Jan 2, 2025
Happy New Year! Ready to give your smile a fresh start in 2025? January is the perfect opportunity to give your health and wellness habits an update. As you make your list of resolutions, don’t forget about your teeth! At FDA we often talk about the link between oral health and your overall wellness, which means taking care of your smile is an important part of taking care of yourself. To help make it easy for you, here are 5 healthy habits to incorporate into your 2025 routine.
Drink More Water
Want to feel more energized, boost your mood, and take care of your teeth all at once? Grab a glass of water! Drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is good for your entire body, helping to flush out toxins and support your organs. Water also helps rinse away bacteria in your mouth which prevents tooth decay. Drink a glass of water after every meal and you’ll be doing your teeth and your body a favor!
Incorporate Healthy Dairy Into Your Diet
Want to give your teeth a boost? Incorporate healthy foods into your diet! An easy place to start is with cheese and yogurt – foods that are high in calcium. Calcium is crucial for the health of your teeth because it helps strengthen your enamel and protect against cavities. Cheese packs a double dose of fortification for your teeth because it also contains a protein called casein. Yogurt has an additional benefit as well; it is a probiotic, which will keep your mouth’s microbiome balanced with healthy bacteria. So say yes to cheese and yogurt!
Floss, Floss, Floss!
Want to know the best way you can improve your oral health? Flossing! Flossing will not only improve your gum health, but it will help prevent cavities, too. This is because flossing removes plaque and bacteria in the areas between your teeth that brushing alone misses. It’s one of the best things you can do during your oral care routine! We know it’s a tricky habit for many to stick with, so find what works best for you. Ready to take the flossing plunge? Set a goal for flossing once a week and work up to flossing once a day. You can try Plackers or a water flosser if you find traditional floss is difficult. Another idea – you can try bringing floss to work to take care of it during your lunch break if the morning is too rushed. Your teeth and gums will say thank you!
Brush Up on Your Brushing Technique
Want to get the most out of your brushing? Make sure your skills are up to speed! Proper technique includes brushing gently for 2-3 minutes, twice a day, holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. Brush every surface of your teeth, both front and back. Also give your entire gum line a little massage as well – this will stimulate circulation and improve your gum health. If you want to take your brushing up another level, consider an electric toothbrush. They will help you get a superior clean every time you brush. Also, our team of hygienists is always happy to demonstrate best brushing techniques so feel free to ask at your next appointment!
Visit FDA!
Want to make maintaining your oral health easy? Come for regular checkups at our office! At FDA, we’re here to be your partner in oral health. Routine hygiene visits that include digital x-rays and cleanings are the best way to maintain your oral health. They also help us with early detection of issues such as oral cancer, tooth decay, and gum disease. Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos, along with our team of compassionate dental care professionals, will help you to develop a hygiene schedule at home, as well as in our office in the new year and beyond! If you need to schedule your next appointment, please give our office a call at 207.781.5900!
Jan 2, 2025
Falmouth Dental Arts has been providing complete, compassionate care for our patients in Southern Maine for over 50 years. We love helping our patients achieve the smile of their dreams and work to build a partnership so we can provide the highest quality dental care possible. People often ask questions about various aspects of our dental care practice. We collected a few of the most frequently asked questions and put all the answers in one place – the FAQs of FDA!
Are you accepting new patients?
Absolutely! We would be delighted to provide you with our quality oral health care. Dr. Brunacini, Dr. Karagiorgos, and our entire staff are dedicated to providing the most caring, comfortable environment possible while providing top quality dental care. We offer a range of treatments to help you attain your oral health goals – from routine hygiene visits to cosmetics enhancements. You can fill out our New Patient Form and one of our team members will reach out to get you scheduled! We look forward to being your partner in oral health!
Do you take my insurance?
We can bill most insurance companies. We are out of network with all insurances, so we encourage our patients to check their policy to see if they will work with us as an out of network dentist. It’s important to us that we can provide individualized treatment plans for all of our patients and not let the insurance company dictate the care we provide. This is a value for many of our patients. We are always happy to talk through all the options with our patients, so please call if you have any questions about insurance, billing, or your treatment options.
Do you see kids?
Yes! We see kids of all ages. At FDA, we believe good oral habits start early. We love helping our youngest patients have positive dental experiences both at home and at our office. Our team of caring and compassionate dental care professionals are wonderful at meeting your kids where they are and pay close attention to your child’s comfort level. We’ll work with you and your child to develop proper homecare habits and design office visits around your child’s readiness and needs. It is our pleasure to welcome your children to our practice!
How long has FDA been a practice?
FDA has been a local dental practice in Southern Maine for over 50 years! Our beloved Dr. Knock started it all back in 1974. Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos carry on his legacy of providing compassionate patient care in concert with crest-of–the-wave dental technologies. At FDA, we don’t just see your smile, we see you as a whole person. Our team works to provide a comfortable environment in every aspect of our care, from scheduling and making payments to getting a check up or a cosmetic enhancement. We’ve been a part of the small business community in Falmouth for decades and are dedicated to providing the best oral care possible!
What do you mean by “dental arts”?
As our founder Dr. Knock has said, “There is an artistry to dentistry, if the dentist is conscientious. It is quite aesthetic…the cosmetic dentistry that can be done to help a person.” We continue to provide this conscientious and aesthetic approach to dentistry and are further aided by the cutting-edge technology in our office, like our CEREC Same-Day Crowns. We have a range of cosmetic dentistry procedures that can give you the smile that not only a work of art, but the smile of your dreams!
If you have other questions for our team, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 207.781.5900! We are always happy to answer questions and are here to help!
Dec 2, 2024
Shake those jingle bells, the holiday season is upon us! This time of year we make it a priority to give back to our community. At FDA, we love helping people smile and we believe that everyone should have access to oral health care. This is why we work with two dental charities that are doing great work in our community: Dental Lifeline and Dancing with the Dentists. If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll recognize these charities…perhaps you even got tickets to watch Dr. Karagiorgos at Dancing with the Dentists! To inspire you to join us in giving back, here is some more information about the important work of these two organizations.
Dental Lifeline
For 50 years, Dental Lifeline’s mission has been to improve the oral health of people with disabilities, those who are over 65, and those with a chronic serious illness. Through its flagship program, Donated Dental Services (DDS), oral care is provided to people who cannot afford necessary treatments and cannot receive public aid. With its network of 39,000 dentists and 6,500 labs nationwide, the DDS program has provided $500 million in donated therapies and transformed the lives of 170,000 people. They have a quote from one of their patients that sums up the impact of their work beautifully: “I will never forget these volunteers for what they did to restore my dignity. I got my smile back. I got my life back. I can’t stop smiling.”
Dancing with the Dentists
Dancing with the Dentists was founded by our beloved Dr. Knock. He envisioned an event that brought his local dental network together to build a ballroom dancing competition to raise money for local charities. Both Dr. Brunancini and Dr. Karagiorgos have hit the dance floor for this wonderful charity! A fun competition that also makes a real impact, Dancing with the Dentists raised over $40,000 for these local charities: The Root Cellar, Mainely Teeth, and Veggies to Table.
We have also worked with Dentists Who Care for ME and look forward to continuing to support their great work when they are able to hold the next event for their services.
As a locally-owned small business, we feel grateful to be a part of such a conscientious and kind community. Giving back is a meaningful way we can share our professional skills and compassionate care with our larger community.
We wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season! Thank you for being a part of the FDA Family!
Dec 1, 2024
At FDA, we love electric toothbrushes for both our patients and for ourselves! We are here to help our patients reach their oral health goals and we often advise on home care routines. After all, brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes is an essential part of your oral health care regimen! You can supercharge your oral hygiene by going electric! Here are three reasons why we love electric toothbrushes:
⚡They Attack Plaque⚡
Studies show that electric toothbrushes do a superior job of cleaning your teeth and removing plaque than a manual toothbrush. With electricity powering the toothbrush head at high speeds – like 1,000 strokes a minute – electric toothbrushes are simply able to move faster than your hand alone. This means fewer cavities and a reduced risk of gum disease. Plus, many electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer which will help you brush for the entire recommended two minutes. In other words, attack that plaque!
⚡ They Improve Gum Health ⚡
As mentioned above, electric toothbrushes are amazing at removing plaque on your teeth. Plaque not only causes cavities, it can also irritate your gums and lead to gingivitis and gum disease. So less plaque means healthier gums! Also, while electric toothbrushes move at high speeds, they have soft bristles and are gentle on your teeth and gums, which is a better way to support their health. In other words, give those gums an electric massage!
⚡ They Are Easier to Use ⚡
For folks with limited dexterity or mobility issues, electric toothbrushes are much easier to use than manual toothbrushes. The toothbrush does all the hard work for you! You can often reach places a manual toothbrush wouldn’t reach and brush for longer without your arm getting tired. In other words, brushing can be a breeze!
What are you waiting for? Give your oral care a boost with an electric toothbrush! You and the FDA team will notice a difference in your oral health at your next checkup! If you have questions about how to brush or need to schedule your next appointment, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are your partner in oral health and here to help you!
Nov 6, 2024
Routine visits to the dentist are essential for maintaining a healthy smile. They help Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos monitor your oral health and catch any dental issues early. But if it’s been awhile since you’ve been in for a checkup or if an issue arises in between your appointments, the FDA team is always here for you! After all, we are your partner in oral health! Here are five situations when you should pick up the phone and call us.
Pain
If you’re in pain, your body is trying to tell you something. Experiencing tooth, gum, or jaw pain means it’s a good idea to call our office and have Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos give you an exam. There are a number of reasons you could be experiencing pain in your mouth, ranging from a cavity or gum disease to TMJ syndrome or a cracked tooth. Whatever the cause, come in for an exam so we can work with you to design a treatment plan that will alleviate your pain and support your overall oral health.
Gum Issues
If your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, you may have gum disease. The sooner you treat gum disease the better, so give us a call so we can help. The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with proper oral hygiene and sometimes a professional cleaning with our amazing hygienists will get you back on track. Plus they will have tips and tricks for you to keep your gums healthy and happy in your home care routine.
Jaw Trouble
If your jaw is clicking, popping, or causing you pain, you may be experiencing TMJ syndrome. Common TMJ syndrome symptoms include jaw pain, neck or shoulder pain, migraines or headaches, and even difficulty chewing or opening and closing your mouth. The FDA team can help you find some relief and determine if you need help beyond treatments such as a mouth guard, relaxation exercises, or over the counter painkillers. Give us a call so we can support you!
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant…first congratulations! Second, give our office a call! Your routine dental visits can continue during your pregnancy, and it’s helpful for Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos to be aware of any medications or supplements you take during your pregnancy. One thing to note – pregnancy causes hormonal changes that can increase the risk of gum disease. Keep up with a good oral hygiene routine at home and call our office if you have swollen or bleeding gums. We’re here to support your health…and your developing baby’s health, too!
Hiding Your Smile
If you are embarrassed to show your teeth because of cosmetic issues, this may prevent you from smiling and talking. At Falmouth Dental Arts we offer a variety of cosmetic procedures that can help, which can often be completed in as little as two visits! Give our office a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos. Let us help give you the smile of your dreams!
If you have questions about your oral health, are experiencing any of the issues listed above, or need to schedule your next appointment – please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We’re here to provide you with the best oral health care possible!
