Diamons

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Photography by Dr. Padval

Resolutions for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Here's to Health in 2018! We care about you as patients and as friends too! As we all try to get healthier in the New Year, here are some common resolutions that can improve dental and overall health. Make the New Year tobacco-free! Do whatever you need to quit smoking—seek out a program, a patch, a support group. Half a million North Americans die annually from disease caused by cigarette smoking. It doesn't have to be! Check your blood pressure and cholesterol. See a [...]

By |2018-01-02T08:00:16-08:00January 2, 2018|Patient Education|

Don’t Share Your Toothbrush!

One of the tenets of good dental health is obvious—Brush your teeth after every meal. This can help keep your mouth healthy throughout a long life. Another rule should be just as carefully observed: Do NOT use someone else's toothbrush. Sharing toothbrushes can shorten your life. Be safe, not sorry. But what about emergencies, when you have no other option than to borrow someone's toothbrush—just once? That's when this rule is most important. It's far better to risk tooth decay by not brushing than to [...]

By |2017-09-05T00:00:18-07:00September 5, 2017|Patient Education|

The Most Common Affliction?

When it comes to most common, not even winter colds strike as many of us as gum infection (periodontal disease). As many as 75% of adults will be a victim sometime in their lifetime. If this infection could grow on your arm, you'd be horrified. Instead, periodontal disease does its dirty work out of sight: inside your mouth. Left alone, it opens up gaps between gums and teeth. Too soon, you're on your way to losing your teeth entirely. How can I stop gum [...]

By |2017-08-08T00:00:13-07:00August 8, 2017|Periodontal Dentistry|

Dental Tips for Caregivers

If you're one of the millions of caregivers of an elderly patient who perhaps suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, then you probably maintain a checklist of the many daily tasks necessary to care for them. When making your list, don't forget to include dental health as part of your routine. How Caregivers Can Help For as long as possible, encourage the patient to care for him/herself. It's a dignity issue. When you must step in, physically demonstrate brushing and flossing, and the patient may [...]

By |2017-08-01T00:00:28-07:00August 1, 2017|Patient Education|

Tool of the Trade

Sure, everybody knows dental floss when they see it (we hope), and if you're in a periodontal program, you may be using miles of it. But do you recognize this gizmo? It's for "interdental" hygiene, especially useful for people with substantial spaces between their teeth at the gum line. Some studies show that interdental brushing, in combination with regular brushing and flossing, does a real number on plaque. Go gently, though. Any extreme pressure between the teeth, particularly in the presence of gum problems, [...]

By |2017-01-17T00:00:29-08:00January 17, 2017|Preventative Dentistry|

Stay Healthy in 2017!

With the new year upon us, it's again time we examine our health and lifestyles, and see how best we can improve and maintain them. Consider some of these easy resolutions that will help you lead a healthier life for years to come. 1. Stop smoking and make this New Year tobacco-free! If you smoke or use other tobacco products, the single greatest thing you can do to improve your health is quit. Do whatever you need to—seek out a program, a patch, a [...]

By |2017-01-03T00:00:50-08:00January 3, 2017|Patient Education|

Prevention is Your Best Protection

If you're like the rest of us, now that belt-tightening is the "new normal," you may already be eating more meals at home, dropping subscriptions, vacationing closer to home. You may also be tempted to cut back on your dental care. But think it over. If a problem has surfaced with your oral health, nipping it in the bud is a big money saver. Letting it go can mean big, costly—and sometimes painful—treatment down the line. You're smarter than that. During your appointment, we'll [...]

By |2016-10-11T00:00:39-07:00October 11, 2016|Preventative Dentistry|

Regular Check-Ups

Come on in for a check-up, we’re happy to see you again! We enjoy catching up with the news in your life—and we pride ourselves on providing you that "stitch in time" that can prevent trouble. If a problem is developing in your mouth, we like to catch it while it's small. It's not just tooth decay, although that's where we look first. Then we'll check for early signs of gum disease, now linked to some serious—even fatal —diseases. Most of you have been [...]

By |2016-03-01T00:00:38-08:00March 1, 2016|Preventative Dentistry|

Caring for a Dental Bridge

If you have had one or more missing teeth replaced with a dental bridge restoration (also sometimes called a fixed partial denture), then be sure to keep up the good work by properly caring for it. Just following these helpful tips will have you well on your way to a strong and healthy bridge for year to come. Some reminders on maintaining your dental bridge: Maintain healthy neighboring teeth by brushing and flossing regularly. Plaque can accumulate under, around, and between your bridge and [...]

By |2016-02-02T00:00:20-08:00February 2, 2016|Restorative Dentistry|

Too Much of a Good Thing

You can overdo anything. Even brushing your teeth. Take a stiff-bristled brush. Scrub back and forth compulsively for five minutes, as though you were trying to get tar off the sidewalk. It’s possible you’ll end up with “toothbrush abrasion.” According to the ADA (American Dental Association), the condition is associated with factors beyond brushing: a mouth used to lots of acidic foods, citrus fruit drinks, carbonated beverages. We recommend gentle brushing, plus a toothbrush with soft, polished bristles.

By |2016-01-12T00:00:38-08:00January 12, 2016|Patient Education|