Media & Press

Embarrassed To Smile?

Your smile is the gateway to your inner health and confidence, and is your passport to a positive and powerful connection with your environment.  Sadly, though, eighty percent of us suffer from some level of malocclusion or crowding that not only leaves us embarrassed to bear our teeth, but often results in gum disease, decay, bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss.  Once affected, these dental ailments will all prove to be both uncomfortable and costly.  They can even have devastating ramifications for your overall health and wellbeing, contributing to a greater risk of systemic infection, heart disease, diabetes, low birth weight, and more.

Beyond the immediate health benefits of straighter teeth, it is statistically proven that those who smile more feel better about their lives and circumstances.  That’s because smiling releases chemicals in the brain triggering a “Happiness Response” which, in turn, helps to boost the immune system to better perform and protect us from harm.

Most adults, however, don’t think straightening their teeth is a viable option.  Well, think again! Modern advancements in technology have made it possible for you to attain the straight, healthy teeth without anyone knowing. Unlike the unsightly, uncomfortable bands and wires of traditional braces, advanced Invisalign^® technology employs clear, comfortable, and removable aligners to gently and efficiently, straighten your teeth (often in nearly half the time of traditional treatment!).

Don’t hide your inner health, beauty and confidence behind pursed lips. At the Spodak Dental Group we understand and appreciate the empowering properties and healthful benefits of beautiful, straight teeth.  Dr. Craig Spodak is up to date in the latest training with Invisalign®. In fact, our practice has delivered so many successful Invisalign^® cases that we are now one of the few offices in South Florida to have been honored with “2010 Preferred Provider” status.

As motivational author and speaker Les Giblin has so aptly said, “If you’re not using your smile, you’re like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no check book.”  Let us help you tap into your inner health, beauty, and potential. Now through June 30, 2010, you can enjoy all the benefits of an Invisalign® smile for as little as $2600!

Call us today at 561-498-0050 for a complimentary consultation.

PATIENT Susan Kupferman

A former New York model, Susan Kupferman could light up a room with her smile. However, as time wore on, she became more selfconscious about the appearance of her teeth.

“I smiled a lot until I hit 60,” Kupferman says. “My teeth weren’t that bad, but they just weren’t up to par. I wanted prettier and whiter teeth to recapture that confidence that comes with a good smile.”

Kupferman consulted her dentist, Dr. Craig Spodak of Delray Beach, who recommended porcelain veneers, bonded to her upper teeth, in an effort to remove signs of wear—including a chipped tooth—and revitalize her smile.

“Teeth break down over the years,” Dr. Spodak says. “They can get darker and more crowded as time goes on.”

Through the use of porcelain veneers, Dr. Jerome Vitale—a dentist with the Spodak Dental Group and one of the area’s only sustaining members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry—was able to help Kupferman regain the smile she had when she was younger.

Also working closely with Kupferman was the office dental technician, Freddy Batista, who works in the in-house porcelain lab.

“We’re one of the only dental practices in the nation that has our own ceramic lab,” Dr. Spodak says.

As a result, Kupferman was able to work directly with Batista to ensure the veneers were just right.

“Now everyone notices my teeth,” she says. “They always tell me I have such a great smile.”

And You Thought Chinese Drywall Was Scary!

How about Chinese Crowns In Your Mouth?

China? India? Mexico? Do you know where your dental work was made? With the globalization of the manufacturing industry, outsourcing of dental restorations (crowns, bridges, implants, etc.) has increasingly become the norm.

Limited outsourcing began in the ‘80s, but demand (driven by cheap materials and even cheaper labor) has pushed more and more business offshore.

At the Spodak Dental Group, they believe their patients have a right to know exactly what’s in their mouths … drop by to see for yourself how the master ceramists in their on-site lab can help you attain your safest and best results.

Many dentists, hoping to increase their profit margins, are now dealing directly with foreign laboratories. Others are sending the prescription for your dental work to cut-rate US dental labs where it may be manufactured using inferior foreign materials, or even sent in its entirety to a foreign lab for fabrication. Unfortunately, due to inadequate labeling requirements, you may be left completely in the dark regarding the origin, safety, and quality of the crown that’s in your mouth … until something goes wrong.

“Labeling requirements are anything but crystal clear,” says Dr. Gordon Isbell, III of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. “Since every treating dentist has a responsibility for every aspect of the care their patients receive, it’s imperative that … the dentist knows that the quality and materials are exactly what was expected. That means knowing both who will make a device as well as where it will be made.”*

With some 5 to 10 million restorations being manufactured offshore, there is no surprise that concern for the quality and craftsmanship of this work is steadily growing. Following a recent lead scare, the American Association of Dental Laboratories was prompted to launch a consumer information website (www.whatsinyourmouth.us) to address the alarm. Even the American Dental Association has weighed in on the debate, soliciting the input of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) and the FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) in assessing any potential health threat. Trace amounts of lead were indeed detected. While the CDC determined at the time that there was no clear threat to patients, ADA President Mark Feldman, DMD, stated, “We are still conducting our own test of dental prostheses and will take the CDC up on its offer to evaluate the results.”**

At the Spodak Dental Group, they believe their patients have a right to know exactly what’s in their mouths. They are proud to be one of the only dental practices in the nation to house their own on-site dental laboratory for the fabrication of all their restorative dental work. Using only the best quality materials, their master ceramic artists work directly with the doctors and their patients to customize each case to exacting specifications. Incomparable quality control ensures the highest level of safety, function, and aesthetics.

Don’t second guess your health. You don’t want Chinese drywall in your home, and you don’t want Chinese crowns in your mouth. Call the Spodak Dental Group at 561-498-0050, visit them on the web at www.spodakdental.com, or drop by to see for yourself how the master ceramists in their on-site lab can help you attain your safest and best results.

*Source: ADA News Today, May 19, 2006.

**Source: ADA press release, April 29, 2008.

Dealing with Dental Fear: There’s aid for the anxious.

Do you suffer from fear of the dentist? You’re not alone! As many as 40 million Americans share your fear, with some 4 to 8 million so fearful that they avoid dental visits all together. Sadly, avoiding the dentist leads to declining oral health, spawning even greater fear and anxiety. Thus the vicious cycle of anxiety and avoidance perpetuates.

Helping patients hurdle the obstacle of their fear should be the priority of every practice.

The types of fear can range from minor anxiety to various forms of psychiatric disorders such as Dentophobia (an inordinate fear of dental treatment), Aichmophobia (a pathological fear of all sharp objects), or Trypanophobia (an extreme or irrational fear of needles). For others, their fear may be triggered by the sights, sounds, or smells of the dental office or the confines of the dental chair.

Regardless of fear’s form or ferocity, it’s not enough to say, “Get over it!” According to the Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson, William Kuttler, DDS, FAGD, “Today’s dentists recognize dental anxiety is a real condition.” Helping patients hurdle the obstacle of their fear should be the priority of every practice.

Through the skilled use of sedation, dentists can manage their patients’ fear and their pain. For many, local anesthesia may be all that’s needed to achieve a calm and pain-free experience. For others, with mild to moderate anxiety, oral sedation or nitrous oxide (a.k.a., giggle gas) can be used for relaxation.

Those with heightened anxiety can benefit from conscious IV sedation. Unlike oral medications, conscious IV sedation affords the dentist the ability to control the degree of sedation throughout the procedure, as needed, to ensure the patient’s optimal comfort and ease. The administration of IV sedation requires special training and certification. Placing your care in the hands of a fully-qualified practitioner will both bolster your confidence and quell your anxiety.

Finally, for patients with extreme anxiety, or those facing complex or lengthy procedures, IV sleep sedation is a wonderful option. Genuine Sleep Dentistry is both fully tranquillizing and fully amnesiac. Until now, though, most patients have had to bear the exorbitant cost and inconvenience (not to mention the added stress) of hospitalization in order to safely take advantage of its benefits … but no longer!

Wholeheartedly committed to your calm, comfort and safety, the Spodak Dental Group is one of the only practices in the nation to be partnered with a board certified, MD anesthesiologist to oversee the medical well-being of each patient undergoing sleep sedation procedures—all in the comfort and convenience of their fully equipped, state-of-the art surgical suite. What’s more, with their comprehensive team approach to dentistry, their patients enjoy the added benefit of having their general dentist and all relevant specialists on site, working together to accomplish their necessary treatment in one consolidated visit.

Don’t let fear stop you from receiving the quality, comprehensive dental care you deserve. Call 561-498-0050 to schedule a complimentary consultation, or visit them on the web at www. spodakdental.com to inquire about how they can help you conquer your fear and realize your optimal dental health.

Serving the community since 1976, the Spodak Dental Group is pioneering an unprecedented team approach to dentistry by assembling the finest dental and medical professionals, from all disciplines of the field, under one roof. No more hopping from one specialist to another—they conveniently offer a full range of dental services at their all-inclusive facility. Dedicated to both quality and continuity of care, their entire team embraces the ideal of comprehensive dentistry—harmonizing science, technology, and artistry to achieve optimal dental health, function and beauty.

From left to right:
Dr. Myels Spodak, Dr. Craig Spodak, Dr. Tiffany Peterson, Dr. Jerome Vitale

Their patients come to them for everything from cleaning, whitening, simple fillings and extractions, to implants, Invisalign ®, complete smile enhancement, and full-mouth reconstruction. Their eminently qualified staff of dental and medical professionals includes general and cosmetic dentists, as well as a team of periodontal, oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Among them, their credentials include board certifications in oral, plastic and craniofacial surgery. And now the practice is one of the only in the country to be partnered with a board certified MD anesthesiologist to oversee the medical well-being of each patient undergoing IV Sleep Dentistry.

Concerned for your well being and for that of the environment, they are sparing no effort in the cause of advancing eco-friendly dentistry. The newest addition to their “go green” initiative has been the installation of a state-of-theart advanced digital scanning system. The new system takes the diagnostic efficacy of dental imaging to a whole new level of safety, precision, and comfort. It eliminates the use of toxic developing chemicals while delivering a fraction of the radiation of traditional x-rays.

To ensure that you attain the finest restorative results possible, the practice houses one of the nation’s only on-site dental laboratories. Their master ceramists work to artistically replicate and enhance the natural beauty and optimal function of your teeth. Coming chair-side to personally assess your case, they are able to customize your restoration based on actual knowledge of both your present and desired appearance (an advantage impossible to attain with an off-site laboratory).

Spodak Dental Group is located at 4665 West Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

For more information, call 561-498-0050, or visit www.spodakdental.com.