Lately, dentists have been using headlights to better see their dental work. I’ve always felt they were way overpriced (some cost over $1,000) and not really necessary. But since Dr. Lynn and our dental hygienists have been happily using dental headlights for quite some time now, I finally decided to take the plunge and get one for myself. Last October, after much research, I bought a LumaDent LED headlight. At $400, it is one of the least expensive headlights out there, but it works great and is super light weight. Since they didn’t have a mount which fit my dental loupes, I had to jury-rig it using dental composite filling material. I’ve been loving it ever since.
A few weeks ago, one of the wire connectors loosened, so I sent it back to be repaired. Apparently in December, they started making them with metal connectors to prevent this exact problem. I sent it right before my vacation hoping it would be back when I returned.
When I got back from vacation, it hadn’t come back yet. So I called and was told they had not received it yet. Another week later, I called and it still hadn’t arrived. (I guess I shouldn’t have sent it USPS! My bad.) I asked how much it would be for a new headlight without the battery pack. Don (or was it Jose?) said they normally charge $250, but they would discount it for me because they understand how disappointing it is to lose something in the mail. I figured they’d knock it down to about $200, but I ended up paying less than half that amount! Each time I called, they knew who I was, remembered my situation, and had all my info readily available.
In addition to getting a deep discount on the headlight, he said he will send me a new mount for my dental loupes frame, which they now had. I hadn’t asked about it; he just noticed it. On top of that, he said if the original light ever shows up, they will fix it and send it to me to use as a spare! All this for something which wasn’t even their fault! I have never had a company give this much service completely unsolicited. I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you or anyone you know are looking for an LED headlight, GET A LUMADENT!
Do you or someone you know in Roseville/Granite Bay area have sleep apnea but are unable to wear a CPAP machine? Do you snore? Do you have high blood pressure (treated or untreated)? Has someone ever observed you choking or struggling for air when your asleep? Do you have a large neck? Answering yes to any of these may be a sign that you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I just came back from a very informative two day seminar on treating sleep apnea with oral appliances (OA). As noted in a previous blog, dental sleep appliances made by a dentist can be very effective in treating sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea, if left untreated, is associated with some very serious conditions, including:
High blood pressure
Obesity
Congestive heart failure
Atrial fibrillation
Diabetes
Coronary artery disease
In addition, sleep apnea can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnolence), which can be dangerous for people who drive or fly a lot. And the heavy snoring often associated with it can drive a wedge between couples who must sleep in separate rooms.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine states “oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer OAs to CPAP, or who do not respond to CPAP, are not appropriate candidates for CPAP, or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP”. Even people with severe sleep apnea have been successfully treated with oral appliances.
So if you or somebody you know in the Roseville/Granite Bay area have sleep apnea and are not using a CPAP, contact me to see if an oral appliance might help.
·Schedule their next appointment before leaving the office.
·Keep their scheduled appointment without any changes.
·Pay their balance or their estimated patient portion at the end of their appoinment.
They will write their first name and phone # on the ticket and drop it into the bowl.
The tickets will be collected from the first through the last day of the quarter. The winner will be drawn on the first day of the next quarter. (Feb 1, June 1, Sept 1, Nov 1)
Here at Yamamoto and Lee, Family Dentistry we are dedicated to providing top quality dentistry and overall service to our patients. In return, we have many wonderful patients- patients who do the following:
·Schedule their next appointment before leaving the office.
·Keep their scheduled appointment without any changes.
·Pay their balance or their estimated patient portion at the end of their appointment.
In order to show our appreciation, we will have quarterly drawings for those who continue to do these things for us. For each of these things you do at your next appointment, you will get a ticket to put your name and phone number on. Just drop your tickets into the bowl. The first winner will be drawn on Sept 1, 2010. We will be giving away an iPod Nano-8GB ($149 value). Future prizes to be determined.
Dental Products Report and Modern Hygienist came out with a great article on fluoride varnish. (To read the article, click on the logo to the left.) We offer varnish as an alternative to fluoride gel in trays for patients we think could benefit from it (for a small additional fee). Next time you come in for your cleaning, ask us if you could benefit from varnish.
Yamamoto and Lee, Family Dentistry now has FREE WIFI. When you come in for your appointment, or if you are waiting for someone with an appointment, feel free to bring your laptop or smart phone. Just ask a staff member for the passcode and sign on! We know your time is valuable. We thought this could help you stay productive (or maybe just more entertained!).
…but it will cost you at least $12-20/month to get enough xylitol to make a difference. Dentists have known about the benefits of xylitol for years. But the cost to benefit ratio has not made sense for most people (about a year ago, it cost around $30/month). Plus, chewing gum 4-6 times every day could be a problem for people with TMJ issues.
In order to prevent decay, studies suggest you need to chew 1-2 grams, 4-6 times a day. I don’t believe there are any over-the-counter gums you can buy in stores which have high enough xylitol levels. I called Trident, and they said the amount of xylitol in their Trident and Stride gums is proprietary and they would not disclose the amount. Online sources say Trident gum has 0.17 gm per stick. That’s 6 sticks at a time to get enough xylitol!
Still, if you’re having ongoing decay issues depite reducing sugar between meals, xylitol gum could be very helpful, provided you’re willing to chew that often. For further information on preventing tooth decay with xylitol gum, here’s a couple websites for you. Xylitol.org does a good job of explaining what xylitol is and how to use it. Xylitolpreventscavities.com lists some gums you can get online with enough xylitol to be effective.
As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Have we ever mentioned that Yamamoto and Lee was one of the first businesses to sign up for Roseville’s Renewable Energy program? We pay a few cents more per kWH to ensure our electricity comes from renewable sources, like wind and solar. We believe it’s important to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help protect our environment. My family also pariticipates at home, and we encourage all of you with Roseville Electric to join us! For more details, go to Roseville’s Green Roseville page. Help us make a difference.
I’m sure you’ve heard of sleep apnea by now. Most of us either have it or know someone who has it. Since it affects one of my two favorite hobbies (eating and sleeping), I’m glad to announce that we are now able to make dental appliances to help those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
First, you would have to be properly diagnosed at a sleep clinic. As dentists, we are not trained to diagnose or treat OSA. And you need to know that the gold standard of treatment is a CPAP machine, which helps force air into the lungs when you sleep. The problem with CPAP machines is that many people stop wearing them for various reasons, and like most devices, if you don’t use it, it doesn’t work very well.
Studies have shown that people are more likely to wear a dental sleep appliance long term. They are recommended for people with mild to moderate OSA. But studies have shown that they can also help people with severe OSA. Ask your sleep specialist if a dental appliance would be an option. If they are not familiar with dental appliances, we would be more than happy to consult with them.
Many of you have heard the infomercials for “Snore Guards”. They are similar to sleep appliances, but there are some important differences. A sleep appliance needs to be adjustable to be effective. We can measure how far to move your jaw forward to get the desired effect, and can make adjustments from there to best balance effectiveness with comfort. In addition, sleep appliances allow you to open your mouth. You are not locked into one position all night. BTW, neither snore guards nor dental sleep appliances actually stop snoring. But they usually lower the volume to a more tolerable level. Normal snoring is at the level of normal conversation, which at night can sound quite loud. These appliances often decrease snoring to the level of a whisper.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Do you or someone you know in Roseville/Granite Bay area have sleep apnea but are unable to wear a CPAP machine? Do you snore? Do you have high blood pressure (treated or untreated)? Has someone ever observed you choking or struggling for air when your asleep? Do you have a large neck? Answering yes to any of these may be a sign that you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I just came back from a very informative two day seminar on treating sleep apnea with oral appliances (OA). 
Yamamoto and Lee, Family Dentistry now has FREE WIFI. When you come in for your appointment, or if you are waiting for someone with an appointment, feel free to bring your laptop or smart phone. Just ask a staff member for the passcode and sign on! We know your time is valuable. We thought this could help you stay productive (or maybe just more entertained!).
Have we ever mentioned that Yamamoto and Lee was one of the first businesses to sign up for Roseville’s Renewable Energy program? We pay a few cents more per kWH to ensure our electricity comes from renewable sources, like wind and solar. We believe it’s important to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help protect our environment. My family also pariticipates at home, and we encourage all of you with Roseville Electric to join us! For more details, go to Roseville’s 
