Dr. Maddahi's online newsletter for September 2017
An t i - Ag i ng DENT I STRY September 2017
Dr. Kourosh Maddahi
C O S M E T I C & A N T I - A G I N G D E N T I S T R Y
The Biocompatible Difference
I’ve been a dentist for 30 years, and in that time, I’ve encountered a number of phenomena related to teeth and gums. Patients have come in with unusual symptoms that were noticeably not right. For example, I’ve met patients whose gums turned from pink to blue, and they were left wondering why. Several years ago, after dealing with many of these out-of-the-ordinary cases, I took it upon myself to research the relationship between the materials used in dentistry and the body’s reactions. I discovered that when I removed crowns or fillings and replaced them with nonreactive materials, patients noticed improvement. The blue discoloration went away and their gums began to look and feel healthier. In my research, I worked with Clifford Consulting and Research Labs in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Clifford Labs did testing on blood samples with over 9,000 dental materials. Through this exhaustive testing, I was able to learn which materials patients had reactions to. About 12 years ago, equipped with the knowledge of these reactions, I changed the way I practiced dentistry. At the same time, I made changes to the office itself. About 95 percent of the materials used within the office are hypoallergenic, and certainly everything that comes into contact with a patient is, as well. This includes dental tools and materials used within the mouth, such as cements, crowns, fillings, and so on. In addition to these changes, I stopped using metal fillings and crowns altogether. In my research with Clifford Labs, I found that metals were the main culprit behind the reactions that patients experienced, though not the only culprit. By making this and many other changes, I noticed a dramatic improvement in patient health. I recall one patient who had experienced rashes on her arms for seven years. She saw doctors and tried different things to clear it up, but nothing changed. Then, she came to me and I removed her metal crowns. The rash went away. Another initiative I’ve undertaken is ending the use of fillings made with material that uses BPA (bisphenol A). As I mentioned last month, the FDA considers BPA “safe.” It’s used in plastics and in the food industry,
but over the past several years, many companies have stopped using the chemical. More research suggests BPA can negatively impact brain health and that children may be particularly at risk. There are over 90 companies that manufacture materials used in fillings, namely fillings that match tooth color. Of those 90 companies, only three currently use BPA-free material. I source the filling material we use in our office from these select companies. All of these changes and initiatives come together for the greater good of our patients. This is biocompatible dentistry at its finest. No one who visits our office has to worry about having an adverse reaction to any product we use, and you are left with an amazing smile that is truly healthy.
- Dr. Maddahi
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Every parent knows that a poorly organized tangle of kids’ activities is a recipe for a migraine. As school starts up again, so does sports season, and your kids’ extracurricular ambitions pile up like the falling autumn leaves. Don’t let yourself get burned out. Here are some tips on how to stay sane in the midst of the extracurricular whirlwind. Consolidate all your scheduling, jotting, and activity-tracking into one system. Let’s get one thing straight: You can’t afford to be scrawling “Abby piano lesson rescheduled 9/21” on the first scrap of paper you come across. That doesn’t mean you have to be hyper-organized, but it does mean that you need to keep your entire calendar in one place, whether that place is Google Calendar, a fridge whiteboard, or the old-fashioned standby: a calendar with a lighthouse on every page. One particularly attractive option is the Cozi app (cozi.com), which not only consolidates an entire family’s calendars, but allows you to include to-do lists, shopping lists, recipes, chore checklists, and more. Whichever system you choose, keep it updated. Its word is law. Formparent alliances. Those soccer practices Jacob’s going to? There are other teammates there, and they have parents shuttling them around, just like you are. Set up carpools —Noah’s momdrives themboth Tuesday while you’ve got Thursdays — tomanage scheduling conflicts between your kids and drastically reduce the time you spend as a chauffeur. To simplify the process andmake sure everyone’s on the same page, check out the Carpool- Kids app at carpool-kids.com. It’ll let you directly invite other parents and set up weekly or one-shot carpool schedules. Maintain balance. You almost certainly will need to say no to additional extracurricular activities every now and then. Sure, simultaneous baseball, football, and soccer seasons might seem healthy and fun for your kid, but you need to consider your own needs, as well. Many parents give their children free rein over what to choose, but limit activities to one or two per season. Johnny wants to do underwater basket weaving? Strange choice, but sure — though he’ll have to abandon either fencing or ice hockey. Make sure you weigh each child’s needs equally, and keep the rules the same for each of them.
BEFORE AND AFTER
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Patients often ask, “Should I have my mercury fillings removed?” The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology recommends that you do. Next month, we’ll examine what that looks like and what you can expect from the removal process. A LOOK AT BIOCOMPATIBLE DENTISTRY Finding Balance in Tooth and Body
You may have seen the words “biocompatibility” and “biocompatible dentistry” and wondered what they meant. Over the next two months, we’ll explore biocompatibility and its implications for your teeth and overall health. First and foremost, biocompatibility is about balance. It’s a balance between dental health, the health of your body, and the materials dentists use to maintain your smile. Dentists who practice biocompatibility look for ways to reduce and eliminate toxic materials used in dental procedures. To accomplish this, more dentists, including Dr. Maddahi, search for new or alternative materials that are biologically compatible with the body. For instance, take the silver filling, also known as the amalgam filling. In the past, this was one of the most common types of fillings. Up to 50 percent of this filling’s composition is mercury, with silver and other metals mixed in. In amalgam form, mercury doesn’t easily enter the body, but over time, it can pose an issue. The problem is, mercury can accumulate in the body. Fillings are meant to last years, and the potential for exposure is high. While the FDA recognizes amalgam fillings as safe, mercury is still highly toxic and incompatible with the human body. The World Health Organization reports that, in people with amalgam fillings, those fillings are the number one source of mercury in the body. This source of mercury eclipses all other sources of mercury, including fish.
Have a Laugh
ONE-PAN Harvest Pasta
Ingredients •
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 small eggplant, cut into 1-inch pieces (4 cups) 1 medium zucchini, coarsely chopped (2 cups) 2 tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 cup) 1/3 cup chopped red onion 1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained 2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 cup dried whole grain elbow macaroni 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
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Kosher salt
Ground black pepper (optional)
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Snipped fresh basil
Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions 1.
In a very large skillet, heat oil over mediumheat. Add eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, and garlic. Cook, uncovered, 7–10 minutes or until vegetables are almost tender, stirring occasionally. 2. Add beans, broth, pasta, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer 7–10 minutes more or until vegetables and pasta are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove fromheat. Season with salt and pepper; top with basil and Parmesan cheese and serve.
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Dr. Kourosh Maddahi
www.drmaddahi.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
310.888.7797 | 888.310.6771
C O S M E T I C & A N T I - A G I N G D E N T I S T R Y
INSIDE 436 N. Roxbury Dr. #202 Beverly Hills, CA 90210
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The Biocompatible Difference
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How to Demystify Your Kids’ Jampacked Schedules
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Before and After Photos
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What Is Biocompatible Dentistry?
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One-Pan Harvest Pasta
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The Museum of What?
The Museum of What? THE WORLD’S STRANGEST MUSEUMS Museums are a staple of vacations nomatter where you travel. Everyone has heard of the Louvre and the Smithsonian, but youmight be surprised to learn about some of the stranger museums around the world. For nearly every passion, there is a building somewhere dedicated to it. Take a look at some of the weirdest.
leave you smiling, laughing, and feeling a little better about the fact that you’re not Picasso.
Momofuku Ando Instant RamenMuseum Osaka, Japan
Sulabh International Museumof Toilets Delhi, India
It’s not just college students and video gamers who love ramen. Since the invention of the instant noodles by Momofuku Ando in 1958, ramen has evolved into a beloved dietary staple from Japan to Jamaica. The museumnamed after its creator offers you the chance to look at some of the strangest versions from around the world. As an added bonus, you can even design your own packaging. Bring along some chopsticks, as there are plenty of samples to slurp up.
A functioning toilet is something everyone takes for granted until they don’t have access to one. In India’s capital, you can explore the fascinating history of commodes. Fromprimitive examples you would never use today to gold-plated bathroom thrones frompalaces across the world, the variety of toilets on display is staggering. Divided into three sections —ancient, medieval, andmodern—you’ll be shocked at howmuch you can learn about history and culture through an examination of the ways a society flushes (or doesn’t).
The Kansas BarbedWireMuseum Rush County, Kansas
Plenty of museums are hands-off, but that’s usually to protect the precious objects held within. At the Kansas BarbedWire Museum, not touching the exhibits is just sound advice. The development of barbed wire was instrumental in settling the AmericanWest, and this museumpays tribute to the ingenuity of those farmers who wanted tomake sure their cattle stayed on their property and thieves stayed out.
TheMuseumof Bad Art Dedham, Massachusetts
There are plenty of museums dedicated to exceptional artwork fromhistory, but only one dedicated to less-than-successful artistic endeavors. The Museumof Bad Art, or MOBA, promotes itself as the home of “art too bad to be ignored.” A trip to MOBA will
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