Sep 5, 2024
At Falmouth Dental Arts, patient care is our top priority, and for us a big part of that is making sure you are comfortable. This approach extends to all aspects of our dental practice – from scheduling and payments to the waiting room and the dental chair. Our goal is to develop a partnership with you so you feel connected to our compassionate team and to your oral health care. Let us count the ways we strive to make your oral health care as comfortable as possible.
Our Team
We have the best and most caring dental professionals! Everyone at FDA is committed to patient care and comfort and we all strive to make your visits to our office as easy as possible. From Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos and our front desk team to our Hygienists and Dental Assistants, we love helping you smile! Our compassionate team is always happy to answer questions about your oral health care, demonstrate proper oral health techniques, and go the extra mile so you feel relaxed and comfortable.
Our Approach
Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos don’t just see your smile, they see you as a whole person. We follow an Integrative Dentistry philosophy, which takes your entire wellbeing into account when providing oral care. By approaching dentistry with the whole body in mind, we can better educate and communicate with our patients about their care. Our goal is to form a partnership with you and design a dental plan together that fits your needs and budget. We believe that when you are actively involved in your treatment plans and oral health care, you feel more comfortable and more confident.
Our Technology
Being committed to utilizing the latest dental technologies in our practice means our patients have more options and more solutions in their dental care. From 3D X-Rays to our innovative in-house laboratory that makes same-day crowns for our patients, we are always looking for the best ways to accommodate our patients.
At FDA, we are here to help you get the best and most comfortable dental care possible. If you have any questions or need to schedule an upcoming appointment, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are your partner in oral health!
Sep 4, 2024
You can feel it in the air – September has arrived! That means it is back to school time! As you get your child ready for another year of learning and growing, it’s a great time to make sure they have their next check-up with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos scheduled. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we believe good dental habits start early and we love helping our youngest patients learn more about their oral health. Books are a great way to prepare your kids for what they can expect during a dental appointment and encourage healthy habits. In the spirit of the back to school season, we put together a list of some of our favorite books about visiting the dentist!
Tooth by Leslie Patricelli
It’s an exciting time when your baby gets their first tooth! Your kids will love this colorful and fun board book that will introduce your child to the wonderful world of teeth and how to keep them healthy!
The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain
This book is a classic! Your kids can tag along as the whole Bear Family goes to the dentist to get their teeth cleaned and learn about oral health care. It’s also a great introduction to the tooth fairy!
The Tooth Book by Dr. Suess
Another classic to add to your bookshelves! When it comes to writing that is silly and clever, nobody beats Dr. Suess, and this book teaches kids all about why it’s important to take care of their teeth.
Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Brush
Even monsters need to brush their teeth! This pop-up book features all your favorite Sesame Street monsters as they learn how to brush their teeth and visit the dentist.
The Night Before the Dentist by Natasha Wing
This rhyming story follows a boy on his journey to the dentist for a check up. Filled with helpful details so your child will know what to expect, this is a great book for kids who feel a little nervous about coming in for an appointment.
The list could go on and on…there are so many great books for kids that will help them feel more comfortable about coming in for check ups with Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos and more confident about taking good care of their teeth at home. Reading books together is a great way to talk about the importance of good oral health habits! What are your favorite books about visiting the dentist? Let us know on our Facebook page! If you have questions or need to schedule your child’s next dental appointment, please call us at 207.781.5900. We love helping our patients smile!
Aug 2, 2024
Dental emergencies happen. Anytime you injure your teeth or gums, you should treat it seriously. Dental problems that are not addressed in a timely manner can increase the chance for permanent damage as well as the potential need for more extensive procedures to fix them down the road. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we’re here to be your partners in oral health and want to make sure you know what to do if you or your child injures their teeth or mouth.
The first thing to know if a dental injury does occur, is that you should call our office right away at 207.781.5900 to schedule an appointment. Our team of compassionate dental professionals will help you determine a treatment plan and coordinate with your other health care professionals as needed. If it is outside of our regular business hours, you will be given an option to get in touch with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos. To relieve pain, you can apply a cold compress or take over-the-counter painkillers until you can get into our office. In the event of a head injury or any other type of serious injury, please contact your physician as soon as possible or go to your nearest emergency room.
If you find yourself with a dental injury that isn’t an emergency and doesn’t require immediate care, there are some steps you can take at home that can be helpful before you come into our office for your appointment.
Toothache
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Floss to remove any food particles that may be adding pressure to the tooth.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if your mouth is swollen.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
Knocked Out Tooth
- Find the tooth if you can! Rinse it off with water if it is dirty.
- If you have bleeding in the mouth, use gauze to gently absorb it.
- Store your tooth in milk until you can see Dr. B or Dr. K. *Please note, knocked out teeth have the best chance of being saved if they are returned to socket within an hour.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if your mouth or lip is swollen.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
Chipped Tooth
- If a piece of your tooth chips off, save it if you can.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water, gently.
- If you have bleeding in the mouth, use gauze to gently absorb it.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek if your mouth or lip is swollen.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
Lost Filling
- Stick a piece of sugar-free gum in the cavity as a temporary measure until you can come in to see Dr. B or Dr. K.
Lost Crown
- If you can find the crown, store it in a safe place so you can bring it to your dental appointment.
- If the area is causing you pain, apply clove oil with a cotton swab to the sensitive area.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers as needed.
This time of year, school sports are starting up again. Consider protecting the teeth of your active kids with a mouth guard! We have the capability in our office to make a custom-fit mouth guard for your kid. If you’re buying a mouth guard over-the-counter, look for one that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance and is designed for the specific sport of activity your child is playing. If you have questions about mouth guards or what to do when a dental emergency or dental injury occurs, please don’t hesitate to call our office. We are here to help and provide you with the best oral care possible!
Jul 3, 2024
When was the last time you flossed? If it’s been awhile, you need to find your flossing game! Flossing is an important part of oral healthcare – as important as brushing! – and crucial to preventing gum disease. We know it can be difficult to fit flossing into your daily oral health routine. Don’t worry, the FDA team has you covered! Here are ways you can find your flossing game and clean those hard to reach places between your teeth!
Find the Right Time
What is the best time to floss? Anytime you will do it! If you find you’re tired at the end of the day and flossing is just too much to add to your nighttime routine, then try flossing in the morning! If your mornings are too hectic, try flossing after lunch! It doesn’t matter when you floss, it just matters that you make time for this healthy habit. Many of our hygienists love packing some Plackers in their purse so they can floss on the go!
Find the Right Floss
Some people find traditional flossing difficult. Whether it’s because you have mobility issues or because you have braces, that extra hurdle to flossing can make it feel impossible. Fortunately, there are alternatives you can explore!
- Water Flossers: You may have experienced this product in our office. Water flossers provide a way to clean around and between your teeth with a pressurized steady stream of water. They can be particularly helpful for patients with braces, dental bridges, dental implants, or gum pocketing. Look for one with the American Dental Association Seal (ADA) of Acceptance and get flossing!
- Interdental Brushes: These small, cone-shaped brushes are designed to be inserted gently between your teeth and can be rinsed and reused a few times. Combined with daily brushing, they can be as effective as flossing. Patients with braces, food traps, dental bridges, or mobility issues may find this is a good alternative.
Whichever option you choose, and whatever time of day works best for you, the most important thing to remember about flossing is to do it! So, find a routine that works for you and stick with it…your teeth and your gums will thank you! If you have any questions about flossing or need to schedule your next appointment, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We are here to support you and provide the best oral health care possible!
Jul 2, 2024
Summertime in Maine is the best! It’s full of beach days, popsicles, and backyard barbecues. While you grill up your hot dogs this summer, why not include some food that gives your barbecue an oral health boost? What you eat has an impact on your oral health as well as your overall health. There are foods that support healthy teeth and gums that are easy to include in your next summertime meal. To help inspire you, here are four tips from the FDA team to turn your summer gatherings into tooth-friendly affairs.
Add a Veggie Platter
While you’re waiting for the grill to heat up, put out a platter of fresh veggies for snacking. Crunchy veggies like celery, carrots, and cucumbers are great for your teeth; they stimulate saliva and help keep your teeth clean. Add a calcium-rich yogurt dip to your platter and you’ve leveled up your tooth-friendly snack. The probiotics in yogurt can help balance the pH level in your mouth and keep cavity-causing bacteria in check. Talk about a win-win!
Say Cheese!
Cheese is full of calcium and phosphorus, which helps strengthen and protect your teeth. Studies also show that including more dairy in your diet can help protect your gums. So, make that a cheeseburger, please!
Skip the BBQ Sauce
Have you ever looked at the ingredient list on BBQ sauce? It is full of sugar! Limit the unnecessary sweet sauce and load up on flavorful condiments like pickles and fresh tomatoes instead. Or find a sugar-free recipe and impress your guests with a home-made sauce!
Don’t Forget Water
Hot days call for cold beverages, but drinking soda is not great for your teeth or your health. All that sugar can cause cavities. Staying hydrated is important and drinking water is an easy way to boost your oral health at every meal. Like saliva, water will rinse away harmful bacteria and food particles. If you want to serve something more exciting than plain water, try adding cucumbers, strawberries, or mint to your water pitcher. Refreshing and flavorful!
We hope you are enjoying all that this Maine summer has to offer. If you have any healthy tips for summer BBQS or need to schedule your next appointment, please be in touch! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Jun 3, 2024
We get it. Not everyone loves coming to the dentist. In fact, it’s quite common to feel anxious about coming in for an appointment. At Falmouth Dental Arts, our approach to oral health care has always been patient care. For our team, it is about comfort in all aspects – from the scheduling, to payments, to the dental chair, and beyond – we want you to feel comfortable physically, and emotionally. We strive to make your appointments with us as easy as possible. If you find yourself feeling anxious before your next appointment, here are three easy ways to ease your dental anxiety:
Communication
If you experience fear or anxiety before or during your dental appointment, please tell us! Our team of compassionate dental professionals truly cares about the well-being of our patients and want to help you feel comfortable. We’ve heard from patients that talking through their fears and learning the step-by-step of a procedure can help alleviate anxiety. We are always happy to take the time to answer questions and to listen to you.
Distraction
If hearing and seeing the tools of the trade make you uncomfortable, distraction can be your friend at your next appointment. Directing your mind toward something you find more pleasant can often help reduce anxiety. We find that many patients like to bring headphones to their appointment so they can listen to music, a podcast, a book-on-tape, or even a guided meditation. Find something that puts you at ease and bring it in! If it’s a really good podcast…please tell us so we can check it out, too! 🙂
Deep Breathing
If you’ve ever meditated or been to a yoga class, you’ve likely experienced the effects of deep breathing. When you breathe deeply and slowly it provides your body with more oxygen and can be quite effective for calming your central nervous system. Practice deep breathing at home and as you come to your appointment. Our oral health care team can help remind you to keep taking deep breaths during your appointment as well. We are here to help!
If you have other tips or methods for keeping calm, cool, and collected and the dentist, please let us know! As always, we are here to provide you with the best dental care possible. If the above relaxation techniques don’t calm your fear, you may be a candidate for oral conscious sedation. Please give us a call at 207.781.5900 to set up a consultation with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos to see if this is the right option for you. We’re here to be your partner in oral health and find a care plan that works for you!
