Q.Tell us about yourself and your practice.
A.I am an Austin native as is my wife of 33 years. We have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren. I attended Austin High School where I met my wife. I attended The University of Texas, and graduated from St Edward’s University in 1976. I worked at Seton Medical Center in the Operating Room from high school until I entered Dental School. I graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1983. I have achieved Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, a level of educational accomplishment fewer than 4% of dentists in North America have achieved.
Q.Please explain the main services you offer.
A.I have recently relocated to a new office on Spicewood Springs Road and I maintain a fully digital practice focused on comprehensive general dentistry for adults and children with an emphasis on the analysis and treatment of Craniomandibular growth and disorders (TMJ)
Q.Do you accept insurance? If yes, what types?
A.I accept regular indemnity insurance plans, but I will not accept HMO or PPO plans.
Q.What payment options do you offer?
A.I offer a payment program known as CareCredit where I pay a fee to allow my patients the privilege of paying any balance within a 12 month period, interest free.
Q.What is the proper way to care for one’s teeth?
A.The proper way to care for one’s teeth is to brush and floss daily, otherwise termed one thorough plaque removal per day.
Q.What is the most common cause of tooth loss?
A.It must be understood that plaque is not food stuck to your teeth, it is actually a colony of bacteria that have glued themselves to your teeth. The bacteria are common to everyone’s oral environment, but when allowed to overpopulate, their excretory byproducts of acids and enzymes begin to digest your tissues along with your food. What you eat that contains carbohydrates provides the bacteria with their primary nutrients. So, this is not just colas, candy and sugars, but rice, potatoes, bread, fruits, anything that contains carbohydrates. Bacteria absorb these carbs, digest them, and excrete their waste products in your mouth. The acid is concentrated hydrochloric acid. Usually, your saliva will neutralize this acid, but when plaque is adhered to the enamel or submerged beneath the gum tissues, the neutralization does not occur rapidly enough to prevent tissue destruction, i.e. cavities in teeth, gingivitis, or periodontal disease or tooth abscesses which lead to root canals or tooth loss. Furthermore, it has been scientifically shown that oral bacteria can penetrate through the oral tissues into internal body organs and systems and have been shown to be involved in the development of diabetes as well as heart disease. This is why One Thorough Plaque Removal daily is mandatory.
Q.How often one should brush and floss?
A.Flossing is the ONLY method of efficiently scraping plaque out from between teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach, so developing the correct technique of flossing is critical.
Q.How often one should have dental exam and clean?
A.Seeking routine exams every six months at your Dentist’s office allows the dental hygienist and Doctor to evaluate your level of disease and to assist you in developing the skills and motivation to take care of yourself.
Q.Why is it important to use dental floss?
A.Believe it or not, we truly believe flossing is critical and not just that boring speech you hear at the dental office
Q.Since there are many different toothbrushes on the market, how will one know which is the right one to use?
A. There are many brushes available, some of which have very specific purposes that your dental professional can direct, but for the most part, a medium hardness toothbrush is adequate for routine oral hygiene if adequate time and ideal technique are utilized. One trick for children is to give them a song to hum while brushing such as The ABC song or Happy Birthday song hummed twice. Little tricks work wonders. In children, parents MUST be involved in their brushing and flossing routine from the moment they are born until the child can demonstrate the dexterity and maturity to perform this critical, yet mundane task proficiently; this may be necessary until age 12 when their second permanent molars erupt. Even when children are beyond age 12 and are undergoing braces, it is imperative that parents take an active role in the discipline and motivation for these children to not allow poor technique to result in extensive decay.
Q.If a person likes to have teeth whitened, what is the best product to use?
A. Teeth whitening, while very popular in today’s society, is very controversial because it is being to allow to occur in uncontrolled environments by unskilled and unlicensed individuals. The American Dental Association approves only one over the counter whitening material containing 10% Carbamide Peroxide. One such brand is Crest White Strips. There is absolutely no regulatory control over any of the kiosks or spas that offer whitening services and you cannot guarantee the source or strength of the materials utilized. Many states have enacted laws banning whitening by anyone other than a properly trained dental professional. There are many reasons that personnel other than dental professionals should not be providing these services. First and foremost, a proper complete oral exam has not been required and if existing decay is present, it can be masked or made worse by the bleaching process. Many people are confused into thinking they have been examined by a healthcare professional because they are dressed in scrubs or wear a white coat. Bleaching can be very successful and is a wonderful procedure, but can be very dangerous due to the toxicity of the materials. Higher concentration materials are available only to Dentists who have been extensively trained to utilize them properly.
Q.If someone has impacted wisdom teeth, even if they are not bothering, should that person see a specialist to decide to keep or remove them?
A. Impacted wisdom teeth present many problems. Their degree of impaction can be categorized as partial soft tissue meaning some of the tooth is exposed, full soft tissue impaction or bony impaction. If partial soft tissue impaction is present, bacteria will penetrate deep along the submerged enamel to areas below the tissue under any circumstances be cleaned. This can result in not only decay of the wisdom tooth but decay of the deeper root surface of the 12 year molar in front of the wisdom tooth. If the impacted wisdom tooth is oriented horizontally it can damage the 12 year molar as it attempts to erupt and it can distort the alignment of the teeth. Full bony impacted molars are unique in that they are contained within their developmental membrane. One of the most dramatic non cancerous destructive tumors is the cystic expansion of the membrane sac which can occur rapidly and is painless. Many times it is not discovered until most of the jaw bone has been resorbed by the expanding cyst. Some of these cysts can develop into very aggressive tumors. Routine dental visits don’t always provide the necessary imaging to discover this phenomenon, unless Panoramic X-rays are taken.
The success of today’s oral health care is a tribute to the educational mandates of our Doctors of Dentistry and their allied health teams. The philosophy of Dentistry is preventative in nature and the least expensive dentistry is preventative dentistry, so develop a relationship with the dental office of your choice and may you have happy healthy smiles!
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