Patient Education

Sterilization

Keeping Our Office Safe For You We follow all guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and American Dental Association, particularly sterilization procedures for instruments used in the mouth. This means high speed drills too. Our autoclave is state-of-the-science—it’s monitored regularly by an independent testing laboratory [...]

By |2013-08-06T00:00:04-07:00August 6, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Sterilization

Summertime! Safe & Sound

In the midst of summer, it's easy to let your mind wander during the long, lazy days of relaxation. While it’s important to unwind on vacation, relax at the beach, retreat to the mountains and play in the park, you also mustn't neglect your oral health. Your [...]

By |2013-07-02T00:00:09-07:00July 2, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Summertime! Safe & Sound

Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Sorry to say, it can. In fact, anything involving contact with saliva—a kiss, parents tasting their babies’ food, sharing of tableware and toothbrushes—can transmit decay-causing bacteria. Soon after birth, infants start to get those bacteria that inhabit the mouth and cause cavities. These germs are usually transferred [...]

By |2013-06-11T00:00:49-07:00June 11, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Can Kissing Cause Cavities?

Manual or Mechanical?

Back and forth goes the argument—what toothbrush is best? Gadgeteers can spend $150 for an electric brush designed to rotate and oscillate, with angled neck, sure-grip handle, dual speed control, and even a timer. Researchers say that rotation-oscillation electric brushes remove plaque and reduce gingivitis better than [...]

By |2013-06-04T00:00:44-07:00June 4, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Manual or Mechanical?

EMERGENCY! Save that Tooth!

Dental emergencies happen. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, don’t delay. Call us immediately for an emergency visit. Re-implanting a tooth works best when done within 30 minutes. After two hours, the procedure is unlikely to be successful. Call us after any blow to the mouth. [...]

By |2013-05-07T00:00:02-07:00May 7, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on EMERGENCY! Save that Tooth!

Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

What’s long, slender, hard, sharp, indigestible and potentially hazardous? That common and seemingly harmless sliver of wood called a toothpick. Reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association point to toothpicks as causing thousands of injuries a year, mostly to young children. Youngsters aged five to [...]

By |2013-03-19T00:00:20-07:00March 19, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

Facing Chemotherapy?

Tell Your Dentist Anyone facing cancer therapy already knows—chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer is a serious response to a serious condition. What they may not know is that a dental appointment scheduled at least two weeks before treatment begins can reduce the risk of complication and [...]

By |2013-03-05T00:00:44-08:00March 5, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Facing Chemotherapy?

Alcohol and Your Teeth

Dentally speaking, is drinking alcohol a good thing or a bad thing for your teeth and gums? As with everything alcohol related, there are positives and negatives. On one hand, a mixer-free shot of vodka is probably less hazardous than caramel candies, which coat the teeth with [...]

By |2013-02-26T00:00:34-08:00February 26, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Alcohol and Your Teeth

Sunshine For Healthy Teeth and Bones

We don’t hear a lot about vitamin D. It’s crucial for healthy teeth and bones because it helps you absorb calcium. And the easiest way to get your minimum daily requirement is—take a walk in the sun! Vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin” because natural sunlight [...]

By |2013-01-15T00:00:04-08:00January 15, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Sunshine For Healthy Teeth and Bones

Meds & Your Mouth

The medicine you take for one physical disorder may literally rot your teeth. This is one of many reasons we need to know your medical history and current treatment. For instance... Chewable vitamin C supplements are a good idea for a lot of people, but check your brand [...]

By |2013-01-08T00:00:17-08:00January 8, 2013|Patient Education|Comments Off on Meds & Your Mouth