A recent article was published over the summer which has led to several questions from our patients about the value of flossing. It seems as if many people are eager to hear that they no longer need to make time for this worthwhile daily “chore”. The interesting and perhaps misleading message behind that article was that no study has been conducted that proves the value of flossing. Note, it does
We recently had a patient come in who was concerned with a sore spot on the side of her tongue. She said the spot had been there for a few weeks and she was certain it was from accidentally biting her tongue. She was young, healthy, and had no other symptoms or significant risk factors. Because of the location, appearance, size, and duration of the lesion, we had the area
One of the most important elements of our dental exam is the time we take to assess a patient’s caries risk (risk for dental decay). By looking at signs within the mouth and speaking with patients about their dental history and habits, we can begin to understand their risk for future problems and make appropriate recommendations regarding treatment and prevention. If risk is identified, efforts are made to not only
When it comes to our children, it’s sometimes hard to appreciate the value of a routine dental examination, but an encounter we had last week with a five year old child reminds us just how important it is. It was our young patient’s first visit to our office, and we started with a cleaning and exam. On the surface, everything looked fine… no visible cavities, no broken teeth, and no
