Dr. Rafoth encourages everyone to use the best source of support for all things dental--his experience and continuing education in medical dentistry, dental implants, and esthetics. 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 ]

For years, we have suspected that certain periodontal disease bacteria can clog arteries and blood vessels. Arterial plaques have been discovered to contain bacteria from the oral cavity. Recently, researchers showed that one species of  gum disease bacteria,  P. gingivalis, has been shown to cause and accelerate formation of coronary and aortic atherosclerosis.  It is understood that coronary artery disease is an inflammatory disease. The gene that turns on an inflammatory protein was discovered after P. gingivalis was introduced to the arterial cells.   [ 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 ]

We do a lot of oral surgery at Lyons Creek Dental Care. We screen each patient for risks and potential complications. A recent position paper by the American Association of Oral Surgeons was released that explains the nature and risks of osteonecrosis of the jaws following oral surgery. In the following two videos, I discuss the nature of the disease, as well as how to manage the risks. 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… [ Read More ]

For years, implant dentists and surgeons have frowned on placing implants in diabetic patients that had poor diabetic control. But a recent study has shown that just because patients have diabetes doesn't mean they are not candidates for dental implants. In fact, when it came to the survival of dental implants in the study, there was no statistical difference between patients who had poorly controlled or well-controlled diabetes. The main reason for implant failure in diabetic patients is their relatively high risk for periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can affect the supporting tissues that anchor an implant. And without excellent control… [ Read More ]

We want our patients to be well-informed, and make educated decisions about their care, especially when it comes to the proper use of antibiotic therapy. This is a link to the 2014 article from the American Dental Association regarding recommendations for antibiotic use in patients with prosthetic joint replacement.  For decades, the common practice has been for dental patients to take antibiotics prior to dental care to prevent a joint infection.  There has been a concern for many years that the risks of taking the antibiotics outweigh their protective benefits for prosthetic joints. But years of clinical and laboratory data have… [ Read More ]

A study released by researchers on 9/3/14 suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil, may be associated with a greater incidence of bone loss or lack of bone formation in patients who use those drugs. This, in turn, motivated researchers to evaluate the potential for dental implant failure in patients taking SSRIs. But the debate is significant. In fact, a response released on 9/5/14 regarding a comprehensive study of SSRIs and bone fracture was recently released. This statement illustrates how SSRis were not responsible for a significantly greater risk for bone loss or bone fractures in… [ Read More ]

While the cosmetic and functional benefits of dental implants are numerous, the healing process has the potential to be prolonged and complicated. Once implants are placed, they can be at risk due to a period of weakness caused by the surrounding areas attempting to adapt to the foreign implant. During this period of confusion at the cellular level, the bone will actually disintegrate, or resorb, first, and then begin to heal. However, recent research published in the scientific journal Bone brings good news to doctors and patients alike. A team of researchers at New York University has confirmed that the OSSEAN surface of Intra-Lock®… [ 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 ]

We’re discontinuing Crest toothpaste products in our practice, and recommending that our patients consider an alternative to the Crest line. With the recent public presentation of polyethylene particles in Crest toothpastes, we conducted our own study of the product information and ingredients in Crest products. We feel that polyethylene is an unsafe and unnecessary ingredient for our patients, and our environment. There are countless ecological and physiological consequences of increased concentrations of plastic particles. Promoting these Crest products would not be in the best interest of our patients’ health, or in the best interests of promoting a healthy planet. Update… [ Read More ]