Jon Frankel Dentistry

1. pH Balanced? Here is Your 5 Minute Warning

   Mar 24 2015

   

    

   A Cafe Mocha to start your morning. A cookie as a mid morning pick-me-up. Lunch. A piece of candy from the bowl on your desk. Another coffee loaded with cream and sugar to get you through the 3 o’clock hour. Dinner. A late night snack.

   Yes, too many of us know that routine. But did you know that frequency of when you eat and drink play a larger role in your oral health and the formation of cavities? Sugary foods in particular change the pH levels in our mouths. When we eat or drink, the bacteria in our mouths use the sugar as fuel and produce acid as a waste product. This acid is hazardous to our teeth and can start eating away at tooth enamel in as few as five minutes.

   The problem actually gets more complicated. It takes 20 minutes for the saliva in your mouth to fight the acid and return the pH levels to normal. This means that that Cafe Mocha you have been sipping on all morning or that piece of hard candy you have been sucking on all afternoon is constantly feeding the bacteria, causing more acid to sit on your teeth, leading to decay.  YIKES!

   But Dr. Frankel has just the tip for you. Rinse with “high quality H2O.” Water helps your body produce saliva. Saliva naturally helps protect teeth and keeps your mouth the acids more neutral (or pH balanced). A balanced mouth is a less than favorable place for bacteria to grow and multiply. Why? Without getting into all the basic chemistry of it, water is neutral on the pH scale. Swishing water in your mouth for 30 seconds and spitting it out allows your body to get rid of nearly 30% of mouth bacteria, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

   

   Don’t only swish with water, DRINK IT TOO.  For a healthy body, it is recommended that we drink at least 64 oz of water a day. These amount also goes into the formation of saliva. A dry mouth is a place where acid and cavity-causing bacteria flourish, causing not only tooth decay but bad breath. Therefore, be sure that you are drinking enough water daily to keep your pearly whites strong and your entire body healthy. A healthy mouth really does promote a healthy body!

   

1. Taking Care of Sensitive Teeth

   Mar 23 2015

    

   

   Sensitive teeth: How to help them.
   

   As people everywhere know, sensitive teeth can make life extremely unpleasant. Sensitive teeth can cause pain and discomfort, making eating or drinking even your favorite foods a painful experience! If you are one of the many who suffer from sensitive teeth, please know that this is condition which can be treated.

   Sensitivity can cause tooth pain after drinking cold liquids, eating either hot or cold foods, or even from drawing in cold air. If the pain becomes more than you can comfortably live with, you should immediately schedule a visit to Dr. Frankel, as the nerve of your tooth might be exposed. Sensitive teeth generally start when the gums begin to pull away from the teeth; the gums acting as a protective layer and cover and protect the roots. When the gums begin to recede and pull away, the roots lose this protection, and therefore you will feel greater sensitivity in those areas.

   The roots contain small tubules that lead directly to the nerves of the teeth. Whenever pressure, heat, or cold elements travel down exposed tubules, the nerves will trigger a feeling of intense pain. Patients who never complain of sensitivity are the ones whose gums are still firmly in place, performing their intended function.

   The best solution is to reduce tooth sensitivity by keeping gums healthy. One way is to reduce the pressure you use when brushing your teeth. When taught to brush their teeth, most people feel that the more force they use, the better. While this will certainly get teeth clean, it can also harm the gums, in turn leading to sensitive teeth. A very effective way of limiting the amount of force applied while brushing is through the use of an electric toothbrush such as the Sonicare Advanced.

   So you have sensitive teeth today, there are still ways you can help improve the health of your gums and teeth. Several toothpastes available contain potassium nitrate, a chemical which helps reduce the pain and discomfort associated with sensitivity. There are several toothpastes to choose from, Sensodyne being one brand highly recommended by dentists. Mouthwash containing fluoride can also help tooth sensitivity.

   If you start using toothpaste such as Sensodyne and fluoride mouthwash, you’ll notice a big improvement in your teeth and gums. The sensitivity will begin to go away, giving you almost immediate relief. And again, whenever you brush, make sure you brush gently as excessive force will always cause your gums to recede again.

   Of course, if you find that using Sensodyne and fluoride mouthwash still doesn’t help, you should check with Dr. Frankel about other options available to you. Dental professionals know how to eliminate your sensitivity once and for all, and how to prevent it from coming back. Tooth sensitivity is something that many of us have to deal with – but now you know there are ways that you can fight back and prevent the pain and discomfort.

    

1. Congratulations Dr. Sheldon and Ervine

   Mar 19 2015

   

   In an age when marriages seem to have a past due date, it is refreshing and inspiring to know that love can last. Today,  Frankel Dentistry’s founding father, Dr. Sheldon Frankel, and his wife, Ervine, celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary.

   Married on this date in 1944 in Toledo, their four children, Karen Kearns, Barbara  Frankel- Wexler, Rabbi Jerry Frankel, and Dr. Jon Frankel are a testament to a beautiful union.

   After seven decades of marriage, Ervine references her handsome husband and his once full head of beautiful red hair to which he replies, “I love you, Ervine.” Of course she responds, “I love you too, Shelly.”

   The Frankel Dentistry team would like to congratulate Dr. Sheldon and Ervine on this milestone. Thank you for being an inspiration to many. Happy Anniversary!

1. Be the MVP of the March Madness Bracket- Frankel Style

   Mar 17 2015

   The Big Dance tips off today with the First Four games in Dayton, and everyone is in high gear filling out their brackets, picking upsets, taking their chances on Cinderella Stories, and testing their luck on what may be a blow-out or nail-biting, buzzer beating victory. But when choosing your NCAA Champion, there are a few sure-fire tips that will keep your bracket high flying until late in the tournament. These tips, however, will not only set you apart this championship season but also in regards to your oral health.

   1.) Look for teams with lots of dimension- they are better equipped for challenges

   Multidimensional teams are better at problem solving and have the tools and strengths needed to come up with a strong, game-winning solution. You cannot get more diverse than at Frankel Dentistry. Between our team of doctors who specialize in periodontal disease, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and general dentistry to our hygiene and dental assisting teams to our front desk team, Frankel Dentistry will have your entire experience covered from questions to your insurance to the highest quality care for your oral health.

    

   

    

   2.) Respect the track record of veteran head coaches

   You can bet that Coach K will figure out a strategy to take his Blue Devils deep into the tournament. Like Coach K, you cannot deny the track record of Dr. Frankel and his team at Frankel Dentistry. Winning the Best of Toledo for 5 straight years is product of hard work, hours of service to the Toledo Community, and a customer service experience that will have you leaving with a championship smile.

   

   Jon Frankel, DDS

   3.) Defense wins championships

   Bet on the best defense, they are likely to go far in the tournament. When it comes to your oral health, proper oral hygiene is the best defense toward a healthy mouth. As Dr. Frankel states, a healthy mouth promotes a healthy body. Be sure to brush for 2 minutes twice a day and floss daily to keep your smile healthy and beautiful.

   

   To Floss

   4.) Invest in an offense that attacks the basket

   Offenses who like to attack the basket tend to be more consistent. When you are figuring on who will be crowned tournament champion, consistency is key. This strategy also applies to your oral health. Be sure to be consistent with your visits to Frankel Dentistry and to take care of small issues before they become big problems.

    

    

    

1. No Time For Toothache!

   Mar 13 2015

   

    

   When you do something as simple as caring for your natural teeth, you will never have a toothache to shout about.   “Toothache” is a vague term actually caused by both tooth and jaw problems. These problems include dental cavities, cracked teeth, exposed roots, gum disease, disease of the jaw, or muscle spasms when chewing. The severity of a toothache can range from mild to constant excruciating pain, and may be aggravated by chewing cold or hot foods or drinking hot or cold liquids. Dental x-rays can help determine the cause and pinpoint whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or jaw problem.

    Common Causes of Tooth Pain
   

   Cavities are, of course, the most common cause of toothache. Dental cavities are actual holes in the two outer layers of your tooth (these layers are called the enamel and the dentin.) These layers protect the inner tooth tissue (called the pulp,) where the blood vessels and nerves are found. When you don’t brush and floss as you should, bacteria in the mouth begin to convert simple sugars from food into acid. This acid softens and can actually dissolve your enamel and dentin, creating holes (cavities!) Early shallow cavities do not cause pain, easily going unnoticed. It is the larger, deeper cavity that will become irritated by bacterial toxins where food and debris collect. This is where toothache comes into play.

   Foods that are cold, hot, sour or sweet can also cause distress. A simpler dental filling is the normal treatment for small, shallow cavities, while the larger cavity involves an on-lay or even a crown over the entire tooth. For cavities that have penetrated and compromised the pulp, treatment demands either a root canal procedure or, as a last resort, extraction of the affected tooth. Pulp injury can lead to the death of pulp tissue, resulting in tooth infection or dental abscesses. A root canal procedure removes the dying pulp tissue and replaces it with an inert material, saving that dying tooth from extraction.

   Gum disease/gingivitis is the second most common cause of toothache.   Characterized by swelling of the soft tissue and undesirable loss of the bone surrounding teeth, this condition is caused over time by plaque that accumulates along the gum line. Gum bleeding without pain is an early symptom of this disease. With advanced gum disease, the loss of bone around the teeth leads to the formation of air pockets and can cause the loss of otherwise healthy teeth. Early gum disease treatment involves oral hygiene and removal of the harmful bacterial plaque. In more extreme cases a thorough cleaning of the teeth and teeth roots called root planing is performed. Root planing is the removal of plaque and tartar from exposed teeth roots. Subgingival curettage refers to the removal of a layer of damaged gum tissue. Both of these procedures need to be performed under local anesthesia and along with the use of oral antibiotics to fight the gum infection. Follow-up treatment may include various types of gum surgeries. In advanced gum disease with significant bone destruction and loosening of teeth, teeth splinting or teeth extractions may be necessary, so it is obvious that a little prevention can go along way in stopping these seemingly unnecessary procedures.

    Other Causes

   More unusually, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from either teeth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart such as angina, ear infections or even a sinus infection. The pain of angina is usually located in the chest or the arm. However, in some patients with angina, toothache or jaw pain is the only symptom of their heart problem. Since infections and diseases of the ears and sinuses can also cause pain around the teeth and jaws, evaluations by both dentists and doctors become necessary to diagnose medical illnesses causing “toothache.”

    Prevention Is Key

   As you can see, regular checkups with Frankel Dentistry can alert doctors to help detect and prevent many other medial problems too. Keep your regular appointments and don’t waste your precious time on toothache!

    

1. Talk to Me. Five Clues Your Dentist is a Good Communicator.

   Mar 06 2015

    

   Talk to Me.

   Five Clues Your Dentist is a Good Communicator.

   

   Dr. Frankel is always available.

   Clue # 1

    It is after hours, you not only have a question, your tooth is killing you. You need answers or minimally reassurance. If your dentist has given you his personal cell phone number and told you to call if you have concerns, it is clear as a bell he or she is an ace communicator.

   

   Text message or e-mail       reminders  on request.

    Clue # 2

    You know you scheduled your six month dental check-up appointment and they gave you a card but when exactly is your appointment? Crack communicators send out reminder text messages, emails and call you personally.  Busy lives and over-scheduled agendas make six months seem like a life time.  A caring dental family keeps you informed.

   

   Dental Treatment Options

    Clue # 3

    You meet with your dentist. They read off numbers and look at strange black and white skeletal versions of your teeth and supporting tissue. More numbers and letters are discussed. It is a weird dental code. You wonder, what is going on? A commendable communicator will explain the gibberish and offer a complimentary consultation where you can set back relax and review what’s up dentally.  Scheduling a complimentary consultation keep you in the know.

   

   Complimentary Consultation

   Clue # 4

    Great communicators realize not everyone receives information the same way. You might catch each word without missing a detail.  Others may prefer a video, print-out or to see a model of what is going on. Videos with dental information, brochures explaining treatment or even personal photos of your teeth are an indication your dentist not just cares, he wants you to understand your options.

   

   Financial Options

   Clue # 5

    Sharp dental practices help you navigate the wilds of dental insurance benefits. An insurance coordinator reviews your coverage. Your dental family lets you know your responsibility before treatment. A financial manager is available to answer coverage questions. You are offered payment options and know the treatment priorities. You work together to attain and maintain dental health.

    

1. Wait. What is that stuff on my teeth? Four Oral Health Tips

   Mar 03 2015

    

   

   Understanding Bacterial Plaque

    

   The moment you finish brushing, flossing and scraping your tongue it starts up. Even right away, after a professional teeth cleaning when things are feeling smooth and squeaky clean, it begins. The biofilm begins to grow on your teeth. The bacteria move in, colonize and grow. Minimal management requires mechanical removal by brushing and flossing twice a day.

    

   It is Getting Harder by the Day

    

   In the areas you miss with your toothbrush and floss, the sticky biofilm and bacterial colonies not only grow in number and variety, they mineralize. The once easy to remove plaque becomes a hardened layer of tartar or calculus. Layer upon layer builds up until your next dental visit. Sometimes it is visible. Often it is in between the teeth and under the gum tissue.

   Stain and More

    

   Some of the bacteria in plaque are green, orange, yellow or even red. Often the rough surface of the calcified tartar or calculus attracts stain from coffee, tea, red wine even dark berries can be the culprit. Smoking leaves its mark. As you count off the days until your next dental visit, keep in mind regularly brushing and flossing can prevent staining.

   Food Spoils

    

   Okay this gets pretty disgusting. Chunks of food get stuck in the bacterial plaque. Materia alba once a delectable meal or snack now feed the bacteria. The colonies grow secreting acid and nasty chemicals that eat away teeth and cause inflammation of the gums.

    

   http://youtu.be/KGB3UHeVvSg

1. Dental Patient's Marriage Saved in Toledo by Dentist

   Feb 17 2015

    

   

   Thanks Dr. Frankel!

    

   I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in 2012 by the UTMC sleep clinic and a CPAP machine was recommended for the treatment of my severe condition.

    

   I struggled to find a Medical supply company that was not relocating or closing their doors every several months and even worse, trying to find a suitable breathing apparatus that I did not want to tear off in the middle of the night. That went on for 1 ½ years and then I simply stopped using CPAP because it kept waking me and disrupting my sleep. For over the past year I have been mot using any sleeping device other that trying “Breathe Right” strips, which had no effect, and sleeping very poorly. My snoring was so bad that my wife could not sleep in the same room and was affecting her sleep as well and was putting a strain on our marriage.

    

   While visiting my Primary Care Physician, Robert Axonovitz, he advised me to see a dentist specializing in a mouth piece that helps stop snoring.

    

   During the next regular visit to Jon Frankel Dentistry, I spoke with him regarding a mouth piece that he highly recommended and had a huge success from patient reviews and feedback.

    

   Since using the mouth guard treatment my sleep pattern has increased and my snoring has ended from the very first night! I actually enjoy wearing it each night.

    

   My wife and I now sleep together and we wake more rested. I thanked Doctor Frankel and his great staff for saving our marriage.

    

   I whole-heartedly recommend this product and an additional benefit of the mouth guard is that there will no longer be monthly expenses for the machine supplies.

    

   Gary Long

1. Three Top Reasons To Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

   Feb 13 2015

   Three Top Reasons

   To

   Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

   

   Looking Great!

   Save supporting bone.

   Once a tooth is lost the supporting bone begins to melt away. Dental Implants not only replace missing teeth and allow one to chew well and speak clearly; they keep the jaw bone solid.

   Save face.

   Replacing missing teeth with dental implants keeps your smile youthful. Lost teeth can lead to sunken cheeks and down-turned smiles. Implants leave you smiling.

   Save time.

   Dental implants are a proven long term replacement for missing teeth. There is a 97 percent success rate. They are easy to maintain. You brush and floss an implant just as you would your natural teeth. Dental bridges replace missing teeth but are more of a challenge to keep clean and often need to be replaced after ten to twenty years.

1. NEWS ALERT: 3 Reasons Why Regular Dental Cleanings Help Prevent Heart Attacks

   Jan 26 2015

   The staff at Frankel Dentistry often says, “a healthy mouth promotes a healthy body,” but did you know that visiting Dr. Frankel twice a year for a cleaning actually helps reduce your risk of heart disease. Why?

   

   1.) The state of your smile is like a fortune teller’s ball. Many times different problems can be seen even before other symptoms arise. For example, when it comes to your ticker. Your teeth may be a good place to start because people who develop periodontal (gum) disease are also at a greater risk of developing heart disease.

   2.) Treating periodontal (gum) disease improves heart health. As Dr. Frankel often states, “taking care of small issues before they become big problems,” is key in this situation. By treating gum disease, studies show that when the inflammation around the gums is treated it reduces the systematic stress in your body.

   3.) Regular cleanings lower the risks of gum disease even starting. Plus there are also tons of other great benefits- fewer fillings, healthier gums, and that Frankel smile that you can’t  help but show off.