Hopeless. Beyond repair. Past fixable. Too far gone. When I see a new patient who describes his or her smile in these terms, my heart goes out to them. As a dentist, these are phrases I hear more than most people realize. In nearly 25 years as a dentist, I’ve… Read More…
In over two decades of being a dentist, I pride myself on having a large number of patients who tell me “I love my dental visits.” (YES! There are actually many!). For patients who have no fear or anxiety associated with dentistry, they are able to be relaxed in the… Read More…
When people purchase a bargain-priced shirt at a discount ‘mega store,’ they can’t expect to receive the same quality as if the shirt was purchased at Land’s End®. While both stores sell shirts, there can be a vast difference in the quality of fabric, stitching, buttons, and seaming. The longevity… Read More…
Ever said, “I’d rather have a root canal than (fill in the blank with something dreaded).”? Perhaps root canals of yesteryear were deserving of this reputation. However, modern root canals are performed in less time than procedures of the past and with optimal comfort. Root canals are important since they… Read More…
A new school year has begun. With that, we often see a bit of an uptick in the number of mishaps when it comes to our patients’ smiles. When school aged children and adolescents resume contact sports and adults recommit to their “normal” routines of exercise, the frequency of broken… Read More…
Fear is not a bad thing. It’s our brain signaling a warning to us. For example, when we see a snake, it causes us to react so we can protect ourselves. When we are on a roller coaster, fear causes us to grip tightly to the safety bar. Personally, I… Read More…
For many adults over the age of 35, we remember the time when the standard ‘drug store’ purchase for headaches and other general pain was simple – aspirin. Over the past few decades, options for OTC (over the counter) pain relief have significantly expanded. For most mild to moderate pain,… Read More…
Whether you have school-aged children in your house or not, it seems that breaks in the school year alter many ‘normal’ routines. As Mom of two boys, I know how my schedule is affected by their ‘off’ days from school. For their grandparents and other relatives, we all seem to… Read More…
Is there anything more precious than the smiles of our children? As a dentist, I have a particular appreciation of the health and appearance advantages that children have with good oral habits and regular dental care. Yet, as a Mom, I know how fabulously wonderful those smiles make us, as… Read More…
No parent wants to find that their child has a tooth ache, especially when it is due to a cavity. Even a ‘baby’ tooth will require cavity repair to prevent worsening pain and to help the tooth hold its position so permanent, adult teeth can emerge properly. Yet, in today’s… Read More…