Produced to improve your dental health and awareness Winter 2007/2008

fromthedentist

Never underestimate the power and importance of your smile!

Dentally SpeakingDentally SpeakingDentally SpeakingDentally SpeakingDentally Speaking......... with Dr. Alan L. Mazer.........

One of the fi rst things people notice… one of the fi rst things they base their lasting fi rst impression of you are your teeth… your smile. Your smile can portray many things - a joy in life, self-confi dence, even strength of character. Or it can portray personal insecurity, stress, even premature ageing.

Never underestimate the importance and power of your smile. It has been speculated that your smile has more impact on the success of your personal and business relationships than any other part of your appearance. That belief is confi rmed by a study in which people were asked what it is they remember most about people they meet.

Have You Wondered? Would a new smile make a difference?

Over 85% said they remember people with beautiful smiles! This means… the more attractive your smile, the

more likely it is that you’ll be noticed and favorably remembered; that the more beautiful

your smile, the more likely it is that you’ll attract the attention of those special people whom you want to attract; the more compelling

your smile, the more likely it is that you’ll get the job and promotions you want and deserve.

We are smile experts,

and we’re enthusiastic about helping you make your smile sensational. Please give us a call to set up a complimentary smile consultation… our gift to you in celebration of the holiday season.

VeneersWhat can take months or years wearing braces can be corrected in as little as two or three visits!

When I fi rst began practicing dentistry, I had no idea how important community could be and would be to my practice. Of course, I knew that most of my patients would come from the neighborhood, but then the word “neighbor” had a different meaning to me than it does today. Then it meant someone living nearby. Today it means you – my patients and friends.

I appreciate the fact that I have not only learned your names, but have learned who you are, and what you need and want. I also truly appreciate your conscious decision to become my patient and extend heartfelt thanks for your loyalty and friendship during the past year.

As the New Year draws closer, many of us are inspired by our anticipation of everything a new beginning can offer. This is the time of year when each of us considers how we can make the coming year the best that it can be.

We intend to make this New Year our personal and professional best by continuing to provide you with leading-edge dental care in an atmosphere that is as warm, relaxed, and as welcoming as we can make it.

Have a wonderful holiday,

Alan L. Mazer, DMD

Our entire practice team

hopes your holidays

are happy, healthy, and

fi lled with family and

friends.

Special thanks to all our patients and neighbors for participating in our Long Island Cares Food

Drive. We created many Smiles this holiday season thanks to

your generosity.

Have a wonderful holiday,

Alan L. Mazer, DMD

Take Years Off!Rejuvenate your smile

2

Test Your HCQ!Regular dental visits and

a scrupulous home hygiene program can keep your breath fresh and your smile sweet! How’s your HCQ – Home Care Quotient? Take our quiz and fi nd out.

Bad breath can be: caused by plaque and food particles on and between the teeth; a warning sign of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis); caused by bacteria that wasn’t brushed away from your tongue; all of the above.

The number-one cause of tooth loss in adults is: car accidents; advanced age; gum disease.

Plaque, the thin fi lm of bacteria that you can feel on your teeth, can begin to form within: 48 hours of brushing; 24 hours of brushing; seconds of brushing.

No matter what your score, just remember to brush, fl oss, and rinse ... and never share your toothbrush. Oral bacteria can be passed to others which can potentially spread periodontal diseases!

Make no mistake – crowns do rejuvenate smiles. Although the primary purpose of a dental crown is to protect and strengthen teeth, you’ll love your improved great looks too!

Crowns are an attractive time-tested option for teeth that have been severely damaged or weakened by trauma, root canal treatment, or too much fi lling. They can also support bridges that fi ll gaps and be attached to dental implants to rebuild and enhance your smile.

Crowns have come such a long way from the all-metal originals, through porcelain fused to metal, and fi nally to all-ceramic or all-porcelain. Today, replacing outdated crowns is a surefi re way to take years off your appearance.

Type Of Crown: All-MetalBenefits: Often made of gold (which is strong and long-lasting and will

not wear down opposing teeth), they can also be made of less expensive metals or a mix of gold and alloy.

Type Of Crown:Porcelain Fused to Metal

Benefits: Porcelain creates a more natural

look than all-metal crowns, and though the

metal limits translucency, it adds strength, which is particularly useful at the

back of the mouth.

Type Of Crown: All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain

Benefits: Translucent porcelain with opalescence looks the closest to

natural teeth enamel, will not wear down opposing teeth, and there are no tell-tale

dark metal margins at the gumline as sometimes occurs with porcelain fused

to metal. These crowns are strong, long-lasting, and youthful looking.

Increase Your Shelf LifeTranscend trans fats!

You know, without fat in your diet, your skin could become dry and flaky, and you could experience hair loss. Your oral health could also suffer from lowered resistance to infection and diminished ability to heal. But too much fat also creates health problems. In particular, trans fats have been receiving a lot of bad press lately.

Trans fats contribute to heart disease and are linked to inflammation which can damage body tissues including your gums, increase the risk of other chronic diseases, and accelerate ageing. Also called hydrogenated (or partially hydrogenated) oils, trans fats were invented to increase product shelf life. So they really are everywhere!

What to do? Read labels. Use alternatives to palm kernel and coconut oils. Exercise, eat a balanced diet, keep regular dental appointments, and keep smiling!

New beautiful natural-looking front crowns are enhanced by veneers on the molars.

Answers: all of the above; gum disease; seconds of brushing.

ML0

7-4

3

AssertYourself!

Try whiteningThey say that “macho” is making a comeback ... in a good way. Modern

macho men are still sensitive and caring but they are also very capable men-of-action. These are men who “clean up good” – rather than men who

are just good at cleaning up – and who are focused on their appearance. Think George Clooney. Think Matthew McConaughey. For men who don’t

want to spend a lot of time with potions and lotions, teeth whitening could hit just the right note for healthy, attractive, and rugged good looks.

Teeth whitening produces the best results when done under a dentist’s supervision to remove stains and re-charge your smile batteries. And you get to decide whether

to lighten by up to about eight shades, or only a few.

Assert yourself. Smile!

Sometimes it’s what’s hidden that makes all the difference ... even with something as intimately connected with your looks as cosmetic dentistry. It could be superior bonding materials beneath veneers that help them to stay whiter longer, an improved teeth whitening formula, or exquisite craftsmanship using leading-edge labs and technology. And sometimes, it’s revealing what’s hidden that can make your smile more alluring, especially when it’s your beautiful teeth enamel hidden by a too-gummy smile.

Let us custom-design your smile makeover program with products and techniques that will suit your smile best. Please come see us for a consultation.

Here are some designer smile procedures that will give your smile eye-catching appeal:Lighten stained, discolored, or dull teeth more comfortably, faster, and more predictably than ever before.

Change old, conspicuous fillings to strong, long-lasting tooth-colored restorations of porcelain or composite resin.

Renew severely

damaged or

broken teeth with

porcelain or resin

crowns, implants,

or bridges.

Design your smile to permanently correct gaps, crooked, chipped, or discolored teeth with custom-made porcelain veneers that cover flaws.

Sculpt your smile to make short teeth look longer and restore symmetry by reshaping your gums.

Straighten

your smile and

close gaps by

repositioning

your teeth with

orthodontics.

Hide ’n’ Seek Which strategy is b� t for you?

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

officeinformation

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

27933-W72-38734 ML07-4

Alan L. Mazer, DMD, FACD, FICDCecilia Diggin, DMD140 Terryville RoadPort Jefferson Station, NY 11776-1330

Office HoursMonday 9:00 am – 9:00 pmTuesday 2:00 pm – 9:00 pmThursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pmFriday 9:00 am – 12:00 pmSaturday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Contact InformationOffice (631) 473-0666Fax (631) 473-0679Email dralanmazer@gmail.comWeb site www.dralanmazer.com

Office StaffEsta, Debbie ...............Dental HygienistsBeth ..................Scheduling CoordinatorPat, Olga .................... Dental AssistantsLois .................... Practice Administrator

Stressed Out?It’s Holiday time… a time when family and

friends come together to celebrate! Exciting, yes… stressful… definitely!

Did you ever think that a dental visit could help you deal with symptoms of stress? People who are under a lot of pressure grind their teeth, bite their cheeks, and usually neglect their usual oral health routines like home care and dental visits.

Research shows that stress weakens your body’s immune system creating a gateway for oral bacterial infection that can lead to inflammation of the gums, bleeding gums, and eventually, even to loss of teeth and supporting bone.

There is no single, all-purpose solution to handling tension, but besides booking a dental appointment, here are a few suggestions that might help during this frenzied season...

Don’t rely on your memory... write it down. Break large tasks into bite size portions. Set priorities and follow a plan. Get enough sleep. SMILE and enjoy your Holiday!

Dear Dr. Mazer,Your gracious comments

about our long term patient-doctor relationship were much appreciated. One gets the feeling that we’ve known each other a lifetime. Needless to say, your professionalism and competence are second to none. After 22 crowns, several root canals, numerous cavities, and mouthfuls of cotton, I still look forward to being your patient for many years to come. As you know, I have the utmost respect for you and your competent staff. It’s been my pleasure having been your patient for the past 32 years.

My wife Kathleen, and I, send you and Mrs. Mazer our most heartfelt, best wishes for continued success, as well as, good health and a lifetime of happiness.

Sincerely,

Joseph

P.S. I took the liberty and forwarded a sample of your work. It certainly put a smile on my face.

Regularly climbing into our hygiene chair can mean gaining better health, better looks, and even staying out of the dental chair! When you consider that oral disease can be silent and symptom-free and that research has linked oral disease with other health problems, then making regular hygiene appointments is defi nitely your wisest choice.

Hygiene appointments are not just a simple cleaning. Here’s what happens when you’re sitting in our hygiene room. We examine your gums and teeth

to screen for areas at risk. This includes an examination of your teeth to fi nd decay, take cavity-detecting radiographs and assess your gum tissue. If you have periodontal disease, your healing

progress is monitored with detail. Prevention is a crucial part of your

visit. Regular appointments allow us to catch problems in their early stages before things get out of hand. This means screening for oral cancer, perhaps applying fl uoride and pit and fi ssure sealants, cleaning and scaling teeth to remove plaque, tartar and surface stains, and polishing teeth and restorations. Take advantage of our knowledge!

Your appointment is also a wonderful opportunity to ask all the questions you have about how restorative, cosmetic dentistry, and even how medications affect your oral health. In short, if you’ve got the questions, we’re here to give you answers.

We provide patient education and demonstrations for correct brushing and fl ossing, proper cleaning and maintenance for dentures, crowns, bridges, and orthodontics. We will happily answer your inquiries about nutrition, and your present and future dental treatments.

So, there’s no such thing as just a cleaning! Please make certain that you are scheduled for and that you commit to your date for a regular hygiene appointment. It will ensure your optimum oral health and a clean, great-looking smile.

More Than A Simple Cleaning…

A Note of Thanks…

Smiles radiated from patients Smiles radiated from patients and staff as our office and staff as our office

celebrated Halloween in style. celebrated Halloween in style.

(Left to right) Baseball player, (Left to right) Baseball player, Dr. Mazer; Tooth fairy, Esta; Hippie, Dr. Mazer; Tooth fairy, Esta; Hippie, Beth; M&M, Pat; skeleton, Lois; an Beth; M&M, Pat; skeleton, Lois; an

angel, Olga.angel, Olga.