Are you confused by the sheer number of toothpastes available? You can choose from whitening, desensitizing, cavity protection, “natural,” and more. Let’s keep things simple…

Everyone seems to have a mouthguard or night guard these days. Some are custom made – and expensive - while others are over the counter and require do-it-yourself expertise. Which one is right for you? And why do you even need a mouthguard?

After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, you tried the CPAP machine without much success. Maybe an oral appliance will be the key to a good night’s sleep…

I recently had my teeth cleaned and, as happens when you’re on the receiving end of treatment, I noticed things from the patient’s point of view. Here are some tips on how to maximize your next cleaning appointment.

Do you assume that when you enroll in Medicare, all your healthcare needs – including dental – will be covered? Paying for dental care can become a real challenge, particularly when you’re no longer employed and collecting a salary. What can you do to not get caught off guard?

Maybe you received an electric toothbrush over the holidays and you’re thinking the new year is a perfect time to begin a new, healthy habit. But is an electric brush really better than a manual one? And do you need one more gadget?

Sometimes a patient just surrenders – and stops going to the dentist altogether. Usually they’re phobics who have an outsized fear of the dentist. These patients’ problems fester and multiply; in these cases, going to sleep may be the only solution…

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life with welcome - and unwelcome - changes affecting her entire body including the mouth…

As a dentist, I uphold an ethical obligation to provide after-hours emergency care for my patients. It’s not a legal mandate, but it’s the right thing to do. But how many flossing emergencies can I be expected to manage? And what is a true dental emergency?

Treating your immediate family might be compared to being a doubles tennis partner with your spouse. Or teaching your child how to drive. Most of the time, things go smoothly…

My cousin, a radiologist in Canada, believes that as a physician, he shouldn’t be treating family members. As a dentist, though, I’ve always taken care of family. And even attempted working on the family dog…

When I was a kid, I had more teeth than my mouth knew what to do with. Simply put, the size of my mouth was too small to accommodate all my developing permanent teeth. Would a palatal expander have helped?

Our bodies undergo changes as we age. Hair turns gray or disappears altogether, waistlines expand, and wrinkles form. And our mouths are no different. If you’re getting food stuck every time you eat, you are not alone.

Your 6-year-old has a cavity and will need an injection and local anesthetic for the first time. What should you expect afterwards?

In many ways, dentistry is like cooking. A mishmash of ingredients, forgetting to boil the water, not knowing when the meat is medium well. Taking a good impression is like hosting Thanksgiving for the first time. Rarely does it go smoothly…

In dental school we were tasked with making a denture for our very first patient. Even then we knew that the lower denture was every dentist’s nightmare. My partner and I were friends. “Let’s do rock, paper, scissors for the upper,” he said…

Forty years ago I graduated from dental school...Our first three-hour gold foil exam was eerily silent. We selected our best tooth, filled our torches, and organized our instruments precisely. Halfway in I heard Harold mutter, “Oh crap!”…

What better way to start off the new year than with a resolution like flossing? Sounds easy enough, right? Except that your fingers have turned blue from being strangled by the floss. Maybe it’s time to consider a water flosser…

Humans have used plants and herbs to treat ailments for centuries. Can these “natural” alternatives to manufactured products be useful in the treatment of your oral - or overall - health?

As Thanksgiving approaches and life becomes even busier, take a moment NOW to evaluate the status of your dental insurance. Don’t miss out on unused benefits…