In my last blog we discussed the pervading myths on root canals, baby teeth and dentures. This blog will address even more popularly held beliefs that could not be more false. Welcome to dental myths dispelled, part 2. 4. Dentistry is Expensive Really? Compared to what? A friend once showed me a bill from her…
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Dispelling Dental Myths – What you don't know can hurt you!
(Part One) Over my 40 years in dentistry I have encountered many myths about oral health that are just not true. In the next series of blog posts, I hope to put these myths to rest and give you the facts you need to make informed decisions about your oral health. Welcome to dispelling dental…
Candy and tooth decay – It’s raining candy; what’s a parent to do?
With Halloween upon us I would be remiss without making a few hopefully helpful suggestions on how best to weather the “ candy storm”! With almost $ 7 billion in sales, Halloween has somehow become the second most popular holiday in America, only outdone by the Christmas season. The Huffington Post reports about $2 billion…
Tooth Whitening Foods – Can Some Foods Really Whiten Your Teeth?
There may actually be some truth to this according to recent studies. There were five foods reported that may help keep your teeth healthy and white when incorporated into your diet: Steak. It may be a stretch, but according to the American Dental Association, the phosphorus in steak protects tooth enamel and bone. It’s known…
Dental Insurance vs. Direct Reimbursement. Why you need to understand the difference.
Even before the specter of the Affordable Care Act we’ve often been asked questions about dental insurance and why we don’t participate or why a plan doesn’t pay for this or that. It’s really not that complicated. Dental insurance is a rigged game and I refuse to play. No insurance company has ever lost a…
Canker sores versus cold sores. Do you know the difference?
Aphthous ulcers, or canker sores as they are more commonly called, are annoying ulcers that can affect anyone. Not to be confused with cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus and which I will address in an upcoming blog, stress of one type or another often precipitates aphthous ulcers. They can arise…
Auto fluorescence imagery – Amazing technology aids early detection!
The next time you are in the dental office for your check–up you may notice that we are using a new intraoral camera to help detect the presence of dental plaque and caries (tooth decay). In addition to serving as a regular intraoral camera, the SoproLife camera by Acteon utilizes a unique auto fluorescence imagery…
Getting Numb at the Dentist with OraVerse
The Best of Both Worlds My motto has always been: “You can never be too numb”; certainly true if you are having extensive dental treatment done. But one of the things people hate most about the dental office is being numb. What to do? Now we have OraVerse, a drug that has been used safely…
Sugar and health – Everything You Were Afraid To Know
And what you can do about it. Sugar is not just the bane of your average dentist but of the entire health care community as well. There is an excellent article in this month’s (August 2013) issue of National Geographic outlining the history and general relationship of sugar and health. Although the American Heart Association…
Afraid of the Dentist? – Part 2
In my earlier blog I outlined some of the reasons why people seem to be afraid of the dentist. Now it’s time to discuss what to do about it! Here are some strategies for coping with fear of the dentist that you may want to try. Some of these techniques can even be applied to…
