Blog Archive
The problem is that mindset will not protect your teeth at all. Comparing to, let's say, in general medicine, you might have a better chance to pull it off if you are truly lucky. For example, "I eat and exercise. I don't have pain, and I don't want to get...
How do I keep my teeth forever? That is the ultimate question in dentistry. Unfortunately, most people have no idea. Also, the truth is little puzzling at first. After all, there are only two ways to keep your teeth forever. One is to live really short. In the past, that...
Secret is to have a big margin of safety by filling cavity as early as possible. But here is the problem with that. In order to fill the cavity miles before it to become a root canal, it can't be rely on you. Rather, it has to be rely on...
How important is technologie to a patient when you choose dentist? Acutally, it is not much important as most patient thinks. Definitely, technology is important and updated equipment is almost basic needs at the dental office. But machine's role stops there. Good news is younger dentist out of dental school already knows...
"What is this deep cleaning business is about? It seems so unnatural to me!" That is what I hear all the time. When a dentist recommends deep cleaning to a patient, it means that the person might have gum disease. The dentist can tell you how often you should get the treatment....
First and foremost, integrity and honesty of the dentist should be the first requirements. You can never tell how technically superior dentist is. But you need to trust the dentist for long period of time. Big, complex, and difficult case often takes more than a year or even two years....
Children need to brush "2 X 2". It means brush two times for two minutes. A lot of people think toothpaste as soap. The toothpaste company, Proctor and Gamble, love you to think that way. But that is not true. The toothpaste is more like medicine than soap. Because it...
I practice in lower Westchester, where the most people come in from all over the world for the "best". They want to live in the best, send their kids to the best, shop at the best mall, etc. Naturally, they want the best dentist. Not in a glitzy environment, but competant and...
First and the best way to describe big, comlex, and difficult case is this: someone who needs denture, but don't want to have denture by pulling all the remaining teeth out. Modern dentistry came a long way and has many tools that can restore/keep your teeth that are even on the...
Often, I am amazed how my patient is overconfident of their dental health. Most of them think that their teeth are younger than their physical age. I wish that is the true, but often the opposite is true. Often I see that their teeth are 10 years "older" than their...
No. I am not an efficient dentist. Actually, I am so proud that I'm not an efficient dentist. I'd like to stay that way. . . How could life be all about being efficient? Lingering over lunch at the sidewalk cafe in Paris is horribly inefficient way to get nutrients....
1. Please treat our staff with dignity as we are trying to serve you the best we can. 2. Please call ASAP before cancelling the appointment. 3. Please done paying me when I am done treating you. If you follow the ground rule, then I will die for you. ....
Seeing great dentists motivate me. Just like any field, in dentistry, there are some good ones, some bad ones, and some great ones. I'd like to learn from the best and try to copy what they have been successful for years of practicing dentistry. . . Peter Dawson, John Kois,...
I am happy when I make patient's teeth match just like the person who owns it. I believe that beautiful person should have beautiful teeth. I think smart people should have smart teeth. I think healthy people should have healthy teeth. . . Well, you've got the idea. I don't know how many times...
Flossing is the best way to kill a bacteria. Plaque (sticky deposite of the bacteria) lives between the teeth and most are anerobic, meaning bacteria lives well when there is no oxygen. So, when you floss, your main effect is to supply the oxygen and kills the bacteria. Taking the...
New dentistry of root canal treatment doesn't hurt. Comon cliche of hurting like root canal treament is so old. Actually, there is a scientific reason that the modern root canal treatment doesn't hurt. Old method of treating root canal was using sharp needle-like instrument called file. When the file is...
I encourage my parents to come in the treatment room and watch what I am doing while I am fixing the tooth. Actually there is no right or wrong answer to this question of "should I stay or should I go". But I believe in non-authorative type of environment. After...
Because it is so important and matters to you. In modern dentistry, there is at least three ways to fix your teeth. So, the old method of " The doctor knows the best" and telling the patient what to do is over. I often say to the patient, "I can't...
Good dentist is someone you feel comfortable. This is the question that I asked for myself forever. Who is a good dentist, anyway? Someone who offer a dirt cheap treatment? Someone who has exqusite technique, yet talks like robot? I often wondered why so many dentist are so lookalike. Because...
No. I don't love teeth. Actually, far from it. Any professional who are in trench for more than 10 years from school will agree with me that the procedure becomes routine. I haven't talk to any brain surgeon but I am pretty sure that it is not the procedure that...
Because it should last lifetime. That is the most important and simple answer. Just like cars are getting better every year, implant parts are being updated and gets beter every year by implant companies. Actually, the price of implants came down significantly. Someone calculated that twentry years ago, we paid...
When I was in dental school, the professor asked students who had cavity. Only half of students raised their hands. Most of them never had a cavity in their life! Yet, when I talk to parents now, I still hear remarks such as "I never even heard of sealants”. Sealants...