How to save money!!

The economy- it’s on everybody’s mind these days. Funds are tight, the future is uncertain, and stress levels can run a notch or two higher than normal.
As a father and small-business owner, especially one who deals daily with patients, I am aware of what this means for families and their bottom line. In light of this, I offer this three-step plan to help your budget (at least with the dental and oral health component);
1. Brush-up (no pun intended) on your oral hygiene. Common sense dictates that if we prevent issues, how much they cost to fix is a moot point.
2. Take care of things as soon as they make their presence known. It may seem counter-intuitive to schedule an appointment for what seems to a small thing or a slight pain, but at least once a day I hear “I wish I’d taken care of this sooner”. The smaller the problem, the easier and less expensive the fix is. And don’t worry, I’m very conservative. If it turns out to be a problem that doesn’t need fixing, I will let you know. Peace-of-mind is priceless!
3. Take advantage of the maintenance and check-ups available to you. If insurance pays for two cleanings a year, USE THEM! You are, after all, paying for them. This allows us (your dentist and your hygienist) to make recommendations to keep you out of trouble (and my chair), and to catch issues while they are minor. Even without insurance, they are a bargain! Imagine how much an hour-long visit to your G.P. would cost!
I hope this is some value to you. Peruse our website to see what services we offer. Ask questions. And most importantly, stay healthy!

…but it doesn’t hurt, doc!

Teeth are wonderful, useful, and complex things. Covered with enamel, the hardest substance in the body, they work tirelessly and usually without complaint to let you enjoy that steak, smile at that job interview, and assist with expressing your extensive vocabulary.
So when a dentist like myself tells you there’s a problem with one of your pearly whites, take it to heart! But shouldn’t it hurt, you might ask.
Not neccesarily. The nerve that causes pain is embedded very deep in the center of each tooth, so decay on the surface, or even of moderate depth, will not be felt. In fact, once you do feel pain, it’s quite often too late, and the treatment changes to consist of more elaborate (and expensive!) steps such as root canals and crowns.
I do my utmost to catch problems long before they progress to that stage. By treating a small problem, your toooth structure is conserved, your time in my chair is limited, and your pocket book doesn’t take a big hit.
Your welcome!

Braces for Adults? Absolutely!

Orthodontics Designed for Adults
Is your smile as perfect as you’d like it to be? Have you ever considered ‘fixing’ it? Your life and your needs are different than a child’s, and so is your mouth! That certainly doesn’t mean that you’ve missed the chance to have straight, beautiful teeth, but it does mean that you need a product designed for an adult mouth.
Invisible Braces – Invisalign®
Invisalign® is the most exciting advancement in teeth straightening technology to date. The first truly invisible braces, invisalign® appliances are commonly used for adult dental orthodontics.
Actually, invisalign® appliances aren’t braces at all, because there are no brackets bonded to the teeth, and no wires. Your teeth are aligned using a series of clear trays that fit on your teeth. Your smile will continue to shine as the invisalign® trays gradually correct the problems with your bite. Invisalign® is a sophisticated system of computer-generated plastic appliances, custom made for your teeth. Instead of going to the dentist to have adjustments made to traditional dental orthodontics, you simply advance to the next appliance in your system every two weeks, right in the comfort of your own home!
Unlike clear or porcelain braces, invisalign® really is invisible! The clear plastic appliances are the closest thing to invisible braces on the market. You don’t have to give up on having the smile of your dreams, and you don’t have to show up at your office with a mouth full of metal. With the invisalign® adult orthodontics system, you really can have a perfect smile simply by wearing virtually invisible braces!

See the dentist and sleep better!

If your jaw clicks, pops, or feels sore, or your teeth are wearing down,
it may be a symptom of teeth grinding, officially known as bruxism. Bruxism
is a subconscious neuromuscular activity. It often goes on without
your being aware of it; experts estimate that only 5 percent of people
who grind their teeth or clench their jaws know they do it until a sleep
partner notices the telltale sound or a dentist detects wear on the teeth.
Jaw clenching is another form of bruxism, except you clench your teeth tightly
together rather than moving them from side to side. Jaw clenching can be harder
to detect than grinding, but one sign is waking with pain or stiffness in the neck.

How does it interrupt sleep? Bruxism involves tensing of the jaw muscles,
so it interferes with the relaxation necessary for deep sleep. And if
you’re fully grinding, your body is engaged in movement rather than resting.

What to do? See a dentist! If you don’t have one, we are accepting new patients!
A dentist can look for underlying causes, such as problems with your bite
alignment, and can prescribe a mouth-guard-type device such as a dental splint.
If jaw clenching is your primary issue, there are specific dental devices for that.

Experts also suggest giving up gum chewing during the day, because the
habitual chewing action can continue at night. Some people who grind their
teeth have experienced relief from botox injections to the jaw muscle.
Others have had success using a new biofeedback device called Grindcare, approved by the FDA in 2010.

Call us for a better night’s sleep!

Oprah and I

I hope you were able to catch the recent Oprah episode which espoused the virtues of life in San Luis Obispo. Apparently the SLO life is a very happy one! (Here’s a link to the piece that aired); http://media.oprah.com/video/201101/tows/20110120_tows_san-luis-obispo.mp4
Did you perhaps hear that I was alluded to during that program? That’s right! Yours truly has achieved Oprah noteriety. When Jenny McCarthy mentioned the bartering of dental work for art, she was referring to me! I have had a trade agreement with a talented local artist to exchange my work for his for several years. I love his art and this gentleman (www.spiritsofafricagallery.com) wouldn’t otherwise be able to receive dental care. Feel free to stop by our office to see some of his wonderful art displayed in our waiting area. And thank you, Oprah for considering me and our fair city Oprah-worthy!

Is there a difference?

You may not have thought of dental care as something that could vary from one office to another, or from dentist to dentist. But I think about it; it is my art, and I go to great lengths to be the absolute best at my art that I can be. I want you to be impressed, to leave thinking “that was the most pain-free dental experience of my life”, or “that is the best looking filling I’ve ever seen.”
To that end, I constantly strive to improve my results, my technique, my outcomes. To do this, I participate in ongoing continuing education, which allows me to keep abreast of new materials, procedures, and equipment. I monitor my staff, my feedback, and my general reputation. But the most important indicator of my success as a practitioner is you, the patient and consumer. Your comments, your feedback, and your smile are what matter most. Think about that when you select a dentist for your care.

Our Mission Statement… short and sweet!

It occured to me that I have never published my Mission Statement. We spent a lot of time crafting it and would like you to know a little more about our philosophy; We have an unwavering commitment to provide comfortable and ethical treatment to our patients.
Service is our obsession.

How to prevent cavities… from a dentist!!

Things That May Help You Heal Cavities
1. Floss at least three times a week, preferably daily.

2. Sterilize your toothbrush frequently. (Steam, UV, etc. )

3. Get a tongue cleaner and scrape your tongue at least once a week.

4. Drink enough water.

5. Eat onions (raw are best) since they contain powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds and in a 1997 test tube study killed S. mutans. Then use parsley or mint leaves for your breath.

6. Drink Green tea (Camellia sinensis) which contains substances called catechins that kill mouth bacteria.

7. Get enough vitamin C. Kiwis have more than any other fruit.

8. Eat a tablespoon of sesame seeds to clean teeth and add 87 mg of calcium.

9. Eat wasabi since it contains isothiocyanates that inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.

10. Eat cashew nuts which have anacardic acids that kill bacteria like S. mutans [Himajima & Kubo 1991 p419]. These nuts have antibacterial, antidysenteric, anti microbial and antiseptic properties.

11. Eat grapes since they contain polyamides, a type of tannin that inhibits the growth of S. mutans. Buy organic to avoid pesticide residues.

12. Eat pure cocoa powder or raw chocolate without sugar, since it contains tannins known to prevent bacteria from attaching to the teeth.

13. Eat Sage honey and Tupelo honey which inhibit oral pathogenic bacteria.

14. Kiss people who never get cavities.

15. Take Culturelle ( Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus GG ) which produces an anti microbial agent that kills Streptococcus.

16. Rinse your mouth with a baking soda solution within 10 minutes after you eat.

17. Cook with cinnamon and oregano.

What is a smile?

*I did not compose this. I read it in a dental lab advertisement, but I think it very succinctly defines the topic!
The smile is a unique, human quality. Universally recognized, it transcends language, culture, race, sex, time and socioeconomic differences. The smile can communicate love, happiness, vitality, health, friendship, compassion, trust, acceptance, and safety. It is one of our most powerful assets for communication. A smile has sex appeal. Finally, a beautiful smile is an indication of proper and healthy function, which ensures longevity of the dentition.

Adult Orthodontics?

Orthodontics Designed for Adults
Is your smile as perfect as you’d like it to be? Have you ever considered ‘fixing’ it? Your life and your needs are different than a child’s, and so is your mouth! That certainly doesn’t mean that you’ve missed the chance to have straight, beautiful teeth, but it does mean that you need a product designed for an adult mouth.
Invisible Braces – Invisalign®
Invisalign® is the most exciting advancement in teeth straightening technology to date. The first truly invisible braces, invisalign® appliances are commonly used for adult dental orthodontics.
Actually, invisalign® appliances aren’t braces at all, because there are no brackets bonded to the teeth, and no wires. Your teeth are aligned using a series of clear trays that fit on your teeth. Your smile will continue to shine as the invisalign® trays gradually correct the problems with your bite. Invisalign® is a sophisticated system of computer-generated plastic appliances, custom made for your teeth. Instead of going to the dentist to have adjustments made to traditional dental orthodontics, you simply advance to the next appliance in your system every two weeks, right in the comfort of your own home!
Unlike clear or porcelain braces, invisalign® really is invisible! The clear plastic appliances are the closest thing to invisible braces on the market. You don’t have to give up on having the smile of your dreams, and you don’t have to show up at your office with a mouth full of metal. With the invisalign® adult orthodontics system, you really can have a perfect smile simply by wearing virtually invisible braces!