Dentists Honored for Treating Holocaust Survivors

Henry Schein and Alpha Omega recently honored 28 dentists in the Chicago area for providing treatment to Holocaust survivors.

Henry Schein joined the Chicago chapter of the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity (AO) in recognizing 28 area oral health professionals for their participation in a program that provides free dental care to Holocaust survivors in need.

Launched in 2014 in response to the White House’s call to help Holocaust survivors age with dignity and respect, the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program has treated more than 140 patients across North America. In Chicago, 19 survivors have been treated, and 22 more are currently receiving treatment.

The participating dentists were honored at a reception held at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel congratulated the honorees, AO, and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation in a letter read at the event by AO Chicago chapter Ambassador Dr. Laurie Gordon Shaw.

“The success of the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program relies heavily on the generosity of local practitioners, and Henry Schein stands proudly with the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity to honor and thank the Chicago-area oral health professionals for their dedication to this deserving group of people,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Henry Schein Inc.

“Holocaust survivors have lived through the unspeakable, and it is incumbent upon the private and public sectors to ensure that essential health services are never beyond their reach,” said Bergman.

The initiative provides care to people identified by the network of Jewish Family and Children’s Service agencies or other identified partner organizations, as well as people of any faith who were victims of Nazi persecution and meet the program’s other eligibility requirements.

In addition to financial need, patient participation is prioritized by 3 factors: the elimination of pain, the restoration of function, and lack of dental coverage. Participating clinicians determine each patient’s scope of care.

The program is designed to fill a critical need for many of the 120,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States, a quarter of whom live in poverty. Survivors often have special oral health needs, as many suffered from prolonged nutritional deprivation and had little to no dental care access as children during World War II.

“I feel so privileged to be able to provide these patients, who have endured so much during the Holocaust, with the dental care they so desperately need while also giving them an opportunity to share their experiences,” said Gordon Shaw. “I feel so proud to be a member of Alpha Omega and to participate in this program, because if we did not take care of these patients, who would?”

“These survivors would not otherwise receive this dental treatment due to financial limitations, but now can eat without pain and proudly smile with dignity,” said Dr. Avi Wurman, DDS, program co-chair and AO past international president.

In addition to their own offices, some participating dentists treated patients at the ARK, a not-for-profit, community-funded health and human services agency with facilities on Chicago’s North Side and in Northbrook, Ill. Dr. Oded Gargir of the ARK also treated patients as part of the program.

The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program is financially supported by the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation and the Curt C. & Else Silberman Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, Bedford Health Care Solutions, the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, the Wagner Family Foundation, and the Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation.

The event’s honorees included Drs. Laurie Gordon Shaw, Brent Agran, Natalie Baker, Sanford Barr, Jeffrey Bressman, Janet Century, Barry Cherny, Scott Emalfarb, William Feingold, Bruce Hochstadter, Richard Isaacson, David Kanarek, Paul Landman, Carole Landman Feingold, Bianca Malin, Alan Moltz, Robert Pick, Sergio Rubinstein, Milt Salzer, Sheldon Seidman, Wendy Shorry, Chuch Tannenbaum, Terri Tiersky, Dan Uditsky, Michael Wasserman, Howard Weisbart, Alan Weisz, and Sam Weisz.

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23 Feb 2016  Dentistry Today

The Truth About Root Canal Treatment

Posted in Root Canal

Does the thought that you may need root canal treatment send shivers up your spine? Do you have the idea that it's a painful and complicated procedure that is best avoided? If so, it's time to think again. While an infection or inflammation in your tooth's pulp tissue can indeed cause severe pain, you should remember that root canal treatment relieves this pain — it doesn't cause it!

What is a root canal? It's a series of tiny, branching, river-like chambers found deep inside the roots of your teeth, which contain the nerve, or pulp, tissue. It's also a shorthand name for the dental procedure in which inflamed pulp tissue is removed, and the affected tooth is cleaned, disinfected and sealed. This treatment can put an end to the pain-causing inflammation and infection, and help prevent the tooth from being lost.

So, is this routine procedure exceptionally painful? The answer is no — it's generally no more uncomfortable than having a dental filling. And just like a filling, it begins with an anesthetic to numb the area under treatment. At that point, for many people, the worst is already over. To restore the tooth's appearance and function after a root canal procedure, it's usually necessary for a crown or another type of restoration to be placed on it. Learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Tooth Pain? Don't Wait!”

What Is a Palatal Expander?

Posted in Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry

Orthodontists don’t just reposition crooked teeth, they can also treat aspects of facial growth and jaw development to create a more aesthetic and functional bite. The palatal expander is an appliance they can use to achieve this. It gently widens the upper jaw and palate (roof of the mouth) — collectively called the maxilla — to prevent, correct, or reduce the severity of problems associated with an upper jaw that’s too narrow.

The key to this device’s effectiveness is timing… Unlike braces, which can work at any age, the palatal expander capitalizes on anatomical facial changes related to growth. The palatal bone tissue has a growth plate down the center and allows for expansion as the child grows. This stops around puberty and thus is effective for only a limited time.

Problems that may be treatable with palatal expansion include:

Posterior Crossbite. Upper teeth normally close around the outside of the lower teeth. In individuals with a narrow palate, the back upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth.

Tooth Crowding. When there is insufficient space in the jaw, permanent, or adult, teeth cannot erupt into their proper positions. Palatal expansion makes room for crowded teeth to align better, which may eliminate the need for teeth to be removed, or reduce the number that have to come out.

Impacted Teeth. Tooth crowding can block teeth that haven’t come in yet from “erupting” into the mouth.

Breathing Problems. A high palate and narrow arch may cause breathing problems by restricting air passages.

Palatal expansion also can broaden the smile in an aesthetically pleasing way. And while it may not eliminate the need for your child to wear orthodontic braces, it can shorten the length of treatment.

How Does It Work?
To understand how the device works, it helps to understand some anatomy… The maxilla is formed from two bones that fuse together in the middle of the palate at the “midline suture.” These bones are not completely fused until a little after puberty.

The appliance is referred to as a palatal expander and it attaches to the inside of upper molars on each side of the mouth. It has two halves that are connected in the middle with a screw. Slightly turning the screw open each day causes tension at the midlines suture, prompting the bones to gradually move apart and new bone to form in the gap. Once the desired expansion has been achieved, the appliance remains in place to allow the new bone to stabilize. Palatal expanders are typically worn for 3 to 6 months, depending on the amount of expansion required.

Palatal expansion is not appropriate in every case. A skilled orthodontist can help you determine whether this treatment would be beneficial for your child.

You can learn more about this subject by reading our article on “Palatal Expanders.”

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Nervous About Implant Surgery

Dental implants have gained a popular reputation for their life-like appearance and longevity. Much of the latter is attributable to the titanium post imbedded in the jawbone. Because titanium has a natural affinity with bone, new cells will grow and adhere to the dental implant over time, making their connection strong and durable.

Of course, to achieve that requires implant surgery — a prospect that gives many people pause before choosing this replacement option. But implant surgery is a routine undertaking, causes very little discomfort and in trained hands has a very high success rate.

Here are 3 reasons why implant surgery is nothing to be nervous about.

The procedure is precisely planned. Implant surgery is a relatively minor procedure, mainly because all the placement details are often mapped out ahead of time. For complex situations your dentist can use x-ray or CT imaging to determine the exact location for each implant and create a surgical guide to use during the procedure to make incisions and create the small channel that will hold the implant.

Implant surgery can be performed with local anesthesia. Implantation is usually easier than tooth extraction — if you’re healthy enough for that procedure you should have no problem undergoing implant surgery. With a local anesthetic, your dentist will numb only the implant site and surrounding tissues while you remain conscious. If, however, you have any anxiety your dentist can also include a sedative or anti-anxiety medication before proceeding.

There’s minimal discomfort afterward. Thanks to the pre-planned surgical guide and advanced implantation techniques, there’s very little tissue disruption and incised tissues are normally stitched with self-absorbing sutures. While some cases may require stronger pain relievers, most of the time a mild non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen is sufficient for discomfort afterward.

The implant site heals fairly quickly and predictably with a 95-97% success rate. A few weeks after bone integration your dentist will attach the permanent like-like crown, and you’ll be ready for many years of full function and a confident smile.

If you would like more information on dental implants, read Dental Implant Surgery.