Category: Other

  Family Dentist Tree has been successfully back up and running since mid-May. We continue to follow all current guidelines from the CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health, the American Dental Association and the Minnesota Board of Dentistry. Safety is our number one priority when caring for our patients and staff through the ever changing world around us. Our hygienist, Christina, is here to walk you through a typical appointment at our office with our new COVID-19 protocols in place.   Prior to your appointment, you will be asked screening questions by phone, text or e-mail to ensure that you Read More →

With the Holiday’s fast approaching all of us are thinking the same things…the food! It’s always so good, and if you’re anything like me you eat way too much of it. Then once January comes we all make the same resolution…to lose the Holiday weight. Here I’ve found a couple of fun, cute, and healthy holiday snacks that won’t make you feel guilty afterwards! You’re sure to be the hit of any party with these treats! Christmas Tree Pizza Lunchtime or anytime this Christmas Tree Pizza will be creative and delicious.  Cut out tree shapes before baking pizza crust.  Decorate Read More →

People use the dentist is two main ways. First, some people use their dentist as a “dental emergency room.” This tends to be people who wait for something to break or become painful, then come in to have it fixed. There’s nothing wrong with this model, however, it usually leads to increased costs and unpredictability for the patient. When we wait for the teeth to tell us something is wrong, it’s usually REALLY wrong. We are usually talking big, expensive dental work that needs to be done ASAP. Another option is to come in proactively, BEFORE you suspect problems. We Read More →

Did you know that over 600 million pounds of candy are sold during the week of Halloween with October 28th being the highest selling day? We all love this holiday, but there are ways to celebrate and keep those trick-or-treaters happy without the risk of tooth decay! Alternative handouts to candy: ~ for those afraid of the dark or who just enjoy lighting up the night, receiving light up glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces are fun and help parents keep track of their little ghouls. ~ small bottles of water to quench the thirst from hauling around heavy costumes and Read More →

Dr. James Watson just celebrated his three year anniversary with Family Dentist Tree! He is a wonderful addition to our team, so our Business Manager, Marie, did an “interview” with him so you can get to know him just like we have! Marie: Where were you born and raised? Dr. Watson: I was born in Wichita, KS, but I have lived in Rochester since I was three years old. I am a graduate of Lourdes High School. Marie: Tell us about your parents. Dr. Watson: My mom is a retired dental hygienist. She retired about a year and a half ago Read More →

We are proud to announce Family Dentist Tree’s Platinum level sponsorship of the 24th annual Rochester Paws and Claws Humane Society Pet Walk [https://www.facebook.com/PCHSPetWalk] fundraiser at 10 AM on May 5 in Cooke Park. With dogs in mind, I decided to do a blog post on caring for your dog’s teeth. I am a big dog lover and have four canine friends at my house: two coon hounds (Bailey and Blu, who are both Paws & Claws alumni) and two dachshunds (Buddy and Bentley). Dogs tend to develop dental problems such as gingivitis (gum inflammation) and periodontitis (loss of jaw Read More →

Instead of filling up your baskets with mostly candy this year, why not switch it up a little? A great idea is to create your basket around a specific theme, then focus on your theme and limit the candy! Avoid hard or sticky candies like jelly beans and suckers because they stick to teeth for longer periods of time. Here are some safer alternatives that are not so damaging to oral heath that your little ones will love! A stuffed bunny instead of a chocolate bunny Nut mix Apple slices Bunny shaped graham crackers Dark chocolate over milk chocolate Fruit Read More →

We’ve all been there, waking up in the middle of the night, not being able to fall asleep, and enduring a long, painful day, all because of a toothache. We’ve asked out doctors to help us in identifying the most common reasons for dental pain, listed below. Some of the more common ways dental pain is experienced are: Sensitivity to temperature Pain when biting or chewing Dull or throbbing aches Constant Pain The most common issues associated with these types of pain include: Infection: If you have swollen gums, a small bump on your gums, or fluid or pus present, Read More →

Have you ever had an unsolicited numbness or burning sensation in your mouth? If so, it may be Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). Burning mouth is the sensation of burning in the tongue and often the palate; however, it may also occur anywhere in the mouth. The sensation is commonly described as the discomfort felt when the tongue is burned with hot coffee. Additionally, it may be described as a tender, tingling, hot, scalding, or numb sensation. Most individuals with BMS find the burning sensation gets worse throughout the day. The mouth may feel fine in the morning only to develop Read More →

One of our hygienists wanted to share a couple of her favorite summer recipes! Lemon Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Makes: 6 Servings Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 2 bunches of Asparagus, ends snapped off 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 4 cloves garlic, lightly crushed and peeled Zest (in long strips) and juice of 1 lemon 3/4 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Pinch of red pepper flakes 1/4 oz. shaved Parmesan Directions: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a roast pan, toss the asparagus with the oil, garlic, lemon zest, salt, black pepper Read More →