Schubert Dental Care Blog

We will be going on out next dental trip to Baudin Haiti on January 27.
Our group is 9 people, all except one who have been on previous trips.
In addition to providing dental care to our community, we will be visiting a dental office in Port-au-Prince. The Haitian dentist there has assisted us in our clinic on several trips. We will be installing some equipment and bringing supplies to help him will his office.
We also will be setting up a meeting to visit the dental school in Port-Au-Prince and hopefully set up a mentoring/intern program for the dental students.

I have found a dental website that has a variety of dental related information. http:dentistry.alltop.com

We now make excellent dentisrty afordable for you with an In-House Premier dental plan.
It’s a 20% discounted fee for ALL services and routine preventive care at No cost! Two cleanings per year with examination and needed x-rays at no cost. Fluoride treatment for children twice a year is also at no cost.

*no deductibles
*No maximum limitations (Unlike traditional insurance)
*No waiting period
*You cannot be denied coverage
*No health questions
*You cannot be singled out for a rate incerease or cancellations
*All cosmetic services included
*Tooth whitening included

Call 815 577 0700 and talk to one of our professional staff for further information and to sign up.

KoR is a brand of a tooth whitening system that we have been using for the past 2 years. It is the ONLY system that…
*Permanently whitens teeth with simple home maintenance
*Rejuvenates your teeth and restores their ability to absorb oxygen.
*Uses precision-formulated products that release the ideal rate of oxygen
*Effectively blocks tooth sensitivity.
*Uses ultra-thin trays that seal in the whitening gel and seal out the saliva.
*Uses only refrigerated products to maximize potency.
*Whitens darkened teeth on everyone, every time.
*Works comfortably and continuously while you sleep.
*Is completely safe for gums and teeth.

Pick up the phone and call us now while it’s frsh on your mind. 815 577 0700

Dr. Schubert was awarded a Top Doc in dentistry award.
Take a look on Topdocchicago.com, type in Plainfield, 60455

There is a very good video of our post-earthquake trip to Haiti on you tube…

View on YouTube

Our patients often ask us why we do not use silver amalgam fillings anymore. This is of special concern regarding insurance companies that downgrade the benefits for tooth-colored (composite) fillings to the benefit for less expensive silver amalgam fillings.

Recently there has been a lot of talk in the media about dental fillings that contain mercury. According to The Medical News, “A new report by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology this month to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that mercury levels from dental fillings is established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency…Dental fillings referred to by dentists as ‘amalgam’ or ’silver’ are actually 50% mercury. Contrary to the FDA’s ruling that exposure from mercury fillings present no health risks, the latest assessment by lead author, G. Mark Richardson, Ph.D., of SNC-Lavalin, concludes that mercury vapor continually emitted from these fillings is absorbed into every tissue and organ in the body, including the brain. Chronic (long term) exposure to elemental mercury can cause kidney damage…and is neurotoxic…In the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, it confirmed that mercury is likely a contributing cause of Alzheimer’s. The use of mercury in dentistry has already been banned in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.”*

The FDA currently states that mercury in fillings is safe. An advisory panel will meet to re-examine the basis of the investigation.

*Source: International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

The fact is that many people, young and old, will develope tooth decay because of the bacteria in plaque. Other factors, such as excessive intake of sugary and acidic foods, also contribute to tooth decay.

Younger people can develope tooth erosion as a result of consuming large amounts of carbonated beverages. Acidic food or drink can dissolve a tooth’s surface, or enamel.

People who consume carbonated beverages frequently , or have GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux disease), would benefit from Xylitol, a substance that tastes like sugar and destroys the specific bacteria that causes tooth decay. Xylitol can be found in certain gums and mints. Patients are encouraged to chew these gums or mints up to six times a day, such as ThereGum, a sweetened gum with 100% Xylitol. The gum can be purchased online.

Most everyone is aware that fluoride treatments are effective for children and teenagers for prevention of decay. The current research has determined that daily fluoride treatments for adults reduces decay around filings, crowns and bridges by 30%!

Daily fluoride treatments are accomplished by using a custom made, thin, flexible, soft tray with the concentrated fluoride in it. The tray is worn for 60 seconds prior to going to bed.

Fluoride treatments for adults is an excellent way to extend the life of the existing dentistry you have and to haelp cut down on future dental expenses.

One of the most frustrating and disappointing occurances for patients as well as the dentist is fillings or crowns that fail after 5 years due to recurrent decay around the edges of fillings or crowns. Daily fluoride applications are a great pereventive measure.

Our first trip back to Haiti since the earthquake…so much destruction, loss of life (around 200,000 people), confusion and fear. Fear is mostly related to being in buildings. People are living in tents everywhere the earthquake affected. The buildings are not trusted and they have had so many aftershocks, even as recently as last week.
We slept in tents in the village of Baudin and worked in our dental clinic during the day. A new addition on this trip was Dr. Ken Rudman from Rhode Island.
Our group of seven (3 dentists) saw 291 patients, extracted just over 1000 teeth and did 28 fillings as well as some miscelaneous oral surgury.
Our next trip is May 29 – June6. Our group will consist of myself, Dr. Pat Blaney, Terri Fattig (dental hygienist from Galveston Texas), my wife Laura, my daughter Amy and her husband Brian, my daughter Vicky, And Amy’s friend Tina. It should be a great trip!!!!