Spring 2008 (back to Table of Contents)
Scaling Safety
Sometimes it's hard to justify working a regular dental checkup into a busy schedule, so some people have been known to try and conduct some of the procedures, such as scaling their teeth, at home by themselves, often leading to disastrous results.
Smart Snacks!
When it comes to the effect of certain foods on your teeth, a lot can depend not only on what you eat, but also when you eat and in which order certain foods are eaten.
Smart Tips for a Whiter, Brighter Smile
What attracts us to people when we first meet them? In many cases, we instinctively gravitate to someone with a warm, welcoming smile, and unconsciously shy away from those with unattractive teeth.
Time for a Spring Cleaning!
This time of year evokes the urge to organize your home, open up the windows and bring in the fresh spring air. While you're in the mood to clean and brighten your surroundings, why not take a minute to make an appointment for a dental visit to brighten your smile too?
Tobacco and Your Teeth
It's often easy to tell who uses tobacco and who doesn't, just by having a glimpse in their mouth.
Tobacco and Your Teeth
It's often easy to tell who uses tobacco and who doesn't, just by having a glimpse in their mouth.
Toothbrush Hygiene
You floss your teeth then brush them until they're squeaky-clean, satisfied that your mouth is as clean and fresh as it can be. While you may have done the best job possible, have you ever stopped to think of how clean your actual toothbrush is?
Versatile Veneers
Do you have a small gap between your front teeth? Are your teeth discolored? Chipped? Uneven? Slightly crooked? All these imperfections can be taken care of easily and efficiently right in our dental practice with the application of porcelain veneers.
Whiplash & Delayed Jaw Pain
As if car crash survivors don't already have enough to worry about, now a study released by Umeå University in Sweden documents a direct relation between whiplash trauma and delayed temporomandibular joint symptoms.
Winter 2007 (back to Table of Contents)
DENTAL TIPS FOR DIABETICS
If you're one of the millions of North Americans who suffer from diabetes, you need to pay special attention to your dental care, as you are especially susceptible to periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss. Some people's fi rst indications of diabetes may come from a regular dental care appointment, where the dental hygienist notices some sign of the disease, whether it be dry mouth, sore or loose teeth, burning mouth or tongue, chronic bad breath, gingivitis or gum disease. Bacteria thrive in the mouths of diabetics when there are high glucose levels present, and this increased level of bacteria, in conjunction with a patient's reduced ability to resist infection, can lead to an increased risk of gum disease.
Even More to Smile About!
That famous line from an old toothpaste commercial certainly did the general population good, encouraging regular brushing and preventing dental decay. In fact, brushing one's teeth as a daily habit was actually a foreign concept until as late as after World War II, when soldiers brought the Armyenforced habit back home.
Even More to Smile About!
That famous line from an old toothpaste commercial certainly did the general population good, encouraging regular brushing and preventing dental decay. In fact, brushing one's teeth as a daily habit was actually a foreign concept until as late as after World War II, when soldiers brought the Armyenforced habit back home.
HEALTHY, KISSABLE LIPS!
While many of us remember to apply sunscreen and lip balm for protection against the summer sun and drying heat, we sometimes forget, if we live or vacation in a place with cold, snowy conditions, that winter weather protection is also vital to healthy skin and lips.
ORAL CANCER ALERT
As your dental professional, we're full of good reasons why you should visit the dentist on a regular basis. Preventing decay, maintaining good oral health and making sure your smile is as attractive as possible are all good incentives to visit us at least twice a year, but you probably don't give much thought to another serious reason to have your mouth checked regularly: oral cancer screenings.
TAKE IT EASY!
A toothbrush with firm bristles, coupled with vigorous brushing action, is ideal for scrubbing away the gunk around your bathroom sink faucets. When it comes to brushing your teeth, however, we respectfully suggest taking a lighter-handed approach.
VENEERS VS. WHITENING: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
We're deluged with images of shiny, perfect teeth in advertising, television shows and movies, and are more aware than ever of the social and professional benefits of an attractive, confident smile. So what's the best way for the average person to achieve their own "movie star" smile?
WE WELCOME YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOO!
Referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations are our number one source of new patients. In fact, one of the best compliments we can receive from our clients is the referral of one of your friends, colleagues or family members. When you give us a good reference, we will ensure that the person you refer receives special attention and the finest service possible.
WE WELCOME YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOO!
Referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations are our number one source of new patients. In fact, one of the best compliments we can receive from our clients is the referral of one of your friends, colleagues or family members. When you give us a good reference, we will ensure that the person you refer receives special attention and the finest service possible.
Fall 2007 (back to Table of Contents)
Checkup Checklist
You've heard that you should visit the dentist at least twice a year for a thorough oral examination and teeth cleaning, but if your teeth feel fine, and you aren't experiencing any dental problems, are such frequent visits really necessary? The short answer is yes, and here's why.
Create a Naturally Beautiful Smile With Porcelain Veneers
If you would like to correct your slightly crooked, uneven or chipped teeth, or whiten and brighten teeth that are severely stained or discolored, then dental veneers could be your perfect solution.
Emergency Tooth Tips
Many people assume that once a tooth is chipped or knocked out, it's gone forever. But in many cases, forever does not have to be true, if you keep these points in mind:
Getting Long in the Tooth? Read This!
In the old days, most people, as a matter of course, expected to lose their teeth as they aged. These days, we know that with proper dental care, there is no reason you shouldn't continue to enjoy your own teeth, no matter what your age.
LOL ... With White Fillings, You Can!
LOL: It's a popular email term standing for "Laugh Out Loud", and we all know there's nothing better than a hearty, belly-shaking laugh to brighten your day. But what if you're embarrassed every time you open your mouth, concerned about the appearance of your metal fillings? Worry no longer we have the "white" solution to your metal misery.
Putting a Hold on Halitosis
Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, is an embarrassing condition that affects more than 90 million people.
Sweet Deception
Most parents take great care to monitor their children's sugar intake, so when they hear a dentist say that their child's teeth show decay, it usually comes as an unpleasant surprise.
Teeth Whitening Questions? Read This!
The results from an independent study on cosmetic dentistry, conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), confirm that 99.7 percent of us believe a smile is an important social asset, 96 percent of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex, and 74 percent of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chance for career success.
Use 'Em or Lose 'Em!
If you're fortunate enough to have an insurance plan that covers dental care for you, and perhaps your family too, you'll want to make sure you take advantage of the benefits you're entitled to, before the end of this year.
Summer 2007 (back to Table of Contents)
A Summery Smile Is Always in Style!
Whether summer for you means a slowdown in your work schedule, an increase in child-related recreational activities, a long-anticipated holiday or all those things and more, we encourage you to remember to take the time to squeeze in your regular dental visit before the summer months fly by. Just like making sure your car is in road-worthy condition before you embark on a driving vacation, it's important, especially if you're leaving town, to have your teeth and mouth checked so that you won't have to worry about any dental problems that may interrupt your summer plans.
Dental Implants, Naturally
There are a number of ways to replace a missing tooth or teeth, but if you have healthy gums and bones, consider dental implants as your most natural option.
Don't Flush the Floss!
As important as a discussion on the benefits of regular flossing is, proper disposal of used floss is also worth talking about.
Healthy Teeth Start With Healthy Gums
Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. However, the good news is that, of all the diseases that are within your power to control, gum disease is one that can be prevented with the simplest of efforts.
Nailing Down the Answers to Nail Biting
Nail biting is a common habit among up to 50% of children, and a smaller, but still significant, percentage of adults. While the cosmetic disadvantages of nail biting are obvious, there are some other more serious repercussions of this habit that could affect everything from your nails to your teeth to the spread of bacteria in other parts of your body.
Running Hot and Cold on Sensitive Teeth
It is estimated that at least 45 million adults in the United States and 5 million Canadian adults suffer from sensitive teeth at some point, making it one of the most common complaints among dental patients. Sometimes the pain is caused by hot or cold stimuli seeping into microscopic cracks in your teeth, the result of years of your teeth expanding and contracting after coming in contact with temperature extremes. In many cases, however, the problem begins where the gums recede.
Should I Consider Cosmetic Dentistry?
It's hard to watch any TV program or flip through a magazine without noticing ads for whiter, brighter teeth, usually marketing a way to look younger and more attractive. While those goals are usually achieved, you may still wonder if you really need to undergo whitening or any other cosmetic dentistry process, or if your teeth are OK the way they are. Ask yourself the following questions, and the answer should be clearer:
Smarter Smiles!
We all know how attractive and confident a person can look after having their teeth whitened, straightened or otherwise improved, but did you know that a new smile could also make you look more interesting, intelligent, successful and wealthy to others?
Who'll Notice a Missing Back Tooth?
A missing front tooth would probably have you running to our office with your hand over your mouth, looking for the quickest way to fill the gap. A missing back tooth usually doesn't result in the same urgency, but there are very good reasons why, even though it's not as visible as a missing front tooth, you still need to replace any missing back teeth.
Spring 2007 (back to Table of Contents)
DRUGS AND DENTISTRY
As you know, our office keeps a file on your dental history. In that file is also any background information you've shared with us about any medical conditions you have or any medications you may be taking. It's important that you keep us updated on any changes to this information, in order for us to treat your dental needs safely and appropriately.
Even Out Your Smile!
The quest for an improved smile is sometimes as simple as evening out your gumline through crown lengthening or gum lifts. This works for people whose smile is more gums than teeth, or for those who have an uneven gumline that results in an irregular look to teeth that are actually straight and even.
Healthy Dental Habits From Day 1
We always advocate that it's never too early to begin good dental habits, and that means being aware of dental issues from the "baby" tooth stage right through to the stage where we're referred to as being "long in the tooth."
Here Comes the Bride, Radiant in White!
Spring hails the beginning of the wedding season. Whether you're a bride who wants to ensure that her smile complements her beautiful white dress, a wedding party participant who needs a photo-ready smile, or an honored guest of the wedding, you'll want to make sure that your bright, healthy smile reflects the happy occasion.
Here Comes the Bride, Radiant in White!
Spring hails the beginning of the wedding season. Whether you're a bride who wants to ensure that her smile complements not clashes with her beautiful white dress, a wedding party participant who needs a photo-ready smile, or an honored guest of the wedding, you'll want to consider teeth whitening for all the smiles that are part and parcel of the happy occasion.
The Calcium Connection
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HEALTHY SMILE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO START BY UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR TEETH ARE COMPRISED OF.
THE LAST WORD ON: DENTAL HEADACHES
If you suffer from frequent headaches but can't determine the cause, mention it to us, as headaches can sometimes be the result of bruxism, or teeth grinding.
The Last Word on: Smile Improvements
Today's dental patients are more aware of cosmetic dentistry than ever before. Give the credit to shows like "Extreme Makeover," the perfect smiles seen on TV personalities and movie stars or to the increased attention being given to the ease and success of cosmetic procedures in the general media today, but many patients coming in to our office know exactly what type of smile improvement they'd like.
WINNING SMILES FOR ATHLETES
Every athlete, whether a professional or of the weekend warrior variety, wants to be the very best he or she can be. However, as your dentist, I'd like to make sure that you don't forget about your teeth in your quest for the win, and that's why I urge you to give the same attention to your mouth as you would to your game strategy.
