Last month we held a Teeth Whitening Day in our office to benefit The Women in Need Foundation (WIN). We offered professional home teeth whitening at a discounted fee to our patients and in return all of the proceeds went directly to WIN. WIN is directly involved in helping women that have been victims of domestic violence. The event was a huge success, as we raised over $1200 for the organization. Special thanks to Mrs. Georgia Kelly Pittman, and to all of our patients who helped.

My wife and I ran the Chicago Marathon on October 11th, 2009. The weather was perfect for running, around 33 degrees at the start. It sure was a nice change from the sweltering heat that we were training in here in central Florida.
34,000 runners started the race, and I must say that it was an amazing experience to share with everyone. It was my fourth marathon, and i’m planning on doing the Goofy race in January 2010. The race is held on Walt Disney World property here in Orlando,FL. It consists of running a half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday, and then a full marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday. Hence the name Goofy, because you have to be a little goofy to run that far in 2 days! It should be fun, and i’ll keep you posted.

Health hazards commonly associated with chronic periodontitis (gum disease) go far beyond the mouth. People have been warned for years that persistent periodontitis can be one of the causes of heart disease. A new study suggests that gum disease may also be a risk factor for many other cancers of the head and neck.

The journal: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, the study included 207 control subjects & 266 patients with cancers of the head or neck treated between 1999 and 2005.

Dr. Mine Tezel, The State University of New York, Buffalo, & his colleagues noted: “Alveolar bone is the ridge of bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth, holding them in place. Loss of this bone is typically seen with severe periodontal disease.”

The report indicates every millimeter of alveolar bone loss increases the risk of head and neck cancer by 4-fold. (One millimeter is about the size of the head of a pin.) This link also noted in subjects who never used tobacco or alcohol.

We are not just Cosmetic Dentists but at The Dentist Studio Dentistry we are committed to go above and beyond in periodontal health. We want for our patients to live a long, healthy life. By remedying a small problem now you can avoid disaster in the future. We provide dental care to promote your overall health.

We want to make all of our patients aware of this very important study. If you do not take care of your gums, you are not just harming you mouth but your entire body.  Make sure to brush, floss and have regular checkups.  You may say “I don’t have the time” but think of all of the time and money one of these horrible diseases will cost you.

*SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, September 2009.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Kelly Pittman, Mrs. Georgia 2009 to redesign her smile. We did a smile makeover for Kelly with porcelain veneers, and I’m sure that you would agree that she looks absolutely stunning! She’s a great lady and an amazing spokeswoman for The WIN Foundation.  Kelly will compete in the Mrs. Globe Competition in 2010 in Anaheim California, and I hope that her smile gives her that winning edge.  Major kudos to Curt Littlecott from Nu Visions in Photography for taking this incredible photo.  Curt was recently voted one of the best photographers in the world.  Be sure to check them out if you’re in need of a photographer for any event.