Category Archives: Press

If you’re looking for a dentist that is both mercury free and mercury safe, you may be at a bit of a loss as to how to find one.  The best way to find a dentist who fits both these criteria is to look at dentists who are members of professional associations that require dentists not only not use mercury, but offer amalgam filling removal that follows certain safety protocols developed to protect you from unnecessary or excessive exposure.

One of the first and most prominent of these organizations is the International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists (IAMSD).  IAMSD members commit to:

• Not placing mercury amalgam fillings, and
• Following safe removal procedures.

A second organization whose members are both mercury free and mercury safe is the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.  Members of this organization strive to provide the most biocompatible materials available.  The organization is actively working to persuade the FDA to ban the use of mercury in dental procedures.

The next organization to consider is the international Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine.  This organization focuses on instructing dentists and other health professionals in biological dentistry.  The organization emphasizes treatment of the patient as a whole person rather than a collection of isolated parts.

Two organizations, the Institute of Nutritional Dentistry and the Institute of Systemic Dentistry focus on similar areas..  While most of these organizations incorporate nutrition as part of the holistic practice, this organization emphasizes nutrition to promote oral health.  The organizations regularly hosts seminars on a variety of topics, including nutrition, technological advances, and biocompatible materials.

The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies is a postgraduate teaching institution dedicated to training dentistry students in the most up to date dental practices.  The majority of dentists who graduate from the institute are mercury free.  Graduates receive extensive education and training in cosmetic dentistry, including safe removal of mercury fillings and replacement with a variety of materials.

Finally, the Holistic Dental Association was founded for the purpose of promoting whole health practices.  Today, individuals are increasingly taking charge of their own health and the Association seeks to help educate those patients who wish to take a greater role in maintaining their own health.

If you’re concerned about dental mercury and looking for a dentist who is both mercury free and mercury safe, a member of any of these organizations is going to be a good choice.  As always, though, be sure to ask questions and listen to your instincts.

Read on..

Holistic dentistry, sometimes referred to as biological dentistry, is a dental approach that seeks to treat the patient as a whole person, taking care to use methods that are good for the patient’s physical and emotional well-being as well as their oral health.  Holistic dentists incorporate natural techniques with conventional medicine to treat, diagnose, and prevent dental issues.

Conventional dentistry uses a variety of materials known to be toxic.  One in particular is amalgam, which consists of more than 50% mercury.  Mercury has been proven to harm the immune system and the central nervous system.  Not only is this harmful to the patient, but the waste, if improperly disposed of, gets into the air and water supply.  Amalgam fillings aren’t the only potentially harmful practice in dentistry, however.  Even routine procedures such as cleanings can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream.  Holistic dentists minimize this risk with natural antibacterials.

Holistic dentists believe that oral health both directly influences and is influenced by physical and mental health.  Research shows that patients with gum disease have more trouble keeping their blood sugar under control, and approximately 95% of diabetics have gum disease.  Poor oral health is also linked to increased symptoms of depression, increased risk of premature birth, and other conditions.

Holistic dentists don’t limit themselves to treating the teeth and gums, they may also advise their patients on healthy lifestyles, including not smoking, moderating their alcohol consumption and improving their nutrition, all of which will benefit both physical and oral health.  Other practices vary among holistic dentists.  Some oppose the use of fluoride, especially in water, feeling that the benefits are overhyped and not worth the potential risk of bone disease and certain types of cancer.  Some do not perform root canals due to the risk of trapping bacteria inside the tooth where it can make its way to the bloodstream.  Some prefer digital over conventional x-rays as they expose patients to less radiation.  Just about the only universal among holistic dentists is that they do not use amalgam in dental procedures, preferring alternatives like resin.

Don’t get too caught up in the holistic label in your search for a dentist.  Some conventional minded dentists use the label as a marketing scheme, while other dentists don’t bother with the label, despite following many holistic practices.  Be sure to ask questions of any dentist you choose to find one who closely aligns with your preferences.

More podcasts and articles on the subject at http://drvinograd.com/holistic-dentist/holistic-dentist-blog/

When you hear about Botox for reducing the wrinkles, who do you picture?  If you’re like most people, your mental image is one of two kind of people, probably a woman.  First you might imagine an elderly woman, perhaps in her seventies or older.  You might imagine her looking her age, with significant wrinkles, making a dramatic transformation and looking much younger after the procedure.  Or you may think of some celebrity who has had to deal with a poor outcome.  What you may not think of is an average woman in her thirties getting Botox to help delay the effects of aging.  Many people think that a woman who does not yet have significant wrinkles is too young to be considering Botox.  But is she really?

While most people think of Botox as primarily used to get rid of wrinkles and fine lines that a person may have had for many years  What many people don’t realize is that Botox can be equally effective when used in smaller doses starting when fine lines and wrinkles just begin to show, or even before they appear.  Using Botox on an individual who already shows significant signs of aging produces dramatic change, while using Botox before fine lines set in can delay or even prevent the appearance of aging entirely if administered properly.

The most effective ways to use Botox to delay or prevent wrinkles is if the patient starts receiving treatments before wrinkles and fine lines begin to appear.  To accomplish this, the patient will need to begin receiving Botox at a much younger age than most people start to consider the treatment, but these patients make an intelligent and perceptive decision to use Botox to prevent aging rather than to wait and expect Botox to reverse the process after it is underway.  Different people age at different rates, depending on genetics and lifestyle choices such as alcohol and tobacco use and sun and wind exposure.  If someone starts noticing fine lines developing in their thirties, there’s no reason at all they should not be able to stop aging in its tracks now.  Why wait until aging has already taken its toll on your appearance?  If you’re starting to notice fine lines around your eyes or the corners of your mouth, don’t wait, talk to your doctor about whether Botox might be able to erase them and prevent new ones from forming.

Informative articles on Botox at http://dentox.com/botox-edu-news

When we buy processed food – things like pasta sauces and cereal – we often spend a good deal of time looking at the ingredients list in the shop. We know that what a company puts into a product could actually be quite harmful to us, and that is why it pays to always be sure of what you are putting into your body. The same goes for the drinks that we consume: almost all of us have looked on the back of a drinks bottle and checked to see how much salt and sugar has been put into it. However, despite all of that care over what we decide to put into our bodies at meal times, all of that good sense seems to go out of the window when it comes to brushing our teeth.

Yes, you read that correctly: brushing your teeth. When was the last time that you read through the ingredients list of your toothpaste to discover whether or not there is something harmful in there? We would bet you probably have never looked, and in most people’s cases there is a simple reason: because they don’t know what half the chemicals are! That is where we come in.

Many of the chemicals that can be found within typical store bought toothpastes are actually really harmful – people just don’t know that. For example, triclosan is classified as a pesticide, and yet can be found in many toothpaste ingredients lists. Sodium hydroxide is an organ toxin, and that can also be found in toothpaste. The only way that you can avoid these chemicals is to do something revolutionary: make your own toothpaste at home. It is simple, with only five ingredients that are all natural and found in most people’s cupboards already, and you can brush safe in the knowledge that you aren’t doing any damage to your body.

Reference: http://besttoothpaste.net/fluoride-free/

by Brighton Dental San Diego

When you move to a new area, there will be a million and one different things that you will need to sort out and organise – and sometimes some important things will slip your mind. Many people will focus more on getting their utilities sorted out, and making sure the children are settled happily in their new schools, and these are of course very important things. However, there is something else that is just important that you should definitely spend some time on because if you do not, then your entire family could suffer: and that is finding a family dentist.

The San Diego area is well known for the brilliant numbers of dentists that can be found in the area, but when you have a family to consider, then your priorities may change slightly. Before you even think about starting to talk to dentists, you should sit down and think about writing a list of the things that you need a dentist to be and provide. For example, you want a dentist that is good with children, and will put them at ease. You may want a dentist that is happy for emergency care, or a dentist that is within walking distance from your home. Whatever is important to you, you should ensure that you make it a non-negotiable. After all, you are thinking about your family’s health here.

Do not be afraid to ask the dentists that you meet some searching questions – after all, it is much better to ask questions now than regret it later! The San Diego area contains many excellent dentists and dental surgeries, but they are all different. There will almost certainly be one that stands out to you as being the best one for your family, and so you can start seeing them.

Related: www.brightondentalsd.com/procedures/restorations/cracked-chipped-tooth-restoration/

By Whitney Conner
Staff Writer ’06

Lassiter’s sports teams have done a great job so far. However, with a new season of sports beginning it can get somewhat difficult to remember the teams that have already finished their seasons. On that note, here’s a recap of Lassiter’s fall sports successes.

The Swim and Dive team did exceptionally well this year. Thirty seven of Lassiter’s best swimmers swam in the state preliminaries on February 19.This year, Coach Zmuda took the most swimmers to swim at state in Lassiter’s history. Out of that 37, seven males and thirteen females swam again on Saturday at the finals. While the girl’s team had hoped to place first this year, they unfortunately took third place. However, the girls did great this year in that they were undefeated up until the state championship. Jenny Schimenti, Anna Gleyzer, Abby Ahlers, and Sarah Porri won the Ladie’s 400 free Relay at state and even broke Lassiter’s school record and the county record for the event. The team won their fourth Cobb County Championship as well. Of the team, seven swimmers and three divers were nominated for the All County Swim Team. Steven Grade was dubbed Cobb County Swimmer of the Year and Coach Zmuda was honored with Cobb County Coach of the Year for the second time. As this was his last year at Lassiter, he will be greatly missed next season.

Lassiter’s wrestlers celebrate the success of their
two champions, Cody Runnels and Rod Boyd

Coach Day’s wrestling team did well, too. Cody Runnels and Rod Boyd? wrestled their way to the top as Cobb County’s only two champions. Cody Runnels also won the state match. However, he did suffer his first loss in four years against Wade Hudson of Parkview. Even though Cody will be leaving next year, he says the wrestling team is showing some potential, noting that “some of the freshmen are showing some potential as future state-winning, wrestlers.

This year’s cross country team did great as well. At the County Championship, both the boy’s and girl’s teams placed second. At regionals, the boys placed first and went on to place seventh at state. Alex McWalters was the individual Region champ. The girls placed third at regionals and tenth at state. Elena Linn placed third at state and was the Cobb County Champion.
Coach Giles is very proud of the boy’s tennis team, who has a great shot at winning the region championship. Also, Coach Giles believes Lassiter will be represented very well in the state tournament. The leaders of the team are junior Shawn Gordon and senior Max Bicklehaup. Both boys are undefeated with Shawn at 2 singles and Max at 1 doubles.

The Lassiter Gymnastics team hosted an invitational meet of eight other teams. Lassiter took both the invitational and the top three individual medals.

By Michelle Jaret
Special Features Editor ’04

Though the United States is one of the countries in the world that appreciates soccer the very least, that doesn’t mean we are void of any citizens that eat, sleep, and breathe the sport. Lassiter is home to two of these “hooligans,” as soccer fans in the UK are often referred to, and it’s not by accident that their passion for the sport as landed them the title of team captains of their respective varsity teams.

Megan Harris is one of the captains of Lassiter’s girls varsity soccer team and will continue playing next year at Western Carolina University on a scholarship. Playing the game since age three, soccer is a big part of her life: “I eat, sleep, and breathe soccer. Then I work at Publix and sleep some more!” It may seem extreme, but perhaps it is that kind of drive that is required to achieve the kind of success that Megan can claim. For example, Megan was Lassiter’s rookie of the year in 2001, named the best defensive player in 2002, a scholar athelete in 2003, received the United Quest scholarship in 2000 and has won several state championship titles. Megan’s achievements are certainly something to be proud of but that’s not all that the hard work is for; Megan says that what she really loves is being part of a team. She explains her passion this way: “Soccer has been such a positive reinforcement in my life. It’s been my number one motivation and has kept me out of trouble ever since I was little. I love playing, I love my teammates, I love everything about it.” You can’t argue with that, and according to her, she grew up with that mentality, “my dad is a Brit, so soccer is life. Ha.”

Patrick Flinn is one of the Varsity boys team captains. Like Megan, Patrick is very dedicated to his sport and says it takes up most of his time. Besides going to practice, Patrick hones his skills by running 2 miles in the morning (his route is on Mabry Road to the QuickTrip station, so keep your eyes open before school!) Before games Patrick claims to always eat a bagel and two bananas; perhaps his rituals seem odd to us, but we cannot argue that they aren’t working: Patrick made all county last year, was the offensive player of the year and the leading scorer. With such success, Patrick has elicited interest from many colleges to play for them, but in the end has decided to go to Dequesne University in Pittsburgh where he will receive about an eighty-five percent scholarship to play soccer. Looking back on his high school soccer days, Patrick remembers beating Milton to go to the play-offs during his sophomore year as his favorite memory. With his dedication there should be no doubt that many more great soccer memories will be to come.

Though our country isn’t exactly known for soccer it hasn’t stopped certain Lassiter students from excelling at it. As Megan and Patrick demonstrate, the popularity of the sport has nothing to do with one’s passion, this is how Megan thinks of it: “Find something you love to do and you’ll be good to go. People need to have more fun.” Indeed.

By Kevin Ewalt
Senior Page Editor ’04

His name is Ryan Peisel, he plays baseball, he’s batting .415 with 74 home runs and 104 RBI’s. and his bowling average is 212.

We caught up with Ryan for this interview, not surprisingly, in Lassiter’s weight room, getting buff for games ahead. The weight room was certainly unsuitable for an interview so we moved to a more hospitable location- the auxiliary gym, which Peisel saw as an opportunity to perfect his basketball game while answering our questions. Almost immediately the conversation turned to the baseball team’s current losing streak. “There is a lot of fight left in us,” Peisel remarked.” As captain of the team, Peisel is keeping the team motivated by “hitting homeruns, stealing bases, and giving wedgies in the locker room.”

Still dribbling the ball around the court, Peisel shot a three. With the clang of the rim still echoing in the background, we moved on to less serious matters. What do you like to do when you’re not playing baseball? “Well, I enjoy eating and sleeping and, of course, riding party buses.”
Just looking at Ryan you might wonder if he has any weaknesses. Truth be told, he tried to think of a few- without success. In contrast, many strengths were recalled, among them: picking up women, baseball, bowling, and the ever-classic game of badminton. He also enjoys baking with his mother Karen during the holidays. In regard to the 2004 presidential election, Ryan thinks Bush will win in a landslide. When asked about his doubts for the haughty, French-looking Massachusetts Democrat, Ryan laughingly remarked that “Kerry has a droopy face like a pug and no one will vote for that.”

As Peisel shot another airball, I asked one last question: If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? “Well,” Peisel said, “I would be an elephant, because they have huge ears, of course, and because they are in the circus. Can you name one person who doesn’t think an elephant is cool? Exactly”. O! Mr. Peisel, how you are my personal savior.

By Kellie Gerbers
Graphics Editor ’04

After the girls’ first place finish and boys’ second place finish at the Cobb County track meet, the future looks very bright for Lassiter’s track and field team. With the final weeks of the season at hand, both teams have high hopes for success at the region meets.

With strong individual performances by junior Stacy Doornbos (long jump), senior Michelle Pollitt (high jump), sophomore Emily Bernhardt (discuss), senior Christy Carr (pole vault), and senior Elena Linn (distance races), Lassiter’s girls’ team appears to have depth in every aspect of the sport. Similarly, Alex McWalters and Michael Jansen of the boys’ team will provide crucial points in the distance races.

Unfortunately for the boys’ team, the number of participating athletes has dropped over the past few weeks due to unfortunate circumstances as well as injuries. Junior Carson Cutrone is faced with damage to his ACL while senior James Steinburger took a nasty fall during the 110 hurdles at the Track Coaches’ Invitational at Georgia Tech last month. If the boys are to continue the 3-year region champion streak, they need to be very cautious in the weeks preceding the competition. Subsequently, both the boys’ and the girls’ teams will suffer losses at the end of the season due to the proportion of seniors graduating at the end of the year. Both coaches and students have voiced the importance of recruiting early for next cross country and track seasons in order to maintain their successful record. Despite these recent hurdles that Lassiter track has had to overcome, both teams did take home the region trophy last year and intend to do it once again at the end of this month. With hard work and dedication, Lassiter track and field will surely end their season on a high note.