I have been taking dietary supplements to try to improve my health, but now I am hearing all kinds of negative stories. Help me sort out the confusion!
Did you know that approximately onethird of Americans take dietary supplements? These include herbs, minerals or vitamins.
One serious problem is the interaction of these supplements with other drugs. Another problem recently published revealed that in chemical tests of these products, only the products from two companies contained what was listed on the label. The products from many other companies had other products in the pills or did not even contain what was listed on the label.
This is scary, especially if you have allergies and don’t know what is in the product. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these companies. It then becomes your responsibility to tell your dentist what supplements you are taking since there can be interactions with commonly-used drugs in dentistry. The most dangerous interactions can result with supplements such as St. Johns Wort, Ginko Biloba, Primrose or Valerian.
Quite truthfully, healthcare professionals are not sure how necessary and effective vitamins and supplements actually are. So, be careful what you take and evaluate if it is really helpful and healthful to you.
My 22-year old son was in an accident and lost a tooth. He needs a dental implant, but is petrified of the possible pain. How can we prepare him for this needed treatment?
For anyone going through a surgical procedure, it is difficult to be sure. When there are problems in the mouth, it tends to be sensitive. When the patient becomes stressed, it creates a domino effect. Patients postpone or prolong treatment which eventually creates other issues. Mental preparation is just as important as the procedure itself. Talking with someone who has experienced the treatment is a good option.
In lieu of that conversation, please reassure him this is a painless procedure. The site/area being treated is only anesthetized. It is rarely necessary for a “block,” which numbs your whole face, to be administered. The placement of the dental implant fixture is completed in one visit, usually one hour in duration.
The other appointments, scheduled over a period of eight weeks, are to monitor the healing and make sure the fixture has fused to the bone. Once that has been accomplished, he will be referred back to the dentist who will restore the implant with a crown, which is constructed by a laboratory.
Your son is welcome to contact our office and I will be more than happy to speak with him to answer any questions.
Dr. Kessler’s office is located at 7400 N. Kendall Dr., directly across Dadeland Mall and he may be reached at 305-670- 3800 or online at Lkgums@aol.com or www.WeSaveSmiles.com.
