“I have always been afraid of the dentist because of childhood experiences. Almost 10 years ago I found Dr. Ban Barbat’s office and all those bad experiences are gone. Everyone is so friendly and cares. The office has worked with me all the time over the past 10 years, without… Read More…

We see a number of patients for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, known as TMD. In the general public, this is commonly referred to as “TMJ”, although TMJ is an abbreviation for the jaw joints. The “disorder” part comes in to play when the joints are frequently strained, which can result in… Read More…

Any injury that requires an “emergency” visit is traumatic. When it comes to having a tooth “knocked out,” it can be an emotionally complex experience. Dental “avulsion” is when a tooth has been knocked completely out, even if it is hanging by tooth root tissues. Typically, these injuries cause excessive… Read More…

Like most adults these days, I keep a full schedule. Things like spending time to have my car’s tires rotated or getting the oil changed takes a chunk out of my day and always takes longer than I’d hoped. However, I know that not having these tasks done can come… Read More…

If you’re a regular reader of my write-ups, you’ve likely become familiar with my unique understanding of the issues surrounding TMJ disorders. As a neuromuscular dentist, I am able to intricately assess the individual structures of patients who display common symptoms associated with TMJ dysfunction. To refresh you on temporomandibular… Read More…

Certainly, seeing one year end and another begin brings a ray of hope that what’s to come will be a better one. If there was ever a year to say “Good riddance” to, though, it’s 2020. With all its challenges, the unknowns and tensions, however, many of us have had… Read More…

The recent Halloween night was a rather eventful one, in addition to the costumes and scary movies. October 31, 2020 was the first Halloween with a full moon since 1944. It also marked the night when the “Fall Back” time change occurred (granting us that wonderful extra hour we all… Read More…

Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. Typically, people with extensive dental needs understand how they ended up there. Like many, ‘preventive dentistry‘ (regular care that helps people avoid problems from occurring) is set aside because it seems less urgent than others. Because dental problems often begin without obvious symptoms, the… Read More…

As a dentist who has advanced training in the care of fearful dental patients, I’ve spent decades structuring our Shelby Township dental office to help these individuals accomplish much-needed dentistry. This has involved the options of oral sedation, IV sedation (twilight sleep), soothing features throughout the office, and an entire… Read More…

Following the most recent mandates issued by the Michigan governor, our Shelby Township dental office remains closed through May for all but urgent needs. While we know this period of staying indoors has caused oral wellness concerns for some of our patients, we hope they are following our tips for… Read More…