Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Diet Dental Device

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, June 21, 2004

STORY:  DIET DENTAL DEVICE
SCRIPT #562  SHOOT:  6/15/04
AIRDATE:  Monday, June 21, 2004
DHC Master #19   Timecode: 36:53

Some dentists are promoting a device similar to an orthodontic retainer as a new approach to weight loss. Dr. Linda Niessen explains the theory behind the Dental Diet System in this segment of Dental Health Check.

Dentists usually advise patients to remove a retainer before eating. But Danee Diaz has been told to do just the opposite. For the past week, Danee has put in a special retainer before every meal or snack.

“Out of desperation and frustration, and just wanting to feel better about me and wanting to feel better physically, I decided okay, let’s try something else,” said Danee.

The Dental Diet System is supposed to slow down eating and make the patient take smaller bites.

“It does exactly what it says it’s going to do. It makes you take smaller bites.”
 
Slowing down food consumption gives the body more time to send messages to the brain to stop eating.

“So the caloric intake is lower. And the physical amount of food that they have is a smaller amount,” said Dr. Jill Wade.

No scientific data that shows that patients lose weight using this device has been published in a professional journal. The device costs about 500 dollars. Patients can remove it at any time. Only compliant patients have a chance at eating less.

“You’re really going to have to think, here I am, I’m just about to put a snack in my mouth. I need to go place my device,” said Dr. Wade.

Just as there’s no magic weight loss pill, there’s no magic weight loss device either. How you eat may not as important as what you eat and how much you exercise. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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