Follow Dr. Bonine on this forensic exercise into hidden infections with the help of his new Cone Beam digital imaging device. You can watch the Cone Beam video or read the story below.
"Could you image that your overall health is affected by what is going on in your mouth? Imagine that you have a tooth with a hidden infection that can’t be found. Maybe it’s affecting your sinuses. Maybe it's setting you up for heart disease, stroke, or diabetes.

These are all examples of what we look for when we try to find hidden infections in the oral cavity. But how do we find them?

Cone Beam Radiograph Gives Us New Insights

The dental CT scan gives us an overview image proving us with a three dimensional representation of the area that we are invested in studying. With the 3-D, we can rotate the image on screen to the area or the tooth that concerns us and look at it more critically. By moving the 3-D image back and forth and by changing the angle of the plane, we can very carefully review the anatomy at the tip of a tooth that we are concerned about.

In this particular case, we are able to notice that there is destruction of bone from an infection around a previously treated tooth that has extended up into the sinus. And the concern down below was that a tooth that had also been previously treated had subsequently cracked and we can see and evaluate the amount of bone structure here. Traditional dental x-rays would not have allowed us to visualize this and to be able to make this diagnosis. And we are getting a tremendous bang for the buck here to be able to pick up on a couple of different areas both with problems that we would otherwise not see. This technology is so illuminating on past mysteries.

Solving problems sooner getting better general health through oral health."

Fractured Jaw

Patient that came in for a consult for wisdom teeth, a cyst was found in the front of her mouth needing further follow up.

1990		2016

Do it once, do it right!

Pictured here are Dr. Brian Giammalva, Gleaners Representative Lynne Fialkowski, Dr. Brad Rondeau, President of Casady Refining Services Alane Casady, Dr. Fred Bonine, Dr. Bill Metz, Livingston County Gleaner's Food Bank Distribution Center Director Julie Beamer, Dr. Walt Goodell, and Chelsea Holladay, RDH.

Sometimes it may cost more up front to come here for a medical procedure like a biopsy, but Dr. Bonine rarely (if at all) charges for follow up care. That means that should you need close, long-term follow up appointments to monitor a situation, most often you don’t get charged each time you come to the office. Pre-cancerous lesions may be followed indefinitely in this manner.

Dr. Bonine is currently involved in two research studies where he is serving as an Investigator.

This holiday season, there’s even more to be joyful about. Dr. Bonine’s office is pleased to announce the largest donation to Gleaners Food Bank of Livingston County since Dr. Bonine started the Gold for Food program in 1995.

Nine local dentists participated in this year’s gathering of salvaged precious metals from dental restorations that have been donated by patients over the last year.

A total of $23,728.94 was collected by Dr. Fred Bonine, Dr. Bill Metz, Dr. Tara Wilson, Dr. Matt Matuszak, Dr. Todd Charlick, Dr. Brad Rondeau, Dr. Rob Hyland, Dr. Patricia Fuhst-Wylie, Dr. Anthony Kahn, and Dr. Walt Goodell. Don Mappin, the smelter at Atlantic Precious Metals (located in Pennsylvania), donated another $500.00, bringing the total to $24,228.94.

Dr. Bonine, Dr. Metz, Dr. Goodell, and Dr. Matuszak presented the check to Gleaners Food Bank of Livingston County on December 19th. That check has been generously matched by Wal-Mart Corporation, amounting to a very impressive $48,457.88. An almost overwhelming total of $158,012 has been donated to Gleaners Food Bank of Livingston County since the start Gold For Food program seventeen years ago.

“During this tough time when everyone, including local small businesses, are struggling,” says a past representative of Gleaners, “this is one example of how a small group of caring individuals can think outside the box to feed their hungry neighbors.”

Considering that last year’s total donation of $34,000 provided 931 Livingston County residents three meals a day for a year, the effect that this year’s donation will have on our community is incredible. Even the impact on the environment comes to mind. Recycling the gold, silver, platinum, and palladium used in dental restorations means fewer burdens on third world countries where some precious metals are mined. Every little bit counts, and if all communities started recycling salvaged dental restorations, the impact that this could have on the rest of the world is not hard to imagine.

“It is such a simple and easy thing to do,” says one surgical assistant at Dr. Bonine’s office. “It benefits so many people in our community. It’s amazing.”

We have decorated the office for the Holiday Season. Whether you are a patient or you are coming in with a patient, we want your experience at our office to be a joyful one. Relax in our waiting room next to the Christmas tree or enjoy the holiday music in the treatment rooms as you look out onto Brighton, Michigan's hidden sanctuary, Oaken Transformations.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Dr. Bonine's office!

2011 participating dentists’ offices include Dr. Matuszak, Drs. Fuhst-Wylie & Kahn, Dr. Metz, Drs. Petersburg & Giammalva, Dr. Rondeau, Dr. Todd Charlick, C.S.W. Dental, and Dr. Bonine.