Nov 8, 2012
Do you have a family member or friend that has a serious fear of visiting a dentist and receiving necessary dental treatments. The IV Sedation service at Falmouth Dental Arts may be the perfect solution. If someone you care about suffers from dental anxiety, please forward this information which explains how IV Sedation could help make dental experiences more pleasant:
Do you have…
• A history of traumatic dental experiences
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Sensitive gag reflex
• Complex dental problems or a need for surgery?
• Are you in denial or do you ignore your dental problems until the pain is unbearable?
• Have you avoided seeing a dentist for many years, even decades?
How IV Sedation works: Our certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) will adminster sedation drugs via IV (even numbing the back of the hand first!), which quickly relaxes the patient. We will be able to complete several dental procedures at once to reduce the need for numerous return visits. During the sedation period, patients will breathe on their own and will not recall the procedures–not the smells, sounds or feelings. We include time after the procedure for the patient to continue resting in the office and we suggest that patients have someone drive them to and from the appointment, due to the relaxing effects of the medication.
Visit our website for further details on how IV Sedation works at Falmouth Dental Arts.
Do you think sedation dentistry could help you or someone you love? Call us today at 207.781.5900 with any questions.
Nov 8, 2012
According to researchers, only 10 percent of the population brushes their teeth correctly. Let’s improve the score in Maine! Below are Falmouth Dental Arts’ top tips for brushing properly.
Top Brushing Tips:
- Use a smaller, rather than a larger toothbrush. Electric is best! The more comfortable the brush feels to you, the more likely you are to use it twice a day.
- A soft-bristled brush (and a gentle hand) is best, as it will safe your sensitive gum tissue from being brushed away.
- Spend about two minutes brushing. Take your time and thoroughly, yet gently clean the top right, bottom right, top left and bottom left sections of your teeth.
- Holding your brush at a 45-degree angle will hit the high spots as well as the hard to reach ones, such as where tooth meets gum.
- Brush the inner surfaces of your teeth and your tongue for a thorough job.
- After brushing, be sure to rinse away all of the bacteria now floating around in your mouth. Rinse your toothbrush head as well.
- Change your toothbrush or brush head about every three months, or less if it begins to looked frayed. If it’s in bad shape, it won’t clean effectively.
- But before you begin brushing, make sure you floss! Flossing once a day helps keep bacteria from forming in those hard to reach places that are immune to brushes.
Find out even more about good brushing habits by visiting our website.
Would you like a one-on-one brushing demonstration? Just let your hygenist know during your next appointment, or call our office at 207.781.5900 to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help you help your teeth!
Nov 8, 2012
While many of you may have already met Brian Brunacini, DDS, we’d like to introduce those who have not had the pleasure. Known around here as Dr. Brian, he was drawn to Falmouth Dental Arts because of our great staff and interest in using the best in cutting-edge techology.
Dr. Brian enjoys helping patients improve their dental and overall health, as well as building lasting patient relationships. Since joining our practice, he has completed an oral conscious sedation course and is working toward placing implants and performing surgery. Read more about Dr. Brian in his full bio on our web site.
Does Dr. Brian seem like the dentist for you? Give us a ring at 207.781.5900 and we’ll schedule a new patient appointment for you. It’s never too late to find just the right dentist, in just the right office!
Aug 20, 2012
Almost everybody brushes their teeth, but only one in ten people are doing it effectively!
To that, we have to say a great big “YUCK!!” Imagine if only ten percent of the population showered correctly. That would be pretty gross. But according to researchers at The University of Gothenburg, ninety percent of the population does not brush their teeth in the right way!
Don’t worry!! Your friends at Falmouth Dental Arts are here to help you. So sit back and open wide as we present….
The Top Eight Toothbrushing Tips!
1. Size Matters!
Many people use a large toothbrush head thinking “the bigger the better.” But you can brush just as effectively if not more so with a smaller brush, especially if you have to strain your mouth to use a larger one.
According to dental consumer advisor Dr. Richard Price, “the more comfortable it is in your mouth and your hand, then the more likely you will use it and use it properly.”
2. It’s Good To Be A Softy!
It would seem to make sense that firmer bristles would clean your teeth better, but many times they just wind up damaging your sensitive gum tissue. The American Dental Association recommends a soft-bristled brush and we agree!
3. Don’t Do A Rush Job!
While most people spend fifteen seconds or so per round of brushing, a full two minutes is best. And to make sure you don’t play favorites, divide your mouth into four sections (upper right, lower right, etc..) and spend thirty seconds on each.
Some electric toothbrushes actually have timers, but you don’t need to be so fancy. Find a thirty second song and sing it to yourself for each mouth quarter. Or multitask by watching TV until the full two minutes is up.
4. What’s Your Angle?
While we typically picture toothbrushing to be a horizontal affair, that leaves out many important tooth surfaces, including the crucial area where the tooth meets the gum line. Aim your bristles at a forty-five degree angle and make sure they gently dip below the outer surface of your gums. This can get very tricky, and we recommend that you have one of the fantastic members of our dental hygiene team give you a full demonstration!
5. It’s An Inside Job!
The inner surfaces of the teeth are often overlooked, but just because they hide from daylight doesn’t mean you should neglect them! Take the time to brush all tooth surfaces, inside and out. Oh – don’t forget your tongue either!
6. Rinse-a-rama!
After you brush, loose bacteria are floating around in your mouth having a big old party. It’s time to finish them up with a rinse of mouthwash or even water. They’re on your toothbrush too, so it’s always a good idea to run that under the sink for a few seconds when you finish!
7. Forced Retirement
Many people get nostalgic over their old toothbrushes, but keeping them for too long is a big mistake!! Frayed bristles can’t clean correctly, and even worse – they harbor all kinds of nasty germs. The American Dental Association suggests changing your toothbrush every three to four months – but we think that may even be too long of an interval for many. When in doubt – toss it out!
8. And There’s One More Thing…..
Even though we are discussing toothbrushing, it just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning those tooth surfaces between your teeth – the ones that can’t be reached with a brush. Yes, that’s right – we all need to floss!! Daily flossing prevents cavities and helps to keep your gums in good shape.
At Falmouth Dental Arts, we want you to have strong healthy teeth and gums, fresh breath and a beautiful smile!! Please call us now at 207-781-5900 to schedule an appointment, ask any questions about keeping your teeth and gums nice and clean, or even to schedule a complimentary toothbrushing and flossing lesson! We are here for you!
Jul 19, 2012
No one likes to get their blood taken – it’s just not fun!! But it’s the only way that we can be tested for diabetes, anemia, cholesterol levels, and many other important health issues. Well, that may soon be changing!
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University are saying there may now be a much easier way to detect illness – spit!
Yes – good old saliva contains DNA, enzymes, hormones, proteins and lots of other good stuff that are making it a great candidate for medical testing. And best of all, it’s simple and painless to collect.
Recently, trials have been done with saliva to test for heart disease risk, HIV, hormone-related diseases, children’s performance in school, and even a woman’s ability to have good relationships with men based on their feelings for their fathers! (As strange as it may seem, that last one is based on levels of stress hormones found in saliva when women discuss relationship topics!!)
It’s tough to even compare the ease of spitting in a cup versus having a needle poked into your vein. As Dr. Steven Hirschfeld of The National Institutes of Health said,
“We like tests that are fast, inexpensive, and can be repeated multiple times.”
Saliva already has lots of jobs. It softens food as you chew it, making that grilled cheese sandwich much easier to swallow. It helps your tongue to taste things, is the first step in digestion, and it cleans the inside of your mouth and rinses your teeth. Most people produce one to two liters of saliva every day!!
If you feel like your mouth is always dry, be sure to let us know. It could be caused by medications, aging, or possibly a serious medical condition. And get prepared for the day when instead of someone saying “please roll up your sleeve for a blood test,” they simply ask you to spit in a cup!
If you have questions about dry mouth or any other dental issues, please remember that at Falmouth Dental Arts we are here for you! Please give us a call at 207-781-5900. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!
