Health

At the end of each of the past 16 years, I have used this space to publish these 21 Suggestions for Success authored by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.  Cut this out and put it on the refrigerator. Read this list often and take these suggestions to heart. The more of these you...

The two things you’re supposed to do to clean your teeth: Brush & Floss. Any of you have your hygienist get on your case about not flossing? You may be the best brusher in the world, but if you’re not cleaning between your teeth, we know it. Cleaning between the...

If you have kids, and you take them to the dentist, I am sure you have heard about sealants. Many, if not most dentists recommend dental sealants.  A dental sealant is a flowable resin, generally placed on permanent 6 and 12-year molars. It is placed in the grooves on...

Last week I discussed the importance of communication in any relationship, specifically the healthcare provider/patient relationship. Trust is mutually built as this relationship develops over time.  “There’s not enough time in the day.” Have you ever used this...

Patients see things differently than dentists. Often, what is important to dentists is not important to patients and vice versa. This seems like the hysterical discovery of the obvious, but dentists often have a blind spot when it comes to seeing things from a...

Happy Thanksgiving! While we may be giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives, we also often need to battle the stressors.  This time of year always seems more stressful, but stress in general is hard to avoid. We worry about school, work, finances, illness,...

One of the most difficult areas to address as a dentist, are issues concerning aging patients, specifically those who require assisted or nursing care. Dental care tends to suffer with these patients and often leads to failing teeth. Prevention is key. Whether you are...

We all have people we look up to, whether in our personal or professional life. One of those people in my professional life is the late Dr. LD Pankey. Dr. Pankey was a true visionary. There is an advanced dental education institute named after him in Florida, where...

Dentistry is one of those things in life….as with most things…. that people view in different ways. Some are interested in their appearance, some are interested in their health, some both, and others none of the above. A major role of health care providers is to make...

If you missed Part 1 and/or 2 of this series, you can find it at www.thetowncommon.com. I have been writing the past couple weeks about the growing evidence that links oral and systemic disease, and the need for more collaboration between dentists and physicians. All...