I am John Markham. I am a day trader and I also am an entertainment design coordinator and producer. I found the Dentist Studio through a recommendation of another dentist. I’ve made a career of not going to the dentist. Because I traveled all over the world for quite a while, it was easy for me to avoid going and I didn’t for 25 years. It was obvious that I needed help between pain and just knowing of 25 years of abuse. The whole idea of going to the dentist is like eh to me. I felt I needed sedation so he was recommended. I went to him, their staff is unbelievably friendly. He is unbelievably friendly. Not only friendly and an expert, but he’s also, how do I put this, the guy is willing to work with you in any capacity and I needed sedation for the first go around. I can put it all together in this, if I was a spy, all they would have to do is come in to the room their holding me, start a dentist drill and I would say okay the President is down the hall, to the right, the money is down to the left. I’m deathly afraid of dentists and he made it extremely comfortable, went above and beyond to a point where when I thought I might be ready to not take sedation and my wallet was possibly suggesting that I not take sedation, he said we will work that out. We will take care of this. We feel it’s the most comfortable thing for you and we want you to be comfortable. So he, his staff, the whole operation, I can’t speak highly enough of them. I was really, really nervous. They suggested maybe some nitrous I believe to call me down before they went through the sedation. It was so good, I barely remember but fundamentally it’s an IV and you’re like ‘poof’, you go to sleep. Everything was done and he took care of quite a bit of work because as I said it was 25 years of neglect and he was able to streamline all of that in a single visit and in doing so while I came out of it by wife helped me out to the car. I went home, took a nap, end a story. It was all done. It made it so comfortable that I could go back even though I the first couple visits after that were still like ‘eh’. The girls know you by name. At this point, I can go comfortably. I feel more confident. I was having nightmares. I’d wake up from knowing that I hadn’t been to the dentist and maybe there was some kind of pain that was going on that would wake me up but it was not only in my conscious mind but obviously my subconscious mind. It obviously was bothering me. I feel great that I now know that I’m up-to-date, things are good. I can chew corn and all that stuff. You feel embarrassed to be that afraid of something. I’ve done productions for the King of Belgium and the Sultan of Oman and I did President Reagan’s inaugural and that stuff is like water off a duck’s back. I’ve been doing that stuff my whole life so I felt like silly and foolish to be afraid of going to the dentist when I’m done these shows for hundreds and thousands of people and all of this stuff. You would think there might be some fear associated with that but I guess it’s what you’re used to and I wasn’t used to going to the dentist and that’s where Dr. Hodgins and his staff made it unbelievably comfortable to go through the process. I consider him a person that is not only good at what he does but, we don’t go out to dinner, but I would call him and his staff friends.

My name is Katie Sewell and I live in the Forest City area in Orlando and I go to the Dentist Studio. I just was always scared of the dentist and I had one incident where I was probably eight and the dentist pulled one of my teeth without Novocain. He said ‘oh, you don’t need it’, and I felt every bit of it. So after that it was like just terror. It’s emotionally crippling I think, not to sound too extreme, but it is. I felt like I couldn’t do business with people. Even in my wedding pictures I hide my smile. I didn’t smile. You just see these pictures of me just going or covering my face and it was like that for years. I didn’t feel like I could laugh or smile or talk freely. I knew I had to go to someone but that fear just kicked in again. I looked online. I did some research for a friend who had referred me. They had mentioned Dr. Hodgins and thought it would be perfect for me with my anxiety. The first visit I had, I actually cried when I saw the dental chair for the first time. But it was really comforting because being from a cosmetology background, I walked in and it felt like I was in a spa. It didn’t smell or feel or even sound like a dental office. The room that they take you into, it’s great because he has no tools lying anywhere. He offered me a magazine. He didn’t make me sit in the chair. He said he didn’t have to look in my mouth. He just wanted to talk to me and see how I felt and then we would take each step as needed, as I was comfortable. First of all, the last time I had gone, it was probably honestly 10-12 years. I was really afraid. I knew that it wasn’t going to be great news but he had a comforting way of handling it and helping me through each step of it. I ended up having to have laser gum surgery and I was terrified and I thought I going to lose all my teeth and he made it so that I didn’t have to lose even one. It’s given me a new confidence. When I book an appointment now, I don’t tremble when I dial that number for the first time like going to a dentist and have felt pain. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Heidi Hatch: …for you this morning. It’s concerning your dental health. Do you have a mercury filling, maybe more than 1? I know I’ve got one. There’s many concern right now this morning over whether or not they’re really safe. While they are still approved by the American Dental Association, some dentists say they’re hazardous to your health and that’s why the Food and Drug Administration is now reviewing this case yet again after ruling to risks to patients as moderate but not harmful to your health 18 months ago. Tune this live is Orlando dentist, Dr. Zach Hodgins. Dr. Hodgins, thanks so much for coming in.

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Thank you for having me.

Heidi Hatch: Let’s talk a little bit about the reason why this concern is coming up. Why are we talking about this right now?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: I think that there have been many concerns with environmental exposure to… of mercury to human beings and there are a lot of studies that have shown that mercury fillings actually leak mercury into the system on a daily basis. So I think that’s concerned everybody.

Heidi Hatch: Do you use the mercury amalgam fillings in your practice?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: I do not.

Heidi Hatch: Why?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: For several reasons. They’re not really desired by patients for aesthetic reasons and also concern about the health issues as well. And they also crack teeth over time because they act like thermometers. Since they have so much mercury, they expand and contract with changes in temperature so they can damage teeth.

Heidi Hatch: We have been hearing for years now… if you’re pregnant don’t eat fish that has mercury, get rid of your mercury thermometers, all of these aren’t in our bodies 24 hours a day. Well, putting those mercury fillings in there, can this have an effect on our brain or kidneys as we otherwise hear in other things when they’re saying really stay away from mercury?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Right. I think that it can. And studies have shown that chronic mercury exposure can lead to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease so I think that’s definitely a concern… that’s what the FDA panel meeting this week will be discussing.

Heidi Hatch: Last time they assessed, they said that it’s a moderate concern but it’s not something that’s harmful to your health. Do you think the FDA would be reticent no matter what they find to say, “This is bad, you gotta take it out.” Because then, you create a situation where everybody’s like, “I gotta rid of these, I don’t have the money, how do I do this?” And then the entire country’s freaking out.

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Well I would hope that the FDA’s more concerned with our safety rather than economic downfall of having these fillings in your mouth, hopefully that’s the case.

Heidi Hatch: Mercury amalgam fillings. I’ve seen a video online, you go in Youtube and you see a video that some doctors have taken where it shows the mercury fillings leaking off when you chew in your mouth or when anything else goes on in there. Is that realistic? Does that happen?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Yes, absolutely. Studies have shown that the mercury is leeched from the fillings between 3 to 27 micrograms per day. So that’s definitely significant, I think.

Heidi Hatch: The American Dental Association still says it’s safe. It’s still the preferred metal of choice to use when filling teeth. Why is it that they back it?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Well I think that’s a combination of the FDA’s guidelines, I think that’s probably what they’re following. So that’s… I think that’s the reason why.

Heidi Hatch: Alright, before we let you go, one other quick question. People are considering getting these out, are there safer ways to do it or things you have to think about when you talk to your own dentist?

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Yes absolutely. There are protocols that have been set up for instance, by the IAOMT that’s…will provide for safe amalgam removal.

Heidi Hatch: Alright we’ll be following the FDA’s findings and we’ll bring it to you when we have it. Dr. Hodgins, thanks so much for coming in and sharing your answers with us this morning.

Dr. Zach Hodgins: Thanks for having me.

At CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), new research has shown that golfers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)who received nasal positive airway pressure (NPAP) improved their daytime sleepiness scores and lowered their golf handicap by as much as 3 strokes. This research suggest that the possibility of improving your golf game may be motivation to improve NPAP compliance rates within the golfing community. Study resultes showed that the best golfers, defined as HI <12, had the most substantial improvements in their game. Within this group, the average HI dropped from 9.2 (+/- 2.9) to 6.3 (+/- 3.0); the SQ score from 10.8 (+/- 1.9), to 2.8 (+/- 2.6).

“The biggest handicap improvements occurred in the lower handicap, often older golfers. This group typically would be expected to trend in the opposite direction due to age-related deterioration in strength and endurance,” said Mr. Friedman. “The drop in handicap among the better golfers probably reflected that the major limiting factor was not golf skill but cognitive compromise that improved when the sleep apnea was treated.”

“OSAS can lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive impairment, all side effects which can negatively impact a person’s ability to golf to the best of one’s ability.” said Marc L. Benton, MD, FCCP, Atlantic Sleep and Pulmonary Associates, Madison, NJ. “As any golfer knows, when your ability to think clearly or make good decisions is compromised, the likelihood of playing your best is greatly diminished,” said Dr. Benton. “Through treatment with NPAP, we can improve many cognitive metrics, such as attention span, memory, decision-making abilities, and frustration management, which may, in turn, positively affect a person’s golf game.”

Science says a dentist can improve your golf game. Dr. Zachary Hodgins of The Dentist Studio in central Florida is ready to help you improve your golf score and help you feel alive during the day. If you are having trouble sleeping or never feel rested there is a possibilty you could be suffering from OSA.

Dr. Zach Hodgins, an Orlando dentist, is often asked about the safety of Mercury fillings that patients have in their mouths. While mercury fillings are still approved by the American Dental Association, Dr. Hodgins recognizes the hazards of this material, and has not used this material ever in his professional career. Many people do not realize the “silver” amalgam fillings are 50% mercury. In fact, a large mercury filling may contain as much mercury as a thermometer.

Mercury vaporizes easily at room temperature, and in this state, is odorless, colorless and tasteless, and very dangerous. If inhaled, mercury vapor is readily absorbed into the bloodstream. The World Health Organization has concluded that dental fillings contribute more mercury to a person’s body than all other sources of mercury combined. Mercury is a powerful poison, and should be avoided. Published research demonstrates that mercury is more toxic than lead, cadmium or arsenic. No amount of exposure to mercury vapor can be considered harmless. Especially considering its cumulative effect. It is baffling to note that some dentists are still placing mercury fillings in patient’s mouths. It doesn’t make any sense that dentists that place mercury fillings, have to dispose of the excess mercury filling material in a special biohazardous container. Also, this container must be disposed of by a special biohazardous waste company. In the next blog posting, the dangers of Mercury Fillings will be discussed, as well as the systemic complications that have been proven to be connected with mercury toxicity.

Dr. Zach Hodgins, an Orlando Mercury Free Dentist, is a recognized leader in Dentistry. He practices mercury free dentistry. He offers patients a safe and easy way to remove their mercury fillings from their mouths.

Dr. Hodgins is a member of the IAOMT

, and utilizes mercury removal protocols established by the IAOMT, The International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.

The IAOMT is a network of dental, medical and research professionals

who seek to raise the standards of scientific biocompatibility in the dental practice with information from the latest interdisciplinary research. In the up and coming blog posts, many questions regarding Biologic Dentistry and the dangers of Mercury fillings will be discussed. For more information regarding removing your Mercury Fillings, contact Dr. Hodgins’ office at 407.647.1744.

A very happy Dentist Studio patient describing her life before after and during her complete and successful smile makeover

Q: Will I really be totally relaxed?
A: You’ll receive enough sedation so that you’ll be completely unaware of the treatment, as you would if you were asleep.

Q: Will I remember anything?
A: At the end of the treatment, you’ll have little or no memore of your dental visit.

Q: Will I feel any pain?
A: Most patients feel no discomfort whatsoever during their treatment and feel surprisingly good afterward. Local anesthetic is used in addition to the sedation drugs.

Q: Is Sedation Dentistry safe for me?
A: Before starting any treatments, we review your medical history, and we monitor you very closely while your under sedation.

Q: Will my insurance cover treatment?
A: We’ll review your insurance coverage and, if necessary, make financial arrangements to insure you get the dental care you need.

We’ll be happy to explain the details and benefits of Sedation Dentistry.

Just Call Our Office for an appointment 407.647.1744!