ALERT page 69 CALLED V MOM FOR LUNCH ON TUESDAY, BUT SHE WAS GOING TO A BOOK REVIEW IN THE LIBRARY. to know what's going on with our bodies," Finman says. The internal examinations are done with a "clean, soft washed piece of cotton," called a bedika cloth. Even if her peri- od has foreseeably stopped, a woman is required to use a be- dika cloth to make sure that there is no longer any blood or other menses discharge linger- ing inside. "When a woman looks at those cloths, it tells a whole lot of what's going on in her body," she says. If a woman has a ques- tion about the color of discharge, she sends the cloth to a rabbi who is trained to identify what is causing it, Fireman says. It's a "totally unglamorous" job for which the rabbi doesn't get paid, she says. He receives envelopes with only a telephone number on the outside, to let the woman know what's going on, she adds. "I have a friend who had in- ternal uterine bleeding that was from an injury. The color of the blood wasn't the usual men- strual color, it was too deep, and this ray was able to determine for her that she was internally injured and she should see her doctor and clear this up." Rivkah Slonim, editor of To- tal Immersion, a 1996 antholo- gy of writing about the mikvah, says going to the mikvah is not simply just taking a dip. The preparations beforehand, in- cluding internal vaginal exam- inations, keep a woman "in tune with what's happening with her body, and I believe she can nip many medical problems in the bud." "If I didn't keep this ritual, I don't think I'd have a clue ... not just cancer but a lot of conditions are best taken care of in the early stages, and this really makes a woman very, very aware of what's happening," Slonim says. I DROPPED BY ON THURSDAY, BUT SHE COULDN'T COME BECAUSE SHE WAS BUSY IN THE ACTIVITIES ROOM WORKING ON HER NEW EXERCISE PLAN. I INVITED MYSELF TO LUNCH WITH HER ON FRIDAY, AND THE FOOD WAS TERRIFIC. I TOLD MOM TO CALL MY BROTHER AND LET HIM KNOW HOW SHE LIKES HER NEW HOME AT THE HEATHERWOOD. I HOPE SHE CAN FIND TIME TO CALL. the ATHERWOOD SETIFEME, COZ.V.1UNITY fWeliremeni _riving for the L2ctive s Senior (810) 350-1777 ❑ 22800 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE Laser Joins List Of Teeth Whiteners CINDY CAIN For information call Kathy Ostrowski SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN 9irewi1022 i c1S cz c SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS LO c~ cz0e 1 200. 0° , ary Alder's telephone was ringing off the hook even before he completed his laser training. The calls were from a 33-year- old mother who couldn't smile. Her teeth were yellow. So yellow, even her own children comment- ed on the discoloration. "She told me she didn't smile because she was embarrassed," said Alder, a Chicago dentist. The woman had heard that Alder would soon be using lasers to whiten patients' teeth, a pro- cedure approved by the Food and Drug Administration recently. Tooth whitening accounts for the bulk of all cosmetic dental pro- cedures, according to the Ameri- can Dental Association. Last year, Americans spent $60 million to get their teeth whiter, 60 percent of that amount spent on cosmet- ic dentistry. Until recently dentists had only two bleaching options: home bleaching kits or chairside bleach- ing. Chairside bleaching, which involved the use of heat lamps, had fallen out of favor in the '90s because it took a lot of time and produced only so-so results, Alder said. At-home bleaching kits pre- scribed by a dentist were the most popular option. But many pa- tients failed to follow through and wear the bleaching units for the prescribed amount of time. The new laser option is similar to chairside bleaching, but the laser produces quicker and better results, said Alder. And unlike the bonding or veneer options, people G /— ' can leave their own teeth intact. Laser whitening costs about $700 to $1,000 and usually takes about two to three hours. During the procedure, the teeth are coated with a hydrogen per- oxide gel. A dentist zaps each tooth with an argon laser for about 30 seconds. Then the process is repeated with a carbon dioxide laser. Two types of laser are needed because the argon is absorbed bet- ter by yellow and brown stains and the CO2 laser works better on gray stains. Some people are not candidates for laser whitening. The proce- dure cannot be performed on any- one younger than 18, someone who is claustrophobic or a person with severe gum disease. Also, bleaching will not change the color of crowns or tooth-col- ored fillings that were made to match discolored teeth. Even so, the demand for laser whitening is out there. Alder has treated many patients and most are thrilled with their new smiles, he said. "It's pretty much a 'wow' reac- tion," he said. "The results are dramatic." If laser whitening is so won- derful, why haven't more dentists jumped on the bandwagon? Laser whitening techniques were ap- proved by the FDA in 1996. Yet few dentists offer the technique. One reason for that may be the price, Alder said. The laser equip- ment and training cost $40,000. ALERT page 72 "The family suggests - that memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association." When people want to honor a loved one and fight heart disease. Volunteers Needed THE HENRY FORD HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY IS SEEKING DIABETIC PATIENTS 18-70 YEARS OLD WITH A FOOT ULCER BIGGER THAN 2'A INCHES. American Heart Association. PLEASE CALL: CRYSTAL ANDERSON MELINDA THORNTON, R.N. KAREN MCKENZIE, R.N. 313-556-9759 313-876-1984 Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION MEMORIALS &TRIBUTES 1-800-AHA-USA1 This space provided as a public service. ©1994, American Heart Association cgx;xx;x4xx;z4z4z2;KP4xx;x4uPP4 Institute For Personalized Education KC BODY WORK THERAPEUTIC Internationally Certified Massage Therapists Specializing in Massage Therapy Tutoring for Children and Adults is offered in the following areas: • Bar Mitzvah • Remedial for Children • Hebrew Reading & Writing • Synagogue Skills • Torah Study • Voice Lessons (519) 254-3492 *************4x** c p 75 o I Ten Mile > t.0 18591 W. 10 Mile, Ste. 3 Southfield In Washington Square Med. Bldg. • Massage Medicine - Sports Medicine • Acupressure Points • Myofacial Release for Back Pain, Headaches, Rehab., Sports Injuries, etc. •Sauna 810-557-8757 Hours: 9am - 11pm Mon. - Sat.