Author: Kimberly

Everyone has different morning routines and brushing preferences. While most people seem to prefer brushing after breakfast, there are a lot of factors that go into this decision such as whether or not you eat breakfast and how much time you have to get out the door in the morning. The American Dental Association recommends brushing before breakfast. Let’s take a deeper look into this recommendation. Why brush at all? Brushing ensures that food particles and other debris that stick to your teeth are cleaned away so they cannot collect bacteria that causes cavities. Why brush before breakfast? Bacteria builds Read More →

What is Botox and what does it do? Botox is a drug made from a toxin that is produced by bacteria, called Clostridium botulinum, which blocks nerve activity in the muscles. This causes a temporary reduction in muscle activity for about 3 months.

At Family Dentist Tree, we are always striving for the best. We frequently look at new products, tools, equipment and techniques to ensure we are able to provide each of our patients with the best care.

What is Oral Cancer? Oral cancers include cancers that develop on the surface of the tongue, inner lining of the cheeks, roof and floor of the mouth, lips, gums, salivary glands, tonsils, and pharynx.

With this holiday season in full swing, many of us begin looking in the mirror and paying closer attention to our teeth before our family gatherings. During the hustle and bustle of the year, we tend to put our needs last. This may include putting off a tooth that has been bothersome on and off, noticing rough edges on teeth that never had rough spots before and noticing our teeth are looking a bit faded. When is it time to see the dentist and what can you do? For most people, we recommend coming in for a routine checkup with Read More →

What is it? We are excited to announce that we have adopted a new way of taking impressions for crowns, night guards, retainers, bridges, implants and Invisalign®! We now have a 3Shape TRIOS® Intraoral Scanner that eliminates the need for goopy impression material, saving time and providing comfort to both the patient and clinician. How Does it Work? The scanner takes several images to create a 3D image of your teeth. This scan is sent to a dental lab that uses it to create the 3D models needed to create most of the items listed above. The scan takes around Read More →

What is SDF? Our office has started using a material called silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to help treat tooth decay. Silver diamine fluoride can arrest dental decay because of it’s specific components.  The silver component has antibacterial properties which stop the spread of a cavity, while the fluoride component helps to remineralize tooth structure. SDF can be effective in treating dental cavities with a variety of patients, but in particular, pediatric patients. What can it be used for? Silver diamine fluoride is not for every situation, as it does not permanently cure the area of decay. In order for it Read More →

As dental professionals, we are asked daily what we trust and use as our dental products. The store shelves are stocked with an abundant number of pastes, floss and brushes, but which ones are the best? Dr. Peters prefers to use Arm & Hammer Peroxicare because of its natural whitening properties. This paste also tastes good (per Dr. Peters!) and has a low abrasiveness rating, so it is gentle on your teeth. He uses the reach access flosser- easy to use for hard-to-reach molars and an electric Sonicare toothbrush. Dr. Mettler prefers to use any toothpaste that has fluoride and Read More →

We’ve all had that dreaded dream of losing teeth in our sleep. What happens when we are truly faced with this situation? While we may not want to think of needing to have a tooth extraction, there are many circumstances that can require this treatment. Traumatizing events can happen in the blink of an eye. A piece of workout equipment lands on our face and knocks out a front tooth. You bite down on a hard candy and hear a crunch that crumbles your tooth. You hit a tooth with a fork while eating a salad. These are all real-life Read More →

Visiting your dentist for routine cleanings and checkups is more than “just a cleaning.” During your visit, we assess your gum tissues for disease, check the hard structures for decay and educate as well as coach patients on how to achieve optimal dental health. In order to diagnose any type of disease in the mouth, a few things are needed. Dental x-rays based on ADA recommendations and patient risk factors, as well as history are updated. X-rays help the dentist and hygienist determine if there are cavities, any areas of bone loss and screen for dental tumors, cysts, etc. After Read More →