In todays blog, Dr. Gibbons will review the simple truth of how to keep your smile healthy.  Pay attention, take notes and you will get an A in Dentistry 101:

1.  Nature usually provides us with strong healthy teeth.  They can last a lifetime!
2.  Bacteria grow on teeth.  Unless the bacteria are removed every day, they grow and develop into plaque.
3.  The bacteria eat what we eat.  When we feed them sugar, they produce acid.  Sugar is their favorite food!
4.  If the bacteria and acid remain on our teeth, they eat holes in our teeth.  These holes are cavities.
5.  Bacteria also produce many poisonous substances that cause our gums to become inflamed.
6.  The inflammatory substances are partly responsible for gum disease (pyorrhea or periodontitis).
7.  If you remove the bacteria from your teeth EVERY DAY, you will avoid cavities and gum disease. 

These are very simple ideas, but they are true.  The cleaner your teeth are, the healthier they will be.  Most tooth decay and most gum disease can be avoided by keeping your teeth exquisitely clean and avoiding sugar in your diet. 

Dental hygienists remove the bacterial deposits from your teeth.  They scale and polish away the calcified plaque.  This removes some of the causes of gum disease.  Most people need their teeth cleaned every 6 months.  Some people are prone to gum problems and more frequent cleaning. 

So there it is.  Keep your teeth exquisitely clean every day and you will avoid most of the problems with tooth decay and gum disease!

Are you looking for a dentist that would rather help you avoid cavities than fix all of your teeth? If you are in the Phoenix / Scottsdale area and are looking for a dental home for your whole family...maybe we are the office for you...we would love to meet you!

Click here to contact Dr. Gibbons or Dr. McAdams 

For more on preventing cavities and gum disease read what the ADA has to say:

www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/how-do-we-prevent-cavities

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/cavities/​

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/gum-disease/​

Choose your weapon wisely in your war on cavities and gum disease!  Dr. McAdams is a big fan of any toothbrush that will inspire you to brush twice a day and brush efficiently…but that’s not really a clear guideline is it?  Let’s start with this:

Electric vs. Manual:

Of course you can do a good job of protecting your smile with either option but you may find the electric to be a bit simpler because it will do the cleaning for you…you just have to hold it in the right spot!  Additionally, you may find less risk of causing more gum recession if you properly use an electric vs. the manual option because so much back and forth scrubbing isn’t required.  Another factor to consider when making this choice is cost:  electric brushes are expensive up front compared to manual brushes, and the replacement heads can really add up because your bristles need to be replaced every 3-4 months with either option. 

Choosing between Electric vs. Manual comes down to ease of use vs. cost in our minds.  You really can’t go wrong if you remember the following:

Going Manual?

If you choose to stick with the old trusty manual brush, you’ll want to refresh your technique.  Dr. McAdams recommends brushing for a full 2 minutes and focusing on 1-2 teeth at a time instead of a whole section of teeth to reduce your tendency to overscrub your gums.  You will want to choose a brush head shape that fits your mouth…small mouth?  Small brush head!  Bigger teeth…you get the idea!  Make sure your brush makes it easy to reach all of the corners of your mouth where plaque tends to hide.  Also, don’t forget the bristle type…Dr. McAdams is always saying that medium and hard bristles are better for cleaning grout or shoes than your sensitive teeth and gums…he ALWAYS wants you to use a soft bristled brush!  A final thought about manual brushes…throw them away every 3-4 months when they start to fray, and replace them every time you get sick because your brush is a great place for germs to hang out and get you sick again!

Key points on manual tooth brushes:  Use good technique to avoid gum issues, choose a brush head shape that best fits your mouth, ONLY buy soft bristles and replace it often.

Choosing Electric?

If you go electric, you will find it is easier to brush effectively so avoid the temptation to overscrub.  You bought this awesome tool so let it do the work for you!  Again, you want to choose a brush head that will easily adapt to all areas of your mouth and you definitely want to stick with soft bristles for all of the reasons mentioned above.  Dr. McAdams doesn’t endorse any particular brand of electric brush, but prefers to recommend a couple of cool features if you are looking for something fancy!  Look into one with a timer so you don’t have to guess if you’ve been brushing long enough.  Also, a sensor that reminds you not to press too hard is a very valuable investment. 

Key points on electric brushes:  Let it do the work for you!  Choose an appropriately shaped brush head with SOFT bristles, and consider one with a timer and pressure sensor.

Now you have all of the info you need to make a good decision…pick the one that you will enjoy using and use it twice a day! 

Would you like to learn more about the right tools to best care for your teeth, or are you just looking for a dentist who cares about your smile?  If you are in the Phoenix area and looking for a dental home where your family is our top priority, maybe we are the office for you…we would love to meet you!

Click Here to Contact McAdams Dental

For more on tooth brush selection read what the ADA has to say:

www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/toothbrushes

How cool is that?
 
Dr.’s McAdams and Gibbons have been studying options for digital dentistry for years and we are proud to say we have invested in a new technology to make our patient visits even more enjoyable.  We now feature a new technology called CEREC. 
 
What is CEREC you might ask, well, it is a digital impression system with an integrated crown milling and finishing system to make it possible to get your new crown made in around 90 minutes.
 
This kind of technology is not a decision to take lightly, Dr. McAdams has been researching this technology since using it in dental school, but he never felt that it was ready until the available materials expanded to include our two favorite all white, all ceramic, metal free materials called E-Max and Zirconia.  These materials can be just as beautiful and potentially more natural looking than the traditional porcelain, and are proven to be just as strong or stronger under biting stresses. 
 
Using this technology means we can scan your impression with a camera wand instead of using the traditional impression materials and while you wait we can use our milling machine to make your crown and send you home with no temporary crowns! 
 
It saves time and lets you skip the second appointment!
 
Is it for every one or every tooth?  No, there are many situations where the traditional methods are still going to be preferable, but it gives us another weapon to do our very best to take care of you and your smile. 
 
McAdams Dental is always looking for ways to take better care of our patients, our investment in this technology will help us make sure you receive the exceptional results you have come to expect from your friendly, family dental practice!  If you are looking for a dentist who cares as much about patient comfort as we do about keeping up with the latest and greatest in dental technology, give us a call.  We would love to meet you!

​Click here to contact McAdams Dental

Want to learn more about CEREC?

http://www.onlyonevisit.com

When we moved into our new location on Scottsdale Road, we were fortunate to have enough space to share the office with our good friend Dr. Michael Gibbons.  As luck would have it, we needed more space at the same time he needed a new address, so we have combined forces to become the dream dental team!  We are taking this opportunity to introduce Dr. Gibbons to our friends and patients and celebrate his recent award!

He was voted Top Dentist in Cosmetic Dentistry for 2015 by Phoenix Magazine!

We are quite proud that the dental community recognizes what we already knew, Dr. Gibbons is one of the very best dentists in town!  Phoenix magazine sends out a random survey to dentists around town once per year and Dr. Gibbons has been recognized as a Top Dentist, each and every time they have voted Dr. Gibbons as the Top Dentist, this year recognizing his exceptional talent for Cosmetic Dentistry!  In fact, he has been recognized in every single issue since they started the Top Dentist survey in 2003!  

He was ALSO voted Top Dentist in Prosthodontics for 2015 by Phoenix Magazine!

Congratulations again Dr. Gibbons, but this brings up a very important question…what exactly is a Prosthodontist?

In dentistry, you can become a general dentist…or continue your training to become a dental specialist.  Part of what makes Dr. Gibbons so special is in fact his specialty training in the field of Prosthodontics.  Prosthodontics is one of the 9 dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association and are best described as experts in the replacement and restoration of teeth.  In simpler terms, it is extra training to make you a super dentist!

McAdams Dental is always looking for ways to take better care of our patients, our new location allowed us to team up with a specialist who is well respected as the Top Dentist in Phoenix in many ways.  We are fortunate to have him assist in many of our cases or to refer cases to his care to make sure you receive the exceptional results you would expect from your friendly, family dental practice!

Want to read more about Dr. Gibbons award?

https://www.phoenixmag.com

or learn more about Prosthodontists?

https://www.gotoapro.org/why-see-a-prosthodontist/​