Contact Lens: The Dental Connection!

Dental Veneers are a way to correct and transform your smile by using "contact lens" for your teeth. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or ceramic material that are bonded to the front of the teeth.   They are strong and durable, look and feel like natural teeth, and improve your smile.

Dental veneers can help with cosmetic and dental health issues. They can treat multiple problems at once.  Some of the common reasons that individuals choose veneers are to to close gaps and spaces between the teeth, fix minor alignment issues, change the overall shape and appearance of a tooth, whiten a smile by covering stained or discolored teeth, and cover chipped or cracked teeth. If you have teeth that are already worn down and weakened, veneers can also help prevent further damage by covering them with a thin tooth-colored shell.

If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT & DRR

Your Experience: The Dental Connection!

At Thomas Family Dentistry, we have been creating beautiful smiles for over 30 years! And with the recent addition of Dr Riddel to our team, we have a combined 34 years of experience! Whether you have visited our office for a week or for your entire life, your experience is very important to us!  In fact, we encourage you to leave a few words for us. We look forward to reading your feedback!

God Bless,
DRT & DRR

New Year: The Dental Connection!

Now that another year is in full swing, we at Thomas Family Dentistry thought that we would like to remind our patients to practice good oral hygiene to keep your smile looking its best!  Of course, this includes brushing and flossing on a regular basis, waiting about twenty minutes and then brushing after consuming foods that can stain your teeth and finally, visiting our office every six months or as recommended.

The American Dental Association also recommends the following for ideal oral hygiene:

• Brush two minutes twice daily with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.
• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months.
• Clean between your teeth with floss in areas where bristles don't reach.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Visit our office on a regular basis for professional cleanings and exams.

Lastly, a great reason to smile is this: recent studies have shown that smiling can actually help you live longer!  If you need an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT & DRR

HPV and Oral Cancer: The Dental Connection!

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is best known as a sexually transmitted infection.  In fact, in the United States, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.  In addition to increasing the risk for cervical cancer, HPV is a contributing factor in some cases of oral cancer.  Each year an estimated 1,700 women and 6,700 men develop oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the tongue and throat.

The Oral Cancer Connection

There are more than 40 strains of HPV that live in the skin and mucosa.  Of the strains of oral HPV, only one, called HPV16, increases the risk of oral cancer.  One study reported that it takes about 15 years on average after exposure to HPV to develop into oral cancer.  Thankfully, this makes it a relatively slow-growing form of cancer.

Prevention

Scientists continue to study how HPV infections lead to oral cancer, so little is known about the progression of the disease.  However, one recent study found that poor oral health, including gum disease and poor oral hygiene, is associated with the oral cancer risk.  Thus, being vigilant about brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and staying committed to the recommended twice a year professional exams and cleanings, may reduce HPV-related oral cancer.  The HPV vaccine can also protect against the oral form of the virus as well.

If you have any other questions about the connection between HPV and Oral Cancer, or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

October: The Dental Connection!

Now that October is wrapping up, it's time to take one final look at one of the most important celebrations related to Fall, National Dental Hygiene Month!  The American Dental Association attempts to raise public awareness about good oral health during this time each year.   Their national campaign focuses on BRUSH, FLOSS, RINSE, CHEW!

Remember to brush two minutes twice daily, make flossing a consistent and daily routine, rinse your mouth with mouthwash to freshen your breath, and chew sugar-free gum to help fight tooth decay!  More evidence continues to surface related to the important connection between good oral hygiene and the elevated risk for heart disease and stroke.  Simply remembering to regularly brush, effectively floss and maintain regular dental cleanings, can significantly reduce the oral bacteria that has been associated with your health!

If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Hitting The Gridiron: The Dental Connection!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!  With the start of football season right around the corner, this great seasonal sport often brings a rise in athletic activities, and with them, a rise in tooth and mouth injuries.  Check out these tips that can keep you safe this football season.

• PROTECTION.  All activities come with some risk of tooth damage.  The easiest way to protect your teeth is to get a simple mouth guard from the sport's store.  A custom guard, provided by our office, can provide a more comfortable fit that is very affordable.
• EMERGENCIES.  If you have a tooth knocked out, carefully place it in liquid, (milk being the very best), and contact an oral surgeon ASAP.  If the tooth is positioned back into place within about 30 minutes, there is an increased survival rate.
• SPORTS DRINKS.  Sports drinks are highly acidic and filled with sugar, which makes them extremely bad for teeth.  Unless you are a professional athlete, plain water is best for hydration.  If you drink a sports drink, it is best to gulp it and rinse your mouth immediately with plain water to rinse off the acid and sugar.
• INVISALIGN ALIGNERS.  Aligners will protect teeth from minor traumas, but High Impact Sports, like football, require a custom guard to provide the most safety from a possible traumatic dental injury.

If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

Smiling & Longevity: The Dental Connection!

According to a recent study, people with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don't!  It has been know for quite some time that positive emotions have been linked to both physical and mental health. Researchers did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from a big smile, a partial smile, or no smile).  The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009.  The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results! Researchers found that the players who were not smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years.  While players with partial smiles lived to be 75, those with big smiles, however, lived to be 79.9 years old.

What can we learn from the study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT