a 15X greater risk of developing oral cancer. There are many adjunctive screening devices available to help dentists detect oral cancers with the progressing of modern technology. However, a through dental examination is still the standard of care in detecting early signs of oral cancers. 3-6 month visit to a dental hygienist is a healthy routine for the general population. The hygienists will likely to report any warning signs to the dentists who will determine if a biopsy is necessary.

Since the median age at an oral cancer diagnosis is 60, it is critically important that denture wearers visit the dentists for an oral cancer screening at least once a year. It’s no longer acceptable to have a set of dentures made and never see the dentists again until problem arises.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment that includes a thorough oral cancer screening, see www.myParkDental.com or call us at (239) 263-1151.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Minimally Invasid Dentistry (MID)

Minimally Invasive dentistry (MID) is a concept that many dentists embrace. In daily clinical setting, dentists still deal with gross decay, infection, periodontal abcess, dental emergency on a routine basis. However, with increased public awareness and its desire to look and feel better dentally, dentists are practicing MI techniques more now than ever before, especially with the improvement of adhesive dentistry. Tooth color fillings and resin veneers have benefited from many different bonding systems. CAD/CAM technology has offered patients the chance to conserve tooth structure via inlays, onlays in addition to all ceramic crowns made of of lithium disilicate (e-Max) porcelain system.

Implants are available as a better option to replace a single missing tooth instead of removing sound structure of the adjacent teeth as retainers for bridges. MID is not limited to various technical advancements, it involves the dental providers educating the public about preventive dentistry. It's no longer acceptable to see a dentist once a year. Depending on patient's condition, they might need to visit the hygienist four times per year to maintain their periodontal condition, minimizing gum surgery if possible. Topical fluoride every six month is the best insurance policy for healthy, caries-free mouth. Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry practices MID and advocates healthy mouth, healthy body via proper nutrition, making the connection between the mouth and the rest of the body's organ systems.

More information is available at http://myparkdental.com