Facial Protection: The Dental Connection

Every year the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, the Academy of Sports Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons combine their forces to educate and remind us of the importance of protecting our face and teeth against impacts and injuries.

Wearing a helmet can save your life and prevent devastating physical damage in a variety of situations, from playing football to riding a bicycle.  According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, helmets reduce the risk of various head injuries by as much as 85 percent.

To prevent dental injuries, a mouthguard can protect you against a variety of dental injuries, such as cracked, broken, or knocked-out teeth.  The American Dental Association states that mouth guards play an essential role in preventing up to 200,000 dental injuries each year.  Although the "boil-and-bite" guards are cheaper, they tend to wear out quickly, interfere with proper breathing, and provide uneven degrees of cushion against impacts.

To learn more about an affordable custom-fit athletic mouthguard or if you are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123! Play safe!

God Bless,
DRT

Memorial Day 2014!

Memorial Day is not only a federal holiday in the United States, but it is a day of observance and remembrance of those who died in service to our country.  Originally known as Decoration Day, this solemn day has been marked on calendars since the end of the American Civil War as a day to commemorate both the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died in the war.

Although marking the graves of fallen soldiers has been practiced throughout history, it wasn't until 1890 that every state in our country was observing a single day of decoration to honor their sacrifice. In 1967, the name was formally changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, in order to encompass all fallen American soldiers in all wars and conflicts.

Today, while there is certainly an air of remembrance on Memorial Day, it has become more a day of spending time with family, friends, and loved ones. This day is also heralded as the start of summer, with many schools finishing for the year around this time.

From community parades, backyard cook-outs, fireworks to formal ceremonies, Memorial Day is commemorated in many different ways.  No matter how you choose to spend this day, take a moment to remember all of those who have lost their lives in an effort to preserve our freedom!

God Bless,
DRT

Mother's Day: A Special Wish!

"Motherhood: All love begins and ends there."                   -Robert Browning

We would like to take this moment to thank all of the great moms out there for being so great during their children's visit's to our office!  Whether it's driving their kids to regularly scheduled appointments or for "being there" while their child receives dental treatment, the moms who come to our office are all stellar individuals, so our entire staff would like you to know that we appreciate you all!

Happy Mother's Day and enjoy your special day!

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

God Bless,
DRT

The Hard Facts: The Dental Connection!

What is as brittle as glass and at the same time, the hardest substance in your body?  Your tooth enamel!!  Each time that you bite down, it handles the equivalent of 160 pounds of pressure, time after time after time.  Think about how often you bite down during your lifetime. It's crazy!

It's an engineering marvel.  Enamel is actually made up of a dense forest of long rods.  These rods start crisscrossing each other as they go deeper into the tooth, diffusing the pressure. It's like sprawling your body out flat to crawl over an ice-covered pond, spreading the pressure over a wider area.

Enamel: Built For Pressure...But Not Erosion!

As strong as your enamel is, it does not deal well with acid and bacteria.  It needs our help for that!

• 4 WAYS THAT AFFECT ENAMEL STRENGTH
• Acidic breakdown from pop, fruit juices, and sports drinks.
• Abrasion from rough brushing and tooth-whitening products.
• Bad habits loke tooth-grinding.
• High sugar-and-starch diets, which create acid byproducts.

Your Enamel Is Finite: So Treat It Well!

As amazing as your enamel is, it's one of the only body parts of your body that is unable to regenerate itself because it's one of the only parts of your body that is not comprised of living cells. So protect your enamel by brushing regularly, flossing, and keeping your regularly scheduled checkups.

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

God Bless,

DRT

April & Oral Cancer Awareness: The Dental Connection!

With April drawing to a close, we wanted to take one final opportunity to reflect on Oral Cancer Awareness.  Nearly 40,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, and more than 8,000 die every year from the disease!  Regular dental visits to our office can be the first line of defense against oral cancer, by identifying early warning signs of the disease, or by helping you with preventive care tips to lower the chances of developing it.

While there is no way to predict exactly which individuals will get oral cancer, there are some potential causes you should know about--because in some causes, you can minimize these risk factors:

• AGE. Most patients are over the age of 40.
• TOBACCO.  All tobacco products increase the risk.
• ALCOHOL.  Excessive consumption, especially in combination with tobacco use.
• INFECTIONS.  Persistent viral infections, such as HPV16.
• DIET.  Low consumption of fruits and vegetables increase the risk.

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

God Bless,

DRT

Spring Allergies: The Dental Connection!

Spring brings many allergens not only to Oklahoma but all across the country.   With the awakening of the flowers and trees from a longer than usual Winter, noses are starting to be more sensitive to pollen and other allergens that are floating around.  As Spring continues to burst forth, we usually have an influx of patients that drop by with "sensitive" teeth. Although the teeth are mostly fine, quite often what happens is that some of the tooth roots lie in close proximity to the sinus cavity.  When the sinuses are inflamed and irritated due to Spring allergens, it can make teeth ache.

If you experience any of these dental sensitivities or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Spring & Your New Smile: The Dental Connection!

Spring is in the air! Soon the Tulips will be blooming and the world will awaken from its winter sleep!  Since springtime also conjures up thoughts of the traditional "spring cleaning," now is also a great time to remember to call our office for your dental cleaning.  After all, studies have shown that there could be a link between proper oral and dental care and heart disease, diabetes, and even stroke.  Regular visits to our office can keep harmful bacteria from entering your body by removing plaque build up.

Another great benefit to scheduling your 6-month visit is the opportunity for us to screen for other potential health hazards.  Spruce up your smile with a Spring cleaning! If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT