Neal Benjamin DDS, FAGD Corey Husu DDS, Circle Pines Dental in MN 55014: Newsletter

Did you know?

According to a study by the Gallop Organization and Consumer Reports, dentists are among the top five most trusted professionals.

What do powdered fruit, talc, honey, dried flowers, mice and lizard livers have in common? They have all been ingredients in ancient toothpaste and powder. Yum.

Attention Chocolate Lovers…Many dentists agree raisins can cause more tooth decay than chocolate. Sticky foods such as raisins and dried fruits can stay on the teeth longer and develop more decay.

According to a study at the University of Connecticut, too much toothpaste early in life is responsible for more than 70% of fluorosis cases (staining or mottling of tooth enamel that develops when children swallow fluoridated toothpaste). Although this problem is only cosmetic, it is recommended children under six only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and be reminded to spit it out after brushing.

Congratulations to Dr. Neal Benjamin!

Dr. Neal Benjamin was at the AGD convention in Florida and was awarded the distinction of completing his Masters in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD) on Saturday July 19th. One of the requirements behind this award is to have at least 1,000 hours in Continuing Education. That is something to be proud of! However, the 1,000 hours alone was not what earned Dr. Benjamin this fine award. We are so very proud of Dr. Neal Benjamin and all that he has accomplished throughout his dental career!

Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Husu were selected by Mpls St. Paul Magazines Top Dentists of 2007. The magazine surveyed 2000 licensed and practicing dentists in the 10-county metropolitan area and 1000 randomly selected hygienists. The magazine asked to whom they would turn for their own dental care. This is a list of the 300 most often recommended dentists, and it is suggested that this list is a starting place in a person's search for a family dentist.

The categories include general dentistry, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. The doctors were selected in the category of General Dentists and Dr. Benjamin was selected in the category of Cosmetic Dentist as well.

For further information, visit www.mspmag.com.

Sedation Dentistry Changes Lives

"My hands were trembling when I picked up the phone and I was whispering prayers to myself," said Edna Drye.

Like many others, Edna was a dental phobic. She was willing to give up her favorite foods, to stop smiling at her friends and loved ones and to suffer in silence. Anything was better than picking up the phone to schedule an appointment with a dentist.

Edna, a day-care provider, was in her mid-fifties when she looked in the yellow pages to find the name of a dentist who could help her. She found the image of a a smiling dentist who offered, "care for the high fear patient". When a friendly voice answered and offered to send her information about how they could help, she hung up the phone with both relief and trepidation. A few days later a tape came in the mail telling her how Sedation Dentistry could help her get back the smile she wanted. "I wanted the smile I had in my wedding photo," says Edna. She listened to that tape over and over. Then she made the choice to get the much needed care she deserved. She called the office again and scheduled.

Edna had lived with the pain in her mouth for decades, leaving her dentally handicapped. The beautiful smile she displayed in the photos of her wedding day was a smile the groom had not seen in years. And why had she become so debilitated? Because she was afraid. And she's not alone. Nearly one third of Americans are just like her.

Today Edna's beautiful smile has been completely restored thanks to the wonders of Sedation Dentistry, and she no longer needs to fear the dentist's chair. And she will tell anyone she meets the same thing can happen for them.

If you're thinking, "Sign me up!," Circle Pines has its own sedation dentist. Drs. Neal Benjamin and Corey Husu along with their caring teams are ready to help you regain the confidence that comes with a healthy smile. Drs. Benjamin and Husu have both completed special training that allows them to treat these fearful people while they are safely sedated. "That's right, using a small pill, people can now have their dental care accomplished while they are totally relaxed and absolutely comfortable."

Dr. Benjamin adds, "I have always been very sensitive to my patients with high fear and apprehension, and now I can offer them a safe and even more comfortable experience. I feel so many good people are avoiding needed care due to fear. I am looking forward to helping these people visit the dentist with this safe and wonderful technique."

He added, "You should see the look on the faces of my patients when they complete their care and they have a healthy mouth - there aren't words to describe it! That look is why I love sedation dentistry. I helped to change someone's life."

From Dull to Dazzling: Enhancing Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

Oftentimes the dental profession is labeled strictly for more intense cleaning and hygiene purposes. However, a dentist is actually an artist who can make your smile sensational. Most dentists now practice and perform cosmetic techniques, not just the run-of-the-mill routine cleanings. Cosmetic dentistry seeks to create a more aesthetically pleasing and healthy smile.

Although you may be meticulous about your dental care routine, your teeth still might not look their very best. Drinking coffee, tea or wine will take a toll on your teeth, causing them to look dull and stained. Aging or the use of some medications can also result in a discolored smile. One easy, safe way to revive your smile from these factors is through whitening.

Plenty of adults are looking towards dentistry to heighten the appearance and function of their teeth. Cracked, chipped or unevenly spaced teeth are easily resolved by procedures like bonding or veneers. Severely damaged teeth can be repaired with crowns, while bridges and implants are natural-looking options used to revitalize your smile. These methods will not only give you a more beautiful smile, but will also rejuvenate your mouth’s functionality.

If you are not satisfied with your smile and want to take it a level up from dull to dazzling, speak with us about the many smile enhancing preferences available to you.

“ Bridging” the Gaps and Wearing a “Crown”: Total Oral Health Renovation

Face it, we are rough on our teeth. Sometimes we neglect them, take them for granted or simply just abuse them. Between physical activities like sports or chewing hard substances like ice, our teeth can get knocked out, broken, cracked and worn down. Forgetting routine dental appointments and ignoring proper cleaning tactics can result in periodontal disease, tooth decay and ultimately tooth loss.

When teeth are missing, your mouth must compensate for the lack of chewing power in that area in order to function normally. So, the chewing force may shift to another part of the mouth, which can cause unwanted spaces and changes in your smile.

So, how do we mend our mouth’s broken ties? By simple dental procedures. Smiles can be renovated to look pristine using a combination of crowns and bridges to support or replace lost teeth. A crown snugly covers the complete visible surface of your affected tooth to add strength, durability and tooth stability, while restoring your tooth to its natural shape and size. Crowns can be made of precious metal, porcelain pressed to metal and all-porcelain. A bridge, also known as a pontic, is fused between two porcelain crowns to fill the gaps left by the original missing tooth. The new tooth is then anchored to the two porcelain crowns, renewing your once damaged smile.

The moral of the story is to be nice to your teeth: be diligent with your oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. Your teeth are hard workers and they deserve to be pampered. But, if the damage is already done, see us immediately. We can decide on the best treatment to restore your smile. Your teeth will thank you for it.

Something to Smile About

Caring for your oral health includes regular teeth care and gum care. Neglecting your gums can eventually lead to periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, which is a culprit for the deterioration of your overall oral health. Periodontal disease affects 75% of adults over 35 years of age and is responsible for approximately 70% of all adult tooth loss. Since symptoms of periodontal disease oftentimes are unnoticeable, people never realize their mouth is under bacterial attack.

Highly recognized as a greatly progressive disorder, periodontal disease is triggered by preventable factors like plaque build-up, tobacco use, certain medications and stress, as well as unpreventable measures like systematic disease and fluctuating hormone levels during puberty, pregnancy or menopause. Research proves up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease.

Periodontal disease begins when the bacteria in the sticky film which forms on the tooth surface, or plaque, causes gum inflammation. If the irritation is ignored, plaque will release toxins breaking down the natural fibers which hold your gums to your teeth, permitting even more bacteria and toxins to invade. Plaque deposits quickly harden into calculus or tartar, which is a rough, porous substance not removable with brushing. Over time, this progression can lead to severe inflammation, bone loss, gum recession and tooth loss.

Symptoms and signs include:

Red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums
Gum recession, or gums pulling away from teeth
Loose or separating teeth
Pus between the gum and tooth
Persistent bad breath
Bite changes
Change in the fit of partial dentures

If you have noticed any of the above signs or symptoms, please make an appointment promptly! Together, we can win the battle against periodontal disease and maintain your wonderful, dazzling smile: gums and all. Now that’s something to smile about.

Wondering about the latest in dentistry?

We're working very hard to make sure your visits are convenient, comfortable and gentle. To that end, we investigate all the latest technologies and techniques. Click on the desired topic to learn more:

Periodontal Disease
Cosmetic Dentistry
Bridges and Crowns

We Now Have CEREC®!

Dr. Corey Husu, Dr. John Stentz and Dr. Neal Benjamin announce the availability of tooth-colored fillings and crowns, formed to exact tooth dimensions in a single office visit. The new approach to tooth restoration is made possible by innovative CEREC® CAD/CAM technology that designs and mills a custom ceramic restoration in less than 20 minutes.

"We are pleased to offer our patients the most convenient and aesthetically pleasing tooth restoration crowns available today," said Dr. Benjamin. "Time is increasingly precious, and we recognize that most people don't see the dentist office as a favorite past time. Using the CEREC equipment we can provide a great looking smile to our patients in a single visit, letting them get back to the more important things in life."

CEREC is comprised of a digital infrared camera, a medical grade computer and a milling machine, all located on site at the Circle Pines Dental office. The system allows Drs. Benjamin, Husu and Stentz to repair a damaged tooth in about one hour using tooth-colored ceramic restorations. The camera takes an optical impression of the damaged tooth eliminating the need for cumbersome and uncomfortable impression molds, and uploads the image to the computer. Once in the system, the doctors use 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) software to design the restoration. Then the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) system takes over to automatically create the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, the new custom-crafted restoration is bonded to the remaining healthy tooth tissue of the damaged tooth.

Restorations created using CEREC technology offer dental patients a long-lasting, esthetic alternative to silver or plastic fillings, crowns and veneers. Better yet, the patient can receive this smile-altering care in a shorter period of time. Traditional approaches often required a return appointment after the patient waited for the restoration to be manufactured in a separate lab. On-site milling eliminates the wait. CEREC® restorations are as durable as traditionally fabricated restorations and are similar to patients' natural dentition in form and function.

"This equipment greatly enhances the efficiency, accuracy and visual appeal of the restorations we can provide," said Dr. Benjamin. "Patients will benefit from more timely and more comfortable care that puts them back on track quickly. We are optimistic that the availability of CEREC restorations will help some patients overcome their fears when they see how fast and painless the treatment process can be. We believe everyone should have access to their best smile, and CEREC will make that possible for more people."

CEREC has over two decades of clinical research and documentation to support the technology. The restorations have been proven precise, safe and effective, with more than eight million performed worldwide.