Self Image and Treatment Choices

Newsletter: Self Image and Treatment Choices - December 2006

Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2006

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Feature Article

Self Image and Treatment Choices

Our thoughts can have a profound impact on our physical body at the most basic level.

The research of Dr. Masaru Emoto shows the effect music, words, thoughts, and even photos have on the crystal structure of water. Don't forget, we are mainly water. Thus, how we feel about ourselves, our self-esteem, can have a lot to do with our physical health.

This is why I believe that procedures that help one feel better about oneself are beneficial. Of course, the expectations cannot be unrealistic. Let us explore some of these options.

Bleaching

My patients often ask me how I feel about bleaching of the teeth. "Doctor, I'm sure you don't believe in bleaching... in using a chemical in the mouth. Do you?" In fact, I do believe bleaching provides a very important service.

When dark teeth are made white, causing a person to smile more, it has a positive effect on their well being. Another benefit is the wonderful energy that a smile emits, which has a beneficial impact on the receiving end of the smile.

How does bleaching work?

Hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach teeth. The hydrogen peroxide is used in different concentrations, with the higher concentrations having a more immediate effect. The over-the-counter bleaches, i.e., Crest White Strips, have a concentration of 6-10% of hydrogen peroxide depending on which type you buy. In office bleaches can go up to a concentration of 16%.

I offer two methods of bleaching. One is done in the dental office and the other is done at home. The method performed in the office takes 30-60 minutes and can usually be completed in just one visit. On average, the teeth will lighten 7-8 shades. With the home system, impressions are taken and a custom tray is made for the upper and lower arches. You judiciously place the bleach material inside the tray and leave it in place for 30-60 minutes once to twice per day for approximately two weeks. I prefer this rather than leaving the tray in while sleeping.

Crowns, veneers and fillings will not be made whiter with either procedure. Sometimes the teeth can become sensitive with any method of bleaching. This is temporary.

Remember, your teeth are alive and there is communication from the outside of the tooth to the inside.

Therefore, I do not recommend that sick patients bleach their teeth until they are healthier and less toxic. I also do not think it is a good idea to bleach with mercury in the mouth, as more mercury will come off the filling in the presence of the bleach.

When approaching bleaching from this perspective, I have not seen any adverse effects. What I have seen is that people smile more in order to show off those "pearly whites".

Veneers

Sometimes bleaching is not enough. Teeth that are crooked, uneven, too small, spaced, or spaced present a more substantial problem if someone wants a "new smile". Sometimes orthodontics is the best solution. However, many adults do not like the thought of wearing braces for six months to two years. For all these problems, veneers are often a viable solution. Veneers are also good for anterior teeth with a lot of large fillings.

As many of my patients and readers know, I try to be as conservative as possible. I do not like to "cut" teeth down for crowns unless absolutely necessary.

Traditionally, to veneer front teeth with porcelain, a substantial amount of tooth structure needs to be removed. However, today, with a patented porcelain called "Lumineers", I can often place veneers with no removal of tooth structure. And in those instances where tooth structure must be removed, the amount removed is usually very minimal. This is a very exciting advancement in dentistry.

Many of you know my receptionist, Jennifer. Jennifer's front teeth were too small for her face. For years I wanted to do something but I could not justify touching her teeth with the dental drill. Thanks to the "Lumineers" I was able to veneer her teeth without removing any tooth structure. Anesthesia was not even necessary. Now Jen has a "Miss America" smile. How does that make Jen feel? Just ask her.

Reshaping

Little changes often make a huge difference. Just some reshaping of the front teeth or the bonding of material to one or two teeth can completely change a person's appearance. Do your eye teeth look like fangs? Adding some material to create a softer smile can make a world of difference.

Plastic Surgery

Here the pros and cons definitely need to be weighed. Naturally, plastic surgery is a lot more invasive than bleaching or veneering.

What is the effect of Botox? It seems to be safe, but are there going to be problems that surface over the years upon repeated injections? Then again, if there is a strong positive effect on the way one feels about oneself, this can potentially be more beneficial and negate any detrimental aspects.

When it comes to surgery, (i.e., face lift), there has to be a concern about general anesthesia. The plastic surgeon in our building, Dr. Richard Bensimon, eliminates this risk by doing his procedures without putting the patient out. Dr. Bensimon finds that patients recover much faster and have fewer side effects by just using local anesthetic!

Naturally, doctors have to get to know their patients and be careful of those whose problems will not be solved by a cosmetic procedure. I have seen people that bleach their already white teeth everyday - trying to get them even whiter. I once had a patient obsessing over a microscopic chip on a front tooth. She thought about placing veneers on her front tooth to correct the problem. With magnifiers I could hardly see the "chip". Veneers will not solve her "problem."

Everyone has seen the effect of endless plastic surgery on Michael Jackson. Everything is a balancing act.

However, more and more I feel that if a procedure will truly help a patient have a more positive self-esteem, it will in turn have a positive effect on the patient's overall physical health.

© 2006, Mark A. Breiner, DDS

The information presented is for educational purposes only. You should consult a qualified dentist or health practitioner for diagnosis and treatment.

In The News

I li

ve in Fairfield, Connecticut, a small town of about 60,000 people. I counted eleven pharmacies in the yellow pages for our town. And there are dozens more pharmacies in the immediate surrounding towns. Additionally, Walgreen's wants to open three new stores in Fairfield. I guess the federal Drug Bill which helps people pay for their prescription drugs has been a huge success! But for whom? The question that should have been asked was not, "How can the government help people pay for their prescription drugs?", but rather the question should have been, "Why do people need so many drugs?"

It seems every week we read about the newly discovered problems associated with a prescription medication. Just this past week, the Wall Street Journal had an article on heartburn drugs such as Nexium, Preveacid, and Prilosec. A study just published in the Journal of The American Medical Association indicated an increased risk of hip fracture if you are on these drugs for more than a year.

Also in the WSJ last week was an article titled, "Studies Suggest Kids Can Beat Allergies". It tells the tale of a young girl who reacted at fourteen months old to one fifth of a peanut. Her airways shut down and she almost died. Now at seven years of age, she can safely eat seven peanuts. At age four and one-half she was enrolled in a "ground-breaking" experiment which asked the question, "Could exposing someone to small doses of food, which they are allergic to, eventually train their bodies to be less reactive?". Their results have been promising and more money will be spent on further studies. "Hello! Anybody in the scientific world ever hear of homeopathy?" One of the key pillars of homeopathy is "Like Cures Like". However, in homeopathy, the small dose is so small that it is just an energetic signal. And it doesn't take two and one half years to get a result.

As an example, my son, Dr. Adam Breiner, a naturopath, just treated Maya, a friend of ours, for allergy to avocado. She would have an immediate reaction with a tingling itching sensation of the tongue followed by nausea. Adam placed an energetic signal of avocado into water; he then placed some drops under Maya's tongue and proceeded to tap on several energy points around her body. Twenty-four hours later she was to eat some avocado and call with the results. She called a few days later and reported no reaction to eating avocado. Now three months later, she is still enjoying eating guacamole!

Note From Dr. Breiner

At this time of year we are determined to make New Year's resolutions - to feel healthier, to look better and to enjoy life just a little more. Some simple ways to make this happen is to improve the quality of our lives... to change our diet, exercise more, breathe fresh air, take long walks and try to eliminate from our lives stress, anxieties and toxins.

If you live near our office, you may wish to participate in one of Whole-Body Medicine's unique Rejuvenative Cleansing Programs, a great way to "Jump Start Your Health" for the New Year. Experience Ionic Foot Baths, Far Infrared Sauna sessions, Colonic Hydrotherapy, individualized nutritional support and more, all designed to help you cleanse and detoxify. Call Whole-Body Medicine directly at 203-371-8258 for more information.

How we feel about ourselves can also impact on our quality of life. I thought it would be appropriate to repeat a popular and timely newsletter on Self Image and Treatment Choices. To a large extent we are what we think.

Wishing you all a Very Healthy and Happy 2007!

Dr. Breiner's book, Whole-Body Dentistry, is available on-line at www.wholebodydentistry.com or by phone at 1.800.BOOKLOG (800.266.5564).

About Dr. Breiner:

Whole Body News Update expert, Mark A. Breiner, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT, is a leading authority and pioneer in the field of holistic dentistry. He is the author of the popular consumer education book, Whole-Body Dentistry, a guide to the "dental connection" to whole-body wellness. With more than 30 years experience, Dr. Breiner has helped patients from across the US and other countries attain a higher overall level of dental health and general well-being. Dr. Breiner is a past President of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. He is in private practice in Trumbull, Connecticut.

"Whole-Body Dentistry is more than whether your teeth are healthy; it's whether you are healthy!" - Dr. Robert C. Atkins, M.D.

Attention Meeting Planners:

Need an expert to talk about dentistry and whole-body health for your group or organization? Dr. Breiner, a popular speaker, addresses both lay and professional audiences. Call 203.371.0300 or send an e-mail inquiry to DoctorBreiner@wholebodydentistry.com

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Whole Body News Update is your free monthly e-zine to stay up-to-date on many dental health issues as well as other important alternative health topics; featuring articles, interviews with experts, actual patient stories, Q&A on holistic health topics, with emphasis on the "Dental-Whole-Body Health Connection". This e-zine is designed to help you become a knowledgeable participant in your health care choices.

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