The answer to this question depends on which state you are in. Each state has different regulations as to what dental assistants can do. Most states allow every dental assistant to do some basic things. These include… Assisting the dentist with suction and instruments Taking impressions of your teeth Making temporary crowns Taking x-rays (if […]
One of the earliest memories I have of dental offices isn’t of getting my teeth cleaned or the noises but rather that pungent smell! You know what I’m talking about. You open the door to the dental office and it hits you. It smells like some terrible combination of heavy duty cleaners, mint, and a […]
Once you decide to take your child to the dentist the first decision you’ve got to make is whether you should go to a general dentist or a pediatric dentist. I’m here to give you some more information so you can make a good decision. So first of all, what is a pediatric dentist? A […]
When you go to the dentist do you always dread the question, “So have you been flossing?”? You can lie and tell them you have been (but they’ll know you haven’t) or you can tell the truth and you’ll get “the speech” for the 100th time. Or do you floss but but still feel like […]
Ever wondered when exactly you should start using fluoride toothpaste while brushing your kids teeth? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many parents have no idea when they should start. The answer to this question will be different for each child and family. I’ll help you figure out what works best for you. Before we get […]
One common question I get, especially from some of my older patients, is why they have dark spaces in between their teeth. Dentists usually call these “black triangles” and they tend to appear as you get older but can appear at any age. Black triangles can appear for several reasons. Bone loss around your teeth. […]
Whether you’ve just started wearing a nightguard, snoring appliance, or TMJ appliance, you’ll likely run into a couple of problems that may make it difficult to get used to wearing the appliance. The main reason why most of these appliances aren’t effective is that people don’t take the time to get used to wearing them. […]
Gagging can cause people to have a lot of anxiety about dental treatment, especially impressions of your teeth. It is still an unfortunate part of dentistry that we have to take trays filled with goop and put them in your mouth for several minutes. This can be challenging even for people without a bad gag […]
It’s very common today that wisdom teeth are taken out before they have come in or caused any problems. Ever wondered why this is? Most people don’t have room in their mouth for them. Contrary to popular belief they don’t cause any crowding of your other teeth but they do have a tendency to come […]
You’ve got terrible tooth, TMJ, or gum pain! You’ll do anything to make it go away right? I’ve seen people try some really crazy, dangerous, and wildly ineffective things to deal with it. In no particular order, here are some things that you really shouldn’t try for dealing with your dental pain. Put aspirin next […]
