fromthedentist

Spring 2010Produced for the Patients and Friends of Dr. Andrew Syriopoulos, Associates, & Staff

You have 32 teeth, 32 good reasons to stay in touch!

We Welcome New PatientsOur practice wants you to refer

us to your family, friends and colleagues.

Did you know that the highest compliment you can give us is referring our practice to people you care about? Yes, your trust means the world to us, and fuels our commitment to raise the bar even higher on providing you and yours with excellent dental care. From implementing the latest technology, procedures, and techniques, to being flexible in scheduling appointments and offering supportive payment options. Trust in those who have earned your trust and earn their trust in return. We live by this motto … spread the word!

Yours in good dental health,

Dr. Andrew Syriopoulos & staff

Whether you’re the one walking down the aisle, a supporting player in the wedding party, or just dancing ‘til the sun comes up ... when you’re at a wedding, you’ll be doing a lot of smiling! And no matter when your wedding event is scheduled, we can help bring your smile to its camera-captivating best. Just let us know your schedule, and book now to make sure there’s time to complete your mini or maxi wedding smile makeover!

Your best smile makeover foundation is an oral hygiene appointment. A clean sparkling smile has a glamor all its own, and you’ll get the best cosmetic results if you start with clean enamel and healthy gums.

Your Smile CalendarPlan your wedding day smile with us!

One day to a few weeksl Shine up your smile with teeth cleaning and polishing. 1 day – 2 weeksl Brighten your smile with teeth whitening that can remove stains due to ageing, smoking, coffee, tea, medication, or root canal treatment. 1 day – 2 weeksl Restore dark decayed areas to original tooth colour with white fillings or Composite Resin & Porcelain Inlays/Onlays. 1 day – 4 weeks

One week to several l Mask slightly discoloured or flawed teeth with enamel-covered bonding. 1-4 weeksl Camouflage discolouration and re-proportion your teeth with natural looking cosmetic veneers. 2-4 weeksl Cover broken, cracked, poorly shaped, severely discoloured teeth with crowns to restore natural appearance and colour. 2-4 weeksl Replace one or more natural teeth by using a bridge between one or two crowns. 2-4 weeks

Long engagementl Correct crooked or crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, incorrect jaw position with braces. 12-24 months

Here is a Smile Calendar so you can plan cosmetic procedures that can rejuvenate your smile – in plenty of time for the wedding!

Welcome!

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For years consumer groups have actively lobbied for more foods that are lower in fat, salt, and sugar. So you’d expect to fi nd more healthy choices in the grocery aisles. On the contrary – our sugar intake alone has doubled in the past thirty years. A sweet temptation – if only there were no obesity, insulin-release, or tooth decay!

The decay which causes caries (cavities) is progressive. Oral bacteria, which feed on sugars left in our mouths after eating, produce the acids which demineralize tooth enamel and destroy your teeth – often painfully. The progress of this all-too-common disease can be hastened by the amount of acid-causing sugar and starches in your diet.

Choosing processed foods and understanding labels designed to confuse can become a minefi eld, but if you want to avoid tooth decay, there is something you can control.

Too many to list here – almost everything, really. You may also enjoy these good-for-you but naturally sugary beets, carrots, corn, parsnips, peas, plantains, potatoes, and winter squashes. But you might want to take an extra minute to brush and rinse.

Healthy enough for you and your smile

Out Of The WoodsThe value of paper

Did you know that the North American wood and paper industry plants millions of trees daily and today’s forests are about the same size as they were 100 years ago? Not only that, but the carbon impact of paper mail for a typical household per year is only about equal to using a kitchen coffee maker for a year.

Sweet Enough For Nature

Enjoy your 5-a-day the natural way!

Sweet Enough For Nature

Many fruits that are low in naturally occurring sugar are some of the highest in nutritional value, including antioxidants and other phytonutrients. These include strawberries, papaya, watermelon, peaches, nectarines, blueberries, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, apples, guavas, and apricots.

Eat fi ve servings a day of fruits and vegetables.

What vegetables are low in sugar?

You can help make that footprint even smaller… Update your address when you move to reduce waste due to undelivered mail.

Re-purpose retail and shipping boxes to send gifts.

Send paper materials that can’t be re-purposed to the recycling bin to reduce the demand on forests.

Share this recyclable Forest Stewardship Council-certifi ed newsletter and other publications with family and friends.

Your oral health could be the keyInfl ammation, so essential in your body’s fi ght against infection, can sometimes get out of control.

When it does, it contributes to many chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke, arthritis, and diabetes … and some which may surprise you. How about psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, kidney disease, and cancers among others? One thing we do know is that researchers believe that gum disease is essentially infl ammatory in nature and that there is a relationship between it and some other chronic infl ammatory diseases.

Gum disease is caused when plaque, the soft invisible bacterial fi lm that you can feel on your teeth, hardens into tartar, a hard yellowish and unattractive deposit. Also known as calculus, it causes gum infl ammation and creates pockets in your gums where toxic bacteria can thrive. Once this happens it can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning. The outcome if it isn’t removed? Infection and infl ammation that scientists believe can negatively affect other parts of your body.

Molecular and systems biology, computational simulations, human and animal studies, and nano-technologies are all being applied by scientists who are designing novel ways to treat infl ammation. But you can do your part too.

We recommend a low-tech solution – brush at least twice a day and fl oss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth, especially below the gumline. We are happy to contribute to your plaque- and tartar-fi ghting program during your regular checkups!

An Inflammatory Topic

While They Sleep3 kid facts

1. The rate of bruxism (the grinding or clenching of teeth) during sleep seems to be highest in children. About 15% of children brux and about one third continue to do so as adults.

2. About 10% of kids snore and although some think it’s cute, it could be connected to more serious problems like sleep apnea.

3. 10% of children who snore have obstructive sleep apnea which can cause a pause in breathing, reducing oxygen intake.

Of course, just as the majority of children outgrow bruxing, most who snore are completely normal and don’t show any signs of ill health. A child may normally and occasionally snore, for example, due to a bad sleeping position.

It’s your experience that counts. If you’re concerned, set your mind at ease – talk to us and your medical professional. Before

Veneers & Whitening

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Invisible StrategiesVisible results

Can an invisible procedure improve your looks with results that everyone will notice? Absolutely….

White fi llings can be matched precisely to your tooth enamel making your smile brighter and more naturally healthy looking. They won’t discolor surrounding tooth enamel or neighboring teeth as silver-colored amalgam sometimes does.

Enamel-colored sealants offer an unsung cosmetic advantage. By preventing the invasion of cavity-causing bacteria, they work invisibly to keep your smile immaculate. They take only a few moments to apply, accommodating your family’s busy schedule.

Invisible orthodontics are available in several types: clear aligners, lingual, and clear ceramic.

White bonding material is so strong and beautiful, it can be used as veneers to disguise fl aws.

We can help you access these options which are available for every age and every budget!

Infl ammation, so essential in your body’s fi ght against infection, can sometimes get out of control. When it does, it contributes to many chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke, arthritis, and diabetes … and some which may surprise you. How about psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, kidney disease, and cancers among others? One thing we do know is that researchers believe that gum disease is essentially infl ammatory in nature and that there is a relationship between it and some other chronic

Gum disease is caused when plaque, the soft invisible bacterial fi lm that you can feel on your teeth, hardens into tartar, a hard yellowish and unattractive deposit. Also known as calculus, it causes gum infl ammation and creates pockets in your gums where toxic bacteria can thrive. Once this happens it can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning. The outcome if

fl oss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth, especially below

Topic

Invisible Strategies

Information included is not dental or medical advice. For your specific information be sure to consult our office. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please contact us directly.

Contents may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. © PATIENT NEWS PUBLISHING (800) 667-0268

1886-61839 ML10-3 Printed with vegetable-based ink.

officeinformationDr. A. SyriopoulosDanforth Neighbourhood Dental Centre643 Danforth AvenueToronto, Ontario M4K 1R2Office HoursMon-Fri 9:00 am – 8:00 pmSaturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pmContact InformationOffice ........................ (416) 466-8003Fax ............................ (416) 466-8187Email ........................dentistry@dndc.caWeb site ........................... www.dndc.ca

DentistsDr. Lock .......................Dental SurgeonDr. Mitropoulos ..............Dental SurgeonDr. McGrath ..................Dental SurgeonDr. Swayze ....................Dental SurgeonDr. Khan .......................Dental SurgeonDr. Hodge ......................... OrthodontistDr. Gizzarelli ................ AnaesthesiologistOffice StaffConnie, Ingrid, Judith, Proshat, Shamshad ..... ..........................................Dental AssistantsJenna, Joanne, Lisa, Mariane, Nancey, Susan ........................................Dental HygienistsAnn, Natalie, Connie, Eleni, Laura .................. ...................................... Dental ReceptionistsCarol ......................Treatment CoordinatorNori ........................ Office Administration

Don’t Do-It-YourselfLeave it to us

Everyone knows the value placed on a brilliantly white smile. It’s something we all strive for. The problem arises when deciding how to get it. Although whitening kits are available over-the-counter for use at home, this really is one of those things that is best performed under our professional supervision.

The dangers of at-home whitening start right at the very beginning. That is, not everyone should undergo whitening treatments – and we can tell you if you’re one of them. You could see no results, cause damage to your teeth and gums, or even risk your overall health.

We can tell you if you are a candidate for whitening and can help you choose the right procedure for your needs. So, please think twice before opting for unsupervised whitening. It could cost you more in the long run.

Look & feel greatAs many as 145 million North

Americans avoid dental visits... but that’s changing. According to the American Dental Association, there’s been a relative decline in dental fear compared to an increase in people’s general anxiety levels.

We are trained to help put people at ease with a welcoming atmosphere, relaxed environment, and comfortable non-surgical procedures. And it doesn’t matter what your age or how long it’s been since your last dental visit… you can still experience a white, attractive smile; non-surgical cosmetic and restorative treatments; healthy gums and fresh breath; and comfortable dental appliances.

We know we can make dentistry less anxious for you. Please call us today for a consultation.

Overcome Fearfulness

Stress is an unavoidable fact of life and although some stresses are actually helpful, too much stress can negatively impact your physical and mental health.

Research suggests that the inability to cope with stress increases your risk of periodontal disease by affecting the

Smile! It’s just one way to reduce stress

Stress and its symptoms are very common but it is important to know that almost all of these mood disorders can be helped. Prompt professional advice can keep minor problems from becoming major troubles.

STRESS

immune system. And although more research is needed, it is believed that emotional factors may play a key role in tooth grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching.

If you have experienced prolonged periods of anxiety such as nervousness or an inability to

slow down or relax, chances are you may also be experiencing signs of depression.

To keep tensions within reasonable limits, start by avoiding alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, barbiturates, and tranquilizers which often simply mask or contribute to the problem.

Try some of These Techniques To reduce STRESS in your daily life:

See your doctor to rule out any medical problems.

Talk it over with family or with a close friend.

Relax by taking frequent short breaks during the day.

Exercise regularly to help you work off steam.

Set limits and plan to avoid too many big changes at once.

Smile! A healthy dose of love and laughter is just what the doctor ordered!