The Power of Sour!

Posted on May 18, 2012 by bproell

In the past 20 years, candies marketed to children have been of the “fruity” or “sour” variety.  Sour candies are very acidic, some so that it can actually burn gums and cheeks!  Acid weakens and wears away tooth enamel, which makes teeth more prone to tooth decay.

The best protection against tooth erosion is eliminating or decreasing consumption of sour candies.  Do not suck or chew sour candies for long periods of time.  Ongoing sucking prolongs acid attacks on your teeth.  If you do eat a sour candy, swish your mouth with water, drink milk, or eat cheese afterwards to neutralize the acids.  Chewing sugar-free gum produces saliva which protects the tooth enamel.  Another thing to remember is after eating sour candy or other acidic foods or drinks, WAIT one HOUR before brushing teeth.  Brushing right away increases the harmful effects of acid on teeth.

 Don’t be misled by the high fruit content promoted on many sour candy packages.  It may sound healthy, but the acid levels are high and can cause severe tooth erosion in young children.  Don’t underestimate the power of the sour!

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7 tips for nervous dental patients

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

It is estimated that between 5 and 8 percent of Americans don’t go to the dentist out of fear and another 20% only go when absolutely necessary.

Here are some facts when trying to conquer dental anxiety.

Communicate your fear with your dentist.  Do not be self-conscious about communicating your dental anxiety.  Unless patients voice their fears, dentists and hygienists can’t help make your appointments more pleasant for you.  Even though modern dentistry has improved and makes dental work more comfortable, surveys show that the average person feels as much anxiety about going to the dentist as they did 50 years ago.  This can lead to a vicious cycle: People are scared of going to the dentist so they postpone or put off making appointments altogether.  Inevitably, this approach leads to bigger, more costly and, potentially, more painful problems down the road.  However, here are some easy methods anyone can try to make visits to the dentist less stressful and more pleasant.

Listen to Music.  We have headphones, and you can listen to the choice of 5 different stations, or please feel free to bring in your own MP3 player and listen to your favorite music or podcast.  Simply blocking out the noise and listen to something you enjoy can make a huge difference.

Breathe deeply.  Using slow, deep breaths and closing your eyes and visualizing a favorite place or people you love help overcome fear and anxiety.

Communicate.  Don’t “Suffer in silence”.  Decide on a hand signal such as raising your hand that will alert your dentist or hygienist that a procedure is uncomfortable or that you need a break.  Most people feel more relaxed when they feel in control of the process.

No question is too basic for your dentist.  You can ask about what instruments they are going to use, how long the procedure will take, and what it is going to feel like.

Eat a light meal before your appointment.  It’s important to have something in your stomach when you are having dental work done because hunger can increase the body’s stress response.  People with blood sugar issues need to be particularly mindful so they don’t feel light headed or even faint.  Also, if you procedure requires Novocain, you might not be able to eat for a few hours after, while the numbing effects wear off.  However, don’t eat a large heavy meal.  It might make you feel nauseous during certain types of procedures.

Request a topical anesthetic.  Numbing gels properly applied can make oral injections virtually pain-free.

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3 Tips For Keeping Your Teeth Healthy This Summer

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

Summer is nearly here. This is the time when we’re out and about, enjoying the weather playing sports, and cooling down with sweet, cold beverages and ice cream. We want to give you a few tips to make sure you keep your teeth healthy while still enjoying the many summer activities.

1. Don’t use your teeth as tools.

We’ve mentioned this before but to remind you, using your teeth to open bottles, chew on ice, and other harmful habits can cause damage to your teeth even if you don’t see it at first. The consequences of using your teeth as tools are “hairline” or micro cracks that are hard to see, but will lead to problems in the future.

2. Protect your teeth while playing summer sports.

Whether you’re a recreational or a professional sports player, you should always protect your teeth by wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards are fairly inexpensive and can be custom made here at Valley Dental Group to give you a comfortable, personal fit. It can protect you from chipping or losing a tooth from impact, or it can help your jaw and teeth from “clenching,” which many people do when competing or doing anything with endurance.

3. Eat sweets with caution.

It’s certainly refreshing to enjoy an ice-cream cone during the hot summer days or a cool can of soda, but those things are filled with added sugars which can cause cavities, enamel loss and plaque. The bacteria in your mouth love sweets, which is converted into acids, resulting in damages to teeth. Our advice is to not avoid sweets completely, but be cautious: Eat sweets as part of your meal versus snacks, brush or rinse after you eat or drink something sweet, or chew sugarless gum for 20 minutes to reduce tooth decay.

We hope this will help in making your summer happy and healthy. If you have any questions about mouth guards and/or would like to schedule an appointment for a consultation, please contact our office today.

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6 Things You Might Not Know About Sedation Dentistry

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

We’ve recently experienced a major increase in sedation dentistry appointments at Valley Dental Group, and often get asked a number of questions by our patients. While some questions we get asked are more common than others, we thought we’d share a few less common aspects of sedation dentistry you might not know. Below are six things you may not know about sedation dentistry.

1. You can choose from a range of sedation levels.

Each level is designed to reduce your anxiety to a level you feel comfortable with. Sedation will reduce your anxiety, while still allowing you to be responsive. The use of nitrous oxide, oral medications or IV  medications allows us to tailor the sedation to each patient’s needs. A consult with the dentist will determine what type of sedation is right for you.

2. Your sedation appointment can be as short as 30 minutes.

Patients tend to think a sedation dental appointment lasts longer than a regular appointment. While some cases can take hours, others can be as short as 30 minutes!

3.  Sedation dentistry can save you time and money.

If you need extensive dental work that would normally require multiple visits, you can alternatively choose sedation dentistry––consolidating multiple appointments into a single visit. You’ll spend less time at the dentist, and will be less likely to take time off from work.

4. Sedation dentistry is for patients who want to feel more comfortable at the dental office.

Not just for people who fear visiting the dentist. Perhaps you’re the type of patient who would rather do without the sights and sounds of the dentist office (you’re not alone). Consider sedation dentistry to guarantee you leave the dentist office with a smile on your face.

5. Sedation dentistry has many names.

Conscious sedation, anxiety-free dentistry, relaxation dentistry, and sleep dentistry, to name a few.

6. Insurance companies do cover some sedation dentistry.

Consult your dental insurance provider about your sedation dentistry coverage.

If fear is keeping you from visiting your dentist, or you just want to feel more comfortable during your visit, sedation dentistry might be the perfect solution for you. Just think about a visit to the dentist where you feel relaxed and ready to take care of that tooth that’s been bothering you for what seems like forever. Unheard of, right? Not anymore.

If you have questions about sedation dentistry, and would like to know more, contact us today.

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Why are dental radiographs (x-rays) of my teeth necessary?

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

The 20th-century brought on major innovations in dentistry. One of the technological innovations that truly advanced how dentists provide dental care was dental radiographs, the x-ray. It’s certainly hard to imagine that dental issues were once only judged by the naked eye, but the x-ray allowed dentists to see further and beyond the exterior workings of the mouth.

The use of x-rays during an office visit helps your dentist see between the teeth and if there are signs of tooth decay, damaged roots, damage to bones and gums, cysts, tumors and other problems that you may not have symptoms of … yet.

X-rays help ensure your mouth stays healthy, and fix problems before they become complicated painful problems. Because of the use of high speed film and other techniques, the risk of a missed problem far outweighs the risk of the minimal radiation used in today’s dental films.

If you have any questions or concerns about dental x-rays, please contact us or ask your dentist upon your next visit!

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Dr. Basile – Orthodontics At Valley Dental Group!

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Valley Dental Group
Dr. Joseph Basile

Dr. Joseph Basile

Dr. Basile, who is known by his patients as “Dr. Joe” provides orthodontic care at Valley Dental Group on Tuesday mornings! More and more adults are choosing to receive orthodontic care for reasons such as crowding and spacing, uneven bite which can cause wearing, TMJ, and migraine headaches.

Dr. Joe practiced Pediatric Dentistry for four years in the Twin Cities and Oregon, then decided to return to the University of Minnesota in 2000 to pursue a second residency program in Orthodontics. Upon completion of this program in 2002, he began practicing exclusively as an orthodontist. Dr. Basile is a board certified orthodontist and a certified provider for Invisalign® (invisible aligners).

Dr. Joe is currently accepting new orthodontic patients at Valley Dental Group and offers no charge consults!

If you are curious about how orthodontics can help you, please contact us, or call the office at 763-544-2213 today!

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Our Commitment to Quality Dental Care

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

We’re proud to have provided quality care to our patients for 38 years, and more proud to admit that our commitment to quality has not changed a bit.

When you come to our office, your needs are our number one priority while providing you with optimum care. Our lifetime approach to dental health care best serves our patients’ lifetime interests.

We also strive to create a comfortable atmosphere for our patients and also for our team members. We’re not afraid to have a little fun, because we want to create an environment that is enjoyable for our patients and ourselves.

Through hard work, we’ve built a work environment that benefits our patients and the dental team that will help us to continue providing high quality dental care for many years to come.

We always welcome new patients. To schedule an appointment, contact us here, or give us a call at 763-544-2213.

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Valley Dental Group celebrates 38th anniversary

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

Wednesday, February 15th, is an exciting and special day for the team at Valley Dental Group.   This day marks the 38th anniversary of providing quality dental healthcare in our community.   We not only are celebrating 38 years of Valley Dental Group, but also celebrating the many milestones set by some of our team—we’d like to thank and recognize the following team members for their devoted years of service:

●      Elena Zilberman, dental assistant– 15 years
●      Dr. John Gerstner – 15 years
●      Jenny Pope, Patient Service Representative – 10 years
●      Dr. Brian Jordan – 10 years
●      Sue Perry, dental assistant– 10 years
●      Kris Hall, Practice Manager – 10 years
●      Michelle Sayler, hygienist – 5 years
●      Dr. Gerald Anderson – 5 years

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Valley Dental Group teaches kids about oral hygiene for National Children’s Dental Health Month

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Valley Dental Group
Boy brushing his teeth happily

It’s never too early to promote good oral hygiene and dental care. That’s why every year our team of dental hygienists and assistants visit local schools to teach children the importance of dental health. Through demonstrations we help children understand why their mouth should be cared for. And at the end of each presentation, everyone receives a goodie bag to bring home with them!

National Children’s Dental Health Month is sponsored by the American Dental Association to help teach youth about the importance of oral care. By developing oral care habits at early stages, children will have healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime.

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Interesting facts about why your oral health is important

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Valley Dental Group

Did you know that your oral health affects your overall health?

Failure to maintain a healthy mouth may eventually catch up and cause issues in other parts of your body. We’re not here to frighten you, but instead to give you more reasons why it’s important to take care of your mouth.

Recent studies show that there is a connection between oral health and overall health, and vise-versa, your overall health can affect your oral health.

Let’s start with how your mouth can affect the rest of your body. First of all, “ … the human mouth is a disgusting place,” said Gurgle from the movie Finding Nemo. He was right! We have a lot of bacteria in our mouth, but not all of it is bad if kept under control; however, if bacteria increases due to poor housekeeping, then it can cause issues.

Most common sign of poor oral health is gum disease or tooth decay. If gum disease is not treated early, the bacteria can penetrate through gums and enter the body’s blood stream, so that bacteria will then travel in the body and into the heart. This could be dangerous for anyone who has a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, along with other possible complications.

If you have certain health conditions, then your mouth may be at risk. For instance, people with diabetes become vulnerable to infections due to low blood sugar levels, so infections in the gums or other areas of the mouth may occur. Other health conditions can affect your oral health, so make sure to address that with your doctor during your visit.

You can keep your mouth healthy by following these simple steps:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day, or after every meal if possible
  • Floss at least 3 times a week
  • Visit your dentist on a regular basis
  • Switch to an electric toothbrush

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment for a check-up, please contact us our office or call us at 763-544-2213.

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