"I'd rather have a tooth pulled than have a root canal!!"

Really? Root canal treatment is a lot less traumatic with a lot less post-treatment pain than having a tooth pulled. It's like airline crashes, All you hear about is the bad event amoung tens of thousands that were not a problem. Modern technology makes root canal treatment pretty comfortable. Save the tooth if you can. Pull it only when necessary.

3 Quick Benefits of Dental Implants

• Loss of tooth results in 40-60% of the height & width of the tooths supporting bone. Placing an implant will prevent this bone distruction. 
• Implants do not decay or Abscess.
• Implants preserve tooth structure that otherwise would have to be removed for a fixed bridge. Why not leave healthy teeth alone. 

Call our office today for a free consultation to see if implants are right for you. 

ARRRGH!!!!

Do you get so frustrated that you're just balling up your fists and clenching your teeth? Well clenching can be damaging to your jaw joint and grinding is bad for your teeth. Your dentist can help by providing a device that takes the pressure off your teeth and jaw joint and generally makes you feel better. Probably wont help your frustration though!!!! :)

FEAR!

Fear is a powerful thing. Fear can keep even the most reasonable person from doing the most simple of acts. I have seen patients that have extreme fear that won't even allow them to enter our office to ones that can't let us touch them, look in there mouth or even sit in the actual dental chair. These fears are usually stemmed from traumatic experiences as a child or young adult or even one single event. It is unfortunate that even with your head telling you that it will not hurt just to have us take a look, your emotions just take over and you can't control the fear. In my 25+ years of practice, I have been able to work with and get to know alot of these patients and the fears that they have. In doing so, I was able to relate to my own experience as a child. I had a dentist who did not believe in anesthetic. Every time i get into a chair, I go right back to that scared child who has been traumatized. Even as a dentist who logically knows it won't hurt, I still feel extreme fear. Because I care for my patients and wanted to somehow help the people who just cant "get through it", over 10 years ago I started doing Oral Sedation Dentistry. This has been a wonderful thing in my practice that has allowed my fearful patients to come in and get all of their treatment done in one visit and they rarely remember much of the visit. This has made Dentistry available to so many more people! If you suffer from Dental Fear, look at your options for Oral Sedation Dentistry. 

We hate Cancer!

I am sure that most of you readers have had or currently have dealt with a loved one, friend, or co-worker that has won or lost a war with cancer. It is sad, unjust and not prejudice. Last year one of my employee's whom has worked with me for over 20 years was diagnosed with throat cancer. The past year was a very emotional and hard time for her and her family as well as our office. Watching her deal with the fear and pain was very difficult. Lucky for her and us, a year later she is back to work and doing well. She won this round in a every growing war in which we are all susceptible. Our team was luck to participate in the 2011 Dempsey challenge and raise over $1300 dollars for cancer research and treatment. Anything we can do to help educate patients on oral cancer is a priority to us. As parents we need to educate our children as well as ourselves on the risks that oral sex can play on there life. For so many years people didn't know that oral sex is just as dangerous as regular sex. Our children need to know how HPV can effect them and how prevention is key. It could be years before anything can happen. Vaccination is a new tool we have for protecting our children but the biggest tool we have is communication and education. I strongly suggest you educate yourself and your children on HPV. Anything our office can do to help with that, feel free to call and ask, or even call your physician.

My gums bleed when i brush, that's normal, isnt it?

No, Actually, it's not. Healthy gums don't bleed, ever! If there are any area's that bleed that means inflammation or sometimes infection, is present. Your gums may not even hurt but that doesn't mean there's nothing wrong. If your head bled every day when you brushed it, would you think that's normal? Bleeding gums are bad and you should see your doctor or hygienist who should evaluate the condition of your gums.

I've got dental insurance so i can get all my dentistry done, right?

Dental Insurance is a help for those who have it, but it rarely covers all your costs. Most insurances have an annual deductible you have to pay first and then a yearly maximum in what they'll pay in benefits.
That maximum (usually $1000-1500) hasn't changed much since 1972! Think about what you could buy in 1972 for $1000 and what you can now.
Still, Insurance helps but you should never rely on your insurance to determine your treatment needs. That's your dentist's job. Just because your insurance won't cover a procedure doesn't mean it's not necessary. What's covered is often a matter of what your employer purchased for benefit coverage to control the insurance premium.
Your dental decision is between you and your doctor. Hopefully your dental insurance will help.