Fantastic weather today! Plant a tree, perennial flower.....enjot the scent, the shade and help the world...YES it will bring a smile to your face!http://tinysong.com/xKx

We're on Facebook and Twitter now!

Hello everyone! It has been a long while since our last update! But we've been very busy helping everyone with their teeth!! Also, we've been updating somethings on the web, including our You tube channel (make sure you check out Aidan's rocking review...we love it when our young helpers just do great and yes...they tell us in their own wonderful way, how they did!)

We also started our pages on Facebook and Twitter so we can stay in contact with everyone in ways THEY like to stay in touch with us!!

We have also started a program that allows our patients to request appointments online, leave us their thoughts and reviews through a system called Demandforce, be sure to check it out! If you have something really nice to say about us please do not hesitate to leave us a review on Demandforce or on Google or Yahoo. And if there is anything that we can improve on just send Dr. Adel an e-mail directly!

That's all for now, we will start to get more fun stories and updates very soon! and as always, we appreciate all your support and sentiments! Do remember that we are here to build friendships with a SMILE!

www.NapervilleFamilyDentalCare.com

Be Courageous, Ask for help!

Words, speech, just formulating a sentence is something that we all take for granted. But for many children, even adults this simple developmental landmark is a struggle. I have to say that hearing the sentence: “ I want milk” choked me up because it took my son a very, very long time to even say that. As a parent, one worries about many things in the future but the NOW is sometimes left in the dust. But deep down he or she knows if something is not quite right. Denial sets in sometimes, then guilt(“have I not done something right?”) Being a health care professional, I can spot a “dental” problem from a mile away but I felt helpless (AND CLUELESS) about my son and ultimately, the reality is that seeking help was necessary! That’s what I did, because what really mattered was helping him!

My son used to hear 3 different languages at home and an additional one at school. A bit confusing! He absorbed the languages and understood them but did not know how to verbalize—how to really communicate !! He was miserable (usually hunched in a corner away from the rest of the kids) when I would go to pick him up from school, sometimes did not even want to get up to go there. My wife and I spoke with a Pediatric speech language pathologist named Taso (short for Anastasios) who did a very lengthy and thorough assessment first, then came back for a second session and discussed what the problems were and finally proposed his plan and how to implement it. Together, we came to the conclusion that we had to do many sessions to help my son.

I admit, many people like to have a solution for their problem today delivered to them YESTERDAY!!! Believe me, I see it everyday in my praactice! But, sometimes, if you want it solved right, you need some time and thorough planning… so, that’s what we did……. We appreciated the TIME Taso took to explain things. Make a long story short , and after MANY necessary sessions, my son now can communicate with everyone, LOVES going to school, has a SMILE on his face ( I personally LOVE that!)

and I was told today that he lead the CIRCLE TIME while singing( he loves “Head, Shoulders, knees and Toes” song!) And it was all possible because as parents, my wife and I took ACTION, understood the PROBLEM and we got GREAT help and care along the way.

How does this relate to teeth, you may ask? Well very simple: Many times we may feel like there are somethings that are not quite right(chipped teeth, broken fillings, bleeding gums—once in a while) but no real problems (i.e. pain, swelling) but serious problems maybe lurking under the ”surface” in a manner of speaking. We may be in denial, but certainly later the reality will set in (i.e. broken tooth beyond repair, infection, swelling, severe pain) and then it may be too late to correct the problems. We need to be educated about these things (i.e. seek professional help) and at least know for SURE that they’re all right(have an assessment) and if there are any problems, however small, at least have a plan of ACTION. As a professional, I do what I say, Educate my patients( truly, my guests) first! The rest is self explanatory. Here are my gift to you for reading this blog entry: (click on the links 1 and 2)

1. The Dental Disease Report:Myths and truths about dental health finally explained!

2. Consumers' Guide to Quality Care: The 10 Questions You MUST Ask BEFORE Choosing A Dentist!

I hope that you are never faced with any major problems (dental or otherwise!) but at least remember that asking for help is never a sign of weakness! In fact, it is very courageous.

By the way, if you have anyone who is faced with any speech problems or any other related issues I highly recommend Taso. He treated my son, myself and my wife with utmost respect and made a LIFELONG difference in my son’s future! Visit his website for wonderful information on wide variety of issues pertaining to speech & feeding therapy:

www.rightstartpediatrics.com

You can visit our website and related You tube Channel at:

www.NapervilleFamilyDentalCare.com

YouTube channel

A New, Fun Place to eat In Naperville!

It is not often that I write about food. Especially the So-called unhealthy food! But, Once in a blue moon, the family and I get the urge to eat the greasy stuff. Well, today we tried a new place in Naperville called Meatheads Burgers.

At first I was skeptical because, let's face it I have a 3 and half year old and a 7 month old and eating out sometimes can be a challenge! The atmosphere of the restaurant/burger joint was fantastic, very open several booths to accommodate people with kids, fairly comfortable cushioned chairs for those of us who have lower back problems! And the decor was more modern so it appeals to the younger crowd who are into their WiFi gadgets. I admit, I am fast becoming one those techies myself! But I digress!

My wife and I ordered the burgers(and you can add many different topings to them, plenty of choices) my son got the grilled cheese and strawberry milkshake(he seems to only be in the grilled cheese phase right now!) but I also tried the NEW ENGLAND style hot dog.......and I know what people would say, " Hey, Doc, you live in Chicago, how dare you not stick with the good old Chicago style???" I will say this, I LOVE my Chicago style dog better than the next guy but this Hot Dog(New England)....(I had to take a picture of!) was fantastic... It was not just the "Dog" and what I asked to get piled on, but the BUN.....It was a toasted, fresh bun unlike any bun I have ever tasted before!

What really impressed me the most about this place was that the owner/manager walked up to us when we got seated and asked us if we needed anything and how the food was. He also, engaged the kids and answered the questions. But he wanted to know if there was anything he could do BETTER, either the food itself or the experience. The menu was simple but great! He even said that they do a few things but they do it well. He delivered on that line and some!

To draw a parallel, I believe in health care many of these fine points are missed. That is why I have always strived to follow up with my patients, whether it is just calling them after a long appointment to see how they’re doing, or just dropping them a note to day “thank you” for participating in improving their own oral health and finishing their treatment, or appreciating their efforts to refer their friends or family or co-workers to my practice. Even sometimes sending them anonymous surveys so they can let us know if we are doing something right or things we can improve on! After all, I am (with my team) here to build friendships and relationships with a smile.

Back to the food, I would recommend this place if you have the URGE to try something greasy(maybe once in a few months!) As long as I know that I can burn off the grease before it sticks to my bun!

On a dental note, I did have to floss afterwards because no matter how good it tasted ... it was not meant to be stuck to my teeth! And as many of patients know my infamous quote: "In the battle between the germs and Dr. Adel, I WIN!"

Have a wonderful time. And if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at our office at (630)369-8950, visit our website at:

www.NapervilleFamilyDentalCare.com

or checkout our:

YouTube channel

"We're not just creating smiles, we're building friendships WITH a smile!" TM

Single tooth anesthesia STA

Today, I would like to write about a revolutionary technique in dentistry called STA (single tooth anesthesia) It is quite simply the best technique to "numb" a tooth without the prolonged profound/annoying collateral numbness of the tongue and lips. Majority of the patients who have the experience with this technique report feeling 0.5 or 2 on a scale of 1(no discomfort) to 10(horrible pain)

The technology is brilliant: One, it is delivered via a pen-like device rather than those old bulky and large metallic dental syringes(definitely less threatening!) Two, the anesthetic is delivered much like dripping liquid with an eyedropper.
You may ask why is that important, doctor!
My response is, "Well, I am glad you asked!"
Here is the simple explanation:
What hurts is NOT the needle, let me repeat IT'S NOT THE NEEDLE! With proper technique and use of topical anesthetics most patients don't even notice the needle. But, it has all to do with how fast the anesthetic liquid enters the site where it is administered. The faster it is given the more liquid builds up inside the tissues and the pressure causes pain and yes, it hurts hence feeling like a "SHOT"! If I had a dime for every time a patient or even Doctors used that awful word "SHOT"... I'd be a millionaire and I would donate it all to a society to help make patients more comfortable! back to the explanation: the STA drips the anesthetic onto the site at such a slow rate that it goes below the radar, below the threshold at which patients feel pain. Also , it is administered directly onto the side of the tooth needing treatment(close to where floss usually goes in between the teeth) so just that tooth is anesthetized and the onset is almost instantaneous which means no waiting for it to work and more importantly no droopy lip.

Now, this technique may not be suitable for patients who require treatments on multiple teeth and require much longer appointments since the anesthesia with STA lasts about an hour but it is a wonderful adjunct in cases where the conventional technique is used and profound anesthesia is still not achieved ( in cases of very painful teeth with deep cavities, etc.)

Also, in a very small percentage of cases the duration of anesthesia is less and that is purely dependent on the individual since after all w are administering a drug... and drugs affect different people differently.

Local anesthetics are not the tastiest materials in dentistry so once in a while if a drop or two of this anesthetics gets on the tongue it can be annoying but the benefits always outweigh the minor nuisance, looking at the big picture!

I hope this has been informative. You may check out our Youtube channel to hear from one of our wonderful patients who had some work done recently using this technique. Needless to say that she was happy and smiling after wards. And, I can say that truly seeing that smile made our day!

"We're not just creating smiles, we're building friendships WITH a smile!" TM

What you should ask your Dentist

As Dentists, we do a wide range of things, from relieving pain, to removing teeth, to assisting patients in achieving the whiter, brighter, more beautiful smiles that they’ve always wanted. and the self confidence they deserve. Some dentists specialize in helping people with getting stronger, more reliable teeth with procedures like placing crowns and bridges, some specialize in straightening teeth with braces which can take a couple years and some dentists specialize in assisting people in getting straighter teeth quickly and easily with a number of other, more cosmetic, treatment options.

So what should you ask a dentist BEFORE agreeing to care? Let’s review these issues now:

Prior to care, a dentist should ask detailed questions about your past and present dental health, and order x-rays or other tests when necessary.

Whether you go to see the dentist for basic dental care or for cosmetic improvements, he or she should be looking for potential problems, such as cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, cracked teeth, weakened and oversized fillings, as well as ways to improve the strength, health, and appearance of your teeth and smile. Then he or she will come up with a diagnosis and a Recommended Action Plan. So for starters…

Do NOT agree to get care from any dentist that does not first provide you with a very clear explanation of:

1. What is causing or contributing to your problem, and have him/her show you (Images taken by a digital Camera and digital xrays are always helpful)
2. A Recommended Action Plan that details what specific care is needed…and why. And what is to be done to prevent this problem from recurring.
3. An estimate of the costs involved to prevent #1 and achieve #2.

Unfortunately, there are a small number of doctors, including Dentists who treat every patient pretty much the same, regardless of their condition.

As you would expect, there’s a lot the doctor must know before you can decide what care is best for you, in your specific situation. He or she will want to know if your problem is caused, or aggravated by anything such as a broken tooth, missing tooth, or some structural problem. Or…is it a simple problem that can be resolved within a reasonable period of time?

Here’s what you should know:

GO TO THIS LINK

and get our free report on the

10 questions you must ask before choosing a dentist.

Happy reading and remember:

"We're not just creating smiles, we're building friendships WITH a smile!" TM\

P.S. Check out our new YouTube channel for updated videos of our patients and also future instructional and informational videos to increase your DENTAL IQ!!!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Hollywood and The View star speaks out about Bone loss

Here is the reason why we educate all of our patients about two major oral diseases: tooth decay and Periodontal disease ....... goes to show that preventive care WILL avert major emergencies!!

Comedienne WHOOPI GOLDBERG has urged U.S. TV audiences to take their dental health more seriously - after discovering she may lose her two front teeth during a recent check-up.
Goldberg was forced to miss an episode of The View - the talk show she co-hosts - on Wednesday (22Oct08) after root canal surgery left her in pain and her face badly swollen.
And the 52-year-old reveals she was shocked to hear her poor dental hygiene may leave her with a set of false front teeth.
She says, "I had emergency surgery. People don't pay attention to it... we think we know you've got to take care of your teeth... I neglected them and I discovered I had so much bone loss that I'm probably going to be losing my two front teeth.

for more information about ways to prevent problems visit our website:

CLICK HERE

and remember:

"We're not just creating smiles, we're building friendships WITH a smile!" TM