Ever wonder what all those tools are, exactly, as you stare at the dental tray? Wait. That’s going in my mouth? Here’s a more in depth look at those gadgets and their jobs: A sickle probe The fancy name for the metal stick with a curve on the end that most of us associate with the dentist. It helps identify problems like cavities and scrapes away tartar and plaque. A scaler and curettes More long, sharp metal instruments that take care of thicker buildup trapped in tiny pockets between teeth. Suction device Yes, this is the REAL name for [...]

Sometimes our fears dominate our decision making. And sometimes, those decisions are based on things we have heard, not necessarily facts. So why not dig a little deeper and debunk some swirling common myths about the dentist and your oral health? Here goes: 1) Myth: Pregnant women should avoid seeing the dentist. Busted: Due to all the hormonal changes a woman goes through during pregnancy, pregnant women have an increased chance of dealing with gingivitis and cavities! It’s perfectly safe to have a x ray, anesthesia free appointment. 2) Myth: Baby teeth don’t matter, because they come out at some point anyways! Busted: [...]

Sometimes, in life, we are perplexed by an extremely important question…do dentists hand out candy on Halloween?  The answer to this question may surprise you. Surveys say that as many as 76% of dentists openly admit to handing out candy on Halloween. I get it; what dentist wants to spoil the once-a-year fun. Afterall, dentists are human, and most of them have a sweet tooth, just like the rest of us. In a recent interview done with dentists in regards to their feelings about Halloween, here were some of their candid responses: "I give out Halloween candy!" Dr. Naini [...]

What’s the deal with wisdom teeth? They seem like more of a nuisance than anything… This third set of molars usually starts to form between the ages of 17-21, thus named wisdom teeth, since they come in last and according to the saying, “with age comes wisdom”. I think I’d question the wisdom of most 17-21 year olds, to be honest, but that’s another topic for another time. It’s surprising to discover that ALL the teeth a person will have in their lifetime are already formed by birth; they hang out in the upper part of the skeleton until [...]

Perhaps you will want to put that bucket list dream of having a lip ring on the back burner after hearing a little more about how it affects your mouth. Though piercings are a great way for people to express their personal style, the choice often comes with a cost. For starters, lip rings and tongue piercings are typically made out of metal. As you can imagine, the jewelry can knock against your teeth, chipping or fracturing them. Metal in the mouth can wear down enamel over time, creating greater tooth sensitivity as well as decay and discoloration. Tongue rings can actually damage [...]

A sad epidemic, wildly rampant (but often kept quiet) is the issue of eating disorders. Although sufferers often hide in silence, the mouth reveals clear signs of this health altering disease. In fact, many parents have discovered their teenager’s crisis after taking them for a routine dental visit, because dentists can clearly see the effects on oral health. According to the Institute of Dental Research, 28% of Bulimia cases are first diagnosed during a dental exam. For one thing, the lack of nutrients absorbed by a person can lead to weakened teeth as well as tooth sensitivity, bad breath and decay. Those who suffer from [...]

Our world is ever evolving and modern technological advancements in the dental world are important. We want to provide patients with the best service possible. One way we can do this is with our sophisticated intraoral camera. This small, non-invasive camera is usually shaped like a small wand (about the size of a toothbrush). Gone are the days of holding your mouth open for far too long in precarious positions, being asked questions you can’t answer and hoping the hygienist will hurry up and snap a pic. Instead, the intraoral camera takes quick, clear, digital pictures of the inside [...]

Crazy as it may sound, there is actually a chance that your routine dental exam could save your life! The mouth is a gateway to so many other underlying medical issues that a thorough check by your friendly dentist could reveal much greater dangers lurking in the body. Take, Tim Tooth, for example(don’t be fooled; that’s not his real name). Tim was a 60 year old male that came in for his 6 month dental check up. The examination revealed that he had some sort of ulcer on his lip that would not heal. Tim shared that he had noticed the spot for [...]