SPRING IS A TIME of renewal and revitalization. All the green is back, flowers are blooming again, and birds are singing. What better time to renew your smile with whitening treatments?

Everyday Life Can Dull Your Smile
Over time, our teeth can appear more yellow. It could be stains from food or it could simply be an effect of age. Because our teeth are porous, even if we clean off the surface stains with diligent brushing and flossing, the discoloration can go deeper into each tooth than any toothbrush or whitening toothpaste can reach.

Is It Time To Freshen Up Your Smile?
Whether food or age is the reason your teeth aren’t as white as you like, you can get your gleaming white smile back through professional whitening at our practice! Over-the-counter whitening treatments are always an option, but the safest, healthiest, and most effective whitening method is to leave it to the professionals.

What’s the best Way/Brand!?
We use several different Whitening formulations and delivery systems and customize to the right system for you.

• ZOOM! In office whitening
• Opalescence custom whitening trays
• Ultradent Whitening strips

Whiten YOUR Teeth and Help a CHILD!
From March 1, to June 30th  you can whitening your teeth for ½ the normal fee, AND 100% of the fee goes to our charity, SMILE FOR LIFE!

That Gorgeous Smile Helps Children In Need!
If you schedule your whitening appointment for sometime between the beginning of March and the end of June, 100 percent of your money will go to helping children in need!

Here’s How It Works:

Help More Kids By Helping Us Spread The Word!
Whether you choose to have your own smile whitened or not, you can make a big difference in the lives of sick and underprivileged children around the world simply by spreading the word about this opportunity on Facebook!

Thanks for helping us make a difference in children’s lives!
If you have any questions about keeping your teeth looking clean and white, ask us! We’ll help you find the best solution to get your whitest, healthiest teeth!

Bethel, Connecticut – The “Halloween Candy Buy Back” Benefits Children and Supports the Troops

One area dentist is redefining the phrase “put your money where your mouth is.”  This Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to Stony Hill Dental Care and receive $1 per pound. Dr. Walter Kostrzewski has joined the movement to reduce sugar loaded holiday consumption and consequences by giving away dollars, toothbrushes and local favors and everyone is loving it.

“We are holding a fun event that offers a great option for families who are struggling with the thought of their kids eating excessive amounts of candy! Of course we also get a chance to remind kids that visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, says “Dr. K” from Stony Hill Dental Care of Bethel, Connecticut.  Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well.  This practice has chosen to participate in a national event that is taking place all over the country. It’s called the Halloween Candy Buy Back and it’s been a lifesaver for parents who want to limit the amount of damage that can be done to their children’s teeth.

Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2% annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be sure their kids teeth are being cared for more than ever.  Candy, as well as hurting children’s teeth, can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain.  In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken and damaged teeth and braces. 

Candy will be collected at Stony Hill Dental, November 2nd the first Monday after Halloween from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.  The candy will then be shipped to troops overseas with care packages and thank you notes.   Each child is eligible to receive $1 per pound up to ten (10) pounds for all unopened, uneaten candy. Plus, we will provide paper and writing utensils for anyone that would like to create a morale boosting letter for our service members.

“Dr. K” works hard to raise public awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and great dental hygiene.  Stony Hill Dental Care offers affordable and convenient dental care.  “Dr. K” is available to provide more information at 203-858-6418, or visit www.stonyhilldental.com.

WHEN WE THINK of being healthy, how much are we thinking about oral health? Just because we go to our dentists for oral health concerns and physicians for overall health concerns, it doesn’t mean there’s no connection between the two.  Stony Hill Dental Care presents this blog post on Dental Health to Overall Health

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the mouth is definitely the gateway to the body. What we eat affects our health, as well as other mouth-related habits like smoking or nail-biting, and problems in overall health may show their first obvious symptoms in the teeth and especially the gums. It’s easier to maintain good overall health by maintaining good oral health, and vice versa.

Dr. Walter Kostrzewski, DMD provides help locally in Bethel, CT and beyond.

A recent CDC report  provides the following data related to prevalence of periodontitis in the U.S.: 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease. In its early stage, gingivitis, it’s the result of plaque building up and irritating the gums, causing swelling, tenderness, and infection. Over time, gingivitis can worsen into periodontitis, which weakens the support structures around the teeth. Studies have suggested a link between gum disease and a number of chronic conditions.

Nearly a quarter of diabetics also have gum disease. Diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to fight off harmful bacteria, which makes it easier to develop gum disease and harder to keep it under control. Gum disease, in turn, can make it harder to control blood sugar levels and manage diabetes.

Researchers have found that men with gum disease are 30% more likely to develop blood cancers, 49% more likely to develop kidney cancer, and 54% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Cancer treatments themselves can have an impact on oral health as well. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can have side effects like dry mouth, sensitive gums, sores in the mouth, and jaw and facial pain.

The reasons for this are not yet clear, but heart disease and gum disease have a tendency to go hand in hand. As many as nine in every ten people with heart disease also have gum disease. One theory is that inflammation is the link between these two conditions.

Beyond these types of conditions, gum disease is also linked to osteoporosis, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, certain lung conditions, and even stroke. Gum disease in pregnant women is also linked to preterm births and low birth weights.

All these connections between gum disease and chronic diseases can seem scary, but gum disease is preventable when we maintain good daily habits like brushing for two full minutes twice a day and flossing daily. Just as important is scheduling regular dental appointments and keeping the dentist up-to-date on our medical histories!

Thank you to all the patients who support our practice!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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​The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Check out this NEW article and video to ease your mind.

 As the world begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, one question that I’m often asked is:

"Do you think it’s safe to go to the Dentist?”
My immediate answer is an overwhelming, “YES!”

Dental offices are one of the SAFEST places you can be. Dentistry is a profession of obsessive-compulsive cleaners.

Dental treatment rooms are cleaned with bactericidal and virucidal cleaners before & after each patient visit. 

We utilize barrier protection to prevent germs from spreading when we touch things. All instruments are heat sterilized and used only on you before they are sterilized again. In addition to utilizing many disposable products, we wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the safety of our patients.

Recently, you may have heard about aerosols and their potential danger, especially as it relates to COVID-19. Aerosols are a part of our daily lives. When you speak, cough, sneeze, laugh and breathe, you generate aerosols from your body into the surrounding environment. 

Our human bodies have a well-developed immune system to protect us from any potential dangers that we may be exposed to from aerosols. 

As it specifically relates to aerosols generated in a dental office, the American Dental Association (ADA) and our local Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) have been leaders in helping dental offices remain safe before, during and after the pandemic. With guidelines that have been developed through science and fact, this includes improved safety measures which were developed with both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Dentistry was safe before the COVID-19 outbreak and it remains safe after. To date, there has not been one instance of a COVID-19 outbreak from a dental office, throughout the entire world.

As you know our office remained OPEN during the entire “Shelter in Place” Order,  seeing patients for urgent and emergency dental care. As asked by the CDC and ADA we remained open to keep the burden on the Hospital Emergency Rooms down, and we refrained from elective care during this time to conserve PPE.

Our patients who have been here, as well as our dental team members, felt safe the entire time. In fact, the patients who came in all felt extremely comfortable receiving care at our office.

Since the pandemic began, dental offices (including ours) have been taking additional safety measures to protect our patients and our team. 
These include:

• Social distancing
• COVID-19 screening before each patient visit including taking temperatures
• Limiting the number of people who are in the office at all times
• Sanitization of patient hands & devices
• Increased PPE for both patients and the dental team
• Limiting of aerosol generating procedures

Our office is even going above and beyond by utilization of both intraoral & extraoral aerosol removal devices and improving our air filtration with air purification devices & UV light sterilization.

These additional measures in addition to our regular infection control procedures make our office one of the safest places you can be.

WE WANT YOU TO ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE & SAFE AT OUR OFFICE. In addition, we want our team members to feel safe in our work environment. 

As we begin performing routine dental care, you can be assured that our entire team has been in constant communication during the shutdown period, we have studied the latest information & research on how to best care for our patients, and we have implemented additional protocols to keep you, and us, safe during your visit.

There’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to COVID-19. One thing you can be certain of is that going to the Dentist is, and always has been, safe.

We look forward to seeing you soon. ?

Connecticut has entered PHASE ONE reopening on May 20th.

Stony Hill Dental Care and Dental offices in Connecticut, are now open for elective restorative procedures, as per the CDC and the Connecticut Department of Health.
This phase ​will not include dental hygiene appointments​. We will continue to treat Urgent and Emergency patients and begin treating patients who had to either reschedule or postpone their restorative appointments due to the COVID-19 shutdown.

Our Second phase will be to reopen our Dental Hygiene Department, on June 15, 2020
Opening the office in stages allows us to keep the patient volume lower and follow our added safety protocols.

We have implemented additional protocols to keep you safe during your visit.

Safer-Lower Volume- Scheduling-and Screening

1. You will receive reminder calls, emails and text as usual. 
2. On the day of your appointment please arrive ​10 minutes early and please stay in your car​ as per our new COVID-19 pre-appointment screening process.
3. When you arrive at our office call us at ​203-744-0033 ​to begin our curbside check in process.
4. Once you have checked in, ​a team member will come out to your car​. They will begin by taking your temperature with a no-touch infrared thermometer. If your temperature is less than 100 degrees fahrenheit they will proceed with the COVID-19 pre-appointment patient screening.
5. Once this has been completed the team member will escort you inside directly to our hand washing and sanitizing station. We will ask that you wash your hands and sanitize your cell phone. ​Please be advised all patients are required to wear a mask or face covering upon entering and exiting the building.
6. Your clinical provider will then greet you and escort you directly to your ​personal treatment room​.
7. Our facility will be limited with our reception room unavailable at this time.
8. The coffee bar is closed, but we still have bottled water upon request.

1. Our team will be wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) including facemask, gloves, gowns, goggles and face shields for everyone’s protection.
   
2. Only the appointed patient will be taken into the treatment room. If a child is being seen, a parent or guardian may accompany them after approved pre screening by the doctor.
3. Your dedicated treatment room will be sanitized and prepared with CDC approved disinfectants and we always use the most advanced autoclave sterilization systems for all of our handpieces and instruments.
4. A pre-procedural antimicrobial rinse will be provided for you to perform prior to the start of your appointment.
5. We have suspended all use of Cavitrons, which are ultrasonic dental hygiene scalers to eliminate any aerosols during your dental cleaning appointment.
6. We have installed Medify air purifiers to reduce aerosolizations and our HVAC system has ALWAYS had a UV Sterilization inline. 
7. We will be utilizing rubber dams to reduce saliva exposure
8. We will be utilizing a high velocity evacuation system for removing aerosols and saliva from the mouth.
9. For your protection, we have allowed for more time between appointments, that may mean fewer available appointment times.
   
   

There’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to COVID-19. One thing you can be certain of is that going to the Dentist is, and always has been safe.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding during this time. We appreciate your flexibility and feedback as we move forward together. We will continue to monitor guidance from the State of Connecticut, The CT Department of Health,  the CDC, and the ADA. We will make every effort to let you know if this planned phase schedule changes. As always, if you have any questions please give us a call. 

During this time, Stony Hill Dental Care is fully committed to keeping you informed and up-to-date regarding your safe care in our practice as the COVID-19 situation evolves. We recognize the uncertainty this global health issue is creating and the decisions we are making heavily rely on the guidance received from the CDC and the Connecticut Department of Health. We intend to protect the local Stony Hill  patient community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendations for dental office infection control. Dr. Kostrzewski and the team at Stony Hill Dental Care are always focused on your safety and work hard to prevent the spread of infection, which is why we have consistently practiced under the strict guidelines of “universal precautions” – assuming every patient is infected with the most aggressive disease possible – since our inception.

What does all of this mean on a day to day basis? Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles, keyboard, mouse and countertops, have been meticulously cleaned and disinfected. Even pens, pencils or other such items are disinfected between patients. We routinely drape chairs and other surfaces with plastic coverings, which are replaced after each patient.

Non-disposable items such as dental instruments are always cleaned and sterilized between patients and undergo a strict protocol, in sync with the rigid principles of universal precautions.  Disposable dental instruments and needles are never reused. Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, gowns, and eyewear when needed. After each patient, disposable gloves and masks are thrown away. Before seeing the next patient, everyone in the treatment team washes their hands and puts on a new pair of gloves. If they plan to leave the treatment room for any reason, they remove their gloves and dispose of them immediately within the room.

1. All patients and visitors will be asked if they have traveled outside of the country since December 2019 or have been in contact with someone who has. If so, a more involved discussion will take place in an isolated area, as to their relative risk of hosting the virus.
   
   
2. Patients who are ill and experiencing flu-like symptoms, respiratory illness & a cough or fever will be required to postpone visits and elective dental procedure visits. Such patients will be encouraged to seek medical attention.
   
   
3. If a patient is experiencing a dental emergency, our Doctor will communicate with them over the phone to determine the nature of the emergency. If possible, they will be referred to a local medical facility. If, however, their need for in-office treatment is required and he feels capable of treating the emergency, our Doctor will make arrangements to see the patient during a time when other patients will not be present or affected in any way. Such patients will be provided Personal protective equipment (PPE) immediately upon arrival and placed in an isolated treatment room at once. PPE protocols for doctors and employees will be practiced traditionally & worn at all times, according to our policy of universal precautions.  All PPE worn by employees working with ill patients and PPE worn by patients who are ill will be carefully bagged and discarded in the biohazards waste receptacle, not in regular waste bins.
   
   
4. As a part of Stony Hill’s screening process, all patients will be screened by thermometer to detect early signs of viral infection. If a patient is experiencing fever or any other relative symptoms while here at the office, they are to be rescheduled for another time, at once.  Symptoms and recommendations will be recorded in the patient’s chart and the patient will be advised to seek medical attention immediately.
   
   
5. As an extra precaution, the office is continuously being disinfected throughout the day, and again will be disinfected at the end of each day. The closing employees will be responsible for, and are not limited to the following: spraying down reception room chairs with Lysol, wiping all access point door handles and all light switches, spraying/wiping down the bathroom and front desks, as well as the consultation room table and chairs.
   
   
6. Hand sanitizer will be placed at the front desk. Employees will encourage patients to use the hand sanitizer and/or encourage adequate hand hygiene practices. All staff will accelerate the frequency and duration of hand washing techniques. If any employee suspects a patient of having the COVID-19 virus, the CDC mandates that we report such suspicion to our State Health Department.
   
   
7. Please PATIENTS ONLY...ONLY Patients and (if necessary in the case of younger patients) one accompanying adult should enter the office.  Siblings, grandparents, friends etc. should remain outside in their vehicles.
   For patients that are having a procedure that requires you to have a driver, we ask that your driver remain in the vehicle until your procedure is complete. At that time our office will call your driver to have them come inside so that instructions may be reviewed with them.
   
   
8. Please arrive at the office at your scheduled time, not early, as we are limiting our reception and clinical area to one patient at a time.
   
   
9. When you arrive, remain in your vehicle and  call 203-744-0033 or TEXT our front desk at 203-744-2118. We will text or call you when your room is ready.
   
   
10. Environmental Cleaning & Disinfection Policy: Our policy and procedures have not changed due to the COVID-19. We have always used CDC and OSHA-mandated cleaning and disinfection protocols for all surfaces in our office and treatment rooms. We use a bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal and tuberculocidal disinfectant recommended for dental operatories, hospital surgical rooms, anesthesia machines and respiratory therapy equipment.
    Universal Precaution Policy: Our policies and procedures regarding universal precautions have not changed. Universal precautions are an approach to infection control to treat all human blood and certain human bodily fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens, (Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030(b) These precautions include: *Hand Hygiene, *Barrier protection with personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and eye protection, *Ultrasonic cleaning and sterilization of all non-disposable instruments.
    

We want to thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office and we will be happy to discuss further.

If you or someone you are in close contact with have recently traveled to one of the countries with large outbreaks of COVID-19 (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea) or if you have been exposed to someone else who was diagnosed with COVID-19 or who was quarantined as a precaution, wait 14 days until you come to Stony Hill Dental Care to make sure you have not caught the coronavirus.

It’s important to know that the majority of people infected with the coronavirus experience flu-like symptoms and then recover. Most people do not develop serious respiratory complications.

Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill are elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, among others. Children, thus far, have been largely unaffected.

BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS from the Connecticut State Dental Association, ADA and the CDC, we’re temporarily changing the way our practice operates. We recommend that all of our patients check the CDC’s website for information on the coronavirus and what we can do to slow the spread.

 If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call or text:
 203-744-0033 (VOICE)
203-744-2118 (TXT)

Right now, one of the best ways that we as healthcare professionals can help to slow the spread of coronavirus is to follow the guidance of these health organizations, and we encourage our patients to do the same. We will be sure to update you about additional changes at our practice.

We love all our patients!

At Stony Hill Dental Care, we have always followed standard universal precautions issued by the CDC and ADA to help protect every one of our patients and team members from the many infectious diseases that we are potentially exposed to on a daily basis. For your peace of mind, these are the same precautions we take EVERY time you sit in one of our patient chairs:

• We wear single-use gloves and masks while treating patients.
  
  
• We wear full length sleeves and launder all of our work clothing on site.
  
  
• We place instruments after each use into an autoclave (a high-pressure steam oven) to kill every known infectious organism, including coronavirus.
  
  
• We wipe down each dental operatory after each patient visit with a medical-grade surface disinfectant that kills all known infectious diseases, including coronavirus.
  
  
• We either wash our hands thoroughly or apply an alcohol-based compound between each patient.

 
In addition to the above standard measures, we will be exercising a higher standard of infection-control in our waiting areas, including removing all magazines, toys, and other items that are difficult to disinfect. And while we love and value each of our patients, handshakes and hugs may be replaced with an "elbow bump" for the time being.
 
While we are doing everything in our power to protect you, we also ask for your cooperation in making our office environment a safe one when you visit us. If you have a cough, fever, or chills, please call our office to discuss whether or not you should reschedule. We will be checking temperatures on all patients as they enter and anyone with a reading over 99.9 degrees may be asked to reschedule at least three weeks later as a precaution. Also, to practice social distancing and we are limiting  our reception room to one person.  Please show up no earlier than 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment and come alone if possible. Please call or text on your arrival and we will let you know when to come in.
We care about each of you and hope that you and your family will remain in good health during this difficult time.
 
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

MOST OF US​ find ourselves craving something sweet every once in a while—or perhaps more often than that! Unfortunately, as good as sweet treats taste, they can have a big impact on our dental health.

Sugar is just BAD NEWS for  overall health!  AND  it’s REALLY bad for our teeth. Our mouths have g dozens of species of bacteria, both harmful and beneficial, that can reproduce multiple times per day. Sugar taste great to us, ​and harmful bacteria love it​. They eat the sugar that sticks to our teeth and excrete acid that dissolves tooth enamel, leading to ​tooth decay​.

Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is usually enough to keep the bacteria populations under control, but your teeth will thank you for avoiding excess sugar. So how can we satisfy a sweet tooth craving without also satisfying the cravings of millions of harmful bacteria? ​By cooking sugar-free desserts, of course!

There are a few ways you can cut down on sugar without cutting down on sweets when you’re cooking. Some of them can be pricey, so your budget might play a role in determining which one you use.

Stevia

Rebaudioside A is a polyol or sugar alcohol produced by ​Stevia​, a leafy South American plant. The FDA has approved rebaudioside A as a safe food additive, which means we can cook with it. But what makes it better for our teeth than sugar? Well,​ those hungry bacteria in our mouths can’t digest sugar alcohols.​ We get to enjoy the sweet taste, but they don’t! The only downside is that it can leave a bitter aftertaste if you use too much. Since you only need one teaspoon to match the sweetness of a whole cup of sugar, it’s easy to overdo it.

Xylitol and Erythritol

Xylitol and erythritol​ are two more sugar alcohols that serve as excellent sweeteners. You may be familiar with xylitol, because that’s what sweetens sugar-free gum. While it’s even better for your teeth than other sugar alcohols–which is why dentists recommend it–it might not be the best to cook with, as it can cause digestive discomfort if you eat too much of it. Erythritol doesn’t have that drawback, but it can be pretty expensive.  Chewing gums containing xylitol, such as the brand name “SPRY” actually STARVE bacterial and kill the one that cause tooth decay.  A great way to protect your teeth, while on the road, at the office or at school, when you can't brush is by CHEWING Spry gum.

Fruit

Fruit is another great sugar substitute. If you’d rather work with ingredients you already know, unsweetened applesauce, bananas, dates, and figs are four great replacements for table sugar that you can use in many recipes. You’ll end up with desserts that are still sweet and moist, but which contain far less sugar, which your teeth will appreciate. Fruits are sweet because they contain fructose, a type of sugar, but you’ll use less sugar overall by using pureed fruit instead of table sugar.

Need some extra inspiration for a sugar-free treat? Check out this sugar-free cheesecake recipe below!

Even if you completely cut out all foods that are bad for your teeth out of your diet, it’s still crucial to maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and come see us for a cleaning appointment every six months! Be sure to bring your favorite sugar-free dessert recipes the next time you come!

Your Dental Health Is Our First Priority!
 
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.