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Pop Quiz: Test your knowledge of oral cancer

| Understand the risks and symptoms to help prevent the disease and increase early detection| WHEN YOU HEAR about the dangers of cancer, it’s rarely oral cancer that’s being discussed. Though the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, skin cancer, and many others, the disease is barely a blip…
The dangers of gum disease

| Preventing periodontal problems is essential for overall health and well-being | MILLIONS OF AMERICANS have a silent disease working in their mouths and they don’t even know it. It’s periodontal disease — also called gum disease — and it could be doing damage to your health even as you read this. According to the…
Local dentist shares the rewards of giving

In the above photo, Dr. William Nerestant and his assistants, Betzi and Joan, smile for the camera before leaving for Jamaica last year on a missions trip to help the less fortunate with their dental needs. THESE DAYS, we think a lot about personal responsibility and giving back. Some of us might donate to a…

Medical advice: Poison help in the home

If you suspected that a member of your household had ingested a potentially poisonous substance, would you know what to do? Did you know you can call the Florida Poison Information Center—sometimes referred to as Poison Control—at 1-800-222-1222 for assistance with any possible poison event? A health care professional is available 24 hours a day,…
Editor’s Dose: I’d Rather Be… at the Dentist

Okay, it’s confession time. I used to be one of those people who was afraid to go to the dentist. I know it sounds silly, but just the thought of having someone staring down my mouth was mortifying. I would gladly go through natural childbirth with no medication, speak in front of a crowd of…
PCMA Letter: The big picture of your health

Everyone knows the old expression “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, in the field of medicine, we take special care to look at the big picture of your overall health— not just the symptoms. As physicians who understand that healthy lifestyle choices are key to a long and fruitful life, it’s important to…