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Flossing isn’t something any of us really enjoys doing. Nonetheless, it should be something we do daily.
We visit the dentist every six months for our regular cleaning, and every time we have to embarrassingly admit that we still don’t floss on a regular basis. Flossing covers nearly 40% of the work to remove sticky bacteria (plaque) that stays on and between your teeth. These bacteria can turn into acid, which attacks your teeth and, in turn, causes cavities, irritated gums and left untreated can lead to gum disease, or periodontitis.
Each tooth has 5 surfaces, and brushing twice a day will clean 3 of the 5 surfaces, but what about the other 2? We grind and chew at every meal, causing food to be wedged between our teeth. Floss is the only thing that can really get into those spaces and clean out the bacteria, making sure all surfaces of your teeth are properly cleaned.
The simple fact is that lack of flossing causes cavities and gum disease, which in turn can also ruin the aesthetics of your smile. A beautiful smile is one of the biggest parts of not just a first impression, but also a sign of how we take care of our hygiene, our physical appearance and ourselves.
Gum disease causes gums to recede, exposing the roots of your teeth, making your smile look less youthful. It also attacks the bones that support your teeth and your lower face. To maintain a youthful look as you age, it is important to preserve the bone you have in your face to keep your gums and teeth in place.
How can you choose the floss that is right for you? Some people tend to get better results when using a wide, flat dental tape, typically made out of either nylon or Teflon, which are both effective. This kind of floss works best for people with larger spaces between their teeth. If you teeth are very close together, you might want to try thin floss, which is easier to slide in and out between your teeth.
Don’t worry if flossing generates a little bit of blood. Bleeding typically means that you have inflamed gums due to plaque built up, which the flossing will help clean away. If using regular floss with your fingers is a struggle, try floss picks. They are made a little piece of floss strung between two little arms on one end and a toothpick on the other end.
If you have any questions or concerns about flossing, contact Highland Park Dental. We will be more than willing to answer your questions or get you in for a cleaning.
Click here for a special Spring Cleaning Offer that includes a cleaning and whitening treatment at Highland Park Dental.
Highland Park Dental6725 Hillcrest Avenue(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)Dallas, Texas 75205214 521-3730www.hpdentist.com
Getting to Know a Park Cities Dentist: Dr. Jones, an Ironman Competitor
The Ironman 70.3 Competition isn’t a walk in the park. In fact it consists of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride followed by a 13.1 mile run.
Highland Park Dental’s very own Dr. Jones, an avid, dedicated runner for quite some time now, recently completed the Ironman 70.3 Competition. He enjoys running races and competing in a variety of running challenges to continuously test his limits and add to his medal collection.
In 2011, he competed in several triathlons, which typically consist of 350 meter swims, 12-16 mile bike rides and a 5K (3.1 miles) run to finish. These are not something easily achieved and require months of rigorous training.
Dr. Jones takes great pleasure in triathlons, which allows him to switch up his training and makes it impossible for him to get bored with the sport. Over time he successfully tackled multiple 5Ks, 10Ks and 15Ks, as well as half marathons and the 70.3 Mile Ironman distance race!
“The 70.3 Iron Man was a great experience, a total challenge of the mind and body,” Dr. Jones said. "It was pretty tough. The half marathon alone took me longer than expected, because I had basically nothing left in the tank, and it was close to 95 degrees in October in Austin for some reason.”
So far this year, Dr. Jones has completed another half marathon and two 5Ks - and it’s only March! Up next for him is a full marathon (26.2 mile run) later this year and a training program for a 140.6 Mile Ironman competition in 2013.
Dr. Jones is an inspiration to any runner and athlete, as well as anyone looking for motivation to establish healthy habits for a healthy lifestyle. Way to go, Dr. Jones! We will keep you posted on his accomplishments and success.
More than half of children ages 5-9 have had at least one cavity or filling, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s crucial to start good oral hygiene habits at an early age. A healthy mouth is important to your child’s overall well-being. Below are some reasons I’ve heard from parents as to why they haven’t taken their young ones to the dentist.
I don’t know even know when to start taking my child to the dentist…
Parents are encouraged to bring their child to the dentist within the first six months of teeth erupting. This is typically by the end of the first year. Much like the pediatrician well visits, these first pediatric dentist appointments at Highland Park Dental are to develop a rapport with the child, as well as evaluate growth, development and of course…check for cavities.
Aren’t they just baby teeth?
They are baby teeth and they are so important. They are important for speech, eating and holding the proper amount of space for adult teeth to come through. Not to mention the potential pain and discomfort from dental infections. Did you know that cavities are the most prevalent disease condition in America now? Yeah five times more common than asthma, and a possible contributor to asthma. Our mouth is a Window to the Body™…and we want to keep that window clean!
I am so afraid of how my child will act…
We love the challenge that comes with each and every child. Some children jump right into the dental appointment, while some children prefer more encouragement. This is about developing the trust of a young person towards a profession and way of life, good oral health. At Highland Park Dental, you will be amazed at how much your child means to us.
What are you waiting for? Check our website! Ask around! We are the best!
- Dr. H
Braces are used to adjust an array of dental issues, which can consist of uneven tooth alignment or distended teeth (teeth that cross over one another). Some children require braces simply to help align their teeth and correct their bite.
Many children, when chewing or biting, experience a crooked bite, which is what causes jaw, mouth and/or gum pain. If the misalignment is ignored (or not diagnosed early on), the issues continue when the second teeth come in and will not resolve on their own.
The Facts About Braces
Whether now is the best time to start braces depends on your child’s visit to the orthodontist or dentist. Your child’s needs, how much they are suffering, whether their second teeth have developed completely and so forth are some of the determining factors.
If it comes down to finances, many dental and orthodontic offices offer payment arrangements for parents. Braces, for many parents and children, have been great investments for their future.
It is important to take your child for dental checkups regularly and if there are any issues with incorrect bite, crooked teeth, bunched teeth or additional troubles, it is vital to obtain early diagnosis and treatment. If parents wait too long, they might find out that adjustments and/or correcting dental problems might be additionally challenging later, and possibly more costly.
Dr. H
Erik Kern Harrington, DDS, PhD Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
Dear Neighborhood,
It’s the end of your cleaning appointment. X- Rays are completed. The cleaning is almost finished. The visit is almost over. You wonder, are there any cavities? Are there major problems? What’s the doctor going to say? The nervous feeling starts in the pit of your stomach.
This is how patients typically think. Well guess what, it’s also what is going through the mind of your dentist! We are completely aware and understand dental anxiety. The fear of the unknown is out there.
Dr. Harrington and I would love nothing more than to tell every patient that walks through that door, “Everything looks great! You have perfect teeth and always will.”
But unfortunately this is not the case for all or even most. There are usually a wide variety of issues that can surface at your regular visits. Small cavities, fractures, gum disease, gum recession, old dental work failing or any number of issues. Even the patients that have never had a cavity, sometimes actually get a cavity.
It's an art to be able to tell a patient when we see something that concerns us. We have a list of questions that go through our mind as well. How are they going to act when I tell them they have a cavity? Are they going to be upset, angry, and nervous, accept it, or storm out! Are they going to believe me? Are they going to be suspicious when I say there is a crack in a tooth and needs a crown?
There are all kinds of dental practice management firms that are hired by dental offices to help you learn how to address these issues with patients. There are so many philosophies on how patients supposedly like to be approached.
How do you want to be approached? Everyone is different and we want to be providing exactly what our patients want. So please email us at Highlandparkdental@yahoo.com with your thoughts. Help us help you!
Sincerely,
Dr. Aaron Jones, DDS
Have You Smelled Your Floss Lately?By Karli Bock, RDH at Highland Park Dental
Well, have you? I can only imagine most of you reading this have a puzzled look on your face. For the others who secretly smell their floss and then make a face to which I can only imagine can resemble that of ones who smells their old gym shoes. Although I would love to ask this question to a handful of patients, I do not. I did however have one patient ask me after I pulled floss out of their own mouth, “What is that awful smell?” I felt bad for responding with “…..Your mouth.”
The bad smell after flossing can mean a handful of things. It can mean you are leaving behind that amazing home cooked meal of chicken cordon bleu and asparagus that your wife prepared two weeks ago. It could mean cavities starting in between your teeth, or infection in the gums. Many people think brushing their teeth gets the job done. However, it does not. The plaque that is left behind from not flossing can cause halitosis also known as “bad breath”.
Usually people, who do not floss enough, often have gums that bleed. Bleeding gums are not healthy gums. Some see bleeding gums and tend to shy away from flossing because they think flossing cause their gums to bleed. In reality, the more you floss, the healthier the gums are, and the less they bleed. I often think, “If my hands started to bleed every time I washed them I would go to the hospital.” Why do most of us think it is normal for our gums to bleed?
Gums that bleed are indications of gingivitis or gum disease. The plaque that is left behind from not flossing or brushing well travels below causing you gums to become flamed. Once the gums are inflamed and infected, the gingival tissue swells and starts to bleed. This can eventually turn in to periodontitis or gum disease if not taken care of. This means the plaque turns into tarter and other harmful bacteria below the gum line and can infect the entire support system for your teeth. This is why your grandmother takes out her teeth, places them on the table, and only eats mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving.
So I encourage everyone to not only floss, but go in the bathroom, shut the door and smell it. If there isn’t any blood and it does not smell like your Great Aunt’s fish tank she hasn’t cleaned since the Reagan Administration, you are doing a good job!
Dear Neighbor,
I’ve been practicing dentistry for the past seven years. I spent the first couple years out of dental school working with a dentist in Garland, TX and for the past five years I’ve had the privilege to serve the University Park/Highland Park Community. I’ve seen hundreds, probably thousands of patients at Highland Park Dental and I cannot count the number of patients that walk through my door with a story or stories of issues with past dentists or dental offices.
After dental school I was excited to enter into an honest health care profession; dentistry. Unfortunately, as in any other profession, ethics is always called into question. On numerous occasions I’ll have new patients come to our office scared, confused, angry, and upset and looking for answers. The usual story they tell me is they were going to a dentist for a long time and all of the sudden they went from a healthy mouth to needing thousands of dollars of dental work.
I’ve heard it so many times. “My teeth have been healthy all my life. I’ve never had any cavities. Why do I need all this work now?” “I was told just six months ago everything was completely fine and now I need all this work? Why?” “My son just went to another office for his first visit and they found 8 cavities? Can that be right? We were just told everything was fine and we just needed to see our orthodontist”. On some occasions the patients will even bring their treatment plan that was provided at the past office. Comparing the plans and what we perceive the patient’s needs are sometimes are shockingly very far apart.
I often have this same feeling when I take my car to the mechanic for an oil change/inspection. Each time I report for my oil change, I always wonder what story they are going to give me now. What new part is broken or needs to be tended to. I literally know almost nothing about cars. I am putting 100% trust in the mechanic that he/she is being completely honest with me about my vehicle. But time and time again, I get different opinions from different mechanics…..what am I supposed to do? Whom do I trust?
Dentistry is very much the same. You can set up new patient visits with 10 different offices and you are going to get 10 different experiences with 10 different plans for what type of dental work you need. Unfortunately, I have seen some unethical practices in my field. I’m sure they occur in all fields, but it’s very disheartening when you see a patient that has been taken advantage of and had their confidence in dentistry and its ethics questioned or destroyed.
Moral of the story: trust your instincts. Yes there are dentists out there that see each new patient as an opportunity to “sell” them something. Maybe even a treatment that isn't even needed. Each dentist and dental office has a philosophy. At Highland Park Dental, we focus on your goals, the patient’s goals. Our mission is to help you get exactly what you want and have a great experience. If you are at a new dentist’s office where there has been a major change and you are shocked by what you hear, come visit the team at HPD. We focus on honesty, professionalism, and creating treatment plans with the patient and guided by the patient…not for ourselves or our own benefit.
Dr. Aaron Jones Highland Park Dental
Highland Park Dental6725 Hillcrest Avenue(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)Dallas, Texas 75205214 521-3730www.hpdentist.com Follow us on Facebook.
Written by Karli Bock, RDH
For most people, when we think of dentistry, prevention is usually not the first thing that comes to mind. However, preventive care is one of the most important aspects of dentistry today. As in the medical field, we are focusing more on how to prevent the source of disease and less on treating the symptoms. Very few people know problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body. Research has shown that there is a correlation between gum disease and heart disease as well as diabetes.
How do we prevent gum disease? There are large amounts of bacteria that live in your mouth. While most of them can be taken care of by daily brushing and flossing, dental cleanings are just as important. Most people have dental cleanings every 3-6 months. We call these “healthy mouth cleanings”. The cleaning is where a dental hygienist removes the bacteria that cause plaque and calculus (tartar) that builds up on the teeth. Plaque is tooth-colored or white sticky film that adheres to the tooth. Calculus is a mixture of plaque and saliva by-products that calcifies onto the tooth surface. The dental hygienist removes these by scaling (the process of using dental instruments that removes plaque and calculus) and polishing the teeth. This leaves the teeth feeling smooth and shiny so that it is easier for the patient to keep their teeth clean by regular home care.
For people with gum disease, they might require a more extensive dental cleaning. We call this a deep cleaning or scaling and root planing. The reason some people need this treatment is because of bacteria and tartar down below the gum line where they cannot reach. This plaque and tartar build up below the gum line cannot be brushed or flossed out; this has to be removed by a Dentist or Dental Hygienist. This tartar contains thousands of units of bacteria and is a contributing factor to what causes bleeding, gingival recession, cavities, bone loss, and tooth loss. In fact, more teeth are lost due to periodontal disease (gum disease) than cavities.
While dental cleanings make the teeth feel cleaner and look whiter by removing surface stains; they also help prevent gum disease and contribute to your bodies overall health. With regular dental exams early detection of any dental problem is likely, meaning less visits to the office.
Dr. Aaron JonesHighland Park Dental6725 Hillcrest Avenue(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)Dallas, Texas 75205214 521-3730www.hpdentist.com
Dear Neighbors,
Some of you may ask…Why should we worry about cavities in baby teeth when these teeth will be replaced by permanent ones later? The answer is that baby teeth serve important functions and neglecting these teeth can cause severe problems. Consequently, it is important to make sure that even these "temporary" baby teeth remain healthy and cavity free.
I recommend wholeheartedly that you and your children strive for great oral health. Oral health, good or bad, has lasting effects. However, unlike so many other conditions in healthcare, we can actually prevent, to a large degree, the bad effects of poor oral health. It is important to take care of “baby” or primary teeth because they play a crucial role in:
The key is to start early and make our children aware of how important it is to have GREAT ORAL HEALTH!!! Some reasons why you should pay attention to your child’s baby teeth are: Healthy baby teeth are crucial in helping your child learn how to speak properly. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth. These “spacers” maintain the proper spacing and alignment so that permanent teeth have enough room to come in. If these permanent teeth develop in a mouth that is unhealthy, they are likely to become decayed as well. There are numerous studies that directly link the decay or “number of cavities” a child may have to other health problems. Taking care of your baby teeth is just as important as proper nutrition and feeding. Healthy, nice looking teeth are important in building self-confidence and self-esteem. This is especially important at such an early age. It is important to remember that proper care of baby teeth is not only important now, but for the future as well. Early dental care gets a child accustomed to a clean cavity free mouth, while poor dental care can easily lead to childhood gum disease. When it comes down to it, it is never too early to start paying attention to oral health care. Sincerely,Dr. Erik Harrington
The key is to start early and make our children aware of how important it is to have GREAT ORAL HEALTH!!! Some reasons why you should pay attention to your child’s baby teeth are:
It is important to remember that proper care of baby teeth is not only important now, but for the future as well. Early dental care gets a child accustomed to a clean cavity free mouth, while poor dental care can easily lead to childhood gum disease.
When it comes down to it, it is never too early to start paying attention to oral health care.
Sincerely,Dr. Erik Harrington
Highland Park Dental6725 Hillcrest Avenue(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)Dallas, Texas 75205
214 521-3730www.hpdentist.com
We would like to welcome Highland Park Dental to Park Cities BubbleLife! You may have seen their sign as they are located next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza. Like our neighborhood, they are very family oriented and cater to adult and child patients. They practice in general, cosmetic and pediatric dentistry with special management of sensory/behavioral conditions.
Our neighborhood expects the best, and Highland Park Dental provides the best in oral healthcare, comfort, and experience.
Dr. Aaron Jones is a born and raised Texan. He has a degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University and in 2004 graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry. He ranked third overall in his class and was honored with the Certificate of Honor for Scholastic Excellence and was inducted into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. Dr. Jones is committed to continuing his education to ensure the quality of care is the best you can find. He is also a member for American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Dr. Erik Harrington is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist credentialed in five area hospitals specializing in the management of pediatric dental care. He was awarded two fellowships, one at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and the other at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Dr. Harrington has a degree from his Graduate Residency in Pediatric Dentistry, has a Ph. D. in craniofacial biology and earned his doctorate degree in Dental Surgery. Dr. Harrington has been honored with several awards including the Outstanding Senior Award from the American College of Dentists, The American Association of Dental Research and The Academy of Operative Dentistry.
Dr. Loria Guiatas is a recent addition to HP Dental. Dr. Guiatas graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2004 she graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Dr. Guiatas was accepted for specialty training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery where she pursued her interest in pediatric dentistry.
This is not your typical dental office. HP Dental has a concierge service offering meals to go and coffee if you are pressed for time. The doctors and staff at HP Dental believe their patients deserve the best and want ensure that you have the best experience possible.
We look forward to welcoming you to your dental family.
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