Scottsdale Dentist Interview - An Interview with Gabriel Woodruff
Q. Tell us about yourself and your practice
A. I am a dentist with a practice in general and cosmetic dentistry. My practice is located in South Scottsdale, along the camelback corridor and serves many different age groups in the valley. I have an advanced residency degree in general dentistry, which trained me to do some procedures that only specialists normally perform. We have two wonderful hygienists and a caring staff.
An excerpt from my website about myself. " Dr. Woodruff graduated from Oregon Health and Sciences University School of Dentistry with high honors, two clinical awards and was ranked in the top 5% of his class. He was accepted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, which is a dental honorary society that inducts dental professionals, who show academic and clinical excellence. He has also gone beyond the average general dentist training and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program at the University of Michigan in all aspects of dentistry including cosmetic dentistry and advanced restorative procedures. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Arizona Dental Association and Central Arizona Dental Association. Dr. Woodruff also enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering for Give Kids a Smile medical relief in Honduras and his local church. Dr. Woodruff feels strongly about doing his very best for each of his patients and enjoys making his patients look and feel their best."
Q. Please explain the basic services you offer.
A. Our services include teeth cleanings, examinations, fillings, crowns, bridges, partials, implants, dentures, veneers, root canals and teeth bleaching.
Q. What patient resources do you offer? (example insurance filing)
A. We file and do pre-estimates for our patients' insurance. We give our patients website access for scheduling and to watch informational videos of procedures online. We offer emergency care on weekends. Same day emergency care is normally available. We also offer cosmetic consultations.
Q. What is the most common cause of tooth loss?
A. The most common cause of tooth loss in young patients is tooth decay, caused by bacteria in the mouth digesting sugar and producing acid. In old age periodontal disease, fractured teeth and decay are all reasons for tooth loss.
Q. When should parents take their children to have their first checkup?
A. By age one or whenever teeth come into the mouth. This is necessary for parent education and a quick exam to check for white spot cavity formation. Nutritional counseling for the parents and fluoride treatments may be necessary, if the child's teeth shows signs of decay. Many children will not sit through an appointment for cleaning until 4 or 5 years old.
Q. Which toothbrush is better regular or electric?
A. Electric toothbrush normally does a better job of cleaning, because it can be gentler on the gums and has a timer that ensures adequately long brushing times of 2-3 minutes. Many people do a good job with a manual toothbrush though. Electric toothbrushes are great for kids and elderly because they can lack the manual dexterity necessary for adequate brushing and flossing. Parents should help their children brush up to even 7 years old.
Q. What is the proper way to care for one’ s teeth?
A. Regular cleanings and exams, brushing after meals or at least twice a day, flossing once a day and for some patients a fluoride mouthrinse like ACT or anti gingivitis rinse like Listerine. Avoiding sticky sugary foods, not smoking and not sipping on sugary drinks all help to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Q. How often one should have dental exam and clean?
A. Exams at least once a year and cleaning twice a year. Some patients require more frequent cleanings like every 3-4months depending on the health of their gums and plaque buildup. It is very important for kids with braces to get regular exams and cleanings, due to the risk of increased cavities during this time.
Q. Why is it important to use dental floss?
A. Brushing alone misses 2/5 of the tooth surface. Flossing helps to remove the bacterial deposits and food debris, between the teeth and along and below the gumline. Removing this plaque is an important step to preventing cavities and gum disease. For those who are susceptible to periodontal disease, removing plaque with floss under and along the gumline will reduce the inflammation, that leads to the bone loss seen in periodontal disease. This reduction in inflammation also helps to reduce the risk of other systemic problems like heart disease.
