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Photography by Dr. Padval

A Change in Looks Can Change Your Life

A healthy, beautiful smile should be part of your everyday wardrobe. If you're looking for some self-improvement, don't forget that your smile is a vital part of your total image. Your smile is often the first impression people have of you. Psychological studies have shown that a person's physical attractiveness is judged by "the mouth, eyes, structure of the face, hair, and nose" in that order! What is "attractive?" Psychologists have trouble defining "beauty." But they agree that beauty is important in every social [...]

By |2018-06-19T00:00:02-07:00June 19, 2018|Cosmetic Dentistry|

When Somebody’s Snoring

Identifying (and Responding to) Sleep Apnea Besides the sound of your house being sawed in half, what happens when you snore? Your tongue's so relaxed, it caves in to the throat, blocking air passages. In rare cases, when snoring is extreme, sleep apnea is the diagnosis. The Greek word apnea literally means without breath. Three types of apnea exist: obstructive, central, and mixed. Despite their differences in root causes, in all three, people with untreated apnea stop breathing repeatedly—sometimes hundreds of times a night [...]

By |2018-06-12T00:00:48-07:00June 12, 2018|Snoring & Sleep Apnea|

Uh-oh! A Dental Emergency

A child learning to ride a bike loses their balance and falls, or perhaps even an adult on a "misadventure" gets in an accident and knocks out a tooth. What do you do? If the tooth is replaced in the tooth socket immediately, the chances are good that this tooth can be maintained for many years. Do Something and Do It Now! The success of this replantation procedure is directly related to how soon the tooth is replaced in its socket. If possible, just [...]

By |2018-06-05T15:00:37-07:00June 5, 2018|Emergency Dentistry|

Your Teeth Age Too!

Special Concerns for Older Adults Along with those gray hairs and inevitable smile lines, your mouth undergoes natural changes over the years, as well. Among them: Cutting edge of teeth are worn flat by chewing or grinding. Remember to keep regularly scheduled hygiene appointments to check for cavities. Consider dental sealants to prevent decay, or a nighttime mouthguard if you experience grinding (bruxism). Jawbones supporting teeth or dentures can shrink by as much as two-thirds! Loss of bone mass is a fact of aging, [...]

By |2018-05-22T08:00:19-07:00May 22, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

An Ounce of Prevention…

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You've heard that a million times—because it's so true! Our office really wants you to avoid painful, costly dental procedures. The way you can do this is through regularly scheduled dental exams. The idea is to discover a problem when it's large enough to be observed—and small enough to be contained! Two dental visits a year are average. But you—are not average! More appointments may need to be scheduled when mouths build tartar fast, [...]

By |2018-05-15T08:00:37-07:00May 15, 2018|Preventative Dentistry|

The Long & Short of Gum Disease

Surprising but true: the major cause of tooth loss in adults is not decay, but periodontal disease. More than half of all people over age 18 have at least the early stage of periodontal disease. After age 35, about three out of four adults are affected. Some people seem to be more susceptible to gum disease than others. Anything from pregnancy, systemic disease (like diabetes), and certain medications can contribute to its development. Smoking increases the likelihood dramatically (and renders treatment less effective). Some [...]

By |2018-05-08T08:00:58-07:00May 8, 2018|Periodontal Dentistry|

Dental Myths, Fabrications, and Falsehoods

Originally, these ideas held because no one really knew how to maintain a great smile over a lifetime. Unfortunately, "popular wisdom" still prevents some people from recognizing how modern dentistry can keep teeth natural, attractive and pain free. Do any of the following notions sound familiar? If so, get ready for a little relief! A woman can expect to lose a tooth for every child The Reality: This myth used to be true in many cases, but thankfully with modern medicine and dentistry, there's [...]

By |2018-05-01T08:00:28-07:00May 1, 2018|Patient Education|

Crown and Bridge Treatment

Maintaining the integrity of your mouth Teeth are tough. Formed from the hardest substances in the body, they're harder even than bone. But they're not indestructible. Throughout life teeth are subject to injury—maybe it will be a blow from a hockey puck in your twenties. Or a luckless chomp on an unseen popcorn kernel in your thirties. Or a molar that's had one too many fillings in your forties. Whatever the scenario, at some point most of us will need repair for a weakened [...]

By |2018-04-24T08:00:21-07:00April 24, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

When Diseases Cause Oral Complications

We have come a long way in the treatment of serious, life-threatening systemic diseases. Part and parcel of healing more aggressive diseases are—more aggressive therapies. And sometimes as a result of forceful care, complications arise that demand attention of their own: oral problems. When an individual is very sick, nutrition becomes more important than ever. Oral problems can interfere with normal function—eating, speaking, swallowing—just when the patient needs it most. Early evaluation by a dentist can help preserve a patient's oral health. So please, [...]

By |2018-04-17T08:00:35-07:00April 17, 2018|Patient Education|

Preventing Cavities in Your Baby’s Teeth

Eating & Drinking Don't let it continue throughout the day. Limit to 4 or 5 periods. This especially includes apple juice, raisins. Residual fruit sugars easily damage baby teeth. Restricting unlimited contact between food and teeth is the most important factor in preventing cavities! Brushing Remember: thorough brushing is more important than frequent brushing. Thorough flossing is just as important. Most kids under 7 are going to need assistance. Regular hygiene is the second most important factor in preventing cavities! Fluoridation Important for teeth [...]

By |2018-04-10T08:00:42-07:00April 10, 2018|Children's Dentistry|