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Find your agent BEFORE you find your new home!

April 24, 2012 By

submitted by Lynne Kelleher, Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors – Newtown Office

If you’ve decided to take advantage of one of the best markets to buy a home in a generation, good for you! If early spring market activity is any indicator, you may be getting in under the wire. There’s been a noticeable uptick in the market since February, which if continued, could mean a return to a more “normal” balance between supply and demand.

Your first step in the process should NOT be looking at houses, it’s finding the right agent to work with. You’ll be making the largest single investment in your life – don’t gamble that the agent sitting the open house or that has placed the ad you’re calling on is worthy of such responsibility. For all you know, they could have gotten their license yesterday!

The other thing that happens when you work with the listing agent is that the agent can’t fully advocate for you. Dual Agency is what happens when an agent represents both parties in the transaction and while legal in the state of Pennsylvania, it’s not the best avenue in every situation. Dual agents must represent both sides fairly and can’t give one party the advantage over the other, which means diminished representation for both. If you’re an experienced homebuyer, this may not be a big deal for you, but if you’re a first-time buyer you’re going to need all the advice and representation you can get.

How do you find a good agent? Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, etc., or start by calling an agent that you know does business in the area you want to live in.  Meet with them and find out if they’re full time and what areas they specialize in. Ask them to explain how they work and what you can expect.

Most importantly, trust your instincts – buying a home can be a long and at times challenging process. Trusting your agent is critical.

Only after hiring your agent – and getting pre-approved for a mortgage so you know exactly how much home you can afford – should you start looking for your dream house.

Have fun!

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Filed Under: Northampton Herald Columnists, Spring Home & Garden 2 Tagged With: , , , ,

No need to fear root canal therapy

April 24, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

Root canal. Few words in the English language strike fear in the hearts of the average person like these two simple words. I am here to tell you, however, that root canal therapy (RCT) gets a bad rap. RCT is one of the most misunderstood and feared procedures, while being one of the most valuable procedures that the dentist has to help you keep your teeth.

RCT is simply the removal of all pulpal tissue inside the tooth. It is done using a local anesthetic and is usually completed in one or two visits to the dental office. Depending on the complexity of the case, a referral to a specialist (Endodontist) may be necessary.

Once the pulpal tissue is removed, the dentist fills the disinfected space with an inert material (gutta percha) that is covered with a medicated sealer. The tooth then must be restored, usually with a crown. Sometimes the patient will be placed on a short course of antibiotics.

RCT is about 95% successful. The occasional failure of RCT is often caused not by the root canal itself, but by the lack of proper restoration of the tooth after RCT.  If the crown does not fit well, micro-leakage can occur, which may lead to infection and subsequent problems. This is why it is imperative that your dentist is very precise in taking the impressions and placing a well fitting restoration after RCT.

So why are people so afraid of these two little words? The answer is fairly simple – procrastination!

If the tooth is treated early when a problem begins, sometimes a root canal can be avoided or can be accomplished with little, if any, discomfort. As the infection progresses, the local anesthetic becomes less effective, sometimes leading to discomfort during RCT.

If you have sensitivity to cold or heat, or pain when you chew, call your dentist. Chances are good that early action can save you time and money.  And if a root canal becomes necessary, don’t be afraid.

It is a short-term issue for a long-term gain – keeping your teeth healthy and functional for a lifetime!

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You are ‘numero uno’ when it comes to dental health

March 28, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

As with any other science or technology field, the field of Dentistry is always changing. New products, new technologies, and new methodologies are constantly being introduced. In order to stay updated, the dentist has to avidly read and evaluate what is new in the industry.

A relatively new product in the industry is Arestin (minocycline HCL). Arestin is an antibiotic which is applied deep into the crevice between the gum and the tooth (periodontal pocket), as an adjunct to root plane and scaling (RPS) for periodontal disease.

Arestin is recommended for certain patients whose gum pockets are in the 5-6 mm range. Arestin is a drug that is applied by the hygienist or the dentist in the office, usually during an RPS appointment. Its purpose is to kill the bacteria that the RPS can’t reach.

While I am still monitoring the results with my patients, I am optimistic that Arestin is another valuable tool in the fight against periodontal (gum) disease.

In previous articles I have discussed the connection between healthy gums and a healthy body. Gum disease has been linked to a number of illnesses, most notably heart disease. Gum disease is a localized chronic infection that happens to be in your mouth.

There is no “closed door” to keep that infection from spreading.  That is why we must treat this disease aggressively. And that is why I decided to add Arestin as one more weapon in the battle against periodontal disease.

The thing to remember, however, is that RPS and antibiotics can only go so far. The most important factor in maintaining healthy gums is meticulous home care.

Nothing can take the place of following your dental professional’s advice in your own home. Your dentist and hygienist are your teammates – but you are the captain of the team when it comes to your oral health.

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2012 housing outlook

February 21, 2012 By

submitted by Lynne Kelleher, Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors – Newtown Office

Like the rest of the economy, the housing market limped along in 2011, and 2012 looks like it may be another lackluster year. Early in the year, some economic forecasters were predicting we could turn the corner in 2012. But when the economic recovery stalled and the housing market continued it’s sluggish pace, estimates were pushed back.

Regardless of the gloom and doom you hear about the housing market, we are not experiencing the kinds of decline experienced by many parts of the nation – which are the only ones you hear about on the news. Take, for example, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index that was widely reported and indicated that housing prices were back to year 2000 levels.

What wasn’t reported locally is that the Philadelphia area is not included in the Case Shiller composite index that’s released to the press. Prices here are up 71% since 2000 and down 7.15% since the 2007 peak.

Although recent news about a small drop in the unemployment rate and an increase in the consumer confidence index are positive signs, the road to recovery will be a rocky one. There’s still an underlying sense of uncertainty, high unemployment, high inventory levels and tight credit conditions.

While no one wants to go back to the free-for-all that occurred in the mortgage industry, unnecessarily tight credit restrictions are keeping many qualified home buyers and investors from purchasing homes, which could help absorb excess inventory. The short-sale process also needs to be streamlined – it’s so time consuming and inefficient that many would-be buyers simply give up and walk away from the transaction.

The silver lining in this cloud is that it’s the best time in our nation’s history to be a home buyer – even if you have to sell your current one first.  Yes, you’ll take a hit, but more than make up for it on your new home.

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When selecting a dentist, consider the factors

February 21, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

When selecting a new dentist, there are many factors to consider.  Some of these factors – like location, flexible hours and cleanliness of the office – are easy to evaluate. Others, such as the dentist’s education, his level of expertise, his use of current technology and his payment policies, can be determined with a little effort.

One factor, however, is a little harder to nail down, but is extremely important in maintaining your family’s oral health. This factor is communication.

When a patient first enters my office, I try to get to know him. This takes place in the new patient exam, where I carefully examine the patient (this includes an oral cancer screening) and speak with him about his dental wants and needs. The patient usually will have some digital diagnostic x-rays taken, and sometimes I will recommend having study models prepared.

After this first meeting, I take all of the information that has been gathered and I sit down to prepare a treatment plan, which is later presented to the patient. Occasionally, the patient has a problem which dictates one treatment option (a root canal, for example). Usually, however, there is more than one way to treat a dental problem.

These different options are not always optimal, but can often be used as stop-gap measures. The patient may have issues that preclude him from selecting the optimal treatment. Financial, time, and/or personal issues may convince the patient to delay or phase his treatment. Communication becomes the important element in this situation.

As the patient, you need to communicate these issues to the dental team. The dental team needs to understand your issues, and adapt the treatment plan to work within your situation. You and your dentist need to openly communicate about your dental health. If you can’t communicate well with your dental team, you may be better served in a different office.

I always talk to my patients about optimal dental treatment. This is a starting point, a goal to which to aspire. But life gets in the way. A good dentist will work with the patient towards the achievement of optimal dental health, handling the detours and enjoying the journey.

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Filed Under: Northampton Herald Columnists, Spring Home & Garden 2 Tagged With: , , ,

See your dentist in 2012

November 30, 2011 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

Believe it or not, it is already December, the holidays are around the corner, and soon we will be looking at 2012. When the New Year rolls around, many people make resolutions, often relating to their health. Losing weight and exercising more are popular plans because we want to be healthy and live a long, active life. With that in mind, I am going to suggest a very important resolution – see your family dentist in 2012.

Even if you haven’t been in the dental chair for many years, this one resolution can have a major impact on your overall heath. Recent studies have defined a correlation between infections in the mouth and gums and heart disease and strokes. It stands to reason that the bacteria from an infection in your mouth can travel to other parts of the body. That is why it is so important to treat the infection immediately.

A recent article by Thomas McGuire, DDS, states, “By any standards, dental disease should be classified as a worldwide epidemic. Ninety percent of the population of the United States has, or has had, some form of these diseases.”

Dr. McGuire states that moderate to severe gum disease can increase the risk of heart attack by as much as 25% and increase the risk of stroke by a factor of 10. Also, dental disease can contribute to respiratory disease, lower resistance to other infections and severely stress the immune system.

If you still are not convinced about the importance of good oral health, think about the impact on your nutrition. When a person’s mouth and teeth hurt, he avoids many of the foods that are required for healthy living – fruit, vegetables, and grains. The chewing process becomes painful and the diet suffers. It becomes a downward spiral.

I encourage you to read up on the subject and talk to your dentist about it. But most of all, I encourage you to see your dentist in 2012!

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Buying NOW makes sense! Here’s why…

November 1, 2011 By

submitted by Lynne Kelleher, Prudential Fox & Roach, Realtors – Newtown Office

On the fence between waiting until the economy strengthens or buying a home now? The following facts may help you jump off and into your dream home:

  • You can buy more home today with the same payments.  A principal and interest payment of $1230 gets you a $250,000 mortgage at 4.25%. That same payment only gets you a $220,000 loan at 5.25% and a $200,000 loan at 6.25%;
  • Along that same vein, that $250,000 mortgage, which costs $1230 at 4.25%, costs $1381 or $1800 more per year at 5.25% and $1539 or $3708 more per year at 6.25%.

If you’re a move-up buyer, you may be thinking that it makes sense to wait until the economy recovers so your current home may be worth more.
WRONG! If your current home is worth $200,000 now and appreciates 2% in five years, it will be worth $220,731. If your move-up home is worth $350,000 now and appreciates at the same rate, it will be worth $386,427. Waiting five years could cost you $15,696 in additional costs, without factoring in the impact of what would surely be a higher interest rate.

Well, what if prices continue to fall, you say? No one can predict the future, and the only way you know when the market has bottomed out is when it’s on its way back. The big difference is that by then, everyone has figured out that the market – and interest rates – has begun to rebound.
Then the dynamics start to shift from a buyers market and the advantage is lost.  The bottom line? Get off the fence!

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Missing a tooth? No problem!

November 1, 2011 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

The problem of a missing tooth has become easier to solve since the advent of the dental implant. This procedure is becoming commonplace in today’s dental office.  It has certainly become one of the most predictable procedures performed in our dental practice.

So what is a dental implant and who are candidates for this procedure? A dental implant is nothing more that a metal screw (titanium) that is placed into the jawbone. It acts like an anchor for a false tooth or a set of false teeth. Anyone in reasonably good health who wants to replace a missing tooth (or missing teeth) is a candidate.

Enough bone in the area of the missing tooth is necessary to provide for the anchoring of the implant. Many patients ask me about the success rate of implants. Success rates vary depending on the locations in the mouth.  Success rate vary from 90-95% in the front upper jaw, while rates in the back of the upper jaw and lower front jaw can be in the 85-95% range. The best scenario for implant success is in the lower front part of the jaw where success rates can be as high as 98-100%

Relatively few things can go wrong with dental implants. The most common is failure of the implant to integrate or bond with the bone. Other complications can be fracture of the implant, infection or an inflammatory condition in the soft tissue or bone, damage to the nerve in the lower jaw and damage to the maxillary sinus or nasal cavity. These complications, usually accounting for less that 5% of all dental implant treatment, vary in severity and can usually be corrected. 

Dental implants have become very popular as more people become aware that there is a dental replacement system that mimics natural teeth. Dentures and removable bridges have obvious problems, often being loose and unstable. Fixed bridges, a permanent replacement solution, involves the cutting down of healthy tooth structures on each side of the missing tooth. Dental implants give patients a solution to missing teeth that is functional, does not require altering healthy teeth, and, best of all, provide an esthetically pleasing result.

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A simple toothbrush – Your first line of defense against decay

October 4, 2011 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

A toothbrush seems to be a simple item, but be assured that it is the first line of defense against decay and your first offensive tool to use in keeping your teeth for a life. The importance of your toothbrush cannot be over estimated.

Taking care of your toothbrush is important. It should air dry after every use to ensure that bacteria do not grow on it. Storing the toothbrush upright will help in keeping it dry. While the upright toothbrush holders (which hold multiple toothbrushes) are good, you should take care that the head of the toothbrush does not touch the other brushes. Your toothbrush should be replaced at least every three months, or when it shows signs of wear.

Most patients are in for their continuing care appointments twice a year and go home with a new toothbrush. Please remember, however, to pick up replacement toothbrushes in the interim. Toothbrushes also must be replaced after illness – colds, flu, sore throats etc. This is of the utmost importance to ensure you are not getting re-infected with the same germs, which “hide” in the toothbrush bristles. When patients are in for continuing care appointments, the hygienist can provide some instructions as to the correct way to use the toothbrush to keep the mouth clean.

Some patients, for a variety of reasons and physical limitations, are not able to do an effective job with the basic toothbrush. For these patients, I recommend an electric toothbrush. There are several very good products (Oral-B, Philips Sonicare, and Rotodent to name a few) that can be purchased online, from your dentist, or in some pharmacies.

Finally, complements to the toothbrush are some new mouth rinses on the market that provide protection against gum disease and tooth decay. These new mouthwashes, which go beyond breath freshening, are additional tools to use to keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime.

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Infant and toddler dental needs

August 30, 2011 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

Infants and toddlers have dental needs, which is sometimes a surprise for parents.  Although not a pediatric dentist, I treat many very young patients in my office and have some guidelines for new parents.

When the first tooth erupts, the parent needs to become vigilant in making sure that the child has good oral hygiene.  In the beginning, it is simply a matter of wiping the erupted tooth or teeth with a soft washcloth, at least once daily.  As the child becomes able to handle a small toothbrush, either dipped in warm water or a very tiny bit of baby toothpaste, the parent needs to assist the child to ensure that the teeth are being cleaned.

Obviously, infants and toddlers should not be eating sweet foods and sodas, but even the starches that are present in early diets convert to sugars and can cause decay.  This is the reason we urge parents to not put their babies to bed with a bottle.  The liquid, which remains in the baby’s mouth while sleeping, contributes to tooth decay.

Baby teeth (also called primary or deciduous teeth) serve several very important functions.  In addition to allowing the child to chew properly, contributing to good nutrition, the baby teeth maintain the spaces necessary for the permanent teeth, which start to arrive around the age of six.

The first trip to the dentist is a matter of debate.  Some dentists suggest that as soon as the first tooth erupts (usually by six months) the child should be seen by the dentist.  My philosophy is that the first visit, which should be very calm, informative and non-threatening, should be scheduled when the child is three.  At this point most, or all, of the baby teeth have erupted.

It is important for parents to begin teaching their baby good oral hygiene habits.  These habits, combined with a warm relationship with a good dental health care team, are the best protection for the child’s oral health.

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