We are so pleased to be able to announce that we have the very latest in radiographic diagnostic equipment that is available today for diagnosing maladies in the oral/dental area. The equipment provides us a 3D view of the lower midface area which we have already found to be of invaluable benefit in diagnosing infections, positioning of teeth, root fractures, gum and bone loss depths, etc.

We have found that concerns which were very difficult to diagnose have all of a sudden become extremely clear because of the increased amount of information we are able to take from these images. The amount of radiation is low because it is all digital which greatly reduces the amount of exposure that is necessary to provide the image. It is quickly becoming part of our diagnostic information we gather in our new patient examination.
The great part also is that we are able to keep the cost quite low compared to what this type of image would have cost in the past. So if you ever have a concern that is difficult to totally diagnose then this will probably help make clear that which has previously been a little muddy.

Galen VanBlaricum, DDS

With baseball season upon us it seems that we get this question a lot!

If the tooth can be replanted within minutes after the accident, there is a greater chance the tooth will be retained for life. After the accident, the tooth should be located and picked up by the crown or enamel portion and NOT the root. If the tooth is dirty or contaminated, it should gently be rinsed with milk or water. Do not store the tooth in water.

It should be noted that if a primary (baby) tooth is knocked out, it should NOT be replanted as it could damage the permanent tooth bud in formation. Parents should NOT try to place the baby tooth back into the socket, and should immediately seek the advice and treatment of their dentist.

Modern research has developed a common thread in the success rate of the treatment of avulsed (knocked out) teeth. That common premise is the rate at which the teeth are reimplanted. Recent studies have shown that critical time to be in the range of five minutes to an hour. The American Association of Endodontists (2004) recommends reimplanting the fully formed tooth (closed apex) if it has been in a storage medium of milk, saline or saliva tooth even up to 60 minutes or less.

Hopefully this is just something you keep in the back of your brain as trivia and you never have to use it!! Let’s keep our kids safe and have mouth guards made for them when they are playing sports. Call our office and set up an appointment we would be more then happy to make one!!

Dr. Newkirk

Are you a person that is anxious about dental appointments? Well, you’re not alone. A lot of people suffer from anxiety when the thought of going to the dentist office comes up. The good news is that through the changes in technology and education, dentistry has been revolutionized. Appointments and procedures are quicker and easier than ever before. For example, a crown used to take two visits that lasted about 1-1 ½ hours each. Now we are able to make state of the art crowns using CAD-CAM technology in one appointment that takes about 1-1 ½ hours! We also have something called a Comfort Menu. This is simply a menu of offerings to help make your time with us as comfortable as possible. Here is what it looks like:

COMFORT MENU

Blankets
Neck Pillow
Under the knee pillow
IPOD Music
Movies
Lip Balm
Bottled Water
Coffee/Tea
Ibuprofen/Tylenol

We know that there are plenty of things in life that we all worry about; it is our goal to eliminate dentistry from that list! In honor of this idea, our staff made a video featuring the song “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. Check it out under the New Patient tab. It just might make you smile!

It seems inevitable that when you visit the office for your dental cleaning and check-up, you may be asked the dreaded question, “Have you been flossing?”. And you may think, “What is the big deal about flossing?” In my experience, flossing seems to be something people only tend to do when they get food caught in between their teeth. In reality, you should floss at minimum, one time per day, for two specific reasons. First, flossing is important for the health of your teeth. Floss is the most effective way to remove not only the food, but also the plaque that builds up between the teeth. Essentially, it helps to prevent cavities from forming in between the teeth. Second, flossing is important for the health of your gums. Floss can reach underneath the gums to remove plaque, food, etc., and stimulates the gums. So you see, floss is something you should reach for each and every day. Adding a little bit of extra time to floss can really benefit you in the long run!

Van Tran, RDH

As dental hygienists, we are always asking how many times a day you brush and if you’re flossing. Proper brushing is a skill and can be difficult to do effectively. What I have found is that many people think that brushing harder, or using a medium or hard bristle toothbrush will remove more plaque on their teeth than soft bristle toothbrushes. Actually, using medium or hard bristle toothbrushes can cause irritation with gums and can accelerate gum recession (root exposure). There are electric toothbrushes out there that have a sensor to let you know if you are brushing too hard. If you are using a manual toothbrush and notice the bristles flaring out after just a couple of uses, you are brushing too hard with the toothbrush. I recommend you hold the toothbrush with just your fingertips (not in a closed fist), and always use a soft or extra soft bristled toothbrush when brushing your teeth. You can remove plaque effectively without brushing your teeth aggressively.

Melinda Felkins, RDH

It would be a wonderful thing, if once a tooth had a crown restoration placed, it never needed treatment again! Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Keep in mind, that a crown is placed over tooth structure. Here are some circumstances where a crown needs replaced:

1) The porcelain or gold is worn through due to bite related issues.

2) Chipping or breaking of crown material due to clenching or grinding and a strong bite.

3) A cavity develops on the tooth structure remaining around or under the crown.

Average life expectancy of a crown ranges from 5-10 years. It is possible for a crown to last for the rest of your days! Here are some steps you can take to extend the life of your crown.

1) Daily flossing

2) Brushing 2-3 times daily

3) Water piks work great for plaque/food removal around crown margins.

4) Regular dental cleanings, exams, and annual x-rays to check margins of the crown.

5) If you are clenching or grinding, wearing a dental splint will protect the crown material from wearing down.

Erin Gonzales RDH

Many patients ask us what type of toothbrush we recommend and in our office we agree that the Sonicare electric toothbrush is our #1 pick. The Sonicare cleans very well around the gumline, corners and hard to reach places in the mouth. It also works on a timer and that helps people brush for at least 2 minutes. Patients can instantly feel the difference when they use the Sonicare because their teeth feel smoother, much like an office polish. You can get a Sonicare at most retail stores in various models. The mechanics of all the Sonicares are the same but they are packaged with different bells and whistles.

Starr Tait, RDH

As many of you may have noticed we have started taking blood pressure in our office. Monitoring blood pressure can improve outcomes of dental care as well as improving the overall health of patients.

Gum disease and tooth decay are linked to a patient’s overall health so we believe in being as comprehensive as possible. Some patients visit the dentist more often than their physician, so we feel we can play an important role in potentially identifying undetected or uncontrolled hypertension. We care about your whole health, not just your teeth!

Starr Tait, RDH

Well after shoveling two driveways last week and learning that you burn 408 calories for every hour shoveled, I am ready for my next Mother Nature workout. How about you? Although at times inconvenient (like when we really needed some butter to make the cookies we were craving), the snow has brought some unexpected beauty.

To name a few:

*The obvious, glistening fields of white powder

*Kiddos laughing from the outrageous wipeouts on their sleds

*The kindness of a stranger with a shovel or snow blower ready to help a sista out!

*The comraderie of neighborhoods coming together to push each other out of the rutted snow (to get that butter from the store)

*Sharing some homemade cookies with those that have helped

*Memories of moonlight sledding with my children that will last a lifetime

*An unexpected day off from the amazing Boss’ Nealy Newkirk and Galen Van Blaricum, all in the name of keeping their staff and patients safe.

All of these things remind me that when obstacles present themselves, humankind blossoms with true beauty of love, tolerance and kindness and for that I am truly grateful. I hope this post finds you all safe and warm and ready for the next round.

We will be closed on Tuesday, February 26th due to the snow and this time, I have plenty of butter for all my baking needs!

Samantha Hauber

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘half empty or half full?’… She fooled them all …. “How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. To 20 oz.

She replied , “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night… Pick them up tomorrow.”

We will always have stress in our lives and sometimes it is taken out on our teeth! Having a guard that protects your teeth is a great idea. Just remember to have it made by a dentist! Buying one over the counter can sometimes do more harm then good because you will chew on it and your jaw muscles will get very tired!

Dr. Nealy Newkirk