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Laser Dentistry

Is There a Comfortable Treatment for Periodontal (Gum) Disease? YES!

I just got off the phone with one of our patients from yesterday for whom we had done LANAP, also known as Laser Periodontal TherapyTM, as I wanted to check and see how she is doing today.  And even though I have heard the same exact story practically every single time, I still find it wonderful to hear, and so I wanted to relate it to you (I'll ask her at her first follow-up appt. next week if she wouldn't mind doing a short video herself): Bear in mind......this lady has moderately advanced periodontal (gum) disease, and so when we were doing her treatment yesterday, we had to do a LOT, not just with the Periolase itself, but also with the ultrasonic scaler/cleaner that we use to remove all of the tough tartar build-up; to treat her whole mouth took about 2.5 hours, so she was in our office for quite some time.  Fortunately, she was able to watch Dr. Phil during the procedure, which kept her pretty well distracted LOL. So what did she say when I asked her how she felt immediately afterwards and also today?  Basically, she said that she took just 1 (ONLY ONE!!!!) 800mg Ibuprofen tablet yesterday "just in case," but since then, she has had practically no pain, and only a tiny bit of soreness, and she has not had to take ANY further pain medication of any kind!  That is one of the things I simply LOVE about doing LANAP -- even though we are treating the gum disease very aggressively, the physical properties of the laser stimulate healing so much and soothe the body so much, that patients are always amazed at how well they feel afterwards. [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:24-04:00 June 11th, 2010|LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Periodontal (Gum) Disease, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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Smiles by Payet Dentistry is Moving in May!

As we've been telling so many of our patients in recent months, we are moving to a new office around the middle of May 2010, and we're REALLY excited about this!  For a number of reasons, our new office is going to make it so much easier for us to see even more patients, faster, with BETTER customer service than we already strive to offer every day.  Read on for more........: Expanding from 3 Treatment Rooms to 6: We will be dedicating at least 1 of those new rooms strictly to our Six Month Braces, because we are seeing so many adults who want a pretty, straight smile, but who don't want or need to go through comprehensive orthodontics.  In addition, we will be soon adding Tip-Edge Orthodontics for our teen patients, which will make orthodontic treatment for both parents and teens even more convenient. Private Consultation Room: Oh how nice this will be.  For a while now, we've had to use a converted treatment room for consultations, but it's never been as quiet and private as we'd have liked.  That's changing!  You'll have total quiet and privacy when discussing whatever you need to tell us. Kid's Play Area:  There will be a small area in the Reception are just for kids to play, which will make it so much easier for parents with those small children to keep their appointments. Internet Bar + Free WiFi: In today's interconnected world, it's so important to be able to stay connected.  We will have a separate WiFi network just for our patients, and the one that we use will be securely encrypted to maintain privacy.  And while we will work to ensure your waits are minimal, if [...]

By | 2014-08-27T16:03:27-04:00 April 19th, 2010|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Cosmetic dentistry, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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What’s the difference between Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease?

This is one of those simple questions that can seem quite confusing to the public, because most dental offices don't do an adequate job explaining the difference, and sadly, periodontal disease is still one of the most under-diagnosed and under-treated diseases in the United States.  Part of the reason for the lack of treatment does come from the lack of proper diagnosis, but the other part is most commonly that patients believe that treatment for periodontal disease is too uncomfortable or that it doesn't seem to work very well.  Fortunately, we now have a genuine treatment that both works and is comfortable: Laser Periodontal TherapyTM.  Still, it is important to understand the difference, so you can know if you do or don't have either gingivitis or periodontal disease, and what you can do about it. Gingivitis In the simplest terms, Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, caused by a build-up of plaque around the teeth that is not completely and regularly cleaned by good brushing and flossing. You could think of it as a paper cut on your skin -- you know, it gets really red and irritated and sore, will bleed a bit, but if you take good care of it by putting ointment on and a bandaid (the equivalent of good brushing and flossing), it will go away quickly. What do you need to do to cure gingivitis? Brushing at least twice/day Flossing at least once, preferably twice/day, with good technique, and possibly Using a non-alcohol-based, fluoride mouthrinse. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to become periodontal disease if there are other contributing factors, but it does not automatically do so, and it can be reversed with improved care of your teeth and [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:48-04:00 February 16th, 2010|Gingivitis, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Periodontal (Gum) Disease|0 Comments
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Biolase tries to copycat Millenium Dental Technologies, or…..BUYER BEWARE

In a move that clearly indicates the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not always truly understand what it approves, another dental laser manufacturer (BIOLASE Technology, Inc) has received clearance to market their laser, the Waterlase MD TM, for the same LANAP Procedure that was originally patented and approved by the FDA for the Millenium Dental Technologies Periolase MVP-7 laser -- EVEN THOUGH Biolase has not a single shred of clinical research demonstrating that it can do what it claims. In fact, the Waterlase MD is a completely different kind of laser, called an erbium, whereas the Periolase is a Nd:YAG; the letters may not seem to mean much, but there is, in fact, a DRASTIC difference. Not only is the type of laser different, but the Waterlase has virtually NONE Of the settings possible that make the Periolase so SAFE.  It's complicated physics, and I won't bore you with that, but suffice it to say, it is basically impossible for the Waterlase to do what the Periolase does. The Periolase has 10 years experience and thousands of users who consistently get the same results because of demanding training and all the specifics that make it work as it does.  If you want to be sure that your gum disease is being treated by a laser dentist with the EVIDENCE that it works, make sure you choose a dentist licensed and trained to use the Periolase MVP-7 dental laser.  I'll be adding a page to my website soon that will list dentists across the nation who offer the only proven laser treatment for periodontal (gum) disease.

By | 2015-07-28T09:44:09-04:00 December 21st, 2009|Laser Dentistry|0 Comments
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2009 is Almost Over – Use Your Dental Benefits/Flex Plan $ or Lose Them!

USE IT OR LOSE IT! Your Dental Insurance, that is.  Did you know that, when your dental insurance year runs out, you LOSE whatever benefits you have left?  Unlike phone minutes, there’s no “roll-over” for your insurance, so once they’re gone, they’re GONE. We are rapidly approaching the end of 2009, and our schedule is already filling up for those last appointments of the year; if you don’t schedule now, you could easily miss out on the opportunity to use your benefits to help you get the dental treatment you need.  If you want to use Flex Plan dollars (‘cause you lose those, too, don’t forget!) or Dental Insurance that is still available, please call Liz at your first chance so you don’t miss out. END-OF-YEAR SPECIALS In addition to using your Dental Benefits, we are offering some really cool End-of-Year specials to help you out (hey, if you save some money and I get to stay busy, we BOTH benefit, right?) 1)      Get up to an ADDITIONAL $500 off our amazing Six-Month Braces! This has been incredibly popular, and patients tell us almost every day that they can’t believe how fast their teeth are straightening out.  Many are going to have the smiles straight and white by Thanksgiving or Christmas already.  Since we already have the coupon for $500 off, if you chose this option, you can save UP TO $1000!  If you’re doing 1 arch, you save $250 extra, but $500 off if you do both top and bottom teeth. 2) SAVE YOUR TEETH FROM GUM DISEASE AND $500 OFF! If you have gum disease and we’ve talked with you about LANAP, here’s the best way to go: We are scheduling blocks of [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:59-04:00 November 16th, 2009|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Cosmetic dentistry, Dental Insurance, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Periodontal (Gum) Disease, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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1-Visit Porcelain Veneer

Linda came in to our office today with 1 serious issue: a broken porcelain dental veneer on her upper right lateral incisor (second from the middle).  Naturally, since she'd been through the process of getting veneers done previously, she was expecting that she would leave with a temporary (aka provisional) veneer after we'd taken a mold of the tooth, and she'd have to come back in a few weeks to have the real one bonded in.  However, she was pleasantly surprised by the end of her appointment today, because thanks to the CEREC AC Bluecam, we were able to make a brand-new porcelain veneer in just ONE visit!  No second appointment to bond the veneer in, no temporary veneer, no tooth molds, no second time getting numb........NONE of that!  So judge for yourself.....how did we do? If you are looking to transform or fix your smile, and convenience is important to you, then give us a call at 704-364-7069 or Request an Appointment Online Oh yeah.......almost forgot to mention, too....since Linda signed up with our Quality Dental Plan, she saved 20% on her work today!

By | 2017-06-09T20:44:02-04:00 November 2nd, 2009|Cosmetic dentistry, Laser Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers|0 Comments
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Best Treatment for Gum Disease

It's easy for me to tell you that Laser Periodontal TherapyTM is both effective and comfortable, but we both know that it's easier to believe when you talk to someone who has actually been through it.  So, right after we finished up treating a really sweet patient yesterday, we asked her if she wouldn't mind recording a short video so our other patients could hear directly how easy it was.  That said, let me introduce you to Milli:

By | 2017-06-09T20:44:08-04:00 October 25th, 2009|LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Laser Dentistry, Patient Testimonials, Periodontal (Gum) Disease|0 Comments
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News segment with Terrie Reeves & Dr. Payet on "Train for Life", on TVNews 14 in Charlotte – coming soon!

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of recording a short interview with the Founder and President (and one of my patients) of the Wellness Coalition of America, Ms. Terrie Reeves, for her weekly segment on TVNews 14 (every Sunday) called "Train for Life." Each week, Terrie interviews people in different areas of life, all of which are somehow related to our total health and well-being.  My first interview was how dentists can be an important part of your health-care team, because many diseases can be diagnosed through various conditions that come up in the mouth - diabetes, leukemia, gum disease - especially this one, because it has been shown to be linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and more.  You can see the video segment that was aired in late spring 2009 at this link: Dental Health and Total Body Health Links (please note that the video must be viewed on Internet Explorer or Safari, but does not play on Firefox - sorry!). Well, today we'll be recording 2 new segments to be aired this fall.  The first will be on the NTI-tss, an FDA-approved and non-medication treatment for Chronic Migraine and Chronic Tension Headaches, and the second spot (won't air until November) will cover the most effective and comfortable treatment for periodontal (gum) disease available: the LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) protocol, which can only be performed by a dentist licensed in the use of the Periolase MVP-7 free-running pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser. I'll be sure to post links to each of these as they become available!  I must admit, it's kind of fun to become a local expert on dentistry for the media.  :-)

By | 2017-06-09T20:44:15-04:00 October 2nd, 2009|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Bruxism & Parafunction, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Laser Dentistry, Migraine headaches, Periodontal (Gum) Disease, TMJ Problems, Migraines and Headache Relief|0 Comments
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Periodontal disease and Erectile Dysfunction? Seems crazy, but just maybe connected!

Wow - this one even surprised me!  Check out this summary of a recent study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine: Erectile dysfunction might be associated with chronic periodontal disease: two ends of the cardiovascular spectrum. Zadik Y, Bechor R, Galor S, Justo D, Heruti RJ. Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Zrifin, Israel. [email protected] INTRODUCTION: Both chronic periodontal disease (CPD) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are associated with cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, including smoking and diabetes mellitus. However, the association between ED and CPD has never been studied. AIM: To study the association between ED and CPD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Prevalence of ED, prevalence of CPD, ED severity. METHODS: The study population consisted of 305 men who filled the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire in order to detect ED and assess its severity, and underwent a pair of standardized posterior dental bitewing radiographs in order to detect CPD. SHIM questionnaire scores 21 or less represented ED. Alveolar bone loss of >or=6 mm represented CPD. RESULTS: The mean age of included men was 39.5 +/- 6.7 years. Overall, 70 (22.9%) men had ED and 13 (4.3%) had CPD. CPD was significantly more prevalent among men with mild ED (P = 0.004) and moderate to severe ED (P = 0.007) in comparison to men without ED. CONCLUSIONS: ED might be associated with CPD. These preliminary findings are consistent with theories that associate these conditions with systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. Ohhhhh, and I apparently forgot to mention (Oops! ;-) ): if periodontal disease is something you need treated, and you want the absolute best treatment currently available, please request a Consultation/Exam with us by either of [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:44:17-04:00 September 18th, 2009|ANNOUNCEMENTS, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Periodontal (Gum) Disease|0 Comments
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LANAP, the PerioLase, & Gum Disease Treatment in North/South Carolina

Ok, then you're in luck!  Here is a video that will give you pretty good information about periodontal (gum) disease in general, as well as about conventional non-surgical and surgical treatment options, and then about LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Protocol). Something very important to know: the Periolase MVP-7 dental laser, made by Millenium Dental Technologies, and for which the required training is provided by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD), is the ONLY dental laser available that can be used with LANAP. DON'T BE FOOLED INTO THINKING THAT ANY OLD LASER CAN DO THIS! There are only 4 doctors in Charlotte, NC (as of today September 17th, 2009) who can offer this treatment to you, including me; make sure it's the real deal.   Dr. Robert Gregg and Dr. Delwin McCarthy, who founded Millenium Dental and developed the Periolase and LANAP, are passionate about protecting patients from harm by dentists who don't have the right background or understanding of lasers, which is why they patented the protocol with the FDA.  Only doctors who complete the initial 3 days of training receive a license and laser. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=

By | 2017-11-07T09:04:10-05:00 September 17th, 2009|LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Laser Dentistry, Periodontal (Gum) Disease|0 Comments
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