Dr. Terry Forsberg’s Blog

It is hard to believe summer has come and gone!  We hope everyone had a healthy and fun summer season.

We were all very busy with family activities. 

Nancy’s son was married in June, and now she is preparing for her daughter’s wedding next June!  (She will be our resident expert in weddings by the time she is finished).

Dee Dee’s son just won the Dwarf Car Division race season at Ocean SpeedWay.  Her youngest son competed as a rookie in the same division and also did very well. 

Jenny continues her adventure in law school, plus, helps us here in the office.

The highlight of my summer was the wedding of my youngest daughter.  The wedding was wonderful, and thoroughly enjoyed by all.  All of Dixie’s family from the midwest and east were able to come, plus, almost all of my family from California.  Christin and her new husband, John, had a wonderful honeymoon in Tahiti, and are now back to the reality of everyday life.  Here I am walking my beautiful girl down the aisle!

As a team, we are all very thankful for your friendships, and allowing us to serve your dental needs.  We are looking forward to a wonderful fall season, and to seeing you soon. Your kind referrals of your family and friends are the greatest compliment you can give us.

I have recently become a certified PPM (Pure Power Mouthguard / The Edge Mouthguard) dentist.

I am very happy to be able to help athletes (recreational, amateur, or pro) reach their fullest potential  by fabricating a specifically fitted mouth guard that will not only improve your bite, but your balance, and increase your upper body strength.

Using scientific neuromuscular concepts developed by Dr. Bernard Jankelson, and computerized jaw tracking and TENS (transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation), I am able to relax an athletes jaw and facial muscles, and jaw joints.  When the jaw is in this relaxed optimal position, the PPM is then fitted.  The mouth guard is worn in this muscle and jaw joint friendly position, thus, improving range of motion of these muscles and joints, and body posture.  The desired result is improved strength and balance.

The PPM and The Edge mouth guards can be adapted for different sports.

Please call my office for more information or to set up an appointment.  Also, check the www.ppmmouthguard.com website

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, our practice is proud to announce the inclusion of the Vizilite Plus exam as an integral part of our annual comprehensive oral cancer screening program.

One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States – and the mortality has remained unchanged for more than 40 years. Alarmingly, more than 25% of oral cancer victims have no lifestyle risk factors.

 Clinical studies have determined that using Vizilite after the standard oral cancer examination improves the clinician’s ability to identify, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages.  Early detection of pre-cancerous tissues can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life.  When detected early, oral cancer is 90% curable and patients can live a healthy life.

Proven screening technologies such as mammogram, Pap smear, PSA and colonoscopy offer the same types of early detection of cancer.  Vizilite Plus is an easy and painless examination that gives me the best chance to find any oral abnormalities you may have at the earliest possible stage.  This technology is the only medical device cleared by the FDA for the identification and monitoring of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer.

Oral cancer risk by patient profile:

Highest Risk: Patients age 40 and older and lifestyle risk factors (tobacco use); patients with a history of oral cancer.

High Risk: Patients age 40 and older; tobacco users of any age.

Increased Risk: Patients age 18-39.

We will be recommending this exam for all of our new practice guests, as well as annually during a hygiene visit for all of our existing guests.

Sleep Disorder Breathing (SDB) consists of an obstructed airway that can be manifested in the conditions of snoring and/or sleep apnea.  SDB is a serious, and possibly fatal, health issue that is on the rise.  In America, it has been reported that 45% of the population snores (25% of whom snore habitually).  Likewise, it is estimated that 7% of the American population has sleep apnea. 

Because dentists often see patients on a more frequent, regular basis than physicians, those trained in this disorder can be the best-suited health care professional to screen for and educate their patients on this potentially devastating condition.  

As an effort to stay up-to-date on the latest changes in dentistry, I am attending a 2 1/2 day program at LVI (Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies) to become educated in diagnosing and effectively treating SDB.  This course will teach me how to analyze sleep study tests and understand the types and degrees of sleep disorders.  Accordingly, this course will train me in the various treatment of SDB, including creatiing oral appliances.

I am looking forward to incorporating this knowledge into my practice in order to best serve my patients who may be affected by this condition.

Dazzle this holiday season!!  We have an array of options to give you the sparkling, beautiful smile you have always dreamed of.  Teeth whitening, life-like porcelain veneers, natural, tooth-colored restorations, or one appointment porcelain crowns are just a few of the choices you have today thanks to advancements in modern cosmetic dentistry.  Call for a consultaion today!