Archive for November, 2021

Inside Trauma Center Care: “He Didn’t Mean to Shoot”

You couldn’t call John Macleod lucky, exactly, that day in November 2016. Lucky would have been not being shot in the face at all. But with that large exception, fortune was smiling on Macleod. How else, after a 410-gauge shotgun shell was fired at close range from a .45-caliber pistol at his face, could he […]

Inside Trauma Center Care: Accident in an Apple Orchard

This is the second in a series of three trauma patient stories from surgeons at the Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants. They’re among 13 oral surgeons who take turns on call at a Level I trauma center that draws cases from all over West Michigan. “We come in and cover all facial trauma […]

Inside Trauma Center Care: Equipment Fail on the Slopes

This is the third and final post in a series of trauma patient stories from surgeons at the Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants. They’re among 13 oral surgeons who take turns on call at a Level I trauma center that draws cases from all over West Michigan. Downhill ski racer Georgette Sake, now […]

An Old Friend Becomes a New Colleague

Richard W. Panek, DDS, could have scoured the globe for a new oral surgeon for the Center for Oral Surgery and Dental Implants (COSDI) and not found a better-qualified candidate than the kid who grew up next door. Grand Rapids resident Mark Grinzinger, DDS, MD, 32, who joined the practice this past summer, was Dr. […]

All-on-4: A Proven Solution

Many patients in need of dental implants are unable to receive individual tooth implant replacement due to moderate-to-severe bone resorption or the high cost of implants. All-on-4 treatment requires no grafting and is a cost-effective implant solution for patients with failing dentition and for many with edentulism. The latest research shows good long-term clinical outcomes […]

3 Cheers for the Chairs— A Lesson in Ergonomics

You don’t buy new patient chairs every day, and neither do the oral surgeons at the Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants. The practice’s current chairs were acquired in 1994, just before we all started using a novel thing called email. It’s time to start replacing them, so the practice is investing in ergonomic […]

How a Long Face Can Impact Health

About one in five Americans has long face syndrome, known clinically as “facial hyper divergence.” In patients with this condition, the lower part of the face that includes the jaw and chin is longer than normal, which makes the face appear long and narrow. Hyper divergence can develop in early childhood and persist through adulthood. […]

The Dangers of Do-it-Yourself Dentistry

When you’re looking to fix something around the house, the internet can be a great place to find how-to tips. Unfortunately, some people have extended that idea to their teeth, surfing social media to find “do-it-yourself dentistry” tips for perfecting their smile. But beware: These “hacks” can seriously damage your teeth and cause more complicated […]

Could Gum Disease Increase Your COVID-19 Risk?

Few diseases have provoked as much anxiety in recent times as COVID-19. Many of us continue to do everything we can to avoid catching it, from wearing masks and washing our hands often to following social distancing guidelines and being vaccinated. Some experts, however, believe there’s one more protective strategy that’s been overlooked: keeping our […]