March 9th, 2010 amogell
The link between obstructive 0bstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and depression has been studied for many years. In 2005 and 2007 Dr. Daniel Schwartz published articles in the journal Chest and the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine discussing his finding about treatment of sleep apnea and whether this treatment improved patients depression. According to Dr. Schwartz, treating OSA definitely improved depressive symptoms, sometimes dramatically.
“Lack of motivation, lack of interest in daily activities, fatigue and tiredness may be seen by the patient and their physician as depression, but it may be sleep apnea,” said Schwartz who is medical director of University Community Hospital in Tampa.
More recently, Dr. Stacey Ishaman and a team at Johns Hopkins University compared patients diagnosed with OSA and a group of patients without OSA. Significantly more patients in the OSA group met the diagnostic requirements for depression versus the non-OSA patients. It was also noted that the severity of the sleep apnea was a very good predictor of the severity of their depression.
What does all this mean? An estimated 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea but up to 90% don’t know they have it. If you are suffering from fatigue even after what you think is a full-nights sleep you may be part of this statistic. Many patients avoid diagnosis because they have heard horror stories about the most common treatment, CPAP.
There is another treatment option for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Oral Appliance therapy is highly effective and avoids the discomfort of sleeping with the CPAP machine. In the Columbus area, your experienced Dental Sleep Medicine practitioner is Dr. Mark Levy. Contact us at 614-454-3488 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Levy to discuss your treatment options.
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March 6th, 2010 amogell
These are stressful times – and people exhibit this stress in different ways. One of the most common is clenching and grinding your teeth. This is called bruxism and most patients never realize that they are grinding their teeth until it causes painful problems.
Should you be concerned that you might be grinding your teeth? Absolutely, the act of bruxism can literally chew away the enamel on your teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) states that up to 50% of the American population has experienced some form of bruxism or teeth grinding at some point in their lives. Most often, this grinding occurs at night while asleep which is why patients don’t know they have the problem.
There are some signs to look for:
- Do you wake up with sore jaws or jaw joints?
- Do you wake up with headaches?
- Have you experienced tooth breakage?
You might also ask your spouse or a friend to take note to see if you are clenching or grinding your teeth while sleeping. Chronic bruxism can lead to dental problems and even temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). A trained neuromuscular dentist can help with bruxism. By wearing a specially designed orthotic appliance while you sleep you can protect your teeth and jaw joints from damage.
If you are showing symptoms of bruxism or have questions about this common problem and how neuromuscular dentistry can help, please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-454-3488.
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March 2nd, 2010 amogell
Researchers at Yale University found that patients suffering from untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) more than doubled their risk of stroke or heart attack in patients over 50 years old. The effects of obstructive sleep apnea on the human cardiovascular system has been well documented.
The important thing that researchers discussed was that sleep apnea is what is called a “modifiable risk factor”. This means that if the OSA is treated effectively, the risk of heart attack or stroke for those patients goes down dramatically. In the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine an article by Minoguchi et al, showed that patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea have certain “markers” in their brains which indicate damage and inflammation. In this study, OSA patients who used their CPAP for three months significantly lowered the level of those inflammatory “markers”. While this shows that CPAP treatment works, many, many patients are unable to tolerate using the CPAP machine.
Patients complain about the noise, feeling claustrophobic, masks not fitting properly and just plain hating the machine. There is a viable alternative for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea is an approved therapy and most patients find sleeping with an oral appliance very comfortable. Some patients who have been using a CPAP for many years have found that an oral appliance makes traveling much easier. Contact Dr. Levy at our Gahanna office at 614-454-3488. We will be pleased to set up a consultation so you can learn more about oral appliance therapy for treating sleep apnea in the Columbus, Ohio area.
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February 25th, 2010 amogell
Some polls show that as many as four out of five Americans admit to being afraid of the dentist and up to 25% of adults are so fearful that they don’t get the care they need. Every day more research shows that healthy teeth and gums are a huge contributor to your overall health. Avoiding gum disease can protect you from heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers and for pregnant women, can even help your unborn baby.
People who are afraid of the dentist usually have one of three types of dental fear -
- Dental anxiety is a reaction to something unknown such as a procedure you have never had before
- Dental fear is a reaction to something that is known or perceived to be known such as experiencing treatment from an uncaring dentist or being told horror stories by friends or family
- Dental phobia is an extreme type of dental fear which may cause a physical fear response such as fight-or-flight
There is help available for those suffering from anxiety and fearfulness about dental procedures. Sedation dentistry or relaxation dentistry uses medication to relax the fears away. Combine this with a highly trained, caring doctor and staff and your healthy, beautiful smile is finally within your reach.
Contact us for more information about dentistry with the “little pill” in the Columbus, Ohio area at 614-476-6696.
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February 23rd, 2010 amogell
Self help solutions to ease the pain caused by TMJ
COLUMBUS, OH – Headaches, facial pain, neck pain, strange noises in your ears, clicking jaw joints – all symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and all difficult to live with. If you are suffering from any one or more of these symptoms you could have a TMJ problem. Until you are able to get an appointment with your neuromuscular dentist here are some do-it-yourself suggestions that can help alleviate your discomfort.
Remember that ice is your friend. Gel ice packs are available at your local pharmacy and are easy to apply to the jaw area. Just like you might apply ice to a sprained ankle, ice on the temporomandibular joint helps reduce swelling and pain. If you can tolerate ibuprofen, it is a wonderful drug to reduce inflammation and help begin healing.
Modify your diet. Again, think of your injured jaw joint like a sprained ankle. Every time you eat hard or chewy foods, you are “running” on that jaw joint. Place yourself on a non-chew soft diet. Nothing harder than the consistency of cooked pasta. No chewing gum or ice and stifle your yawns as much as possible. In general, minimize using your mandible as much as possible.
Gentle passive exercises to strengthen the muscles of the temporomandibular joint and mouth area are important to maintain a healthy range of motion. A referral to a qualified physical therapist is always beneficial in getting the TMJ muscles relaxed and pain free.
Treating temporomandibular joint dysfunctions is not something that every dentist is trained to do. The jaw joint is among the most complex in the human body and it takes advanced training in neuromuscular dentistry to effectively treat these types of cases. Dr. Mark Levy is an LVI Fellow which means he has attained the highest levels of neuromuscular training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.
These self-help tips will not “cure” your TMJ problem but may help make you more comfortable until your appointment with Dr. Levy. Please contact us today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.
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February 19th, 2010 amogell
TMJ can be the cause of Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
COLUMBUS, OH – What is that constant ringing in my ears? One of the most vexing conditions is tinnitus – a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Fortunately for most sufferers the condition is not related to serious illness but is extremely annoying and can affect social relationships or work.
What causes the bells to start ringing? Sometimes it is damage to cells of the inner ear. This damage could simply be age related or caused by previous traumatic injury. Some medications cause tinnitus. A frequently overlooked cause of funny sounds in the ears is TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder.
The temporomandibular joint is the joint where your lower jaw attaches. This joint is one of the most complex in the human body – flexing and bending in many directions. The jaw joint is also under constant stress from talking, chewing and, for many people, grinding their teeth. While the most common symptoms of TMD are facial pain, neck pain, clicking in the jaw and severe headaches many patients report ringing, buzzing or a feeling of “fullness” in their ears.
Many patients have gone from one specialist to another for many years seeking relief, only to be told that their ears look fine. There are effective treatment options from a trained neuromuscular dentist. Treatment of these conditions requires extensive education such as that offered at LVI (The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies). As an LVI Fellow, Dr. Levy is uniquely qualified to care for patients with TMD in the Gahanna, Ohio area.
Contact our office for a consultation about neuromuscular dentistry and tinnitus at 614-454-3488 or visit our website at www.marklevydds.com.
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July 5th, 2009 Dr. Levy
Perry Twp.
Investigations are proceeding to find out what the cause of a February mercury spill at the United Parcel Service distribution hub which led to the facility closing down temporarily.
Alison Lamirand, of the Cleveland UPS regional office, said “We did have an incident involving mercury.” “We have a designated response system that was put in place. We are still working with a response team to make sure the facility is free of contaminants.”
Mercury is a heavy metal that is toxic and it is suspected that it entered the facility at 4850 Navarre Rd. SW in a delivery parcel, said Lamirand.
No One Harmed
Michael Settles, public-relations officer for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said “It is our understanding that, somewhere along the line, some package broke open, spilling 16 to 17 pounds of mercury. A pint-sized container of mercury weighs 14 pounds. Mercury is very heavy.” The EPA of Ohio responded with an official emergency response to the company.
Settles stated “It sounded like some of it may have spilled along an automated conveyor belt system. They are trying to make sure there isn’t mercury on other packages going through the system. To our knowledge, there has been no individual impacted to mercury exposure.” According to Mark Martin the Township fire chief, the local UPS officials did not immediately respond. “It appears they contacted a private contractor instead of calling us,” Martin said. “One of my fire inspectors will be going down there to talk to them.”
It seems that at least two vehicles from Sunpro Environmental were in the parking lot following the spill. Sunpro provides environmental and electronics services in the field, including clean up proceedures.
Not Common
Officials of the company have “to make sure everything is cleared with our response team,” Lamirand said. “They secured the area where this spill was affected; to make sure that no people came in contact with the area.”
Spills of mercury are far more common in homes and schools where older thermometers are most commonly found, according to the EPA. “This doesn’t happen a whole lot in a commercial operation or facility like this,” Settles said. “We don’t respond to a whole lot of mercury spills. It is usually residential.”
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July 5th, 2009 Dr. Levy
The Obama administration called for an end to years of US policy by calling for a treaty to cut mercury pollution, which they described as the world’s leading chemical contaminant.
Each year, some 6,000 tons of mercury enter the food chain via predatory fish. The majority, about a third, of mercury comes from runoff from power stations and coal fires. Fish such as tuna are the most commonly affected species.
Mercury attacks young children and fetuses most and can cause birth defects and neurological disorders, brain damage and peeling skin.
The deputy assistant secretary of state for environmental and sustainable development, Daniel Reifsnyder, told environmental ministers in Nairobi Kenya that the US wants to limit mercury use beginning this year and ending in three.
“We’re prepared to help lead in developing a globally legally binding instrument,” he said. “It is clear mercury is the most important global chemical issue facing us today that calls for immediate action.”
This shows a complete “180 degree turn around” from the Bush administration said Michael Bender. Bender is the co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group, and global coalition of some 75 environmental groups dedicated to the elimination of the use of mercury.
“The change is like night and day. The Bush administration opposed any international legal agreements on mercury and President (Barack) Obama is in office less than one month and is already supporting a global agreement,” he said.
Bender’s group has had more discussions with the Obama administration over the past few weeks than the eight years during the Bush administration on mercury control. The US government has included many of their ideas in the proposal presented in Nairobi.
In addition, mercury is used in small scale mining operations and chemical production; the toxin can travel thousands of miles via air or water.
The Food and Drug Administration in America has told expectant mothers to limit their consumption of Albacore tuna to six ounces a week or twelve ounces of “light” tuna a week. The health effects of the tuna and its effects are still being scientifically debated. In California, authorities have been locked in a five year legal battle to make tuna companies place warning labels on their products about the health risks involved with consumption of fish with potentially harmful levels of mercury.
In spite of all the warnings, there is very little public awareness of the dangers of mercury in seafood. In the state of Idaho , a food bank distributed approximately ninety-six ounces of fish in food baskets given to families. This is forty-eight times more than a child that weighs under thirty pounds is advised to eat monthly, according to the Health and Welfare advisory.
Furthermore, there is even less awareness in developing countries where small mining operations use mercury to pan for gold and where fishermen eat contaminated fish or provide it to high end sushi restaurants.
When probed about mercury levels in a sushi feast by an Associated Press reporter, Peter Omoga, manager at a Japanese restaurant in the Kenyan capital, he asked “Murky? Maki?”
Substitutes for mercury exist in almost every industry except coal fueled power plants, which accounts for more than fifty percent of the mercury emissions around the world. This complicates efforts especially in countries that rely heavily on coal for their power needs.
To help reduce the use of mercury, clean up contaminated areas and find environmentally friendly alternatives, the US drafted a proposal that would form a committee in conjunction with the UN environmental program to help countries in these efforts. The European Union has already banned the exportation of mercury beginning in 2011; the US has a similar ban starting in 2013 which was implemented by President Obama while he was a Senator.
Bender has said that mercury levels around the world have increased two to three times over the past two hundred years. Advocacy groups that have worked on influencing policy change have welcomed the new US policies which they say could help encourage other countries, such as Canada, to also change their national policies on mercury use and elimination.
“Given that the United States has pushed the door of resistance in a sense, that will lead others to follow,” said Susan Egan Keane of the Washington, D.C.-based Natural Resources Defense Council.
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February 8th, 2009 Dr. Levy
A recent study conducted by Case Western Reserve and Yale Universities has revealed that previously unknown bacteria could be responsible for pre-term births. These bacteria were found in the mouth and it is estimated that it could be the cause of 80% of premature births in the US.
Preventing pre-term births could be as easy as encouraging good oral hygiene or prescribing antibiotics during pregnancy. This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
“The earlier the woman goes into pre-term labor, the higher the chance that she will be infected,” said Yiping Han, a doctor at Case Western University involved with the study and an author for the published findings.
In the United States 12% of all births are classified as pre-term which is defined as a pregnancy lasting less than 37 weeks; the normal gestation period of humans is 40 weeks. This pre-term birth rate is about 30% higher than the statistics from 1981 and the reasons are still unknown. Premature babies are susceptible to mental retardation, vision and hearing problems and in some cases death.
Because the process of labor is still quite unknown to scientists and biologists it is difficult to determine the exact cause of pre-term births. Everything from genetics to infections are related causes to pre-term births but none of them are completely definitive at this time.
When Dr. Han and her collaborative research team infected laboratory mice with a previously unknown bacterium Bergeyella, they caused pre-term births.
Research done in human pregnancies, have displayed a correlation between infections and premature pregnancies. Doctors and researchers took samples of amniotic fluid from 46 different women with a high risk of pre term labor. Out of these women 21 of them delivered pre-term babies, 32 weeks or earlier, and close to 85% were found to have bacteria that had not been known beforehand.
These bacteria are typically found in the mouth but should a cut or cavity be present the bacteria can spread into the blood stream and cause an immune system response. After entering the blood stream they can move within the blood stream and collect in the uterus which has the capabilities of inflaming the uterus and causing premature labor.
Identification of the infection is performed through the use of a polymerase chain reaction test which is far more meticulous and sensitive than standard testing. By using this new technique doctors and scientists are able to find the Bergeyella bacterium as well as the genetic markers for 10 or 11 different bacteria that have not previously been identified.
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January 17th, 2009 Dr. Levy
The FDA in the United State s is about to make one of the biggest changes to dentistry in history. They plan on limiting the use of a 19th century dentistry technology known as amalgam fillings. Although these fillings are called ‘silver fillings,’ they are in fact only 25% silver. Half of the material used in the fillings is mercury.
According to the World Health Organization there is no safe level of mercury and as mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature, its vapors are harmful and can cause neurological damage. Mercury causes permanent damage to fetuses, kidney damage in adults and developmental disorders in children. This is not the case with lead which affects are acute when a child ingests it. Amalgam fillings according to the US Center for Disease Control, are a main source for exposure to mercury in our society.
In the early days of dentistry when alternatives to amalgam were extremely expensive, such as gold, the dangers of mercury were not fully understood. Today composite materials can be used instead of mercury. Composites are white resin-like substances that pose no threat to your health. The composites do take slightly longer to place, but it is a small price to pay. Those with more resources have composites as the standard material as they can afford modern dentistry practices, but those less fortunate, mercury is still being used. In 2003 before U.S. House Subcommittee on Wellness and Human Rights, Emmitt Carlton, a Washington lawyer, indicated that American dentistry provided ‘choice for the rich, mercury for the poor.’
On October 1st 2007, the Corzine administration in New Jersey, ordered all dentists to implement mercury collectors and separators to their waste water to prevent it from becoming a part of the water supply. The Mercury Policy Project has shown that dental practices produce the largest amount of mercury contamination in our water supplies. This makes the taxpayers the primary source of funding for its clean up which is grossly unfair.
The same decree from the state Department of Environmental Protection also stated that dentists must use an alternative to amalgam when applicable. A good portion of dentists, about one third to one half, already have stopped using amalgam.
The real question should be why are so many dentists still using amalgam with all of its pollution and health risks? Not why have so many dentists stopped its use.
Senator Ronald Rice, has taken an active interest in this matter by sponsoring a bill that is to research the use of mercury fillings and how it affects health and occupations. The Attorney General of New Jersey, Anne Milgram, led the states to persuade the Bush administration to enforce more laws against mercury pollution in an effort to stop its use.
One in eight women capable of becoming pregnant, says the US EPA, already has such a high level of mercury in their systems that they are at risk of delivering a baby with brain damage. Pregnant women are advised to not eat tuna for fear of receiving too much mercury which leads to birth defects. Knowing this, if a dentist told a pregnant woman she was about to have mercury fillings she would undoubtedly leave the office in a flash.
Mercury pollution is so prevalent in New Jersey that it actually ships it to other locations in the US such as Nevada and with the Mercury Export Ban of 2008 it cannot be shipped outside of the country. Incidentally, President Elect Obama, then Sen. Obama, was a chief proponent of the bill. This may foreshadow the new administration’s policies toward the use of mercury and its polluting effects.
A good portion of dental workers are females of child bearing age which raises more questions of its use. These are the individuals most commonly setting the fillings and are exposed to even higher levels of mercury because of it. These are the people who should be the most adamant about the use of the amalgam fillings, but are exposed to mercury vapors every time an amalgam capsule is opened for use.
In the private sector in New Jersey, OSHA is in charge of occupational health while the public sector is controlled by New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety & Health program (“PEOSH”). To their credit, PEOSH is ahead of the rest of the country in setting standards for the use of alternatives to mercury. It has, however, not even issued a warning in the state prison system where mercury fillings are still being used.
While the administration of New Jersey has implemented several environmental policies toward the use of mercury, it has not enforced these for the employees working with and around amalgam fillings. This contrast creates a dangerous environment to their workers and their children for generations to come.
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