We are winding down our free oral, head and neck cancer screening event, and have provided these services to many people who had not had a comprehensive oral cancer screening using the Velscope oral cancer screening device. The Velscope allows us to see tissue changes many years before they are visible to the naked eye and routine screening protocol. The importance of this is that we can locate early lesions and make the appropriate referrals for our patients for treatment before something becomes life threatening. Oral cancer screenings save lives. The significant increase in oral cancers because of the HPV virus makes this even more important for patients of all ages. Anyone who is sexually active can potentially get exposed to the HPV virus and should get tested. Testing is very simple using the OralDNA testing procedure which is based on saliva. We have offered this service to our patients for over a year now and nominal cost and is even covered by many health insurance plan.
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An article published recently presents some interesting information. Many of our adult patients suffer from “Burning Mouth syndrome” or “Burning tongue syndrome”. It is characterized by a consistent feeling of a burning sensation, on the lips, tongue, and the roof of the mouth,that doesn’t diminish with time. The article discusses the possibility that damage to the nervous system during menopause may be to blame. The syndrome affects about 5 % of Americans. It appears that BMS patient’s nerves are processing stimuli incorrectly. “there’s a short circuit in the nervous system and the brain can’t turn off the pain receptors. the study showed that although BMS can effect both sexes it occurs 7 times more often in menopausal and postmenopausal women. We at Boynton Laser dental center have been using cold laser biostimulation to help reduce or eliminate the symptoms successfully in some of our patients.
How to keep your gums and teeth healthy. This is a good “how to” video on good brushing and flossing technique.
Dr.Harvey Shiffman has been practicing dentistry since 1984 and has been a Cosmetic Laser Dentist for the last seven years. Technology has been steadily improving in this field, and Dr.Shiffman has stayed up to date with extensive continuing education through the Academy of Laser Dentistry, of which he is attaining Fellowship status , the Montana Center for Laser Dentistry, and the Masters of Laser Dentistry in New York.
We have performed thousands of laser dental procedures at The Boynton Laser Dental Center. Our most modern laser equipment includes the Lares Powerlase AT laser which allows us to perform fillings, cosmetic gum procedures and more without injections and pain or discomfort for most people. Dr.Harvey Shiffman is proud to be the first South Florida dentist to be trained and certified to perform the PIPS, photon induced photoacoustic streaming root canal procedures and our results have been added to the international dental journal.
We are also proud to be the first South Florida Dentist to be trained and certified in the WPT or wavelength-optimized periodontal therapy, which is the definitive, cutting edge Dental Laser treatment for periodontal (gum) disease. Dr.Harvey Shiffman and the Boynton Laser Dental Center have also been advocates of Cold Laser or Low Level Laser therapy in the treatment of TMJ, facial pain and post operative issues referred by others. Dr.Shiffman’s dedication to Laser Dentistry at the Boynton Laser Dental Center in Boynton Beach ,Florida is being acknowledged by the “Laser Geeks” training organization and the Lares Research Company next week and Dr. Harvey Shiffman will be trained to become a Dental Laser instructor for these organizations, which makes us at Boynton Laser Dental Center , in Boynton Beach, Florida very proud of Dr.Shiffman’s commitment to bringing our patients the most up to date, cutting edge technology for their care.
We presently have available to our patients saliva diagnostic DNA testing. One type of testing is for Periodontal disease , to test for the specific bacteria types that can cause Gum Disease .This greatly aids in our ability to treat it. The connection between oral disease and heart/ systemic disease is well documented at this time. We can also do saliva DNA testing for the HPV virus that causes Cervical cancer in women and oral cancer in both men and women. The role of HPV in cancers of the head and neck in unquestioned, HPV is now known to be an independent risk factor for oral and throat cancers. you should be tested if you have traditional risk factors for oral cancer, if you are sexually active, have a family history of oral cancer, have signs or symptoms of oral cancer or a suspicious oral lesion. More information is available at our office, Boynton Laser Dental Center in Boynton Beach, Florida. telephone 561 737 6400 or by visiting www.oralcancerfoundation.org or www.cdc.gov
Know Someone With Forward Head Posture?
Forward head posture
No wonder you’re always tired. You have a forward head posture!
Neck pain, fatigue, carpel tunnel syndrome, TMJ syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches ~ can how you hold your head be the cause of all these conditions? If you, or someone you know, suffers from forward head posture, and an estimated 90% of the population do, then the answer is definitely yes!
With correct head posture, the ear is centered over the shoulder. If the ear is off center to the front of the shoulder, this is known as forward head posture. For every inch the head is forward of this center position, it exerts an additional 10 pounds of pressure on the muscles in your neck and upper back, causing them to work harder to keep your head erect and your chin up!
But how do you get into the habit of a forward head posture? Today’s use of computers, television and video games may contribute to this condition which ultimately compresses discs and causes extensive damage.
Here are several ways to help correct this condition:
Break up you time using computers or video games
Exercise
Chiropractic and or physical therapy in conjunction with dental care
Have an evaluation for TMJ or repair or replace missing back teeth. Missing back teeth can affect the proprioception between the upper and lower jaws affecting head and neck posture. Proprioception is your brains ability to know its position is space relative to the rest of your body.
The World Health Organization recently recognized and honored the Velscope enhanced oral assessment device. The Velscope was one of only eight commercial devices to be honored. The Velscope device helps improve the oral health of patients by allowing dental practicioners to discover eraly stage oral cancers and other oral abnormalities. Boynton Beach dentist Dr. Harvey Shiffman at his Boynton Laser Dental Center has been using the Velscope in clinical practice for over three years and has diagnosed several cases of oral cancer and precancerous lesions .
Recent evidence of severe infections, fatalities and septic shock have added to the mountains of reports of the detrimental affects of tongue and oral piercings. Studies published from the University of Buffalo, and the University of Brazil support these findings. The American Dental association has published a position statement as follows:
Oral piercings, which involve the tongue( the most common site),cheeks,lips,uvula,or a combination of sites, have been implicated in a number of adverse oral and systemic conditions. Because of its potential for numerous negative sequelae , the American Dental Association opposes the practice of intraoral/perioral piercing and tongue splitting.
Here at Boynton Laser Center, Dr. Harvey Shiffman counsels his patients about the risks and dangers of tongue piercings, and other oral modifications.
Starting in august we will have availible to our patients saliva DNA testing for the HPV virus that causes Cervical cancer in women and oral cancer in both men and women. The role of HPV in cancers of the head and neck in unquestioned, HPV is now known to be an independent risk factor for oral and throat cancers. you should be tested if you have traditional risk factors for oral cancer, if you are sexually active, have a family history of oral cancer, have signs or symptoms of oral cancer or a suspicious oral lesion. More information is available at our office, Boynton Laser Dental Center in Boynton Beach ,Florida or by visiting www.oralcancerfoundation.org or www.cdc.gov
Low level laser therapy or “photobiomodulation” is the application of laser light over injuries and lesions to stimulate healing within those tissues. Lasers are best know for their ability to cut, but do not confuse low level lasers with cutting or high powered lasers. Low level lasers, under various names such as cold laser,soft laser and others have been used for over 30 years in many countries and are becoming much more common in the United States, as they rapidly gain acceptance by the medical and health care communitys. Over 2500 clinical research studies from all over the world, the U.S. included have shown that low level laser therapy can be an aid in reducing pain, inflammation, releasing tight muscles as in TMJ and related disorders. It is also beneficial in enhancing lymphatic drainage, is antiviral and antifungal, increases cellular energy and stimulates healing enzyme release. Here at Boynton Laser Dental Center ,we have been using low level laser therapy for over five years successfully treating TMJ, Myofacial pain, headaches, post operative pain after surgery and root canals and to aid in the healing of viral lesions such as Herpes.