I just got back from 8 fabulous days in Wyoming where I hiked in the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We were in the back country for much of the time without access to cellphone, internet or TV service. This was the first time in many years that I was out of communication for such a long time. But my answering service picked up messages, and I arranged for any emergency treatment that should be needed. It was great to see the wide open spaces of the Northwest, the snow capped peaks, the wild animals (I saw plenty of moose, bison, elks, deer - and fortunately no bears). But I missed my patients and it’s great to be back home on Long island.

Children who consume a syrup with the naturally occurring sweetener xylitol develop fewer cavities than children who don’t consume xylitol. A recent study at the U. of Washington School of Dentistry concluded that exposure to 8 grams of xylitol per day in a twice-daily topical oral syrup prevents up to 70% of decayed primary teeth. The study was conducted in the Republic of the Marshall Islands where childhood decay is a serious public health concern. More research is needed, but it appears that xylitol is a cost-effective preventive measure for populations with high rates of tooth decay.
For more information on children’s dentistry visit www.drterryshapiro.com/general.html.

I read a funny but inspiring article last week in the New York Times from the point of view of an adult undergoing orthodontic treatment. Her dentist told her that crowded teeth were harder to clean and her mouth was “headed for trouble” if she didn’t straighten her crooked teeth. The author reminds us that middle aged adults have an average of 15 decayed, filled or missing teeth. (Yes, I see this every day.)

Her treatment began with clear plastic aligners (see my blog entry on Invisalign) but the orthodontist had to switch her to metal brackets and wires to complete the treatment. This occurs more often than the orthodontists like to admit. More than a million adults are being treated orthodontically, representing about 20% of orthodontic patients. People want to look better and have healthier teeth at any age. Great idea!

Contact our East Setauket dental office today and we’ll let you know if you are a candidate for invisible braces.

The Suffolk County Dental Association recently inaugurated the Save-A-Smile program. This is a wonderful program whereby Suffolk dentists can volunteer to provide desperately needed dental services free of charge to the needy who do not qualify for public assistance. When a long-time patient asked me what she could do to protect the dental health of her daughter who was recovering from substance abuse, I offered to help the young woman’s recovery by donating my dental services. It was just a little something that I could do to help.