Gum, or periodontal disease, is the number one reason for tooth loss in the U.S. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, at least 23% of women between 30 and 53 and 44% of women past the age of 55 have severe gum disease. Not only is the treatment for gum disease painful, but periodontal bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and cause chronic inflammation possibly leading to heart disease, stroke and even cancer. This is why Dr. Sugarman and April (our hygienist) stress the importance of flossing as it is a way to prevent gum disease. And women in particular should pay attention to gum health due to hormonal changes that they undergo throughout their lives.

Many infants and young children calm themselves by sucking their thumbs. Thumb sucking that continues for years may cause a child to develop dental problems. Thumb-sucking can cause a child's teeth to become improperly aligned or push the teeth outward, sometime malforming the roof (upper palate) of the mouth. The longer thumb-sucking continues, the more likely it is that orthodontic treatment will be needed to correct any resulting dental problems. Make an appointment today for an evaluation if you suspect your child has these symptoms.

The news has gone bonkers! A dentist in Massachusetts has been caught using paper clips instead of restoring teeth with ADA accepted endodontic posts.  Every major news network featured this story and it appeared in a segment on Inside Edition.  In addition to these breaches in conduct, Dr. Michael Clair has been convicted of Medicaid fraud and illegal prescription writing.

It is sad when dentist decides to do wrong....it overshadows the thousands of great practitioners and team members that service people with dedication.  Let it be said that we, the dental professionals at The Sugarman Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, desire to serve our patients with utmost concern.  In fact, our endodontic posts are fiber reinforced from Ivoclar Vivadent. We enjoy building a strong foundation for all subsequent treatment.

  During a Dr. Oz show aired Sept.28, the well known host emphasized the use of Thyroid Collar during your yearly dental xrays to reduce radiation exposure. We are proud to say, we have always used protective lead aprons with thyroid collars. In addition, our office uses digital xrays which reduces radiation up to 90%!

" Can we break the chain of germs at the dentist?" This was a question asked in the news about the infection control problems associated with bib chains used in dental office. Multiple studies back-up the fact that a metal chain holding a patient's bib gets contaminated and all the crevices and cracks in the holder cannot be properly disinfected. It is with these thoughts in mind that the dental professionals at the Sugarman Center are proud to use Bib-Eeze. These are disposable clips and are thrown away after each patient. Our team and patients will never use another metal bib clip again.