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 ]

Everyday in our practice, we interview and screen patients for heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We can identify heartburn on the teeth where acid has eroded potholes into the teeth. Often, we can diagnose GERD before a patient or their physician is aware of it. We counsel and refer patients for the proper care when GERD is suspected, and we reinforce how GERD can be a contributing factor not only to tooth damage, but also to some types of oral and pharyngeal cancers. Now some new information has come to light. The link between chronic GERD and some head… [ Read More ]

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that affects an estimated 12 million Americans and another 40 million are at risk for developing the disease. One of the troubling things about osteoporosis is that it is rarely detected before a fracture occurs. At that point, the disease is more advanced and bones have already lost much of their density. Luckily, dentists are on the lookout for early signs of osteoporosis. “The first sign of osteoporosis is usually discovered when we do a thorough gum and bone examination,” says Dr. Rafoth. Depending on what the dentist finds in the examination, taking into account… [ 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 ]

I like to have a visit where I simply get to know the patient and their parents. That way I can best understand the patient’s level of autism, their level of tolerance, and how to communicate and interact with them. It also helps to build trust with an autistic patient, and jumping into care right away can be a negative experience without preparation and familiarization. I encourage parents to allow comfort items to come along for the visit—a stuffed animal, a blanket, a toy. My office is an active place during business hours, but it’s calm and collected, and everybody is… [ Read More ]

Traditionally, dentists and physicians have used 2-dimensional x-rays to diagnose patients’ problems and aid in treatment. With the advent of 3D cone beam CT (CBCT) images, has come a superior means by which to identify problems, plan treatment, deliver treatment, and avoid critical failures. In the case of dentistry, CBCT has made it easier for doctors and patients to successfully deliver all types of dental care. In fact, there are so many advantages to using CBCT, that it is now considered the standard of care in many parts of the country. This image shows how we can use 3D to… [ Read More ]