Improving health: Salisbury dentist offers a better night’s sleep

New American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine member, Dr. Hetal Amin-Patel, treats sleep apnea, snoring

Local dentist, Dr. Hetal Amin-Patel, is now helping Salisbury residents, and those in the surrounding area, get a more restful night’s sleep. Dr. Patel, of Beautiful Dentistry, recently became an American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) member. AADSM is the leading national organization for dentists who treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, an effective alternative treatment to the standard continue positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

“Sleeping with a CPAP machine, which includes a face mask, tubing and a constantly running motor, can be difficult, and many patients are unaware that an effective – and comfortable – alternative treatment is available,” said Dr. Patel. “I’m committed to using my knowledge of dental sleep medicine to help treat my patient’s snoring and sleep apnea, and provide them with a better night’s rest.”

While CPAP is the standard treatment for sleep apnea, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine estimates up to 50 percent of sleep apnea patients do not comply with or tolerate CPAP. In contrast to a CPAP machine, oral appliances are a mouth guard-like device worn only during sleep to maintain an open, unobstructed airway. Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable and easy to care for.

“Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option that offers a higher rate of patient compliance than CPAP,” said Dr. Patel. “I work with my patients, and their sleep physicians, to identify the right oral appliance device, custom fit devices to each patient and make any needed adjustments to ensure an open airway and a more restful sleep.”

Patients with loud snoring and diagnosed sleep apnea sufferers with difficulty tolerating CPAP are encouraged to contact Dr. Patel at 704-633-2612 to schedule a consultation appointment. Dr. Patel works closely with sleep physicians to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Beautiful Dentistry is located at 1401 W. Innes Street in Salisbury.

About Dr. Patel/Beautiful Dentistry

Dr. Hetal Amin-Patel received her Doctorate of Dental and Oral Surgery (D.D.S.) from New York’s Columbia University, School of Dental and Oral Surgery, in 1996. Dr. Patel is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

Beautiful Dentistry has been in practice since 2001. The vision of Beautiful Dentistry is to provide each patient with individualized quality dental care while remaining at the cusp of technology. The state of the art office features the latest in Dental Technology, which allows Beautiful Dentistry to provide patients with the best care available in North Carolina.

For more information about Beautiful Dentistry and its dental team, go to piedmontdds.com or facebook.com/piedmontdds.

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center hosts free knee pain seminar

Attendees will learn about the latest treatment options including robotics-assisted technology

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center has recently purchased a NAVIO robotic orthopedic surgical system to help orthopedic surgeons perform precise and accurate partial and total knee replacement surgeries. Rowan Medical Center is currently the only hospital in the region offering this advanced procedure.

This new technology uses 3-D imaging to help surgeons perform precise and accurate positioning of the knee implant based on each patient’s unique anatomy. This added level of accuracy can help improve the function, feel and potential longevity of the knee implant.

To learn more about the innovations and advancements in treatment options for knee pain, including the NAVIO robotics-assisted technology, join Chip Comadoll, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday, June 27, at 6:30 p.m. at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center located at 612 Mocksville Ave. in Salisbury.

During this free, informative presentation, Dr. Comadoll will provide an overview of the advanced procedures now available at Rowan Medical Center, explain who is a good candidate for knee surgery and answer questions. Light refreshments will be provided.

To register, call 704-603-1511 or go to novanthealth.org/NAVIO to register online.

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center adopts advanced technology to improve surgical experience for breast cancer patients

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing the most advanced treatment options to breast cancer patients by adopting the use of the new SAVI SCOUT Surgical Guidance System. This new technology is making lumpectomies (partial removal of the breast) and preoperative localizations more comfortable for patients and more accurate for surgeons.

“This groundbreaking technology allows surgeons to precisely target the exact location of cancerous cells during a lumpectomy within 1 millimeter of accuracy,” said Dr. Leon Newman, surgeon at Novant Health Salisbury Surgical Associates. “This precision can help preserve healthy breast tissue, increase the rate of complete cancer removal and decrease the potential for follow-up surgeries which are huge advantages for breast cancer patients.”

SCOUT is an alternative to needle (guidewire) localization. Traditionally, patients would arrive several hours prior to their scheduled surgery to have a radiologist place a locator wire in the breast that stuck out externally. The wire guided the surgeon to the lump being removed. For many women, this process leads to discomfort and increased anxiety. There is also a risk that the wire could move, making it harder to remove the cancerous tissue resulting in the need for a second surgery and a less pleasing cosmetic result.

With the SCOUT system, the radiologist implants a tiny device called a reflector into the tumor up to 30 days before surgery. Instead of two procedures on the same day, the patient now undergoes only one, which can help make the experience less stressful. The day of the lumpectomy, the SCOUT system uses safe and non-radioactive radar waves to detect the location of the reflector within the breast, which allows the surgeon to precisely pinpoint and remove the tumor and the reflector.

“The SCOUT is an exciting technology that improves our patients’ experience and comfort by eliminating the disadvantages of the wire localization technique,” said Dr. Stephanie Morgan, board-certified radiologist with Mecklenburg Radiology Associates and director of women’s imaging at Novant Health Imaging Julian Road. “We are delighted to offer this progressive treatment option for our breast cancer patients.”

The SAVI SCOUT Surgical Guidance System is offered at Novant Health Imaging Julian Road located at 514 Corporate Circle in Salisbury.

About Novant Health

Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Named in 2016 by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the nation’s 150 best places to work in healthcare, Novant Health consists of more than 1,380 physicians and nearly 24,000 employees and provides care at 530 locations, including 14 medical centers and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the health system serves more than 4 million patients annually and in 2015 provided more than $706 million in community benefit, including charity care and services. Diversity MBA has recognized the organization as one of the 50 best places for women and managers of diverse background to work. Novant Health provides care in Virginia under the joint operating company, Novant Health UVA Health System.