During menopause, women often endure hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue and moodiness. Once they become ‘post-menopausal,’ however, these symptoms often dissipate while different ones arise. When it comes to your smile, being post-menopausal places you at higher risk for tooth loss. Research has shown that a decline in estrogen levels,… Read More…

Here’s a question for you: Globally, what is one of the most common diseases? You may be surprised to know that tooth decay is the answer. When researchers from the University College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine studied public health records from around the world,… Read More…

Could treating periodontal disease reduce medical costs and hospitalizations for pregnant patients and those with diabetes and heart disease? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently conducted a study to determine if gum disease therapy could prevent or lessen some of the adverse effects associated with diabetes, coronary artery disease,… Read More…

There was sad news for baseball fans recently. Tony Gwynn of the Padres, as well as a Hall of Famer, died of oral cancer, something Gwynn blamed on his use of smokeless tobacco. Apparently, the habit is rampant throughout Major League baseball teams. A 1999 survey found that nearly a… Read More…

If you think ‘diet’ sodas are better for you, we have some bad news. Sugar substitutes have been studied far more than most drugs and findings show they cause interferences with how you react to food. Research has even linked drinking diet soda to bigger waists — 70% bigger than… Read More…

For the 13th consecutive year, Dr. Ban Barbat has awarded a local high school senior the Ban R. Barbat, DDS-PC Scholarship. This year’s recipient is Eisenhower High School senior Alaina K. Bernard. Excelling in subjects including math and science, Alaina’s choice of a pre-medical Chemistry major seems an appropriate path… Read More…

As a dentist, I have devoted a career to helping people HAVE AND KEEP a healthy mouth. This includes having disease-free gum tissues and keeping their natural teeth all their lives. Quite frankly, it’s my goal to help you NOT need me for repairs. However, like other parts of our… Read More…

A recent release in the Journal of Periodontology cites that consuming 180 mg of vitamin C per day gives your gums and teeth a healthy boost. Why? To begin, vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory. It also binds cells to build connective tissue with collagen. Vitamin C has even been shown… Read More…

Mental alertness seems to decline as people age. But, could this have more to do with tooth loss and inflamed gums than the aging process? The findings of a study indicate a possible association between oral health and cognitive function (the mental process of knowing, awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment)… Read More…

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling condition that can lead to long-term joint damage, persistent pain and loss of function. Studies now show that adults with RA have a higher incidence of periodontal (gum) disease. Although RA symptoms can affect manual dexterity, which can make tending to oral hygiene more… Read More…