PERIOREPORTER

THE

Quarterly newsletter for the patients of Dr. Ari Rosenblatt and Dr. Ziv Simon >> Fall 2010

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Testing for HPV in the Dental Offi ce

We at Periodontal and Implant Specialists of Beverly Hills,

want to be part of your fi rst line of defense in maintaining your overall good health. For this reason our offi ce now offers a simple, quick, non-invasive test for a strain of human papilloma virus, that can become cancerous if left undetected and untreated. In fact, 41,000 people a year are diagnosed with oral cancer. Un-fortunately, most of them are di-agnosed in the late stages of the cancer. Approximately, 12,000 people die of oral cancer a year.

The human papilloma virus, commonly known as HPV, is one of the most common virus groups in the world today. While most types are easily treated

Michael Douglas’ revelation on the Late Show with David Letterman recently that his throat cancer is stage four elicited a gasp from the audience. In an interview with People magazine, Douglas’ wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, expressed frustra-tion that the cancer had been caught late.

FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU:HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

and non-cancerous, four types of virus — 16, 18, 31 and 32 are far more serious, causing lesions on the skin and in the mouth that can become cancerous. The test involves a quick gargle with a mouth rinse that is sent out for lab analysis. In roughly one week our offi ce will call you with the results. “We encourage our patients to consider taking this one-minute test in our offi ce, just

to be certain,” advises Dr. Ari Rosenblatt.

If HPV is discovered, we will refer you immediately to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) for an evaluation. The ENT will follow up with you to rule out any throat lesions. You may be under the assumption that this virus only affects sexually active adults, but others are also vulner-able — including people with suppressed immune systems as well as diabetics. This virus can also spread through casual con-tact, such as sharing drinks.

Females under the age of 40 and nonsmokers are also at risk. You don’t have to be older or a smoker. Therefore, we encourage our patients to take this simple and potentially life-saving test. n

Just a quick gargle with a mouth rinse and results in a week

Lost a tooth? Dental implants help you fi nd your smile againLike your natural teeth, they are not taken out to be cleaned

That unwelcome gap between your teeth affects much more than your smile. Whether you lost a tooth due

to periodontal disease, infection or injury, the absence of a single tooth can impact your bite, cause teeth to shift, and allow food fragments to get stuck in the open space. Old-school replacements of either dentures or “partials” are now passé. The best solution today is a dental implant. And this procedure is our strong-suit here at Periodontal and Implant Specialists of Beverly Hills.

Implants have several advantages over other tooth replacement options. Implants look and function like natural teeth — no more remov-ing and soaking dentures. They also can replace a single tooth without sacrifi cing the health of neighboring teeth, in part because they replace your tooth root, helping better to preserve the bone. Long-term, an implant is more esthetic and easier to keep clean than a bridge.

The implant process involves a few steps. First, the implant is placed into your jaw and a temporary tooth replacement can be worn over the implant site. During the next few months, the new implant and bone bond together to form an anchor for your artifi cial tooth, or crown.

Sometimes, a second step is required to uncover the implant and attach an extension, called an abutment. An abutment is a small metal post that helps complete the foundation on which your new tooth will be placed. Your gums will heal for a few weeks following this procedure.

Finally, your crown will be created for you and attached to the abutment by your dentist. It will be customized to match the color and shape of your other teeth. No one will be able to tell it wasn’t always there. After a short time, you will be speaking, chewing and smiling naturally, with restored confi dence. n

This patient lost her tooth because of a fracture that led to a severe infection. Our doctors replaced the tooth with a dental implant that ultimately restored her esthetics and confi dence.

Tea for two, or tea for teeth?Green tea may help prevent tooth decay, gum infl ammation

Mom’s kiss can spread cavities to babyAre cavities contagious? In some cases the answer can be “yes”

If you’re health-conscious, like virtually all of the pa-tients here at Periodontal

and Implant Specialists of Beverly Hills, you’ve heard these claims before: drinking green tea is thought to bring all kinds of health benefi ts. From lowering cholesterol, preventing diabetes, possibly even helping to fi ght cancer. If these weren’t reason enough, research now shows that natural compounds in green tea called catechins can kill mouth bacteria associated with cavity-forming plaque. This means that drinking green tea may help prevent tooth decay, gum infl ammation and disease.

Previous research also sug-gested that regularly drinking green tea might reduce the chance of developing peri-

odontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Now a study conducted by researchers at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine amongst 25,000 Japanese people aged 40-64, revealed that those who drank one cup of green tea a day were less likely to lose teeth than those non-tea drinkers.

The amount of research link-ing your oral health directly to your overall physical health is absolutely overwhelming. So, we recommend that you drink a cup or two of green tea a day. But just say no to sugar in your green tea as sweetening will negate the benefi ts of the catechings. n

Adults harboring oral bacteria can transfer it to babies or toddlers

through innocent and natural practices, such as kissing them on the lips, blowing on food, sharing utensils or cups. Shar-ing a toothbrush or cleaning off a baby’s pacifi er with your own mouth can also spread harmful oral bacteria.

“Many studies over the years have documented the problem of ‘saliva-transfer,’ especially

the bacteria Streptococcus mutans, which can easily pass from person to person,” explains Dr. Ziv Simon. “During infancy

and when teeth are erupting, babies are most vulnerable to this bacteria transfer.”

Expectant moms can help avoid this problem by chewing Xylitol gum starting in the sixth month of pregnancy. A January 2010 study in the Journal of Dental Research found mothers-to-be who chewed Xylitol had far less decay-causing bacteria in their mouths. Of course, teeth clean-ing is recommended during the last trimester, too. n

PERIOREPORTER

THE

Quarterly newsletter for the patients of Dr. Ari Rosenblatt and Dr. Ziv Simon >> Fall 2010

9400 Brighton Way n Suite 311Beverly Hills, California 90210www.perio90210.com310.273.1900

Address correction requested.

Dr. Rosenblatt and Dr. Simon publish article on esthetics

This past year Dr. Simon has enjoyed being an invited lec-turer in California, throughout the United States and in several international cities like: Tokyo, Sydney, Vienna and

Madrid. Dr. Simon lectures mostly on esthetic periodontal surgery and reconstructive procedures performed in our offi ce. With a busy practice and lecture schedule he tries to get the word out and educate hundreds of dentists on a yearly basis. Pictured below, Dr. Simon demonstrates a delicate procedure to an attentive group. n

Dr. Ari Rosenblatt and Dr. Ziv Simon co-wrote an article in the August issue

of the Journal of the California Dental Association (Dr. Simon was the guest editor of this issue). Our doctors presented successful treat-ment of gum recession and implant reconstruction of an anterior tooth. The article was well received by the dental community and read-ers learned about the challenges in esthetic treatment and the methods to overcome them. n

Dr. Simon: An in demandinternational lecturer