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A Look Back At Ancient Dentistry

October 29, 2012

Filed under: Blog — @ 4:05 pm

ANCIENT DENTISTRY WAS PROBABLY VERY SCARY, so we felt like it couldn’t be more apropos to talk about it near Halloween! Think about what it was like to live during a time when the only fix for a toothache was to pull (or knock) the tooth out—without anesthetic—and leave a gaping hole there, which led to bone loss and eventually losing all the rest of your teeth! Yes, scary.

Thankfully, There’s Modern Dentistry

Makes you grateful for modern dentistry, doesn’t it? Here at our practice, we love the latest technologies and techniques that help us keep you comfortable, healthy, and beautiful. Let’s look back at the “roots” of dentistry and a few ancient tidbits:

Some First Evidence Of Dental Work

Some of the oldest evidence of dental work was found fairly recently in a 6500-year-old jawbone. A cavity deep enough to impact the dentin layer of the tooth (very painful) was filled with beeswax. Scientists aren’t sure how effective this was, but it probably reduced the pain and swelling.

Dental Care Found In Mummies

In ancient Egypt, reconstructive work was rare—but when they did it, they really did it. This bridge was made by stringing wire through donor teeth, tied to surrounding teeth (makes you wonder if the donors volunteered). These dentists also focused on preventative care. Recipes have been found for early breath mints—a concoction of cinnamon, frankincense, and honey.

Earliest Cosmetic Dentistry?

You probably thought diamond-studded grills on rap stars were a modern phenomenon. Maybe not. Among ancient Mayans it appears it was fashionable to have your teeth embedded with precious stones. Tiny holes were chipped out of teeth and colorful gems were glued in. However, we’re guessing they didn’t sing rap songs.

Modern Dentistry Rocks

We’ve come a long way in 6500 years. From detecting cavities before they’re visible to the naked eye, to reconstructive work that restores functionality and health, to cosmetic procedures that create drop-dead-gorgeous smiles. Best of all, we don’t have to bear the pain and discomfort that people suffered during centuries gone by.

Our team hopes you had fun taking a look at ancient dentistry. And remember that any time you have questions about modern dentistry, always ask us!

Be Sure To Brush And Floss After That Halloween Candy!

Have a wonderful holiday. Be sure you Like our Facebook page! And, if you have a comment about how grateful you are for modern dentistry, please share it below!

As always, thank you for being our valued patients and friends.

Photo Credit 1: The oldest dental filling: A 6,500 year old tooth with a beeswax filling (within the yellow dotted line). Bernardini F, Tuniz C, Coppa A, Mancini L, Dreossi D, et al. PLoS ONE
Photo Credit 2: The Citizen Scientists League
Photo Credit 3: José C. Jiménez López

Promotion

October 26, 2012

Filed under: Promotion — @ 8:20 pm
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Getting The Most From Your Dental Visits

October 22, 2012

Filed under: Blog — @ 8:03 pm

AS ONE OF OUR VALUED PATIENTS AND FRIENDS, you’ve probably never considered the following question, “What can I do to make my dental visits as productive and effective as possible?” At first, it may sound like a silly question. You’ve probably thought, as a patient, that your job was pretty much to show up and open wide! But to really get more from our visits together, here are a few suggestions for taking more initiative.

Use Our Social Media Platform To Connect With Us

We are a “one-to-one business”. So, even though there are hundreds of millions of people (and lots of businesses) using social media, WE’RE there to better facilitate our personal one-on-one relationships with you. That means we’re interested in staying connected. Many times we only see you every six months—and that’s one reason why our social media tools (including this blog) are so important to our team.

One way to stay connected is to be sure you’ve Liked our Facebook page! We enjoy interacting with you there. And as you know, you can comment there or leave us a private message.

Ask Questions

We love visiting with you about any aspect of your oral health. We consider ourselves one of your lifetime health partners. We understand that sometimes it’s human nature to be a little shy about asking questions… But we encourage you to ask us, whether it’s during your in-practice visit, on the phone, or through social media. Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask, and questions we’d love to answer:

Plan Sufficient Time For Your Next Visit

We understand that life is busy! And, you probably feel like you have many, many things to do other than hang out at our practice! That’s OK… We don’t feel bad. However, be sure to allow ample time for your appointments just so you don’t feel rushed and we’re able to answer all your questions.

Spend A Little Bit Of Time Learning More About Your Oral Health

We try to provide you with useful and relevant information about your dental health, comfort, and appearance through our blog posts. Take a few minutes each month to explore some of the topics we publish. Also, we know that many of our patients may not even realize the scope of the services we offer. Thanks, in advance, for getting to know more about how we can serve you.

Thanks For The Trust You Place In Us

We can’t say it enough… Thank you. Thanks for being our valued friends and patients. And thanks for your kind referrals of coworkers, extended family members and friends. We appreciate it!

Brushing Up On Some Dental Basics

October 16, 2012

Filed under: Blog — @ 4:36 pm

DID YOU KNOW THAT OCTOBER IS DENTAL HYGIENE MONTH? You didn’t? (Well, actually, we’d probably be a little worried about you if you did. Maybe you need more hobbies.) In honor of Dental Hygiene Month, our team presents a few basics!

The word “cavity” gets tossed around a lot. Do you know exactly what a cavity is, and what causes them? Here’s a very short refresher course. Cavities are hollows left in your teeth when decay happens. Decay, or “dental caries” is actually an oral disease—a bacterial infection in your mouth. When this bacterial infection builds up on your teeth, it forms plaque. Having this bacteria doesn’t necessarily mean you have tooth decay. But when the bacteria interacts with sugars and starches, enamel-eating acid is created. So your first defense against tooth decay is your diet. Try to limit sugars and starches, foods that stick in your teeth, excessive acidic foods, and soft drinks.

Your second defense against tooth decay is keeping your teeth clean! Brush your teeth twice a day and be sure to floss so there’s less chance of creating acids that can wear down tooth enamel. Brushing also counteracts the plaque and tartar that’s building up over time. And remember that even with your own consistent care at home, regular professional checkups and cleanings are vital for sound oral health.

Some “Fun” Answers:

Some “More Technical” Answers:

Now, Put YOUR Knowledge To The Test With This Short Quiz!

Now that you’re an expert on dental health basics, how do you think you’d stack up on a little quiz? Surprisingly the average grade on this quiz is a “D”! But we’re sure that our patients will do better than that!

How Did You Do On The Quiz? Let Us Know!

After you take the quiz, leave us a comment below, or visit our Facebook page and comment or message us!

As always, if you have any questions about your oral health or any dental-related subject, ask us! We’re here to keep you healthy and informed.

Thanks, as always, for being our valued friends and patients!

Three Reasons Why Your Smile May Be A Fountain Of Youth

October 8, 2012

Filed under: Blog — @ 8:42 pm

COULD THE SECRET TO PERPETUAL YOUTH be found in your smile (wink, wink)? Well, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration! But as you know, here at our practice, we obsess over our patients’ smiles. We know that a confident smile can be life changing. But what does your smile have to do with aging?

1. People Who Smile More Are Perceived As Younger

Last year, in an American Psychological Association study, researchers showed thousands of photos of people wearing different expressions to test subjects, who were then asked to guess the ages of the people in the photos. The guesses on neutral expressions were quite accurate, but smiling faces were generally assumed to be years younger than their actual age.

2. Sharing Your Smile (and a laugh) Makes You FEEL Younger—Regardless Of Your Age

It’s really not about the number of miles on your smile. It’s about how comfortable you are sharing it.

3. Smiling May Even Help You Live Longer

Living longer—now THERE’S a serious smiling benefit. Could this really be true? A 2010 Wayne State University study examined the relationship between smile intensity and longevity among 230 pro baseball players from a ’52 baseball registry. They found that players with big smiles lived an average of five years longer that those who didn’t (or barely) smiled. Even players with small smiles lived longer than those who didn’t smile.

Facial expression and smiles have long been shown to be a good indicator of people’s emotions—and those with positive emotions are even shown to have better interpersonal skills and more stable marriages. Smiling can have a great impact on your health—it can boost your immune system and reduces stress.

So Here Are Some Tips For Helping Your Smile Keep You Young

  1. Care for your teeth, relentlessly, by doing the basics—brushing, flossing, regular checkups, etc.
  2. Ask us any time you have questions about your oral health or improving your smile.
  3. Smile big, and smile often.

When you take good care of your teeth, chances are they’ll last a lifetime. And a great smile will make that lifetime longer, healthier, and happier.

We’re Always Available And Always Listening

You know how to contact us! And, we love hearing from you on our Facebook page!

And thanks, as always, for being our valued patients and friends!