Dental Articles

Madison Dentist Now Screening & Treating Patients For Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Madison, NJ — New Jersey dentist Dr. Samuel Romano, who’s office is located at 120 Park Avenue, is treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Patients now have the opportunity to be screened for this disease in the luxury of their own home.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or “OSA” for short, is a chronic sleep disorder that is characterized by abnormal pauses during breathing. Those affected with OSA can stop breathing hundreds of times throughout the night, depending on the severity of their condition. Symptoms of OSA include: snoring, excessive daytime fatigue, morning headaches, forgetfulness, insomnia, moodiness and irritability, difficulty concentrating and gastrointestinal reflux. As the untreated sleep apnea progresses, it may lead to more serious medical conditions including: cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and heart attacks.

Dr. Sam Romano can treat the overall health of his patients with the help of state of the art technology. With diagnostic testing, personal evaluation and sleep study results, Dr. Sam Romano can customize an oral appliance designed specifically for you.

After your sleep study has been evaluated, Dr. Sam Romano will know the degree of your obstructive sleep apnea. Based upon your test results, if appropriate, Dr. Sam Romano then fabricates an oral appliance for patients to wear at night, to maintain optimum oxygen levels. This appliance is designed to keep the airway from collapsing. Patients are highly compliant with oral appliance therapy because of the ease of use and immediate relief it provides. The sleep study is then repeated with the use of oral appliance therapy, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the device. The resulting report gives us affirmation that the appliance in place is effectively treating the OSA.

Dr. Sam Romano, DMD:

“My vision is to change the way you perceive dentistry and to improve your quality of life”, Dr. Sam Romano states. “The addition of sleep apnea therapy into my practice gives me the opportunity to enhance my patients overall health, which is very important to me.” Dr. Sam Romano has been in practice for 27 years at the same location-120 Park Avenue, in Madison. Dr. Sam Romano can be reached at 973-377-7088, via his website: www.drsamromano.com or you can visit his facebook page at: www.facebook.com/drsamromano.

Dr. Sam Romano is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also a clinical instructor at the world renowned Kois Center, a state of the art, post graduate, dental teaching facility, in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Sam Romano enjoys teaching dentists, from all
over the world, advanced techniques in general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. He is a lifelong resident of Madison where he resides with his wife and two children. Dr. Sam Romano is an active member of his community.

Samuel Romano, D.M.D.
USA drsam@verizon.net

Smiles Abound at Dr. Sam Romano’s Office During Give Kids a Smile Day

Dr. Sam Romano, his staff, some patients, Mayor Bob Conley, and Simon the magician take a break during Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday. Credits: Christy Kass

Christy Potter Kass

Monday, February 6, 2012 • 6:33am

MADISON, NJ – For Dr. Sam Romano, Give Kids a Smile Day was more than a national initiative to provide free dental care to children who need it – it was a chance to give back to the town he loves.

Romano, a lifelong resident of Madison who has been practicing dentistry at 120 Park Avenue for 26 years, is one of thousands of dentists around the country who took part in Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday. The program provides under-served children with free dental care, including examinations, fluoride treatments, sealants, x-rays and oral surgery.

Romano’s office saw 35 kids, some from Madison and some from as far away as Hopatcong and Dover. As they waited their turn, the patients were entertained by Simon Mandal, a magician from Chatham.

But probably no one got more out of the day than Romano.

“You don’t have to get on a plane and fly 10 hours to find a place where you can make a difference,” he said. “You can make a difference right here at home.”

Romano, a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and UMDMJ, said people always used to tell him how lucky he is to be from Madison, and what a great town it is. His response was always “It’s OK.” A mission trip to Guatemala a couple of years ago changed his whole perspective.

“Kids there spend the whole day going through garbage looking for bottles to cash in,” Romano said. “And I came back home and said, ‘Madison is pretty great.’ In fact, that’s the only bad part about Madison – too many of us don’t realize how good we have it until we go someplace else.”

In Romano’s office, Give Kids a Smile Day isn’t just about providing free dental care, in many cases it’s about teaching kids not to be afraid of the dentist – something Romano said he often sees in adults as well – and getting them on the right track to a lifetime of oral health.

“To get started off right is a game-changer,” said Romano, who will sedate nervous patients. “I’ve seen a lot of adults who were traumatized by a dentist when they were kids, so they don’t go. Then the plaque builds up and they have more problems that take more work to fix when they do finally go.”

Some of the kids who came to Romano’s office needed fillings or more extensive work, so he scheduled them to come back when he had more time to spend with them – still free of charge.

But probably no one got more out of the day than Romano.

“To take a day and do this, to help kids get on the right road, makes me happy,” he said. “We’re building a lifetime of good dental health, we’re helping kids not be afraid of the dentist. That’s what it’s about for me. The beautiful teeth and smiles are just a nice side benefit.”

Published from The Alternative Press.com

Smiles Abound at Dr. Sam Romano’s Office During Give Kids a Smile Day

Dr. Sam Romano, his staff, some patients, Mayor Bob Conley, and Simon the magician take a break during Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday. Credits: Christy Kass

Christy Potter Kass

Monday, February 6, 2012 • 6:33am

Romano’s office saw 35 kids, some from Madison and some from as far away as Hopatcong and Dover. As they waited their turn, the patients were entertained by Simon Mandal, a magician from Chatham.

But probably no one got more out of the day than Romano.

“You don’t have to get on a plane and fly 10 hours to find a place where you can make a difference,” he said. “You can make a difference right here at home.”

Some of the kids who came to Romano’s office needed fillings or more extensive work, so he scheduled them to come back when he had more time to spend with them – still free of charge.

But probably no one got more out of the day than Romano.

Published from The Alternative Press.com

Madison dentist ‘Gives Kids a Smile’ with free care, calm manner

Madison dentist Dr. Samuel Romano has a happy patient on “Give Kids a Smile” day Feb. 3, which saw Romano provide free dental care for children – and ease their fear of visiting a dentist, to encourage lifelong dental health.

MADISON – Dentist Dr. Samuel Romano, his entire staff, and some extra volunteers donated their time and service Friday, Feb. 3, on the 10th anniversary of the “Give Kids a Smile” program.

The program provides under-served children with free dental care, including examinations, fluoride treatments, sealants, x-rays and oral surgery.

“Give Kids a Smile” has become an annual tradition at Romano’s office at 120 Park Ave., where he has practiced for 26 years. Essentially he closed his business for the day to donate his services for the free event, which also required advance planning to be a success.

Timed to coincide with “Dental Health Month” in February, “Give Kids a Smile” is a national initiative to provide free dental care to children who need it. Dr. Romano, a native of Madison, called it an opportunity “to give back to the town I love.”

Romano’s office saw 35 youngsters on Feb. 3, some from Madison, and some from as far away as Hopatcong and Far Hills.

‘On The Right Road’

“Give Kids a Smile” day isn’t only about providing free dental care – in many cases it’s about teaching young children not to be afraid of the dentist – something Dr. Romano said he often sees in adults as well – and getting them on the right track to a lifetime of oral health.

With some of the children who came to his office who needed fillings or more extensive work, Romano scheduled them to return when he had more time to spend with them – still free of charge. Some were referred to an orthodontist who also will work with the children pro bono.

“To take a day and do this, to help kids get on the right road, makes me happy,” Romano said. “We’re building a lifetime of good dental health; we’re helping kids not be afraid of the dentist. That’s what it’s about for me.

“The beautiful teeth and smiles are just a nice side benefit.”

Published From the Madison Eagle

SNORE – S + IG = IGNORE This May Not Be An Option Anymore

Just about everyone snores occasionally. Even a baby or a beloved pet may snore! However snoring can affect the quantity and quality of your sleep. Poor sleep can lead to daytime fatigue, irritability, poor behavior, trouble with relationships and increased health problems.

Sleep also affects your mood. People who chronically lack sleep are also more likely to become depressed. Sleep disorders deprive you of a “good night’s sleep”, chronic daytime exhaustion, and long-term cardiovascular stress.

Snoring is a most common problem plaguing the world. Studies show that almost 46% of the male and 30% of the female populace in the world snore on a regular basis. The question remains as to how snoring can affect your marriage. For many it most certainly can. But before diving into that topic, let us first know what is snoring.

If you snore regularly and experience these symptoms, you may have a condition called sleep apnea. It is as widespread as Asthma and Diabetes; however sleep apnea often remains undiagnosed.

What is sleep apnea?

Under normal conditions, the muscles that control the upper airway relax during sleep. If they relax too much, the upper airway becomes narrow and some people begin to snore. If the airway becomes to narrow, this may cause difficulties in breathing. Sometimes the airway becomes completely blocked and the person temporarily stops breathing – experiencing obstructive apnea. Apnea means without breath. This can last for 10 seconds or more. It may happen frequently or even several hundred times a night.

If you have this condition, every time an apnea occurs, you struggle to breathe, placing stress on your brain and heart.

Research shows that snoring and sleep apnea are associated with many serious conditions. Left untreated, they are a contributing risk factor in high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke diabetes and depression.

So don’t IGNORE the symptoms if you SNORE.

To learn more about snoring and sleep apnea visit www.drsamromano.com

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If not a reason to smile, a commitment to help

Madison dentist treats impoverished children in Guatemala

By SALLY CAPONE
STAFF WRITER

MADISON – There are not many experiences that are truly life-changing, but Dr. Samuel Romano says he believes he found one in the slums of a Central American country.

As part of an 18-member team, he traveled to Guatemala for one week in February to offer much-needed dental care to poor children. “I always wanted to do mission work, but I didn’t know how to go about finding the best, organization,” he said. When Dr. Gregory Keiser, a Morristown oral surgeon and board member of Healing the Children, asked Romano if he would be interested in a trip to the Central American country, he leapt at the chance. “I said, ‘I’m going – I don’t even have to think about it’,” Romano said.

‘It Shocked Me’

The trip was not an easy one emotionally, physically or financially, he said, adding that even before they left the U.S. getting through the airport was an ordeal. The team met at Newark Liberty Airport at 4a.m. on Feb. 6. “It shocked me how demanding it was,” Romano recalled of the rest of the trip.

“There was a lot of lugging,” he explained, because the team had to bring every bit of the dental supplies they would use, including gauze and sterile wipes.

In the Guatemalan city of Antigua, “All they gave us was a room to work in,” said Romano, who had to treat patients while bent over cafeteria tables covered with tablecloths procured by the team.

To improve on the meager lighting, Romano purchased a $600headlight. His total expense for the trip was $5,000, all out of pocket. After spending each night in a hotel room that was so small he couldn’t even open a suitcase, Romano and the team faced 10 hour workdays.

“When we got to the facility at 8 a.m., the lines of people waiting for us were as far as you could see,” Romano said. Because of the poor diet, lack of dental hygiene, and the large intake of “junky candy,” many of the children had rotted teeth.

“I did a lot of extractions and fillings,” said Romano, who speaks no Spanish and relied on two people on the team who spoke the language. Admitting that he’s hooked, “When you have a kid scared out of his mind, you learn how much non-verbal communication matters,” Romano noted. After handing out tooth- brushes, probably the only ones the children will ever get, a dental hygienist gave instructions in dental care. Romano worked on hundreds of children during his week in Guatemala. Experiencing such poverty first-hand has left an indelible impression.

‘How Good We Have It’

“I’ve lived in Madison all my life, and I didn’t realize how good we have it,” said Romano, who lives on West Lane. “It’s one thing to see pictures, and another to smell, feel and touch what it’s really like. Nothing is clean, and everything is covered with grit. It changes how you look at life. We waste time on trivial things, and never reflect on what’s important,” he said. After his heart-wrenching week, Romano was jarred backed to reality while on the plane trip home.

“The guy next to me on the plane was annoyed that he couldn’t get a cheeseburger,” Romano recalled.

“I realized I was back,” he said. Admitting that he’s hooked, Romano plans to go to Africa next year with the organization. Keiser, who’s been affiliated with Healing the Children for 15 years, has traveled to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Cambodia and Madagascar.

“People who go on these trips have two reactions,” Keiser said. “Either they will never do it again, or they can’t wait to do it again,” he said.

Healing the Children was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1979. The Northeast chapter, based in New Milford, Conn., was created in 1985, and has since arranged treatment for more than 33,000 children in the U.S. and abroad who lack adequate access to medical services. The all-volunteer teams travel at their own expense, and in addition to dentists include surgeons, pediatricians, anesthetists, nurses surgical technicians, and specialists in plastic and reconstructive surgery, urology and cardiology.

For information, visit www.healingthechildren.org.

Madison dentist treats impoverished children in Guatemala

By SALLY CAPONE STAFF WRITER

MADISON – There are not many experiences that are truly life-changing, but Dr. Samuel Romano says he believes he found one in the slums of a Central American country.