Fall 2011

She’ll Never Really Retire Nor Will Her Smile!

After Joanne Sockwell ‘retired’ as the Deputy of Operations at the Detroit State Prison, she began as Director of Administration for the Wayne County Health Department, After six months, she ‘retired again’ and completed training to get her real estate license. Now as a Real Estate broker, she trains others in the field while staying highly involved in her church. In both roles, she finds herself frequently speaking to groups or in close situations. This requires confidence and a confident smile.

You’d never know it now, but when Joanne was 27, whe was in an auto accident that caused her to lose her teeth. She was fitted for dentures and wore them day and night. The constant pressure this places on the jaw bone typically causes the bone to shrink, or ‘resorb.’ This is what causes dentures that once fit securely to begin to slip.

As the bone continues to shrink, even relines don’t help much. Eating becomes difficult and most are forced to eat soft foods that dissolve easily in the mouth.

Although Joanne had not experienced bone loss, she wanted a more secure fitting denture. She found she had to keep a tube of denture adhesive in her purse. Not only was she trying to keep her denture secure, she was trying to prevent food from getting underneath. Another frustration was trying not to yawn in public, since her lower denture would lift up when she did.

At age 66, Joanne had been contemplating dental implants for 7 or 8 years. One day, she saw Dr. Ban Barbat’s ad in the newspaper and contacted her. “She called me on a Saturday, which impressed me,” Joanne stated. After meeting Joanne learned the process and felt very comfortable proceeding.

Now, with dental implants securing her lower denture, Joanne has the ability to eat everything she wants. “I can eat apples, nuts, peanut brittle and salad. And, I can chew better. Being able to chew things I couln’t chew well before helps me to eat healthier,” shares Joanne.

From years in a career where interacting with others was an important part of her job, Joanne adds, “Patient relationships are almost like family relationships. You build those relationships. The people at Dr. Barbat’s office treat you like family. They are compassionate, very professional and always treat you courteously.”

Joanne now enjoys eating comfortably, speaks confidently and laughs without worry. And, her purse no longer contains denture adhessive! Joanne is not about to slow down and her smile shows it!

To overcome the frustrations of an ill-fitting denture or partial, call (586) 739-2155 for a free consultation with Dr. Barbat. She’ll gladly answer your questions and discuss the options that are best for your individual needs.

Dental Laser Can Repair ‘GUMMY’ Smile

When someone smiles and shows too much gum above the upper teeth, this is referred to as a “gummy smile.” Many with this often ‘hold back’ rather than smile fully or cover their mouths when smiling or laughing.

Repairing a gummy smile is through gum recontouring called a gingivectomy. This removes excess tissue around the teeth.

Because Dr. Barbat uses a dental laser to repair and recontour gum tissue, she can correct a gummy smile quickly and without sutures (stitches).

The laser also seals the tissue as it works, so bleeding is either eliminated or minimal. Recovery time is typically a week or less.

Once the tissue has been removed, most people want to enhance the appearance of their teeth with porclain veneers or crowns. This completes their new smile with a beautiful line, shade and shape of teeth.

If you know someone with a gummy smile, suggest they call (586) 739-2155 for a no-cost consultation. Dr. Barbat will be happy to answer questions and discuss the specifics of treatment during that time.

Staff Spotlight On Christal – Registerd Dental
Assistant

Dealing With Snoring And Sleep Apnea

It may seem humorous in cartoons buy heaving snorinng can be a symptom of serious problem: Sleep Apnea. More than 12 million Americans suffer from Sleep Apnea. It’s estimated that 10 million more have it and don’t even realize it.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that sufferers characteristically make periodic gasping or “snoring” noises, during which their sleep is interrupted. At the initial onset of the condition, the patient may be absolutely quiet and not make any sounds even though they are having episodes of Sleep Apnea.

This can occur over and over during the night, eventually leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and posing serious health implications. It has been linked to obesity, heart disease and other illnesses.

One common cause is TMJ (jaw joint) disorder, or TMD, which can also cause headaches, including migraines, neck, back and shoulder pain, ringing ears, jaw popping and tingling fingers.

TMJ disorder stems from a bad bit, meaning upper and lower teeth don’t close together correctly, causing strain to head and neck muscles.

Fortunately TMD and Sleep Apnea are treatable by specially-trained Neuromuscular dintists such as Dr. Barbat. Less than 5% of the world’s dentists are trained in Neuromuscular Dentistry.

Using advanced technology, she provides a comprehensive evaluation that includes measuring the train on jaw muscles. Through computer analysis, Dr. Barbat is then able to locate your jaw’s most comfortable resting position.

Once the new jaw position is found, Dr. Barbat can custom-fit you with a small, comfortable mouthpiece for sleeping or place crowns and veneers to make this new sleep-enhancing jaw position permanent.

If you know a heavy snorer or one who suffers with Sleep Apnea symptoms, arrange a time to discuss this effective process designed to get you to restful sleep.