Floss versus AirFlosser September 21, 2011

Wow.  Phillips Sonicare has done it again.  They are on the cutting edge of technology and really working hard to keep mouths healthy and happy.  Of course, with all of their great hygiene products – none of them work if you don’t use them.  We have been talking a lot about the AirFlosser in the office.  It’s pretty typical that people will say they don’t floss because it’s too hard, it hurts, they can’t reach it, etc…etc.  I could go on an on with the excuses, and evidently Phillips has heard them all as well because they have just answered them all.  I will agree, waterpik is a good instrument, but Phillips AirFlosser BLOWS IT AWAY…. literally.  The pulsation of the water, mouthrinse, chlorohexidine, or whatever you choose to put in it actually removes the plaque layer off the tooth.  Now here is the kicker… it’s NOT FLOSS!  Our entire staff at Mall of Georgia has been using it.  While it really isn’t as good as floss, it’s a really strong second place.  For those of you that just aren’t going to floss, this really could be the salvation of your teeth and gums.  I highly endorse the AirFlosser, and again, while it’s NOT FLOSS, it’s definetly a well behaved younger sibling.

People… November 16, 2010

So we have been reading “How Full Is Your Bucket” by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton as a team.  And you’re asking “what does that have to do with teeth?”  Well, really nothing.  What does it have to do with people?  Well…EVERYTHING! 

People have 20,000 interactions in any given day.  Most of them are negative.  The old adage is garbage in = garbage 0ut.  That can also be translated into Good Stuff In = Good Stuff Out. 

All that to say I had a great interaction with a patient the other day, and it made us feel great.  Everyone likes a little recognition.  I can’t say we’re always THE BEST.  You know how some people feel like “they’re all that and a box of chocolates.”  Well, I strive to be that person, that dentist, that office for everyone.  I know we fall short, but the other day was different.  A patient was kind enough to let me know that Mall of Georgia Dentsitry really made him feel special.  We engaged him on a personal level, and that mattered to him.  And just a simple note saying it was nice to meet you -handwritten-meant a lot.

At our office, our patients are not just a number.  You are a person with a family and friends and your own needs.  We strive to engage each person individually, and figure out what your desires are so we can look for the most efficient way to help you attain your desires.  While we aren’t perfect, we are a group of people who are constantly trying to improve ourselves, so that we have enough in our buckets to fill yours.

Are Your Teeth Protected? November 5, 2010

It was 9:30 at night, give or take a few minutes, and I was sitting there reading to my 2 year old.  Daniel loves to read, or at least look at the pictures.  My phone rang, and it was a number I didn’t recognize.  I typically wouldn’t answer it, but for some reason I did.  To my surprise it was someone I knew.  She mentioned she was at the ball field and one of the church league softball players had just had some teeth knocked out, did I have any recommendations.  Her demeanor was calm, but obviously the situation was not.  My wife Allison could tell by the look on my face… the evening was not coming to an end just yet.  With the boys in their pajamas, we headed off to the office.  

While it wasn’t funny then, hindsight is a little more amusing.  Unfortunately our patient found out first hand that a softball isn’t really that soft.  Despite being down 17 to 4, with three minutes left to play, and really no hopes of bragging rights for that night, play continued until the bloody end, literally.  5 teeth were involved in that last hit.  2 front teeth, one knocked backwards, one broken at the gum line, and 3 bottom teeth were fractured in the jaw.  After 1.5 hours, we had the teeth back in proper position and wired together to allow the jaw to heal.  

The moral of the story is, WEAR A MOUTHGUARD.  A mouthguard should be form fitted, not just covering the biting surface of the teeth, but extending deep below the lip to protect the roots of the teeth.  I realize people are concerned about a chipped tooth from the way they look, but that can be fixed.  A fractured root leads to a hopeless and extracted tooth.   Much like you never expect to be in a car accident, most people never expect to have a sports injury.  The slogan is “play hard”, perhaps we should add “play safe”.

Thank You! September 30, 2010

Thank You!

It has been nine years since Mall of Georgia Dentistry first opened.  The amazing family of patients that we have developed since that time has been a blessing to me, my family and our staff, both past and present. 

In turn, we would like to be a blessing to others and are asking for your help.

For the month of October, we are asking for donations of canned goods.  In turn we will donate $1 per can (maximum of $10) to your family’s account.  At the end of October, all canned good items will be donated to local food pantries to help those in need.

 We thank you for trusting us with your family’s dental health needs and allowing us to be part of your family.

PLAQUE: The Root of the Problem September 22, 2010

What is plaque?

 Plaque is a soft biofilm made up of as many as 400 different types of bacteria, many of which can lead to gum diseases or cavities.  IT IS THE ROOT OF ALL PROBLEMS IN THE MOUTH!!

 Plaque forms at the gumline first.  So make sure you tilt the toothbrush towards the gums at a 45-degree angle for effective removal.  Please remember to brush gently.

 If plaque is not removed, it leads to an infection in the gums.  Bleeding, swelling, redness, and sensitivity are all signs of an infection and can occur at any stage of gum disease.

1. The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis where only the gums are affected.
2. The next stage is slight periodontitis where actual jaw bone is lost.  Yes, jaw bone that surrounds the teeth and holds them in place!  You may even notice some recession of the gums exposing some of the yellow root.
3. The next stage is moderate periodontitis.  It is worsening of the previous stage!
4. The final stage is advanced periodontitis.  Again, worsening of the previous stage.  Possible and likely tooth mobility.  Treatment at this point is usually extraction of affected teeth.

 NOTE:  Effective daily plaque removal is not just important to your teeth and gums.  It is important to your overall health.  Oral plaque has been linked to diabetes, preterm low-birth weight babies, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease.

 SO…by effectively removing plaque on a daily basis you prevent gum disease, stop gum disease, and maintain a healthy state for your overall health.

Old Faithful September 14, 2010

For as long as I can remember, at least ever since the day my sister gave me one, I have been singing the praises of the Sonicare toothbrush. I never realized just how much I relied on it for my overall oral care until now.

  I have needed a head replacement for my Sonicare for the last week but I can’t seem to find the time to make a special trip to the store just for that.  So, for the last week I have been using old faithful…the manual toothbrush. While I have a brand new brush that any other person would think works “just fine”, I can’t help but feel as though I havent brushed my teeth at all. The first time I ever used the Sonicare I could tell how remarkably clean it made my mouth feel, then several hours later, how little plaque had returned. The only thing I’m noticing now are way larger amounts of plaque on all of my teeth, as soon as 20 minutes after I brushed, and it seems to be taking me a lot longer at night to remove all the plaque when I’m flossing.

 By now we all know how these ultrasonic brushes work…The little bristles vibrate, move up and down and around and around so so many times per minute but I personally didn’t realize just how much it has effected the overall (good) health of my own mouth. Right now I feel like I could take an ice pic and chip the plaque off of my teeth. Sure maybe a little of it is in my mind but I know one thing, there’s no way my hand can move as fast or brush my teeth as efficiently as my Sonicare and my teeth have never felt as dirty as they do now! Old faithful is just fine for in between brushes but never again will I rely on her for an entire week or longer. I’ll make it a point to get out tonight and get that replacement head, perhaps even an extra, just so that I am never in this predicament again.

Concussions and Dentistry September 8, 2010

So sometimes I just have to sit back and think: hummm.  I don’t do it very often, but sometimes I get sucked in.  I was listening to TALK RADIO this a.m., trying to figure out how traffic was moving on Interstate 85 South.  Of course, after 10 minutes of commercials and weather, the information about traffic was NOT helpful.

As I was listening to the radio, there was a two-minute news brief headlining concussions in sports.  What a great topic I thought.  After all, this is football season.  GO DAWGS!  I heard them speak about helmets.  Evidently the foam in the helmets is inadequate to significantly reduce the risk of a concussion, according to their expert.  There is a NEW “Air XP” helmet that can absorb 23-28% more impact.  I must admit, that is pretty impressive.

What they didn’t mention, so I emailed the assistant producer of the radio show, was how a mouth appliance (if properly fitted) can not only prevent or lessen the impact of cuts and other trauma to the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue and mouth, but perhaps less obvious is the role a mouth guard can play in preventing concussions. Reports of concussive injuries – or at least the emphasis on them – have recently increased largely due to the publicity generated by the media discussions of professional football players and the “post-concussion syndrome” (permanent brain damage resulting from multiple concussions). Some estimates say that up to 40% of all retired NFL players may suffer from the syndrome to some extent

I am excited that the NCAA mandated the use of mouthguards for five amateur sports: boxing, football, ice hockey, men’s lacrosse and women’s field hockey.  I’m curious why other sports aren’t mandated though.

But which mouth guard is the right mouth guard? Generally speaking, there are two categories of sports mouth guards: over-the-counter and custom-made. There are several varieties in each category but the biggest difference is in fit, performance, comfort and cost. As might be expected, the over-the-counter type is the least expensive and the quickest to obtain. But fit is questionable and performance is limited. Custom-made mouth guards obtained from a dentist are usually more comfortable and offer the best protection because the fit is “tailor-made”. Dental mouth guards are more expensive than OTC mouth guards – but are less expensive than medical or dental treatment made necessary by a sports injury.

The best mouth guard is the one that is worn consistently by the athlete, fits properly (even with orthodontic appliances), and does not interfere with breathing or speaking or athletic performance. Mouth guards dangling from a helmet strap or stored in a locker or kept in a gym bag have not proven to be valuable in reducing injuries.

Hello world! August 26, 2010

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