Laser Technology Helps Find Hidden Tooth Decay

by Linda Donley, from the offices of James R. Donley, DDS

Leaders in the field of decay research agree that conventional methods of decay discovering are inadequate and outdated for modern dentistry.

With the fluoridation of water and improved oral hygiene, the nature of decay has changed. Harder and more resistant enamel can conceal aggressive decay below the surface.

Conventional probing with the usual instruments is only 24 percent accurate for early decay detection. Some of this decay is so well hidden that it is not able to be seen or diagnosed with X-rays. Thus, some patients have ended up in severe pain before this hidden decay could be found. Now the patient might need a root canal and crown to save this tooth instead of the small filling that would have been needed if it had been found at an early stage.

Today, we have an instrument called the DIAGNOdent which can determine if decay has started. This is one of the newer technologies that is available. It scans your teeth with a harmless laser light that searches for hidden decay. It is particularly helpful in finding decay in molar teeth which have many pits and fissures. The instruments that have been available to dentists cannot fit into these small crevices and they are so deep that a visual exam cannot show if there is decay. Therefore, decay has often gone undetected until it caused a problem.

If you would like more information or would like to make an appointment, call the office and we will be glad to help you.

Dr. Donley and staff can be reached at (231) 744-6661. Their offices are at 166 N. Causeway in North Muskegon.

Omni Fitness Club Gets Active on Capitol Hill

from Omni Fitness Club

Lana Carson and Maria Whitlow of the Omni Fitness Club recently held meetings in Washington, DC with Michigan Congressional leaders to voice their support for health promotion legislation as part of the International Health, Racquet abd Sports Club Association's (IHRSA) Sixth Annual Legislative Summit, which was held May 21 and 22, 2008.

This event brings together fitness industry leaders on Capitol Hill to call on Congress to do what they can to create a national culture that encourages healthy lifestyles by supporting federal legislation that makes it easier for Americans to exercise. IHRSA and its members support effective national initiatives to promote more active lifestyles for all Americans, and they are working to pass laws that will help affect societal changes towards a more fit America.

At this year's Summit, fitness industry leaders voiced their support for the passage of the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (H.R. 1748/S. 1038) and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R.245).

The Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (H.R. 1748/ S. 1038) seeks to combat chronic disease and obesity caused by inactivity by allowing for the balanced tax treatment of fitness center memberships as an employee benefit. Current law allows employees to use on-site fitness facilities free of any tax implications. But when a business needs to outsource this health benefit, employees who receive off-site fitness center subsidies are required to pay income tax on the benefits. And their employers bear the associated administrative costs of complying with IRS rules. The WHIP Act eliminates this tax on off-site fitness center subsidies, making it easier for all employers to offer important exercise incentives for their workers.

The recently introduced Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R. 245) takes a giant step toward a healthier America. This legislation will allow for exercise and physical fitness programs and certain exercise equipment to be paid for out of pre-tax dollars by including them in tax deferred medical savings vehicles - such as flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HAS).

"Given the staggering public health costs associated with sedentary lifestyle, it is essential that each and every one of us do what we can to make physical activity accessible for all," said Lana Carson, President of Omni Fitness Club. "This is the message that we carried to our members of Congress and will continue to support through every channel we possibly can - in Washington, D.C. and at home."

To learn more about how the Omni Fitness Club is working to improve our community, go to www.omnifitnessclub.com.

If you would like help getting started, feel free to contact Lana Carson at the Omni Fitness Club at (231) 739-3391 or visit us at www.omnifitnessclub.com for a list of community programs and services in an area close to you!

Supplements Important to General Health

by Eric Johnson, Manager, Health Hutt

In today's toxic world, what should be part of everyone's general health? We try to eat healthy, exercise, and be environmentally friendly but our bodies still need more.

Supplementation can help boost energy levels, enhance the immune system and protect the body from free radical damage.

It is highly recommended to get a really good whole food multi-vitamin such as Life Essence or Garden of Life's Living Multi. These provide high quality nutrition derived from wholesome food sources that will be beneficial to your body.

CoQ-10 is the next item that should be a part of everyone's general health practice. It is a micronutrient essential to life. It regulates the flow of oxygen around the heart muscles, which doesn't function as well without a good source of CoQ-10. CoQ-10 levels tend to deteriorate with advancing age and it may also be correlated to declining immune function.

Olympian Labs has an excellent source of CoQ-10 that could help boost the energy levels, protect from free radical damage and enhance the immune system significantly. Tissues, like the heart, need the most energy producing oxygen, which CoQ-10 provides. Stop in today at one of the four locations of the Health Hutt and get your Multi & CoQ-10 today!

To ask about natural remedies or other vitamin supplements phone the Health Hutt closest to you. In Muskegon call (231) 739-1568. Be sure to watch "Forever Young" Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Comcast Cable 97.

Health Hutt Opens at New Location - Health Hutt Manager Eric Johnson has just announced the local, natural health store chain has opened another store in Grand Rapids, at 600 Monroe Ave. NW. To contact the new Grand Rapids store, customers can call (616) 776-9944.

Pregnancy and Your Oral Health

by Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., Northshore Dental Associates

Maintaining optimal oral health during pregnancy has turned out to be much more important than originally thought.

Women with periodontal (gum) disease have a much higher rate of premature and low birth weight babies, not unlike women who smoke during pregnancy. It is thought that the inflammatory factors present in periodontal disease predispose pregnant women to premature labor. There is also some research to show that pregnant women with gum disease are more likely to have gestational diabetes.

It is critically important to keep your regular dental cleaning appointments during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body's hormone levels sky rocket which can result in gingivitis and pregnancy tumors. Gingivitis appears as red, puffy, inflamed gums that tend to bleed. It is a reaction to the higher levels of progesterone in the second and third trimester. Pregnancy tumors are ugly but not serious. They appear as a reddish purple swelling in between the teeth. They too are an exaggerated response to plaque. Pregnancy tumors sometimes have to be removed surgically after the baby is born. Keeping your mouth clean with good brushing and flossing will prevent or minimize the occurrence of these two conditions.

One of the biggest myths of pregnancy is the baby taking calcium out of the teeth and making the teeth weaker. The calcium the baby needs comes from the diet. However, if the diet is inadequate in calcium, the woman's body will extract it from stores in the bones. The bones will suffer but not the teeth.

Many women insist that their teeth suffered during or after pregnancy. This has to do with diet, cravings, and more frequent eating. Some women will crave carbohydrates, which if eaten frequently contribute to plaque and tooth decay. Some women will drink sodas to counteract nausea. The constant assault of the acid and sugar in sodas will cause decay. Some women will have an exaggerated gag reflex and cannot brush and floss their teeth as frequently as they did pre-pregnancy. All these issues can contribute to decay and gum disease during pregnancy and after.

Obviously, it is important to take care of your whole body while pregnant. A balanced diet is crucial to staying healthy. Maintain good brushing and flossing habits to minimize the risk of any pregnancy or post-pregnancy oral health problems. Visit your dentist as scheduled and hopefully you can stay clear of any oral health problems during your pregnancy!

Monica J. Lakatos, D.D.S., at Northshore Dental Associates, 1179 Whitehall Road in North Muskegon, can be reached at (231) 744-6100.