FYI Blog

Arlington's Free Music Under the Stars!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Arlington is known as the home for the Texas Rangers and soon to be home for the Dallas Cowboys, but Community is what Arlington, Texas is all about! If in doubt, check out their newest addition for entertainment. Located in Founders Plaza in the heart of downtown Arlington, The Levitt Pavilion Arlington brings music and the performing arts to Arlington in a new way – available to everyone to enjoy under the stars.

What better way to enjoy music than under the stars and for free! T [...]

Insurance and Periodontal Maintenance

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

A common question that I get is, "My insurance doesn't pay well for periodontal maintenance can't you just send it in as a routine cleaning?" The answer to that is a big NO! Stating that a routine cleaning is being performed when it's not is actually insurance fraud.

Another question then may be, "Since I only get two cleanings a year can't you just do that." The answer is, a good dental office will provide you with the services you need and will not allow an insurance company to d [...]

Misunderstanding Periodontal Maintenance

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

I completely understand why many people misunderstand the concept of periodontal maintenance vs. a "cleaning." I know I have accidentally called the periodontal maintenance appointment a "cleaning" when talking to patients.

FYI: While many of the components are the same, a periodontal maintenance appointment has specific guidelines set by the ADA and is performed on patients who have at some point undergone periodontal therapy and thus have a history of periodontal disease. The [...]

Periodontal Maintenance is NOT Just A Cleaning!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

We routinely take blood pressure, update medical histories and take x-rays as needed during both periodontal maintenance appointments and routine cleanings. The main differences between the two include:

For periodontal maintenance, the ADA mandates that periodontal probing be completed at every visit (every 6 weeks to every 4 months) to monitor the disease process so intervention can be done in the earliest stages. For routine cleanings, periodontal measurements are taken either at 6 m [...]

Perio Protect vs. Periodontal Maintenance

fyidentist@gmail.com — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

FYI: After being diagnosed with periodontal disease, bacteria, plaque and tarter (especially below the gum line) needs to be professionally removed to help control the disease process. The standard length of time between periodontal maintenance appointments is 3 months. That is the length of time it takes bacteria in the pockets to become destructive to the bone and supporting tissue. That's 4 cleanings per year.

While PerioProtect does amazing things, it does not take the place [...]

Why PerioProtect?

fyidentist@gmail.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

There are a number of reasons why I would recommend PerioProtect:

1. It works!

2. It's pain free.

3. It's easy to use.

4. You can use it from work or home.

At first, I was a little skeptical as to how effective this treatment would be. I read all the published research. I talked first hand to dentists who had used it. I even looked into the studies they did that enabled the PerioProtect system to get FDA clearance. It really sounded just t [...]

What is PerioProtect?

fyidentist@gmail.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

FYI: PerioProtect is actually considered a medical device even though it is only slightly bulkier than bleaching trays.

PerioProtect is a medication delivery system that uses a custom medical device to push medications down in between the teeth and gums (sulcus).

The research has shown that each time this device is worn, 99% of the bacteria is killed within 15 minutes. How far does the medication penetrate? That depends on your periodontal probing depths (pockets). When t [...]

Myth #3 - Gum Disease Treatment is Painful!

fyidentist@gmail.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Most people think of periodontal (gum disease) treatment as being painful and involving surgery. Actually, there are many effective and pain free options for the majority of patients that do not involve surgery. Here are the non-surgical periodontal treatment options we offer:

PerioProtect, the FDA cleared, pain free way of treating gum disease. For more info on this, read my blog tomorrow and Friday. Laser periodontal therapy. This treatment offers [...]

Why Treat Gum Disease?

fyidentist@gmail.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Since gum disease is a bacterial infection of the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth, leaving the disease untreated can lead to:

Bone loss around the teeth Loose teeth Eventual loss of teeth

Here are some other reasons to treat your gum condition. Periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to the following:

Heart disease and stroke Diabetes COPD Preterm, low birth weight babies in mothers with gum disease

All these health problems are linked to periodontal disease.& [...]

Myth #2 - It's Normal To Have Bleeding Gums When Pregnant

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Bleeding gums are not normal even during pregnancy. In fact, a sign of gum disease is bleeding gums!

FYI: During pregnancy the gums do bleed more because of the body's increased inflammatory response to the bacteria found in plaque. This is caused from an increase in certain hormones.

Why is this important? This early bleeding can be a sign of gum disease or pregnancy associated gingivitis. And, research has proven that gum disease during pregnancy i [...]

#1Myth About Gum Disease

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Myth #1: Gum disease and having longer looking teeth are a natural part of the aging process.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Fact: Gum disease is a result of a bacterial infection in the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth.

In fact, with good homecare and following your dentists recommendations, most everyone can live a lifetime without loosing a single tooth to gum disease.

Are You At Risk For Gum Disease?

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

FYI: Gum disease can effect anyone at any time.

Bacterial plaque is the main cause of gum disease. There are many other contributing factors that can affect even those with immaculate home care.

StressSmoking/tobacco useGenetics DiabetesClenching or grinding your teethPuberty, pregnancy and menopause in womenMedicationsTake the Gum Disease Risk Assessment Quiz from the American Academy of Periodontology and find out quickly what your risk level is [...]

Another Fresh Breath Check!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Bacteria that reside between the teeth can also cause breath odor. Most commonly this occurs in people with gingivitis or periodontal disease. To see if you have odor causing bacteria between the teeth do the floss check. Floss a few teeth at a time. Then, smell the floss. If you detect a bad odor, see your dentist.

FYI: Bad breath caused from periodontal/gum disease can be one of the worst smelling breath odors. In fact, it has a particular odor that we c [...]

Do the Fresh Breath Check!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

There is a simple way to determine if you have bad breath that is originating from bacteria on your tongue. Now, be ware, this method is accurate but may seem a little odd to some. In fact, we got an email from someone who thought using a tongue scraper sounded gross so if you share that thought don't read any further! Here are the steps:

Take a plastic spoon and gently scrape the surface of your tongue from back to front. This will collect a small amount of tongue debris [...]

5 Most Common Causes of Bad Breath & Their Not So Common Cures

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

FYI: Bacteria in the tongue or mouth is the most common cause of bad breath. Bacteria produce Volatile Sulfur Compounds, which are what cause the bad breath odor.

Other common causes of bad breath include:

1. Garlic, onions and other strong smelling foods - If this is the source of your bad breath, try brushing your teeth and flossing after eating the offending food. Also, try CloSYS Mouth Rinse. CloSYS is quite effective at eliminating odors caused by food.

2. P [...]

3 Steps to A Fresher Breath!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Want fresher breath? Try these simple steps to help improve your breath.

Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper - The majority of breath odor originates from bacteria in the grooves on your tongue. By brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper, you can reduce the amount of bacteria on your tongue.Try Closys Mouth Rinse - Closys doesn't try to "cover up" bad breath like most other mouth rinses. Instead, it neutralizes the bacteria byproducts that cause bad breath. Plus, it kill [...]

Congratulations Lorie!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Lorie Pond just celebrated her 30 year anniversary with Dr. Alexander's practice. Lorie is a dedicated hygienist who is truly loved by all her patients. The next time you see Lorie, please congratulate her on 30 years of dedicated service!

To Screen or Not To Screen

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:00:00 +0100

There is no reason why a person should not receive a yearly oral cancer screening. Early diagnosis is the main factor in surviving the disease! Chances are you don't have oral cancer, but wouldn't it be nice to be sure? With the new technologies available today, diagnosing oral cancer is faster and more accurate than ever. Consider this:

Our Oral Cancer Screening
Takes about 5 minutesFeatures a conventional visual and palpation examination, plus a screening with the state-of th [...]

Know the Facts About Oral Cancer!

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The facts are:

Oral cancer kills one North American every hour of every day Oral cancer strikes 3 times as many victims as cervical cancerTwo-thirds of oral cancer cases are detected in late stagesWhen detected in late stages, the 5-year survival rate is only 22%When detected in early stages, the survival rate is 80% or higherEven if you do not use tobacco, you may still be at risk for oral cancerStudies have linked oral cancer to exposure to the sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus [...]

Smile With Style: Flash Those Pearly Whites

robynhrdh@sbcglobal.net — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Whitening is not a "one size fits all" type of service. That is why a dental office should have you in first for a consult to discuss your options before initiating any bleaching treatment. Even in one office there can be multiple types of services just for whitening. At Dr. Alexander's office we provide 4 different whitening procedures. How do we know which one is right for you? We ask you a lot of questions and take a tooth shade prior to [...]