health Archives - Robert M. Schwan D.M.D

Dr Schwan Welcomes Galileos Comfort Plus Cone Beam CT

March 26, 2014 by drbob

Dr Schwan is excited to welcome the arrival of the Sirona Galileos Comfort Plus Cone Beam CT.

Images taken with a Cone Beam CT are rapidly becoming the Standard of Care. With a single 14 Second Scan, the Galileos can deliver very informative 3D images that include Panoramic, Saggital, Axial and Coronal views of varying anatomic thickness for Superior Diagnosis and Treatment Planning.

Diagnostic Images

For our family of patients, just to name a few benefits. Cone Beam Imaging can provide a new higher level of predictability in the planning and placement of implants. The precise location of infections and their treatment. Evaluation of the TMJ. Airway assessment for effective treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. Furthermore, the Cone Beam Images blend seamlessly with our Cerec 3D CAD CAM system for precise fabrication of implants, crowns and bridgework.

View of Airway

Since the Galileos Comfort Plus is Sirona’s Flagship, it will be constantly upgraded as new technology and software permit. The latest addition is the Plus which represents the taking of a superimposed photo that is synchronized flawlessly with the 3D images.

Best of all, the Typical Patient Radiation Exposure for Cone Beam CT ( 12 to 120 microsieverts) is very low when compared to Conventional CT Scanning ( 2100 microsieverts).

Cold Sore Connection To Alzheimer’s

February 5, 2012 by drbob

“Warning: A Cold Sore Could Cause Alzheimer’s” is the latest article featured in Dr. Mark Stengler’s “Natural Healing” newsletter via Bottom Line Press.

There is growing evidence that Alzheimer’s may be caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) which typically causes fever blisters or cold sores on the face and in the mouth. HSV1 attacks the peripheral nervous system and once infected, you always have the virus lying dormant which will occasionally reactivate when triggered by stress or fatigue.

Flareups of HSV1 in the brain can cause damage associated with Alzheimer’s. The brain defends against the HSV1 by producing beta-amyloid protein. The presence of HSV1/beta-amyloid along with genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer’s may result in inflammation in the brain activated by stress and fatigue.I

If testing for elevated immunoglobulins G & H caused by an HSV1 infection is high then the following supplements should be considered:

Lysine: is an amino acid that blocks arginine, another amino acid that HSV1 needs to reproduce. Dose: 500 mg, three times a day.
Vitamin D: renders HSV1 dormant. Your Dr should test for desired blood level of 70-80 ng/mL. Dose: 400 IU/day.
Curcumin: the active ingredient in Turmeric (Curry) inhibits HSV1. Dose: 200-400 mg turmeric extract with 95% curcuminoids daily.

An active infection with HSV1 can be treated on a chronic basis with a Doctor’s Rx for a daily dose of 500 mg of the antiviral drug valacyclovir (Valtrex). The effectiveness of this therapy should be checked annually by testing for antibody levels.

Breaking News! Go to the following site (copy and paste address) for a new approach to Alzheimer’s and other related conditions:

https://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS

Brush Your Teeth With Sugar!

July 1, 2011 by drbob

Yes you can, as long as it’s Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural occurring alcohol sugar that is commonly used in chewing gum such as “Orbit” and other products.
The main advantage of Xylitol is that it cannot be processed by the natural bacteria in the mouth so that regular use can literally starve the cavity causing bacteria to death!
Used in moderation it can dramatically reduce the incidence of decay in the mouth.
But like all good things there are some precautions that should be heeded. Too much (more than two portions a day) can result in a laxative effect and Xylitol can be lethal to pets. Dogs rapidly develop insulin shock after ingesting Xylitol and it is toxic to their liver whereas humans have no such problems.
So if your dentist says you have way too many cavities, try to have at least two exposures to Xylitol in your mouth a day.
It is important to have only products that have 100% Xylitol and not just small amounts. Some gum or mints have only token amounts of Xylitol and primarily Sorbitol which is cheaper to produce and of little or no benefit.
Sources of Xyltol include: www.zellies.com, www.xlear.com and www.drjohns.com.
So experience the minty, cool and refreshing taste of Xyltol and enjoy better dental health.

Dr Bob’s Life Extending Pearls Of Wisdom

July 21, 2009 by drbob

We hold these truths to be self evident but unfortunately many times we don’t live by them. What follows is a brief list of “Dr Bob’s Life Extending Pearls Of Wisdom.

Reduce Stress:

Go to bed and get up the same time every day with a combination of sleeping or just staying in bed for any multiple of 1.5 hours- 4.5, 6, or 7.5 since we sleep in 1.5 hour cycles. Keep track & try it.
Eat breakfast and a total of three or more small meals a day and stop eating after 7 pm.
Stop eating or drinking the artificial crap that get’s foisted upon us by the “food industry”.
Stay with wholesome and natural foodstuffs: fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein.
Exercise with every move you make by doing so with vigor; for example drying yourself with a bath towel or walking. Do some sustained aerobics at least three times a week or daily for 20 minutes. Do some specific weight training to maintain your bone strength.
Go ahead and have that one drink at the end of the day to just settle-I emphasize ONE!
Take a multiple vitamin, Calcium supplement, Coenzyme Q, and Flaxseed Oil.
Drink eight-eight ounce glasses of water a day or its equivalent.
Nurture your companionship needs.
Say your prayers and be honest with yourself and God.
Have a good bowel movement.

Make a list of things on your mind:

Cross out all the things you can have absolutely no effect on the possble outcome.
Take the remaining items and reduce them to the five most important.
Get at least one of those taken care of every day.

Become a Positive Force:

Trash the things that drag you down and start treating yourself to positive thoughts & actions.
Everyone you meet-the first thing that should come out of your mouth should be a complement.
The best way to feel good is to first make someone else’s day.

Above all else KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid, JUST DO IT!

Water, Water Everywhere, So Why Do We Drink Coke?

March 5, 2009 by drbob

Sugar is addictive. The food industry knows it. The tobacco industry knows it. That’s why they add as much sugar as they can to all their products in order to make you crave more and more. 8 full teaspoons of sugar in each and every can of coke. 7 teaspoons of sugar in one cup size serving of pre-sweetened cereals. There is a popular email that outlines the benefits of pure water verses the scary usefulness of coke as a very effective cleaning solution and rust remover. Most of the statistics it contains have been confirmed as the truth by www.truthorfiction.com. First, about WATER:

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (half the world population).
In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.
Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.
One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Then why aren’t we drinking the right amount of water every day? Could it be because of sugar-loaded sodas such as COKE?

To clean a toilet: pour a can of Coke into the toilet bowl and let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: rub the bumper with rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coke.
To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: pour coke over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
To loosen a rusted bolt: apply a cloth soaked in Coke to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
To remove grease from clothes: empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. Coke will also clean road haze from your windshield.
FYI The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to osteoporosis.
Trucks carrying the concentrate of Coke must display a “Highly Hazardous Material” sign because it is extremely corrosive.

So do yourself and your family a big favor, drink water and save your Coca-Cola for cleaning and rust removal. When it comes to cereal, serve unsweetened cereal to your children and have them add their own sugar from the sugar bowl. I doubt they will even come close to adding as much as the manufacturer does to pre-sweetened cereals. Unless you’re the tin man, stick to drinking water and save the Coke for rust.

VELscope Enhanced Oral Cancer Screening

February 21, 2009 by drbob

VELscope Oral Cancer Screening

Chances are you don’t have oral cancer. But wouldn’t it be nice to be sure?

Oral Cancer Facts:

Oral Cancer kills one North American every hour of every day.
Oral Cancer strikes more victims than cervical and lung cancer combined.
2/3 of Oral Cancer cases are detected in advanced/ late stages.
Advanced/Late Stage Oral Cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 22%.
Early Detection of Oral Cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 80% – 90%.
Tobacco and Alcohol are High Risk Factors.
Studies have linked Oral Cancer to the human papilloma virus (HPV-16) via oral sex.
25% of Oral Cancer victims have never been exposed to alcohol or tobacco.
Before VELscope, only 35% of Oral Cancer cases were diagnosed in early stages.
Pre-malignant changes actually start below the surface, at the basement membrane. These changes may not be apparent to the naked eye until the disease progresses to the surface.

Our Oral Cancer Screening:

Takes about 5 minutes.
Features a traditional visual and palpation examination, plus a screening with the state-of-the-art VELscope Oral Cancer Screening System.
Non-invasive and completely free of pain or discomfort.
With the VELscope system, abnormal tissue typically appears as an irregular, dark area that stands out against the otherwise normal, green fluorescence pattern of surrounding healthy tissue. Thus VELscope enables us to discover abnormal tissue as early as possible.
Any suspect area is then referred to an Oral Surgeon for biopsy and diagnosis.

Oral Cancer Symptoms May Include:

A sore that doesn’t heal within 2 weeks or increases in size.
Persistent pain in your mouth.
Any increased swelling of hard or soft tissues.
White, red or dark patches inside your mouth.
Difficulty in swallowing or moving your tongue or jaw.
Numbness, soreness, looseness or pain around your teeth.
Changes in your voice, teeth or bad breath.

It is highly unlikely that you have oral cancer but for Peace of Mind, schedule your VELscope enhanced oral exam today!

The VELscope enhanced oral exam can help detect many different kinds of oral lesions, not just precancerous or cancerous ones. This new technology helps to look for possible problems beneath the surface of soft tissue in the same way X-rays check for hidden problems in teeth.

BEST DIET PLAN

February 16, 2009 by drbob

The best diet plan is simple and straight forward. A great set of diet guidelines is now available from “The Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Go to their link listed on the right.

This website contains information regarding the food pyramid, fats and cholesterol, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, fruits and vegetables, and vitamins, as well as other nutrition information.

This information came to me via the “Health Professionals Follow-Up Study Newsletter” since I have been involved with this study as long as I have practiced dentistry here in West Chester, PA.

A Plea To Parents For Children’s Dental Health

February 15, 2009 by drbob

February is children’s dental health month. Parents are the key to making this effort successful.

As your infant is transitioning from nursing to solid food, the worst thing you can do is to add sugar or salt so it tastes better to you. At this point the baby could care less. But adding sugar or salt is the initiation of a life long addiction. Yes, salt and especially sugar is a “gateway drug”.

A “gateway drug” is defined as a habit forming substance whose use may lead to the abuse of drugs that are more addictive. Last night, ABC aired “Hidden America-Children Of The Mountains” which demonstrated this in epidemic proportions. Infants, children and then adults drink “Mountain Dew”, a highly acidic poision laden with 19 spoons of sugar in each and every bottle. This concoction is highly addictive and more corrosive than car battery acid. Gatorade is not much better. This region has a very high incidence of tooth decay, obesity, alcoholism and drug addiction.

The tobacco industry takes advantage of this early dependency by making sure cigarettes and smokeless chew tobacco are loaded with sugar. The earlier, these peddlers of sugar and nicotine can grab a captive user, the more success they have to retain and increase this use through adulthood. The need to regularly take in a substance that creates a false sense of euphoria is worsened by a weak family structure with little or no parental guidance.

A healthy mouth is a clear indicator of a healthy mind and body. Parents who take an active role in guiding their children toward a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise can make this happen.

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