http://www.drspina.com/blog/ Tooth Talk is the blog of Dr. Joseph Spina. Dr. Spina practices family and cosmetic surgery out of his Wayne, PA office. en Copyright 2012 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:56:33 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss As many of you know, I have become very involved with the use of the lasers in dentistry. Currently I am active in the Academy of Laser Dentistry as well as the World Clinical Laser Institute. Lasers have revolutionized the treatment of periodontal (gum) disease. Patients that had been treated in the past with gum surgery and extractions can now be treated with laser energy. http://www.drspina.com/blog/laser_treatment_of_periodontal/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/laser_treatment_of_periodontal/ Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:56:33 -0500 This spring, I am very excited to rejoin the active faculty at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. To ensure we have enough hours to accommodate our patients, we are opening our office Wednesday afternoons and evenings from 1pm -7pm, in addition to our normal hours. http://www.drspina.com/blog/exciting_news_welcome_back_to/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/exciting_news_welcome_back_to/ Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:18:20 -0500 Dental Screenings Linked to Lower Heart Disease, Stroke Risk By DR. MIRJANA JOJIC, ABC News Medical Unit Nov 13, 2011 Going to the dentist can be stressful, frightening and painful -- but it may also help your heart. Research presented Sunday at the American Heart Association's (AHA) annual conference in Orlando, Fla., suggests that not only do frequent dental cleanings ward off plaque and gum disease, but they can also reduce risk of heart disease and stroke.]]> http://www.drspina.com/blog/dental_screenings_linked_to_lo/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/dental_screenings_linked_to_lo/ Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:45:24 -0500 Small Diameter Implants into my practice. Small diameter or mini implants, as they are called, offer many advantages for patients. Mini implants are smaller, narrower, and more conservative than traditional implants. The placement procedure is much less invasive compared to traditional implants and is easily tolerated by most patients. The amount of bone needed for successful placement of mini's is much less than what is required for traditional implants. This makes implant therapy available to patients who previously were not candidates because they had too little bone. In addition, they can be placed for 1/3 the price of a traditional implant, which makes them much more affordable and accessible. ]]> http://www.drspina.com/blog/mini_implant_exciting_new_trea/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/mini_implant_exciting_new_trea/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:33:38 -0500 The use of dental radiographs (x-rays) has been used for many years as the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment of dental disease. There have been several news reports about dental x-rays recently, and I wanted to clarify the procedures and protocols we use to take dental x-rays. http://www.drspina.com/blog/dental_radiographs_xrays/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/dental_radiographs_xrays/ Mon, 23 May 2011 11:11:43 -0500 There are many options for tooth bleaching. They vary in speed of function, strength, cost, and effectiveness. We offer patients everything from help picking an over-the-counter product, at-home profession options, as well as in-office rapid whitening. When people ask me what I would recommend, my choice is usually the 3-day at-home system. http://www.drspina.com/blog/my_favorite_tooth_bleach/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/my_favorite_tooth_bleach/ Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:42:06 -0500 Saturdays. If this is the best time for you and your family, please call or email because these times fill up quickly. ]]> http://www.drspina.com/blog/visit_us_on_a_saturday/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/visit_us_on_a_saturday/ Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:04:03 -0500 Americans are getting fluoride from a variety of sources that did not exist in the 1940s, when community water fluoridation first got under way. Water consumption patterns have changed too. http://www.drspina.com/blog/us_regulators_call_for_less_fl/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/us_regulators_call_for_less_fl/ Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:48:53 -0500 Labeling for dental amalgam should more clearly inform dental practitioners and their patients of the potential risks posed by the mercury it contains, an expert panel advised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at a two-day meeting in Gaithersburg, MD, this week. And the FDA should do its own risk assessment and meta-analysis of scientific literature to gain an authoritative grasp of what is knowable about the dangers that mercury restorations may pose, particularly for sensitive subgroups such as pregnant women, their fetuses, young children, and medically vulnerable patients. http://www.drspina.com/blog/fda_panel_calls_for_more_resea/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/fda_panel_calls_for_more_resea/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:03:23 -0500 This is a great patient who had a beautiful smile except for one badly discolored front incisor. Using one all porcelain crown we were able to greatly improve her smile. I am really excited by how well her smile looks now because of one simple procedure. This shows once again that treatment does not have to be 'extreme' to have a big effect. (Lab work by Dodd Dental Lab New Castle, DE) Cut and paste the link below to see before and after pictures: http://drspina.posterous.com/single-all-porcelain-crown-on-a-front-tooth http://www.drspina.com/blog/single_allporcelain_crown_on_a/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/single_allporcelain_crown_on_a/ Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:05:46 -0500 The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has issued a Fact Sheet about amalgam (silver) fillings that presents patients with the facts and the risks associated with mercury containing fillings. All dentists who practice in Philadelphia County that still place amalgam (silver) fillings must distribute this form to their patients. I have included the form below for your information. As you know, we are a mercury free practice. We do not place any silver (amalgam) restorations. We used either composite or porcelain materials http://www.drspina.com/blog/the_philadelphia_department_of/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/the_philadelphia_department_of/ Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:28:28 -0500 This is a great patient that got a great result from two veneers. This once again shows that even a small correction can have a big impact on your smile. http://www.drspina.com/blog/small_correction_can_have_a_bi/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/small_correction_can_have_a_bi/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:36:40 -0500 This is a really interesting and important finding linking general physical fitness to periodontal disease. It is another illustration of the link between dental health and general health. http://www.drspina.com/blog/overall_fitness_reduces_risk_o/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/overall_fitness_reduces_risk_o/ Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:40:29 -0500 Here is an interesting article I found about the link in tooth decay in mothers to tooth decay in their children. http://www.drspina.com/blog/if_mom_has_tooth_decay_child_l/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/if_mom_has_tooth_decay_child_l/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:09:46 -0500 Many patients have asked me recently about changing their old amalgam (silver) fillings to composite or white fillings. We just did this for a patient and the results were fantastic. Both the patient and myself were really happy with the results and we are both happy to share the before and after pictures! Cut and Paste this link into your browser: http://drspina.posterous.com/replacing-amalgam-silver-fillings-with-compos http://www.drspina.com/blog/replacing_amalgam_silver_filli/ http://www.drspina.com/blog/replacing_amalgam_silver_filli/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:21:06 -0500