Glendale, AZ 85308
The following case was an interesting and fairly difficult root canal procedure from a week ago. I normally see maybe one or two of these cases each week, but it has been almost a month since the last one. My patient was a 67-year old male with no remarkable health conditions. He was experiencing vague …
For patients with chronic gum disease, there are a variety of local antibiotics that promise to improve gum health. Perhaps the most common local antibiotic is Arestin. But, unless you work in the dental field, you have probable never heard of Arestin. So, what is it? Do you really need it? And why is it …
Jokes about dentists abound. The punchline to some of my favorite dentist jokes usually end with dentists as failed or wannabe medical doctors. But, what’s with all of the dentist jokes? Is there any truth to them? Are dentists actually doctors, or are they just pretenders with stethoscope envy? Are Dentists Medical Doctors? Dentists must …
Having sensitive teeth is a common complaint. In most cases, tooth sensitivity is a minor annoyance, but for some it can be a chronic problem. It can be hard to know when a sensitive tooth requires a visit to the dentist. Fortunately, most tooth sensitivity is entirely treatable, and easily solved with only basic interventions. …
Most of us have experienced a toothache before. In most cases, toothaches go away on their own, but once in a while they don’t. Sometimes toothaches are unbearable, and you should see your dentist immediately. But for those mild cases, where the pain is more nuisance than debilitating, how do you know when you should …
My hygienist asks me to evaluate an 86-year old patient who is having difficulty speaking. The word stroke flashes before my eyes. His age, history of diabetes, and high blood pressure are all ominous warnings that my patient is at high risk for a stroke. But, before I discuss my patient any further, let’s review …
There are many ways to replace lost teeth these days. In most cases, nothing provides a better result than dental implants. They look, feel, and function exactly like a natural tooth. With improvements in technology, getting a dental implant has never been easier or less expensive than it is right now. Using a dental implant …
Patients frequently come to me seeking a second opinion. Likewise, many of my patients seek second opinions from other dentists. As an oral healthcare provider, I encourage patients to seek second opinions, especially with large treatment plans. There are many benefits to second opinions, but there can be some pitfalls as well. Two Dentists, Three …
As a dentist, few things are more unnerving than an emergency patient with a missing front tooth or crown. A few weeks ago we had a new patient emergency visit. She had lost the crown on a lateral incisor, one of the small teeth right next to the two front teeth. To make matters worse, …
Dentures have never been an ideal solution to the problem of missing teeth. Although they date back to ancient Egypt, dentures have always been a compromise between having no teeth at all, and mashing your food up between two hockey pucks. The fact is, dentures offer little more than a cosmetic Band-Aid to the crippling …