GREAT NECK, NY -- Despite maintaining good dental hygiene, Carl Zanetti had problems with his teeth for many years. He inherited a family history of dental problems that affected his teeth; they became loose and eventually fell out out, causing his remaining teeth to shift in his mouth. He later had dental bridges implanted to replace his lost teeth but the bridges loosened, causing embarrassment, discomfort and pain. When it came to eating, Mr. Zanetti had to be extremely careful about his food choices, consuming only what he thought could be chewed easily. As time went, his diet, health and demeanor all suffered.

Mr. Zanetti had heard positive comments from his friends who had implants, so he decided to explore the possibility of having the procedure.  After years of suffering with physical and emotional discomfort, and the fear of embarrassment of his bridges dislodging and shifting while he was speaking, he finally went to the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s dental clinic.
 
“I decided to have implants and it’s a decision I’ve never regretted,” said Mr. Zanetti.  “It has changed my life on so many levels. I can now eat a much healthier diet, my cholesterol levels have gone down, and it has greatly reduced my fear of embarrassment. I’ve gone through a major transformation -- and I smile a lot more.”

In the year 2000, the US surgeon general issued the first Report on Oral Health, linking oral health to general health, saying that risk factors for oral and systemic disease are often the same, and that most dental diseases are preventable. Researchers have found that periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease that can cause tooth loss, is linked with other health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and bacterial pneumonia.  Pregnant women who have this gum disease may be at increased risk for delivering pre-term and /or low birth weight babies.

In addition, there is evidence that some people with diabetes can develop a severe form of periodontitis. Those who smoke or use alcohol are also at an increased risk of this disease and a number of other health conditions, including oral cancer.

To find out more about maintaining good oral health, tune in to watch Medical Update on Saturday, November 28, at 11 a.m. and hear Ronald Burakoff, DMD, chairman of dental medicine at North Shore University Hospital and LIJ Medical Center, and William Stewart, DDS, chief of general dentistry at North Shore University Hospital and LIJ Medical Center. Medical Update is broadcast on WLNY-TV, which can be seen on Channel 10 on Long Island Cablevision and Verizon FiOS TV, and on Channel 55 on Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and DishTV.

Media Contact: Elaine Wohl
516-465-2600/2615
ewohl@nshs.edu