Jack Paar 1961 National Children's Dental Week PSA

1961 National Children's Dental Week PSA with Jack Paar

How To Evaluate a Dentist

Not all dentists are the same. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything new. Most of you have been to more than one dentist in your life. Do you remember an experience that was not so great? It probably made you seek a better dentist.

Sometimes you stick with the same dentist you had as a child, teen, or young adult. But sometimes you move to a new town and have to find a new dentist.

Here are some issues to consider and questions to ask when evaluating a new dentist.

• What are the office hours? Are they convenient for your schedule?
• Is the office easy to get to from work or home?
• Where was the dentist educated and trained?
• What's the dentist's approach to preventive dentistry?
• How often does the dentist attend conferences and continuing education workshops?
• Does the dentist use the latest dental technology, for increased effectiveness and comfort?
• Does the dentist explain procedures and options in a down to earth manner that you understand?
• Does the dentist welcome your questions?
• Does the dentist seem like a happy, self-confident person who loves her or his profession?
• Does the dentist seem like a genuinely nice person -- or do they seem cold?
• What type of anesthesia and pain relief is the dentist certified to administer?
• What arrangements are made for handling emergencies outside of office hours? (Most dental offices will  make arrangements with a colleague or emergency referral service, if they're unable to tend to your emergency.)
• Is information provided about all fees and payment plans before treatment is scheduled? 
• Are the pros and cons of each dental work option fully explained to you?
• In comparison shopping, be sure to ask for estimates on some common procedures such as full-mouth X-rays, an oral exam and cleaning, and filling a cavity.
• Does the dentist participate in your dental health plan?
• Does the office seem tidy, cheerful, clean?
• Do any of your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers recommend this dentist based on actual experience?
• Does the dentist specialize in what you need (children, people with anxiety, elderly, disabled patients)?
• What is the dentist's office policy on missed appointments? How much notice do you have to give when canceling an appointment, to avoid a charge?

ALSO SEE:

"3 Ways to Determine if a Dentist is Right For You"

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Fixed bridge: Before and After

Here is a sample of my dental work. The photo ABOVE shows the patient prior to my work on restoring a fixed bridge that some other dentist installed.

The photo BELOW shows the nice results of my dental work.

Smile enhancement can be affordable, pain free, and done with the latest high tech equipment, for better and faster results.

A new smile can mean a better life, more confidence, and less anxiety about your appearance.

Now, how can I improve YOUR smile?

6 Ways to Reduce Cavities and Improve Dental Health

When I was a kid, it seemed like that I always had some cavities at my dental check-up. A good exam for me was announcing to my mom that I only had one cavity. That was before fluoride was introduced into toothpaste and no information was given about flossing.

Today, we have more information available to help our patients reduce their cavities and keep their teeth and gums healthy.

Cavities are caused by bacteria in our mouth that make holes in our teeth. The bacteria feed off carbohydrates, especially sugar and make acid to weaken enamel and dentin.

(1) Reduce carbohydrate intake, especially sugars.

Mints, suckers, and any candy, including cough drops that stay in your mouth a long time, are harmful to our teeth. Sweet Tarts have the terrible combination of acid and sugar. If you feel the craving to eat something sweet, eat dark chocolate.

If you prefer milk chocolate, even a Hersey bar does not stay in your mouth very long. Crackers are carbohydrates that will feed the bacteria that make cavities. Eat fruits for snacks. Cheese can be beneficial to your teeth.

(2) Avoid acidic beverages.

Drinks with a lot of acid in them include such favorites as Coke, Pepsi, Sunny Delight, Capri Sun, tomato and V8 juice, and even Gatorade. 

All of these have a low pH, 2.7 or lower. If you drink soda, limit it to one meal per day and use diet soda.

Try to drink water right after drinking the soda to wash away the sugar and reduce the acid attack. Do not drink soda in between meals.

(3 ) Ask your dentist about prescription fluoride toothpaste.

Colgate Prevident 5000 can be prescribed to patients that are cavity prone. It costs about $9.00 per tube and is very beneficial in stopping decay.

(4) Lack of saliva can promote cavities.

Many medications can diminish saliva flow. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often have a reduced saliva flow. 

People will say that they have "cotton mouth" or a "dry mouth". The lack of saliva enhances the ability of the bacteria to grow.

There are over the counter products made by Biotene, available at Walgreen’s and CVS that help people with a dry mouth.


(5) Brush at least twice a day, especially before bedtime and floss once per day. It takes about two minutes to brush and one to two minutes to floss.


(6) If you are still getting cavities after all of these recommendations, ask your dentist to make custom fluoride trays. Prescription fluoride gel will prevent new decay almost totally. The fluoride must be used daily.

Need more in-depth, personal advice about your teeth and gums?

Our office can help you determine a course of action for your needs to keep your teeth cavity free.

Contact us by phone during our business hours, or send me an email or post a comment.

A new, improved smile can mean a whole new life, with increased social poise and self-confidence.

Fluoride trays.

Basic Facts About Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural mineral. It exists naturally in all water supplies and even in some brands of bottled water.   

PHOTO ABOVE shows fluoride varnishing for people who are persistently prone to cavities.

For many years the recommended dose was 1 part per million in drinking water.

Recently, the recommended dose has been reduced to 0.7 parts per million. This provides the benefit of reducing cavities without causing minor fluorosis, small white specks on teeth.

Topical fluoride is applied to the teeth and absorbed into the enamel. This is found is toothpaste and mouth rinses, such as ACT or Listerine Fluoride Rinse.

At our dental office, we can apply topical varnish to children and adults. The varnish is applied with an applicator similar to a Q-tip and takes less than one minute. For patients that are cavity prone, we often prescribe a special toothpaste, Prevident 5000. This toothpaste will generally stop future decay.

Systemic fluoride is taken into the body through drinking fluoridated water, fluoride supplement, and even food and beverages. Fluoride is deposited into developing teeth and bones, to make them stronger.

Value of a Smile (1940s) ADA film VIDEO

Oral hygiene can be very interesting and make your life a lot better. American Dental Association archive film. Explanation of x-rays, prevention, tooth care.

Family Nutrition ADA psa 1960s

American Dental Association uses cartoon to explain how family eating habits affect dental health.