Mary R. Isaacs, D.M.D., P.A.
| Visit Our Site | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | February 2012 |
Office News
Our goal is to develop a strong partnership with every patient. When you understand the importance of your dental health, we can help you maintain a healthy mouth, as well as treat the causes and symptoms of any dental condition.
We invite you to read our latest SmileLink newsletter and to check out our website often for new information, or contact our office with any questions or concerns. Working together, we can help you achieve a lifetime of healthy and attractive teeth and gums.
Featured Article |
SmileLink Articles |
A Man With A Plan
We want you to receive the oral health care you need and deserve. Healthcare professionals are here to help you, but they don't always receive enough information. It is always a good plan to ask questions during your office visits. Sometimes it is hard to know what exactly to ask. Missed opportunities can become a headache for you and your dental team. To help you, we have put together some sample questions.
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The Golf Rule
"Play it as it lies" may be a good rule for a game of golf, but not for dental care. Today, you needn't settle for anything less than the best condition for your pearly whites. For decayed, damaged, or worn teeth, several solutions are available, ranging from fillings to inlays, onlays, or crowns. If the tooth is too damaged for a filling, but not so damaged that it requires a crown, an inlay or onlay may be the best solution. Similar to a filling, an inlay fits in the groove between the cusps of your tooth. The cusp is the pointed part on the top of the tooth. An onlay covers more of the tooth's biting surface, including the groove and at least one cusp.
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Good Questions, Good Answers
The first day on a new job can be stressful. So much paperwork to read and sign. Employee handbooks, medical plans to choose, dental plan packets, privacy forms. Phew, the list seems never-ending. You likely know how a new employee feels. You don't always take the time to thoroughly read every paper placed in front of you for your signature, and this lapse could be costly—literally! One of the most important decisions you will make, besides accepting that wonderful job offer, is deciding which healthcare insurance plans are best for you. If you have ever purchased a book because the title and book cover were interesting and then discovered you didn't like the story, the same can happen when you don't read insurance plans before signing on the dotted line.
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Toothpaste Alert!
We feel it is necessary to inform our patients about some dental products that are potentially harmful. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that several toothpastes contain an ingredient that could poison anyone who used them.
The FDA is particularly concerned about children in general, as well as children who swallow the toothpaste instead of spitting it out, and anyone with kidney or liver disease.
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In a Clench
Did Rip Van Winkle Wear a Nightguard?
How well did you sleep last night? Before you settle down for "a long winter’s nap" to have that "midsummer’s night dream," you might want to see if these questions apply to you:
• Do you wake up with an earache or headache?
• Do your jaw muscles feel sore or tight?
• Do your teeth or gums feel sensitive or tender?
• Do your teeth appear worn down or chipped?
• Do you frequently have unexplained facial pain?
• Does the inside of your cheek feel chewed up?
• Does anyone in your household (or college dorm room) complain that your teeth grinding wakes them up?
• Do you wake up tired?
Getting a good night's sleep
These are symptoms of bruxism. "Bruxism" means to grind, gnash, or clench the teeth. This condition can affect all ages. In fact, 50 to 96 percent of adults and 15 percent of children may show signs of bruxism. The sleeper might have 25 bruxism episodes each night.
An episode typically lasts four- to-five seconds, but those few seconds add up to severe dental damage to the teeth or jaw joint. There are several theories about the causes of bruxism, but stress is often a contributing factor. If bruxism is not treated, your teeth, fillings, or crowns may become worn down. ...