Q: I have noticed that my teeth are getting smaller. My dentist said I have enamel erosion. Can this be related to the heartburn I am experiencing?

A: Absolutely! Heartburn is known as many things. Acid reflux, or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), occurs when the stomach contents flow back up through the esophagus. The stomach’s digestive juices contain acid, and people with this condition often can taste food or acidic fluid in the mouth. This stomach acid can damage your esophagus, leading to health complications like asthma, voice disorders, and Barrett’s Esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. It can also dissolve enamel and promote tooth decay. The acid-producing bacteria present in the mouth break down the enamel, and the acidic environment caused by GERD decreases the saliva’s ability to neutralize the acid and remineralize the enamel surface. If you happen to be a person who suffers from bruxism (teeth grinding), wear on the chewing surfaces of your teeth is accelerated by the acidic environment.

There are many factors that contribute to GERD. Obesity, pregnancy, smoking, asthma medications, painkillers, antidepressants and antihistamines are a few.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from GERD:

• A dry, chronic cough
• Wheezing, asthma, and/or recurrent pneumonia
• Nausea
• Sore throat, hoarseness
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Pain in the chest or upper abdomen
• Dental erosion and bad breath

If these symptoms sound like something you have been experiencing, the good news is that it is treatable!  Your physician as well as your dentist can help you manage this disease and its consequences. Contact our office in Clinton Township today and talk to Dr. Mindy Salzberg-Siegel to find out how to protect your teeth!

Completing dental school is a doctor’s first step in providing great care to patients, but it’s not the only step. Staying up to date on the latest techniques and tools is also important. With every new advance in dentistry, care becomes more comfortable, precise, and efficient.
As your Clinton Township dentist, Dr. Salzberg-Siegel is committed to staying abreast of the newest changes within dentistry. To that end, she recently completed her studies with the prestigious Kois Center in Seattle, Washington, an experience she calls one of the most challenging and rewarding of her career.
The Kois Center’s comprehensive, nine course program covers all aspects of dental care through a combination of lectures and hands-on experience, for a total of 200 hours of intensive learning. Through her studies, Dr. Salzberg-Siegel has learned how to better integrate state-of-the-art care into her Clinton Township practice.
“The training that I received at the Kois Center has transformed the way I practice,” Dr. Salzberg-Siegel said, following her completion of the program.” “It is now possible to change the lives of my patients by eliminating pain, enhancing their ability to chew and improve their appearance in a predictable fashion.”

It takes detailed treatment strategies to deliver truly one of a kind care. Dr. Salzberg-Siegel offers exactly that through personalized plans that include full mouth reconstruction, implant tooth replacement, bite reconstructions, and smile makeovers. All of this is on top of her other great preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services.
To learn more about the Kois Center, visit their website. There, you’ll find testimonials, information about their courses, and more.
To Dr. Salzberg-Siegel about creating a healthy smile with any combination of our services, give us a call to reserve a consultation. Dr. Salzberg-Siegel brings great compassion and knowledge to every patient’s situation. Find out how we can help you today.

A lot goes into preparing for the holidays. A list of everything you have to do might include buying presents, making travel plans,  preparing the house for visitors, holiday decorating, and a lot more.

One thing that can get left off that list, though, is a dental checkup and tooth cleaning at Dr. Salzberg-Siegel’s Clinton Township dental office. The most obvious reason for including a dental checkup and tooth cleaning appointment in your plans is that they help you support your overall health and wellbeing.

What do we mean by that?

We mean that not only does your oral health benefit, but so does your entire body. That’s something Dr. Salzberg-Siegel wants all of her Michigan patients to enjoy.

A less obvious, but still important reason, for a holiday dental checkup and tooth cleaning is that appointments like those help you use your dental benefits. For most people, the end of the year means that dental benefits will be reset at the start of the next year. That means your annual deductible will be back at square one, just like your annual maximum.

Your annual maximum is what your insurance company will pay for. If you still have any of your annual maximum left, that’s money you’ll lose at the start of 2013. Don’t let that happen. Take advantage of the help your dental benefits can give you by scheduling a visit with Dr. Salzberg-Siegel between now and the end of the year.

At our Clinton Township dental office in Michigan, you’ll find a compassionate, experienced team ready to help you with all aspects of your oral health. More than just your smile will benefit—your overall health and wellbeing will too. To learn more about the connection between your smile and your overall health and wellbeing, take a look at this video:

If you live in Clinton Township, or elsewhere in Michigan, our dental office is ready to help you restore your oral health. Call us today to reserve an appointment. And let us know in the comments section what you’re doing this holiday season to keep your smile clean, healthy, and beautiful.