Help Raise Money for Breast Cancer

Cancer is word that none of us ever like to here. Just about everyone's life in one way or another has been affected by the disease. We may have known someone or know someone who is battling cancer and would like to do something to help them. Knowing what to do is the question. We can always pray for their healing which is very important. Another thing that we can do is to donate to a charitable foundation that raises money to fight cancer.

Suwanee Dental Care is participating in a campaign to help raise money for breast cancer. The campaign is Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures. This campaign allows you to make a charitable donation of $199 to the Gwinnett Medical Center and receive an at home bleaching kit to whiten your teeth. The money raised during the campaign this year will be used to purchase equipment in the Gwinnett Breast Center in Lawrenceville. The Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures has raised and given over $800,000 to the Gwinnett Medical Center since 2004. If you would like more information about how to participate in this campaign, call us at Suwanee Dental Care or go to brightersmiles.org. This is really a great way to help the fight against breast cancer.

Deserving Diva Smile Makeover Contest

It is the time of year that Suwanee Dental Care is accepting nominations for our Deserving Diva Contest. We are looking for a woman that has a strong character, is involved in the community, and has a severe dental need. We will choose one woman from the nominations to receive a complete smile makeover. If you know of a special woman who you think would be a perfect Diva, let us know about her in an essay that is 250 words or less. We love to here the stories of these remarkable women. We are accepting nominations between Oct. 1st and Nov. 30th for our 2011 Deserving Diva Smile Makeover Contest. It is a great feeling to help someone that you know does so much for others.

Reasons To Stop Tobacco Use

When you think of tobacco use, what generally comes to mind? You guessed it. Smoking. Smoking is the most common use of tobacco. If you have been thinking about quitting, there are several good reasons why you should. The damage that it can do to your lungs is very great. There are also some reasons that people usually don't think of. Smoking can do alot of harm to your mouth and your teeth. The use of tobacco can lead to calculus. It can also lead to damage to bone which supports teeth. This can ultimately lead to the loss of teeth. This can be an eye opener to many people. No one wants to lose their teeth. If you think smoking looks cool, just try and imagine how cool you will look with a toothless smile.

Tobacco use can also have other effects on the mouth also. If you are a tobacco user, your ability to heal can be affected. Chemicals found in tobacco can hinder the healing process of treatment like periodontal disease or implants. Approximately 90% of oral cancer deaths are associated with smoking according to the NIDCR. Smoking isn't the only harmful form of tobacco use. Smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipes are also associated with oral and pharyngeal cancers.

Kicking the tobacco habit is not an easy thing to do. Many people need the help of their doctor. People who use tobacco have a chemical dependance for the substance. If you have had the ideal of quitting in the back of your mind, maybe the effects mentioned above will help you make the decision to stop. Help spread the word and let others know about what could happen if they continue to use tobacco.

mouthguards

It's the time of year when weekends are consumed with football. Friday nights are for the local high school games. On Saturdays you watch your favorite college team, and Sundays are for watching the major league teams. Not to mention the pee wee league games that your kids have on the weekend and practice during the week. This is definitely a busy time of year. Football is a fun sport that people love to watch and cheer for. Along with all of the fun, the players put in alot of hard work and do their best for their team and fans. With all of the practice and game time, the chance for injury to a players mouth is very great. According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, athletes are sixty times more likely to sustain injury to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard for protection. There is definitely a great need for mouthguards. If your child plays any sport, not just football, you should really talk to your dentist and have a mouthguard made for your child. The Acadamy for Sports Dentistry reports that the use of faceguards and mouthguards helps prevent an estimated 200,000 injuries in high school and college football eacg year alone. Suwanee Dental Care would love to get you or your child a mouthguard that will help give you some piece of mind while out on the field.

Kids Dental Health

The time of year is here for heading back to school. Summer is coming to an end. Kids are getting back into the routine of going to bed on time and waking up for school in the morning. This is a great time to get your child started on a routine for brushing and flossing their teeth if they are not already on one. Maybe there routine has been relaxed over the summer and needs to be more regular. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing each day is very important when caring for your teeth. Encourage your child to be responsible when it comes to brushing. Also, get them on a cleaning schedule at the dentist. Every six monthes is the reccommended schedule for cleanings. Call today for your appointment to a healthier mouth.

Can Fruits and Vegetables Prevent Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is becoming something that is heard of alot more often these days. It is very important to educate yourself on ways to help prevent the disease. One simple way is to do something that we should all be doing anyway, which is eating a diet that is full of fruits and vegetables. Although it is not known what specifically in fruits and vegetables help with the prevention of oral cancer, it is known that they aid in the prevention of the disease. For example, some fruits have vitamims like C and E that have antioxidant properties which may prevent DNA damage. If this is something that is bothering you, I reccommend seeing your doctor for an examination. Most dentists also have the capability to shine a light in your mouth that would show any possible positive indications of oral cancer. At Suwanee Dental Care, this is done as a complimentary service at new patient exams and at check-up appointments for returning patients by using what is called the Velscope. Call your dentist today and remember to eat your five servings of fruits and vegetables.

What is Sleep Apnea?

There is alot of talk about sleep apnea. Some of your friends might even talk about wearing the mask hooked up to a machine at night while they sleep. You may not know what all the fuss is about. Sleep apnea is a disorder that often times goes undiagnosed because don't realized that they have the symptoms. It is a disorder that is characterized by a reduction in a person's airflow during sleep. The symptoms of sleep apnea are daytime fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and headaches. These are just a few warning signs associated with the disease. If you are concerned that you may have sleep apnea, I suggest going to your doctor and discussing this with them. There are tests that can be done that can help diagnose if you have that disorder. The subject should also be discussed with your dentist. There are several appliances that are available to help. Call Dr. Blaze Golik for an appointment today at Suwanee Dental Care.

Welcome Home Missionaries!

Dr. Williams and the Kenya Medical Outreach (KMO) group recently returned home from their service trip to Kenya. Since 2001, Dr. Williams has been making annual visits to provide Kenyans spiritual, medical and dental healing.

Suwanee Magazine has featured Dr. Williams' trip to Kenya in its July issue. To read this article, please click here.

Can Metal Piercings Affect Your Oral Health

If you are thinking of having your tongue pierced, you may want to ask yourself if this would affect the health of your mouth. The answer is yes. Studies have shown that oral piercings can cause a number of different problems in your mouth. Chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth are just a few that can be a result of oral piercings. Another problem that can be caused by oral piercings is gingival recession. If you are still set on having an oral piercing after reading this, it is reccommended that you get plastic jewelry instead of metal. The metal jewelry can accumulate more bacteria than the plastic jewelry according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The more bacteria collected causes a greater risk for infection. Oral piercings can also have orthodontic affects on your teeth also. The piercing could affect the movement of your tongue and cause your teeth to shift. Oral piercings may be the "cool thing" to do, but they can have lasting effects on your oral health and your overall health in general. You should talk to your dentist before making a decision that could affect you so much in the long run.

June Is Stroke Awareness Month

June is stroke awareness month. There are many things that we can do to improve our lifestyles that would help the prevention of strokes like eating a healthier diet and exercise. One thing that can be done that we have written about in the past is to prevent periodontal disease. Gum disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth which can lead to heart disease and strokes. Regular cleanings and home care can help to prevent gum disease. If you already have periodontal disease, there are treatments here in the office that help reverse the symptoms. You may not even know if you have gum disease. If this is the case, get to your dentist and hve him evaluate to see if you may need in office treatment. Help your future and the future of those you know. Help people become aware of the dangers of strokes and heart attacks and ways that they can prevent them from occurring.

Professional Bleaching Pen

Are your teeth as white as you would like them to be? If you said no to this question, we here at Suwanee Dental Care have the answer for you. We have several options of ways to whiten your teeth for you to choose from. One is in-office whitening. This procedure takes about two hours. If your schedule doesn't allow you to spend that much time at our office, we have an option that you can do anywhere if you are a person on the go. It is the new Liquid Smile bleaching pen. It is the first and only professional whitening pen on the market. The Liquid Smile bleaching pen is easy to apply and is very affordable. This pen has the highest dose of hydrogen peroxide of any of the paint on whiteners available. You can get the smile you have been wanting by simply applying one application a night for two weeks. Call us today to find out more about this exciting new product!

A Little Russia Comes to Suwanee

We know smiles, especially Russian Smiles. Every year Suwanee Dental Care hosts a group of Russian Girls and Boys who are part of the T.E.A.R. program that brings Russian orphans to America as part of a cultural exchange and arts program. After going through a rigorous competition back in Russia, a handful of fortunate youth from all over Russia travel throughout the USA showing their artistic talents and meeting with people on this side of the globe. T.E.A.R. is The Evangelistic Association of Russia and is a mission to the Russian people to share the Good News about Jesus Christ. Suwanee Dental Care is proud to be a sponsor of this outstanding effort to bring God into the workplace as well as into the heart of these orphans from a place far, far away.

Here is an example of the type of art that these talented youngsters produce and a story about how it all comes about.

Fantasies to Faith Art Contest

One of the many things that TEAR has done as a way to reach the orphans in Russia is to hold a Christmas Art contest for them. Each year, over 50,000 children from orphanages all across Russia participate! The top 10 winners of the contest win a trip to the United States to celebrate Christmas in the home of an American family.

The TEAR website reports that the top 150 paintings have been displayed in the Moscow Art Museum for several years. Their website also conveys that multiple orphanage directors have expressed a great improvement in the attitudes, behaviors, and even grades of the children who participate. They become motivated, experience a sense of purpose, and most importantly are in the Word of God in preparation for their project.

Each child must read the Bible for himself or herself to determine the true meaning of Christmas. They are then to create a painting and write a short essay explaining their artistic point of view of what they have learned.

The results have been astounding, to say the least.

Kenya Medical Outreach Mission Trip

The Kenya Medical Outreach is a non profit organization. It was founded by Dr. Williams, his wife Sheila, and his brother Brad. This organization takes annual trips to visit many rural villages in Kenya. They provide medical and dental care that is much needed to the Kenyan people. One project that the organization also funds is the clean water project. Over an estimated 15 million people have no access to clean water in Kenya. They are forced to drink contaminated water which is the cause of 80% of diseases. The organizations annual trip is coming up soon. There have been many wanting to know how they can help. One important way to help with this year's mission trip is to pray for the success of the trip. Another way is by financial support. For more information about how to make your donation or about this year's clean water projects visit http://www.kenyamo.com/ . Your support and prayers are greatly appreciated.

Have No Fear!

Many people may experience anxiety and trouble relaxing while receiving dental care. Suwanee Dental Care offers several options to help our patients experience dentistry minus their anxiety.

Conscious sedation has been an option for our patients for several years and is achieved by taking a pill. With this type of sedation, patients are relaxed in a twilight state during their entire dental visit. As a result, multiple treatments can be accomplished and patients are still able to be given instructions. This type of sedation is a great option for patients not wanting a deep sleep.

If you are looking to have a deeper sleep during your dental visit, Suwanee Dental Care now offers Intravenous Conscious Sedation (IV sedation). Dr. Golik is board certified with the state of Georgia for IV sedation and would be happy to speak with you about using this technique for your treatment.

No matter what your level of fear may be, we are sure to have a great option for you! We also offer laughing gas and NuCalm—a completely natural way to reach a relaxed state during your visit.

Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief

Suwanee Dental Care is joining forces with the GA Force to help gather items for the tornado victims. We are the team Dentist's for the Force again this year after their 2 year sabbatical.

GA Force is teaming up with Toomer's for Tuscaloosa to help support the Disaster Relief in North Georgia. They will be parking a trailer in front of the Arena starting at 7am on Friday, May 6th and will continue until kickoff. Each person that donates will receive a voucher for a free ticket to the night's game.

Please be sure to pass this information on. http://www.gwinnettcenter.com/Press-Releases.243.0.html

To assist in this delivery Idealease of Atlanta has donated a truck, and Progressive Container & Display of Winder, GA has donated boxes. Some of the items that are needed most are listed below.

Toiletries - New Unused
Razors
Deodorant
Shampoo
Soap
Diapers [Adult & Children]
Baby Wipes
Alcohol Swabs individual packets
Band-Aids
Q-Tips
Hand Sanitizers
Hardware
Tarps
Nails
Ropes
ETC.
Gas Cards - (Generators are running out of gas)
Food & ETC.
Canned food all types
Pasta and Pasta sauces
Cases of water
Bread
Pre-packaged foods
Disposable plates
Disposable Utensils
Disposable cups
Paper Towels/Napkins
Clothing - New Unused
Socks [Men's & Women's]
Underwear [Men's & Women's]
T-shirts


Thanks for your support as always and we hope to see you out at the game!

Suwanee Dental Care Team

Dental Implants Save Face

Reproducing the natural look, normal feel and function of your lost teeth may seem difficult to achieve. At Suwanee Dental Care, many people have come to us because they sensed from their own dentists that this was the case. What they were pleased to find out was that there are good alternatives for almost every type of situation that can be successful.

Photo: Dr. Bill Williams visits with Dr. Matt Milner, one of the Kenya Mission Alumni and also a resident of the LSU Implant Prosthodontic Program in New Orleans at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry annual session in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dental implants are ideal for replacing missing teeth that have been lost due to dental caries or to periodontal disease. In many cases, the bone can be regenerated and an implant placed in its ideal location to maintain the health and beauty of the mouth. The problem with missing teeth is that it can be detrimental to your body’s overall general health as well as to the structures inside your mouth. It’s a well known fact that tooth loss leads to being a dental cripple with one tenth the biting power and ten times the facial wrinkles compared to people who have their own teeth….or dental implants.

Just as atrophy occurs with muscle disuse, so atrophy occurs in the jaw bones as teeth are lost. Excessive atrophy leads to excessive aging and weakness of the jaw and facial muscles. One of our goals at Suwanee Dental Care is to educate the patients we have to not lose teeth, to not allow missing teeth to remain in that detrimental state for long and to replace those that are missing with the best available option, bone-saving and bone-stimulating dental implants (as opposed to dental bridges, partial or full dentures). While those options are better than nothing (toothlessness), they pale in comparison to dental implants for longevity, function, and, most of all, the ability to preserve bone. For those who are missing teeth, dental implants are the absolute superior way to replace them. There is no bridge that is as good as a good dental implant for restoring a single tooth. The successful dental implant, over a lifetime, will be much less expensive to place and maintain than the average dental bridge or partial denture, too. Many people will look at the initially higher cost of a dental implant, abutment and crown on that implant and consider it too expensive compared to a dental bridge or partial denture. This is actually shortsighted because the complications and remakes of traditional bridges and partials are much higher over time. And, when bridges and partial dentures have to be remade every ten years or so, and when the implant is still functional after the same time span, the cost of the implant begins to look like a total bargain.

Dental implants have been around for over 50 years as a common part of the dental list of options for patients. While not too many dentists placed them in the early days and many implant systems have been come and gone, what is now used in dental implants by the highly trained dentists such as those at Suwanee Dental Care, are extremely reliable and have a highly favorable track record. Because of this fact, dental implants as an option for our patients, have risen from the bottom of the list in 1975 to the top of the list of options in 2011. We place them confidently and often and can say that they are well tolerated and enjoyed by hundreds of our patients. In fact you have probably met several of our team who have dental implants in their own mouths…Angie our treatment coordinator and myself! I had a dental implant placed to replace a missing permanent tooth in 1986 and it’s as good today as it was back then…perfect in form, function and comfort to this very day.

Barbara King, one of the lucky 2011 Deserving Diva Winners

Meet 2011 Deserving Diva Winner Nancy Reaves

Meet our 3rd Deserving Diva, Shefjie Lika.

Do you have Sensitive Teeth?

When the dentin layer below the enamel of your tooth is exposed, you can experience sensitivity. What causes your enamel to breakdown? Common things we do like whitening our teeth, consuming sodas and sports drinks, and grinding our teeth.

If you have sensitivity, we can help you at Suwanee Dental Care. Our hygienists use polish called NuPro that can aid in the transmission of pain to the nerve of your teeth. We also have a variety of prescription toothpastes with fluoride you can purchase to help. Call our office at 770-614-7300 and let us know you would like help with your sensitive teeth!