●      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

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.

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.

A healthy smile for a happy child!

Providing our children with the best health care options is essential to ensure they live a long and healthy life—oral health is another important aspect that parents need to be aware of early in their child’s life.

Pediatric dentistry is for children ages 6 months (or presence of the first tooth) to teens, and they should be taken to a dentist who received special training in pediatric oral care and treatment. Our very own, Dr. Jasmie Yesil D.D.S., has over 15 years of experience in Pediatric Dentistry, and will make sure your child feels at ease during their launching visits to the dentist’s office.

During an initial visit, your child will receive an assessment to establish oral care needs. At Valley Dental Group, assessments may include dietary assessment questionnaire, clinical radiographic exam, and/or Dental Caries risk assessment. Furthermore, Dr. Yesil may discuss child’s fears or anxiety with the parent(s) prior to any treatment to be certain that you child is comfortable first.

Early dental care is important in assuring your child receives proper supervision of oral health until they reach adulthood. It is recommended that children be taken to their pediatric dentist every six months to prevent oral decay, diseases, and to provide early repairs, such as proper bite. In addition, the pediatric dentist can build a foundation to educate and enhance dental health.

To learn more about pediatric dentistry, or to schedule an appointment for your child with Dr. Jasmine Yesil, D.D.S., please contact our office or call 763-544-2213.

via zoomwhitening.com

Your smile says a million things, but a brighter smile can say so much more. Cosmetic Whitening is always available at Valley Dental Group, and this month, we are offering Zoom! whitening for just $325!

The Zoom! Chairside Whitening System is a scientifically advanced tooth whitening procedure. In just one hour your teeth will be visibly brighter. The procedure begins with a short preparation to cover your lips and gums, leaving only your teeth exposed. The Zoom! Whitening gel is applied to your teeth and then paired with a special light to gently break up any stains and discoloration. After your session, we’ll give you trays and gel to keep your teeth sparkling for years!

This simple procedure is enough to give you something to smile about, so go ahead—you owe it to yourself!

For more information about Cosmetic Whitening or to make an appointment, contact us or give us a call at 763-544-2213. We look forward to assisting you!

If you would like to know more about Zoom! Whitening, visit www.zoomwhitening.com.

On December 12th, Dr. Brian Jordan, Dr. Andrew Liu, Thuy Nguyen, and Jan Michels donated their time and talent at the 12th annual Project Homeless Connect —a function that is held twice a year by Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis to offer people experiencing homelessness with services such as housing, employment, medical care, dental care, and more.

This year, the dental team assessed 317 patients, extracted a total of 173 teeth, and treated a total of 142 patients at Project Homeless Connect.

Participating at functions such as Project Homeless Connect is important to our mission. Valley Dental Group, and especially Dr. Jordan, make it a point to participate in similar community involvement projects through out the year.

This past November, Dr. Janet Parsons increased the smile-count for one of our patients tremendously. Using the composite bonding on patient’s front teeth that were aged and defective, Dr. Parsons was able to bring a beautiful smile back to life (see before and after images).

Minimize soda pop drinking

No surprise there, right? High consumption of soda or other acidic beverages can lead to enamel loss, which you can’t replace.

Use an electric toothbrush

Remember when electric toothbrushes were expensive? Not anymore. There are several options of electric toothbrushes that are affordable and work great. Using an electric toothbrush causes less damage to your gums, requires you to use less force when brushing, and some even come with a timer so you meet the recommended brushing time.

Avoid chewing ice

Some people make a habit of chewing on ice, but biting on hard substances, such as ice cubes, may cause fractures to the teeth or damage fillings.

Mouth guards for active people

If you’re into active sports such as hockey, then cover those pearly whites. Mouth guards not only protect your teeth, but also other important parts of the mouth: cheeks, gums, and lips. At Valley Dental Group, we specialize in providing our active patients Under Armour Performance Mouthwear.

Protect yourself at night with a Bruxism guard

These are recommended for patients who grind or clench their teeth at night due to stress.

Refrain from using your teeth as tools

Who’s guilty of using their teeth to open a water bottle? No worries, in some way we’re all guilty of thinking our teeth are invincible; however, don’t forget your teeth are important and get a lot action as it is, so avoid using them as a tool. Grab someone with a stronger hand or an actual tool.

We hope these tips were helpful and will be useful in making sure your mouth is healthy in 2012! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

1. Your dental health is our number one priority.

Our mission at Valley Dental Group has always been to help people achieve and maintain optimum dental health. We know offering sedation dentistry services provides our new and existing patients with a solution to healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

2. We’ll make your visit 100% comfortable.

We understand you might feel anxious about visiting the dentist. That’s why it’s important to us to that you feel completely confident when choosing sedation dentistry. We’ll consult with you before and after your procedure––making sure your questions get answered.

3. Your safety is essential to us.

Our experienced, sedation dentist, Dr. Brian Jordan, is trained in oral and IV sedation. He is certified in advanced cardiac life support, and is a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. Throughout your procedure, Dr. Jordan monitors your blood pressure, pulse, oxygen level, and heart rhythm to ensure your safety.

4. We offer financing options.

We know you may be apprehensive about pursuing dental care due to cost. That’s why we offer a variety of cost-effective financing options. We’ll work with you to determine which financing option is right for you so you can get the dental work done that you need.

5. We offer convenient appointment times.

We’re open Monday through Thursday from 7:00am and 7:30pm, on Friday from 7:00am and 4:00pm, and Saturday from 7:30am to 12:30pm.

Contact us today, and we’ll get your sedation dentistry appointment scheduled!

“…the use of pharmacological agents to calm and relax a patient prior to and during a dental appointment. The pharmacological agents usually belong to a class of drugs called sedatives, which exert their action by depressing the central nervous system, specifically those areas concerned with conscious awareness.”

Many people suffer from dental phobia; in fact, 30% of Americans do. Their fear and anxiety keeps them from visiting the dental office, and often causes their dental health to suffer. What they don’t realize is that sedation dentistry was created to address these issues, and to make visiting the dentist a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Perhaps you’re a person who gets anxious at just the thought of visiting the dentist. Maybe you feel embarrassed about neglecting your teeth, or worried you’ll be judged by your dentist for doing so. It’s okay to feel this way, but know that we have helped people just like you overcome their fears before, and can do the same for you.

At Valley Dental Group we define sedation dentistry as the solution to restoring healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. Our experienced sedation dentist, Dr. Brian Jordan, will consult with you, answer all of your questions, and help you determine if sedation dentistry is right for you. Why spend another day suffering from poor dental health when you could wake up tomorrow with a healthy and beautiful smile.

Contact us today and we’ll help you feel confident in your smile again.