Adult Braces: The Dental Connection!

Have you ever considered having your teeth straightened but felt that you were too old?  Are you dissatisfied with your smile but don't know if braces are the answer for you?  Although orthodontic treatment was conventionally carried out for children, today, braces are a reality at any age.  Adult orthodontics is now possible and age is simply a number now! The age long myth that orthodontics cannot be done on adults is gone now and science has proven that adult orthodontics is very much possible at any age.  Straight teeth are healthy teeth.  Teeth that aren't overly crowded are easier to keep clean.  This means that adult gums will be healthier and this will diminish the chances of decay and early tooth loss.  Teeth that do not line up properly can cause excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue.  This can lead to gum disease and the possible need for dentures.

Call our office at 918-455-0123 for an evaluation at our convenient location in Broken Arrow!  We at Thomas Family Dentistry care about your entire dental health and if you could benefit from braces to improve your smile, we will make sure that you are referred to the best orthodontic practices in our area!

God Bless,
DRT

$1.50: The Dental Connection!

Vending machines are a quick way to satisfy hunger.  You put in $1.50 and you get back a candy bar, bag of chips or even a soda...but that's not all!  Vending machines not only dispense sweet treats and caffeine bursts, but they can also dispense cavities!

Our entire staff at Thomas Family Dentistry want you to keep in mind that when you chow down on that chocolate bar, the bacteria in your mouth have a party feasting on the sugar.  The sugar quickly turns into acid; that's right, ACID!!!  The acid sits on your teeth and eats away at the tooth's natural enamel (the layer that protects your tooth from decay).  When this enamel is dissolved away by the acid on your tooth, you can get a cavity!  Brushing your teeth after eating a sugary treat can help prevent cavities; but before you indulge, remind yourself: "can't brush? Hold the sugar!"

When choosing a snack, consider these nutritional options that will not only satisfy your hunger and that "sweet tooth", but won't cause acid build up that can result in cavities:

• Fresh Fruits (berries, oranges, melon, pears, etc)
• Raw Vegetables (broccoli, celery, carrots, etc)
• Bread
• Pretzels (low salt)
• Milk (low or non-fat)
• Cheese (low or non-fat)
• Nuts and Seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc)
• Sliced Meat

If you have any more questions about cavities or want to learn more about which foods are better for your oral health, give our office a call at 918-455-0123.

Have a great Day!
God Bless,
DRT

Priorities: The Dental Connection!

If you are brushing and flossing on a regular basis, we think that's fantastic!  However, in addition to brushing your teeth a couple of times a day, don't forget that it's also important to visit Thomas Family Dentistry every six months.  Because your dental health is important to us, we would like to remind you to make sure that life's busyness does not prevent you from your regular dental visits.

Regular dental check-ups are important for maintaining good oral health.  During your visit, we can:

• Check for dental problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early

During your oral exam we will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Check-ups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing.  Start the new year off right and if you have not been into our office for a check-up and cleaning in the last six months (or as recommended), then call our office at 918-455-0123 to schedule an appointment.  We look forward to seeing you!

God Bless,
DRT

New Year Plans

With the 2010 Holiday Season over, our team at Thomas Family Dentistry look forward to yet another new year and the opportunities that the next year and next decade hold for each of us!

We thought we'd ask:  what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011?  Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

With the intermittent bouts of wintery mix of weather that infrequently visits us here in Oklahoma, continue to have a safe and Happy New Year!

God Bless,
DRT

Flexible Spending: Your Dental Connection!

Flexible benefits provide eligible employees the right to allocate salary dollars - pretax - towards payment of family health and dental insurance premiums, as well as out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision care and child care expenses. Pre-tax dollars are the real deal! Depending on your tax bracket, you can save up to 40 cents of each pre-tax dollar by not paying Federal, State and Social Security taxes.  This translates into real money in your pocket.  You can save on many approved dental expenses!

Many employers set up Flex plans and dental insurance plan options, so make sure to plan accordingly.  If you need some big dental treatments, setting aside a larger amount can help to cover the dental procedures.  Also, it is always a good idea to choose PPO dental insurance plans that allow you to receive better care.  DMO plans will usually send you to a clinic-based office that can limit the amount of individual time you can spend with the doctor due to the high volume of patients that must be seen.  At Thomas Family Dentistry here in Broken Arrow, each patient has their own individual appointment time in order to give you the best care and time you need.

Call us at 918-455-0123 to ask any questions that you may have about how to use your benefits with our office, set them up with your employer, or how to get re-imbursement from your flex account.  Remember that if you do not use your benefits by the end of each year, you lose them.  Although November is the month that most employers set up the Flex plans and select the next year's dental insurance plans, if you do not use the money in your flexible spending account, you are giving the government free money that you have set aside for yourself!  Also, dental insurance benefits usually start over every year.  If you do not use your dental insurance benefits during the calendar year, you are allowing the dental insurance company to collect your premiums without ever providing you with any dental benefit coverage!

Remember that planning is the key to your dental success.  Keep Smiling!

God Bless,
DRT

New Year's Resolutions: The Dental Connection!

Let's face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year's resolution?  We at Thomas Family Dentistry believe the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable.  If you haven't yet picked a New Year's resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in oral health as well as your overall health too!  Check out these oral health resolutions:

• Resolve to THROW away OLD TOOTHBRUSHES and replace them every 2-3 months
• Resolve to Protect Your Teeth and Gums, which can decrease your risk of coronary disease
• Resolve to BRUSH your teeth twice daily
• Resolve to FLOSS daily

We at Thomas Family Dentistry would love to see what resolutions that you have made or are planning to make.  Share them with us on our Facebook page.  Whatever your New Year's Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2011!

God Bless,
DRT