Jul 13, 2011
Dr. Brian Brunacini
We are excited to announce that Dr. Brian Brunacini will be joining our practice in July!
Dr. Brunacini graduated from The Ohio State University in 2009. Since graduation, he has worked as an associate in Rockport, Maine. He is interested in sedation dentistry as well as the surgical aspects of dentistry, such as dental implants.
He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Maine State Dental Association. He stays busy taking numerous continuing education classes, such as classes at the Frank Spear Institute.
Dr. Brunacini enjoys working as a team in order to be able to provide the most comfortable and satisfying appointment possible. It is very important to be sure the patient is being listened to in order to fully be satisfied with the dental treatment. He looks forward to joining the team at Falmouth Dental Arts, and continue the consistent and excellent dentistry for the patients.
He is an avid sports and music fan. He has been married to his wife, Jenny, since 2009, and they both look forward to becoming part of the community here at Falmouth Dental Arts.
Jun 20, 2011
Your Teeth Deserve A Vacation!
The suitcases are packed, the car is loaded, the dog is at the kennel – and it’s time for summer vacation!! There is no better time for relaxing at the beach, exploring a fascinating city, or enjoying the outdoors. Being miles away from home always makes it less stressful and more fun too!
But being miles away from home means that you are also far from us – your favorite dental office! And while there is no way to prevent a dental emergency from happening while you are away from home, there are a few items you can bring on vacation to make things more pleasant should an emergency situation emergency arise. You can even throw them together into a cosmetics bag and make your own “Dental Emergency Kit!”
Here are some items to include:
Pain relief: Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil or generic) is usually safe and effective to use for minor dental discomfort.
Lost filling or crown: “Dentemp One Step Filling Material” is a good temporary solution for replacing a crown (cap) or protecting an area exposed by a lost filling. This is available at most drug stores and on the internet.
Broken denture: “The D.O.C. Denture Repair Kit” works as a short term measure to adhere a lost denture tooth or repair a cracked denture. Also available at drug stores and online.
Lost tooth: Carry a prescription medicine vial. Should an accident occur and an adult tooth is lost with the root intact – DO NOT clean or handle the root. Place it in the medicine vial along with some liquid (preferably milk) and seek dental attention immediately.
Food or other item stuck between teeth: This can be a very uncomfortable situation, so be sure to have dental floss on hand to remove any item stuck between the teeth. Hey – you should be carrying dental floss anyway!!
Cuts on gums, lips or tongue: Clean gauze or cloth. As with bleeding anywhere on the body, pressure with a clean gauze or cloth is the first line of treatment. If bleeding does not stop, seek medical attention immediately.
For many minor dental irritations of the teeth, gums and mouth, a good old-fashioned warm salt water rinse can give temporary relief. We are not big fans of medications like Anbesol Gel as there are many side effects and over usage can harm the mouth tissues.
So there you have it – your very own travel dental emergency kit! The most important thing to remember is that all of the solutions presented here are temporary in nature. Should any emergency arise, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible.
At the office of Drs. Knock, Vocal and Brunacini, we are always here for you, even if you are far away from home. If you have any questions about a dental emergency or anything else dental related, please give us a call at 207-781-5900. Have a safe, healthy summer vacation, and don’t forget to brush and floss!
Apr 25, 2011
Recently a famous celebrity doctor (whose last name sounds like a land where Dorothy from Kansas found a great and powerful wizard) recommended a simple at-home whitening formula. The recipe? Coat your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice before brushing.
Does this really work? Well, it certainly may remove some stains. But unfortunately it can also be a recipe for disaster.
Lemon juice is an acid, so even though fruits are generally healthy, large concentrations of the juice can actually wear away enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth. Once that erodes, not only are teeth quite unattractive – they are incredibly prone to cavities and difficult to repair.
Baking soda is an abrasive material, kind of like sandpaper. So even though in very small amounts it can polish your teeth nicely, use the wrong amount and you may as well be sanding your teeth away!
Our suggestion?
Put the lemon in your tea and use baking soda in the kitchen! When it comes to whitening your teeth, your best bet is to ask a dental professional.
Over-the-counter whitening toothpastes and whitening products from the drug store can do a decent job on lightly stained teeth, especially for those in their late teens and early twenties. But we find that most people who express the desire for whiter teeth need what only a dental office can offer.
There are many different treatments available, from take home systems with custom molded trays to much stronger products that must be supervised by a dentist. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we will be glad to tell you which one is right for you. Or we may even recommend that you keep your teeth as they are!
As far as that TV doctor – we wish him the best and hope he doesn’t grind his teeth away. When it comes to dental advice, please ask a member of the dental profession!
Please remember that at Falmouth Dental Arts, we are here for you! If you have any questions about this or anything else concerning your dental health, please give us a call at 207-781-5900, or visit our website at www.portlandmainedentists.com
Apr 6, 2011
If you, a friend, or a loved one wears dentures that spend much of the time either floating around in the mouth or, even worse, sitting in a glass, then there are many new solutions to this problem. Many people wear their dentures for too many years before they are remade or even relined. Sometimes this is due to the fact they weren’t told to get them checked every year. Sometimes they just can’t afford to keep up with the maintenance. A lot of the time, they just “get used to them” and forget about doing anything further about them.
The American Dental Association recommends that dentures be redone or relined every 3-4 years. The main reason is that the bone supporting the dentures will erode away if they don’t fit correctly, hence they get “loose.” When this happens simple biting becomes a chore and a hopeless feeling of ever being able to bite into an apple again takes place. Many people are fine with this feeling, but many others wish that something could be done about it.
One solution could be as simple as remaking the denture to the eroded ridges. Sometimes this will improve the bite tremendously. Another solution could be to reline the inside of the denture to fit better. Most dentists are capable of doing these procedures which are the least expensive.
To truly have “Tight Dentures” the placement of Mini Dental Implants can be a Godsend. These tiny, FDA approved Titanium implants have revolutionized dentistry and have made thousands of denture wearers able to “bite into that apple.” A Mini Dental Implant, once placed, can anchor an upper or lower denture and keep it from dislodging and “floating” around in the mouth. No need for all that goopy denture adhesive – it becomes a thing of the past. The upper denture can be so well anchored with “Minis” that it can be horseshoe shaped and not have plastic in the roof of the mouth! Most of the time, to do this, several implants have to be placed.
Another great advantage of the Mini Dental Implants is that they are one-third to one-half the cost of conventional implants. And most of the time they only require one visit! Next time we’ll talk about how Mini Implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth.
Here Falmouth Dental Arts we are able to provide this superb service. Let us know if you, a friend or a loved one is interested!
Mar 16, 2011
We’ve all seen Steve Martin’s crazy sadistic dental performance in the movie “Little Shop of Horrors” or heard a friend’s over-inflated version of a bad office visit (usually involving a root canal), but going to the dentist these days really isn’t scary! With all the modern technology and advanced techniques available, a dental visit can be not just painless but actually relaxing! Right? Right!
Like it or not, most of us go to the dentist routinely to keep our teeth and gums healthy because it’s what we’re supposed to do, not because it’s a favorite activity. But did you know that seventy-five percent of the population experience some sort of dental fear and fifteen percent actually avoid going to the dentist altogether due to severe anxiety? Infrequent dental visits or total avoidance can cause severe health problems, even heart disease. This can be a serious problem.
Here at Falmouth Dental Arts, we take this issue very seriously. We want to make each visit to the dentist as comfortable and stress free as possible. that’s why we do everything we can to soothe and relax you from the minute you walk in the door. We have stereo headphones that let you choose your own music on an iPod and drown out the background noise. We have massage pads on our chairs for heat and comfort. Our up-to-date anesthesia techniques make dental treatment incredibly comfortable. The high-tech laser we use for some procedures can make injections and drilling a thing of the past. And, if necessary, we even offer sedation to help you through your visit with less anxiety.
We feel your dental health is so important that we take these extra steps to help you stay as healthy as possible and to make each visit a stress free one. When you leave our office, we are committed to making you smile in every way.
Please give us a call at 207-781-5900 to schedule your next appointment. With your comfort in mind, we will make sure that every visit is a great one!
