Not every dental office shares the same philosophies of care.  And it can be difficult to find an office where you can feel comfortable with the care you are receiving. 
To help you decide if we may be a good fit for you, we would like to share with you what we believe will improve your health and give you your best smile.

            We believe in Fluoride

• Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years of age and affects adults, with 9 out of 10 over the age of 20 having some degree of tooth-root decay (1).
• According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), water fluoridation is one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century.
• Fluoride has been a major contributor to the decline of the rate of tooth decay. Studies have shown that water fluoridation can reduce the amount of decay by 18-40% (2).
• Not all communities have fluoridated water and not everyone drinks tap water to gain this benefit.  Therefore, regular application of fluoride by the dentist/hygienist can significantly reduce dental decay and prevent pain, infections, and loss of teeth and tooth structure.

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            We believe in conservative treatment

• Many serious health issues arise quietly and you may not know there is a problem (think about diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer in its initial stages, for example).  Dental decay is just like this and often presents without symptoms.
• Having regular check-ups will help you maintain optimal health and allow us to treat a problem when it is in its early stages, comfortably and in fewer visits.
• We treat cavities when they are smaller (and maybe don’t require you to have to be numbed!) so the natural tooth structure can be preserved and more complex dental treatment can be avoided.
• Sealants are routinely placed for children and moderate-high caries-risk adults. This treatment is 100% non-invasive and will greatly reduce your risk for dental decay.

​            We believe gums are as important as teeth

• Like diabetes, there is no cure for gum disease; it can only be managed by regular and constant care and oversight by your dentist and hygienist.
• Gum disease will lead to the loss of teeth, bad breath, and signs of premature aging. Other diseases associated with unhealthy bacteria in your gums: Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Colon Cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary artery disease or stroke (4,5).
• Periodontal (gum) disease requires specialized care.  Depending on the current health of the gums, to maintain optimal health it is necessary to have regular, individualized gum therapy at 3-6 month intervals.

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​            We believe in keeping radiation exposure as low as possible

• We follow the American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines to keep radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable (6).
• We can only treat what we can see.  Therefore, quality radiographs (X-rays) are crucial to maintaining your overall health.
• We use digital radiography to minimize the already extremely low exposure that our modern X-ray units emit. The exposure is so low, our staff will be in the room with you for most of your x-rays.
  
  

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​            We believe straight teeth is more than a beautiful smile

• Crowded teeth means you are at a higher risk for diseases elsewhere in your body. And research has shown that as little as 3mm of crowding puts you into this higher risk category (3).
• Teeth that are not straight can impact the health of gums, make it hard to brush and floss effectively, and allow harmful bacteria to hide.  Diseases associated with unhealthy bacteria in your gums include: Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Colon Cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary artery disease or stroke (4,5).
• If your desire is to straighten your teeth with modern braces, such as Invisalign, our doctor is a Preferred Invisalign Provider and will be able to help you look and feel your best.

References:
(1) Dye BA, Tan S, Smith V, Lewis BG, Barker LK, Thornton-Evans G, Eke PI, Beltrán-Aguilar ED, Horowitz AM, Li CH. Trends in oral health status, United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2004. Vital Health Stat 11. 2007;(248):1-92.
(2) HHS. Oral health in America: A report of the Surgeon General–executive summary. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. 2000.
(3) Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, January 2004
(4) www.dentalacademyofce.com/courses/2345/PDF/1209cei_gardner_web.pdf
(5) www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20315543
(6) www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/x-rays