Dental Procedures

These third molars, when they grow in properly, have optimal bite alignment and healthy gum tissue are very useful for chewing. However, as the human jaw has evolved and adapted over thousands of years, our mouths have become smaller. In many cases, there simply isn’t room for these third molars in the modern mouth.

Exploring the Use of Physical Restraint in Pediatric Dentistry You may have seen the recent segment on CBS Channel 13 in reference to a child who was physically restrained during his dental treatment. This incident has sparked a heated debate. Why do Pediatric Dentists sometimes use physical restraints? (Often referred to as ‘Papoose Boards’) Under […]

Cell Phone Use in the Dental Office. When is it appropriate and when does it pose a danger to the patient? Cell phones are everywhere. Not so long ago, phones were assigned to the kitchen wall. You could only travel as far as the cord would allow. Now, we take our cell phones with us […]

How do Dentists keep Mercury out of our water supply? This is the third article in a series about dental amalgams. Read about the History of Dental Amalgams. The second in the series is Proper Use and Safety of Amalgams. How do Dentists keep Mercury out of our water supply? What about other metals? What […]

Is there BPA in my child’s fillings? BPA (Bisphenol A) has been in the news quite often recently.  Large doses used in experiments showed it had an adverse effect on brain and sexual development.  Environmental groups asked the FDA to ban BPA from use in the United States.  It has been blamed for a variety […]

Dental radiographs, or x-rays, are sometimes recommended by your child’s Pediatric Dentist. As a parent, you naturally have concerns about exposing your child to radiation.  Are dental x-rays safe for my child? Are they even necessary for children?  Here are some clear answers for parents: Is it really necessary for my child to have a dental x-ray? […]

How dental x-rays work.  X-Rays are beams of ionizing radiation.  They are invisible.  Ionizing radiation contains particles that carry sufficient kinetic energy to release an electron from an atom or molecule, thus converting it to an ion. Ionizing radiation exists all around us; we absorb the radiation equivalent to 4 dental bite-wing x-rays in slightly […]

How safe is your visit to the dentist?  In light of the recent Tulsa, Oklahoma case of Dr. W. Scott Harrington, who is accused of potentially exposing over 7,000 patients to Hepatitis and HIV, many are left wondering ’Is it safe to visit the dentist?’ According to Tulsa World, Dr. Harrington, an oral surgeon and […]