Long Island Cosmetic Dentist Valley Stream

Just One More Day Left!

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:47:40 +0000

Attention readers and fellow bloggers: There’s just one day left to enter to win a dinner cruise around the greatest city in the world. Tell your friends about Advanced DDS and enter to win this once in a lifetime offer.

Click Here to find out more: http://www.facebook.com/events/317622434940411/

Here’s a recent press release from the American Dental Association

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:41:02 +0000

Fluoride in water? Sure, I’ll have some…

http://ada.org/news/7031.aspx

Thank you all so far, but there’s still time!

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:47:37 +0000

Our raffle for the New York City dinner cruise is still active. Make sure you refer your friends and family (if you haven’t already) in order to be entered into this summer’s promotion.

Like us on Facebook to find out more: www.facebook.com/DentistNY

A way to see into your dental future.

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:29:01 +0000

Dental x-rays and their alleged connection to brain cancer has been popping up in recent news. Results of a recent study have hypothesized that regular dental x-rays given to children would cause brain tumors later in life. As we all know, an experiment’s results depend on the scope of the study. In this case, people over fifty years old (who were diagnosed with brain cancer) were asked if they received regular dental x-rays as a child. Responses were given from memory, not from actually dental records. I sometimes can’t remember where I put my car keys, let alone be able to remember fifty-plus years into the past. If the study wanted air-tight results, the moderators would have obtained actually records, not ask cancer patients to recall their dental regiment after so much time. Secondly, the radiological equipment cited in this study was over ten years old (if not more).

Major advances have been made in this field to reduce the amount of radiation emitted to patients while receiving treatment. Current technologies use ninety percent less radiation than their predecessors, and the digital x-rays that Dr. Raskin uses, emit less than that. We have had a substantial amount of patients who are becoming skeptical about x-rays because of this these reports. Dr. Raskin only takes the minimum amount of x-rays needed in his diagnostic process.

Now-a-days, the amount of information we can learn from oral radiology is more important than anything else. Also, time is on all of our sides. The dental health industry realizes that this is a major concern in patients, and are creating breakthroughs everyday in this area. One of Dr. Raskin’s passions is technology, it is his opinion that he would be doing his patients a disservice if his practice didn’t keep up with some of the most state of the art technologies in the field today, and this includes minimizing x-ray exposure to his patients.

Food for Thought

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:24:26 +0000

Hypothetically, if you were to ask ten people what their diet consists of, you should get ten completely different responses. Our diet is what our body relies on for the energy we require for our daily activities. Each different food group has a specific niche in our body’s processes and mechanisms. For example, the diet of a professional athlete is different to that of a typical college student. The career athlete fills their day with various exercises, trainings, and routines that will drain the body of all of its energy. Because of this, it is important for the athlete to adjust his diet to accommodate the high level of intensity. Complex carbohydrates and protein are needed (in industrial amounts, no less) to keep this machine smoothly running. High caloric intake is required, or the athlete will lose weight and muscle, therefore handicapping performance. On the other end of the spectrum, there is the typical college student. Late nights (in the library, of course), early mornings, and too many extracurricular activities are what drive the workforce of tomorrow. With all the studying that the average student does, the SMART thing to do would be to eat foods that stimulate brain function. Furthermore, since we are all aware of “the freshman fifteen”, choosing healthier alternatives will help down the road. In reality, we all know that the diet of the median collegiate member of society consists of three major groups: food found on bar menus, items where boiling water is the only necessary addition, and libations that require valid identification. There is nothing wrong is this. I understand that the times you have when your not taking part in the forums of higher learning is few and far between, and it’s more convenient to walk down to the local pub and nosh on some hot wings and a few pitchers. But with some simple changes, you may realize that you’re benefiting your body more than you think. You may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with my teeth?”

Let me begin by saying that our diet definitely shows through in many ways. The saying, “you are what you eat” is not as corny as you may think. As expected, most people who live their lives with an unhealthy diet, end up having certain avoidable health issues. Nowadays, not only is it important to eat health, but to eat certain foods that stimulate better physiology. Just as with the rest of our bodies, there are certain foods that aid in proper dental health. Some years back, a study was released that red wine helps prevent cardiovascular disease. Now, those same scientists are saying that red wine can also help to prevent tooth decay. The reasoning behind this lies with the polyphenols and antioxidants that are naturally found in grapes. For those of you who would rather not drink wine for its pharmaceutical uses, green tea has the same compounds and will work in the same manner. Tea, in general, has advantages of its own. Tea helps prevent the growth of certain bacterium that causes bad breath and tarter buildup.

We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for us, but how and why? Vitamin C, which is found in most fruits and some vegetables, is very important in gum health. Vitamin C is responsible for producing collagen, the substance that keeps the cells in our body tight and neatly “glued” together. Without this, pockets between the cells in your gums can form for bacteria to hide in. Fruits such as strawberries, oranges, kiwis, and apples have large amounts of vitamin C. Onions are great for oral health (but I eat them anyway). The major issue with onion is that no one can cut them without looking like Hilary Swank at the Oscars. Ironically, these sulfur compounds that make us tear up, are exactly what we need from onions. The sulfur combats bacteria and will give you a healthier smile, just remember to brush afterwards.

A little help from your ol’ pals on a very special “street”

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:28:20 +0000

In an effort to raise awareness for oral health, Sesame Street has launched a campaign to help kids and parents adopt proper oral hygiene practices. Here is a link to the American Dental Association’s article: http://ada.org/news/6939.aspx

Remember to tell your friends about us to enter in our dinner cruise giveaway!

Get ready for summer with whiter, healthier smile. Call today and schedule an appointment with our hygienist!

Dining with the Big Apple Skyline

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:13:51 +0000

Be sure to visit and “Like” our Facebook page in order to keep up with our promotions and raffles. This spring/summer, we’re giving away a night on the town courtesy of the Bateaux, NY. The Bateaux is a french inspired dinner cruise around New York Harbor. See New York from a perspective you mostly see in postcards and advertisements (from the water looking in). Make sure to refer your friends and family to secure your entries in this sweepstakes.

Visit us at www.facebook.com/dentistNY for more information and more great promotions.

Sweet Dreams…

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:09:22 +0000

Imagine with me, you just got home from a night on the town. You went to your favorite restaurant, with that special someone, and ordered your favorite dish. After, the two of you went to that new movie with that famous, overpaid academy-award winning actor/actress. The night doesn’t end there; you both get a few cocktails and go dancing. By the time you get home, the sun has already had its morning coffee and is ready to start the next day. You slowly climb into bed, making sure there isn’t a speck of sunlight shining through your curtains. As your head descends down to your pillow, you can’t help but think that you may have to sleep until the next sunrise. Your eyes close, your body slips away into that sweet slumber, and you let go. You enter into what’s known as a “twilight state”. You’re not completely asleep, but you’re definitely not awake. This is exactly what your body experiences when you are treated using our IV sedation.

You’ve probably heard enough about our IV sedation dentistry (http://www.advanceddds.com/sedation_dentistry.html), but people still aren’t seeing that this is viable course of treatment. Not only will you not experience any discomfort during the procedure, but you don’t even have to deal with the unwanted memories of being in the chair. This is not to be confused with general anesthesia. When a patient is given general anesthesia (GA) they are completely incapacitated. This is because GA is not just one medication, but rather an assortment of different pharmaceuticals, each with the specific purpose of keeping you unconscious. A major component is what’s called a paralytic. It does exactly what it sounds like it should, it paralyzes the patient. Furthermore, when a patient is paralyzed, it stops all the involuntary movements that keep us ticking, even when we don’t think about it. This includes breathing, which is why GA patients are intubated, so they are still able to breathe during their surgery. There is no such medication used when dental sedation is performed. Not only is it extremely unsafe, but it would be hard for Dr. Raskin or D’Orlando to work on you, with a tube down your throat. On the other side of the spectrum, IV sedation is so simple; you wake up not remembering much, and you realize you’re done before you’ve realize the procedure has started.

There are two types of sedation that the doctors use. The first is an oral sedation. The patient takes a pill and waits for the effects to take kick in, Advanced DDS does not administer this treatment. The other course of action, IV Sedation, is more effective than the oral forms. Medication is intravenously fed into the patient’s blood stream, taking effect within seconds. The patient is put into a state of limbo, a space directly between consciousness and unconsciousness. There is a very minimal amount of awareness; however, the medications induce a mild form of short term amnesia making the patient forget the procedure. Even though both methods are central nervous system depressants, they do not get rid of the pain experienced by the procedure, and a local anesthetic will be required to aid in pain management. What’s not to like? With the exception of a whitening treatment, there is no procedure too small. We want to make you as comfortable as possible, because our staff makes your smile our priority.

With spring around the corner, there’s little time to wait before barbecue season. For more information on Long Island sedation dentistry, please refer back to our homepage http://www.advanceddds.com

Our Confirmation System: The Ins and Outs

Dr. Raskin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:54:16 +0000

Why So Scared?

Dr. Raskin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:48:15 +0000

Everyone knows about the negative portrayals of dentists in movies, as well as the small screen. Whether it’s a counter full of rusty tools or a demeanor that’s a close second to Dr. Frankenstein; the entertainment industry doesn’t seem to have much respect for dentists. This directly affects the general population’s opinion of dental careand gives some information of why people do not like going to the dentist. Just to clarify, I’m not saying that you should take out an ad in the local paper announcing your next visit. I just think that patients should take as much effort with their dental health, as their medical health. More often than not, as with all healthcares, people only see their dentist when a problem arises (pain or a cosmetic issue) and neglect a semi-annual regiment. This may stem from a fear or phobia of the dentist. This now leads to the sixty-four thousand dollar question, “Why is the dentist so scary?” The truth is, there is no one answer or reason. We (yes, present company is included) all have that one thing that just completely turns us off. Whether it’s a fear of needles or a sensitive gag reflex, these are serious issues and should be addressed before they become serious problems. The dentist’s office is not a scary place, and the only person affected by this is the patient.

Today, we all turn over a new leaf! Today is the day we all confront our fears. I want to know why you don’t think the dentist is for you, and together we can turn this flight into a fight response. The goal is making sure you get the care you deserve. So, e-mail me your thoughts, your fears, any maybe some suggestions on how we, at Advanced DDS, can make you more comfortable. There is no reason why your teeth have to suffer.

I will be the first to admit that I am deathly afraid of needles. If there is one thing on this planet I can’t stand, it’s needles (cucumbers too, but that’s another story all together). As a kid, when it came time for me to have a cavity filled, I would decline the novocain and take the drill, just so I wasn’t stuck with a needle (it’s true, ask Dr. Raskin!). Two brain-scrambling minutes later, I learned that a small pinch is much better than being strapped to a chair while feeling every bit of the Black and Decker treatment. It was this epiphany that made my dental experiences that much more tolerable. So, let me know what bugs you about dental visits, and I will do my best to make sure you come to your next check-up with your head held high, and your mouth wide open.