In collaboration with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry charitable foundation and Heraeus Kulzer, Fife Dental Care is offering $150.00 custom teeth whitening treatments to benefit Give Back a Smile (GBAS). 100% of what you pay for your custom teeth whitening treatment at Fife Dental Care is donated to the GBAS program to provide life-changing smile restorations to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Donations made to the AACD Charitable Foundation, Inc. help with the following:
• Ensure eligible GBAS applicants are efficiently connected with volunteer cosmetic dentists to restore their damaged smiles.
• Make certain GBAS patients have sufficient resources to travel to and from all dental appointments.
• Assist with dental laboratory costs and specialist fees often required to complete dental treatment.
• Support outreach efforts to increase awareness of GBAS services and the issue of domestic violence.
• Provide educational scholarships to eligible GBAS program recipients enrolled in college.

This is a limited time offer. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Based on a study announce by the American Heart Association on November 14, 2017, a visit to your dental office may help lower your blood pressure reading–significantly. The study found that patients diagnosed with periodontitis (gum disease) receiving periodontal scaling and root planing treatment (a deep cleaning), had systolic blood pressure lower by nearly 13 points and diastolic blood pressure lower by nearly 10 points six months after treatment.

Also announced this week, the American Heart Association lowered the high blood pressure definition to a reading of 130/80 or greater (it was previously 140/90) meaning that millions more of Americans will be classified as having high blood pressure.

Read more about the new blood pressure guidelines and the connection between treating gum disease and lowering blood pressure, here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/health/blood-pressure-treatment-guidelines.html

http://newsroom.heart.org/news/treating-gum-disease-may-help-lower-blood-pressure

Canker Sores (also known as aphthous ulcerations or aphthous stomatitis), are small ulcers usually found on the inside of the lip or cheek or on the tongue and can be a troublesome burden for patients. Some patients live with them as frequently as every one to two months. Once one ulcer heals, another one can soon appear in a different location.

Canker sores are not to be confused with cold sores. Cold sores are usually found on the outside of the lip; they are caused by the herpes virus which is contagious and can easily spread from one person to another. Canker sores are non-contagious; they cannot be spread from person to person.

The etiology of canker sores is still unknown; however, there may be some contributing factors. Canker sores often occur when a patient is not feeling well. Sometimes they show up right before a patient becomes sick—like a warning sign that the immune system is compromised and that extra care (drinking plenty of water, eating well, and getting enough rest) is needed. Stress may also induce a series of events leading to canker sores. Additionally, canker sores can be caused by a source of trauma, such as, a tiny scratch from a toothbrush bristle or a reaction to acidic foods, like walnuts or chocolate.

Over the years there have been numerous medications and coping strategies offered to help alleviate the pain from canker sores, but most have failed to deliver. Canker sore treatment has greatly improved, though, and your dentist or physician may apply a topical treatment to larger, more painful sores to stop the pain and seal and protect the damaged tissue while it heals. Because canker sores usually last for two weeks or less, you may choose to simply “ride it out” on your own. If this is the case, you can rinse your mouth with warm salt water, drink plenty of water to help keep mouth pH values closer to normal, and avoid acidic foods.

Contact your dentist or physician if your canker sores become worse or increase over time.

New patient exam, x-rays and cleaning all for $99 (see details below).

Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Well, if you are, you’re not alone. According to the results of an American Association of Endodontics survey, 80% of Americans have some fear of the dentist (source: J of Conservative Dentistry 2009 12:85-6). While it can be a relief to know that fear of the dentist is common, dental fear or anxiety doesn’t have to be something a patient is forced to live
with. In fact, there are several ways to mitigate the fear associated with dental visits. Continue reading →

Patients can be surprised when their dentist tells them they have a cavity: “I don’t have any pain or sensitivity,
though.” So how can this be? Let’s begin with a brief description of tooth anatomy.
Continue reading →

Halitosis (aka, bad breath) can be embarrassing, but, luckily, it can almost certainly be remedied. There are several reasons why a person may have halitosis, but about 90% of people with chronic halitosis simply need a dental cleaning and oral hygiene instruction by their hygienist or dentist.
Continue reading →

Once in a while, I see a new patient who is apprehensive about having X-rays taken due to a concern over radiation. I’d like to address that concern and, hopefully, alleviate it. Continue reading →

Patients are fortunate to have dentures as an option for replacing missing teeth, allowing for everyday activities often taken for granted: eating, talking, and smiling. Dentures can even make us look younger and feel more confident. It’s no secret, though, that dentures can be frustrating-if the fit isn’t just right. Continue reading →