Summer time is here but before you know it, it will be time for the kids to go back to school (Can I get a hallelujah?) Here in our office, we're doing our part to spread dental health and smiles to school children throughout Pinellas County, without breaking Mom and Dad's bank.
On August 13th, 2010 our office will be hosting "Smile for School", a program initiated in Pinellas County by Dr. Sandra Lilo of Seminole (http://drsandrajlilodds.com/). This program is a community service program designed to benefit school age children by providing free dental xrays, teeth cleanings and a dental check up exam. All dental professionals and supporting staff are donating their time on a volunteer basis.
To qualify, children must simply be Pinellas County residents and currently enrolled in a school located in Pinellas County (private school ok!). If you would like to schedule an appointment for your child please contact our office at 727.733.1175. Space is limited and appointments will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Breakthrough Gel May Heal Cavities
Discovery.com... how cool and cutting edge are they? Recently they've run a piece about a new gel that encourages teeth to regenerate after cavities have already formed. Shazam!
This innovative technology is essentially different from all other methods of dentistry currently available. Most dentistry has two main goals: to prevent decay from beginning, and if prevention fails, to restore the tooth by removing the decay and infection and sealing the tooth.
This new gel is something entirely different. Rather than removing decayed areas of the tooth and replacing it with composite filling material, this gel is placed next to a cavity. It is made of MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), when it is applied, the cells inside the teeth regenerate in rougly a month, according to their study.
The gel is NOT a preventative measure, it will not stop tooth decay, but it will reverse it. It does not take the place of brushing and flossing. Just like the old sports adage "the best defense is a good offense", your best chances for a healthy mouth are daily brushing and flossing.
However, it will still be several years before this treatment is available.... but isn't the possibility of it cool?
This innovative technology is essentially different from all other methods of dentistry currently available. Most dentistry has two main goals: to prevent decay from beginning, and if prevention fails, to restore the tooth by removing the decay and infection and sealing the tooth.
This new gel is something entirely different. Rather than removing decayed areas of the tooth and replacing it with composite filling material, this gel is placed next to a cavity. It is made of MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), when it is applied, the cells inside the teeth regenerate in rougly a month, according to their study.
The gel is NOT a preventative measure, it will not stop tooth decay, but it will reverse it. It does not take the place of brushing and flossing. Just like the old sports adage "the best defense is a good offense", your best chances for a healthy mouth are daily brushing and flossing.
However, it will still be several years before this treatment is available.... but isn't the possibility of it cool?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Have You Heard About Juvederm XC?
Facial Fillers are wonderful! They can do all sorts of magical things, like remove age lines and help promote a more youthful appearance, correct scars and plump up lips. In our office, Juvederm is the chosen filler of choice.
Now we're super excited! Juvederm XC is now available. What makes this product so super fantastic is that it is the Juvederm we all love, plus lidocaine. Lidocaine is an anaesthetic that can be injected or applied topically. In the past, in order to more comfortably receive treatment many patients opted for a topical anaesthetic or a dental block. Now those extra steps are not necessary (but they are still available!), as the anaesthetic mixed into the product makes for a more comfortable, relaxed patient experience. This is especially true for people who are fearful of discomfort.
Juvederm XC can reduce the typical appointment time as you don't have to wait for anaesthetic to kick in - a bonus for busy patients! Juvederm XC is especially suited to patients who are interested in enhancing their lips and tear troughs. For more information, please call our office at 727.733.1175.
Now we're super excited! Juvederm XC is now available. What makes this product so super fantastic is that it is the Juvederm we all love, plus lidocaine. Lidocaine is an anaesthetic that can be injected or applied topically. In the past, in order to more comfortably receive treatment many patients opted for a topical anaesthetic or a dental block. Now those extra steps are not necessary (but they are still available!), as the anaesthetic mixed into the product makes for a more comfortable, relaxed patient experience. This is especially true for people who are fearful of discomfort.
Juvederm XC can reduce the typical appointment time as you don't have to wait for anaesthetic to kick in - a bonus for busy patients! Juvederm XC is especially suited to patients who are interested in enhancing their lips and tear troughs. For more information, please call our office at 727.733.1175.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Celebrity Fears and Phobias... You're Not Alone!
Nicole Kidman is afraid of butterflies. Johnny Depp fears clowns. Madonna's afraid of thunder. Sarah Michelle Gellar is afraid of graveyards. Cameron Diaz is afraid to touch doorknobs. Whoopi Goldberg is afraid to fly.
Kelly Osbourne and Robert DeNiro are afraid of the dentist. Kelly Osbourne even tweeted: "i have to go get my filling today and the fear is really really kicking in. i need to get over this fear of the dentist but i cant! (sic)"
Out of adults in the United States, studies show that 1 in 4 suffer from fear of the dentist. That's not surprising, considering the way dentistry was performed 30 years ago. However, dental technique and technology has evolved significantly. Discomfort, once the norm for dental treatment, is kept to an absolute minimum now.
In response to the growing amount of individuals facing dental fear, our office is proud to offer non-intravenous sedation. Fear can be a thing of the past as you snooze during your appointment, and you can accomplish much more treatment at one time.
Call our office today, 727.733.1175 and let us set you up with a free sedation consultation. We'll help you get over your dental fears... sorry, we can't do anything about the clowns.
Kelly Osbourne and Robert DeNiro are afraid of the dentist. Kelly Osbourne even tweeted: "i have to go get my filling today and the fear is really really kicking in. i need to get over this fear of the dentist but i cant! (sic)"
Out of adults in the United States, studies show that 1 in 4 suffer from fear of the dentist. That's not surprising, considering the way dentistry was performed 30 years ago. However, dental technique and technology has evolved significantly. Discomfort, once the norm for dental treatment, is kept to an absolute minimum now.
In response to the growing amount of individuals facing dental fear, our office is proud to offer non-intravenous sedation. Fear can be a thing of the past as you snooze during your appointment, and you can accomplish much more treatment at one time.
Call our office today, 727.733.1175 and let us set you up with a free sedation consultation. We'll help you get over your dental fears... sorry, we can't do anything about the clowns.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Don't Be Like Jessica Simpson!
So Jessica Simpson, wow. Really?
I'll give her one thing, it certainly does take guts to go on national television and tell everyone you don't brush your teeth. Read the article here if you haven't. However, not only is it gross, it's hazardous to your overall health. Jessica says she uses Listerine and flosses, umm... great.
Flossing is essential to dental health. Good on ya there Jessica.
However, there is a reason that we dentists recommend brushing three times a day. Everything you eat and drink during the day touches your teeth, trapped food particles and sugar leads to decay. Invisible bacteria (plaque) also accumulates on your teeth. Brushing frequently removes the plaque, so that it doesn't harden into tartar. Tartar is more damaging to teeth, and much harder to remove. That "slippery" feeling that Jessica doesn't like actually indicates clean teeth, with an absence of tartar.
Brushing your teeth also helps to stimulate your gums, which can help prevent periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a very dangerous on going health condition which has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, low birth weight and still born babies, aspirated pneumonia and in extreme cases, death.
Moral of the story; brush your teeth. You're cooler than Jessica Simpson.
I'll give her one thing, it certainly does take guts to go on national television and tell everyone you don't brush your teeth. Read the article here if you haven't. However, not only is it gross, it's hazardous to your overall health. Jessica says she uses Listerine and flosses, umm... great.
Flossing is essential to dental health. Good on ya there Jessica.
However, there is a reason that we dentists recommend brushing three times a day. Everything you eat and drink during the day touches your teeth, trapped food particles and sugar leads to decay. Invisible bacteria (plaque) also accumulates on your teeth. Brushing frequently removes the plaque, so that it doesn't harden into tartar. Tartar is more damaging to teeth, and much harder to remove. That "slippery" feeling that Jessica doesn't like actually indicates clean teeth, with an absence of tartar.
Brushing your teeth also helps to stimulate your gums, which can help prevent periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a very dangerous on going health condition which has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, low birth weight and still born babies, aspirated pneumonia and in extreme cases, death.
Moral of the story; brush your teeth. You're cooler than Jessica Simpson.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Is Bottled Water Bad for Your Teeth?
It sounds silly, doesn't it?
Bottled water is the second highest selling non-alcoholic drink in America. It's right behind soda, but that's a different blog post all together. In fact, we hand out bottled water to patients as they leave our office. It's just something nice we do to help alleviate the dental aftertaste.
However, an excess of bottled water is not necessarily healthy for your teeth. Most drinking water from the tap contains fluoride, which helps prevent cavities. In fact, having a filter on your tap may also filter out the fluoride. Charcoal based filters such as Brita and Pur will not filter out fluoride, while reverse osmosis filters will remove the fluoride.
For a list of which bottled waters do contain fluoride, please visit bottledwater.org.
Additionally, fluoride treatments are not just for children. The next time you visit your hygienist, ask for a fluoride treatment. It helps prevent decay, and your insurance company shouldn't dictate your health.
Bottled water is the second highest selling non-alcoholic drink in America. It's right behind soda, but that's a different blog post all together. In fact, we hand out bottled water to patients as they leave our office. It's just something nice we do to help alleviate the dental aftertaste.
However, an excess of bottled water is not necessarily healthy for your teeth. Most drinking water from the tap contains fluoride, which helps prevent cavities. In fact, having a filter on your tap may also filter out the fluoride. Charcoal based filters such as Brita and Pur will not filter out fluoride, while reverse osmosis filters will remove the fluoride.
For a list of which bottled waters do contain fluoride, please visit bottledwater.org.
Additionally, fluoride treatments are not just for children. The next time you visit your hygienist, ask for a fluoride treatment. It helps prevent decay, and your insurance company shouldn't dictate your health.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
25 Reasons Batman Keeps Dental Floss on His Utility Belt.
Our staff had some fun coming up all these reasons that Dental Floss is the preferred weapon of Superheroes. Given that Batman has a utility belt, he was our ideal choice.
1.Cutting Cheese Cake (unwaxed only)
2. Tie up Christmas ornaments in Wayne Manor.
3. Macrame
4. Tie string around finger to remember to change to alter ego.
5. Sew a button on the Bat Suit in a pinch
6. Tie plants to stakes
7. Replace broken shoe lace
8. Quick jewelry repair
9. Fishing line
10. Tie button hole closed in a pinch
11. Tie hair back
12. Use as an approximate measuring tape
13. Book mark
14. Tie it to a door knob for loose tooth removal
15. Use to draw straws with Robin over who drives the Batmobile.
16. Prison Break! Over time, dental floss can cut through steel. It can also be used to repel down a wall.
17. Weave together to make a small net to trap villains in.
18. For use in medical emergencies. It can be used to tie off arteries when all those “POWS” and “BAMS” get too much. It can also be used to tie off umbilical cords for unexpected civilian deliveries.
19. Repair umbrella (or Bat Cape). Use floss to tie fabric to the frame.
20. DIY clothes line.
21. Foil frays! Wrap dental floss around the ends of ropes and shoe laces to stop them from unraveling.
22. Floss other “utilities”. Making a braid out of floss allows you to clean crevices in tools.
23. Construct a crafty wind chime for Vicki Vale
24. Tie down broken bat mobile trunk. Ten loops through should do it.
25. Floss teeth and prevent gum disease!!!
1.Cutting Cheese Cake (unwaxed only)
2. Tie up Christmas ornaments in Wayne Manor.
3. Macrame
4. Tie string around finger to remember to change to alter ego.
5. Sew a button on the Bat Suit in a pinch
6. Tie plants to stakes
7. Replace broken shoe lace
8. Quick jewelry repair
9. Fishing line
10. Tie button hole closed in a pinch
11. Tie hair back
12. Use as an approximate measuring tape
13. Book mark
14. Tie it to a door knob for loose tooth removal
15. Use to draw straws with Robin over who drives the Batmobile.
16. Prison Break! Over time, dental floss can cut through steel. It can also be used to repel down a wall.
17. Weave together to make a small net to trap villains in.
18. For use in medical emergencies. It can be used to tie off arteries when all those “POWS” and “BAMS” get too much. It can also be used to tie off umbilical cords for unexpected civilian deliveries.
19. Repair umbrella (or Bat Cape). Use floss to tie fabric to the frame.
20. DIY clothes line.
21. Foil frays! Wrap dental floss around the ends of ropes and shoe laces to stop them from unraveling.
22. Floss other “utilities”. Making a braid out of floss allows you to clean crevices in tools.
23. Construct a crafty wind chime for Vicki Vale
24. Tie down broken bat mobile trunk. Ten loops through should do it.
25. Floss teeth and prevent gum disease!!!
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