No. I’m not going to tell you to meditate away your dental problems. (That said, meditation, particularly visualization coupled with breathing exercises, can be a great relaxant during a dental procedure.)

“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” 

Paradox #1: I have no pain and yet I'm told I need a root canal.

Paradox #2: Some people report absolutely no pain with a root canal procedure. Other people say they experience pain.

Which Kind of Root Canal Patient Will You Be?

I

In many senses, dental implants are quite revolutionary: Ideally, they can not only look like and feel like your original natural teeth, they look BETTER than your original teeth. Dare we say it? Bionic teeth can be better than natural teeth.

True enough- if the procedure is done correctly, these are teeth that - thanks to the gods of science - will never hurt, never decay and never fall out.

The Secret to Successful Dental Implants: Knowledge

It's well appreciated that when it comes to dental implants, the doctor's knowledge is a powerful factor.  Much less appreciated is the fact that Patient Knowledge is also Power.

From what we have seen in our office, the better educated a patient is about the dental implant process, the more likely we will all experience a successful outcome.

Second Secret to Dental Implant Success? It's a Collaboration

If you are serious about dental implants, we invite you take our small  5 minute survey, "Do You Know Your Dental Implant IQ?"^SM

It is isn't so much a test as an interactive learning tool.

For Those Truly Serious About Dental Implant Success...

We encourage you to check out our 5-10 minute test.  Even if you don't know the answers to the questions , by the end of the survey, you will gain the following:

• A basic understanding of the vocabulary and underlying science of dental implants

• Know the difference between important technical factors vs. marketing factors in dental implant treatment

• Know how  to set your own expectations for a successful dental implant

• Understand the importance of bone to a successful dental implant and steps you can take to preserve that all-important bone.

• Above all, be better prepared to have a meaningful discussion with your dental implant partners.

Finally a dental oral surgeon put together a fab infographic giving you lots of awesome facts about dental implants.  

Now I personally do not  know Dr. Green in Queens New York who put this  marvel of visuals and research together. But it's awesome. 

Want my take on dental implants? We've served many patients with dental implant needs and related oral surgery services.

I can't promise to be this succinct on one page, but I have two great introductions you may be interested with lotsa pictures and illustrations.

Introduction to Dental Implants

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Implants <- Our most popular webpage! 

Dental Implant Video - Animation (Beautifully presented - no medical ickies)

When you have ten minutes, check these out some time!

Dr. Paul

 #No Way #Outta Here #LetsChangeTheSubjectPls #HaveToGoCleanMySockDrawer

 Source: www 

And that's exactly how Dr. Hettinger wants you to feel in the comfortable surrounds of his dental practice.   Shown below, Dr. Hettinger and Pam, his dental assistant of 25 years reassure a patient that the work is nearly complete.

"How are you feeling? We have only 10 minutes left!", Dr. Paul Hettinger assures a patient.On Monday, Feb 11, 2013 at 10 am, Dr. Hettinger completed his 4,000th root canal therapy. From the patient's resting back in the chair to checking-out at the receptionist, it was accomplished in just under 40 minutes.

 Having worked together for years, Dr. Paul and Pam try to work as thoroughly as possible, moving through the procedure efficiently - constantly checking the patient's comfort level. " Root canal therapies cannot be rushed," said Dr. Paul, " When the dentist and assistant have worked together as long and as well as we have, we can be efficient, keeping the patient comfortable the entire time.

True. A root canal treatment is never going to be as popular as say lying on the beach in  the Bahamas. But should you need one done, you can be more confident (and hopefully relaxed) if you know you are in the hands of an experienced dental team.

There's no unhappy tooth we  don't like to quiet down so a patient can return to his or her normal life.   Bring it on!

And you might  also know about dental implants, artificial replacements for your natural teeth. But what if for some reason, you just can't invest in a dental implant at this time?

This blog post is about a  relatively minimal dental procedure that could change what you do when you have a tooth extracted. If you think you will ever want a dental implant where your soon-to-be-gone tooth is, read on... 

Problem: What Really Happens When You Lose a Tooth?

Nobody likes to lose a tooth. And it's pretty obvious that you'll have a gape or hole in your smile. We all know that part.

But did you also know that when you lose a tooth, almost immediately, a natural biological process starts where the bone around the former tooth starts melting away.  That's right. The bone detects that there is no tooth there anymore, so the volume of bone in that immediate area of your mouth decreases. You can lose as much as 60% of the bone volume around an extracted tooth ultimately.

So what you may say? Who is going to see that?

Truthfully, if the tooth is way back inside your mouth, outside "the smile zone", not many are going to see that. (However, you should know that losing a tooth and leaving an empty spot may affect the positioning of your surrounding teeth. Maybe you've heard the old adage, "Nature abhors a vacuum." )

But what if the tooth in is your smile zone?  And what if you can't decide or maybe afford a dental implant to replace the tooth but may want one later? How do you preserve your options?

Solution: Ridge Preservation Preserves Your Dental Options

In my dental practice, when someone has a tooth extracted, I always offer them the option to have a ridge preservation procedure or socket graft done at the time of extraction.  This is a relatively small procedure adding only minutes to the entire treatment.

If you believe there is any chance you may want to replace a tooth with a dental implant later, ridge preservation done at the time of tooth extraction is highly recommended. It not only better guarantees the stability of your dental implant installed later, it increases the chances of a better cosmetic result, allowing the dental implant and crown to look more like your natural tooth. 

Because ridge preservation is so little known to most patients, I've written up a new section on my website.

Check it out: Preserve your options with five minutes of reading!

Related Posts and Other Webilicious Info

Dental Implant Video - Nice Animation!

Dental Implants - Frequently Asked Questions

Front Row ^TM - An Affordable Cosmetic & Dental Alternative for Missing Front Teeth

Swap Out My Sippy Cup!

Oh no. Could it be true? Yes, I'm talking about those darling little pink plastic containers we see kids carrying everywhere, the parent's perfect liquid pacifier for keeping toddlers preoccupied while they go about their daily errands, putting them do for a nap or a night's rest. But it isn't the sippy cup, folks: It's the drink you put inside it. 

According to the survey, some 49% of Americans with kids 4 years old and younger tend to put their kids to bed with a bottle or sippy cup containing milk or juice. The problem is if the cup is filled iwth milk, juice, sweetened water or soft drinks, that can lead to "bottle decay". Recommendation?  To spare those precious baby teeth, fill that bottle with nice, clean water, Mom.

The Three Twos: Toddlers Need Two Minute Tooth Brushings Twice a Day Too!

Delta's survey also found that only 58% of kids had their teeth brushed twice a day and 34% of kids brush less than two minutes. The Delta researchers recommend that parents assist their kids before the age of 6.

Remember: Baby teeth are not expendable! They may ultimately fall out, but until that happens those teeth are extremely important to help your child chew and speak properly. Most important, those teeth are serving as placeholders for the adult teeth to come. Think of your kid's teeth as little guards, holding position (and alignment) until the adult teeth replace them.

Protect Your Child's Teeth... by Taking Care of Your Own Teeth 

It's a natural act of parenting that we share food with our kids. The Delta survey found that some 75% of parents say they share utensils such as a spoon, fork or glass with a child. But of course! Now what in the apple-pie-and-motherhood is wrong with that, Mr. Dentist?

The problem is if parents have harmful, caries-inducing bacteria in their mouth they can transfer that to the child with their saliva. If you as a parent go the dentist regularly, get your cleanings and keep good oral hygeine, there's probably little problem. Dentists certainly do not want to interfere with your parental instincts but- hey - isn't protection of your baby's teeth another good reason to check in and maintain your own dental health? Just sayin.

You can read the official release describing the survey finding here. Have a good read!  Better yet, take a few minutes to check your habits in caring for those precious little mouths..including your own!

Related Posts

For Kids Only: Win a Special Prize for Brushing Your Teeth

At What Age Should You Take Your Baby For a First Dentist Visit?

MouthPower Online: A Cool Way to Teach Your Kids About Teeth & Mouth Care

Is Your Pre-School Offering Toothbrushing Time?

 Hey there!

Here's the deal*.  First, click on that big blue :Love Your Teeth" button with the smiling tooth on it that's on top of this page. After clicking, you will be taken to a parent-approved safe website that will make you a brushing chart and calendar with your name on it.  You can print this out on your printer.

Your assignment? Brush your teeth twice a day!  Each time, after you brush, give yourself a checkmark on the nifty calendar. 

When you have a perfect score (that's 60 crayon marks, two for each day), bring the chart into our office and we'll give you your prize! 

You can enter up to three times for up to three (3) prizes!

Good luck in winning!

Doctor Paul, Pam, Jayne, Shannon and Maria

* Contest is limited to children 12 years old or less and who are also current patients of Dr. Paul Hettinger. One child may enter up to three times (3) maximum. (Hey - if you can brush your teeth perfectly for 3 months in a row, you win the biggest prize: Healthy teeth!)

 ** LoveYourTeeth.net is a public service of Dentist Advisor