by Ahmed Moneim, DDS and Dircilene Souza, PhD

"Antique Dental Instruments", Print on Papyrus

Long ago Demosthenes, a prominent orator of ancient Athens, once said “The time for extracting a dental lesson from history is ever at hand for dentists who are wise”. The words of the Greek orator should work as a reminder for all of us to never take for granted the dentistry we have today. We are very fortunate as patients and dentists to experience dentistry in this current time with improved dental materials, equipment, advanced research and techniques. Have you ever thought about what it might be like to get a cavity filled in the days before electricity? If you would prefer not to go back that far in time, what about dentistry before the high-speed dental drilling and the high-suction apparatus? One thing is clear: dentistry has come a long way.

Historians have dated dentistry back to more than 5,000 years ago. Ironically, the form of local anesthesia we are using today is little more than one hundred years old. It is believed the first dentist was an Egyptian named Hesi-Re around 3,000 B.C., and inside his burial chamber inscriptions say, “the greatest of those who deal with teeth (chief toother), and of the physicians”. Another important figure of history is St. Apollonia around 249 A.D., the patron saint of dentistry had her teeth extracted in Alexandria and now has her saint day commemorated on February 9th. Moving to our continent, the first dentist to practice in America was John Baker in 1760. During the 19th century, it was common for those who practiced dentistry not to have a dental degree. But that started changing when the world’s first dental college was opened in 1840 at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. Initially, female students were not allowed, but that also changed later on and in 1866, Lucy Hobbs Taylor became the first American woman to graduate from dental school (Ohio College of Dental Surgery).

With the dental profession established dentistry evolved with large paces throughout the 20^th century. Today we experience new technologies constantly in our dental offices, affecting the way we think and practice dentistry year by year. That said, regardless of whether you are into history, I hope we can agree that the History of Dentistry can easily become an interesting subject for any person engaged in this field. Speaking from our own experience, by studying history we’ve learned so much about the dental profession and the amazing people who changed the course of dentistry and ultimately our lives that the passion for this subject turned into a mission: to honor the discipline of dentistry. And to have the mission accomplished we had to reach out for the help of a team of doctors and friends. Together we gathered historic items, some coming from long-time dental collectors, until we could finally create the exhibition entitled “The Dental Arts” now open for public visits in downtown Los Gatos.

"Dental Folk Art", England, 1800s

The name “The Dental Arts” acknowledges the fusion of art and dentistry to reflect the dental evolution. The exhibition has a curator of collection responsible for cataloguing and putting together over 200 artifacts on display. The showcase features archaic dental chairs, foot-treadle drill, royal ceramic spittoon, multiple sets of clinical and surgical instruments most with ivory or wooden handles from the early 19^thcentury, bronze container for tooth powder (the predecessor to toothpaste), cases of vintage dental products, dental post-cards, dental advertisements from the 1800s, as well as other miscellaneous items. It also includes Victorian artwork and a kids section with animal teeth and skulls.

With deep appreciation and admiration for the history of dentistry, we welcome you to this exhibition. Our mission now is not only to preserve and document the history of dentistry but also to strengthen the link between art and science while serving the dental community as well as the general public. Lastly, we greatly appreciate donations of historical items to the collection and we’re looking forward to sharing the knowledge of this fascinating history of the art and science of dentistry with all of you.

"The Tooth Paste", cast in bronze

Note: The exhibition is being hosted by the Los Gatos Art Center, located at 242 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, corner of Bachman Avenue. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, from noon to 4 p.m. 

Imagine a world where victims of spinal cord injuries can walk, where there are no shortages of organs for those in need of an organ transplant, where diabetes is no longer treated with insulin shots but cured by implanting insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells grown from the individual’s own stem cells.  Such is thepromise of stem cell based regenerative medicine as envisioned by both the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and the HHS (Department of Health and Human Services). 

Both the NIH and HHS are committing significant resources to the field of regenerative medicine and bothpredict it will revolutionize medicine as we know it today, improving quality of life and reducing health care costs.

According to the HHS, “This revolutionary technology has the potential to develop therapies forpreviously untreatable diseases and conditions. Examples of diseases regenerative medicine can cure include: diabetes, heart disease, renal failure, osteoporosis and spinal cord injuries. Virtually any disease that results from malfunctioning, damaged, or failing tissues may be potentially cured through regenerative medicine therapies. Having these tissues available to treat sick patients creates the concept of tissues for life.”  Sopromising is the technology that theUSmilitary is spending hundreds of millions of dollars through the AFIRM (Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine) initiative, to develop regenerative stem cell therapies to treat injured soldiers returning from battle.

So what is Regenerative Medicine?    According to the NIH, “Regenerative Medicine is theprocess of creating living, functional tissues to repair or replace organ function lost due to age, disease, damage or congenital defects.  This field holds thepromise of regenerating damaged tissues and organs in the body by stimulatingpreviously irreparable organs to heal themselves.  Regenerative medicine also empowers scientists to grow tissues and organs in the laboratory and safely implant them when the body cannot heal itself.” Simply put, regenerative medicine utilizes stem cells, the body’s own natural repair and maintenance mechanisms, to address disease and trauma. 

Stem cells are unique in that they are the only cells in our body that can regenerate.  Certain types of stem cells have the ability to ‘differentiate.’  This allows stem cells to turn into a broad range of specialized tissue types. This means that stem cells can regenerate organs, tissues, bones and much more.  As a result, we are witnessing stem cell therapies being developed to treat disease and trauma such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, MS, arthritis, heart disease, spinal cord injuries, joint replacement, genetic diseases and many more. 

Did you know that there are powerful stem cells in your teeth?  The stem cells that exist in teeth are very compelling for a number of reasons:

• They are ‘plastic’ – meaning they can differentiate into other types of tissue such as muscle, neurons, bone, organs, insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, skin and cartilage to name a few.  This means they could potentially be used to treat a wide range of disease and injury.

• Virtually no chance of rejection – saving your own stem cells from your teeth, otherwise known as your own autologous tissue, means that  once they are reintroduced into the body during a treatment, they will not be rejected as foreign tissue as the body recognizes them as their own.  Reintroducing your own tissue during treatment virtually eliminates the chance of rejection and the need for immunosuppressant drugs.

• Non-controversial – stem cells in teeth are ‘adult’ stem cells; they are non-embryonic stem cells and therefore do not have any of the moral and ethical controversies associated with embryonic stem cells.

• Easy and convenient – stem cells from teeth can be recovered and banked conveniently and affordably during routine dentalprocedures. 

It is important to note that stem cells age along with the individual.    It’s one of the reasons we physically grow old.  After we reach full adulthood, our stem cells fail to keep up with the degradation our bodies endure over time.  Hence, the younger the stem cells, the better.  That is why baby teeth are such a great source of stem cells.   Recovering stem cells from baby teeth ensures the stem cells are young, strong and vital.  Wisdom teeth and healthy teeth being extracted for orthodontic purposes from young adults also present excellent opportunities to recover stem cells. 

Thepromise of regenerative medicine is not science fiction or decades away – it is happening today.  We are witnessing organ transplants with organs built entirely from a person’s own stem cells.  Recently, doctors replaced a woman’s cancerous windpipe with one grown from her own stem cells – not a donor’s.  Why is this so important?  Besides removing the uncertainty and stress related to finding a suitable organ donor, by using the patient’s own stem cells, doctors were able to eliminate the need for the patient to take anti-rejection drugs.  Otherwise, she would have had to spend the rest of her life taking powerful immunosuppressant drugs which can have undesired side effects.  Another recent example is the successful transplantation of bladders that are grown in a laboratory with the individual’s own stem cells. 

In addition, heart tissue, bone, insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells and other tissues are being grown from stem cells.  With the continued success of suchprocedures, personalized stem cell applications will become the new standard of treatment.   

With StemSave, protecting your family’s future health by securing their stem cells today is easy and convenient.  StemSave works with us to recover the teeth at the time of an extraction to assure the highest probability of stem cell viability.  Simply register at www.StemSave.com and StemSave sends one of its patented transport kits to us prior to the plannedprocedure.  At the time of the extraction, we will deposit the extracted teeth into the kit.  The kit is then sealed and rushed to StemSave’s laboratories where the teeth areprocessed and the cells tested for viability.  Upon positive viability, the cells are cryopreserved to be available for utilization in future personalized regenerative therapies. 

To learn more about how you can secure your family’s future health by banking their stem cells, call our office today or visit www.StemSave.com.

LOS GATOS DENTAL CENTER Partners with Market Leader StemSave to Offer LOS GATOS Patients the Chance to Bank Valuable Stem Cells for use in Future Regenerative Medical Therapies

National Institutes of Health’s recent discovery that powerful stem cells exist in teeth give Los Gatos residents an easy way to protect their future health and participate in cutting edge regenerative medicine

LOS GATOS February 29, 2012: LOS GATOS DENTAL CENTER has teamed up with StemSave™, Inc., the market leader in the field of stem cell recovery and cryo-preservation, to enable patients to recover and save very powerful stem cells found in teeth.  The recent discovery that stem cells exist in teeth has the potential to transform dentistry and the future of medical treatments. Stem cells are the basis for the emerging field of Regenerative Medicine. Today, hospitals are utilizing stem cells to treat leukemia and heart failure and are transplanting organs grown from a patient’s own stem cells.  There are more than 78 clinical trials involving stem cell treatments underway and the US Military is developing stem cell therapies to treat soldiers wounded in action.  The current research being conducted suggests that stem cell therapies will be able to treat many of today’s most difficult diseases, such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, muscular dystrophy, cancer and many more.

“As a dentist it is truly remarkable that I can offer my patients a potential life-saving procedure by simply preserving teeth that would otherwise be discarded,” said Dr. Moneim. 

StemSave’s patented technology turns routine trips to the dentist into potentially live-saving experiences. In particular, children and young adults should consider banking their stem cells while undergoing procedures such as the extraction of wisdom teeth or baby teeth. These planned dental procedures provide an ideal time to preserve one’s stem cells. 

“We are thrilled to partner with LOS GATOS DENTAL CENTER, to make harvesting stem cells from teeth easy and affordable, this way everyone can benefit from the powerful medical applications of stem cells,” said Dr. Gregory Chotkowski, Oral Surgeon and president of StemSave. 

StemSave is a collaborative effort between stem cell researchers and the dental community to provide families, and individuals an affordable, non-invasive methodology for the recovery and cryopreservation of the powerful and valuable adult stem cells residing within baby teeth, wisdom teeth, permanent teeth for future use in personalized medicine and regenerative medical therapies. 

LOS GATOS DENTAL CENTER encourages interested patients and families to enroll online at StemSave and schedule an appointment to discuss further.

LOS GATOS DENTAL CENTER is a family dentistry practice that focus on dental implants, invisalign® and general dentistry. Dr. Adams, Dr. Moneim and Dr. Springbett are the main practitioners at the center. Their dedication to dentistry is what makes of the Los Gatos Dental Center a successful practice.

###

StemSave,  Inc.

StemSave provides an affordable and non-invasive method for the recovery and cryo-preservation of the powerful Adult Stem Cells found in teeth by teaming up with dentists to harvest stem cells during routine dental procedures.

Contact:

LOS GATOS DENTAL CENTER

220 Oak Meadow Drive

Los Gatos, CA 95032

(408)354-7333

14513 S. Bascom Avenue

Los Gatos, CA 95032

(408)356-8146

by Dircilene Souza

Just a few places in the world are especially dedicated to honoring the discipline of dentistry. And having realized none of those places were in California and recognized the important need to preserve and document the history of dentistry, our team of doctors of the Los Gatos Dental Center created and maintains the exhibition The Dental Arts in downtown Los Gatos.

As the Director of the Educational Department and current Curator of the exhibit, I can’t express well enough how pleased I felt back in the day we finally came up with that name for the exhibit. The Dental Arts acknowledges the fusion of art and dentistry to reflect the dental evolution. Has anyone ever thought about what it might be like to get a cavity filled in the days before electricity? Yes, think about it for a second and then think about the exhibit as a place to learn a little bit about the history of dentistry, particularly the events that changed the dental profession in the 19^th and 20^th Centuries, and as an extra bonus see expressions of dental art.

Over 200 artifacts are on display featuring archaic dental chairs, multiple sets of dental hand instruments most with ivory or wooden handles from the early 19^thcentury, bronze container for tooth powder (a predecessor to toothpaste), toothbrushes with heads greater than two inches in length, floss made from silk, cases of vintage dental products, as well as dental prosthesis, articulators and other miscellaneous items. The exhibit also includes Victorian artworks and a kids section with animal teeth and skulls.

The objects come from the private collection of Dr. Adam Moneim, with collaboration of Dr. Bruce Springbett and Dr. James Adams. All three Los Gatos doctors agree that the idea of the exhibit began because of an appreciation and admiration for the history of dentistry. And regardless of whether one is interested in dentistry, The Dental Arts contains intriguing pieces that reveal an artistic side to the field.

The rarity of the exhibition is one of the things that make it so interesting. It is definitively worth considering a visit to this little-known showcase right in the heart of downtown Los Gatos. It is being hosted by the Los Gatos Art Center, located at 242 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, corner of Bachman Avenue. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, from noon to 4 p.m. Free-admission.

Part of our mission is to serve not only the dental community, but also the general public through the sharing of knowledge of this fascinating history of the art and science of dentistry and we would love to see an increase in the number of visitors.

Thank you very much.

Please take a look to the recent article in the Mercury News where the “Dental Arts Exhibit” in Los Gatos is featured.

If you think going to the dentist is bad, just take a trip back in time to the newly opened “Dental Arts Exhibit” in downtown Los Gatos and you’ll appreciate the advancements in dentistry that have been made. (Read Full Article)

Admission to the Dental Arts Exhibit is free. The Los Gatos Arts Center, located at the corner of N. Santa Cruz and Bachman avenues, is open Wednesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

First of all, thank you to all the participants of our 3rd Annual Los Gatos Dental Meeting: Wireless Orthodontics, Flapless Dental Implants” this past July 31st. You keep us motivated to bring new information every year. Also a big thank you to our international speakers Dr. Amer from Dubai and Dr. Thamby from Sydney; and from the bay Area Dr. Wu and Jerry.

What was new this year??? Well, just the following:

1. First time using digital scans for invisalign instead of regular impressions.
2. First time using zirconia implants for more aesthetic results.

We hope to see you back here in town next year. Send us an email to keep you posted of the date and topic for next year meeting.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently discovered stem cells in teeth – the adult stem cells that naturally repair your body. Scientists are today directing stem cells, so they grow into almost any type of human cells, including heart, brain, nerve, cartilage, bone and liver cells. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding this topic when you come for your dental exams.
For more information visit: stemsave.com

Know the top 10 advantages and disadvantages and also, the most common reasons why dentists choose to have a second office. This article was published by the Santa Clara Dental Society. Dear colleagues, As a general dentist who has two dental offices for the past 5 years, I often have my fellow dentists question me about how things are going with them. Though, when Dr. Bexter Yang, the Editor, asked me to share my experience with all further members of the Dental Society, I thought that was really an excellent idea. So, to begin with dentists should answer three simple questions before opening a second office: 1st: What is the goal of having a second office? 2nd: Can this goal be achieved with the primary office alone or not? 3rd: What would be your exit strategy? In other words, you have to deeply evaluate your primary office before taking that next step. Here are some reasons why dentists like to open a second office: To increase income or decrease overhead. A double sword can work both ways. To be close to home (less commute). Or, eventually, the new location of the second office is at an area where the dentist would like to have his/her residential address in the future. As an investment strategy, especially when the real estate is involved. Eventually, a good sale opportunity may come into the market with a price you cannot resist (Is that the definition of bargain?). As a hedge strategy, especially when the first office lease expires shortly or the dentist thinks about relocating in the future. When friends or family members (also dentists) would like to partner on a second office. Some dentists like the idea of multi-practices and prefer to test that concept initially with a second office and then, with further offices. When both, funds and time are available and one has passion about practicing more dentistry. For the satisfaction and experience of the dentist.

Top 10 advantages:

1. Reduced overhead. Especially, when your practice has extra equipment or staff that needs to be utilized somehow.
2. Reduced investment. Sometimes the cost of buying a second office with patients is less than the cost of expanding or renovating the first one.
3. Good marketing tool. The second office can help the image of the first one since it promotes that the dentist is successful and very well established in the community.
4. Time optimization. Time goes fast when dentist works at two different locations.
5. Gain of space. In cases when space is limited to expand at your first location.
6. Easier management strategy. If you are successful at your first location it is easier to replicate same same success with same standards, which translates in less cost and time.
7. Increased poll of patients. This gives dentists the ability to offer more specialized services; like as dental implants, wireless orthodontics, etc.
8. Positive results. Those always come when the new second office is located at an under served area.
9. Two locations give more support for patients and staff in case that any emergency happens with one of the facilities.
10. Possible tax and investment advantages (please consult financial advisor and/or CPA).

Top 10 Disadvantages:

1. Increased overhead. That may happen when certain precautions are not taken.
2. More time for work (especially more paper work), less time for family.
3. Physical and mental consumption. That may happen if dentist commutes and/or deals with two completely different dental teams.
4. Possibility of not immediate attention for all patients. Certain dental services need immediate attention, such as root canal, trauma, regular emergency, oral surgery, etc. For instance, a second office may work well for orthodontists, since a few emergencies are expected, but not for oral surgeons, where more attention at post-ops is needed, unless both offices are close to each other.
5. The first office may negatively be affected by the second one, since less time will be allocated to it. A good solution for this problem is to hire associates.
6. Negative image may go towards the dentist if she/he gives more attention into the business expansion than into the quality of dental care provided.
7. Difficulty in getting financing for a second office. Most financial companies like dentists who dedicates to only one office.
8. The need to hire an associate dentist.
9. Resistance of the second office team to get adapted to the new owner’s philosophy.
10. In some cases, selling one of the offices may negatively affect the other one, especially if both offices are close to each other.

In Conclusion:
A second office does require time and money to invest. Dentists should primarily focus on succeeding with their first offices. Then, afterward, they should evaluate the answers they get from those three questions in the beginning of this article before making any decision about opening a second office.
I personally recommend colleagues to always hiring an experienced dentist or a professional consultant in an hourly-basis to help them out with that evaluation of their first dental offices so they get properly advised about the feasibility of a second one. So, if you are now thinking about taking that next step, just make sure that the evaluator you hire does not have any conflict of interest (like as sale of products and/or dental offices).