News & Updates

A Brand New Smile AT Age 87!



Mr. Joe Barone got his first set of dentures in 1940, when he was just 20 years old. Although dentures cost $50 at that time and were considered quite expensive, young Joe couldn't afford NOT to have them.

He was born in 1920 with a condition called Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED), which includes a number of syndromes that affect the normal development of teeth, skin, nails, hair, and sweat glands. For young Joe, who had developed only 11 teeth by age 20, it meant being a child and teenager who had little condifence in his smile, and who was unable to enjoy everday foods. As an adult, it meant wearing dentures for life--or so he thought.

In January 2006, when Mr. Barone was 86 years old, he saw Dr. Robert Bentz, a board certified surgical proshtodontist,
for the first time. His partial upper and lower dentures were held in place by clips on his only remaining teeth: four loose and badly decaying molars. At that time, he had worn dentures for more than 66 years, and was ready for a change.

"I was facing the fact that my four remaning teeth had to be removed and I didn't want to need to use paste to hold dentures in place. I didn't want problems with speaking and eating at my age!" Mr. Barone said.

Understanding that Dr. Bentz was a specialist in full mouth reconstruction, Mr. Barone asked if dental implants were feasible at his age, and for someone with his condition. After wearing partial dentures for so long, full dentures would have been a step backward in comfort and function, he said. Dr. Bentz agreed and after a thorough examination, he was pleased to tell Joe that he was, in fact, an excellent candidate for dental implants.

Mr. Barone was excited by the prospect of upgrading his smile and greatly improving his ability to eat foods he loved without worry. As the oldest member of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia, he also wanted to be a role model for others with his condition.

Dr. Bentz created Mr. Barone's new smile in graduated phases, so that the patient could continue to heal and eat well during the implant process. The multi-phased treatment plan included a blueprint of the end product to match Joe's facial structure, as well as his overall needs. "I had to gradually transition Joe from what he had into something stable, so I gradually removed his existing teeth, placed implants and gave him a temporary set of teeth to wear immediately." said Dr. Bentz

The interim steps included lower temporary dentures made to fit over Mr. Barone's back molars as the implants were healing. Once the implants had healed, Dr. Bentz placed implant extenders which added stability for the temporary dentures. The uppers included multiple implants and a fixed temporary bridge.

After approximately 16 months of treatment, Mr Barone now has the teeth he always dreamed of-- and they look, feel and behave as if they are his own. "The bottom clicks in place tightly and I never have any problems with food debris anymore," Mr. Barone says. His top teeth are multiple implants connected to a bridge that stays permantely in place for a perfect smile that Mr. Barone loves to brush!

"Wanna see a beautiful set of teeth?' Mr Barone says as he flashes his new and improved smile. "Dr. Bentz gave me a beautiful set of teeth, and I find that it's easier to speak, and I have more confidence in eating everything with my implants," he says. I don't know why I waited so long!.




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On June 21st Dr.Sara Cooley-Bentz and Dr. Robert M. Bentz sponsored an information table at the Elmwood Park Zoo
Our Mascot, "KASS the KANGAROO", gave out toothbrushes to all children and adults who visited the Zoo. We handed out information relating gum disease to heart atttacks, strokes, pre-term low birth-weight baby deliveries and diabetes. It was a great event we helped many families learn how to brush and floss to prevent gum disease.

There is no age limit on who could be diagnosed with gum disease. The relationship of the bacteria to foods that we eat and genetics are some of the factors involved in your dentist diagnosing the disease.

The value of seeing a dentist regularly is key in preventing gum disease! Upon routine examinations gum disease can be detected in the early stages and can be treated. Since gum disease is not painful in the early stages and not always painful in the later stages, patients
are not aware they have a problem. Simply learning as early as possible and practicing until we are proficient how to clean our teeth is part of going to our dentist regularly. This is something that will help us prevent many health problems. It will also help us to have strong teeth and fresh breath which is bound to keep us smiling for years to come!

Look for us to be present at eht Elmwood Park Zoo regularly with "KASS the KANGAROO", having fun and giving families information on taking care of their teeth.

BRUSH FOR HEALTH – Because your mouth and your body talk
Could the health of my mouth affect my general health? There are new findings which support something that dental professionals have suspected for a long time: infections in the mouth can cause problems elsewhere in the body.
What problems could my dental health cause? Problems which may be caused or made worse by poor dental health include: •heart disease •strokes •diabetes •premature and low-birth-weight babies •respiratory (lung) disease.
How can the health of my mouth affect my heart? In people who have gum disease, bacteria from the mouth can get into the blood stream. It can then affect the heart by sticking to fatty deposits in the blood vessels of the heart. This can make clots more likely to form. Blood clots can reduce normal blood flow, so that the heart does not get all the nutrients and oxygen it needs. If the blood flow is badly affected this could lead to a heart attack. People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease than those without gum disease.
What is the link between gum disease and strokes? Several studies have looked at the connection between mouth infection and strokes. They have found that people diagnosed with a stroke are more likely to have gum disease than people who have not had one.
How could diabetes affect my dental health? People with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people without it. This is probably because diabetics are more likely to get infections in general. People who do not know they have diabetes, or whose diabetes is not under control, are especially at risk. If you do have diabetes it is important that any gum disease is diagnosed, because it can increase your blood sugar. This would put you at risk of diabetic complications. Also, if you are diabetic, you may find that you heal more slowly. If you have a problem with your gums, or
have problems after visits to your dentist, discuss this with your dentist before dental treatment. New research has also shown that you are more likely to develop diabetes if you have gum disease.
Could gum disease affect my unborn baby? Pregnant women who have gum disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby that is premature and with a low birth weight. It seems that gum disease raises the levels of the biological fluids that bring on labour. Research also suggests that women whose gum disease gets worse during pregnancy have an even higher risk of having a premature baby.
How could bacteria in the mouth affect my lungs? Bacterial chest infections are thought to be caused by breathing in fine droplets from the throat and mouth into the lungs. This can cause infections, such as pneumonia, or could worsen an existing condition. People with gum disease have higher levels of bacteria in their mouths and may therefore be more likely to get chest infections.
What are the tell-tale signs I should look out for? Visit your dentist or hygienist if you have any of the symptoms of gum disease, which can include: •inflammation of the gums, causing them to be red, swollen and to bleed easily, especially when brushing •an unpleasant taste in your mouth •bad breath •loose teeth •regular mouth infections.
Do I need to tell my dentist about any changes to my general health? Always tell your dentist about any changes to your general health. It is especially important to tell them if you are pregnant or have heart disease, diabetes,respiratory disease or have ever had a stroke. You also need to tell them about any medicines you are taking as these can affect both your treatment and the health of your mouth.
Does gum disease run in families? Although there is some evidence that gum disease runs in families, the main cause is the plaque which forms on the surface of your teeth. To prevent gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day.
How can I help to stop my gum disease getting worse? If you have gum disease, your dentist or hygienist will usually give your teeth a thorough clean to remove any scale or tartar. This may take a number of sessions with the dentist or hygienist. They will also show you how to effectively remove the soft plaque yourself, by cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly at home. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria which forms on the teeth and gums every day. (See our leaflet “Tell me about "gum disease”.) Gum disease is never cured. But as long as you keep up the home care you have been taught you can slow down its progress and even stop it altogether. You must make sure you remove plaque every day, and go for regular check ups with the dentist and hygienist, as often as they recommend.
Can exercise help to prevent gum disease? A recent study has shown that people who stay fit and healthy are 40% less likely to develop tooth-threatening gum infections, that could lead to gum disease. It was also found that not exercising, not keeping to a normal body weight and unhealthy eating habits made a person much more likely to get advanced gum disease. If you are serious about your health – and your teeth – you will need to exercise, eat a healthy balanced diet and keep to a normal body weight.
Can smoking affect my teeth and gums? Smoking can make gum disease much worse. People who smoke are more likely to produce bacterial plaque that leads to gum disease. The gums are affected because smoking means you have less oxygen in your bloodstream, so the infected gums do not heal. Smoking can also lead to tooth staining, more teeth lost because of gum disease, bad breath, and in more severe cases mouth cancer. (See our leaflets “Tell me about "smoking and oral health”and “Tell me about "mouth cancer”.) Remember, your mouth and your body talk – so look after them both!” * Sources American Academy of Periodontology. British Dental Health Foundation Leaflet – Gum disease. Journal of Periodontology
PUBLISHED RESEARCH
Below are some of the most recent studies linking oral health and overall body health: GUMS > HEART The PERICAR clinical trial was a collaboration between Sydney Dental Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital (both in Australia) and Norway’s University of Oslo. It found strong evidence that treating gum disease can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Participants had blood tests before and after treatment of gum disease to check for blood clots and signs of inflammation. The study found that inflammation in the mouth has a measurable effect in the bloodstream and therefore the rest of the body, as once the gum infection was eradicated the risk of heart attacks and future blood clots was reduced. * Taylor, Tofler et al; Journal of Dental Research, January 2006, p74-78
GUMS > DIABETES The Department of Periodontology at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) found a link between gum disease and pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classed as full-blown type-2 diabetes. It is often a precursor of full blown diabetes type-2. Prior to the study, people with diabetes had already been shown to have a higher risk of gum disease but it now appears that the relationship works both ways – with severe gum disease causing blood sugar levels to rise. Study Author, Dr. Carla Pontes Andersen, said: “The gum inflammation seen in periodontitis can allow bacteria and inflammatory substances from the dental structures to enter the bloodstream. These processes seem to affect blood sugar control.” * Pontes Anderson, Flyybjerg et al; Journal of Periodontology, July 2007, p1264-1275
GUMS > PREMATURE BIRTHS Scientists from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Chile have found a link between gum disease and premature births – after one in three women at risk of premature labour presented with gum disease bacteria in their amniotic fluid, as well as their mouth. Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds an unborn baby and scientists believe that any disruption to this fluid could pose a danger to both mother and baby – making the gum disease infection a real risk. Many women find that hormone changes cause their oral health to get worse during pregnancy and this study suggests that poor oral healthcare could have an impact on an unborn baby. * Leon, Sila et al; Journal of Periodontology, July 2007, p1249-1255
GUMS > STROKES Scientists at the University of California have found that gum disease may contribute to clogged carotid arteries (arteries that carry blood to the brain) leading to an increased risk of a stroke. The results of the study, which used x-rays to measure the level of gum disease in people with blocked carotid arteries compared with people without blocked carotid arteries, were presented at a meeting of the International Association for Dental Research, in Australia. They found that blocked carotid arteries were much more common in people who had gum disease, providing yet further proof of the systemic links between the mouth and the rest of the body. * Chung, Friedlander et al of the University of California-Los Angeles at the 84th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research – June 2006 National Smile Month Survey 2007 Statistics
• The smile is the first thing people notice when they meet someone new
• More than one in three people brush for less than a minute
• People admit to using hammers, paper clips, shoe laces, drill bits and glass to remove food from between their teeth
• One in four people think that using an electric toothbrush is ‘lazy’
• One in five people can’t remember when they last changed their toothbrush
• One in three people think that fluoride is either a mint flavouring or a marketing gimmick
• Less than one in two people would tell their friend if they had bad breath
• Two out of three people would be happy to share their toothbrush with their partner, child, friend or favourite celebrity
• One in four people have never heard of mouth cancer
• One in three people believe that spicy foods, kissing and hot drinks are common causes of mouth cancer
• One in three people only brush their teeth once-a-day or less

“ Teeth in-an-Hour™”- as seen on the Today show on May 15th 2008 enables Trained Specialists to work with computer guided imagery to create full arch rehabilitation.
Those who have worn a Denture for years can now have a meal without fear of a denture slipping and falling out of their mouths. This is the most current technology available in the dental world today. Placing implants surgically and placing a prosthesis(a non-removable
set of teeth) attached to these implants makes life so different for those who have had this cutting edge treatment .


Robert M. Bentz, D.M.D., F.A.C.P, a Board Certified Prosthodontist, performs these procedures
on a regular basis at the Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center here at 2601 DeKalb Pike,
E. Norriton, PA. Please feel free to call for more information at 610-272-6949.

Mr. Joe Barone got his first set of dentures in 1940, when he was just 20 years old. Although dentures cost $50 at that time and were considered quite expensive, young Joe couldn't afford NOT to have them.

He was born in 1920 with a condition called Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED), which includes a number of syndromes that affect the normal development of teeth, skin, nails, hair, and sweat glands. For young Joe, who had developed only 11 teeth by age 20, it meant being a child and teenager who had little condifence in his smile, and who was unable to enjoy everday foods. As an adult, it meant wearing dentures for life--or so he thought.

In January 2006, when Mr. Barone was 86 years old, he saw Dr. Robert Bentz, a board certified surgical proshtodontist,
for the first time. His partial upper and lower dentures were held in place by clips on his only remaining teeth: four loose and badly decaying molars. At that time, he had worn dentures for more than 66 years, and was ready for a change.

"I was facing the fact that my four remaning teeth had to be removed and I didn't want to need to use paste to hold dentures in place. I didn't want problems with speaking and eating at my age!" Mr. Barone said.

Understanding that Dr. Bentz was a specialist in full mouth reconstruction, Mr. Barone asked if dental implants were feasible at his age, and for someone with his condition. After wearing partial dentures for so long, full dentures would have been a step backward in comfort and function, he said. Dr. Bentz agreed and after a thorough examination, he was pleased to tell Joe that he was, in fact, an excellent candidate for dental implants.

Mr. Barone was excited by the prospect of upgrading his smile and greatly improving his ability to eat foods he loved without worry. As the oldest member of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia, he also wanted to be a role model for others with his condition.

Dr. Bentz created Mr. Barone's new smile in graduated phases, so that the patient could continue to heal and eat well during the implant process. The multi-phased treatment plan included a blueprint of the end product to match Joe's facial structure, as well as his overall needs. "I had to gradually transition Joe from what he had into something stable, so I gradually removed his existing teeth, placed implants and gave him a temporary set of teeth to wear immediately." said Dr. Bentz

The interim steps included lower temporary dentures made to fit over Mr. Barone's back molars as the implants were healing. Once the implants had healed, Dr. Bentz placed implant extenders which added stability for the temporary dentures. The uppers included multiple implants and a fixed temporary bridge.

After approximately 16 months of treatment, Mr Barone now has the teeth he always dreamed of-- and they look, feel and behave as if they are his own. "The bottom clicks in place tightly and I never have any problems with food debris anymore," Mr. Barone says. His top teeth are multiple implants connected to a bridge that stays permantely in place for a perfect smile that Mr. Barone loves to brush!

"Wanna see a beautiful set of teeth?' Mr Barone says as he flashes his new and improved smile. "Dr. Bentz gave me a beautiful set of teeth, and I find that it's easier to speak, and I have more confidence in eating everything with my implants," he says. I don't know why I waited so long!.