Dental Info

There is no "virtual way" to learn to become a dentist. No matter how much "book learning" and clinical practice with teeth  mounted in mannequins, a student has, practice on patients is required for dental students to learn to become an actual dentist. For this they need actual patients with appropriate type of problems that can help them learn the actual ins and outs of dentistry. Text books, and manikins don't adequately simulate the conditions in patient's mouths. Manikins don't salivate, close their mouths or talk back. Caries can affect teeth in different ways that can't easily be explained in a text book. Lastly, manikins don't require anesthesia and never bleed. Most of the students I am supervising are very bright and most have a good grasp of the material they have been taught in their first two years of dental school, but often they lack knowledge that can only be gained by "hands on experience" with actual living patie...

Someone once said, “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.” How true!  While it can be frustrating to watch your health change as you age, you don’t have to accept poor oral health and tooth loss as just an inevitable part of the aging process. Your oral health is just as important now as it has ever been, and it has a great deal to do with your overall health and wellness. When it comes to senior dentistry and oral health, Dr. Paini shares the top concerns you may have, and how to address them. Gum Disease A shocking 70% of adults over 65 years of age have gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among seniors. Gum disease is your body’s way of trying to kill germs that infect and inflame gum tissues.  Chronic exposure to inflammation in the body quadruples your chance of developing Alzheimer’s later in life, according to the American Dental Association . Tooth L...

It’s common to see people wearing mouth guards in San Luis Obispo for protection during all kinds of sports, such as football, basketball, and boxing, but did you know that lots of folks wear mouth guards at night for their dental health? People who grind their teeth (bruxism) and people with sleep apnea can get relief from their symptoms simply by wearing a specially-designed mouth guard at night. Dr. Colleran has helped many San Luis Obispo residents improve their quality of life with nightguards. Our team at Michael Colleran, DDS invites you to come visit us today to find out more. Nightguards for Bruxism Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a very common condition. Everyone grinds their teeth at some point, but some San Luis Obispo folks do it so much (especially during the night) that it causes severe damage to their teeth, headaches, jaw aches, TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) issues and more. The problem is that most bruxism sufferers don’t know that they are actually clenchi...

You might be surprised to hear that the state of your oral health has a lot to do with preventing a stroke. There’s a certain kind of bad oral bacteria that cause gum disease , travel to other parts of your body, and cause harm. A stroke is a common but dangerous medical condition that causes a lack of blood in the brain. The effects of a stroke can be long-term and life-changing. People of any age can experience a stroke, but it’s most common in adults 40 years and older. Salt Lake City dentists Dr. Laura Provine and Dr. Thomas Brickey share more information below. Oral Wellness The Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center lists favorable oral health among its top five factors that prevent stroke, and a growing number of studies are finding the link between certain kinds of oral bacteria and the harm they cause to your brain. For example, these bacteria can travel into your head through your bloodstream, causing brain bleeding and dementia. This sounds scary—and it certainly can ...

Dentistry is serious medicine, and daily oral hygiene is a top priority. But teeth can be pretty fun, too – not to mention fascinating. For starters, have you ever seen the full sets of baby teeth and adult teeth present in a child’s head x-ray? Go ahead, look it up. There are tons of interesting dental facts out there! Dubuque Periodontics in Dubuque treats our patients professionally and joyfully—our team thinks teeth are cool. Take Dr. Fili ’s word for it, there’s much to learn and admire about even the most average set of teeth. Facts About People & Teeth According to a survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather visit the dentist than have to listen to one end of a cell-phone conversation. By age 17, 78% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. Tooth prints are as unique as fingerprints. About 5 million teeth per year fall out due to sports-related accidents. Babies have 20 teeth bu...

We’ve all got our reasons. Money. Time. The fear of pain. Juggling insurance. Facing one more reminder that we really should be flossing more. Any of these might cause us to avoid and put off regular visits to the dentist. Has it been so long since your last dental appointment that you’re not even sure how to find a dentist you can trust? Or perhaps you know and love your dentist but you dread the idea of trying to catch up on life with the hygienist while your mouth is being propped open by a tiny plastic jack. (Yes, we think about that too!) Seattle dentist, Dr. Gollofon , and our staff are happy to help you prioritize your dental health, which is why we go to great lengths to remove any barrier that might keep you from stepping through our doors. Sedation options, flexible payment plans , plentiful office hours, and a skilled dental team can help you achieve your best smile. Our relaxed office is comfortable from the waiting room to the dentist chair. A.J. Gollofon, D.D.S. is com...

Your smile is more powerful than you may know. Scientists have studied many aspects of smiling, such as how it affects your brain, your health, and your overall experience of life. Even the situation you’re in and the people around you are influenced by your smile. The findings may surprise you. Or, if you’re someone who smiles often, they may just confirm what you already know. Dr. Case in Portland loves a good smile and wants to help you smile more—to let us convince you to smile more and to maintain that smile with a healthy dental routine, keep reading! Smiling & Your Health The physical act of a smile can benefit both your mental health and your physical health. Experiencing an emotion connects all the parts of yourself: body, mind, and spirit, so the physical act of smiling can improve your overall experience of life. Studies show that smiling makes your brain function better to fight stress and to prevent stress from building in the first place. Smiling also increases y...

Fresh breath sets the tone for every moment of your day: first thing in the morning, before an important meeting, after working out, or just before bed. Whether you prefer cool mint, invigorating cinnamon, or herbal anise, it’s your favorite trusty toothpaste that delivers that fresh, clean feeling. So, what’s the scoop on toothpaste? What knowledge is essential to get the most out of your toothpaste? You might be surprised as you learn more about this common product. Drs. Wagner, Cannon, Lawler, and Nelson in Las Vegas give you the full story on toothpaste to empower you to take oral health into your own hands. What is Toothpaste? Toothpaste is an important preventative product. It can prevent tartar (hardened plaque) and gum disease if used regularly. Toothpaste comes in a variety of forms – paste, gels, powders. But all toothpaste has similar ingredients that allow it to work, and work well. Abrasives — The most important thing toothpaste does is remove unwanted stuff fr...

Many Charlotte residents will lose a tooth at some point in their lives, but that doesn’t mean your smile needs to suffer. There are numerous ways to fix a lost tooth, but today, Dr. Michael Berglass would like to educate you about the best option for a healthy smile that will last a lifetime: dental implants . If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation , don’t hesitate to give us at Central Avenue Dental a call. Implants function just like real teeth If you are looking for a solution that will preserve and improve the health of your mouth, implants are the way to go. Although dentures and bridges can help simulate the function of real teeth, they do not stimulate the jawbone. Implants are placed directly into the jawbone, just like the root of a tooth. As a result, they can put a stop to painful, damaging reabsorption, so that you never have to deal with that “sunken in” look to your face. On top of that, implants are sturdier than any other form of dental ...

It’s no secret that residents of Gwinn love sports! The folks around here work hard and play just as hard, whether it’s football, baseball, basketball, or numerous other high-impact sports that can cause harm to your family’s mouths—at least 13% of all oral injuries happen during sports activities. Dr. Buck wants you to know how to keep your teeth out of harm’s way and still enjoy a good game, so please read on to learn how to win big with a safe, healthy smile! It’s About More than Mouthguards We know what you’re thinking, mouthguards are the key to staying safe on the field, right? Yes, they are a big part of it, but it takes more than just a mouthguard to keep your kids from getting a chipped tooth while scoring a touchdown . Sports safety for oral health means getting the right mouthguard and wearing it the right way. After all, the best defense is a good offense! Do I Need a Mouthguard? If you or a member of your family is considering mouth protection to defend against injur...

When he became the first president of the United States, George Washington had only one real tooth left! You heard right—just ONE. Everyone has heard something about this great man and his dental history, but if you heard that Washington had wooden teeth, then you heard wrong.  This myth is totally false—and Dr. Gordon at Gordon Dental Associates is here to tell you the truth. Dental Care in Colonial Times It was a combination of bad genes and even worse medical practices that led George Washington down the path to becoming toothless. Washington experienced many health problems throughout his life, and he was often treated with “calomel,” a common medicine of his time. Calomel contained mercury, which ruined teeth. The toothpaste of that era was also made from very abrasive materials like tree bark and brick dust, which likely continued to break down Washington’s natural teeth. Many people in Washington’s era had fake teeth, but none were made of wood. As disgusting as it sound...

Your Lexington dentist, Dr. Kevin Brewer at Brewer Family Dental knows that no two patients are alike. Everyone deserves a personalized approach to oral health – but what is something no patient (or even human) can live without? Air—or more specifically, oxygen. The Power of Ozone in Dentistry Oxygen is essential for your cellular health and has an overall positive effect on your body. For that reason, it can be utilized to improve your dental experience. Some dental offices use oxygen therapy to create a calm environment during treatment of acute dental issues or even preventative visits. Oxygen therapy delivers 100% pure, medical-grade oxygen. When three atoms of oxygen bind together, they form ozone, the same matter that protects and nourishes our environment. Oxygen can be applied as ozone gas, ozonated water, or ozonated olive oil. This completely painless treatment works with your body’s natural functions to achieve a multitude of benefits. Increased exposure to pure oxyge...

It's completely normal for patients to be curious about what's going on in their mouths while the dentist works. I often explain what I am doing while performing dentistry and most patients like it when I do. Some patients ask questions before, during and after treatment aand generally it is not a problem. Sometimes..... it can interfere with treatment. Performing dentistry does require concentration and takes a certain amount of mental effort to complete  procedures. It helps when a dentist's mind is clear and not distracted. Some anxious patients deal with their anxiety by asking LOTS of questions. These questions can take many forms but often they reflect the fears of an anxious patient. "Your not taking away too much tooth are you?" "How much longer will this take?" "Will my temporary come out?"  "Did you give me enough anesthesia?" "Do you take continuing education?" "You know I'm a gagger?" "Can...

Most of the time, once decay is observed, it should be cleaned out and restored. Although this post is not meant to encourage people to not have their cavities filled, there are some exceptions to the rule. Some patients, usually in middle age or older have small shallow proximal lesions that are visible on their bitewing radiographs. These appear to be "just into dentin" and if yearly radiographs are taken , it can be observed that these lesions, although once active, do not appear to be growing on the radiographs. When on occasion, I have cleaned some of these out, I have observed that the area in dentin that was affected is dark black and quite calcified. It is my opinion that this indicates that the decay which had once been active has arrested and probably would not be likely to enlarge further. The problem is that without excavating these lesions one can not be sure, but instead just infer that the lesion may be "in remission". This is why periodic yearly bi...

Social media is the space where dental digital marketers nurture relationships with potential patients. It is a powerful medium that can boost a brand’s reputation within a short period of time. However, social media relationships can be fragile. If you are over-aggressive or use too many influencers, it could prove detrimental in the longer run—overexposure kills the consumer’s curiosity. Once your equation with the audience is spoiled, it becomes difficult to regain ground. This is why some businesses prefer to have in-house social media teams, as the company’s own employees would be more familiar with the brand’s traits and the product or service lineup. However, not every dental office can afford to hire a dedicated social media specialist. So, here are four ways to let your own practice staff perform the role of social media brand ambassadors. Instead of social media gurus, identify self-driven employees Social networks continue to play a pivotal role in the world of digital br...

Everyone likes to be in a nice environment with great vibes.  Who wants to spend time in an unpleasant space? Even so, I feel the need to comment on a trend in Dentistry and Medicine, where more care is being made in the presentation and design of offices and  possibly less emphasis on the actual quality of the type care delivered.  Unfortunately state of the art decor doesn't necessarily equate with state of the art care.  It does mean that the practice has spent beaucoup amounts of money in order  to provide an impressive environment for their patients.  These practices may be providing quality care,  as well, since probably their owners may have invested in quality continuing education as well. Yes, it is  true that one has to invest money to make money.  That being said, at the end of the day it is  their patients who are paying back the money spent building and equipping their office, using top grade materials and architectural ...

Of course it isn't a scam, but it isn't doesn't really follow the model of most other types of insurance. Most of us buy insurance to cover us in case of a catastrophic loss or event. If something bad happens and we would incur a large personal expenditure  that would be difficult or impossible fund out of personal savings. Although dental insurance can be a big help it doesn't come close to covering a high percentage of the cost of complicated dental treatments  that can cost from 5,000 to in excess of $50,000. Most dental plans have a yearly outlay of between $1,000-$3,000. For implant and crown and bridge procedures, most plans commonly allow only 50% reimbursement up to their yearly maximum. There is no insurance that comes close to fully covering extensive dentistry performed over the course of one calendar year and there really are no "pro-bono" dentists, since providing dentistry is expensive . Nationally dental overheads run in the range of 60-7...

I have written on this topic before multiple times, but not recently. It is an important topic and a way that I address the problems of many of my new patients who walk into my office for the first time. Many are immigrants from far away places and grew up being treated by dentists who employed a different standard of care. Patients can present with a fairly significant number of dental problems and all deserve being presented an ideal treatment plan. These plans often can not all be addressed completely and thoroughly in a six month period of time. it can be impossible that finances may dictate the need for spreading out their treatments over a longer time.  Also, it is not unusual for the treatment recommended to be "multidisciplinary and can include Oral surgery, implant surgery, periodontal treatment.,orthodontics, endodontics and cosmetic dentistry. Even for patients with no financial limitations complicated treatment plans can take a year or more ( sometimes several years)....

When it comes to your oral health, we hope you never have any pains or problems. Good preventive care will help you always feel your best! But even with the best habits, dental problems do happen. In that case, oral pathology is the science and medicine that helps diagnose and treat whatever is making you ache. If you think you have an oral disease, don’t be embarrassed, but get help from your Salt Lake City dentists Dr. Thomas Brickey and Dr. Laura Provine as soon as possible. What is Oral Pathology? Sometimes things go wrong, even in the healthiest people. If you have pain, bleeding, or unusual symptoms in your mouth, oral pathology helps us find the answers you need. According to the American Dental Association: “Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.” In other words, oral pathology is the science that understands the causes and ...

Having a great smile is a privilege that everyone in Portland should enjoy. The confidence that comes from having genuine pride in your pearly whites is irreplaceable. However, many of us struggle with imperfections in our teeth. Broken, chipped, cracked, stained, and crooked teeth can really put a damper on your smile. At Family Dental Health, we know how much a healthy, happy smile means to Portland residents, so we’d like to talk about how Dr. Case can help get you the smile you deserve with veneers . What are Veneers? Veneers are thin layers of composite, or dental porcelain that are placed on the surface of a tooth to correct cosmetic and functional issues. Invented in 1928 by Charles Pincus, veneers were originally intended to give movie stars perfect teeth for the silver screen. Back then, they were only temporary due to a lack of competent adhesive, but modern dental medicine has advanced to the point that veneers can last for up to 30 years, and are nearly identical to natu...

Your smile is more powerful than you may know. Scientists have studied many aspects of smiling, such as how it affects your brain, your health, and your overall experience of life. Even the situation you’re in and the people around you are influenced by your smile. The findings may surprise you. Or, if you’re someone who smiles often, they may just confirm what you already know. Dr. Gollofon in Seattle loves a good smile and wants to help you smile more—to let us convince you to smile more and to maintain that smile with a healthy dental routine, keep reading! Smiling & Your Health The physical act of a smile can benefit both your mental health and your physical health. Experiencing an emotion connects all the parts of yourself: body, mind, and spirit, so the physical act of smiling can improve your overall experience of life. Studies show that smiling makes your brain function better to fight stress and to prevent stress from building in the first place. Smiling also increase...