Patient Education

The Rubber Dental Dam

Throughout your treatment at our office, we want to keep you comfortable and safe while providing the best possible care. During many of our procedures we use a rubber dam (aka dental dam) to help. The rubber dam is a thin sheet that allows us to isolate the teeth we're treating. By stretching the rubber shield over a U-shaped framework, only the teeth being treated are exposed to the water [...]

The Rubber Dental Dam2017-05-09T00:00:16-07:00

Tongue-Thrusting

Train that Tongue Without therapy, the wrong oral habits, sooner or later, will cause tooth movement, breathing and speech problems You'd think swallowing is easy as falling off a log. But some of us need help retraining muscles that we've been using wrong all along. A "bad" swallow is just the luck of the draw, usually caused by unbalanced facial muscles or enlarged tonsils. When you swallow normally (and we [...]

Tongue-Thrusting2017-04-18T00:00:33-07:00

Save Money By Preventing Dental Expenses

Everyone is concerned about money these days. But the only way to save wisely is to calculate your net gain (or loss). We agree that it's silly to drive 20 miles to save 3 cents a gallon on gas, but it's just as foolish to skip your dental appointments. With the cost of everything increasing, an excellent way to save money is to prevent potential problems before they become big [...]

Save Money By Preventing Dental Expenses2017-04-11T00:00:50-07:00

Alcohol and Your Health…

Just the Facts There's so much conflicting information regarding drinking alcohol blasting at us these days. A glass of red wine is good? Is even drinking at all a good idea? It's a matter of proportion. The facts are these. First, alcohol affects women more than men. Because men tend to be heavier in muscle mass, their bodies can process slightly more alcohol with fewer negative consequences than women's. But [...]

Alcohol and Your Health…2017-03-21T00:00:25-07:00

These are Times that Stress Kids’ Mouths

What does a student facing exam pressure have in common with a World War I soldier—or an 18th-Century British sailor? More than you might think. Kids surviving on junk food and stress are at risk of two retro tooth-and-gum woes: trench mouth and scurvy. Trench Mouth (named for the soldiers) is better known today as ANUG, or Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis. While it's similar to periodontal disease, what sets ANUG [...]

These are Times that Stress Kids’ Mouths2017-02-28T00:00:54-08:00

Diabetes

The first clue to diabetes may be in your mouth! In many cases it's the dentist–and not the physician–who has the first opportunity in the early detection of diabetes, because diabetics are especially prone to dental problems. Swollen, tender, bleeding and receding gums, loose teeth, and a sore tongue may not just be signs of poor dental health. They may be danger signals for diabetes, too. If you have any of [...]

Diabetes2017-02-21T00:00:21-08:00

How to Dispel Dental Anxiety

Of course, we do what we can to make your visit with us as comfortable as possible. But there are also ways to help yourself deal with any anxiety you may have while anticipating treatment. Positive self-talk. Tell yourself, "I can handle this well." Make other positive self-statements, especially about tense situations similar to this with which you coped well. Make positive statements about the dental personnel. You're in good hands. Remind [...]

How to Dispel Dental Anxiety2017-01-17T00:00:57-08:00

Stay Healthy in 2017!

With the new year upon us, it's again time we examine our health and lifestyles, and see how best we can improve and maintain them. Consider some of these easy resolutions that will help you lead a healthier life for years to come. 1. Stop smoking and make this New Year tobacco-free! If you smoke or use other tobacco products, the single greatest thing you can do to improve your [...]

Stay Healthy in 2017!2017-01-03T00:00:39-08:00

Tongue Piercing

A Bit on Body Art In every big city—and down on a lot of farms—"body art" is all the rage. While we begged our parents for discreet earrings, our children are piercing various body parts in surprising places. Lips, tongue, cheeks, even the uvula (the dangling thingie in the back of the throat) are fair game in and around the mouth. Aesthetics aside, how dangerous is piercing, really? First, the [...]

Tongue Piercing2016-12-27T00:00:58-08:00

Do You Commit Tooth Abuse?

Especially for Braces Wearers Do you absent-mindedly commit Tooth Abuse? These are habits definitely off limits for the health of your teeth: Don't chomp on a toothpick—it can wear teeth down and get caught in your braces. Stop chewing your nails, pens and pencils—it's hard on teeth and gums. Leave the ice in your drink? Chewing ice can crack teeth and fillings, and pop wires in braces. Don't consume something [...]

Do You Commit Tooth Abuse?2016-12-20T00:00:17-08:00
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