Thinking of whitening your teeth?

There are lots of reasons why teeth whitening is a topic this time of year. Summer is a time for weddings, family reunions, travel and outdoor fun. Generally it is a time when a lot of photos are taken and people want to look their best. That often means teeth whitening.

Whitening is a very common treatment that can be done a number of different ways. It is often the first step someone takes when it comes to cosmetic dentistry and it is also one of the easiest and quickest treatments you can have to improve your smile. That is why teeth whitening is so popular.

When it comes to teeth whitening, you can get over the counter products at your local grocery store or drug store. These over the counter products can be effective but lack the strength of the treatments you can get from a dentist. And, in this case, strength of the chemicals equates to the amount of product and time you need to achieve a result. And, in the end, it makes a difference in what kind of result you will see. Most people who are serious about whitening their teeth wind up at the dentist asking for options even after they have tried the over the counter products.

Most dentists have a take-home whitening kit that you can purchase. Generally, it is more effective than the over the counter products. However, when someone comes to me for whitening, it is usually all about in-office whitening. This is the two-hour whitening process we offer where we apply a special chemical to your teeth. That chemical reacts to a light source we place in your mouth and the results are whiter teeth.

If you would like more information on whitening your teeth for an upcoming occasion, please contact me.

Join our social network.

We’ve started a Facebook page for our practice. If you haven’t tried social networking online, you should give it a try. It a great way to stay connected with people and share information with each other. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is a free service with a lot of important privacy options. Users will tell you that it is a good way to keep up with what is going on with friends.

You can expect to get a little nugget from us every now and then on Facebook if you become a friend. Such as, last week, when we posted this funny story that happened that day.

FUNNY STORY!! We just had a wonderful couple come in today as new patients and they shared with us that their house was recently broken into (TRUE STORY). Now for the punch line.... The only thing that was stolen was their ULTREO toothbrushes!!!!!! :0) Now that is truly understanding the value of healthy teeth and gums!! Hope they grabbed new toothbrushes heads too because that would be just GROSS!

This is why we are making a Facebook page for my practice. As you, know, my practice is not your average dental practice. We make all kinds of efforts to ensure your comfort and to keep you posted on the important advancements in dentistry that can be of benefit to you and your family. Our Facebook page will allow us to do that even better, so we want to encourage anyone who is not on it to join up. We’ll be out there looking for you to become a Facebook friend really soon.

Headaches - The Dental Connection

Headache is one of the leading causes of physician visits by patients and accounts for an enormous annual expenditure for pain relief medications. Yet few people think of going to a dentist for headache treatment. You probably know that what we dentists call occlusion is what most people refer to as their “bite” – the way their teeth come together. What many people do not know is how far-reaching the impact of a poor bite can be.

For example, did you know that a poor bite can be the cause of pain almost anywhere in the head and neck area? Headache is a prime example. Yet, headaches in the temple region are very commonly related to the bite and, correcting the bite often does away with the headaches.

To be sure, there are other causes of headache and head or neck pain. Most patients with this type of pain have already seen a physician to rule out other possible causes such as tumors, eye-strain, etc. With the post-graduate training our staff has completed, and state-of-the art equipment that we have acquired, we are able to scientifically rule in (or rule out) your bite as a possible source of pain.

I hope that you have found this information of interest. If you have questions our office would be more than happy to provide you with further information. If you have friends or loved ones that you suspect may be suffering from these conditions, you would be doing us, and them, a favor to pass this information along.

With Smiles,
Amy Norman

Headaches - The Dental Connection

Headache is one of the leading causes of physician visits by patients and accounts for an enormous annual expenditure for pain relief medications. Yet few people think of going to a dentist for headache treatment. You probably know that what we dentists call occlusion is what most people refer to as their “bite” – the way their teeth come together. What many people do not know is how far-reaching the impact of a poor bite can be.

For example, did you know that a poor bite can be the cause of pain almost anywhere in the head and neck area? Headache is a prime example. Yet, headaches in the temple region are very commonly related to the bite and, correcting the bite often does away with the headaches.

To be sure, there are other causes of headache and head or neck pain. Most patients with this type of pain have already seen a physician to rule out other possible causes such as tumors, eye-strain, etc. With the post-graduate training our staff has completed, and state-of-the art equipment that we have acquired, we are able to scientifically rule in (or rule out) your bite as a possible source of pain.

I hope that you have found this information of interest. If you have questions our office would be more than happy to provide you with further information. If you have friends or loved ones that you suspect may be suffering from these conditions, you would be doing us, and them, a favor to pass this information along.


With Smiles,
Amy Norman

Time for some Spring cleaning

It’s spring and people are getting organized for the warm weather ahead. One of the things you want to complete on your To Do list is to schedule your annual exam and cleanings. Making appointments now will help you prioritize this important task and get it on the schedule!

Annual exams are so important to avoid costly long-term dental issues. One of the things we do in an annual exam is an oral cancer screening. This is a short, painless, almost unnoticeable procedure but it is vital in early detection of oral cancer. It is one of the primary reasons you should be regular with your annual exams.

Thorough cleanings will give you the best chance to avoid long-term problems like gum disease. This is important to do a few times each year in addition to regular brushing and flossing. Gum disease can also lead to other system-wide physical problems including heart disease and strokes. So, if you are eating a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle to avoid health problems, you should realize that dental health is part of that picture.

So, why not get a leg up on your scheduling plans for the spring? Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Avoiding Tooth Erosion

Yes, you should be maintaining a regular cleaning and check-up schedule for your dental health and the dental health of your family. We are always happy to see you when it is time for a cleaning or check up. However, sometimes it is important to review the things you can be doing at home to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Everything you eat has some affect on your teeth and it is important to make sure you maintain healthy teeth by avoiding what is commonly known as tooth erosion. This can lead to cracked teeth, discoloration, sensitivity and more. Basically tooth erosion is just like it sounds, where the teeth are work away by the acids in what you eat.

Keeping this in mind makes it easy to avoid contributing to the problem. When you eat acidic foods or drinks, simply rinse out your mouth with water to neutralize the remaining acid in your mouth. This simple step is probably the most effective easy thing you can do to avoid tooth erosion. Of course cutting back on carbonated drinks and acidic foods helps, too. When you do eat or drink something that is high in acid, swallow it quickly to avoid it remaining in your mouth a long time.

Brushing is important in avoiding tooth erosion, too. Using a soft toothbrush reduces the friction on teeth that can contribute to erosion and waiting at least an hour to brush following acidic foods helps as well. This gives teeth the chance to remineralize after being exposed to the acids you just ate or drank.

Remembering these simple tips will contribute to your dental health by helping you avoid tooth erosion. If you have any other questions regarding your dental care, please contact me any time. I look forward to seeing you on your next appointment.

Congratulations, Judy!

Dr. Amy Norman’s dental practice celebrated a rare event this month. February 8, 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of Judy Jenny’s employment with the practice. And, in that time, she has never taken a sick day.

“Judy is an amazing employee because she doesn’t have one year of experience 30 years in a row; she has 30 years of improvement and growth.” Said Dr. Amy Norman. She is not here because of habit, she is here because she essential to the success of the business.”

Judy credits a healthy and positive work environment to her reliability and longevity. Ironically, she was initially hired for only a six-month term of employment. Part of her secret she says, is that she looks forward to spending time each day with her co-workers and their patients. Now that Dr. Norman built the new office all on one level, she laughed and said “I may never retire!

Dr. Norman also credits Judy with demonstrating and inspiring work ethic among the entire team. Following her example, none of Dr. Norman’s full-time employees have ever taken a sick day. Said Tiffany Norton, Dental Assistant, “No one wants to let down the team or the patients.”