Your Premier Board Certified Oral Surgeon - STILL!

Dr. Sharma has recently passed his American Board of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Board (ABOMS) Certification Exam again!

Board Certification by ABOMS requires successful completion of the Qualifying Examination and Oral Certifying Examinations. Once certified by ABOMS, a candidate officially becomes an ABOMS Diplomate and must participate in Certification Maintenance.

Dr. Sharma has been certified as a Diplomate, the highest standing by the Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. This achievement is completely voluntary and shows the commitment and dedication Dr. Sharma has to be current and educated in his field - and at the highest level.

Maintaining and achieving this certification just demonstrates the dedication Dr. Sharma has to providing his patients with the best care possible. To achieve this status, he spent 60 hours learning and studying the every changing needs of his specialty - before taking his certification exam.

Congratulations Dr. Sharma!!

Dr. Sharma's Spain Trip

While Dr. Sharma has been in Spain this past week, he was able to participate in a hands-on learning course with Dr. Iñaki Gamborena. This course taught techniques & management of single tooth implants. Dr. Sharma cannot wait to get home and share what he has learned!

Dental Hygiene and Our Genetics

Our dental hygiene and the health of our gums seems like a simple part of our dental care. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as two cleanings a year. Patients will often ask, why do I need to do more? Why do I have gum disease? Why am I losing my teeth?

So many factors can affect the health of our gums. Sometimes our own genetics effect our ability to keep our mouth healthy.

Do you know your Biotype? Your Biotype is determined by your genetics. Your Biotype is the best indicator of your ability to resist gum issues. What is a biotype? Your Biotype is a measurement of the thickness and elasticity of your gums. Biotypes are measured as Thin-Medium-Thick. A thin Biotype can be thought of as wrapping a gift in tissue paper, and the gift is your teeth. A medium Biotype can be thought of wrapping with wrapping paper. A thick Biotype can be thought of as wrapping a paper in cotton sheets.

If you know your genetic Biotype, you would know how to hold your gift, which is your dental health. Do you have to care for the gift with the worry that it might tear or can you pack it with your suitcase and know it will be fine?

Next time you are at the dentist, ask your hygienist what your Biotype is and begin to understand how your genetics can dictate what you and your dentist have to do to maintain your dental health.

Breast Cancer Awareness 2018

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Sharma Oral Surgery hosted a door decorating contest among local offices to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.

We saw some great decorations!!

Thank you to all our neighboring offices who participated in our door decorating contest. Thanks to everyone - we will be donating $130 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

A Note From Dr. Priveer Sharma

Big data is a very helpful tool in healthcare. It allows patients and doctors to evaluate treatment, treatment options, and the outcomes. Big data allows everyone to look beyond themselves and their specific situation. 

From real-time results and instant access to your doctor - big data has made getting healthcare information as instant as sending out a tweet.

This has also played a role in how new findings in the health and dental field are shared with the public. With many journals now going digital, patients have instant access to hundreds of medical resources right at their fingertips.

For example, Orthodontic care has become more and more common in the United States. The continued influence of not removing teeth and creating big, broad smiles when teeth are crowded or crooked has an effect on the last teeth to grow in, the second and third molars.

A large, multi-institutional meta-analysis evaluated this situation and found that 87 percent of patients that did not have teeth removed as part of their orthodontic treatment did not have enough space for their wisdom teeth to fit in their mouth at the age of 18 years old and should be evaluated to understand what the potential impact this might have in their mouth.

Big data can make information available so that all patients can understand the impact of decisions that they make several years prior to a problem occurring - like not having enough room for your wisdom teeth.

There are several benefits to big data being implemented in the healthcare field.

1.    Patients Predictions for an Improved Staffing
It’s a question all medical professionals face – how many people do I need to staff at any given time? You do not want to be overstaffed, besides the extra labor costs, employees do not want to feel like they are not needed or wanted during their shifts. Additionally, you do not want to be understaffed and face any customer service or emergency situations. A Forbes article details how four hospitals which are part of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris have been using data from a variety of sources to come up with daily and hourly predictions of how many patients are expected to be at each hospital. Forbes states: “The result is a web browser-based interface designed to be used by doctors, nurses and hospital administration staff – untrained in data science – to forecast visit and admission rates for the next 15 days. Extra staff can be drafted in when high numbers of visitors are expected, leading to reduced waiting times for patients and better quality of care.”

2.    Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
This is probably the most widespread use of big data in medicine. Each patient has their own record, now in many cases digitally, that allow doctors to see all their information in one place. Every record is comprised of one modifiable file, which means that doctors can implement changes over time with no paperwork and no danger of data replication. These files are also able to be shared between medical professionals for when patients need to be referred elsewhere. It makes the transition quick an easy. 

3.    Enhancing Patient Engagement
Several patients already use or have an interest in smart devices that track their movement, heart rate, sleeping habits, etc. Tracking this data can help identify potential health risks the patient may not have been aware of before. 

4.    Telemedicine
With instant access to technology right at our fingertips, medical advice and even consultations are available right from our homes. Either through video conferencing, phone calls, or even text messages – doctors are able to consult, monitor and educate their patients without a formal office visit. 

While these are just a few of the examples of how big data is being utilized in the healthcare field, we are seeing new things each and every day that will only improve the care we give to our patients.
 

Adopt a Teacher - Results

This year, Sharma Oral Surgery asked our patients to nominate teachers in the area that have made an impact in their lives or their kid's lives. We received a number of nominations but are happy to say we picked the following teachers:

Tiffany Hazen - Ballantyne Elementary 

Yeimy Penagos - Quail Hollow Middle School

Kaitlin Edwards - Ardrey Kell High School

Thank you for all that you do each and every day as educators! 

2018 Adopt a Teacher

This year – Sharma Oral Surgery wants to provide school supplies to three teachers in the South Charlotte area! We recognize the hard work these educators put in each year and we want to thank them for all that they do.

Between now and August 24th, we would like you all to nominate a deserving teacher. Who is a deserving teacher? Someone who goes above and beyond, someone who has made a difference in your child’s life or even your life, or even just an outstanding teacher you know!

We will carefully go through each submission and select three winners on the first day back to school, August 27th, and deliver their basket of goodies.

To nominate a teacher, please fill out the form below.

Name of Teacher *

Name of Teacher

First Name

Last Name

School *

Nominator's Name *

Nominator's Name

First Name

Last Name

Nominator's Email Address *

Reason for Nomination *

Thank you!

#NationalFreshBreathDay

Today - being national fresh breath day, we wanted to share some tips on what may be causing bad breath and how to treat and prevent it from coming back! 

Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, can result from poor oral health habits and could even be a sign of other health problems. If you don't brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This also applies to dentures – odor causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if not properly cleaned. 

Persistent bad breath could be a sign of gum disease – which is caused by a buildup of plaque on teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can damage the gums and the jaw bone. 

Other diseases and illnesses that may cause bad breath include:
-    Pneumonia
-    Bronchitis
-    Chronic Sinus Infections
-    Diabetes
-    Liver or Kidney Problems
-    Chronic Acid Reflux
-    Dry Mouth

What are the best ways to prevent bad breath?
-    Practice good oral hygiene
-    See your dentist regularly
-    Quit smoking and using tobacco related products
-    DRINK WATER, a lot of it
-    Keep track of what you eat, your dentist can help see if part of your diet is causing the bad breath
 

World Emoji Day 2018

Our team at Sharma Oral Surgery celebrated World Emoji Day (July 17.2018) the best way they knew how - replicating their favorite emoji! 

Facts About Your Wisdom Teeth

When wisdom teeth removal gets brought up, what generally comes to mind? Getting your wisdom teeth taken out for many young adults has become the norm. Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars develop between 17 and 25 years old. Read a few fun key pieces of information about wisdom teeth. 

Fun Facts

Wisdom teeth get their nickname because of the time they develop. Today we don't require wisdom teeth in order to survive, which is why we are able to get them removed. Did you know that in 35% of today’s population wisdom teeth don't even appear? There is a lot of history behind wisdom teeth. In-fact it's believed by biological anthropologists that the duty of wisdom teeth was to grind down high fiber foods such as roots, leaves, nuts and meats that were regularly consumed by prehistoric humans as a part of their diet. 

Is It a Must to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed? 

According to AAOMS, also known as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, it will be necessary for 85% of today’s population to get their wisdom teeth removed. Although you may think there is no urgency or need to get your wisdom teeth removed, there are in-fact several reasons as to why you should. For example: 

Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth live embedded in your gums. If teeth are unable to emerge properly, they'll eventually be impacted into the jaw. This could result in multiple things like infection, affected bone support, or even the ability for a cyst to form, which is harmful to the roots of your other teeth. 

Partially Erupted Wisdom Teeth
Partially erupted wisdom teeth will make it more difficult to keep the tooth and surrounding teeth properly clean. This can allow bacteria to become trapped, which can cause an oral infection or gum disease. 

Although it's recommended to get your wisdom teeth removed, if your wisdom teeth are healthy, fully erupted, properly cleaned to continue great oral hygiene and are in the correct position, it's okay to live with your wisdom teeth. 

When it's time to get your wisdom teeth removed contact Sharma Oral Surgery located in South Charlotte. Call 704.541.6070 and consult with a professional today; one of our skilled team members will be happy to answer any questions.