Dr. Ghazwan Ghazi

LEARN HOW INVISALIGN CAN WORK FOR YOU

Thursday, January 23rd
3 - 6 pm

Drs. Ali & Ali will be providing FREE consultations to answer your questions about Invisalign treatment, the clear way to straighten teeth. If you have wondered if Invisalign is right for you, make an appointment for this special event.

Down payment matching with dollar value up to $500
Complimentary teeth whitening - a $550 value
Financing options available

Space is limited to the first 10 appointments.

If you would like to schedule or have any questions please don't hesitate to call
(781)237-9071 or email smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com

Read more about Invisalign here!

Prevent Cavities with Fluoride Varnish

Growing up, children start to develop a sweet tooth and begin to dig in to various desserts and candies. While sweets may leave kids happy, their teeth may be battling the development of cavities. A great way to slow down or help cavities from getting bigger is to give a child fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that can be painted on a child’s teeth to keep cavities from forming. If a child already has cavities, no fear! Fluoride varnish can be painted over teeth with cavities to prevent them from worsening. This varnish can be painted on a child’s teeth one or two times per year. Researchers have deemed ...the application of fluoride varnish to be safe and accepted. While this resin-based varnish adheres to teeth, fluoride is ingested over a period of time as the varnish slowly comes off. While a fluoride varnish can help maintain good oral health, it is not a ticket out of visiting a dentist to receive routine check ups. When this varnish is applied, the child’s teeth may look yellow in color and be a bit sticky to the touch on the first day. No worries; the color and the stickiness will eventually disappear. After a coat of fluoride varnish is applied, children can drink water at any time. However, children should only eat soft foods for their next meal and they should try to avoid sticky foods for the remainder of the day. These foods can include chewing gum, gummy bears, toffee, etc. A fluoride varnish also allows children to have a free pass on brushing their teeth for the day; this is the only time children should not brush or clean their teeth until the following day.

Don't forget, fluoride varnishes are also recommended for adults!  If you have any more questions, feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com

Also, check out this AGD fact sheet!

References:

http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/fluoride-varnish

http://www.astdd.org/docs/Sept2007FINALFlvarnishpaper.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12137653

http://www.ada.org/sections/newsAndEvents/pdfs/fluoridation_facts.pdf

[caption id="attachment_5991" align="alignleft" width="614"] The Caring Team at Wellesley Dental Group[/caption]

Here at Wellesley Dental Group, we have built our team with a spirit of family and togetherness. Just this weekend, we joined together at the home of Drs. Ali and Ali and shared laughs, smiles and celebrations that come with the holidays. It is this warm sense of family that we have that we would like to share with you, our patients and our extended family. Through your support and trust, together, we have created the community that is Wellesley Dental Group!

We want to wish you all a very happy, warm, and beautiful Holiday Season!

From: The Caring Team at Wellesley Dental Group

26 million adults are known to be affected by diabetes. Statistics show that 1 out of 10 healthcare dollars are spent on diabetes. The link between periodontal disease and diabetes has been extensively studied over the past 50 years. There is strong evidence that diabetes is a risk factor for periodontitis and gingivitis. A study dating back to more than 30 years ago has already shown that children suffering from type 1 diabetes had a higher prevalence of gingival inflammation. Ervasti et al. examined patients with gingival bleeding and determined that there was greater amount of bleeding in patients with poorly controlled diabetes when compared to subjects that do not have diabetes and subjects with well-controlled diabetes. Research has also shown that types with type 2 diabetes also tend to have more gingival inflammation than the control group in the study.

Studies also show that the risk of developing periodontitis is increased when one has diabetes. Teenagers with type 1 diabetes have been found to be five times more likely to develop periodontitis. Research also supports the idea that there may be more bone loss linked to adults with diabetes. Subjects suffering from type 2 diabetes are three times more likely to develop periodontitis compared to subjects without diabetes.

Doctors were able to pinpoint the root cause of this relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease. There is a protein known as the c-reactive protein (CRP), which is found in the blood stream. CRP levels rise with inflammation of blood vessels, which has been linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Researchers have also shown that CRP is continuously produced in the presence of periodontal diseases. It is important to note that an individual cannot keep diabetes under control if he or she is also suffering from periodontal disease. It is absolutely crucial that diabetic patients maintain good oral health to keep CRP at bay.

Periodontal disease can affect your general health; read more here.

If you have any more questions, feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group; they will be happy to answer your questions! They can assess the risk of periodontal disease and if need be our periodontist, Dr. Ghazwan Ghazi, can help.Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment and consultation.

References:

Cianciola L, Park B, Bruck E, Mosovich L, Genco R. Prevalence of periodontal disease
in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (juvenile diabetes). JADA
1982;104(5):653-60.

Ervasti L, Knuuttila M, Pohjamo L, Haukipuro K. Relation between control of
diabetes and gingival bleeding. J Periodontol 1985;56(3):154-7.

http://www.diabetes.org/news-research/research/access-diabetes-research/greenfield-protein.html

http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/Perio_diabetes.pdf

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently revealed that one out of every two American adults aged 30 or older has periodontal disease! How shocking is that?

These findings are based off of information gathered by the CDC in their 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This survey aims to evaluate the health of both adults and children in the United States. This survey was unique because for the very first time, it examined the entire mouth for various stages of periodontal disease. It's important to note that gingivitis, the beginning stage of periodontal disease, was not examined.

Also, in earlier NHANES, only partial mouth exams were done. This would leave a large margin of error since not all teeth were checked for periodontal disease. This more than likely caused for underestimations in previous NHANES.

Pamela McClain, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and a practicing periodontist, said:

“This is the most accurate picture of periodontal disease in the U.S. adult population we have ever had. For the first time, we now have a precise measure of the prevalence of periodontal disease, and can better understand the true severity and extent of periodontal disease in our country. The AAP values its collaboration with CDC to better understand the burden of periodontal disease in Americans.”

There are also numerous curiousities worth noting, such as periodontal disease being more common in men than women and most prevalent in Mexican Americans. Smokers, those living below poverty level, and those with less than a high school diploma all boast high rates as well.

Drs. Ali & Ali take periodontal disease very seriously. During a hygiene appointment, each patient is thoroughly examined for signs and symptoms. If there is a problem developing, the patient is fully educated on the disease and what can be done to control it.

If you have questions on periodontal disease or another concern, please don't hesitate to contact us at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com!

Do you pin on Pinterest? If so, we want to pin with you!

Our Pinterest page is a great way for you to stay connected with what's going on in our office. It also features team photos and bios, services offered, office technology, and patient testimomials among other things.

Please visit our Pinterest page and pin with us today!

Did you know that we have an implantologist on our team? Dr. Ghazwan Ghazi graduated from Boston University School of Dentistry in 1992. He practiced as a general dentist in Boston from 1992 – 1994 and received his special training in periodontics and dental implants from The New Jersey Dental School along with his Master’s degree in 1997.

Dr. Ghazi has been on the faculty of Harvard School of Dental Medicine since 1998 where he teaches clinical periodontics and dental implants to the post-graduate residents. He has been practicing periodontics and dental implants in the Boston area since 1997. Dr. Ghazi is also a Diplomate of The American Board of Periodontology.

Contact us at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ghazi today!

1 in 2 American adults suffer with gingivitis though many are unaware they have it. Gingivitis or gum inflammation is caused by plaque (sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that forms on the tooth surface). If plaque is not removed (by daily brushing and flossing) it produces toxins that may irritate the gum tissue, inevitably causing gingivitis. If gingivitis is left untreated it can lead to periodontitis or gum disease.

What are the signs of gingivitis? Signs include: bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, receding gums, red or swollen gums, or loose teeth. Also, some may experience persistent bad breath. Prevent gingivitis by developing healthy oral habits, brush (twice a day) and floss (once a day). Avoid smoking; smoking makes it harder for the gums to self-repair. In addition, maintain a well balanced diet and try your best to reduce stress! This will help your immune system fight off infection.

Never ignore the signs! Report any concerns to your dentist!

We'd like to give a warm welcome to Wellesley Dental Group's new periodontist, Dr. Ghazwan Ghazi.

Dr. Ghazi graduated from Boston University School of Dentistry in 1992. He practiced as a general dentist in Boston from 1992 - 1994 and received his special training in Periodontics and dental implants from The New Jersey Dental School along with his Master's degree in 1997. Dr. Ghazi has been on the faculty of Harvard School of Dental Medicine since 1998 where he teaches clinical periodontics and dental implants to the post-graduate residents. Dr. Ghazi has been practicing periodontics and dental implants in the Boston area since 1997.

Dr. Ghazi is a Diplomate of The American Board of Periodontology.