Monday, January 30, 2012

READERS' CHOICE 2012: The Dental Connection!

Dr. Thomas was chosen by you as the 2012 Broken Arrow Ledger's Readers' Choice Award Recipient as Broken Arrow's Number One Dentist!
Dr. Thomas was raised in Russellville, Arkansas, at the time, a small town in the Northwest area of the Natural State, where he graduated high school. He enjoyed music, biking and hiking in the many great State Park trails around the area hills and mountains. He started his college education in Chemistry in Arkansas. He transferred after his Sophomore year to Oral Roberts University where he obtained a B.S. in Biomedical Chemistry.

During his junior year of college, he applied and was accepted to dental school via the early acceptance program for the Class of 1986.  As part of his dental education, Dr. Thomas completed a U.S. Public Health Service dental clinic rotation at the Claremore Indian Hospital, which influenced him to begin his dental career in public health.  Dr. Thomas received a commission as a Lieutenant and spent the next five years working for the USPHS being first assigned to the Indian Health Service clinics in Oklahoma and then as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard.

In 1991, Dr Thomas married his fellow classmate, Sherri, a medical doctor, and returned to Broken Arrow, where he bought an existing practice from a retiring dentist.  After practicing for about 12 years in the original site, Dr. Thomas built a new, larger, state of the art dental office in 2003.  His commitment to the community was evident when Dr. Thomas founded the popular  “A Minute For Your Mouth” radio show as a means of elevating the community’s dental awareness. With over 25 years of dental experience, Dr. Thomas has additional continuing education in areas including orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and oral medicine.

Thank you for voting us Broken Arrow's 2012 number one dentist!  Thanks for your trust over the past 20 years!

God Bless,

Friday, January 27, 2012

Avoiding Fuzz: The Dental Connection!

Plaque, that sticky bacterial film that coats your teeth and makes them feel "fuzzy", can be reduced to a minimum by taking a few simple steps!  We at Thomas Family Dentistry ran across an article from WebMD related to five ways to avoid plaque and thought we would pass it along.

  • Brush Regularly.  Brushing two minutes twice daily is vital to a healthy mouth.
  • Floss Daily.  Flossing removes bacteria between teeth and at or below the gum line.
  • Dental Visits.  Seeing the dentist regularly lowers your cavity risk.
  • Fruits & Vegetables.  Apples, carrots and other raw fruits and veggies can reduce plaque.
  • Sweets.  Of course, bacteria in plaque consume sugar to produce acid that can damage teeth.  

Taking these five steps can reduce bacterial plaque and improve your oral health.  If you have any questions, give us a call at 918-455-0123 or ask us on Facebook!

God Bless, 

Friday, January 20, 2012

A New Start: The Dental Connection!

The new year brings new opportunities for you to invest in your oral health!  Whether that means whitening your teeth, having them cleaned, restoring a crown, or just getting a check-up, it's a step in the right direction!  Get the year started off right with a visit!  We at Thomas Family Dentistry can help you achieve your health and dental goals in 2012!

If you have dental insurance, it is also very likely that the new year has brought a new set of maximum insurance dollars that you have to spend for the year.  So call us at 918-455-0123 and let us help you maximize your dental insurance!

God Bless,
DRT

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Barometer of Health: The Dental Connection!

Dental health is closely connected to your overall health.  It is also known that the mouth can oftentimes be the first place to indicate signs of health issues in other parts of the body. Recently, I read a helpful article that outlined common warning signs that indicate it might be time to check in with our team at Thomas Family Dentistry.

  • Flat, worn teeth plus headaches
    • Can be a sign of stress, which can lead to grinding
  • Crackling, crumbling teeth
    • Can be a sign of acid reflux. Other signs are heartburn and dry mouth
  • Sores that never heal
    • Can be a sign of oral cancer. Other signs are persistent, unexplained bleeding or numbness
  • Gums that over grow your teeth
    • Can be a sign of medication problems. 
  • Dry mouth
    • Can be a sign of Sjogren's syndrome. Other signs are dry eyes and other moisture glands
    • Can be a sign of diabetes. Other signs are excessive thirst, frequent urination & weight loss

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or have any questions concerning your dental health, please call us at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

Monday, January 9, 2012

Random Acts 2012: The Dental Connection!

Seems like everyone makes the traditional New Year's Resolutions like lose weight and exercise more. Or of course, the first resolution topping everyone's list is to keep to a comprehensive regimen of improved oral home care with routine visits twice a year to Thomas Family Dentistry!

We have all had a lot of stuff to deal with over the past few years and things may stay challenging for a bit longer.  So to improve the quality of our lives, here is one suggestion that all of us can accomplish this year:

Perform Random Acts Of Kindness whenever you can!

It doesn't have to be anything spectacular. We at Thomas Family Dentistry ran across some ideas that were so simple that we all can be doing them regularly: hold open a door for a stranger; help someone with their grocery bags just because you have a free hand; or give a hug or compliment to a friend who needs it.

It's just a thought and it's up to you. Random Acts--resolutions that can last the whole year...Also remember that Random Acts Of Kindness Week is always the second full week of February!

Resolve to be a blessing!

God Bless,
DRT

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Changes: The Dental Connection!!

With the start of the New Year, many changes seem to occur like receiving new phones and new numbers!  Although many of our valued patients connect with us on our Facebook page, our entire team at Thomas Family Dentistry  also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we are able to reach you. Thanks and Have a Great New Year!

God Bless,
DRT

Monday, January 2, 2012

Resolutions: The Dental Connection!

Many people find it difficult to keep New Year's resolutions!  Our team at Thomas Family Dentistry believe that the key to sticking to a goal is to pick one that is both reasonable and attainable.  If you didn't pick a New Year's resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

For example, resolve to brush your teeth twice daily and floss each day.  Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too!

Share with us your resolutions here on our BLOG or on our Facebook page.  Whatever your New Year's Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2012!

Happy New Year!!

God Bless,
DRT