It is estimated that approximately 91% of Americans over the age of 20 have experienced a cavity at some point. Furthermore, nearly 30% of Americans over 20 have untreated cavities. These numbers are astonishing considering that preventive care can help avoid cavities. So, why do cavities start? Enamel is the Strongest Substance The outer layer … Read more
As we wrapped up National Dental Hygiene Month in October, it seemed fitting to follow up with information about the different stages of gum disease. As your hygienist has probably discussed with you, we take measurements of your gums at least every 12 months to help us determine what stage of health your gums and … Read more
Hello everyone! Just a little update since we were gone. While we were on shutdown for almost 2 months, we remained open on an emergency basis. Dr. Birch, as well as one assistant, and our office manager, were here a few days a week seeing patients who were having dental emergencies in hopes of keeping … Read more
For a dentist, there are very few things that are harder to decide than whether to save or remove a problem tooth. Losing a tooth can potentially have a major impact on a patient’s ability to chew. A lost front tooth can have a major impact on self-image and confidence. So why does the dentist … Read more
Oh Floss How I Hate You So!!! Flossing is probably not on anyone’s top 10 list of “Favorite Things to Do” and we get that. So why does your hygienist and dentist keep telling you that you need to do it? Today we will go over four common questions that patients have in the hopes … Read more
As many of us know, due to advancements in medical technology we are living longer than we ever have. By 2030 the last of the Baby Boomers will turn 65 and older individuals will account for 20% of our population. This is good, but also presents other issues for us to deal with as we … Read more
Psoriasis affects 8 million Americans and over 125 million individuals worldwide. Psoriasis is the result of the immune system having a negative response and reproducing skin cells too quickly. Areas of red, thickened, and scaly patches of skin appear as a result of the body not shedding the skin cells fast enough. These patchy areas … Read more
Summer is here and many of you might be considering tooth whitening. Most of the time whitening is perfectly safe when following directions, although there are certain aspects to consider. We’re going to discuss the different options for tooth whitening as well as answer some commonly asked questions. Is it safe to whiten my teeth? … Read more
Do you have any missing teeth? Maybe more than one? Teeth require extractions usually for one of two reasons. Either due to extensive decay or due to progressive bone loss resulting from periodontal disease. Considering nearly half of our adult population struggles with periodontal disease, it is not surprising that nearly 178 million Americans are … Read more
This month we’re kicking off a new blog series! Every other month through 2019 we will highlight a different autoimmune disease and the impacts it has on oral health, and vice versa. Autoimmune diseases are wide-ranging and affect many different systems of the body. Over 23.5 million people Their commonality though, is that the body … Read more
