Boomerang Champion!

Hello!

Today's post is not about Dentistry, but rather, a post from a proud father! My oldest son, James, participated in the 2012 World Boomerang Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which started on October 17th, 2012 and ended the 29th. This event was 10 days of competition with "boomerangers" from around the world, including countries like Germany, Austrailia, Japan, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, and many others. In addition to the competition, my son and the other participants got to experience Brazilian culture and food. I'm proud to say that James came in 4th place, which makes him the 4th best in all the world for Boomerang!

There will be a new post this Thursday, as usual, but I just had to share this exciting news with everyone!
I hope you are all staying dry in this Seattle rain (although we should be grateful that we aren't dealing with hurricane Sandy).

Richard Stickney DDS PS

Common Dental Issue

Hello everyone!

Today we wanted to talk about a common issue many of our patients have. On our Health History forms we have the question, "Have you had problems or undesirable experiences with previous dental treatments?" Many of our patients have stated there that they requested no amalgam fillings, but they were put in anyways! You might be wondering, "well how is that possible?"

The answer to that is communication, and the lack of REALLY listening to what the patient wants. As for the amalgams, sometimes they are left behind when a crown is made and they are found years later. They can be underneath old crowns, fillings, or bridges. Other times, some dentists take it upon themselves to make decisions for the patient without consulting with them about what they would prefer.

When we consult with patients about their treatment, whether it be crowns, onlays, composites, etc, we really try to listen to the needs and desires of each individual person. We may have a recommendation, but if the patient would prefer some other form of treatment, we of course would cater to that need, as long as it applies to the situation. When we go over treatment options with them, we outline what the ideal and optimal solutions would be, but also provide alternative plans so that the patient can make an informed decision regarding his or her mouth. To me, patient education plays a major role in my practice so we always encourage our patients to ask questions. We also ask our patients to speak up about things so that we can deliver the best experience for them. We are happy to tell our patients about the materials we are using and why we use them.

I hope you are all doing well!
Richard Stickney DDS PS

Periodontal Disease: Interesting Statistics

Good afternoon!

How is everyone doing today? Well we wanted to share some interesting information about how prevalent periodontal disease is among adults. This was an email newsletter sent to me recently and I thought it would be informative to our readers.

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September 21, 2010 -- The number of adults in the U.S. suffering from periodontal disease may be significantly higher than previous research has indicated, according to a study published online in the Journal of Dental Research (September 21, 2010).

The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), researchers appear to have underestimated by as much as 50% how many cases of moderate to severe periodontitis actually exist in the U.S. population.

"This study shows that periodontal disease is a bigger problem than we all thought. It is a call to action for anyone who cares about his or her oral health," said Samuel Low, D.D.S., M.S., associate dean and professor of periodontology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry and president of the AAP, in a press release. "Given what we know about the relationship between gum disease and other diseases, taking care of your oral health isn't just about a pretty smile. It has bigger implications for overall health, and is therefore a more significant public health problem."

According to Paul Eke, Ph.D., M.P.H., an epidemiologist at the CDC and lead author of the study, the findings have significant public health implications. Several research studies have associated gum disease with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Because recent research suggests a connection between periodontal health and systemic health, "understanding the relationships between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases in the adult U.S population is more crucial than ever," he added.

Copyright © 2010 DrBicuspid.com

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Many adults live with this disease and do not even know they have it. The best way to find out is to have your dental hygienist do an examination of your gum health at your next check up. At that point the dentist can figure out the best way to treat the disease according to your specific needs. We even have Oral DNA tests to determine whether a patient is genetically susceptible to periodontal disease.

This statistic is a wake up call! Make sure you get in to see your dentist or hygienist every 6 months for check ups. Things in the mouth can change quickly, and prevention is the best way to deal with this disease.

I hope you are all doing well.
Richard Stickney DDS PS

Laser Helps With Sensitivity

Hello everyone!

I hope this blog post is finding you all happy and healthy! We just returned from our two week vacation, and we are ready to start up our weekly blog again, sharing timely and informative news with you!

This week's blog is talking again about our dental laser! (Boy do we love it!) But this time we are focusing on how the laser can help with sensitivity during and after dental procedures and how it can help with general tooth sensitivity. We've attached a video at the bottom on this post that explains how the laser can help with sensitivity caused by gum recession and exposed nerve endings. These exposed nerve endings can cause sensitivity to brushing, and cold.

This week alone, we've done a couple of composite fillings with the use of our Waterlase. Asking the patients afterwards how they felt during the treatment, all of them said they had no discomfort. No anesthetic was used during either of these treatments. Unfortunately, we cannot use the laser for every procedure, but we do use it as often as we possibly can. Many of our patients prefer the use of our laser opposed to the use of anesthetic and the drill. On the flip side, some people prefer not feeling anything at all and want to be numb, so we definitely respect all of our patients wishes.

If you'd like to see an animated demonstration of how the laser can help with tooth sensitivity, please follow this link to watch a short video.

Please feel free to leave feedback in the comments section or on our Facebook or Twitter pages!

Be well,
Richard Stickney