Uncategorized Archives - Placerville Dentist

Do you love Sweet Potatoes? Good news…so do your teeth!

November 9, 2016 by ranelle Leave a Comment

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Growing up, we all remember hearing, “Don’t eat that, it’s bad for your teeth”! With so many foods falling into this category, it is nice to know there are a great number of foods that improve your dental health. Just in time for the holidays when we all tend to eat sweets, there are some great options…even Sweet Potatoes (that also happen to be one of Dr. Hasting’s favorite foods)!

Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth

It is important to know that enamel is a tooth’s first line of defense against decay. You are at a higher risk for cavities or sensitivity if the enamel on your teeth is eroded or damaged. Eating foods high in calcium can help strengthen your tooth enamel by eating foods high in calcium. In addition, adding foods rich in vitamin D to your diet will allow your body to better absorb the calcium that healthy teeth need.

The best choices for healthy teeth are foods with:

Calcium. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products such as milk, cheese, and plain yogurt are calcium staples that don’t add unhealthy saturated fat to your diet. Hard cheese in particular also helps neutralize the acids found in foods that threaten tooth enamel. Other good sources of calcium are green leafy vegetables like kale, bok choy, and even Brussels sprouts, which deliver a healthy boost of vitamin C, too.
Vitamin D. Egg yolks, mushrooms, and most fish are excellent sources of the vitamin D you need to absorb calcium, which builds and maintains healthy teeth.
Vitamin C. Red peppers and sweet potatoes can provide the vitamin C necessary for healthy gums, which help keep your teeth firmly in place. Citrus fruits like oranges are also high in vitamin C, but you have to be careful of their acidity.
A healthy crunch. The crisp texture of crunchy fruits and vegetables can help wipe away plaque-causing bacteria on your teeth. They can also increase the production of saliva, which helps neutralize bacteria in your mouth. Apples, pears, celery, and carrots are all good choices. However, even a healthy food like an apple can expose teeth to damaging acid when eaten slowly. To reduce the impact of acid, brush your teeth before eating and drink water or rinse immediately after.

My Education began the day I graduated from Dental School

October 12, 2016 by ranelle Leave a Comment

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“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education” ~Mark Twain

There is a saying among some dentists that goes something like this: “My education really began the day that I graduated from dental school.”

The biology hasn’t changed over the years, human nature is just as predictable as ever, and many of the principles that have been taught for years remain the same. So what’s new?

As advances in materials and technologies have occurred, there are so many new options for restoring teeth to natural function. There has never been enough time to teach everything that the fledgling dentist needed to know in order to provide quality service to his or her patients. Dentists of today are exposed to more knowledge than ever, but the schooling period has remained the same, about four years after college.

A dentist today can still get by for an entire career and actually be financially successful using only the skills learned in basic dental schooling. A dental school prepares one to pass a licensing examination, which only proves a minimum level of competency. Today, some states are considering doing away with the licensing examination process and accepting an affirmation from the dean of the dental college that this candidate is worthy of holding a license.

I personally don’t see too much wrong with that idea. I’ve said for years that a dental license is only a license to learn. The mandatory continuing education requirements in the state of California are minimal and only satisfy the needs of the lowest common denominator. To have the dean of a dental school certify that certain requirements for competency have been met, and that a neophyte dentist is capable of being set loose on the public is really not so different from the current system. On balance, the results are going to be the same. Half the new dentists will be above average and half will be below. I do not believe the overall standards of care will be lessened by changes in the licensing rules.

Today, dentistry is viewed more as a commodity than a personal service. This is due to the influx of corporate dentistry and the dental insurance industry. It’s become more and more expensive to provide the service, and the pie can only be cut up into so many pieces. It’s sad, because a crown is not a crown, and a filling is not necessarily a filling. The products are not all that much different, but HOW they are provided can be. It’s the patient experience that is changing. To learn, really learn how to serve other human beings in the best way possible is something that cannot be taught. It must be sought. It’s elusive, and it’s hard for some to grasp. It must be caught, rather than taught. You have to want it. And it’s a sacred trust.

There will always be some caring individuals who will rise to the top. That’s where I want to be. Come and see us!

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali

Gum Disease-It’s more than just bad breath!

September 1, 2016 by ranelle Leave a Comment

You probably have heard from your Dentist or Dental Hygienist that brushing and flossing your teeth can help to prevent cavities and gum disease. You hopefully are seeing your dentist at least twice a year. Did you know that regular brushing and flossing accompanied by timely visits to the dentist can also save your life?

The common risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. According to research published by the American Academy of Periodontology, heart disease is two times more common in patients with gum disease as in patients with no sign of it.

Dr. Hastings agrees that this research points to a definite link between heart disease and periodontitis, or gum disease.

That’s not all. Further complications of diseased gums are increased incidence of diabetes, respiratory ailments, and premature and low birth weight babies. With heart disease being the greatest cause of death in the U.S., and the enormous costs to the health care system from heart disease and diabetes, the implications are staggering. This represents a health risk to millions of people. Nearly 300 billion dollars are spent annually in treatment of these two diseases alone.

Nearly 80% of the U.S. population has some form of gum disease, with 22 million Americans being seriously affected. It’s insidious, because gum disease is painless. Only when it is becomes more advanced does the patient become aware that he or she has a problem. All adults should be screened for gum disease at least annually. It’s far easier to treat gum disease in its early stages. Those who are unaware or who don’t get treatment until the disease has advanced, may face surgery, tooth loss, and complication of other more serious health problems.

Our office is focusing on control and elimination of gum disease by frequent therapeutic treatments, such as “root planing” and improved home care. We also use a laser to sterilize deeper pockets of active infection around the roots of teeth. This new procedure has been amazingly successful in helping to return our patients to good health. This doesn’t mean that conventional gum surgery is no longer necessary, but in many cases the need for surgery can be significantly reduced by using the laser.

Please feel free to ask questions about our approach to better health. It’s up to you!