Welcome to the smile file. We'll try to give you pertinent and interesting info about the dental field from the dentist's perspective. So, let's get going!

How do you find a good dentist? Obviously a referral from a family member or friend is probably the best way. But if that is not an option, here are some other ways:
Check the internet, and check websites. Does the website look like the dental office put some thought into it? Does it have before and after photos of that dentist's work?
Call the local Dental Association-for example, here in New Jersey, it's the New Jersey Dental Association base in New Brunswick.
Check the list from Consumers Research Council of America. They pick the top dentists by amount of years in practice, continuing education, and name recognition in the community.

When you find a dentist you might want to visit here are some things to look for:
How does the person answering the phone treat you? Are you just another caller, or do they listen to your concerns and answer your questions? Do they offer to give you a tour of the facility?
Do they offer you a chance to meet the dentist before any treatment is started? How does the facility look? Is it clean, modern, and up-to-date? If it's dirty with furnishings from the 1970's, chances are the dentistry is out of date. The technology has changed so quickly, you want to find an office that is on the cutting edge.

When you meet the dentist, does he let you talk and actually listen to you? Or does he just go into a monolog of what you need, and what services he wants to perform on you? Does he address your concerns and needs? A good dentist will take the time to get to know you and listen to you.
It's probably a good sign if the dentist dresses professionally, and creates a good first impression.
If he takes pride in his/her appearance, chances are he'll take pride in his work.
Ask the dentist about his education and experience. Does he keep up with continuing education? Just because he has a diploma on the wall, it doesn't mean he is current on all the new procedures available in dentistry today. Some things you can ask about are: lasers, bonding, invisalign, lumineers, implants, whitening products and all porcelain restorations. We'll go into some of these things at a later date.

When a treatment plan is given to you, make sure you understand your financial obligations. Are they presented clearly to you?

Remember, you'll get what you pay for. If you go to a dentist looking to spend as little as possible, chances are you'll get inferior service. Like anything else in life, better quality usually means more expense. So you need to determine how important your oral health is to you. We'll also discuss this in a future episode.

Hope some of these ideas help.

Click image to view our latest newsletter, "Word of Mouth", for July, 2008 (PDF format).

There has been growing scientific evidence that poor oral hygiene boosts the risks of heart attacks and strokes. New studies link bacteria and bacterial infections as independent risk factors for heart disease.

How does this happen? If you have gum disease (and 90% of the population has some form of it), an open blood vessel from bleeding gums will give bacteria a portal to gain entry to your bloodstream. Once inside the bloodstream, certain bacteria stick onto cells called platelets, causing them to clot and decreasing blood flow to the heart.

So, while smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are the most common causes of heart disease, the importance of oral hygiene as a risk factor for heart disease cannot be overlooked.

We suggest that if you are concerned about your general health, then it is imperative to have superlative oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing and using a waterpik. The spray from the waterpik used with an appropriate antibacterial agent will oxidize a lot of the harmful bacteria that reside in the gums. There are up to 700 different bacteria in the human mouth. Poor oral hygiene will cause these germs to flourish.

Also, many people would benefit from more frequent dental cleanings. Many of our patients have their teeth cleaned every 3 to 4 months. As with anything in medicine, prevention is the best defense to avoid disease.

When you get a sore inside your mouth...what is it? Well it could be one of a few things:

Canker sores- Canker sores are small, white areas of swelling or soreness surrounded by redness. They are not contagious. The cause of canker sores is uncertain, but some research suggests that immune system deficiencies, bacteria, or viruses might be the culprits. Canker sores usually heal within one week. While there is no cure, over the counter topical ointments or gels can provide temporary pain relief. You could also ask your dentist if he has "bacteriol" which helps heal canker sores.

Cold sores- People often confuse canker sores with cold sores (also called fever blisters). Cold sores are groups of painful blisters filled with fluid that appear around the lips and under the nose. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus and usually infects a person in childhood. Cold sores are extremely contagious. They last 7 to10 days. Valtrex helps diminish the duration of the sores. You'll need a prescription for Valtrex.

Leukoplakia- Leukoplakia appears on the inner cheeks, gums or tongue and often appears as a thick, white-colored patch. It is usually associated with smoking or smokeless tobacco use. Other causes include poorly fitting dentures, broken teeth, and cheek chewing. It is extremely important to report any signs of Leukoplakia to your dentist, because an estimated 5 percent of cases can lead to cancer. Leukoplakia usually dissipates after the behavior causing it is ceased.

Candidiasis- Candidiasis is a fungal infection also called "oral thrush". Candidiasis appears as yellow-white or red patches in the mouth. It is most common in newborns or in people whose immune systems are not functioning properly. Also, dry mouth syndrome, or people taking extensive antibiotics are susceptible. People who do not remove their dentures to clean, and let the oral tissues breathe can also get candidiasis.
Antifungal medications are usually used to treat candidiasis.

Oral Cancer- Oral cancer often starts as a tiny white or red spot or sore. Sometimes oral cancer presents itself as a sore that bleeds easily or does not heal. It can affect any area of the mouth. If you have pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or lips that does not go away after a week, contact your dentist. Your dentist can do a brush biopsy or us the "Veloscope" to check if your sore is indeed cancer. Remember, with cancer, early detection is the key.