Dr Romano's Blog

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

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

“Pursuing Dental Excellence”

Dr. Sam Romano is recognized by Dr. John Kois at the 2011 Kois Center Symposium in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Romano was recognized for his creative vision which led to the publication of “Pursuing Dental Excellence” The book is written for patients to help them understand the level of commitment and dedication to excellence that graduates of the Kois Center have for dentistry. It was distributed to the 400 dentists from the U.S. Europe and Asia at the meeting last week. Please pick it up and give it a look the next time you are in the office. I’m very proud of it.

For more information on Dr. Sam Romano visit www.drsamromano.com

Are You Ready For 80?

The National Institute on Aging reveals that elderly
Americans are now living longer and enjoy better health. The numbers speak for
themselves – life expectancy has jumped from 12 years for 65-year old Americans
in the 1900s to 18 years in 2000. This, in part, can be attributed to better
access to health services and advanced treatment methods. But much has to do
with how we take care of our body and mind. So, does this mean that a more
recent estimate indicating there will be over a million Americans aged 100 and
above by 2050, will actually come true? And will you be one among these
privileged few?

The right attitude to health can reap rich rewards
Living to the ripe old age of 80 and more need not be a
distant dream – you can make it happen. Not only can you live longer but live
the years in good health. Healthy aging does not require a miracle solution –
you only need to follow a few basics with regard to diet, exercise and stress
to boost life expectancy and cut risks of age-related disorders. You may even
be familiar with some, but reiterating them will reinforce their importance and
motivate you to incorporate positive changes into your life.

Watch what you eat
Here’s a tip from Okinawa (in Japan), the land with the highest
number of centenarians-“eat till you are 80% full”. In other words, practice
portion control to keep weight gain and associated diseases at bay. Cutting
portion size and eating 5-6 smaller meals a day is advocated by most
dieticians. Follow this eating best practice – it’s easy, just make sure you
don’t load your plate till it tips over and order smaller-sized portions in
restaurants (if the restaurant doesn’t offer this option, share the order with
a friend or family member).

An important part of ‘eating right’ is whipping up a
balanced meal with a high nutritional content. Hold the red meat and try
sumptuous seafood (rich in Omega 3 fatty acids that keep heart disease and
Alzheimer’s at bay) instead. Incorporate garden vegetables, nuts and grains in
your diet; they all form a part of the daily diet of Okinawans and Sardinians,
who share the highest centenarian accolade with Okinawa.
Limit intake of processed food, and replace sodas with fresh fruit juice.

Exercise your way to 80
A sedentary lifestyle is a deal killer as far as both your
mind and body are concerned. You can’t blame the fast paced technological world
for making you inactive. Even if you are required to spend long hours at the
computer, take some time out to go for a jog or swim, or even just take breaks
to go for quick walks, and make time for an hour or so to exercise or indulge
in outdoor games on weekends. There are many ways to plan your exercise
schedule in accordance with your lifestyle – all you need to do is put some
effort into it. In this regard, you can seek some inspiration from the
Sardinians, who ‘exercise’ by cutting wood, pasturing sheep, feeding cows and
trimming trees. Of course, you may not be able to do this, but you can bicycle
to work or the supermarket, and cut and trim your lawn.

Manage stress better
You cannot avoid stress, what you can do is manage it and
try to cut it down. Experts suggest a few ways to beat the stress, which
includes building the right supportive social circle and spending more time in
the company of your family. The focus on family is particularly important in
view of a research establishing that that the life expectancy of married people
and grandparents who stay with their families is higher than single and
divorced people.

Pay attention to all aspects of health
Even as you lead a healthy lifestyle, get the clean chit
from doctors by scheduling timely check-ups. As you age, your body becomes more
susceptible to specific debilitating disorders. Heart, eye and dental check-ups
are imperative, as are other examinations in connection with factors like
gender and family medical history.

For more information about our office please visit www.drsamromano.com

DNA

According to the American Dental Association, an estimated 75% of all Americans over the age of 35 have some form of periodontal disease. Furthermore, science is showing a direct link between oral health and overall health. Specifically, there has been shown to be a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer.
Periodontal disease is caused by a bacterial infection. A simple DNA test can now determine the specific type and quantity of disease-causing bacteria in your mouth! These bacteria, if left untreated can cause periodontal disease, tooth loss, and also affect your risk for developing other systemic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes (among others).
Swishing a small amount of sterile saline throughout the mouth for 30 seconds performs this gentle oral rinse procedure.
A lab report will identify the presence or absence of bacteria associated with periodontal infection, and allow development of a personalized treatment plan!

SEDATION DENTISTRY/Serving Morris County NJ

Understanding Dental Phobias
First of all, you need to understand that dental phobia is very common among a lot of people. The main cause of triggers of dental phobia may be the fear of shots, hearing and fearing dental drill, and also the typical cold atmosphere that people would normally experience inside the dental practice. Other triggers are strong gag reflex, difficulty in becoming numb, previous traumatic experience during dental treatment, and sensitive teeth.

If you are interested in our Sedation Dentistry services, please contact Dr. Romano and his team today in Madison, NJ and schedule a consultation.

ORAL DNA

As you may be aware, the past 10 years have provided much insight into what has come to be called… “The Oral / Systemic Connection”. There does appear to be a link to chronic inflammatory periodontal infections and systemic diseases such as:

•Heart disease
•Diabetes
•Stroke
•Some forms of cancer and other diseases
The National Institute of Health (NIH) and other research facilities are aggressively pursuing this link as well. For More information regarding the Oral/Systemic Connection, visit the following links online:

•National Institutes of Health: nha.gov
•American Dental Association: ada.org
•Academy of Periodontology: perio.org
•American Dental Hygienists’ Association: adha.org
As we continue to learn more about the severity of periodontal infections and how closely linked they are to your overall health, having detailed information about your genetic susceptibility (MyPerioID® PST®) and the bacteria that are present in our mouth (MyPerioPath®) will be critical in determining your oral and overall general health.

To find our more about oral DNA contact Dr. Sam Romano in Madison, New Jersey, or visit our website at drsamromano.com

Mouthguards and Sports

Knowing how to prevent injuries is important if you participate in organized sports or other recreational activities.

When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of an athlete’s standard quipment from an early age. In fact, an athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard.

What kinds of injuries can a mouthguard prevent?

Broken teeth
Teeth getting knocked out
Cuts and bruises to lips, cheeks and chin
Concussions and brain damage
Jaw dislocation
Jaw fracture
Permanent injury to the jaw joint

Mouthguards are used most commonly in contact sports, such as boxing, football, hockey and lacrosse, but findings show that even in noncontact sports like basketball, gymnastics or skateboarding, mouthguards help prevent mouth and jaw injuries.

Interesting facts:

While everyone thinks about contact sports like ice hockey, football and lacrosse for mouthguard use, basketball, skateboarding, bicycling, wrestling and baseball are all activities that can result in tooth injury. In fact, soccer and basketball players are more likely than football players to sustain an injury to the mouth and face.

Children between the ages of 7-10 have the highest number of injuries in unorganized sporting accidents with basketball causing the most of these injures followed by biking and hockey.

Mouthguards prevent between 100,000 – 200,000 oral injuries per year in professional football alone.

Half of all children will suffer a traumatic injury to a tooth by the time they graduate high school ranging from a minor chip to having a tooth knocked out of a socket.

More than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year resulting in nearly $500 million spent on replacing these teeth.

Upper front teeth are the most commonly injured tooth.

A stock mouthguard costs about $15, a custom one between $75 and 120. The cost of replacing a single tooth can cost up the $4000 and may cost more than $25,000 over a lifetime with maintenance.

Skiing, bicycling and soccer are the three most frequent causes of sports accidents.

Sports related injuries account for 3 times more facial and dental injuries that violence or traffic accidents.

The Academy of General Dentistry recomments that players participating in basketball, softball, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, inline skating and martial arts, whether for an ahtletic competition or leisure activity, wear mouthgaurds while competing.

To find out more information visit Dr. Sam Romano’s website at www.drsamromano.com

Drinks that Affect your Teeth

Drinks have emerged as one of the most significant sources of acid.

Drinks such as regular soda, diet soda, sports drinks, canned iced tea and lemonades can lead to extensive tooth decay and enamel destruction because of the low pH or acidity of the drinks.

Enamel is the hardest substance in the body but it is susceptible to breakdown from acids found in soda/drinks. The more acidic the drink (the lower its pH), the more rapid the enamel destruction. Tooth enamel dissolves below 5.5.

It is important to note that exposed root surfaces demineralize twice as fast as that of enamel.

Soda/drinks may contain carbonic, phosphoric, malic, citric and tartaric acids and therefore have an acidic pH. Drinks that contain artificial sweeteners still pose a significant threat because of their acidic content.

Acid (pH) Low=Bad

Water	7.00 (neutral)
Brewed Black Coffee	6.25
Brewed Black Tea	5.36
A & W Root Beer	4.80
Diet Sprite	3.34
Sprite	3.27
Diet Dew	3.27
Diet Coke	3.22
Mountain Dew	3.14
Gatorade	2.95
Canada Dry Ginger Ale	2.94
Diet Pepsi	2.94
Arizona Iced Tea	2.94
HI Punch	2.82
Coke	2.48
Pepsi	2.46

There are other areas of the body which are affected:

The phosphoric acid in beverages leaches calcium from bones, promoting osteoporosis.
The intake of excess calories from soda is contributing to the obesity/diabetes epidemic that is occurring in children/teenagers today.

The best things to drink are WATER, MILK and 100% FRUIT JUICE, with the understanding that even milk and juice have sugar that can lead to decay.

For more information please visit our website at www.drsamromano.com

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.

We recommend sonic toothbrushes that are safe and effective for the majority of the patients. We see excellent results with the sonic toothbrushes: Sonic Complete by Oral B and Sonicare by Philips. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth but you still need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator.

A rubber tip may be used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your doctor.

Fluoride toothpastes (ex: Fluoridex, Prevident 5000) and fluoride rinses (ex: CariFree, ACT, PhosFluor) if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.

Anti-plaque rinses (ex: Listerine), approved by the American Dental Association, contain agents that may help bring early gum disease under control. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.

For more information please visit our website at www.drsamromano.com