Did you know that improved oral health can lead to better overall health?
“Since Dr. Fatmi has become my dentist, I’ve been in much better control of my diabetes.” – Robert
Many still think of graffiti as a type of vandalism expressed through words and symbols painted stylishly in public spaces. That view remains quite prevalent, but in many places graffiti has evolved into an admired art form.
Few have a greater appreciation for that art form and the artists who create it than Robert Exelbierd, a photographer and filmmaker who specializes in documenting the creative process and finished works of street artists.
What’s unique about Robert’s work is that much of it is produced by drones outfitted with cameras. Robert coordinates the flight of the drone so that it flies high over the artist and the art to capture images others couldn’t create at ground level.
“I’ve been filming graffiti artists all around the country for about five years now,” Robert reveals. “I also photograph and film sunrises and landscapes. I walk the beach every day because South Florida has so much to offer in terms of magnificent images.
“Just the other day, in fact, I caught a team of dolphins playing out in the water. A few days later I was photographing and filming an artist creating a mural at a cupcake shop in a building that’s 120 years old, so the work I do can be quite varied.”
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Robert is a 33-year-old Type 1 diabetic who discovered his passion for art, photography and filmmaking while attending college in South Florida. Shortly after finding his niche, Robert made another critical discovery.
“I was having a problem with two molars on the right side of my mouth,” Robert remembers. “I didn’t have a dentist at the time, but there was one right down the street from where I lived in Boca Raton, so I went there.”
Taking Control
The dentist, Naved Fatmi, DMD, is the founder of Health and Wellness Dentistry group, which has locations in Boca Raton (Regency Court Dentistry), Boynton Beach (Town Square Dentistry) and Lake Worth (Lake Worth Dentistry).
“I’ve never been very comfortable with doctors or dentists, but right from the start, Dr. Fatmi made me feel extremely comfortable,” Robert enthuses. “I’ve been seeing him ever since, and I can say that I have never had a bad experience.
“In fact, since Dr. Fatmi has become my dentist, I’ve been in much better control of my diabetes than I ever was before. That is largely a result of all the care and education about oral hygiene that I’ve received from Dr. Fatmi and his staff.”
Dr. Fatmi’s care of Robert began with the restoration of those bothersome right molars, both of which were badly decayed and in danger of failing. Dr. Fatmi salvaged those teeth by clearing the decay and placing crowns.
Since then, Dr. Fatmi has restored five other badly decayed teeth and fit Robert with clear aligners that are subtly moving his teeth into their proper positions, which alleviates crowding and allows for more effective flossing and brushing.
Though they are a standard part of any general maintenance program, flossing and brushing are extremely important for anyone with diabetes because diabetics are more susceptible to gum disease.
“Something a lot of people don’t realize is that anytime you have a lot of bacteria and decay sitting in your mouth, that stuff winds up running through the rest of your body, and that directly impacts your overall health,” Dr. Fatmi educates.
“That’s why, by removing the bacteria and decay and keeping the carbohydrate levels in the mouth low, we can actually improve someone’s general health. And that’s exactly what happened with Robert. Once we removed all that acid, he started feeling better.
“The better alignment of his teeth will help too, because if the teeth are not properly aligned and there’s a lot of crowding, it’s easier for bacteria to get stuck in between the teeth. With proper alignment, it’s easier to get all that bad stuff out.”
“An Awesome Smile”
Robert Exelbierd
Robert confirms that the work Dr. Fatmi has done in restoring his teeth has greatly improved his health. The effect has been so great that Robert has completely altered his approach to oral hygiene.
“I’m the kind of person who will sometimes wake up in the middle of the night in need of sugar, but now, before I go back to bed, I make sure to brush my teeth and rinse my mouth to get all of that sugar out of there,” Robert relates.
“Another thing I’m doing now is getting cleanings every three months. And in the last year, that has gone a long way toward improving my diabetes, which is why there’s a direct link between my improved oral health and my ability to better control my diabetes.”
His ability to chew properly also has improved markedly thanks to Dr. Fatmi’s work. In addition, the aligners have Robert on a path to what he is sure will be his most attractive smile.
“I’ve gone from having an OK smile to having an awesome smile,” Robert raves. “I’ve also noticed a big difference in how my mouth feels when I eat and even when I don’t, so I really could not be happier with all that Dr. Fatmi has done for me.
“Thanks to Dr. Fatmi, I have a much better idea of how to take care my oral health. I trust Dr. Fatmi and his staff and highly recommend them. I even have my sister and two of my best friends going there. That’s how much I believe in him.”
