All dentists, hygienists and dental assistants are required to take regular continuing education in order to maintain a license. At Douglas Dental we take that requirement very seriously. We see the benefit of continuing education for gaining information on new techniques and finding “pearls” that can help us improve the patient experience and outcomes of […]
Category: Dentistry
Do You Know When to Change Your Toothbrush?
Flared bristles are a given that it ‘s time to change your brush and also means you are brushing too hard. Indicator brushes will start to fade when it is time to change your brush. Even though we give you a “free” brush, be sure to change it every 3 months or sooner to get […]
Tooth Pain Emergency!
When toothache pain strikes, most people’s first thought is to call a dentist. Unfortunately, there is an increasing trend for people to visit the Emergency Room (ER) for toothache pain. The American Dental Association recently reported in their newsletter that “The deterioration in private and public dental benefits coverage for adults has clearly created significant […]
DOES MY INSURANCE COVER THAT???
When we propose treatment for a patient, the most common questions we get are “Will it hurt?” and “Does my insurance cover that/How much will it cost?” Well, in regards to the first question, we use all resources available to make all procedures comfortable. This includes topical/local anesthetics, Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and various other […]
Tooth Sensitivity
Most people have experienced tooth sensitivity at some point in their lifetime. The causes of tooth sensitivity vary. One of the most common causes is recession of the gum tissue with root exposure. Gum recession can occur as a result of normal oral hygiene such as brushing. If the tissue is thin in certain areas, […]
News on Dental Decay
WHO Channel 13 here in Des Moines recently did a segment on dental decay. The basis of the story was that a patient had gone to a dentist and was told they needed 12 fillings. This person then obtained a second opinion and was told that no fillings were necessary. The segment was fairly well […]
Soda is Now the Most Consumed Beverage in the US
Soda is now the most consumed beverage in the United States. The average American consumes over 40 gallons of soda per year. This staggering amount of soda intake has obvious health consequences ranging from obesity to osteoporosis. From a dental perspective, the deleterious effects of high soda intake can be devastating. The acidic nature of […]
That Oral Surgeon in Oklahoma
There was an article recently released about an Oral Surgeon in Oklahoma. The article tells of numerous violations of infection control procedures by him and his staff. The violations resulted in possible exposure of hundreds to thousands of patients to blood borne pathogens. Obviously there is no excuse for such disregard for infection control. It […]
Dental Anxiety
Are you anxious about seeing the dentist? Dental Anxiety is very common. As a dentist, it is a daily occurrence to see patients who are fearful of being in our chair. Many people allow the fear of seeing a dentist to prevent them from seeking care until an issue becomes an emergency. Waiting too long […]
Proper Brushing
Knowing how to brush your teeth properly is an important skill that should be learned at an early age. Unfortunately, many children and adults are not brushing properly. Here are some tips for proper brushing: -Parents should help children brush. This is especially important with young children. -Brush for 2MINUTES, 2 TIMES A DAY! Many […]