OUR HYGIENE TEAM

We are proud to introduce you to our newest addition of our dental hygiene team:

Catherine comes to us with 10 years of experience. She is qualified to deliver laser assisted dental cleanings as well as conventional hygiene cleanings. It is her desire to use her dental skills to prevent costly dental disease. Someday Catherine would like to serve in less developed countries in some capacity during her career. She is a native of Washington State and has lived in many states. When she isn’t working she loves spending time with her family and enjoys hiking, cooking, and going to concerts.

Vanessa has been with us for 4 years. We were lucky enough to hire her when she first moved to Colorado Springs. Those of you who have become one of her patients know her skills as a hygienist to be gentle yet very effective. Her goal is for her patients to achieve a healthier mouth and body. She loves the relationships she has with her patients and their families. Vanessa has 2 children and in her spare time enjoys teaching Zumba Fitness classes.

Many of you are loyal patients of Alesia. She has been with us for 11 years and we are blessed to have the stability of her long term dedication to this practice and to our patients. Her mission with patient care is to listen to the needs and concerns of her patients regarding their oral health. Collaboration and education are key steps in the successful healing of the teeth and gums. She understands that a healthy mouth is vital to helping the whole body shift towards harmony. Alesia is spending a little less time working this year so that she can enjoy more time with her children.

Patti Bloss has been with us for 8 years. Patti’s story is unique and we certainly all benefit from it. She practiced dental hygiene for several years and then earned her dental degree (DDS) from the University of Michigan. She then moved to Colorado Springs and ran a very successful dental practice from 1982-2001. Patti decided, after selling her practice, to work as a hygienist.

We have been fortunate to have her in our practice. Patti is a wife and the mother of two adult children. She values her family time and enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, and gardening. Patti has taken special interest in the use of lasers in dental hygiene. This is cutting edge dentistry and we are pleased to introduce this into our practice in the near future. Ask us about the benefits of laser assisted dental hygiene.

We are proud to have this team of professionals in our practice. Our intention is to deliver excellent dental care to our patients in the most comfortable and efficient manner. We truly appreciate your business, trust and support.

While watching Harvard play Arizona during the third round game, fans everywhere watched Harvard point guard Siyani Chambers take a forarm to the face and suffered a chipped front tooth. Siyani’s team mate was able to find the piece of broken tooth on the floor and save it for a future dental repair (those Harvard guys are smart). Watching this on live TV reminded me that this type of thing happens all the time and many people don’t know quite what to do when trama happens to their tooth.

The first thing is to assess wheather the tooth is knocked loose, chipped, or knocked totally out. If the tooth is chipped and not loose, like our Harvard basketball player, the best thing is to try to find the piece(s) that broke off and put the piece in saline, milk, or even water to keep it hydrated. Often times this piece can simply be bonded back onto the tooth and be undetectable to the eye…good news for this basketball player! If the chipped tooth exposes the tooth pulp, then a root canal is likely needed. If the chipped off piece cannot be found or there is a lot of the tooth missing, a porcalain crown or a porcelain veneer, or even bonding with tooth colored resins will be indicated to restore the tooth.

If the tooth is loose after trauma, it is very important to get to a dentist quickly. The dentist can stabilize the loose tooth/teeth by splinting them together for a short time and prevent the teeth from getting more loose or even shifting further after the accident. If the tooth gets knocked totally out…the treatments get more sophisticated. Save the tooth if possible and keep it hydrated. Handle it as little as possible until you get to the dentist. It will be evaluated for re-implanting or replacement with an implant, bridge, or removable appliance. Lets avoid this problem!

So, the true moral of the story is to avoid trauma to your mouth as much as possible by using sports mouthguards. But, when an accident does happen, save the tooth or the chip of tooth and get to a dentist as soon as possible. Please call us immediately if you chip or damage your teeth, even if it is in the middle of a basketball game! –Dr.P

Every so often I get asked by a patient “why would I pay over $500 for a night guard when I could go to the drugstore and pay $40?” It is a legitimate and good question and below are just a few of the basic differences:

1. Drugstore night guards are not made for the specific shape of your mouth or teeth. I remember as a kid getting the ‘boil and bite’ type of generic sports guard and I could keep it in my mouth for only minutes at a time. I have never had anyone who has tried an over the counter (OTC) night guard tell me they keep it in their mouth comfortably all night. We have seen damage to the oral tissues and gums caused by OTC night guards roughness and large size.
2. Soft versus Hard. Sticking a soft or chewy material between your teeth makes you want to chew. Chewing muscles tend to get very tired when they not allowed to rest properly. When we build a precise bite on a hard plastic night guard, your chewing muscles will get relief.
3. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. You have been recommended to wear a night guard because of either loose teeth, tooth wear, TMJ problems, or to protect your dentistry. A night guard should be worn every night for these reasons and should last you more than 5 years.
4. A night guard needs to be made so that it does not damage or move the teeth. It also needs to support the jaw joints (TMJ’s) and decrease the clenching and grinding forces on your teeth.

In order to make you a good night guard, we first make very accurate impressions of both the upper and lower teeth. Next we record how your teeth fit together when your jaws are in the most aligned and comfortable position. Then we have a local laboratory fabricate the night guard on either the upper teeth or the lower teeth. There is a separate appointment scheduled for the doctor to fit your night guard to your teeth and adjust the bite until its perfect.

• Don’t eat constantly throughout the day. Waiting a couple hours between eating will allow saliva to neutralize acid and repair tooth enamel.

• Try to avoid sticky treats (taffy), extremely hard (peanut brittle),  or chewy (caramel). These types of treats can break your teeth, pull out fillings and interfere with crowns.

• If available, stick to soft treats, ones that melt in your mouth (peanut butter cups, chocolate kisses, thinly sliced fruit, etc.), and brush and floss after eating them.  A teeth-whitening toothpaste wouldn’t hurt if you’re indulging in lots of caffeinated beverages.

• If you can, sip with a straw, it can help minimize the acids direct contact with your teeth.

• Once you finish your holiday cocktail, keep yourself from chewing on the ice, it can damage the tooth enamel (as well as braces).

• Don’t always ‘rush to brush’…brushing your teeth immediately after eating highly acidic foods can accelerate acid wear. Wait an hour or so before brushing to let some of the acid wear off. You may also want to consider a specially formulated, low-abrasion toothpaste that helps re-harden enamel.

• Try chewing sugar-free gum following a meal, it can activate saliva and help wash away debris.

• Swish water around in your mouth for 15-20 seconds after eating anything acidic. You can stop the acid attack on your teeth and stimulate the production of saliva, nature’s original neutralizer, works better than mouth wash (won’t dry out your mouth).

We know the holiday season can be a crazy and stressful time. Make sure that you’re eating healthy, exercising and taking care of yourself…it’s amazing what stress can do to your body. Also, make sure to keep up on your 6 month cleanings. Your teeth (and your mouth) will thank you. Contact us today if you need to make an appointment.

I came across this blog post from Coast Dental that offers some great tips for protecting your kid’s teeth and still allowing them to enjoy Halloween festivities.

1. Sort the candy. When you are raiding your five-year-old’s candy bag at 2 in the morning, separate the stack into two parts. Place the taffy, the caramels, the gummy bears, anything that is sticky, chewy or sour into the first pile. All of the other candy goes into the second pile.
2. Avoid the first pile. Dental cavities have a proven cause-and-effect relationship with extended exposure to sugary or sour substances. Oral bacteria thrives in this environment and converts these substances to acid that can, in turn, lead to cavities.
3. Watch your family’s consumption of these sweet treats during this season. A great tip is to leave the candy wrappers in a visible area so that you remember how many of these ghoulish confections you’ve eaten.
4. Chew sugar-free gum to help you ration your sweet intake. Ingredients like Xylitol and Sorbitol, low calorie sweeteners found in some gum, can actually be beneficial to your oral health. Research has shown that these sweeteners starve destructive bacteria, allowing your mouth to replenish minerals to your teeth. Get advice from your Dentist on the frequency and amount recommended.
5. Talk to your kids about oral health. This is a great time to reinforce the twice-a-day brushing routine and the daily ’oh-so-dreaded flossing’ regime. Always remember, children will mostly do as they see. The most ideal scenario would be to brush after the consumption of candy. If that’s not possible, then encourage your child to eat the candy within a few minutes instead of snacking throughout the day, and then wash away some of the sugar by drinking a glass of water. And remember, Halloween is a great time to call your dentist and get the family scheduled for a check-up!

Happy Halloween from all of us at Family Practice Dentistry! Be safe and be smart.

Tips originally posted here: http://www.coastdental.com/blog/A-Dentists-Guide-to-Halloween.aspx

DISCLAIMER: We certainly do not recommend investing in these for your newborn, infant and toddler, nor do we offer this service for our patients.

And yes, we do know this is a fake ad. We just thought we’d share this for a good laugh!

Washington suffered his whole life with his teeth and had multiple sets of dentures and approximately 8 different dentists during his presidency. His most famous set of dentures were made of carved animal ivory (hippopotamus) and human teeth attached to gold plates which were connected to each other by springs. The springs would continually put opening forces on the dentures and he would have to stay clenched to keep his mouth closed… No wonder he never smiled!

It is also theorized that bacteria from his dentures could have colonized in his throat and caused airway problems and infection. I wish poor George could have benefited from some modern day dental implants to secure a natural looking set of dentures or bridges. It would be nice to see him smiling on the $1 bill!

So back to the question of why I would want to be a dentist…dentistry is really an amazing and dynamic profession, not to mention important. No two patients are alike; we all have different histories, needs, and desires. I love connecting with our patients and help educate them on how to make their mouths a healthy place. I sometime think that being a dentist is 50% science and 50% arts and crafts. It is so rewarding as a dentist to eliminate disease and restore function to the mouth, but it is also a satisfying craft to make it look great and stand the test of time.

To address those people that have had bad dental experiences in their past, I wouldn’t enjoy dentistry at all if it was still performed the way it was done in the past. New techniques and materials are always improving the way we deliver dental care to decrease the discomfort. I am a believer that quality dentistry will improve, maintain, and protect the look and function of our mouths that we all enjoy but rarely think about. And it can be done with a gentle touch!

By age seven, children should be able to brush alone. Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch. At about age eight, the child should be able to floss under supervision. Check with your hygienist or dentist to determine if your child has the proper skills to brush and floss properly.

Some fluoride in the water is good for hardening enamel in developing teeth. Too much fluoride causes brown or white stains and can weaken teeth. Unfortunately, the fluoride content in homes can vary greatly from place to place. The best way to know is by contacting the Water Lab Department at www.CSU.org or 719-448-4800 or read more about it at Colorado Springs Utilities ‘Facts About Flouride’.

The American Dental Association recommends a fluoride content of 1.0 parts per million as optimal. If your house fluoride level is less then 1.0 ppm, you can give your children fluoride supplements. If your fluoride level is high, you can keep bottled water available for your children to drink.