Dental pit and fissure sealants are a great way to minimize the potential of cavities forming on permanent molars.  Many insurance companies cover dental sealants on children, and some even cover them on adults!!  As a dentist in Federal Way, we have a long way to go.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2005 on 32% of children aged 6-19 had received dental sealants.  This is so sad considering research statistics show a 78.6-86% reduction in cavities over one to two years when dental sealants are placed!  The same research showed a 58.6% reduction after four years.

What this research means is that as a Federal Way dentist, if more parents had sealants placed on their children’s teeth, we could aid in these children have YEARS of easy, worry-free appointments!  We would see many children making it into adulthood with no cavities whatsoever.

If you have more questions regarding dental sealants for yourself or your children, please contact our office for answers!  The goal for this dentist in Federal Way would be to see our pediatric dental patients ONLY for their routine check-ups and dental cleanings!  We pledge to continue to educate as many as we can to help eradicate cavities in children!

Our wonderful clinical assistant, Lora

As a dentist in Federal Way, I am blessed to have such a remarkable team to partner with in caring for our patients.  Today, we will showcase our wonderful clinical assistant, Lora, who just celebrated her birthday the end of April.

Lora has been with my Federal Way dentist office for over four years.  She has been a life-long resident of Federal Way, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School.  Lora remains active outside of dentistry with many outdoor activities, like snowboarding.  She also loves spending time with her family.

The current study that has gained media attention is one that measured exposure to dental radiation in the 1960′s and 1970′s.  The tumors that they stated take several decades to even develop.  Since the time of the study’s data gathering, dental x-ray film speeds, as well as restrictors within the x-ray head have dramatically reduced the time and the exposure generated while taking a film.  A full mouth series of x-rays(18-20 films) exposes a patient to 1/3 of the radiation of a single chest x-ray.  Digital x-rays reduce that even more.  The dental community, as a whole, has always been on the forefront of safety.  We continue to be diligent and strive to improve safety and the quality of care all the time!

The study, while important in stressing the need for continued vigilance, does not provide a balanced summary.  First, they do not even make the same products that the study cites.  Patients are now draped with lead aprons and thyroid protectors to protect the neck and brain stem.  The study also based its findings on patient “recollection” not scientifically identifying the actual exposure the patients received.  A fellow dental professional made a good analogy….it would be like comparing a 1972 Ford Mustang to a 2012 Ford Mustang.  Our techniques and technologies are even more advanced!

The approach of Dr. Lee and the team at Avalon Family Dentistry as a Dentist in Federal Way, is to look at each and every patient individually.  We do not use a “one approach” fits all philosophy, nor are we an office that simply recommends procedures simply because they are covered by a benefit plan.  If a patient has a low caries rate, there is not a need to take x-rays yearly.  A full mouth series of x-rays may be recommended once very 5-7 yrs and bitewing(check-up) x-rays may only be recommended every 2 years.  For a patient with a HIGH caries rate, the recommendation of yearly x-rays may be the only way for us to help prevent the need for major dental treatment!  You can see by the example

 of x-ray we have provided that many things can be going on, and as a patient, you might not even have symptoms!

• Easter is the second most important holiday to eat candy!  According to the National Confectioner’s Association, Americans consumed seven billion pounds of candy on Easter back in 2001.
• Americans buy more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps during the Easter holiday, which makes Peeps the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
• An astounding 16 billion jelly beans are made exclusively for Easter!  That is enough beans to fill a plastic egg the size of a nine story building!
• In all, 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter every year!  And when taking a bite into one of those bunnies, 76% of Americans prefer to bite off the ears first, while 5% eat the feet first and 4% eat the tail first!

• St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, even though he was born in Britain.
• As a boy of 14, he was captured and taken to Ireland where he spent six years in slavery herding sheep.
• He returned to Ireland in his 30′s as a missionary among the Celtic pagans.
• Legend has it, he used the native shamrock as a symbol of the holy trinity when preaching and brought the Latin alphabet to Ireland
• Legend also has it, he drove the serpents out of Ireland, though evidence suggest post-glacial Ireland never had serpents.
• Wearing green, eating green food, and even drinking green beer, is said to commemorate St. Patrick’s use of the shamrock.
• St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in America in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737.
• Around 34 million modern Americans claim Irish ancestry.
• St. Patrick died on March 17th in 431AD.  It is a national holiday in Ireland, and on the island of Montserret in the Caribbean, which was founded by Irish refugees.
• Dublin has a parade that attracts hundreds of thousands of people.
• In Chicago, the river is dyed green for a few hours.
• The biggest parade in the US is in New York, while the largest celebration in the southern hemisphere is in Sydney, Australia.

As your Federal Way Dentist, we love seeing the amazed looks of joy our patients have once they have whitened their teeth!  There are different types of whitening procedures.  Dr. Lee will discuss with each patient which of the procedures would best suit them and their teeth or if there are any contraindications to teeth whitening.  Patients have the option of either in-office whitening or at-home whitening.  Both are very effective.

Since we strive for superior dental care in Federal Way, we do not recommend just any over the counter whitening products.  We encourage our patients to only use products that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance.  Without that seal, you cannot have complete peace of mind.

We encourage you to consider treating yourself and let your spring and summer start early with a dazzling, white smile!  Be sure to ask us for more details at your next appointment, or call us sooner if you simply don’t want to wait!

Some fun Leap Day facts:

• In 1288, Scotland established this day as one when a woman could propose marriage to a man.  The tradition says if the lucky man says no, he has to by the dejected lady a gift to soften the blow.
• In 1940, Hattie McDaniel was the first black person to win an Oscar.  She won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in “Gone With The Wind”.
• In 1944. Dorothy McElroy became the first woman appointed secretary of a national political party,
• for the Democratic National Committee.
• In 1952, New York City installed its first cross walks at 44th and Broadway in Times Square.
• In 1964, The US was in the grip of Beatlemania!
• Interesting people who were born on February 29th:  Gioacchino Rossini(composer of The Barber of Seville), Jimmy Dorsey(bandleader), John “Pepper” Martin(baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals), Al Rosen(3rd baseman for the Cleveland Indians), Antonio Sabato, Jr.(Actor)

One alarming statistic that we would love to see change is that approximately 80% of tooth decay in the United States is suffered by 25% of the country’s children!  One of the biggest reasons of missed school for children is tooth pain.

Preventive dentistry and overall lifestyle is the key

• early visits to the dentist
• good homecare administered(or at least overseen) by an adult
• well-rounded nutrition
• the use of dental sealants and fluoride in the dental office
• an active, overall lifestyle

On Facebook, we asked what topics were important to you for us to provide for Dental Care in Federal Way.  The resounding answer was nutrition and how it affects dental health.

One very valid concern for us as a Family Dentist Federal Way is the amount of sugary sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, sweetened electrolyte sport drinks, and non-nutritious snacks that are being consumed by children and adults alike.  Another big concern is the consumption of diet sodas containing chemicals that researchers are just now linking all sorts of horrible things to.(This we will discuss in an upcoming Blog)

If you are unsure you are getting the proper amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for your entire body(teeth and gums included), go to the US Department of Agriculture website.  The agency’s recommendations are in place to promote health and prevent cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cancers.

Foods that have sugar can contribute to tooth decay.  Almost all foods, even those considered healthy, have some type of sugar.  That does not mean they should be completely removed from your diet because they may contain other very important nutrients.  You should avoid adding unnecessary sugars to your diet with things like soda, cookies, and candies.

Getting the proper amount of nutrients is also important for your gum health.  If you diet is lacking, it may be difficult for tissues in your mouth to battle infection.  This may contribute to periodontal (gum) disease, a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

What can you pledge this month?

• maintain a healthy diet.  Consider keeping a food diary for a week to analyze your diet.
• Drink water.  An optimum goal is 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water each day.
• Limit between meal snacks.  Keep in mind, most research now backs 5-6 small nutritious meals a day.  This helps maintain a constant blood sugar level and should minimize unhealthy snacking.
• Brush your teeth at least twice per day using a fluoridated tooth paste.
• Floss daily
• See us, your caring team at Avalon Family Dentistry, for your regular dental check-ups.
• If you have concerns or questions, please let us know.

*the ADA website was used as a reference in writing this blog post

Services we use to keep your smile healthy and beautiful:

• General dentistry
• Pediatric dentistry
• Dental hygiene
• Crowns & bridges
• Tooth colored fillings
• Teeth whitening
• Non-surgical periodontal treatment
• Partials
  Dental implant restorations

Caring and quality service is our hallmark. We look forward to meeting you and proving that Avalon Family Dentistry is the right dental home for you and your family. Please contact the team of our Federal Way dentist with any questions you may have or we will be happy to set up an appointment.

Phone:
(253) 941-6365

E-mail:
avalondds@qwestoffice.net

Address:
728 S. 320th Street, Suite E Federal Way, WA 98003

Office Hours:
T/W/Th 8 – 5
Every other Friday 8 – 1