Aesthetic General Dentistry's Blogspot

Children & Bad Breath, Part III

2011-10-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

Dyes in some oral care products may contribute to ADHD.

Some oral care products (especially children's) such as mouthwash, toothpaste and gum often contain dyes to give them an attractive and bright appearance. There's nothing wrong with a product wanted to be appealing to eye, right? Well, there might be. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will gather a panel of health care experts to discuss whether or not these dyes are linked to attention-deficit

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children & Bad Breath, Part II

2011-10-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

When is the best time to take your child to the dentist? According to parents, it's winter. This is a time when the child has gotten used to his or her school routine. Many parents agree, according to a survey done by a dental care advocacy group, Oral Health America. Their survey showed that 63 percent of parents feel that taking their children to the dentist close to the beginning of the academic school year is either extremely or very important. This is a way to get kids ready to go back to school with a clean bill of dental health, thus avoiding problems such as cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Eighty-nine percent of parents surveyed also believe that regular trips to the dentist are vital to their children's overall good health. The survey conducted by Oral Health America was done as part of the group's Fall for Smiles campaign. It is a campaign that hopes to connect communities to resources that can help them improve overall oral health.

Monitoring your child's (or children's) oral health habits and being on the lookout for halitosis-causing illnesses. For older people, dry mouth is fairly common and often leads to bad breath, and as we get older, our production of saliva decreases. However, when bad breath is found in children, the cause is often as simple as not having proper oral care habits -- brushing properly.

Any parent will agree, getting a child to thoroughly brush his or her teeth (or at all) can be quite challenging. As busy as parents are with life in general, often we assume that kids are brushing their teeth when they aren't. Try a brushing schedule for both parent and child where it's a group activity done twice daily. Brushing your teeth together could be fun, and then you can not only check on their little one's method and brushing technique but also serve as an example.

Children & Bad Breath, Part I

2011-09-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

Bad breath (halitosis) is often something that adults are aware of, but did you know that children can have halitosis, too? For you parents out there, here is a bit more detail about kids and bad breath.
The most common cause of halitosis in children is simple plaque buildup. It's almost impossible to ensure that children are brushing, flossing and rinsing thoroughly and twice daily. Missed brushings leave the mouth primed for bacteria in the mouth to multiply, thus causing oral odor.
Another is the fact that many children put foreign objects in their mouths -- it's a way for them to learn. Blankets, hair, toys and pacifiers add more bacteria-rich cultures that will grow on the surface of the tongue. Whether it's due to a stuffy nose or to the fact that the baby just has a habit of breathing with the mouth open, breathing through the mouth can dry out saliva. Without this oxygen-rich liquid, anaerobic bacteria can breed quickly, causing bad breath.
The best course of action is to try to monitor the daily regime of proper oral care twice a day. I recommend that kids use 100% Xylitol Mints or Chewing Gums 4-5 times a day to help improve halitosis (and this will significantly lower the decay risk at the same time).

Invisalign vs Veneers

2011-08-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Image by brittanysoup via Flickr

Comfort, esthetics, and treatment time have always been the primary concerns for the adult patient when it comes to orthodontic treatment. Invisalign, when compared to other teeth straightening options, has been shown to solve many of these concerns.

Veneers have been used for a long time to address many cosmetic dental concerns. Invisalign and veneers cannot necessarily be compared directly with each other even though they address many of the same problems. Veneers are considered a “quick fix” for a whole host of dental issues including crowding, gaps between teeth, overlapping of teeth, irregular alignment, discoloration, tooth-size discrepancies, etc.

The major advantage of Invisalign is that it is virtually impossible to see while it is being worn and at the same time it is taking care of alignment and crowding problems that could be affecting the overall health of your teeth. It is not faster than getting veneers, but over a lifetime Invisalign is a much better value since it does not have to be redone over and over again. Straighter teeth means it is much easier to maintain your teeth for a lifetime – less food, plaque and debris getting stuck in those crowded, overlapped areas. Veneers are a quick fix and sometimes are an excellent option, but nearly all of Dr. Derenzy’s patients have a discussion about the benefits of having teeth straightened before any type of cosmetic smile enhancement.

Even if veneers are needed, for whatever reason, properly aligning the teeth with Invisalign can decrease the total number of veneers needed and/or improve the appearance of veneers placed by closing gaps, reducing crowding and more ideally aligning teeth. This can result in a significant cost savings. So, before you go to the dentist for veneers, see Dr. Derenzy for a free consultation to review your options for avoiding veneers or at least limiting them. Often, Dr. Derenzy can straighten your teeth with Invisalign and this will be all you would need. If veneers are still necessary to correct cosmetic defects after Invisalign, the veneer preparations on your teeth can be much more conservative, leaving more of your natural tooth behind.

Kids should not consume energy drinks

2011-07-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice article from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the negative effects of Energy Drinks. You've all seen the 5-hour energy commercials on TV by now. The confusion is that kids playing sports often think these are the same thing as Gatorade, which is far from the truth. Read on, learn more, and drink water while you're doing it....

Yours in dental health - Dr. Derenzy

June 20, 2011
AAP: Kids should not consume energy drinks
Water should be the source of hydration for children and adolescents
By Karen Fox, ADA News staff

Dentists routinely caution patients about the over-consumption of soda pop, juice and sports drinks that pack little if any nutritional value and take a toll on teeth.

Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is taking aim at energy and sports drinks, saying that in most cases, kids don’t need them and some products contain substances that can be harmful to children.

In the June issue of Pediatrics, the report’s co-authors point out the differences between sports drinks and energy drinks.

Sports drinks—which contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring—are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. Sports drinks can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activities, but in most cases they are unnecessary on the sports field or in the school lunchroom.

“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,” said Holly J. Benjamin, M.D., co-author. “Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay. It’s better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”

Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine.

Caffeine—by far the most popular stimulant—has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Benjamin and co-author Marcie Beth Schneider, M.D. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.

“In many cases, it’s hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label,” Dr. Schneider said. “Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.”

Routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted, AAP recommends, because they can increase the risk of overweight and obesity, as well as dental erosion. Water, not sports drinks, should be the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.

“There is a lot of confusion about sports drinks and energy drinks, and adolescents are often unaware of the differences in these products,” said Dr. Schneider. “Some kids are drinking energy drinks—containing large amounts of caffeine—when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise. This means they are ingesting large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which can be dangerous.”

Frequent drinking of soft drinks may be linked to obesity, diabetes and dental erosion, said Dr. Brett Dorney, a dentist and past president of the Academy of Sports Dentistry. The consumption of these drinks has increased 300 percent in the last 20 years, and serving sizes have ballooned from 185 grams in the 1950s to 500 grams in the 1990s.

“Sports drinks have erosive potential,” Dr. Dorney said, adding that the degree of damage will be influenced by the pattern of consumption, salivary flow rates, saliva buffering capacity, pellicle formation and the tooth surface’s chemical composition.

“Athletes will most often consume sports drinks after exercise when the volume and protective effects of saliva will be reduced,” said Dr. Dorney. “The erosive acids in sports drinks have the ability to dissolve even fluoride-rich enamel, which normally inhibits dissolution by the weaker acids, causing caries.”

Dr. Dorney encourages his colleagues in dentistry to caution patients—and parents of young patients—about the negative properties of sports drinks.

“To minimize dental problems, advise parents and athletes to hydrate with water before, during and after sports,” he said.

If sports drinks are consumed:

reduce the frequency and contact time;
swallow immediately and do not swish them around the mouth;
rinse mouthguards only in water;
seek out dentally friendly sports drinks;
discuss training and hydration protocol with a dentist.

Spring is in the air

2011-03-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Ah, Spring. The season of renewal is fast upon us. With all the wind & rain in Central Oregon, it's hard to imagine the sunny days ahead. However, camping and concerts are here very soon. Healthy smiles and your healthy lifestyles go hand in hand for Springtime. Did you know that the Mayo Clinic states that treating dental disease adds 10 years to your life?

If you are overdue for a visit, of if you know someone who doesn't have a great dentist, please call for a convenient appointment. Spring into action - even if it's a Spring "Cleaning" for your teeth.

Smile more today! Artistic Bonding in just one visit.

2011-02-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

I restored a nice lady's front teeth this morning in just over an hour. She had worn them down from a grinding habit, and her old brown fillings were falling out, staining and just weren't cutting it for her anymore. Voila! Hand her the mirror and she was amazed. "My teeth haven't ever looked this good in my entire life!" Composite resin bonding has come a long way with new technology. They are inferior to all-porcelain crowns and veneers in that they won't last as long, but they are also more affordable.

A lot of my patients in Redmond and Central Oregon are looking for more affordable dentistry options. I'm glad to offer a full list of options to my patients so that they can make a decision that fits their budget for today's economy. They always know that when their financial situation gets better, I am here to do the work they want when they want it. Dentistry doesn't have to be a big sales pitch - just give them their options and let them decide what they want.

"I REALLY don't want braces!"

2011-01-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

If you're not happy with your smile braces may be the way to go. I don't offer braces in my practice, but do offer Invisalign. However, Invisalign is not always the best option. I have seen patients with severe malocclusions (bad bites)and severe crowding that cannot be predictably treated with Invisalign.

If you REALLY don't want braces, but your teeth are beautiful but are in the wrong place, the most conservative treatment is... you guessed it, BRACES.

Nowadays, our amazing local orthodontists can provide you a straight new smile in less time than ever before. New wires and brackets move the teeth so smoothly and comfortably that it's a no-brainer for many patients. If you are worried about the "Brace Face" comments, my advice to you is "Get over it!" I'd much rather see my family member endure some harmless teasing while wearing braces than have to cut healthy tooth structure down with my burs and place crowns to give the appearance of straight teeth. PLEASE - be conservative with your teeth if you are young and GO GET BRACES! In a little over a year in most cases, you'll have a new smile you can be proud of for a lifetime.

Okay, now I'll get down off my soapbox.

New Office Sign Ideas

2011-01-17T10:16:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to brainstorm ideas for a new sign for my office. We are located up against the Maple Ave. overpass across from Wal-mart, so my visibility is limited. I can get a pole-mounted sign that stands up tall for the drivers on Maple to see, and can be seen within my parking lot.

I'm thinking I need the word "Dentistry" in big bold letters at the top. Website address of www.RedmondTeeth.com should be easy to remember. Any other opinions or thoughts would be most welcome. I just need people to know there's a dentist here, so simple is better.

2011 - Rejuvenate your smile

2011-01-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

Start your year off right with Teeth Whitening! We offer in-office whitening with Zoom! Advanced Power, which takes about 1.5 hours total chair time. You can also whiten at home with our Day White system, for only 15 minutes a day for 2 weeks. Same results either way, but Zoom! seems to be preferred by most since it is fast and you don't have to wear their trays other than for touch-up whitening every 4-6 months for a couple of days.

It is amazing what whiter teeth can do for your self-esteem and confidence.

If you have mild crowding or a crooked smile, porcelain veneers can simultaneously straighten and enhance your smile. Sometimes this is marketed to the public as "Instant Orthodontics." I personally like to be as conservative as possible, so sometimes Orthodontia is still the best option, which is Invisalign in my office. Straightening teeth first will give the longest lasting result, as it is easier to keep your gums and teeth healthy. However, mild crowding and spacing can be corrected in as little as 2 visits with gorgeous, natural looking porcelain veneers or crowns. Come and see me for a free cosmetic evaluation. We can discuss your options and come up with a payment plan that fits your budget.

Christmas Morning with Dr.D's girls

2010-12-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

Cute video from this weekend - just click the title. No tomboys in my household. They are girlie-girls all the way.

Bye Bye 2010

2010-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

2010 brought a couple of milestones for me personally. One was my 5th year anniversary of opening my practice here in Redmond. That took place in October. AND, my oldest daughter Sophia celebrated her 5th Birthday on December 22.

Changes wrought in our office this year are numerous. We have implemented CariFree products in our office (www.CariFree.com), meaning we can actually cure the bacterial infection that causes cavities. We are selling WaterPiks from the office so we know when you leave you are taking big steps in improving your gum health. We are making Emax porcelain crowns with our new porcelain sintering oven, which are as strong as metal crowns. These are still completed in a single visit, saving you a 2 week wait and the need for a temporary crown. We can even fabricate veneers for cosmetic rejuvenation of your smile.

I can't believe how time flies. We have enjoyed the ride, with all the ups & downs. If these past five years are any indication, then the next five will go by even faster.

Happy Holidays to everyone, and have a safe New Year's Eve. We will see you in 2011!

Project Connect - Dentistry Giving back to Central Oregon's Needy

2010-09-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I had the privilege to work alongside some amazing people at the Deschutes County Expo Center. The event was Project Connect (formerly known as Project Homeless Connect) and it was a great effort on the part of many local medical care providers, veternarians, pharmacists and many other organizations. All of this was provided to people free of charge. I worked in one of the Dental Vans helping people with severe tooth pain and infections, providing extractions. The line of folks waiting to be seen by dentists was probably the longest one I saw there. I worked from noon until six and some of these people had been waiting there since 10 in the morning. Everyone was SO appreciative of our efforts on their behalf, and it was truly rewarding to lend them our talents and training for one day. Thank you to everyone that participated and made such a huge impact on the lives of so many in such a short amount of time.

"I floss" Bumper Stickers

2010-09-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

I had some "I floss" oval-shaped white and black bumper stickers printed up if anyone wants one. Just stop by the office and ask for one. They're only 4 inches long and look good on the window of your car, or anywhere else you care to put them.

Typhoon Restaurant Teams with the Opportunity Foundation

2010-08-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

If you love Thai food, you can help raise money for the Opportunity Foundation. On the first Tuesday of every month, Typhoon donates a portion of their lunch and dinner proceeds directly to the Foundation. The Opportunity Foundation supports those with disabilities, so this is a very nice gesture on the part of Typhoon. Go eat some great food on Tuesday, September 7 and make a difference in someone's life at the same time!

Movie of the Average Dental Patient

2010-08-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Click the title above to watch this hilarious movie. A dentist somewhere put this together after dealing with a patient. I can relate to this SO well it's scary. Let me know if it strikes you as funny (or offensive), but I had to post this to let you see what we as dentists deal with on a weekly basis.

Dr. Bill Robbins in Central Oregon

2010-07-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

What a great two days of lecture at the Riverhouse Convention Center! Dr. Bill Robbins and his family flew out here to lecture to 40 lucky dentists and their staff for two days. Some of our area specialists, including Periodontists, Oral Surgeons & Orthodontists were there as well. What this means to our patients is a more streamlined approach to smile design and cosmetic outcomes. As a dentist, no one else can put the teeth in the smile. No amount of plastic surgery, Botox or Restylane can improve the smile without your cosmetic dentist! So if you have cosmetic needs or know anyone who does, have them come see me for a complimentary aesthetic evaluation of their smile.

No new cavites - For LIFE!

2010-06-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

How much would you pay to stop getting cavities? There's an amazing new company based in Salem, OR called CariFree(Oral BioTech). Click the Title of the post above and it will take you straight to their website. I've been directing a lot of my patients to check out their Treatment Rinse, Treatment Kits and for kids they have great products like Xylitol Lollipops, gums, mouth sprays, etc. Use these to shift the balance of 'bad' bacteria back to 'good' bacteria. Your mouth will become acid-neutral, so no way you can get cavities. Couple this with the hardening properties and anti-cavity potential that Fluoride gives to enamel, and you would only have to worry about gum disease. See, there would still be a reason for you to come see your dentist, even if you never had a cavity again.

How many of you would like the convenience of purchasing these products directly from my office? I have hesitated to do this, as I don't want people thinking I'm selling stuff just to make a profit. But, if I can offer prices that are less than the CariFree website and their shipping charges, I'm glad to do it.

Volunteer Dentistry at COCC

2010-05-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I finally made it over to the COCC Dental Assisting Clinic, where Dental Assisting students get live patient experiences. Volunteers in Medicine screens patients in need, and they are seen for emergency dental care (aka extractions). We treated approximately 10 patients from 8am until 2pm, and the students were AWESOME! This wasn't their first rodeo, as the term is coming to an end. I have heard from reliable sources that it is very chaotic in there when they first start seeing patients as the year begins for them. It is a small clinic with four treatment chairs. We are very excited to see the new facility when the Allied Science building is completed in the next couple of years.

A big thank you to Lynn Murray, Kristi Hammerquist and Deb Davies for all of their hard work with these students. They will be working on Central Oregonians in the near future and our dental practices are better because of their program. Kudos!

New Porcelain Oven in our office

2010-05-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

At the Oregon Dental Conference, I finally purchased a Porcelain Furnace! This allows me to customize our CEREC single-visit crowns with stains and glaze for even more gorgeous effect. For our teeth-grinders, I can fabricate eMax Lithium Disilicate crowns in office now. These eMax crowns are so hard that you can strike them with a hammer and they won't break. (Not recommended doing this in your mouth, by the way).

This has been an investment that I've been looking forward to for some time now. It allows me to incorporate so much artistry in my restorations. This is why I became a dentist and this new technology is incredible. If you need a crown, ask me to show you the oven and how we customize your crown with shades, Stains and gradient chromas to give natural, life-like character to your teeth It will amaze you to see how much detail goes into one crown.

Proof that even Dental Personnel see the Dentist

2010-04-29T12:41:00.001-07:00

Here's proof that Jessica has dental needs too. Doesn't that make everyone just have a warm fuzzy to see her on the receiving end of a dental impression? Puts a smile on my face.

April is National Stress Awareness Month

2010-04-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

There must be a reason that National Stress Awareness Month and National Humor Month go hand in hand. After all, the first day of the month is April Fool's Day. I debated on whether to saran wrap the door to my bedroom this morning to get my wife to walk into it, but decided this was not a battle I would win. It would have only been funny to one of us!

To bring attention to this month's theme in our office, I'll pose the following question: Do you wake up in the morning feeling fabulous? Not many do, and I've found great success with a night guard system that I use to reduce the clenching and grinding activity in many of my patients. Check out the website, www.HeadachePrevention.com. It shows some excellent illustrations about how our NTI-TSS night guard works to reduce muscle tension and headaches. What better gift to give to your husband or wife than reduced headaches? We see about a 70% reduction in symptoms after 8 weeks of use of the NTI-TSS system. This is a great treatment for National Stress Awareness Month.

March is Nutrition Awareness Month in our office

2010-03-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Heidi and Jessica have come up with some entertaining monthly themes for 2010. This will give us a reason to discuss certain things, and hopefully add some fun to your visits with us.

This month is Nutrition Awareness Month. We've put some samples of 100% Xylitol gum on the front counter of the office. This is truly one of the best ways I know of to help reduce the acids in your mouth that cause cavities. Chewing 8 grams of 100% Xylitol a day (2 pieces, four times a day) is proven to reduce decay. Great stuff for parents with little ones. When you share forks, spoons, etc, you are transferring the bacteria from your mouth to theirs. Did you know that infants have "sterile" mouths - meaning they are not prone to decay until inoculated by someone else. Chewing Xylitol gums or sucking on mints has been shown to prevent the transmission of the bacteria that cause decay to your kiddos.

Obviously, good healthy foods, like apples, lettuce, celery, carrots, etc will have a natural cleansing ability due to their fibrous nature. Green Tea has been shown to improve gum health, via antioxidants.

All in all, just good information to have for you and your family. Check out the Academy of General Dentistry's website for the public: www.KnowYourTeeth.com for more information.

No Patients...No worries

2010-03-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

Slow day at the office, so went for a hike at Smith Rock to blow off steam today. Man, I had forgotten how amazing that place is. Only 10 minutes from the office to boot.

Great day for a hike

2010-02-27T10:00:00.001-08:00

Going to put in a strenuous 2 mile hike today with Sophia. ;) I think her little legs can do it - she did 2 miles last week, and I sure don't want to carry her. Great day today - 50 degrees, sunny, and new snow on the mountains.

Two Front Crowns In One Visit. . . Just a Good Feeling.

2010-02-16T13:31:00.000-08:00

We just completed two brand new front crowns this morning in a single visit for the nicest little old lady. Utilizing CAD/CAM, I was able to fabricate and customize two gorgeous all-Porcelain crowns for her. I love my CEREC. Otherwise, she would have waited 3 weeks to have the lab-made crowns sent to us, and possibly not have a good color match which would send the crowns back to the lab again. Not to mention, a goopy impression and two plastic temporary crowns in order to give the lab all the information they would need.

I know a lot of patients hate coming to the dentist, but I gotta say - Modern Dentistry is amazing! I just love what I get to do every day.

Dr.D organizes Fly Fishing Trip on the Upper Deschutes for July

2010-01-18T20:00:00.001-08:00

What could scare fish more than a group of 15 dentists? In July, a fantastic clinician and wonderfully entertaining lecturer will be visiting Bend for a two-day Continuing Education Extravaganza. Bill Robbins will be sure to "wow" our local and over-the-mountain dentists the weekend of July 23. On Sunday, July 25, I'm organizing fly-fishing walk-in trip to the Upper-D for $150 each. Scott Cook at Fly & Field Outfitters will be hooking us up (pun intended) with all the gear and licenses, not to mention streamside lunch. As we say in Texas, "Hook 'Em!"

Give Kids a Smile in our office Friday, Feb 5th

2010-01-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Vicki and all of those people behind the scenes, we will be providing free dental care ro local children for the 5th year in a row! Typically we donate about 6 or 7 hours of our staff and doctor's time and roughly $4,000 worth of care. A great cause with great people working together.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here's to 2010 being a great year, and great start to the next decade! My youngest daughter Olivia turns 1 tomorrow, so it's already starting off good.

Dr. D lands his first Steelhead ! YeeHaw!

2009-11-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

What a day on the Lower D! Can't wait to get out again. Thanks John.

NeighborImpact & Dr. Derenzy - Partnering to make a difference

2009-10-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

From now until December 18, our office will give you $25 towards your bill for 5 or more items of non-perishable food you bring to our office. NeighborImpact will be picking these items up from our office and distributing them to those in need. As you all know, organizations like NeigborImpact are kept extremely busy in these challenging economic times. Every year at this time, we try to find a way to make an impact on people's lives. This is our effort this year, so please help us make this a huge success.

Simply drop off 5 non-perishable food items at our office and we'll give you a credit of $25 on your account. It's that easy. Thanks for your continued support and helping us make a difference in our great community.

Last year NeighborImpact reported that each month over 12,500 families accessed the food bank to help meet their needs.
In 2007 NeighborImpact's Food Bank distributed over 1.4 Million pounds of food to its network of local agencies.
Each month in Central Oregon over 7,800 people rely upon emergency food boxes for some of their food needs
40% of the people who depend upon emergency food boxes are children under the age of 18

Sugar Bugs Poop

2009-10-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

I was thinking that I should publish a children's book, taking the idea from the bestselling book, "Everyone Poops!" My book will be called "Sugar Bugs Poop," and I will have funny illustrations of Sugar Bugs on teeth, and how kids and parents can get rid of them. Might be a best-seller for parents and dentist reception rooms. What do you think?

Dental Implant Surgery Date Rescheduled to Dec 3 & 4

2009-10-09T23:10:00.001-07:00

ATTENTION: The dates for the In-office Dental Implant Day have moved to Dec 3 & 4. Since I need to identify a total of 24 implants to be completed over two days in my office, I need time to find good candidates.

I am providing these implants at very reasonable fees (savings of around $1,000 per implant and crown). I'm also offering FREE Oral Conscious Sedation (normally $99) for these two dates. Think sleepy pill.

This is a win-win situation - great for patients that need implants to replace missing teeth or to tighten up their loose dentures AND great for me, as I can place implants again. I'll be sure to update the blog when we are approaching our goal of 24. Call Heidi at 923-2880 or email at info@DerenzyDental.com to set up a free consultation appointment.

We are asking for a minimum deposit of $500 to reserve a spot on Dec 3 or 4. For my fellow engineers, learn more about implants at http://www.biohorizons.com/documents/ML0131_Patient_Guide.pdf

Still need Dental Implant cases

2009-10-06T11:42:00.001-07:00

We are fast approaching October 22 & 23 - the two days that I have set aside for strictly placing dental implants. Currently, we have identified a solid 10 cases, and need to ramp up to a total of 24. We are offering the implants at a HUGE discount right now, which will make anyone that needs them quite happy. I estimate we'll save you about $1,000 per implant and crown when it is all completed. Please tell anyone that you know to contact Heidi at 923-2880 if they are interested in a free consultation.

Flossing - Yes you need to floss!

2009-09-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a tip on flossing from me: It takes 21 Days to make a habit, so..... need I say more. Do you shower once a day? Or at least 3-4 times a week? Get a suction-cup mirror and stick it in the shower. Leave your floss in the shower on the shampoo rack and floss in the shower as part of your daily hygiene regimen. Give it a try and see if you can make it a routine. Overall health will improve, and you'll have more energy by reducing inflammation in your body.

AGD:FACTSHEET Compiled for you by the Academy of General Dentistry

FLOSSING

Do I really need to floss?

Yes! Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Flossing is the single most important weapon gainset plaque and, in some ways, more important than the toothbrush. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chance of keeping them for a lifetime and decrease the chance of getting gum disease. Many people don’t spend enough time flossing and many never have been taught the proper way to fl oss. Floss at least once a day and spend at least two or three minutes.

Which type of floss is the best?

Dental floss comes in many forms: waxed and unwaxed, flavored and unflavored, wide and regular. They all clean and remove plaque. Wide floss, also known as dental tape, may be helpful for people with a lot of bridgework and is usually recommended when the spaces between teeth are wide. Waxed floss might be easier to slide between tight teeth with very little space between. The unwaxed floss, however, makes a squeaking sound to let you know your teeth are clean. Bonded unwaxed floss does not fray as easily as regular unwaxed floss, but does tear more than waxed floss.

How should I floss?

The spool method: Take an 18-inch piece of floss and wind the bulk of the floss lightly around the middle finger. (Don’t cut off your finger’s circulation!) Wind the rest of the floss similarly around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger takes up the fl oss as it becomes unusable. Maneuver the floss between teeth with your index fingers and thumbs. Bring the floss up and down several times forming a “C” shape around the tooth being sure to go below the gum line.

The loop method: This method is suited for children or adults with less nimble hands, poor muscular coordination or arthritis. Take an 18-inch piece of floss and make it into a circle. Tie it securely with three knots. Place all of the fingers, except the thumb, within the loop. Use your index fingers to guide the floss through the lower teeth, and use your thumbs to guide the floss through the upper teeth, going below the gum line forming a “C” on the side of the tooth.

Do I need a waterpick?

Waterpicks should not be used as a substitute for brushing and flossing. They are effective, however, around orthodontic braces that retain food in areas a toothbrush cannot reach. Unlike
flossing, waterpicks do not remove plaque. Dentists frequently recommend waterpicks for people with gum disease.

Steens Mountain Camping

2009-09-20T21:09:00.001-07:00

We made it to see the Wallowas in July, and then over Labor Day, made it to the Steens. Phenomenal scenery - caught some fish from the float tube in Fish Lake. Other than the washboard gravel road that rattled my teeth and a few screws loose on the tent trailer, it was a great trip.

I Need Your Help! In-office Dental Implant Training Candidates needed!

2009-07-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

I have finally decided to begin placing dental implants in my office. I waited until we had enough patients in our practice to start offering this service, and we have reached that benchmark. I diagnose quite a few implants, because of their extremely high success rate over the long term.

WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT? Well, the picture to the left is what an implant looks like typically. If you are missing a tooth, the implant is placed gently where the root of your tooth was and is allowed to heal for a period of time before a crown is placed on top of it. A simple, beautiful solution because the teeth on either side of the missing tooth are not damaged. Implants would be my first choice WAY before a bridge for this reason. Implants do not get cavities, and success rates are near 99% at the 10 year mark, making it the most successful process in dentistry for the long term. They also are used to support dentures and can help them "click" or "snap" into place. This is a life changing process for denture wearers (or sufferers). Did you know that implants for denture wearers actually stops the bone loss and associated facial shrinkage that occurs after tooth loss?!

I need your help to get the ball rolling. I must identify 24 implant cases amongst our patients. The beauty of this process is that the implants are actually placed here in my office, AND I will be doing them at a HUGE DISCOUNT. The savings will be roughly $500-$1000 compared to the typical cost.

If you have any friends or relatives that are missing one or more teeth, or have loose dentures they hate wearing, I want to see them! I can do a free consultation which will take approximately 40 minutes to see if they're a candidate for dental implants. Thanks for your help! I am so excited to start offering this amazing service - I've been feeling like a little kid in a candy store since making the decision! :)

Back from Wallowa Lake Vacation

2009-07-03T16:02:00.001-07:00

Other than 9 hours to get there with a fairly cooperative baby girl that cried off & on, our first visit to Northeastern Oregon was phenomenal. We stayed for 5 nights in Wallowa Lake Campground, complete with playground, water bumper cars, arcades, restaurants, and the town of Joseph only 6 miles away. Breathtaking views from every vantage point, and I woke early each morning and caught one fish each day out of the South Wallowa River. Perfect weather - their warmest week of the year and we didn't see a single cloud. Reminded me of when we have visitors to Bend on the nicest days and they think it's like that all the time. The locals of Joseph were very friendly and we liked this camping trip better than last year's to Yosemite. Enjoy your July 4th weekend & be safe!

Mountain Biking from Swampy to Home

2009-06-08T14:48:00.001-07:00

Here's a short video of my Monday biking excursion: Swampy Snow Park to Swede Ridge Shelter to Shooting Star Shelter to Upper & Lower Whoops to Kent's to Ben's to Phil's TH and then 2 miles home. Great day today.

June - Recognizing National Men's Health Month

2009-06-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

For the entire month of June, we are recognizing National Men's Health Month. Mainly, we are focusing on our typical routine blood pressure screenings, making sure our patients have had a check up with a family doctor, and evaluating our male patients for snoring problems. I personally sleep with a TAP3 appliance in my mouth at night, which brings my chin forward and prevents my tongue from falling back. This opens up my airway when I'm sleeping, and eliminates my awful snoring (at least my wife says it's awful, and I'm inclined to believe her).

We now know that many of the sudden Heart Attacks that occurs in relatively healthy middle-aged men occur in the middle of the night, oftentimes when they get up to go to the bathroom. These Heart Attacks can many times be traced to Obstrutive Sleep Apnea (OSA) because of the multiple times these folks wake up gasping for air due to lack of oxygen to the brain. The heart works harder in OSA patients, and this can lead to heart failure. Scary stuff, but a simple Sleep Study can often determine if OSA can be treated with simple TAP3 mandibular repositioner. Ask me about this, or tell anyone you care about that snores!!! At least you'll sleep better at night!

Pics from Memorial Camping Trip

2009-05-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of my daughters during our weekend excursion to the Metolius. Can you guess which one is mine amongst the pics of the three? All of my friends have girls too, so plenty of playmates are around to keep them occupied. I'm surrounded by girls - ALL OF MY WAKING MOMENTS! Jeez! They sure are cute though!

Memorial Weekend - Camping Time!

2009-05-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

The Derenzy's are heading out to the Metolius this weekend for some much-needed outdoor time! Olivia, my four month old, got kicked out of our bedroom last night, b/c the Pediatrician said we can officially let her "cry it out" now. I'm game, as is my wife Lamar - so she's in the spare bedroom now. We'll see how she behaves for two days of camping. Green Drake hatch should be coming off on the Metolius, so maybe can actually catch some fish as well. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, as the weather should be pristine. Until next week. . .

We're Raising Awareness in May about the Number One Killer of Women - Cardiovascular Disease

2009-05-15T09:31:00.001-07:00

Even though Mother's Day is already behind us, we are celebrating the women in our lives through the month of May at Aesthetic General Dentistry of Redmond. Believe me, I'm surrounded by amazing women at both home & work every day. Help me raise awareness that Heart Disease is the number one health threat to women. Double Click the brochure to the right, print it and hand it to those you care about for $100 off their first visit to our office. We would be proud to welcome them into our family of patients. Did you know that most of our new patients come by way of referral?

We provide excellent dental care at Aesthetic General Dentistry - but also excellent Comprehensive Care. Oftentimes, I am the first health care provider that a person has seen in years. This is why routine blood pressure readings, oral cancer screenings and a thorough medical history are the norm at my dental practice. This is just another reason that I believe firmly that Dentistry Changes Lives! Thank you for your support of our growing business.

Dr.D's Girls

2009-05-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

Olivia's first camping trip.

Here's a recent pic of Sophia (3) and Olivia (3 months). They keep me busy at home, but such fun.

Consumer's Guide to Dentistry Top 6 Trends

2009-05-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here are the top six dental trends for 2009 that Consumer Guide to Dentistry is bringing to the attention of consumers (you'll be happy to know that we offer all of the first 5 items already!) The anesthetic reversal agent isn't available yet (see #6, but we'll be looking into that once long-term studies are favorable):

1. More convenient appointments. The economy may cause some people to cancel or postpone regular appointments with their dentist, making it easier for you to find a convenient time slot for your own dental appointments. Whether it's to see the dentist for a routine check-up or for an overdue dental cleaning, you’ll probably be able to get in when you want without much fuss.

2. Phased treatment Many dentists will likely offer people who need major dental work the option of having it completed over a longer period of time (called phased treatment). This helps you to make that all-important commitment to get the dental care you need. And it can make the visits more manageable financially for you. So if your dental exam reveals the need for not one but multiple restorations (crowns, inlays, fillings), don't panic! Dentists can provide permanent treatment in a ‘phased’ approach and still keep your teeth healthy.

3. New options for denture wearers. Dentures will continue to replace missing teeth. But look for modern materials to make denture teeth look more natural than ever. Also look for more affordable, less invasive implant procedures, such as mini-implants that can be placed in an hour and used immediately with dentures. Both will bring greater confidence and comfort to many denture wearers.

4. Faster, more convenient crowns and other restorations. Chairside CAD/CAM technology that lets dentists make crowns and other restorations at the same time as your regular office visit will eliminate the need for repeat appointments and wearing unpredictable temporaries. Your treatment will take less time, look great and last as long as many conventional treatments. And because this technology doesn’t require traditional ooey-gooey impression materials, you won't have that uncomfortable gag reflex that typically occurs during the impression process.

5. High-tech disease prevention and detection. With people living longer and keeping more of their natural teeth for a longer period of time, dentists are focusing on prevention and early detection of oral disease — and they’ll be using high-tech devices and pharmaceuticals to do it. Increasingly lasers, instead of traditional X-rays, will be used to detect cavities, and fluoride varnishes will help prevent decay. Also, risk assessment tools will help determine your likelihood of developing cavities, based on the amount of bacteria in your mouth.

6. Ditch the drool sooner. A new anesthetic reversal agent may launch in mid-2009 that is expected to eliminate the long-lasting side effects of injected dental anesthetic, such as numbness, drooling and difficulty speaking. So you'll be back to your normal self and normal routine in no time!

Check out Aesthetic General Dentistry of Redmond, Oregon at www.RedmondTeeth.com for more details.

National Youth Sports Safety Month

2009-04-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

Click above to go to the other AGD's (Academy of General Dentistry, not our own Aesthetic General Dentistry) SmileLine Newsletter (make sure to scroll down to find it) Their theme this month is National Youth Sports Safety Month. Pretty cool, b/c I initiated the "Grin & Wear It Mouthguard Program" at RHS last year. We are still doing these custom protective mouthguards in Clear or Maroon & Gold for the ridiculously low-price of $37! These are normally around $300! Ever since my front teeth were destroyed by a line-drive baseball in High School, I have personally endorsed mouthguards. Would've saved me some severe emotional trauma - BUT probably wouldn't have become the cool dentist that I am today if it hadn't happened. :)

Free Oral Cancer Screenings through April

2009-04-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

We are recognizing April as Cancer Control Month in our office. We routinely perform Oral Cancer Screenings (OCS) for all of our patients at their Check-up Exams, for the month of April we have been stressing the importance of this to our patients. We'll give you a Lavendar Awareness Ribbon, as recognition of all Cancers. Tell your friends and family that we are doing OCS at no charge with no further obligation, and it will only take about 15 minutes of their time provide them with this service

AGD's First Blog

2009-04-28T23:39:00.001-07:00

Here's my first blog in an attempt to let you get to know the guy behind the scenes of Aesthetic General Dentistry. My goal is to update the goings-on at our dental practice in Redmond. As it is a blog, it will be informal, so my hope is that our patient family can actually get to know me as a person, family-man, outdoorsman, etc. This will be fun! Until next time... Now, I'm going to check in with my Facebook account, then MySpace and then start Tweeting on Twitter. (that's sarcasm)