If It Were You? Every day, patients ask us about their dental care. Should I have a crown or a filling? A root canal, or an extraction? Should we fix a “baby tooth?” Or will it just fall out? Is teeth whitening safe? Often the final question we’re asked is, “What would you do if […]
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Do You Have Hypertension?
Let Us Know If You’ve Been Diagnosed With Hypertension Hypertension, known as high blood pressure, masquerades as…nothing! No visible symptoms create alarm in the victim or family members. No pain alerts the victim to the danger. Yet hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for heart attack and stroke. It’s also one of the […]
Drug Use During Dental Treatment
Discuss All Drug and Medication Use to Avoid Harmful Reactions Let’s face it, some people take anti-depressants, some are prescribed antibiotics. Some smoke marijuana, and fewer, thankfully, use cocaine, methamphetamine or other drugs. But here in the office, the message remains the same for all. Tell us what you’re taking, and when. Why? Because the […]
Dangers of Common Over-the-Counter Medications
Non-Prescription Doesn’t Mean Non-Hazardous Most patients know that doctor-prescribed medication is pretty serious stuff. But if you can buy it at the drug store, how much of a problem could it be? More than you’d think. Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol, Panadol) routinely risks acute liver disease–more so than alcohol or hepatitis. Long-term use of pain relievers […]
Other Oral Concerns… Besides Teeth
Common Problems of the Oral Cavity Most people associate dentistry with teeth. But the fact is, our focus is on the continued good health of your entire mouth–the oral cavity, as we dentists call it. The Tongue It’s a highly helpful indicator of what may be going right–or wrong–inside the mouth. A smooth, or red […]
The Diabetes Epidemic
How Bad is it? Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. The diabetes epidemic affects more than 29 million Americans, and 7 million of those don’t know they have it. It is marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defective insulin production, function, or both. The symptoms of […]
Strategies for Nicotine Addiction
Are You Trying to Give up Nicotine? Nicotine continues to be popular with teens and young adults, and there are more ways to become addicted than ever before. Cigarettes and chewing tobacco remain, while e-cigarettes and vaporizers are now available in tempting flavors. We all know about the numerous side effects tobacco and/or nicotine can […]
Inside Look at Women’s Oral Health
Women Encounter More Challenges to Their Oral Health A woman’s oral health is often directly related to her stage of life. Changes in hormone levels during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause all impact the chemistry of what’s going on in her mouth. It is important for everyone to practice good habits of brushing, flossing, […]
What’s with the Gloves?
You may have noticed that whenever we work inside your mouth (or touch something that will be going into your mouth) we will ALWAYS be wearing medical gloves to prevent contamination. Keeping Germs Out The subject of sterilization is more important than ever as we become more aware of the various communicable diseases that can […]
What To Do About Cold Sores?
Shrug Them Off, or Seek Help? Cold sores, aka fever blisters, are known to medical professionals as outbreaks of the herpes simplex virus. Most of us have experienced them at one time or another, on the lips or inside the mouth. They can be spread by kissing or by sharing spoons, cups, or razors with […]
