Is Your Dentist Keeping Secrets From You?

Posted on December 15, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry 

I don’t think so. But I did like much of the information contained in an article of this title from Dr. Mercola’s website. Here’s a few followed by my comments:

Secret #1: Your dentist may not have the latest technology.

Digital x-ray: Dentists who do not have digital x-ray equipment are practicing in
the dark ages. Digital x-rays use less radiation than film. They are easier to read
and make diagnosis more accurate.

Ultrasonic Cleaning: Ultrasonic instruments vibrate plaque and calculus off your
teeth, even in areas below your gums. It is much more comfortable than oldfashioned
hand scraping.

Doc comment: I agree. Thats’ why our office has had this technology for years.

Secret #2: Your dentist may be using mercury.
Mercury is toxic. Norway and Sweden have banned the use of mercury fillings..
But mercury fillings are less expensive and easier for the dentist to use. If your
dentist does not use composite fillings, don’t go to that dentist any more. In the
US, the FDA is way behind the ball and not actively warning patients about this
like they have been mandated by the courts to do.

Doc’s comment: Very accurate. I haven’t used mercury in my office for years.

Secret #3: The lab may be more important than your dentist.

Dental labs create dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, and other
dental restorations like implant crowns. There is a huge difference in the quality
of these labs. You should be particularly wary if your dentist is using a lab in
China or Mexico. Some of the top labs in the U.S. are Aurum Ceramics,
MicroDental Laboratories, da Vinci Dental Studio, and Williams Dental Lab.

Doc’s comment: True. Aurum Ceramics is one of the labs we use a Artistic Dentistry.

Secret #4: There’s more to good dentistry than filling cavities.

A competent dentist screens for more than tooth decay. He or she should be
concerned about sleep apnea, jaw-related pain known as TMJ, oral cancer,
diabetes and hypertension.

Doc’s comment: All good points. I cover some of this in my free downloadable
electronic ebook found at http://stlouisdentistdrpete.com

What If E F Hutton Had a Bad Smile?

Posted on May 11, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry 

Those of us over 40 may well remember the famous ad: “When EF Hutton speaks, people listen.” But wait. You never saw EF Hutton. What if he had a bad smile?! Crooked, yellow, broken or stained teeth? Would people still have listened? All this to say that your smile can either lend credibility to what you’re saying or detract from it.

No matter someone’s age, weight, height…no matter if they’re not particularly pretty or handsome…a person’s unfavorable features seem to become less significant as soon as they display a beautiful, warm smile.

Per actual survey, a smile is what people remember most about others.

Why Invest Your Tax Refund Into Your Smile?

Posted on March 28, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry 

You Can’t Beat The Return On Investment!

According to research and polls conducted in the last few decades, your smile greatly determines how you are viewed and even treated by others. 74% of Americans believe an unattractive smile can harm a person’s career success. Also, maintaining the height of your teeth is one of the best anti-aging steps you can take.

As you age, your teeth get shorter, thus collapsing the lower face area. For more information on aging and dentistry see our midlife dentistry page.

TIME Magazine Reports Dental Visits Shouldn’t Be Cut in Lean Times

Posted on March 24, 2009 | Filed Under Health 

A February issue of TIME Magazine reported that the effort to save a few bucks by skipping cleanings or needed dental work was not a wise financial decision. “Patients who’ve skipped checkups now have achy teeth and have no choice but to undergo a more expensive procedure,” the magazine reported.

Consider your cleanings like you would regular oil changes and maintenance on your car. When you keep these up, your maintenance expenses in the long run are actually less. Just because the car is running well today doesn’t mean you should skip your scheduled oil change.

Maintenance of oral health has far more impact on your health and pocketbook than your car. The condition of your gums and teeth affect the comfort of your chewing, how you present yourself to the world and your overall health. Most people don’t actually realize that each tooth is energetically connected to the rest of their bodies. When you do, you can see that allowing teeth and gum health to deterioriate is tantamount to inviting illness.

3 Reasons To Get Rid Of Those Old Silver Fillings

Posted on February 18, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry 

First, they’re ugly. Even if you have a great smile, as soon as you open your mouth to laugh and expose those visible mounds of silver, you’ve compromised the view of your dental landscape. Tooth colored fillings blend in with your natural teeth and don’t detract from your smile.

Second, they mask the condition of your teeth underneath. So, if you’ve had mercury fillings in your molars for 30 years, you have no idea what condition that tooth is in underneath. Mercury expands and contracts with heat and cold and decades of that in your teeth exposes cracking underneath. In replacing these on patients, I’ve often removed the old fillings in time to restore the cracked tooth underneath. When it can’t be
restored, it’s more costly.

Third, old fillings can leak which simply means that over time it can start to let bacteria into the tooth. When this occurs, we say it is “leaking.” That’s when it is no longer protecting your tooth.

Do People Remember Meeting You?

Posted on January 28, 2009 | Filed Under General 

88% of respondents to a survey say they remember someone with an attractive smile.

If you’re in any type of profession that requires meeting people, your smile is an asset. Getting and keeping it in excellent shape, looking good while also being healthy, is one of the most important career moves you can make.

And what if you’re on the dating scene? Imagine the difference in your confidence being able to smile without being conscious of your teeth.

A Great Smile vs. Losing Weight: Which Resolution Could Help You More Financially?

Posted on January 22, 2009 | Filed Under General 

Seventy-five percent of the people surveyed by the International Food Information Council said they were concerned about their weight.

Fifty-percent of Americans surveyed by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry were not satisfied with their smiles.

So, the majority of Americans want to change their weight and their smiles. Will one goal have more impact than the other? What if you only have fifteen pounds to lose, but your teeth have shortened from wear and tear, are yellowed and crooked? Maybe you’ve got dark mercury fillings that detract from your smile. Read more

Can a Great Smile Increase Your Net Worth?

Posted on December 9, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry 

If you’re already a billionaire, your smile probably isn’t going to influence your income much at this point. But … since most people reading this aren’t billionaires, then lets’ take a look at just how influential a smile can be.

Do you ever see a winning candidate anymore with a bad smile?

What about successful Hollywood actors?

The new standard for smiling influences just about every area of life nowadays. It’s not just a nice thing to possess: it makes you more magnetic!

I’ve got patients in their seventies who are redoing their smiles. After all, age is completely redefined these days. Women and men who want to look more attractive to the opposite sex or maintain their appearance for professional reasons understand that they can’t let their smile deteriorate.

Even the look of dentures is becoming passé. Seriously … with implant technology, you can have a dazzling smile at any age.

Plus …. Did you ever consider the health benefits of restoring your teeth? Your chin and nose stop coming together, your chewing function is restored to normal which is a huge influence on your digestion and hence your health, and your jaw joints can actually function naturally, which often eliminates pain.

Is Your Smile Good for Business?

Posted on October 14, 2008 | Filed Under General 

Your smile is working for you every day … or not. It’s either inviting people or turning them away. If you’re in the business of dealing with people, you’re smile is actually an asset or liability. What if you’re in sales, marketing, public relations or customer service? Do you think getting your smile fixed would be a tax deduction?

Case in point: pharmaceutical companies have known this secret for years. Young, beautiful reps with gorgeous smiles get past the gatekeepers every time. It could be even considered that these smiles are responsible for the skyrocketing use of pharmaceuticals in this country.

Look Ma’ No Cavities!

Posted on August 25, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry, General, Health, St. Louis, Teeth Tips 

For Boomers who grew up with this famous toothpaste commercial, I have a news flash: At your age, it’s no longer just about cavities!

If you’ve passed the age of forty, you really should have a mid-life diagnosis to evaluate the overall state of your oral health AND to plan a proper course of treatment that will enable you to keep your teeth for the remainder of your lifetime.

Patients over forty have often shortchanged their dental health or just barely maintained their teeth and gums. With the expense of family taking precedence through the previous two decades, Boomer-aged patients coming to me for the first time are often prepared to play catch-up with their own dental health.

Today you can plan a course of treatment that will ensure you’ve got your own teeth to chew with well into your senior years. In addition, nothing is more youthful than a natural-looking white smile. Unlike your parents, if you take care now you can have both.