There was a recent article on The American Dental Association web site that published a recent revision in the recommended use of anti-biotics prior to a dental visit. These new recommendations apply to many dental procedures, including teeth cleaning and extractions.
For years, The American Heart Association advised patients take anti-biotics just before a dental visit if they have certain heart conditions. The prevailing thought has been that doing so would prevent infective endocarditis, also known as bacterial endocarditis.
The latest guidelines published in the AHA’s scientific journal in April 2007 adjust their recommendation. In short, the AHA recommends that most patients with heart conditions not take short-term anti-biotics before a visit to the dentist as a precaution for endorcarditis.
Preventive anti-biotics prior to a dental procedure still are advised for patients with:
1. artificial heart valves
2. a history of infective endocarditis
3. certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions, including
* unrepaired or incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits
* a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter intervention, during the first six months after the procedure
* any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device
4. a cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve.
Patients with congenital heart disease can have complicated circumstances. They should check with their cardiologist if there is any question at all as to the category that best fits their needs.
You can learn more about this at ada.org.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Periodontal care and your overall wellness
Periodontal care is one of the most important aspects of dental health because periodontal disease (or disease of the gums) has been linked to several other health problems. We are interested in your general wellness and that means remembering periodontal care.
A few common facts you may know are that there is link between periodontal disease and heart disease. And, surely, you know that proper brushing technique includes brushing the gums and that you should floss regularly as part of your daily care for you gums.
What many people do not know is that certain conditions can increase the likelihood for periodontal disease. For instance, if you are in a high stress life style or career or if you have poor coping skills in dealing with stress, you are at higher risk for periodontal disease.
So what do you do about that? Go back to the basics in caring for your gums. Take that extra few minutes while brushing to make sure you are doing a good job on your gums, in front and behind the teeth.
And, while you are doing it, take a breather. Try to relax and take care of yourself!
A few common facts you may know are that there is link between periodontal disease and heart disease. And, surely, you know that proper brushing technique includes brushing the gums and that you should floss regularly as part of your daily care for you gums.
What many people do not know is that certain conditions can increase the likelihood for periodontal disease. For instance, if you are in a high stress life style or career or if you have poor coping skills in dealing with stress, you are at higher risk for periodontal disease.
So what do you do about that? Go back to the basics in caring for your gums. Take that extra few minutes while brushing to make sure you are doing a good job on your gums, in front and behind the teeth.
And, while you are doing it, take a breather. Try to relax and take care of yourself!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Our commitment to personal attention
I hope that my patients know my commitment to personal attention. This is one of the important elements that I think separates my practice from other dentists. It has always been my intention to make patients feel at home in our dental office. This goes well beyond simply being polite while performing your dental care.
There is an obvious, warm quality that goes along with genuine personal attention. It is our goal for our patients to experience this when they come to us for a visit. Why? It's how we really feel. So, it is important to us that you know this.
How many times do you go to a business or a professional service and you feel like a number? When you are finally seated, the doctor seems very hurried with little time to interact with you as a patient, let alone as an individual. The doctor may have to leave you several times to see another patient during your visit. That is not how we operate here and, every once in a while, I like to make it a point for our team to revisit this important concept.
When you visit us for your dental needs, we want you to feel our genuine interest in you. Call it personal attention... but it is all about caring.
There is an obvious, warm quality that goes along with genuine personal attention. It is our goal for our patients to experience this when they come to us for a visit. Why? It's how we really feel. So, it is important to us that you know this.
How many times do you go to a business or a professional service and you feel like a number? When you are finally seated, the doctor seems very hurried with little time to interact with you as a patient, let alone as an individual. The doctor may have to leave you several times to see another patient during your visit. That is not how we operate here and, every once in a while, I like to make it a point for our team to revisit this important concept.
When you visit us for your dental needs, we want you to feel our genuine interest in you. Call it personal attention... but it is all about caring.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
It’s surprising so many people live with this kind of pain
Much of the continuing education I have taken includes courses on treating Tempromandibular Joint Disorder. Many people know this condition as TMJ, which is usually known for causing jaw pain. However, TMJ is a much more complicated disorder than most people realize. As it turns out, many people live with chronic, debilitating pain that seems completely unrelated to the jaw.
Basically, TMJ is a misalignment of the jaw joints, chewing muscles, and the bite. TMJ can manifest itself in the form of head, neck, and shoulder pain in addition to jaw pain. It can also cause ringing, dizziness, and stuffiness in the ears, as well as altered taste and changes in posture.
Because there are so many symptoms that are not associated directly with the jaw, it's quite common for people to see a doctor for their pain instead of a dentist. This is often the reason why TMJ goes undiagnosed. The sufferer complains about headaches and a battery of tests for severe headaches may not turn up TMJ unless the doctor is looking for it. This is why many TMJ sufferers have been told the pain is “just in their head” after a visit to their general practitioner.
I have learned very advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating TMJ and I help people with this disorder all the time. If you are suffering from these persistent pains and just living with it because you cannot get your pain diagnosed properly, please call me or email me here. The same goes for anyone you know who might be simply living with TMJ pain. I help my patients find the solution that's right for them.
Basically, TMJ is a misalignment of the jaw joints, chewing muscles, and the bite. TMJ can manifest itself in the form of head, neck, and shoulder pain in addition to jaw pain. It can also cause ringing, dizziness, and stuffiness in the ears, as well as altered taste and changes in posture.
Because there are so many symptoms that are not associated directly with the jaw, it's quite common for people to see a doctor for their pain instead of a dentist. This is often the reason why TMJ goes undiagnosed. The sufferer complains about headaches and a battery of tests for severe headaches may not turn up TMJ unless the doctor is looking for it. This is why many TMJ sufferers have been told the pain is “just in their head” after a visit to their general practitioner.
I have learned very advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating TMJ and I help people with this disorder all the time. If you are suffering from these persistent pains and just living with it because you cannot get your pain diagnosed properly, please call me or email me here. The same goes for anyone you know who might be simply living with TMJ pain. I help my patients find the solution that's right for them.
It’s surprising so many people live with this kind of pain
Much of the continuing education I have taken includes courses on treating Tempromandibular Joint Disorder. Many people know this condition as TMJ, which is usually known for causing jaw pain. However, TMJ is a much more complicated disorder than most people realize. As it turns out, many people live with chronic, debilitating pain that seems completely unrelated to the jaw.
Basically, TMJ is a misalignment of the jaw joints, chewing muscles, and the bite. TMJ can manifest itself in the form of head, neck, and shoulder pain in addition to jaw pain. It can also cause ringing, dizziness, and stuffiness in the ears, as well as altered taste and changes in posture.
Because there are so many symptoms that are not associated directly with the jaw, it's quite common for people to see a doctor for their pain instead of a dentist. This is often the reason why TMJ goes undiagnosed. The sufferer complains about headaches and a battery of tests for severe headaches may not turn up TMJ unless the doctor is looking for it. This is why many TMJ sufferers have been told the pain is “just in their head” after a visit to their general practitioner.
I have learned very advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating TMJ and I help people with this disorder all the time. If you are suffering from these persistent pains and just living with it because you cannot get your pain diagnosed properly, please call me or email me here. The same goes for anyone you know who might be simply living with TMJ pain. I help my patients find the solution that's right for them.
Basically, TMJ is a misalignment of the jaw joints, chewing muscles, and the bite. TMJ can manifest itself in the form of head, neck, and shoulder pain in addition to jaw pain. It can also cause ringing, dizziness, and stuffiness in the ears, as well as altered taste and changes in posture.
Because there are so many symptoms that are not associated directly with the jaw, it's quite common for people to see a doctor for their pain instead of a dentist. This is often the reason why TMJ goes undiagnosed. The sufferer complains about headaches and a battery of tests for severe headaches may not turn up TMJ unless the doctor is looking for it. This is why many TMJ sufferers have been told the pain is “just in their head” after a visit to their general practitioner.
I have learned very advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating TMJ and I help people with this disorder all the time. If you are suffering from these persistent pains and just living with it because you cannot get your pain diagnosed properly, please call me or email me here. The same goes for anyone you know who might be simply living with TMJ pain. I help my patients find the solution that's right for them.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Whiter teeth for the Holidays
When we finish cosmetic work on a patient, there is something almost all of them say to us. It is almost said in confidence, so as not to hurt others’ feelings. They say something like, “Now that my teeth are so white, I am noticing how dull and dingy other people’s teeth really are.”
It’s a pretty common reaction to suddenly having whiter teeth. As a dentist, I see all kinds of teeth. All are white to some degree (unless they are gold or are full of black filings). Because white teeth come in so many shades, many people don't notice how everyday behaviors slowly darken and dull a smile. The process is slow and before you know it, the color of your teeth is affecting your smile and your overall appearance.
Most people know the usual suspects for this slow deterioration of color: drinking coffee, smoking and the antibiotic, tetracycline. But many people just do not realize how simple and affordable whitening can be. You can choose permanent methods like porcelain veneers that will not stain or you can opt for in-office or take-home whitening that can improve the shade of your teeth in a short amount of time. Some in-office whitening treatments take only about an hour and will last you for years.
Whitening is one of the most common requests we have among patients. If the idea of whitening your smile seems like a good idea, why not call us today at 509-466-6979 to learn more? Or you can click here to read more about your options on my web site.
It’s a pretty common reaction to suddenly having whiter teeth. As a dentist, I see all kinds of teeth. All are white to some degree (unless they are gold or are full of black filings). Because white teeth come in so many shades, many people don't notice how everyday behaviors slowly darken and dull a smile. The process is slow and before you know it, the color of your teeth is affecting your smile and your overall appearance.
Most people know the usual suspects for this slow deterioration of color: drinking coffee, smoking and the antibiotic, tetracycline. But many people just do not realize how simple and affordable whitening can be. You can choose permanent methods like porcelain veneers that will not stain or you can opt for in-office or take-home whitening that can improve the shade of your teeth in a short amount of time. Some in-office whitening treatments take only about an hour and will last you for years.
Whitening is one of the most common requests we have among patients. If the idea of whitening your smile seems like a good idea, why not call us today at 509-466-6979 to learn more? Or you can click here to read more about your options on my web site.
Friday, November 3, 2006
Extreme Makeover was on ABC again last month
In case you have never seen it, Extreme Makeover was a huge hit a few years ago and there are still a lot of makeover shows on television. Before that, a makeover used to mean a new hairstyle and new make-up. The makeover shows have really shown that improving one’s appearance can be done in many ways including smile makeovers.
Since Extreme Makeover first aired, I’ve noticed a big increase in the number of casual conversations I have with people about making over their smile. I think the makeover shows made people realize that there were certain imperfections that they could have fixed. And, cosmetic dentistry does not have the negative stigmas like you have with plastic surgery.
If fact, makeover shows demonstrate how fast and easy cosmetic dental work can be. I am not sure how accurate those shows make the recovery times seem for surgery; but I do know with cosmetic dentistry, we can complete a smile makeover in two visits. That is accurately portrayed on makeover shows.
I invite you to click through my web site to see my smile makeovers… some of which might be considered “extreme.” And, if you want to talk about a smile makeover for yourself or refer a friend who has been thinking of getting one, please call me at (509) 466-6979.
Since Extreme Makeover first aired, I’ve noticed a big increase in the number of casual conversations I have with people about making over their smile. I think the makeover shows made people realize that there were certain imperfections that they could have fixed. And, cosmetic dentistry does not have the negative stigmas like you have with plastic surgery.
If fact, makeover shows demonstrate how fast and easy cosmetic dental work can be. I am not sure how accurate those shows make the recovery times seem for surgery; but I do know with cosmetic dentistry, we can complete a smile makeover in two visits. That is accurately portrayed on makeover shows.
I invite you to click through my web site to see my smile makeovers… some of which might be considered “extreme.” And, if you want to talk about a smile makeover for yourself or refer a friend who has been thinking of getting one, please call me at (509) 466-6979.
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