Patient Education Archives | Diamond Dental of Sacramento

Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

What’s long, slender, hard, sharp, indigestible and potentially hazardous? That common and seemingly harmless sliver of wood called a toothpick. Reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association point to toothpicks as causing thousands of injuries a year, mostly to young children. Youngsters aged five to 14 were most likely to be injured by toothpicks, and children under the age of five were 20 times more likely to seriously injure their eyes or ears. Adults should also treat the toothpick with a little [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T14:31:03-07:00February 11, 2025|Patient Education|

Heart Disease and Dental Care

Do I need to take an antibiotic before my dental appointment? Patients who have had rheumatic fever, heart murmur, heart valve replacement or orthopedic joint replacement are at risk for a condition called infectious endocarditis. The American Dental Association recommends these patients take a “pre-med” prior to dental work. Here’s why: Bacteria which normally inhabit a mouth can get into your bloodstream during the simplest dental procedure. When that bacteria travels to the heart it might affect the heart or joints. Pre-medication works to [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T14:30:22-07:00February 4, 2025|Patient Education|

Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?
Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?

Patient Education

Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?

Do the walls of your house vibrate at night? Does your dog or cat sleep with his paws over his ears? If so, you may find some benefit in this article. In some men or women, snoring can be reduced or eliminated simply by wearing an oral appliance at night. The appliance enlarges the airway by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward. The appliance fits snugly onto the teeth of each arch with the teeth slightly apart. The procedure to make the appliance is [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T14:28:51-07:00January 21, 2025|Patient Education|

Quitting Chewing Tobacco
Quitting Chewing Tobacco

Patient Education

Quitting Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco affects your dental health as well as the rest of your body. If you use smokeless tobacco and have thought about quitting, we can help. How do you kick the habit? We can help you kick your chewing tobacco habit. In addition to cleaning teeth and treating bad breath and puffy, swollen gums associated with tobacco use, we may decide to prescribe a variety of nicotine replacement therapies, such as the transdermal nicotine patch or chewing gum that helps to wean addicted [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:04:14-07:00December 24, 2024|Patient Education|

Can You Catch a Cavity?
Can You Catch a Cavity?

Patient Education

Can You Catch a Cavity?

When you have a cold, we all know to cover your mouth before you sneeze and not to drink out of the same glass. We do this because we know that a cold is contagious. Now we know that, chances are, so is tooth decay. Recent research suggests that the germs responsible for cavities may be "catchy." Likewise, scientists suspect that bacteria associated with gum disease may be transferable from husband to wife, or mother to child. Infants get the bacteria that come to [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:02:25-07:00December 10, 2024|Patient Education|

Update on Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and strikes over 43,000 people each year in America. Over the past 30 years, survival rates have only increased from 45 percent to 54 percent, with survival rates lower among African Americans and people under 40. In a recent poll, the National Institute of Dental Research found that a sizable population understood the causes and early signs of oral cancer. Along with genetic disposition, risk factors include: smoking or chewing tobacco, regular alcohol [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:02:04-07:00December 3, 2024|Patient Education|

Check Your Dental I.Q.

Read each question and choose the best answer. Scoring below. 1. The best toothbrush bristle is: (a) Medium (b) Hard (c) soft (d) electric 2. Teeth grinding and gnashing (bruxism) can lead to: (a) a pain in the neck (b) Sore teeth (c) Headaches (d) all of the above 3. The dentist’s word for cavities: (a) holey teeth (b) caries (c) cartels (d) fillings 4. Straightening of the teeth is called: (a) orthodontics (b) pediatrics (c) geometry (d) endodontics 5. It’s been proven that [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:00:27-07:00November 12, 2024|Patient Education|

More Power to You!

Have you ever heard the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” You probably have, and the reason is because it’s true. When it comes to deciding on dental care, however, it can sometimes be difficult to choose which ounce is right for you. Your mouth is unique—and so are your needs. Deciding between another filling or a new crown, for instance, means weighing several variables: cost, your appearance, and minimizing the risk of future tooth loss. And cost, the [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T10:00:04-07:00November 5, 2024|Patient Education|

Anxiety—No Laughing Matter
Gallery
Anxiety—No Laughing Matter

Patient Education

Anxiety—No Laughing Matter

We’d like to offer one comforting and wonderful fact about today’s dentistry: its virtually painless. Technology, new procedures, and some very sophisticated approaches to anesthesia have all contributed to painless treatment, from cleaning to cavity preparations to root canals. But what if you didn't grow up with modem dentistry, and remember it differently? If you have had difficult dental experiences, you may be among the 150 million Americans who white-knuckle their way through treatment, or avoid the dentist altogether. The fact is, about 80% of the [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-03T09:59:20-07:00October 15, 2024|Patient Education|

How Are You Sleeping?
How Are You Sleeping?

Patient Education

How Are You Sleeping?

We have informational brochures in our office concerning snoring and sleep apnea. If you suffer from these problems or are losing sleep because of someone who does, answering these simple questions may help you identify your symptoms. A Sleep Quiz I have been told that I snore. I have been told that I snore loudly, every night and in all sleep positions. I have been jolted awake gasping for breath during the night. I fall asleep at inappropriate times like when driving a car [...]

By Diamond Dental of Sacramento|2024-09-02T14:53:01-07:00September 17, 2024|Patient Education|

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