Dr. Stickney Holistic Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry

Reduce Decay and Protect your smile

2011-12-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Our diets as Americans have changed drastically over the last several decades. It includes a substantial amount more of acidic and carbohydrate related foods. These cause oral and systemic acidity. There are several kinds of bacteria that use simple carbohydrates to breakdown a tooth’s minerals, creating opportunity for decay and cavities. Cavities are a preventable infectious disease if you balance your oral chemistry.

Sodas, fruit juices and sports drinks are highly acidic and have seemed to replace our water and milk consumption. Teeth start to demineralize at a pH level of 5.5. On average soft drinks to fruit juices, etc. have a pH level of 2.6-4.6 depending on the type of drink. Sports drinks and energy drinks have the strongest potential for tooth erosion.

Many medications diminish the protective flow of saliva resulting in acid buffering and micro repair to slowing or completely stopping. As we get older this protection lessens and the saliva available is less effective. It is important to not dilute remaining saliva with frequent drinking in these cases.

Enamel is about 98 percent mineralized; the crown of a tooth is much stronger and more resistant to acid attacks, than its roots. When roots are exposed due to bone and tissue loss they are at a higher risk for decay. So making better food choices, eating fewer fermentable carbohydrates and processed and acidic foods can help protect you teeth.

Two actions you can take to protect your health

2011-11-22T14:49:00.000-08:00

You would think our government would want to protect our rights and our freedoms. However you have to wonder when you see what’s up in the realms of nutritional supplements and organic foods. If having actual organic food and access to nutritional supplements is important to you please read the attached newsletters from Dr Mercola and Dr Rowen. Both of these doctors push their own brands of nutritional supplements so I always read their newsletters with some caution. However both of them are fighting for our basic freedoms to eat foods that are not laced with GMO foods and for us to be able to freely take the nutritional supplements of our choice. I have personal experience with this as the FDA shut down a company that made a chelation product that I used with good success over the years.

I have had great success in my personal life using nutrition, exercise and supplements to keep me off of all prescription drugs. Many of you are likewise taking no prescriptions. I am always looking toward the future. I think what if the government did ban our nutritional supplements?

I recently added 2 books to our office library, written by Jeff Primack. Conquering any Disease and his accompanying Smoothie Formulas, these books provide really good information on how to have radiant health by using the whole food (seeds and all). They are available on this website qirevolution.com

I have the books at the office and every person that looks at them doesn’t want to put them down. These are not part of our lending library but feel free to peruse them when you are in the office.

To your health and well being.

Rick

Newsletters:
http://www.secondopinionnewsletter.com/Health-Alert-Archive/View-Archive/1980/Stop-the-FDA-from-banning-your-supplements.htm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/19/mark-kastel-cornucopia-good-food-movement.aspx?e_cid=20111119_DNL_art_1

For Patients With Dental Insurance....Use It or Lose it!!

2011-10-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Many of our patients have Dental Insurance that they use when getting their treatment or continuing care.
The way dental insurance companies help is by giving a annual benefit maximum amount. Most companies base this benefit period on the calender year, January thru December. Once the calender year is up that benefit amount refreshes, so any of the benefit amount that was not used the previous year goes away. We wanted to send out a reminder to all of you, to come in and get any of your treatment done before the end of the year so you can fully maximize your insurance benefits!
Our office will be open its normal business hours through this holiday season. We will only be closed on November 24th and December 26th.

Gives us a call and we would love to see you and help you get all you can out of those insurance companies!

50% Less Radiation Exposure in our Office!

2011-10-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Last week we had our semi-annual x-ray inspection by the state of Washington. The inspector evaluates the x-ray machines for how much exposure there is from each individual x-ray. He also checks the software to be sure it is providing good images.
The inspector commented that our x-rays tested 50% or better than many of the other digital systems he examines. I have one of the earlier digital x-ray systems in Seattle. I got it for several reasons. The most important is reducing x-ray exposure to the patient. The second is it gives me an excellent image that I can look at and show the patient if they are interested. The third is that it is faster and the fourth is that there is no need for the toxic developing and fixing chemicals. So the office air is healthier to breathe and we do not need to dispose of these toxic chemicals into the environment.

Your dental and overall health is our primary concern. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. I love doing dentistry and helping people be well.

The best to you!

Rick

New Changes to Our Office Staff!

2011-08-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Well as some of you may have noticed, we no longer have a few of our longtime staff members. There has been a few changes.

Brooke and her husband recently moved to Texas to further their volunteer work, they will live there for a few months while getting prepared.....then its off to Africa! Brooke was a fundamental part of our team here.
Lacey also has new adventures in her future away from our office. She's now a proud new Mom! We'd like to welcome her new baby boy Asher! They are both doing great and we are very happy for Lacey and her husband. We wish both Brooke and Lacey all the best in their exciting new endeavors and they will be missed.

So due to these recent changes we have a new addition to our team. Our newest member will be sharing the ranks with Katlyn in assisting Dr. Stickney. So we wanted to take some time and let you get to know her!

"Hi, I'm excited to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Shandi Luellen. I've recently joined Dr. Stickney's team as a Dental Assistant taking over for Brooke, who is a close personal friend of mine as well. Which is how I got in touch with this wonderful office and staff. I am a Washington local. I grew up in Marysville. I started working in a dental office when I was 14 as a sterilization technician. My mother, aunt and cousin all worked in the same office so naturally I followed. I came to enjoy the dental field very much, so I attended the Sno-Isle Skill Center Dental Assisting Program in 2000. After completing the course, I continued on the job training and have been assisting ever since. I have worked for a variety of different dentists ranging from general to cosmetic to neuromuscular dentistry, where we would correct TMD/TMJ disorders as well as full mouth rehabilitation correcting the teeth aesthetics and function of the bite. I am thrilled to have been invited into Dr. Stickney's practice and to continue learning about incorporating holistic methods to truly benefit each patient individually. Its been a pleasure meeting some of you already and I'm excited to meet all of our patients soon.

Dental Implant Maintenance

2011-06-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Dental implants are a serious process and decision. Therefore, it is imperative that once an implant(s) is placed, it is maintained and cared for properly. Hygienists play an important role in the maintenance of dental implants. At each re-care appointment the dental hygienist should conduct a complete assessment of the implant. They should check the surrounding gum tissue for inflammation, bleeding and mobility. The implant should be scaled, preferably before the other natural teeth because studies have shown that the bacteria from the natural teeth can be transferred to the implant and cause damage. It is important that the implant and surrounding gum tissue is properly cared for at home and at the dental office to ensure the longevity of the implant and because plaque build-up on implants has been linked to bone loss. The hygienist should therefore also explain to the patient specific instructions for home care at the end of each re-care appointment.
We are so happy to have Annika as the new hygienist in our office. With her expert help and care, we can insure that we are maintaining our patient's dental implants to the best of our ability. We feel that it is extremely important to care for restorations appropriately in insure their ultimate longevity for our patients. This is beneficial for the oral and overall health of the patient and their pocket books.

Treating Gum Disease In Mothers

2011-06-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Treating gum disease in pregnant women and nursing mothers has long been a taboo issue. As it usually goes, if you are unsure of the affects, avoid it. But a new study conducted shows that pregnant women and nursing mothers can be treated for gum disease without having to worry that it will affect their baby's health. The original concern was that when the mother was being treated for gum disease with aggressive teeth cleaning, such as scaling and root planing, bacteria would be released into the mother's bloodstream and affect the health of the developing baby. Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, a dentist at The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis, and his colleagues conducted a study where they tested 400 two-year-olds who had been born to mothers with gum disease. Half of the mothers had been treated with aggressive teeth cleaning and half had not. The conclusion? "Women can be confident that it's not going to have clinically meaningful effects on their child's development," said Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, whose findings are published in the journal Pediatrics. The study didn't show, however, that treating the gum disease in the mother benefited the child.
What should we take from this new study? Periodontal disease is serious and needs to be treated with urgency. Now mothers, who may have put off treatment of their gum disease because of the concern it would affect their babies, can now feel confident about continuing treatment. Even though the study did not show it would improve the health of the baby, it will improve the oral and overall health of the mother. (Although Dr. Jeffcoat a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia stated that the study couldn't completely rule out that treatment might benefit the baby in some cases. And there have been studies that link periodontal disease to low birth weight in babies.) So, first and foremost, for pregnant and nursing mothers as well as everyone else, the primary goal is prevention. Brush and floss properly everyday to avoid gum disease. But in the case you do end up with gum disease, which pregnant woman seem to be more susceptible to because of hormonal changes, pregnant and nursing mothers do not have to, or shouldn't, put treatment on the back-burner.

First Annual AAOSCH Scientific Meeting

2011-06-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. As a founding member of AAOSCH, American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, I am very excited to be attending our first annual meeting on June 24-25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. There is clear evidence of the link between periodontal disease and other health issues such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes; therefore, it is imperative that each care provider be aware of the seriousness of early diagnosis and early treatment of both heart disease and chronic infections such as periodontal disease.

This meeting will be extremely helpful in connecting medical and dental professionals in their quest for prevention of these serious diseases. The goal is to create a working partnership between the medical and dental communities, helping each to identify and understand their role in this prevention and treatment.

As my role as dentist, I am looking forward to learning how to best partner with medical physicians in order to provide my patients the best possible care.

The course objectives are as follows:

• To show that both systemic health and oral health are important to save the lives of our patients that are at risk for arterial disease, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

• To show the scientific evidence that the body is interconnected and that disease at any location may present risk to all areas of the body: not just the area affected.

• To help create a strategy of early intervention for all health care professionals in the earlier diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Including …

• When should a dentist refer a patient to a physician? Why?

• When should a physician refer a patient to a dentist? Why?

• What tests will the physician run?

• What tests will the dentist run?

• What risks do these combined tests and evaluations equate to regarding heart disease, stroke and diabetes?

• Who should each clinician refer to?

• To show the cumulative effect of many sources of inflammation that may increase risk: Including the oral / systemic connection.

• To help create a community of physicians and dentists that understands how to evaluate risk, to communicate with each other, and to effectively treat these patients.

The panel of speakers for this meeting is very impressive, including:

Bradley Bale, MD

Amy Doneen, RN, BSN, MSN, ARNP

Thomas W. Nabors, DDS, F.A.C.D

Casey Hein, RDH, BSDH, MBA

Duane Keller, DMD - Chief Scientific Officer for Perio Protect LLC

G. Lee Ostler, DDS

Robert Maccario, MBA

I am happy to see that more and more medical and dental professionals are understanding the importance of oral systemic health and are altering the care they provide to adapt to this new information. I feel it is equally important to share this information with my patients, in order for them to make the best possible decisions regarding their health and future. I am looking forward to reporting back to you after I have attended this meeting with further information!

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Rick Stickney

Introducing Our New Hygienist, Annika Mundus!

2011-05-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

We are very excited about a new addition to our team! We have decided to add a hygienist to our staff, to ensure you are receiving the ultimate dental care on your routine cleaning visits. We wanted to take a little time for you to get to know her!

"Hello, I would like to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Annika Mundus and I recently joined Dr. Stickney's team as a dental hygienist. I grew up in Squaw Valley, California skiing and snowboarding to my hearts content. I began as a dental assistant when I was 17 and found that I truly enjoyed the field of dentistry. I decided to become a dental hygienist and attended Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists which was affiliated with Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. I graduated in 2002 Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science of Dental Hygiene. I have worked in a variety of offices, some traditional and some that tried to incorporate holistic ideals. I am excited to join Dr. Stickney and his staff and continue learning about true holistic dentistry. I look forward to meeting all of our patients!
I briefly wanted to share an experience with you. Recently, we had a patient come in and he was surprised to find out that he had several new areas of decay that required restorations. When doctor Stickney asked about his diet he said that he has been eating a lot of trail mix with dried fruit. I too had a similar experience with dried fruits. I spent a few months on a road trip and had almonds and dried apricots as a snack and came home with a few new cavities of my own. Here is what happened to both of us: Dried fruit contains a high amount of sugar and is sticky. Small bits of dried fruit stick in the pits and grooves of the chewing surface of the tooth between brushings. The bacteria consumes the sugars and as a biproduct of metabolizing the sugars, the bacteria produces acid that demineralizes the enamel and causes tooth decay. The longer the sugar is present on the tooth, the more it is available to be metabolized by bacteria, the more acid is produced, the more tooth decay! Sticky sweets, even healthful dried fruits, can cause cavities.

Even though I knew they were cariogenic, as a recently graduated dental hygienist, I thought I could do a good enough job with my brushing. It was another reminder to watch how much dried fruit I eat and to educate our patients do to the same." -Annika Mundus

We look forward to you all meeting her!

Thank you and be well,
Rick Stickney and Team

Periodontal Disease and Your Health

2011-05-11T10:10:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Recently, we have been focusing a lot of attention on periodontal disease and the Perio Protect Treatment. There has been so much new information regarding periodontal disease and the link to your overall health, that I feel that it is important to continue sharing it with you. We have many patients that are currently using the Perio Protect Trays with hydrogen peroxide and antioxidant medications to treat their gum disease and are having great results. We have some updated information that we wanted to make sure to pass on to our Perio Protect users, to ensure you are receiving the utmost benefits:

Previously, you were instructed to brush and floss before using your trays. We now have new direction to use the trays prior to brushing and flossing. The reason for this is that when you brush and floss your teeth you are disturbing the oral bacteria and releasing it into your system. When you use your Perio Protect Trays first, you will be killing off 99% of the bad bacteria prior to brushing and flossing, therefore, limiting your body's exposure to the harmful bacteria. So if you are currently using the trays, please alter your routine to using the trays prior to brushing and flossing.

We also want to emphasize the importance of using the trays more than once a day if you currently have periodontitis or gingivitis. I have added a extremely motivating video to this blog that I encourage you to watch. It shows a plate sample of oral bacterial and it's growth within a 24 hour period of time under high magnification. When you use your trays you are killing off 99% of the bad bacteria. As shown in the video, any remaining bacteria in your mouth quickly will multiply and within a 24 hour period of time return full force. Therefore, it is important to use the trays multiple times as a day, as directed, to keep the bacteria level low so your gum tissue has time to heal.

Negative Effects of Periodontal Disease

Biofilm, communities of bacteria found on teeth and gum, causes inflammation of the gum tissue. Since the gum tissue is only three cell walls thick, toxic bacteria can make its way through the gum tissue into the blood stream. Once the bacteria reaches the blood stream it can be linked to major health problems. For example, did you know that if you have periodontal disease you are:
168% more likely to develop Heart Disease
250% more likely to have a Stroke
300% more likely to get Osteoporosis and
700% more likely to have a low birth weight baby?

Researchers have also found oral bacteria in the artery walls of the heart and in blood vessels. C Reactive Protein is a measure of inflammation in the body and can be measured by blood work. Many physicians view elevated C Reactive Protein as more predictive of a future heart attack than high cholesterol! Inflammation is a healthy person's response to injury or infection. The inflammatory process alerts our immune system which helps us to heal. However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it becomes a major health problem.

A colleague of mine, Dr. Ostler, put together a bibliography of almost 1,000 studies conducted showing the negative effects of periodontal disease to your systemic (overall) health. We have this bibliography in our office for those of you who like see for yourself the eye-opening results.

I am personally committed to helping my patients to attain their ultimate health. As we can see, treating periodontal disease is part of this process. Please contact our office if you would like further information about periodontal disease and the Perio Protect Treatment.

Thank you and be well.

Dr. Rick Stickney and Team

Continuing Education: Gum Disease and Overall Health

2011-04-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

We have been utilizing the Perio Protect System in our practice for almost two years with impressive results. I recently had the opportunity to attend the first annual Perio Protect annual meeting in Las Vegas on April 8^th and 9^th 2011. There were two days of presentations from the inventor of the Perio Protect system, various dentists and a Periodontist.

There were several take home messages from the conference I would like to share with you:

1. Two years ago the medical research was saying periodontal infection was a PROBABLE causative factor in heart disease and other medical diseases such as strokes, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and pregnancy problems. Now, the medical research is saying periodontal infection IS a causative in the disease process along with other causative factors. Oral pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria cause infection that affect your dental health and general health. Now we have scientific validation of what I have been saying for many years.

2. Oxygen therapy has been proven to kill the pathogen bacteria. The proven way to do this is with Perio Protect Trays and hydrogen peroxide medication. Hydrogen peroxide liberates the oxygen that gets rid of the bad bugs.

3. A new study showed that for most people brushing and flossing alone did not control their dental disease over time. I have seen so many patients that brush and floss very well and eat a good diet and yet they still have decay or gum problems.

4. Using Perio Protect Trays with Hydrogen peroxide and other medicaments is becoming a foundation tool to protect your dental and overall health and well being.

5. If a person has gum inflammation, the simple act of eating increases bacterial toxins 400 percent in the person’s blood stream.

I believe in being a role model for my patients. Ever since having my old dental amalgam fillings removed improved my health over night, the mouth-body connection has fascinated me. I have been exploring natural health for many years. I believe the drug and surgery oriented approach that is in use in our health care system is flawed. Drugs and surgery can be important, but they do not solve the cause of disease. When I place a restoration on a tooth, it preserves the tooth. However, if we do not do something to alter what caused the need for the restoration then the problem will come back.

Perio Protect is a fantastic tool for stripping oral biofilm and reducing the risk of oral pathogens causing further dental disease and system problems.

In my next Blogs/Newsletter I will be sending information on the best ideas to improve your dental and overall health.

Two books I have recently read and put to use are:

The Secret of Instant Healing, Author: Frank Kinslow

The Immortality Edge, Authors: Dr. Fossel, Greta Blackburn and Dr. Woynarowski

For mediators or people who are interested in meditation, The Secret of Instant Healing book is fantastic. Dr. Kinslow teaches you how to instantly go into the Gap. I spent many years getting there but not being able to replicate it easily. It can take years of constant work. Well, not anymore! Dr. Kinslow shows you how to do it in a matter of minutes. The beauty is that you can easily go back into this peaceful state anytime you want.

The Immortality Edge is a book about the latest research in anti-aging medicine. It focuses on how to prolong your health and life by preserving and protecting your telomeres. Telomeres protect your DNA. Every time your cells divide your telomeres become shorter. Short telomeres means your cells are approaching the end stage. When enough cells are at the end stage, organ systems are in trouble and people die as a result.

At a conference I was once attended a doctor said, “I want to die young, just at a later date.” I became so interested in this idea and the research found in this book that I decided to search for more information. I found an interview and presentation by one of the authors, Dr. Woynarowski, that I listened to attentively. I wanted even more information, so I contacted the company that developed TA-65, which is a nutraceutical discussed in this book. I have followed the process, and now I am now certified to prescribe this nutraceutical to my patients. TA-65 is very interesting. It is extracted from Astragalus, the Chinese herb. TA-65 is the only substance that has been proven to actually increase telomere length. This preserves your cells. The health of your body is the health of your cells. I highly recommend this book, if long term health and well being are important to you.

Office Staff Continuing Education

2011-03-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

In order to keep my practice up to date with the latest procedures and technology, I am devoted to participate in as much continuing education possible. That being said, I wanted to update you on the latest seminars my staff and I have been able to attend.

'Restoring Implants and Their Surrounding Teeth'
Presented By: Dr. Tony Mancuso
Office Attendees: Dr. Richard Stickney

Dr. Mancuso is known for being one of Canada's leading experts on restorative dentistry. In this particular seminar, he focused on the restoration of implants and surrounding teeth. A dental implant is an artificial tooth replacement used to replace missing teeth and prevent or stop jaw bone loss. Dental implants have become a large and important part of restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Therefore, I believe it is very important for the welfare of my patients that I am fully educated and updated about the implant process and restoration of previous implant work. This seminar focused on pretreatment considerations for proper treatment outcomes, treatment planning for crowns and bridges, mini implants, restoring full mouth reconstructions utilizing implants and porcelain restorations. I also appreciate and support Dr. Mancuso's approach to placing crown margins above gum tissue in order to prevent gum disease. This is not a process all dentists incorporate, but I find that keeping the margins above the gum tissue prevents bacterial build up and infection. I found Dr. Tony Mancuso and his seminar very informative and interesting. I look forward to implementing the tools and information he presented to better serve you!

'Dentrix Insight Seminar'
Presented By: Dentrix Software Representative, Dayna Johnson
Office Attendees: Kendra Kyselica, Front Office

Previously, we had announced to you that we transitioned over to a new dental software, Dentrix, in order to be more efficient and serve you better. Kendra was able to attend this continuing education seminar to ensure our office is able to take full advantage of the Dentrix services and benefits. One of the highlights of the seminar was how to go paperless! This is something that our office has been striving for, in order to keep up with all the technical advances and of course, to support our environment. Also beneficial was the information on how to more effectively follow up with you! This new software enables us to better track your upcoming appointments and needs so that we can make sure we are giving you the very best service possible. In addition, we have been able to implement the very helpful Dentrix treatment planning tool. This enables us to print and or email you your treatment plan! The treatment plan layout is very simple and informative so that you can be as educated as possible about your dental needs. We can even print out or email you a graphic chart showing you your plan more visually. So far we are very happy with this new software and look forward to using it even more fully in the future!

Seattle Met Magazine Top Dentists 2011

2011-02-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to share that Dr. Stickney is listed as one of the top dentists of 2011 in the February issue of Seattle Met Magazine! On the first page of the article our office is featured for our holistic and laser dentistry. We are honored to be recognized for our holistic approach and state of the art technology. We wanted to share this information with all of you!

New Dental Software to Serve You Better!

2010-11-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

To serve you better, my office staff and I have transitioned into using the new dental software, Dentrix! This new program will not only help my team and I to be more organized and productive, but it will help us to serve you more efficiently. From scheduling and appointment reminders to helping you understand your treatment options and optimal plan, this software has it all! This program will enable us to show you your mouth virtually, and display educational videos on the treatments you require or have questions about. We are convinced this new technology will add to the level of service we provide.

'Longevity Now' Seminar

2010-11-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

I recently participated in the 'Longevity Now' online seminar put on by Nutritionist and Best-selling Author, David Wolfe. I am really excited to apply the knowledge and remedies to my own life and into my dental practice! The seminar focused on strengthening the immune system, detoxification, living longer and feeling younger! Some of the key factors revealed in the seminar to attaining the above goals included eating raw foods, Vitamin D and medicinal mushrooms. I was so thrilled to learn about the health benefits of the medicinal mushroom supplements that I will be carrying them in my office. The mushroom supplements and the 'Longevity Now' DVD will be available to my patients interested in learning more. I am looking forward to experiencing these new techniques to promote overall health and wellness! I would like to send a special thank you to Dr. Les Berenson for referring me to this helpful information.

Why do I need my crown replaced?

2010-06-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

Several of my new patients have come into our practice recently, and many of them have asked me this very common question, 'I thought crowns lasted forever; why do I need my crown replaced?' In each of these new patients I had found decay under their crowns, some mild and some so deep the tooth could not be saved. This prompted me to write an article to explain this common misconception.
A crown is the last restorative step a dentist can take before the tooth is lost. A crown can either be a partial or a full, meaning it fits over part of the tooth or all of it. A crown can restore the tooth for many years. How long a crown last depends on the quality of the dentist's technique and how well the patient takes care of the tooth.
Where the crown meets the tooth is very vulnerable. This is where decay can get it. The crown itself never decays but the tooth can, especially in the seam or margin. There are many reasons this can happen. For instance, sometimes crowns don't really fit well to begin with. The lab could have made an error while making the crown, or the cement may have not sealed well because of moisture contamination.
There are steps that you and your dentist can take to be sure you have a quality crown:
1. The patient should have healthy gums before the crown is made so the impression is accurate.
2. Dentists should check the impression carefully. Even the smallest bubble means the impression should be redone. If the impression isn't perfect then the lab can't make a quality crown. Over the years I have talked to many dental labs; their estimate is 50% of the impressions are inadequate.
3. The dentist should work under high power magnification to insure a clear margin, or edge, for the dental lab.
4. While the patient is wearing the temporary, excellent home care is essential. The patient needs to keep the tooth and gums very clean.
5. The dentist should clean and disinfect the tooth before seating the crown.
6. The dentist should carefully check the fit of the crown before cementing.
7. The dentist should us a water insoluble cement. 70% of dental cements are water soluble and their failure rate is higher.
8. It is important that the bite is correct. An error of a few degrees can cause problems. The dentist should carefully evaluate the bite on all crowns. However, after the seating of the crown the patient is usually numb. If the bite doesn't feel right after the patient returns home the patient should always come back for an adjustment. Patients that ignore that their bite is off can cause real problems to their dental health.
9. The dentist should take a final x-ray to verify the fit is excellent.
10. The patient then should schedule a follow up continuing care appointment.
11. If the patient feels that their floss is catching on an edge around the crown or the floss shreds, the patient should make a follow up appointment and the crown should be reevaluated by the dentist. This could be a sign of problems with the crown.
12. The patient should eat a diet low in refined sugars. This is important for the dental and overall health of the patient.
If a patient needs a crown, I would assume that the patient has or has had a high risk of dental decay. In this case, follow up appointments are extremely important. If something starts to go wrong we want to be able to catch it early. Regular cleanings as well as brushing and flossing at home are also very important for the health of all your teeth including your crowns.
Most patients choose to have porcelain crowns. These crowns are beautiful and natural in appearance and are kind to the dental tissues. The disadvantage is a small percent of porcelain crowns do break or fracture. This should be taken into consideration when getting a new crown.
To sum up, crowns usually need to replaced at some point, but the patient can do a lot to preserve the health and longevity of their crowns. First, choose a dentist that abides by all of the guidelines stated above. Second, take responsibility for your dental health. Have regular cleanings, excellent home care and diet, and follow up on any and all concerns related to your crown.

A Natural Story Teller

2010-05-04T12:41:00.001-07:00

Ever since he was little, my son James has always loved to have stories told to him. Recently he needed to have some dental treatment so our newest team member, Katlyn, stayed late to assist me in doing his treatment. My son asked Katlyn to tell him a story to distract him during his procedure and she happily complied. Wow! For the full hour she told him a great story that kept his mind occupied during his care. The story started and ended in Australia with stops in Europe and Africa. She drew a mental picture of all the characters. I have to tell you, I can't wait for the sequel! I hope you all get a chance to meet her and maybe even hear one of her stories; she assists me in the afternoons if you want to make an appointment while she is here :). She has been a great addition to our team. Thank you Katlyn!

A Wonderful Laser Experience

2010-05-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

I rarely see children under eight years old in my practice, but recently a new patient came into our office and asked if I would look at her almost five year old son. She had been hoping to find her son a dentist with a holistic philosophy who could treat him with a laser using no anesthetic. In my office I use the Waterlase Turbo Laser, with which I am able to do treatment with no anesthetic with little or no pain; so I agreed to see her son for one appointment to see how he would respond to the treatment.
I am happy to say the appointment went wonderfully! The five year old little boy sat in my chair very still and the cavity was quickly and easily cleaned with the laser. He told me it didn't hurt at all. The little boy did such a great job, I felt he needed a little reward. I found out that he loves legos, and being a parent myself, I know what legos mean to a five year old. Kendra, my office manager, ordered him a Star Wars lego kit, and we had it all wrapped up and waiting for him at his next appointment. When he opened it he was beside himself. He had the biggest grin and his whole body was shaking with excitement! He ran around the office giving hugs to all of us. His second and third appointments went equally as well, even with having decay right down to the nerve he said he had no pain.
What in the past had been a stressful appointment for a child, my team and myself, ended up being a joy beyond compare. I wish I had a video of the whole experience. I feel so much gratitude to all the people at Biolase for creating this incredible tool for doing dentistry faster, easier and better.

A Dentist's Point Of View

2010-04-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across an article by Reader's Digest Magazine entitled, '50 Secrets From Real Dentists', and although I can't say I agreed with all of the comments, especially the ones promoting amalgam fillings, I did appreciate quite a few of their expressions and I thought I would pass them along to you.

-Dental Misconceptions-

"Some truly educated people think that if nothing in their mouth hurts, they're fine. High cholesterol doesn't hurt, either, but it's a big problem. I honestly think that the general population doesn't understand that their mouth is part of their body." -Danine Fresch Gray, DDS, general dentist, Arlington, Virginia

"If your hands bled when you washed them, you'd run to the doctor. But in the public's mind, bleeding gums are okay. Unless you're really whaling away with your brush, if your gums bleed even a little, that's periodontal disease, period." -Ron Schefdore, DMD, general dentist, Chicago, Illinois

"The advice to see your dentist twice a year applies only if you have healthy gums. Most people don't." -Chris Kammer. DDS, cosmetic dentist, Valencia, California

"A mouthwash with alcohol dries out your mouth- you'll smell nice and minty for a half hour, but then the bad breath comes back worse than ever." -Gary Herskovits, DDS, family dentist, Brooklyn, New York

"There is a limit to what toothpaste can do. New whitening formula? It can get rid of surface stains, but it can't whiten like a bleach." -Careen Young, DDS, prosthodontist, Beverly Hills, California

"I have to extract a lot of baby teeth that are abscessed or heavily decayed. Parents think there is no reason to pay attention to baby teeth because they fall out. But when a tooth comes out prematurely, other teeth crowd in to fill up the space. Without the right treatment, it turns into a mess." -Paul Hettinger, DMD, general dentist, Orlando, Florida

-Dental Statistics-

"When someone meets you for the first time, the first thing they notice is eyes. Second is teeth and third is hair. But people spend way more money on their hair than their teeth." -Damain Dachowski, DMD, general dentist, Horsham, Pennsylvania

"Proper oral hygiene requires ten minutes of brushing and flossing every day. The average adult spends two or three minutes total, and kids even worse." -Joel Slaven, DDS, general dentist, Middleton, Wisconsin

"Kids with dental problems often struggle in school. They're distracted and easily agitated. Teachers will say they have behavior problems, but they really have toothaches." -Winifred J. Brooker, DDS, pediatric dentist, Owings Mills, Maryland

"Misaligned teeth can cause migraine headaches. If we can align the teeth and fix the bite, the pain often goes away." -Mai-Ly Ramirez, DDS, general dentist, San Francisco, California

"The electronic toothbrush is one of the best things ever to happen to dentistry. The newer ones replicate professional cleaning- they won't reach much below the gum line, but they're far superior to regular toothbrushes." -Danine Fresch Gray, DDS

"One of the first signs of diabetes is bleeding gums. I started taking blood samples from all my patients with bleeding gums and bone loss around the teeth and discovered that many of them were diabetic or prediabetic." -Ron Schefdore, DMD

"The bacteria that cause cavities can be spread from mother to baby through saliva. If you have poor dental health and you taste your baby's food and then pop the same spoon into his mouth, you're putting him at risk." -Mark Helpin, DMD, pediatric dentist, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"I call soda pop the liquid chain saw. It cuts through teeth. And it's not just the sugar- it's the acid." -Chris Kammer, DDS

-Dental Tips-

"I wish people still used the Waterpik [a water-shooting device that was popular in the 1970's]. Each tooth is surrounded by a putrid, germy moat of saliva. If you replace that moat everyday, you'll go a long way toward keeping your mouth clean and your gums healthy." -Chris Kammer, DDS

"I tell nervous patients that we can give them the sedative triazolam an hour before their appointment- they just need to have someone else drive. It works so well that sometimes they don't remember the appointment." -Chris Kammer, DDS

"If you want to reduce the bad bacteria in your mouth, you should be all over xylitol [a sugar substitute found in chewing gum]. It changes the chemistry of your mouth. Six or seven pieces of xylitol gum every day will help keep cavities away." -Chris Krammer, DDS

-Insurance-

"A few decades ago, most insurance plans would cover up to $1,000 or $1,500 in dental bills every year. Today, a single crown can cost that much, but most policies still have the same limit. People are getting teeth pulled that could be fixed because they can't afford to pay for the work." -Bryan Tervo, DDS, expert at www.justanswer.com

"If you're missing teeth, chances are that your insurance company won't cover implants- only one out of twenty-two insurance companies I deal with covers them, even though they're better than dentures in every way." -Joel Slaven, DDS

"Most people without insurance don't go to a dentist until they're in a tragic situation. They could wind up needing $20,000 worth of work." -Paul Hettinger, DMD

Welcome to my blog

2010-04-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog. I have decided to use this new avenue of communication in order to pass on helpful information about dentistry and whole body health to my patients, friends and others who decide to read it. I am a strong believer in continuing education and state-of-the-art technology, and now I can pass on what I learn to you.

My mission is to help people heal, so I hope this blog can help you on your way to living the healthiest and happiest life possible!

Thank you,

Richard Stickney DDS

Learning more to help you better

2010-04-01T11:08:00.001-07:00

Last month my assistant Brook and I attended a two day conference on Quantum Reflex Analysis. QRA is a style of energy medicine which involves muscle testing of acupuncture points and meridians. I have attended many of these conferences, but this was Brook's first time attending. The information we receive at these conferences is always evolving, so we are constantly learning new information. We have a number of friends who practice QRA that refer their patients to us for dental evaluation. QRA practitioners believe that dental imbalances and infections can lead to other health problems. The founders of QRA are Dr. Bob Marshall and his wife Dr. Forbes. Dr. Marshall is a clinical nutritionist who has an excellent line of health promoting supplements. Dr. Marshall also does a weekly radio show about health and healing through nutrition on KGNW 820 am Saturdays from 1-2 pm pst.

Thank you,

Richard Stickney DDS