Preventative Dentistry

X-rays From Our Perspective

X-rays are critical to the practice of dentistry. And the benefits are profound. But dentists are sometimes guilty of dismissing patient concerns, as in, "Don't worry, you'll be fine." We do believe the judicious use of X-rays is in our patients' best interests. But patients deserve to know why. Radiography begins Wilhelm Roentgen, fiddling around with electricity and photographic plates one day in 1895, found a wave that could photograph [...]

X-rays From Our Perspective2018-01-09T08:00:15-08:00

The Perils of a Bad Bite

No, we're not talking about being attacked by a junkyard dog. That's perilous enough. The bite in question here is your own bite—the way your lower teeth and your upper teeth come together. A bad bite can be responsible for several woes you might not necessarily connect, like headaches, unsightly teeth and TMJ disorder. Let's take TMJ first. That's short for temporomandibular joint—the hinge that connects your jaw to your [...]

The Perils of a Bad Bite2017-12-12T00:00:07-08:00

Bruxism, the Unknown Habit

It's such a common habit, yet most of the time we never know we're doing it. Not cracking your knuckles or biting fingernails, but intense clenching and grinding of your teeth—known in dental terminology as bruxism. The reason this phenomenon goes unnoticed so often is that "grinders" usually perform when they're sleeping. Most research agrees that nighttime clenching is just a way of releasing tension. From what we see in [...]

Bruxism, the Unknown Habit2017-10-17T00:00:20-07:00

Oral Health Tips when Having a Baby

You've got the glow of a mother-to-be. Keep it with these tips for better oral health for you and your baby. Now you're eating (and brushing, flossing and keeping dental appointments) for two. Make an appointment at the outset of your pregnancy for a healthy head start and advice on changes that could lead to dental problems. Hormonal changes can lead to diet changes, for a famous example, and morning [...]

Oral Health Tips when Having a Baby2017-10-03T00:00:34-07:00

To Prevent Cavities…

Don't filter out fluoride! In the years since fluoride first was added to city water supplies, dentists have seen tooth decay in kids cut in half. Fluoride really works! If you've got youngsters at home, make sure they get all the decay-fighting fluoride they need. There's nothing wrong with home water filtration systems or bottled drinking water. But it's possible the fluoride has been filtered out– or kids are receiving [...]

To Prevent Cavities…2017-05-16T00:00:04-07:00

Ask About MI Paste

MI Paste, a calcium-phosphate remineralizing paste, is a safe and effective way to treat a variety of oral health conditions. It may also be the most effective way to reduce cavities in mature adults, especially when combined with the use of high-fluoride toothpastes. MI Paste can be used to: Reduce high oral acid levels, either from drinking too many soft drinks or from pregnancy Reverse tooth sensitivity before and after [...]

Ask About MI Paste2017-04-25T00:00:40-07:00

Tool of the Trade

Sure, everybody knows dental floss when they see it (we hope), and if you're in a periodontal program, you may be using miles of it. But do you recognize this gizmo? It's for "interdental" hygiene, especially useful for people with substantial spaces between their teeth at the gum line. Some studies show that interdental brushing, in combination with regular brushing and flossing, does a real number on plaque. Go gently, [...]

Tool of the Trade2017-01-24T00:00:43-08:00

Tongue Tales

Traditionally, doctors and dentists have depended on the tongue to help them diagnose various diseases. And tongues do have a lot to say. For example, scarlet fever is accompanied by a spotted "strawberry" tongue. Burning tongue, a very painful condition, affects primarily post-menopausal women and can reflect systemic problems. Hairy leukoplakia is a common AIDS-related oral lesion. And candidiasis, a fungus infection which coats the tongue white, also says something [...]

Tongue Tales2016-11-01T00:00:23-07:00

Ouch! Why am I Wincing?

A sudden, sharp pain when you bite—that's seemingly out of nowhere? Most likely, it's a cracked tooth. Even a hairline fracture in a cavity-free molar can make the most hardy of us sit up and take notice. When you're visited by this kind of bite-down pain, get to the dentist quick. Most cracks are superficial, affecting only part of the crown, but others are more significant and traverse the tooth [...]

Ouch! Why am I Wincing?2016-10-25T00:00:26-07:00

Prevention is Your Best Protection

If you're like the rest of us, now that belt-tightening is the "new normal," you may already be eating more meals at home, dropping subscriptions, vacationing closer to home. You may also be tempted to cut back on your dental care. But think it over. If a problem has surfaced with your oral health, nipping it in the bud is a big money saver. Letting it go can mean big, [...]

Prevention is Your Best Protection2016-10-18T00:00:22-07:00
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