There is an emerging cavity prevention product called Curodont. It is a topical protein-based treatment for at-risk teeth. A patient asked me about it as a substitute for fluoride therapy recently, so I thought I'd share what we know so far about Curodont. I want to make sure we're on the same page about fluoride as a treatment option. I use it routinely for older patients that have self-care challenges and all sorts of medical and dental co-factors for tooth decay. It's relatively cheap, and only topical. Fluoride neurotoxicity can be associated with long-term systemic exposure, such as a fluoride… [ Read More ]

It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science or dentistry to know that people don’t want to come to the dental office for treatment. I can support that with conversations that I have every day with my patients. “I know you’re going to lecture me,” say a few. “Ready for my lashing,” says another. “I know what you’re going to tell me,” say the remainder. Some patients get right to it. “No offense, doc. This is the last place I want to be.” I get it. No one wants to be here. Yet they show up. I have some of… [ Read More ]

Straight out of the hygiene center, Dr. Rafoth gives some advice for how to neutralize your risk for tooth decay. Chris Rafoth is the owner of Lyons Creek Dental Care, providing medical dentistry, dental implants, and facial esthetics since 1998 for Shoreline and greater Seattle areas, as well as communities in King and Snohomish counties. Any questions or comments? Contact him at chris@lyonscreekdentalcare.com today! [ Read More ]

I’m Chris Rafoth, the dentist at Lyons Creek Dental Care. This video explains the patient benefits of high tech dentistry. The first time you encounter high technology is in your examination. We can use digital x-rays, which are much more accurate than conventional x-rays. We use intraoral cameras that are high-resolution digital cameras that provide us a tour of your mouth much more clearly in real time. We also use laser and light fluorescent technology to discover tooth decay. We take the guess work out of deciding whether or not you got a stain on your tooth or a true… [ Read More ]

My wife showed me an article the other day. It’s called "Your dentist may be ripping you off. Here’s how to avoid that.” I read it, and had a ton of opinions about the site, the author, and the quality of the journalism(?) that went beyond the topic. But I took a breath, and focused on the content so I could give my readers and patients actual facts about the issues presented. There are a few statements in the article that actually have merit. You likely don’t need all your fillings ripped out. You should be careful of bait-and-switch offers… [ Read More ]

What your dentist used to say to you about getting cavities was misleading. What your mother used to say to you about staying away from the cookie jar was true. I’ll fill you in on what I mean. Long ago, the theory of how patients contracted tooth decay went something like this: You had bacteria swimming around your teeth and gums. You ate some candy, and it fueled the growth of bacteria. The bacteria used this fuel to create acids that corroded your teeth. And that corrosion was, in fact, a cavity—a hole in your tooth from the bacteria and… [ Read More ]

Sensitive teeth can happen for many reasons. In this post, Dr. Rafoth addresses the 4 main causes of tooth sensitivity he sees in his practice. 1. Diet “Sometimes the diet we choose can make teeth sensitive. Foods and drinks that are higher in acids strip the protective layer of sludge (called the pellicle) from our teeth, exposing our teeth to more sensitivity with sweets or temperatures.” 2. Grinding and Clenching “Tooth grinding or clenching also makes teeth sensitive, because the supporting tissues of the teeth become inflamed. Inflammation can make teeth sensitive to biting, temperatures, sweets, sours, and spicy foods.”… [ Read More ]

Tooth decay has reached epidemic proportions around the world, and notably where I practice, it’s never been clearer. I know it’s my livelihood to fix people who have tooth decay, but that’s not the job I signed up for. I signed up to help people eliminate the disease as best as possible.  So take a minute or two to consider what is at stake when you think about your mouth and your risk for tooth decay. You may not like what I have to say, but here goes. People get cavities for 2 main reasons: they decide to, or there… [ Read More ]

A recent local news report on King5.com’s Healthlink, illustrates how serious the problem of dental decay is in children. It also shows a simple strategy for parents to reduce the risk of tooth decay in their kids: “Tooth decay is largely preventable, but it remains one of the most common diseases of childhood — five times as common as asthma, and seven times as common as hay fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC says 42% of children ages 2 to 11 have had cavities in baby teeth; 21% of those ages 6 to 11 have… [ Read More ]

The goal of all good dental health is to remove the debris as well as the BIOFILM (the dental plaque formed by bacteria). The worst stuff is Glide. It smears bacteria around. ULTRA FLOSS from Oral-B is the best, because it’s woven, picks up everything, and it can be stretched thin to fit into tight contacts. [ Read More ]