Statistics show that about 6 million people in the United States have diabetes, but are unaware of their condition. It’s likely that many of these Americans do not see a dentist regularly either. Recent studies suggest that consistent dental care might help flag these cases.

At our Southfield dentist office, we are not concerned with only your teeth and gums. We think a holistic approach to health care is a better model. We take a very thorough medical and dental history for each patient and note all medications taken and his or her lifestyle habits. If we have concerns about other medical issues, we let our patients know that they need to see their primary care provider or a particular specialist.  If you need one, we will make recommendations for you.

In a 2009 New York University study, researchers found that 93 percent of study subjects who had periodontal disease were at risk for diabetes. The two conditions appear to feed each other. High blood sugar increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. On the flip side, the gum inflammation appears to make it harder for diabetics to control their glucose levels. It becomes a vicious cycle of oral inflammation and systemic health problems throughout the whole body. Treating periodontitis and making appropriate lifestyle changes have been shown to cut inflammation, improve circulation, and even reduce the need for insulin treatment among diabetics.

Gum disease has been correlated to pregnancy complications and cases of heart disease, stroke, cancer and respiratory diseases, as well.  Studies indicate women are less likely to have loose teeth or give birth prematurely if their gums are healthy. Reducing oral bacteria in nursing home or hospital patients with ventilators also has been linked to fewer cases of pneumonia among these clients.

If you have bleeding, swollen or red gums, get them checked out.  It could save your life!

Call our Southfield Dentist office today at 248-356-8790 to schedule an appointment!

So that’s all for this week!  Until next time,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

One of the questions we sometimes hear at our dental office in Southfield is “Why don’t you take my dental insurance?”  The question is a valid one in these tough times, so let me explain our decision not to participate in dental health maintenance organization (HMOs) and dental preferred provider organizations (PPOs).

When one of these insurance companies partners with your workplace, it sounds good because on paper it looks as if there will be less out-of-pocket money for you, the employee. These HMOs and PPOs are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, right? Not exactly!

You should know that dentists are not chosen to participate in HMO’s or PPO’s on the basis of their competence or skills.  It is a purely financial arrangement between provider dental offices and insurance companies structured so that dentists with openings in their schedule are able to procure more patients and insurance companies are able market a lower cost insurance product to employers.  To get new patients, the provider dentists agree to be reimbursed by the insurance companies at a drastic reduction – sometimes 30-50 percent less than the usual dental fees charged for particular procedures. While you as the patient may assume that you are receiving the same quality of care from the dentists who take HMO and PPO insurance cards, the actual dental care provided must be compromised in order for provider dental HMO and PPO offices to realistically stay in business.  An example would be hygiene visits of  ½  hour vs. 1 hour or “double booking” (scheduling 2 or more patients to be seen by the same provider at the same time).

This is not always the case, but many dentists under this kind of financial pressure look for ways to reduce their expenses. They have to balance their books, so some opt to:

• Use less experienced staff with lower salaries
• Shorten appointments and “double book” to squeeze in more patients
• Use cheaper, less quality materials
• Use cheaper, volume oriented or even off shore (example, China) dental laboratories
• Use fewer disposables to cut sterilization costs
• Forego purchase of newer technology and updating equipment

At our Southfield dental practice, we choose not to participate in HMO and PPO plans. While you may have some increased out-of-pocket expenses, it is our observation that the increase in patient co-pays involved in seeing a “non-participating” dentist only varies by 10-20%.   At our office you are guaranteed to benefit from premium quality materials and labs, the most up to date technology, and the best patient care and attention to detail possible.  Excellence is our goal.

To make an appointment with me, Dr. Mark W. Langberg, call us at 248-356-8790.

That’s all for today, until next time,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

The amazing work that our dental hygienists at my Southfield dental office do is pivotal to how well we serve all the neighboring communities of Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Birmingham, Franklin, Lathrup Village, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Bloomfield Twp., West Bloomfield and of course, Southfield, Michigan. Our hygienists are first-rate professionals and provide first class service that is a cornerstone in our practice. Not only do they clean teeth and treat gum disease, but these team members also are active in patient education and diagnostic services such as digital x-rays, periodontal (gum) charting, oral cancer screening, taking blood pressures, and thorough clinical examinations.  They are competent and confident as well as personable and gentle, too – key reasons a visit to our dental office, Dr. Mark W. Langberg, DDS, FAGD, is a low-stress event and high value event.

Regular cleanings reduce risk of heart attack and stroke, according to study findings presented at the 2011 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions meeting in November. In the cited study, more than 100,000 adults were assessed over a seven-year period. Researchers found that those who had “regular dental cleanings” (at least two in two years) had a 24 percent lower risk of suffering a cardiac arrest and a 13 percent lower risk of stroke, compared to those who had little or no dental care. (None of the research subjects had a history of stroke or heart attack prior to the start of the study.)

It’s believed that teeth cleaning reduces or eliminates gum inflammation by inhibiting the proliferation of oral bacteria. Dental hygienists remove hardened tarter and soft plaque material from the teeth, which harbor bacteria. Flossing and irrigation remove imbedded particles from between the teeth, which can cause decay, bad breath and disease-causing periodontitis.

How do oral bacteria lead to heart disease? Researchers believe the oral pathogens cross over into the blood stream, spreading inflammatory agents and increasing C-reactive proteins throughout the body. Elevated C-reactive proteins have been linked to heart disease. Those with high oral bacteria levels often have thickened artery walls, a predictor of stroke and heart attack.

Don’t wait. Call our office at 248-356-8790 to schedule a checkup and hygiene visit with one of our excellent dental hygienists!

Until next time,

your Southfield Dentist,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

New parents often are in the dark about how much dental care is needed for their baby or toddler. They know they don’t want their child to have cavities, but they often lack guidance. My office – Southfield dentist Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD -offers these tips.

Dental Care Tips for Babies and Toddlers

• Eat nutritious foods during pregnancy. Your baby’s teeth start to form in the second trimester.
• Start caring for your newborn’s teeth before they have erupted through the gums. Wipe all the gums where teeth will be coming in in the future with a thin, soft dampened terrycloth washcloth over your finger after feedings to deter bacterial growth.
• Avoid putting your baby’s spoon in your mouth to reduce the transfer of cavity-causing bacteria from mother to infant.
• When teeth appear, after feedings use a soft baby brush or a thin, soft damp terrycloth washcloth over your finger to wipe the fronts, tops and backs of any baby teeth present and also the gums where future teeth will be growing later to rub away milk, food particles, and plaque bacteria. This will help preserve the enamel and prevent decay as well as reduce the acid levels around the teeth.
• Instill good feeding habits. Avoid letting your child snack constantly or suck on a bottle or sippy cup of juice all day long. Even milk contains sugar. Children who snack and drink constantly bath their teeth in these sugars, which raise the mouth’s pH and promote decay.
• NEVER, EVER,  put a baby to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup. Teeth that are bathed in liquids at night will quickly get cavities which can quickly totally destroy the teeth right down to the gums before you know it.  This is called acid-induced “bottle rot” or “bottle syndrome,” and is a absolutely horrible but avoidable thing to happen to a baby.  If you must use a bottle or sippy cup in bed, it must be filled with plain water only!
• We typically see babies for their first dental visit by age 3, but the trend by pedodontists is to see kids for the first time at age 1.  They eventually will have 20 primary (baby) teeth.
• A very small dab of toothpaste may be used on a baby’s teeth.  Do not squeeze out a ribbon of toothpaste on the brush.  Instead, push the bristles into the top of the tube so an extremely small dab of toothpaste is used on the baby’s teeth. His brushing should be supervised until he can handle a toothbrush properly and spit out toothpaste rather than swallow it.

Our Southfield dentist office is a kid-friendly zone!  Call 248-356-8790 to schedule a pediatric dental appointment.

So until next time,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

Today’s blog speaks about the link that has been found between periodontal (gum) disease and an increased risk of respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  Recent studies have concluded that bacteria in the mouth can colonize the lungs and contribute to pneumonia and other respiratory ailments. This is particularly true with nursing home residents and hospital patients who are using a respirator. Often oral hygiene is less than ideal in these settings, and oral bacteria flourish in the mouth.

A recent study out of Yale’s School of Medicine pinpointed bacterial changes in patients’ mouths prior to the onset of pneumonia.  It’s believed that these harmful bacteria are directly inhaled into the lungs, where they set up shop – eventually leading to respiratory infections and even fatal pneumonia.  In addition to pneumonia, the studies have revealed a direct connection between mortality from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and periodontal (gum) disease.

The disease causing bacteria living in dental plaque are shed into saliva, and small droplets are then aspirated into the lungs.  Normally, the defense mechanisms of the lungs prevent infection, but if an unusually virulent pathogen is inhaled or an overwhelming number of germs are inhaled simultaneously, or if the patient’s immune system is suppressed or defective, then infection soon follows.  Therefore, proper attention to oral hygiene, including  brushing your teeth for two to three minutes twice a day, flossing daily, using an antibacterial, fluoride containing toothpaste, and having regular dental checkups and hygiene visits may help prevent respiratory illness, especially in vulnerable populations.

To protect hospitalized patients and elderly family members from this danger, caregivers and patients should provide even more stringent oral hygiene practices. This might include brushing the teeth for the patient daily and helping them use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Nurses can help by swabbing patients’ mouths with a cloth soaked in plaque-inhibiting, chlorhexidine containing rinses such as Peridex.   But even in the population at large, we all need to practice better oral hygiene, since it has now been shown that the lungs are not separate from our mouths and having unhealthy or plaque containing mouths can put us at risk for life threatening respiratory diseases.

That’s all for today, until next time,

your Southfield Dentist

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

Yes! Because xylitol is a non-fermentable sugar alcohol, it cannot be digested by oral bacteria, and so it cannot produce acids that are harmful to dental health. Bacteria can digest other sugars and produce acids which lower the pH of the mouth (make it more acidic) and contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel, the production of plaque, gum inflammation/disease, cavities (“caries”), and tooth loss.

Xylitol is not artificial – it is found naturally in fruit, vegetables, and tree and plant fibers. It’s very sweet, but does not contain the caloric concentration that cane sugar, honey and other sweeteners do.  It used to be very expensive compared to other sugars, but the price is gradually dropping and it is becoming a popular sugar-free substitute in foods, medications and dental products.

Our Southfield Dentist office advocates the use of products sweetened by xylitol to optimize oral health – things such as gum, mints, hard candy, toothpastes and mouthwashes. (Check the labels.) Various studies have shown a correlation between xylitol consumption and reduced dental decay. The bad news is that studies show that an intake of five grams of xylitol over the course of a 24-hour period is ideal, however most over the counter sugarless gums contains only a fraction of a gram per piece!  Trident, for instance, only contains 0.17 grams of xylitol per piece!  It would take 25 pieces of Trident per day to get 5 grams!  My advice is to check online and at health food stores. There are gums specifically formulated to have close to 1 gram xylitol per stick, which would require only 4-5 sticks per day.  A very partial list includes:

• Epic Xylitol Gum
• Xponent
• ElimiTaste Zapp
• Spry Xylitol Gum

Sucking on xylitol hard candy or mints or chewing xylitol gum right after meals inhibits tooth staining and acid damage caused by bacterial metabolism. These products also reduce bacteria’s ability to adhere to the surface of teeth (make the teeth “slippier” to bacteria.) But chewing any sugarless gum after eating produces extra saliva which has a buffering and diluting effect on the acidic bacterial wastes which cause cavities, so they all can be helpful.  But if you are willing to chew Xylitol gum often, it can be very helpful to patients that have ongoing decay problems even after reducing sugar between meals.   Two websites that provide more information are Xylitol.com and  Xylitolpreventscavities.com  (this one lists gums that you can get online that have enough xylitol to be effective).

Xylitol-sweetened products should be used in conjunction with daily brushing and flossing, Fluoride containing toothpastes, good nutrition, and routine professional teeth cleaning (“prophylaxis”) and checkups.  If you have further questions or concerns or if it’s been awhile since you’ve had your teeth cleaned or checked, call me,  Dr. Mark W. Langberg, DDS, FAGD, at 248-356-8790. Our office address is 26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303, Southfield, MI 48034-8501.

That’s all for today!  Until next time,

Your Southfield Dentist,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

Hi everyone!

Coaching your daughter’s soccer team? Planning a weekend of tubing and skiing at the lake for your son’s buddies? Being prepared is always a good idea. “Plan for the best; prepare for the worst.”

A first-aid kit is an essential item. Throw it in the cargo area of your SUV and you’re good to go. Bandages, Neosporin and Solarcaine, right? That’s a good start, but I’d like you to add a few more things – items that would help in the event of a dental emergency such as a knocked out tooth.

Items for an Emergency Dental Kit

• Dentist’s phone number. (248-356-8790)
• Surgical gloves
• A bottle of saline solution (salt water) and/or 2 bottles of clean water.
• Sterile gauze pads
• 2-3 instant cold compresses or cold packs
• 2 washcloths
• A small plastic (Tupperware?) container and lid (a 35 mm film canister works well too)
• Ibuprofen (Motrin) or Tylenol
• You can also buy a kit at some pharmacies specifically designed to hold knocked out teeth that contain a preservative solution similar to saliva.  One brand in particular is called “Save a Tooth”.

In the event of an oral injury, call me, your Southfield Dentist immediately (248-356-8790) for an emergency appointment or go to the nearest emergency room. Put on gloves and use the washcloths to control bleeding. Avoid vigorous rinsing as this will encourage more bleeding. The ice packs and Ibuprofen will reduce swelling to lips and face and control pain.

If a tooth is knocked out, find it but do not clean it. Hold it by the crown (the top of the tooth) and avoid touching the root end of the tooth. Wrap the loose tooth in moist gauze. Place it in the container, cover with saline solution (or milk), and secure the lid. Get to the dentist office or ER as soon as possible. The tooth needs to be reimplanted within 1 hour for there to be any reasonable chance of successful reattachment.  If neck injury or concussion is suspected or more severe trauma has occurred, call 911 immediately.

That’s all for today,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790

Today’s subject describes how to respond to an unexpected tooth fracture or injury.  Mouth guards are the best way to protect teeth and avoid oral injury during sports and recreational activity, but accidents do happen on and off the playing field. What you do in the first 30 minutes following a mouth injury can make all the difference in whether you can save or loose a tooth which has been knocked out (“avulsed”).

If a tooth is knocked out, call me immediately (248-356-8790) to make an emergency appointment.  If you are out of town or too far away from Southfield, locate the closest dentist or emergency room and get there as quickly as possible.  Time is of the essence!  If we can get the tooth reimplanted within 1 hour of the time it was knocked out there is a good chance it can reattach itself to the supporting tissues successfully. After an hour out of the mouth the success rate drops off rapidly.

Following an accident, retrieve the tooth and you may or may not rinse it very gently and briefly with water to remove dirt but do not clean the tooth. Be careful hold the tooth by the crown (the part you can see in the mouth) and avoid touching the root end (the part that is under the gum) of the tooth. Wrap the tooth in damp gauze or a clean piece of damp cloth and drop it into a small container with a lid. Cover the tooth with saline (salt water) or milk and secure the lid’s container to keep the tooth moist and secure on the way to the ER or dentist’s office. Sometimes you can place the tooth back in the socket where it may have a better chance of surviving.  A last resort is to just place it in your mouth and tuck it between your gum and your cheek.

Oral injuries can bleed profusely. Use pressure from a towel, washcloth or clean T-shirt to stop the blood flow. Do not swish water vigorously or touch the site of the avulsed (missing) tooth.  Ibuprofen (Motrin) or Tylenol and an icepack will help with pain and control swelling.  Larger cuts and lacerations will need assessment and may require stitches.

When you need help call my Southfield Dentist office at 248-356-8790.  If additional physical injury is involved, call 911 for emergency assistance.

That’s all for today,

Dr. Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
(248) 356-8790 

Hi everyone,

An estimated 37 million Americans are edentulous–without teeth in one or both arches.  Despite this high number, however, many denture wearers can feel isolated and alone, suffering from self-consciousness and insecurity when socializing or eating due to fear of their dentures slipping out of place.

But now, we are offering denture patients in the metropolitan Detroit area a new treatment that can immediately increase denture stability in just 2-3 hours.  Recently, I have become certified by 3M^TM in the placement of Mini dental implants (MDIs) which provide an affordable and minimally invasive way for denture-wearers to anchor their dentures in their mouths so they can regain confidence and feel comfortable eating, talking and smiling.

In the past, denture wearers had few options for how to increase the stability of their dentures.  They could use adhesives, which were messy and not always effective or they could have a new denture made but that didn’t always work, especially if the dental ridges in their mouths were flat or difficult.  The other option was full-size dental implants, which, while effective, are often prohibitively expensive for many patients.  In addition, many patients are not good candidates for the procedure due to lack of adequate bone to support full sized implants.

Mini dental implants, however, are different from full -size implants.  Ranging in size form just 1.8 millimeters to 2.4 millimeters, these implants can be placed in the dental office in a very simple 2 hours procedure.  The patient’s existing denture can be adapted to snap on to the implants.  Unlike full-size implants, which require significant integration (fusing to the bone) time, MDIs can be immediately put to use keeping the patient’s denture in place, so the patient can walk out of the dental office transformed after just 2 hours.  Because the treatment is minimally invasive, mini dental implants can be an option for patients who are not good candidates for full-size implants.  Best of all, the treatment is much more affordable than full-size implant options.

I am now certified in the placement of 3M^TM MDI Mini Dental Implants, and I am always available to consult with you to discuss whether this treatment is right for you.  For more information, call our Southfield office at 248-356-8790 or visit 3M’s MDI website, http://mymdistory.com.

That’s all for now, until next time,

Mark W Langberg, DDS, FAGD

Hi everyone!

Today’s blog concerns new treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a growing health risk in the US, with dental appliances as an alternative to the more cumbersome CPAP, or “Continuous Positive Air Pressure” masks.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OSA is a debilitating sleep breathing disorder defined by a cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds resulting in a lowering of your body’s blood oxygen (an “apnea”).  When this occurs the brain reacts by disrupting deep sleep and arousing you just enough to start breathing again.  OSA sufferers never get a “good night’s sleep” because the repeated apneas and arousals deprive them of REM and deep stage restorative sleep and lead to chronic daytime exhaustion, mood alteration and depression,  deteriorating work performance, as well as long term cardiovascular stress.  OSA is associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), irregular heart beat (arrhythmias), stroke, congestive heart failure, GERD (reflux disease) and diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) by your physician, pulmonologist or sleep specialist, chances are you had an overnight sleep study (PSG or Polysomnograph) performed and have been given a “score” or AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) or RDI (Respiratory Disturbance Index) which measures the number of breathing disruption episodes per hour.  If your index is greater than 30 per hour, then your OSA is severe and treatment with CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure mask) is indicated.  If your indexes are less than 30, then your apnea is mild to moderate and your doctor will decide if an oral appliance is an appropriate alternative to CPAP.  For patients with mild to moderate OSA it has been shown that adjustable dental appliances made by a dentist who has been trained in sleep dentistry are an effective treatment and thus have been approved as an alternative to CPAP.  These appliances are custom made and are called Mandibular Advancement Splints or Appliances and they advance the lower jaw at night and thus keep the airway open during sleep.  They need to be individually fitted and then “titrated” (adjusted) by a dentist to find the right position to be effective yet comfortable.

Recently, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended oral appliances as an optional first line of treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. Non-compliant CPAP wearers, even those with severe apnea, could benefit from oral appliance therapy alone or with a combined CPAP/oral appliance treatment. This method of treatment allows for CPAP pressures to be lowered, giving superior comfort to patients.  We are familiar in fabricating and adjusting many types of OSA appliances, such as the SomnoDent ®, TAP,  EMA, SUAD, and the OASYS.

If you suffer from chronic snoring or obstructive sleep apnea talk to your physician and let us know. We can be reached in Southfield, MI at 248-356-8790. We are well trained and equipped to help you.  Let us help you get a better night’s sleep!

That’s all for today so until next time,

Mark W Langberg, DDS