I've been following Dr Michael Greger for a while now. He does a great job investigating natural or food-based therapies and supplements for wellness and health. Recently, he posted an update on oil pulling. There is an evidence-based benefit to daily oil pulling to alleviate sensitive teeth. It did about as well when compared with manufactured desensitizing products. And there is an ancillary benefit to keeping the skin of the mouth more comfortable when patients are suffering from a dry mouth condition. Apart from that, there isn't any benefit of oil pulling. Not for controlling gum disease, whitening teeth, or… [ Read More ]

Greetings, everyone! Hope your daylight saving went well this past week. Here's to a bright new season around the corner. Speaking of bright new seasons, the COVID season has changed as well. And hopefully for the better. With the termination of state mandates for indoor masking, it's important to clarify what our guidelines will be for the foreseeable future. As a healthcare facility, we are maintaining our protocols and precautions as we did before the end of the mandates. This means our team will continue to use room air filtration, disinfect the facility regularly, and continue to wear masks during clinic hours. We… [ Read More ]

We have been proud to provide Prosomnus oral sleep appliances for years. The innovations Prosomnus are making have been really successful time after time. So we thought that we would place a how-to video here by an amazing friend and colleague, Dr Mark Murphy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdARLvnrnY [ Read More ]

The FDA has recognized mercury amalgam fillings as hazardous for certain patient groups since 2020 (our opinion is that it shouldn't be limited; it is hazardous for all patient groups). The FDA is still open for comments regarding their advisory on mercury fillings. Click Here for details of the story from our partners at IAOMT, the organization that includes Dr. Rafoth as a member in good standing. [ Read More ]

Well, we’ve got good news, and we’ve got more good news. Erin has been accepted to dental hygiene school at the Pima Institute. And we’re happy to welcome Lauren as her successor! We’re really lucky to have Lauren here. Some things to know about Loren: she subsists “almost completely on tostadas,” enjoys making “mediocre” music; she is a huge plant lover, with her favorite species being alocasia bambino. She grew up in the Fresno area. And since moving up to Seattle, she’s been a certified dental assistant for three years. We’re looking forward to a long relationship with her! [ Read More ]

It really is a great thing to see another perspective on a more evidence-based approach to treating tooth grinding. Here's a recent NYT article about it: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/well/live/tooth-grinding-night-guards.html?smid=em-share Postural and orthopedic issues, sleep hygiene challenges, and diet are huge factors that promote grinding. Some patients have a lack of space for their tongue because their teeth or jaws are too crowded or small to allow the oral airway to accomodate a tongue; the tongue then falls into the airway and breathing stops. No breathing promotes tooth grinding.  There's simply nothing that can be done for an anatomic or orthodontic deficiency other than… [ Read More ]

So you know we practice holistic dentistry. The most widely used definition by patients is "dentistry that doesn't apply or employ materials or techniques that include mercury and other elements that can challenge overall health and wellness." Holistic dentistry is that and a lot more. Holistic dentistry is integrative; it incorporates your medical conditions, social, psychological, and physical health when planning and providing your care. Is biologic dentistry the same thing? Yes. And more. Biologic dentistry is a style of practice that is holistic. These are my four key tenets of biologic dentistry: 1) Prevent loss of function and structure before, during, and after dentofacial… [ Read More ]

There's lots of choices in the marketplace for straightening your teeth--Smile Direct, Uniform Teeth, Byte, etc. There's surely more to come. They certainly have cheaper pricing than the reliable guidance from your dentist or orthodontist. Personally, I love the clear aligner method for orthodontics. It has some clear advantages over traditional bracket-and-wire techniques. Your daily hygiene routines are easier to follow; flossing and brushing are just as easy as always, and your smile stays food-free. Abrasions of the lips and cheeks are not as common with clear aligner treatment--no need for smushing balls of wax on teeth to guard against canker sores. And the… [ Read More ]

Our team is underway with the vaccination process. And we will continue masking, distancing, disinfection, and aerosol controls, as well as our "virtual lobby" check in protocols. We will now be inquiring about your vaccine status when you arrive for your visits. Take a look at the recent COVID-19 updates from our trusted partners at Medscape: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/944321?src=mkm_covid_update_210126_MSCPEDIT&uac=190545DT&impID=3154953&faf=1#vp_2 In the spirit of community, we continue to wish you the best of safety and health. I feel we are truly making progress curbing the pandemic. [ Read More ]

The patients that I interview here at LCDC have mixed feelings about receiving the available coronavirus vaccine. Their opinions span the spectrum, from exuberantly positive to fearfully negative. I was wondering if the lack of continuity in communicating the facts about vaccination, coupled with the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment from years past has combined to create such a broad number of differing opinions. There is no question vaccines help prevent pandemics; the history books have already chronicled the successes. But if questions still exist about the utility and success of a vaccine for COVID-19, maybe a bit more information from a trusted source like the University… [ Read More ]