The evidence is mounting that routinely using a mask in the absence of any other proven medications, vaccines, or health orders is paying off in a positive way. Literally, any type of mask is blocking a significant transmission of pathogens. Wearing a mask is reducing the risk of transmitting pathogens to others. Keep up the commitment, everybody! https://www.today.com/video/why-wearing-a-mask-actually-works-85137989767 [ Read More ]

What a crazy ride we're on. I am battling through what I can only describe as "uncertainty exhaustion." There have been very few times in the past 3 months that I've had all the energy and optimism to heal the world and solve any crisis from my couch. At other times I feel I am drowning in negativity and criticism of any news or research that may aid us in our journey to a healthier, more caring community. In the meantime, I have flashes of strength to continue the due diligence on emerging research. Testing, therapy, and prevention protocols are… [ Read More ]

We are so excited to return to work at Lyons Creek and keep you at your healthiest! You are the reason we love what we do. It’s time to continue our relationship with you, and at this moment, we are doing it in a way that raises your level of safety in our practice while reducing the risk of acquiring infectious disease for all of us. Governor Inslee and the experts in Washington State have set a great example for how our community reduces our chances of getting sick when we want to pursue our healthcare needs. We have built… [ Read More ]

The scientific community last week published on the need to amplify risk management of COVID19 for everyone. And it's uncertain when those findings are going to be advised to the public. Today's summary of the research in my conference call with the Fang Foundation is this: Wear a mask everywhere you go. It is now proven to help. Recent studies have shown a major point of interest: Over 30% of all cases of COVID19 are asymptomatic--which means there is a massive increase in rate of exposure prior to what we perceived. Your mask can be made of anything. It is reducing… [ Read More ]

Talking with many patients and family over the past several weeks, I get the sense that there is more interest in COVID-19 coronavirus than other outbreaks in the past. It will create a miserable respiratory infection for many people. It's a hard thing to deal with the existential idea that this viral pathogen may be more dangerous than any other. It seems reasonable to understand how we give this outbreak more concern, given the scope and sensitivity social media and news outlets place on the virus. The good news is that we reduce your exposure to coronavirus and any other… [ Read More ]

A patient came by today and asked, "what is up with how my posture is affected by wearing braces?" It sparked my choice to pass along some of the things Dr. Bob and I follow on a daily basis, but we don't often get time to share with all of you. Orthodontics and posture are always linked. There is a cause and effect relationship we have to respect. . A couple of points I want to reiterate: 1) any change in your bite and active orthodontic therapy with Invisalign will create changes in your posture, but they are usually minor… [ Read More ]

Sedation dentistry has made a positive impact on so many of our fearful dental patients. Back in 2008, I became a certified member and mentor of the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), because I wanted to possess a safe and effective method for eliminating anxiety for our patients so they could access the dental care they wanted and needed. Transportation to and from a visit when under the influence of sedatives requires the patient commit to specific guidelines to ensure their experience is safe. With the advent of ride-share services like Uber, Lyft, and others, we think it's important… [ Read More ]

Holistic care is what we provide over here at Lyons Creek. And that means being mindful about our treatment approach in any case as it affects the whole of the patient, both from a physiologic as well as an economic perspective. That's why Dr Chris and Dr Bob have been using a treatment for cavities that includes silver diamine fluoride (SDF). It's a topical treatment that kills cavity-causing bacteria and remineralizes damaged tooth structure. SDF has countless applications, for patients of all ages, for patients with medical compromises, behavioral challenges, and for patients who are budget-conscious. SDF is a great… [ Read More ]

In efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics and  synthetic antiseptics, ozone has been used by clinicians as an effective treatment for disinfection of a tooth cavity, an extraction socket,  and soft tissue incisions. I found in my experience over the years that lasers have done extremely well to disinfect and prevent post-operative or secondary infections.  They also reduce the secondary formation of cystic or scar-like lesions in surgical sites. I also use lasers to remove or debride lesions when patients are interested in removing the "cavitation" type issues they are concerned about. Diode, Co2, and crystal-supported lasers all seem… [ Read More ]

I attended a learning session last month for a new technique called the Bioclear Method that benefits every dental patient. I'd heard the excitement building about this for a few years, but I am always resolute in waiting for evidence-based success to surface in this industry; technology has been moving so fast in dentistry over the past 10 years, that it's not surprising for us dentists to get convinced about something we may see or hear in the trades, and it doesn't stand the test of time, or the technology changes too quickly. Sometimes these new things become obsolete in… [ Read More ]