Last week I was visited by one of my patients who shared with me her career and life story. I was so impressed, I was compelled to write this short article and share her inspiring story with you.

Lela Shaw, native of Winnsboro, Texas, attended Emmett J. Scott High School in Tyler, Texas and continued her education at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. She graduated from TSU in 1962 with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics.  Before graduation, she took several work opportunities. The first was with St. Elizabeth Hospital, where she worked as an Admitting Clerk from 1961-1963. Here, she spent her time helping patients by admitting them into the hospital and emergency room for service and treatment.

The second work opportunity she accepted was with the United States Postal Service. She continued her civil service with them for the next 17 years. During this time Ms. Shaw continued her pursuit of self-empowerment by acquiring a Real Estate Sales License in her spare time.

Ms. Shaw established J&L Diversified Business Service in 1978 (incorporated in 1983), which has grown over time and continues to operate today.  Between 1982 and 1986, Ms. Shaw continued her pursuit of success by acquiring licenses and certifications as a Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Appraiser, and Real Estate Inspector. Ms. Shaw began performing her ongoing contract appraisal work for the The Federal Housing Administration and various mortgage companies, gaining much experience from various ventures involving “Multi-Level Marketing” businesses and rental property management.

In 1999, Ms. Shaw became interested in the game of golf, and soon found herself working with the game she grew to love, becoming a part-time Golf Marshal at the Gus Wortham Golf Course in Houston, Texas.

Before long, Ms. Shaw began contemplating a career change, with her focus shifting to fitness, health, and mental well being.  With revived inspiration, Ms. Shaw enrolled into Ashford University’s online College in pursuit of becoming a sports psychologist with an emphasis on golf.  With strong resolve, Ms. Shaw changed her major to psychology and acquired a Bachelors of Arts Degree, December 7, 2009 at the age of 69!

Over the years, Ms. Shaw has been on a continuous spiritual quest to find truth in spirituality and religion. Some of her studies and experiences include: Johrei (Japanese Healing Art), Shaman Retreat, Qigong, Kabbalah, Zohar, Fire Walking. Having a diverse exposure and education in various religious backgrounds has allowed Ms. Shaw to further develop her own beliefs. She has also formulated a deep respect, understanding, and acceptance of the many venues available for spiritual healing.

Spiritual healing, as Ms. Shaw explained to me, is not confined to religious practice. Golf for example, can be a very healthy spiritual game. Taking the time to enjoy nature, putting aside your troubles and stress, and finding the serenity and peace of mind to help you focus your thoughts are all part of the game of golf; and excellent ways of improving spiritual health.

I find Ms. Shaw’s story to be extremely inspirational. Her hard work, dedication to education and self-empowerment, and dedication to spiritual improvement are qualities I wish I found in all people around me. I am proud to call Ms. Shaw my friend, and I hope that people see her example as proof that it is never too late to continue the pursuit of education.

The chief instructor Dr. Rousson is a professor at Harvard University and was accompanied by Amy, the course coordinator and Dr. Chiara, a clinician and lecturer on Oral Implantology. He and Mr. Gonzales, the implant company‘s representative, who also is an executive clinical assistant, doubled as our course interpreters.  As Dr. Chiara is fluent in Spanish and has lived in the D.R., and Mr. Gonzales is quite knowledgeable, we were able to communicate with our assistants and patients in a manner that was professional, efficient and effective.  Amy saw to it that patients were respected and that the course attendants received Cart Blanche accommodations.  Dr. Rousson made sure we treated each patient in an exquisite fashion and although very complicated at the beginning of each day, the surgical procedures became easier to perform as the day progressed.

Dr. Rousson and I had met previously at the Megagen Symposium in Seoul, Korea the year before. When I received notice that he was hosting the International Institute of Oral Implantology in the Dominican Republic, I had to sign up.  I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn surgical skills from one of the best.  I had no doubt that learning from him would be beneficial, and after touring the teaching facility I was  assured this would be a great experience.

Dr. M Diaz is one of the country’s chief Examiners and owner of one of the finest offices I have seen.  The two-story, 15,000 sq. ft. building houses numerous operatorys, the latest equipment, and is staffed primarily by young enthusiastic dentists.  As it turns out, in the D.R. (like many European countries) after graduating high school, candidates can test and apply to Dental School.  Between the décor, the design of the clinic and the attending doctors, although I was exhausted at the end of each day, I did not want to leave.

Over the four days I spent working alongside of a great team of instructors providing voluntary services at no charge to patients who otherwise could not afford it was rewarding.  The learning experience has been tremendous and I am proud to have been there.   We helped a lot of people!

– Zeb F. Poindexter III, DDS

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It’s MLK Day 2012 and I and my wife are returning from the Dominican Republic. Over the past three days I have been operating on natives of the D.R. and refining my surgical skills, while rendering services at no charge to people who desperately need treatment. Treating the Dominicans has been a mutually beneficial experience and the opportunity has truly been a blessing.

Returning home through Miami International Airport I observed people of all racial ethnicities, ages, and walks of life, busy on their mobile devices and engaged in conversation. I witnessed no obvious racial divides or looks of disgust or apprehension…just many people co-existing with many purposes. I know in my heart Dr. King is pleased and he can rest assured that his life’s work has not been in vain.

As I looked over the room of travelers, I realized that these are the people with the means and money to afford exposure and the opportunity to embrace MLK’s dream. Even now I am a bit taken aback by the whole thing. As a product of the 1950s and 1960s, and the civil rights struggle under which many people of color sacrificed, I cannot help but feel a sense of reserved elation. The battle for racial/human equality has been long, arduous, and will require the continued collective efforts of communities, individuals, and social entities in order to bring to fruition the dream which Dr. King envisioned. I encourage everyone to continue the promotion of Dr. King’s message of peace and equality in hopes that society develops the right moral formation, and also so that our children’s children do not forget the sacrifices of their forefathers.

Happy MLK Day to everyone!

Zeb F Poindexter III, DDS

Because Poindexter Dental is interested in what is the best option for you, before you make a purchase, we suggest you do the following:

1. Read and discuss with your HR/benefits coordinator the benefits offered in your policy. Get an understanding of what treatments and procedures may not be covered under your policy (if a procedure is covered, it may not be paid for at the amount you initially agreed to if the insurance company can pay an alternate benefit). I have found in most cases that the monthly premiums paid to the insurance company could have been used to pay for needed preventive and restorative treatment; in addition saving the patient time and money.

2. Understand your yearly deductible and how it applies to benefit categories (i.e. preventative, basic and major).

3. Ask your benefits coordinator if there is a missing tooth clause in the contract. Under medical insurance policies, the term pre-existing condition pertains to an exclusion of benefits for certain illnesses and is treated relatively the same under a dental policy (the insurance will not cover certain conditions that were present before you bought the policy).

4. Find out about your waiting period. Some policies may not have a clause for extending coverage for basic or major procedures until after a certain period of time. After initial enrollment, benefits are not payable in some instances until 3, 6, or 12 months of premiums have been paid.

5. Find out if you are electing a DMO (Dental Maintenance Organization), HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), or a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). Keep in mind that whatever plan you elect from this policy type has a certain pre-selected network of dentists. Other dental offices may be outside of the network, giving the insurance company the choice to not pay the full amount of benefits due to you. However, if there is a dentist you prefer to visit, make sure your doctor is within the network (this is the only way we can continue to accept patients’ insurance for services which would otherwise be left uncovered).

The best insurance policy is the one that offers you the option of choosing your own dentist. This is known as a Traditional Policy. It is wise to have a consultation with your dentist first to get a comprehensive plan (fee range is $100-200 at most offices). Then consult with your benefits coordinator at work or the insurance carrier what policies are being offered.

Your employer’s human resource and benefits coordinators office should be able to assist you with your policy questions. For additional resource, contact the dental office of your choice to ask what insurance they accept.

When utilizing your insurance at our office, we need for you to fight for your benefits, especially when insurance companies want to deny coverage.

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email: info@poindexterdental.com

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Having returned from the Christmas Holiday, I received an article that was written and posted on yahoo news about the dangers of wisdom tooth surgery.

This news article would lead readers to believe that wisdom tooth removal is too risky, dangerous, and unnecessary. I am writing to tell you that this article is wrong.  It points to two cases, citing accidental deaths which occurred during wisdom tooth surgery. Building an argument based on two isolated cases is ludicrous in my opinion, as it disregards millions of other successful cases in which the patients’ health was greatly improved.

As the article mentions, wisdom teeth are thought to have evolved for catching, killing and eating uncooked prey. With the passing of time, evolution, and technology, the necessity to consume uncooked food has become somewhat obsolete. Our facial structures have also changed due to evolution and interracial breeding, and modern humans have evolved to a point where wisdom teeth many times do more harm than good. Thus, rather than developing for functional use, wisdom teeth tend to become impacted (grow in sideways).

“If left in the mouth, impacted wisdom teeth may damage neighboring teeth and nerves, or become infected, possibly inviting systemic infections and disease as the bacteria travel through the bloodstream from your mouth to other organs of your body.”

– American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Website

As with any surgery, the success rate depends largely upon the skill of the surgeon. The two fatal cases referred to by the Yahoo article may be due to negligence and poor judgment. The incidents did not occur because wisdom tooth surgery is too risky, but possibly because the providers did not recognize the potential problems.

While controversy continues to exist about the necessity of taking out wisdom teeth, no one is talking about the pre-mature development that I have witnessed in increasing fashion in pre-adolescents and adolescents. Unofficially documented, these young people are developing malocclusions (ill-fitting teeth) and suffering from headache and facial pain which often affects social and physiological behavior. Embarrassment over the aesthetic appearance of one’s smile can cause a person to become socially reclusive; and chronic pain can affect a number of things including a person’s stress level, blood pressure psychological state (increased anger), and interpersonal relationships.

My experience and expertise over the years render me a firm advocate of early removal of wisdom teeth. Under proper medical supervision, this necessary surgery has an extremely high success rate, and it provides many benefits which greatly outweigh the potential risks.

– Zeb F. Poindexter III, DDS

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The main objective of these new provider models was to increase access to dental care in underserved communities. The problem is maintaining optimal standards of care and safety to the public. Alternative dental providers have limited training and knowledge, and often are unable to properly diagnose and treat patient needs. More often than not, patients are eventually referred to a dentist for treatment leading to a higher overall cost.

I wrote Congress in November 2011 expressing my concerns on the growing popularity of alternative dental providers. At a time when public healthcare is under such tremendous scrutiny, it is good to see that our President is responding by taking the proper steps to rear in costs, support physicians, ensure quality care, and simplify the process for the patients.

Here is a letter that I recently received from the American Dental Association (ADA). It reads:

Dear Zeb,

We recently sent you an action alert regarding funding for alternate dental provider demonstration projects. Because of your tremendous response to this alert, we can happily report that there will be NO federal funding for these projects in 2012.

William R. Calnon, D.D.S.
President

Thank you again to our Congress and to President Obama for listening to the concerns of the medical community and for taking the appropriate response in ensuring that our great country continues to be a leader in quality health care.

– Zeb F. Poindexter III, DDS

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As of November 23, 2011 MegaGen USA received FDA approval for the sale of their AnyRidge Implant System.

Last year, when I was in Korea, this system was in the experimental stage. For it to receive FDA approval so quickly is an example of the technological expertise and quality control process at MegaGen (Korea). There are many implant systems are on the market that claim to offer immediate load stability. I have researched and found that MegaGen is of the rare few that meet all of my standards and requirements.

At Poindexter Dental our healthcare professionals are always ahead of the curve the on latest oral healthcare trends, technology and discoveries. Doing so ensures that we have the knowledge, expertise and technical skill to provide our patients with the best quality care possible.

Zeb F. Poindexter III, DDS

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Mouth sores can be unsightly and very painful for a lot of patients. For years dentistry and medicine have tried to provide a remedy for the unexplained pain some patients experience on a periodic basis. Many times these sores are onset by physical or emotional stress. Stress is still a largely unexplained phenomenon which often manifests into physical ailments.

Stress is the root cause for a large portion of issues leading to disease, whether it be psychological, physiological, or some contributor of both. The rising number of stress related illnesses over the past decade is alarming. In 2011, I diagnosed more causes of illness attributed stress than any previous year in my 27 years of practice.

Recently, I treated a patient with a serious painful condition on the roof of her mouth. After an examination and brief questioning, I was able to conclude that the young lady suffered from a condition called Herpetic Gingivostomatitis. Symptoms of this disease include sores on the cheek or gums, pain to touch, and halitosis (bad breath). As with most viruses of this type, symptoms may be exacerbated by physical or emotional stress. In this particular case, the young lady suffered from both forms of stress.

Her infection occurred as a result of, stress coupled with inflammation (she was being treated for chronic periodontitis), and possibly nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B-complex). The pain caused her to not eat properly, and other effects of her condition forced her to be anti-social. This led to loss of productivity from absence at work. Her conditions were causing a downward social spiral which was exacerbating the existing stressful conditions in her life.

After trying several topical and systemic remedies that did not work, I decided to employ laser therapy. Laser therapy is recommended treatment for a variety of soft tissue conditions (i.e. apthus ulcers and cold sores). By using laser therapy, we could focus energy particles to oblate or deaden the nerve endings and offer the patient some relief from pain and discomfort. Applying the laser therapy in swift fashion, I passed over her ulcers with a low penetration setting (low intensity laser), and asked the patient to press her tongue over the affected areas of the inner mouth and swallow. With each passing of the laser, her pain lessened until she was able to finally swallow without soreness or pain. From a physician’s standpoint, it is wonderful relieving a patient of a very painful condition with out drugs, shots, or chemicals.

Though the complete mechanisms of action are not entirely understood, laser therapy is a recognized, documented, improving and vital new technology that will help carry many practices through the 21^st century.

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For further information regarding laser therapy, call our office 713.734.7611 or email us: info@poindexterdental.com

Maintaining good oral hygiene is very important for people with diabetes. Diabetes can directly lead to tooth loss. Rarely are patients properly educated the risk of losing their teeth.

Diabetes increases the risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease may lead to painful chewing problems because of the damage caused to the gum and bone holding the teeth in place. Without proper maintenance gum disease not only damages the bone and gum, but also increases gum gap space which also contributes to tooth loss. Maintaining good oral hygiene helps you keep your teeth, stave off periodontal disease, and avoid painful procedures such as root canals.

Other problems related to diabetes include dry mouth and an oral fungal infection called thrush. Low saliva production coupled with increased glucose in the saliva can lead to thrush. Symptoms of thrush are painful white patches in the mouth.

You can avoid these problems by maintaining good oral hygiene through preventive care. By controlling your blood glucose, brushing and flossing everyday, and making regular visits to your dentist, you can maker sure that you diabetes does not take control of your oral health.

Tips for maintaining good oral health with diabetes:

• Control your blood glucose
• Brush and floss everyday
• Visit your dentist for regular checkups every 3-6 months
• Tell your dentist if your dentures do not fit right or if your gums are sore
• Quit smoking

• Different types of dental stains
• Most effective way to remove those stains
• Different types of peroxide used
• Proper maintenance

There are many factors that lead to tooth staining. Smoking, ingestion of dark colored liquids (i.e. coffee, tea, and wine) and food (i.e. berries, curry, marinara sauce) all contribute to the staining of teeth.

There are two types of tooth staining: extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic stains can be removed from the outer tooth surface by physically polishing them off. This can be done at home with the assistance of whitening toothpastes. Whitening toothpastes typically have particles of silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, or calcium phosphate. These particles scrub off stains (as well as some enamel coating). While whitening toothpastes are generally safe for daily use, excess use may damage the enamel. To ensure a safe, harmless whitening process, it is recommended that patients visit their local dentist in order to remove extrinsic stains. In time, extrinsic stains may eventually develop into intrinsic stains.

Intrinsic stains are found within the enamel of the tooth and cannot be removed by polishing. Intrinsic stains are a result of the dentine being exposed and the stains being trapped in the tubules of the enamel. The best way to remove intrinsic stains is through certain treatments that can be done at home or through professional care at the dental office. This treatment involves an oxidizing agent (knows as peroxide), which penetrates the crystalline structure of the enamel and oxidizes the stains trapped within. This oxidation process is what whitens the tooth. The level of whiteness achieved may be due to the type of peroxide used. Common side effects of tooth whitening include mild sensitivity (due to the weakened enamel) and local soft tissue irritation. Bleaching is not recommended for children under the age of 16, because the nerve of the tooth remains enlarged until this age.

The most common bleaching chemicals used in removing intrinsic stains are based on hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. There is a typical ration of 3:1 between these two compounds. This means that 6% of hydrogen peroxide is equal to 18% of carbamide peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a stronger, faster acting agent, and so it is usually recommended only for professional use. Carbamide peroxide has to break down into hydrogen peroxide and urea before it can begin to whiten teeth. This breakdown adds an extra step to the bleaching process, and thus is the cause of the longer treatment time.

During the whitening process the pores of the teeth are open and vulnerable to stains. High fluoride content toothpaste should be used after treatment over a few days to help seal the pores. Allow the pores to seal completely before introducing staining agents. White teeth can be maintained by brushing or rinsing with a fluoride (low abrasive) toothpaste. Effects of bleaching may last for months; however, it varies depending on the patient’s lifestyle.

Patients should rest assured that tooth whitening is safe and effective, and you are encouraged to always consult with your doctor or dentist before beginning a treatment regiment.

If you have any questions on oral health, or wish to schedule an appointment, call our office: 713.734.7611, or visit us on the web: www.poindexterdental.com