Dr. Thomas Attends Dental Update!

If you know Dr. Thomas, then you know that his goal is to offer our patients the experience and expertise that they can trust.  We at Thomas Family Dentistry are a dynamic team of caring individuals dedicated to unsurpassed excellence in the dental profession.

When Dr. Thomas is not in the office helping our patients perfect their smile, he enjoys attending conferences, meetings and seminars.  This past weekend, Dr. Thomas attended an educational event in Branson, Missouri covering the latest dental information concerning your dental health.  The educational forum was presented by Dr. Jim Drummond and Dr. Doug Damm, two of our nation's premier oral pathologists and faculty members at the University of Kentucky Dental School.  The discussion topics that were presented covered the most current information on a broad range of areas from oral cancer to the dental implications related to the popular osteoporosis prevention drug, Boniva.

If you have an appointment scheduled with us soon, we invite you to ask Dr. Thomas about his Branson trip, including what he learned and how continuing education and the acquisition of new dental technology helps the entire dental team at Thomas Family Dentistry serve you more effectively!

May: The Dental Connection!

Did you know that the month of May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month?  In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into our lives.  The reminder is even more significant today as people are more distracted by television, social networking, video games and working more hours.  Living an active lifestyle can improve physical and mental health, productivity and overall well-being.  The best part?  It does not have to take a lot of time or effort.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these guidelines for your reference. The guidelines call for people to exercise one hour every day engaging in moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and fifteen minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Thomas Family Dentistry, we always encourage our patients to exercise or participate in sports.  However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when doing so.  To learn more about how often you should exercise, we recommend that you check out other helpful tips at the American Heart Association.

God Bless,
DRT

Foods: The Dental Connection!

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is far more common than you might think.  Each year, new studies continue to make the link between gum disease and the effects that it can have on the heart.  Our staff at Thomas Family Dentistry have been helping spread the word! One of the simplest steps to achieving healthier gums can be your diet.  We recently found an article outlining several options for healthier gums.  Included among the suggestions were:

• Raisins
• Green Tea
• Whole Grains

In addition to these foods being gums-friendly, they are healthy foods in general, and a great option to begin integrating into your diet.  We hope these tips help!  If you have any further questions concerning your diet and dental health, please call us at 918-455-0123.

Have a great day!

God Bless,

DRT

Social Networking: Your Dental Connection!

At Thomas Family Dentistry, we embrace technology, whether it's through innovative dental treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook Fan Page! As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether by getting the word out about our dental office specials and trivia contests on facebook, updated topics of interest on our Blog, or highlighting dental videos on our YouTube channel.  We are grateful that so many of our patients consistently check out the social networking sites of Thomas Family Dentistry! We enjoy seeing all of your comments and developing new relationships with each one of our valued patients!

So, stay tuned and stay informed,

God Bless,
DRT

The Same Ol' Grind: The Dental Connection!

Bruxism, also called clenching or grinding, starts early in life while the permanent teeth are still in the process of developing.  15% of all children grind or clench their teeth. As the stresses of life mount, it seems that many people deal with those stresses while they are sleeping.  90% of individuals that clench and grind while asleep have no conscience remembrance of the habit.  It is not uncommon for a grinder (men and women, equally) to experience 2 millimeters of enamel loss by their mid-twenties.  What's more concerning, nighttime grinding can occur as often as 40 minutes for every hour of sleep, producing up to 250 pounds of force per square inch.  That is enough pressure to crack a walnut!

     Consequences:

• Front teeth wear down and become flat and even in length
• Cracks and broken fillings, eventually leading to nerve damage
• Teeth ground down to the dentin, causing sensitivity to heat and cold
• Gum recession, due to pressure on the gum line
• Loose teeth and gum pockets, caused by the back and forth "rocking" effect
• Headaches and aching jaws due to overuse of muscles

If you have any of the signs or symptoms of bruxism, call our office at 918-455-0123.  A simple, painless custom nightguard appliance can be made to protect your teeth from the adverse effects of grinding.

God Bless,
DRT
 

Your Easter Basket: The Dental Connection!

According to the National Confectioners Association, Americans spend more than $1.5 billion on Easter candy each year, second only to the $1.77 billion spent on Halloween.  This means that on average, each American will eat the equivalent of 25 pounds of candy, plus an additional 2 pounds of gum each year.  Our office  encourages moderation to parents and caregivers.  We strongly encourage you to become an educated consumer and monitor the amount of candy that your children consume. If they do eat candy, make every effort to confine it to mealtimes.  Providing a healthy diet, brushing with fluoride containing toothpaste, and chewing sugar-free gum can also reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Another idea to improve the "dental health" of your Easter Holiday activities is to modify the treats that you (or the Easter Bunny) include in the Easter baskets.  There are many great alternatives to give children that do not contribute to cavities or to childhood obesity.  Some great ideas include giving some arts and craft supplies, music CDS, iTunes gift cards, books, and electronic gadgets!

If you have any questions concerning you or your children's dental health, give our office a call at 918-455-0123.  Have a great Easter and may we never forget the true meaning of Easter-- Christ is Risen!

God Bless,
DRT

Your Best Social Asset: The Dental Connection!

For over 25 years, Thomas Family Dentistry has served Broken Arrow and the surrounding communities, and it is a great joy for our office to know that we are able to help our friends and community members maintain good oral health and bright, beautiful smiles!

And speaking of smiling, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, "If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?"

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth!  In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset.  Respondents said that straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person's smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

We invite you to contact us at 918-455-0123 for your complete dental care.  Smiles are always at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to the many smiles we have yet to share!

God Bless,
DRT