This a test message to my blog. Hope you thanked a veteran on Friday!

It's B-a-a-a-c-k! HALLOWEEN CANDY BUYBACK!!!

Dear Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunties, and Uncles,

Halloween is coming, and normally it’s hard for your dentist to get excited about that day because of all the candy your kids will eat. However, this year will be different. Don’t you just wish that on the day after Halloween that your kids’ sacks full of candy would just disappear? Well we can help, and this is something we are very excited about! This year we’ll buy the candy back from your kids. We’re not kidding! Sure, they can have a few treats on Halloween night and maybe even keep a couple more for later in the week. But we’ll take the rest of it and pay them for it! The candy will be shipped overseas to our courageous troops (who could sure use a treat or two!) serving our country abroad . In return, we’ll give your kids $1 per pound of donated candy and a goody bag! If they create a card or letter to send to our troops, they’ll be entered in a special contest for a Jamba Juice gift card Also if you “Guess the Total Candy Weight” correctly, you could win 4 movie tickets!

Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2% annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be very watchful now more than ever before. Too much candy can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain, as well as cavities or worse. In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken teeth and damaged braces.

Kids should still dress up, go out, have fun, and yes, even eat some candy. But after picking out the best of their stash, they will probably have about 10 pounds left, and nobody needs that much candy!

Bring your kids and your candy to 2630 N. Fresno St. #101, Fresno CA 93703 on November 1^st between 3:00 pm and 6:30pm (559-226-3010) and please spread the word!

Sincerely,

Treva D. Lee, DDS,

Master of the Academy of General Dentistry

Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists

P.S., If you’d like to donate any promotional items to include in the kid’s goody bags, or help defray the shipping costs to Operation Gratitude, that would be terrific!!

Adding Another Tool in the Toolbox to Help Dental Patients

Dear Central Valley Resident,


As you well know, treating high fear dental patients while they sweat and squirm in the chair is stressful for both the patient and the doctor. These kind of dental appointments increase the patient's hatred of dentistry and many patients go untreated for months if not years!

If you have a friend, relative, or colleague in need of dental treatment who:

Consistently break appointments due to fear

Cannot get numb

Are needle-phobic
Have a high gag reflex

Have had a traumatic dental experience
Have very sensitive teeth
Simply don't have the time

Then I invite you to consider referring them to us to complete their general dentistry while they are sedated. As an active member of DOCS (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation), I have updated my training in the safe and effective use of sedation for dentistry and have an additional California Dental Board license specifically for Oral Conscious Sedation.

Many simple to complex, multiple-visit procedures can be performed in as little as one visit. I am dedicated to helping people have healthy, attractive smiles.

If I can be of help to you or someone you know, please call me at 559-921-4692

Yours Sincerely,

Treva Diane Lee, DDS, MAGD, FICOI

P.S. I also invite your to email me: info@trevaleedds.com

Free Children's Dental Clinics Cancelled

BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC FROM A BURST WATER MAIN, THE FRESNO-MADERA DENTAL SOCIETY FINDS IT NECESSARY TO CANCEL THE S.O.S.(Save and Seal Our Smiles) PROGRAM AND THE (G.K.A.S.)GIVE KIDS A SMILE PROGRAM. BELOW IS A STATEMENT FROM DR. GREG NALCHAJIAN AFTER VISITING THE CLINIC.

“After seeing the clinic this morning, and talking with the directors, it is clear there is no possible way to safely manage the numbers of patients and volunteers in the clinic in its current state...There's a good chance the clinic may not be fully put together this summer, as they are changing out some of the chairs, and finishing the reconstruction. Let's talk about it when we have more information from FCC and then we'll move forward from there.

I'll notify all the dentists/teams that have signed up through my office, and for each of you, please contact the groups you have made contact with and we'll hopefully catch just about everyone who is planning to come that Saturday. Thanks to all for a great volunteer effort, and I'm sure we'll come out of this stronger and better.”

SOS & GKAS is an annual volunteer effort by Fresno-Madera Dental Society member-dentists, clinical team members, and dental assisting/hygiene students to provide free pediatric preventive and restorative treatment targeting primarily disadvantaged children. Efforts are also made to connect families with available dental and medical resources in the local community. The majority of preventive care and screening of the children is undertaken at the Fresno City College hygiene clinic and those needing immediate dental treatment are then directed to several dental offices, again, staffed by volunteers. This year the plan was for the offices of Dr Starr, Dr. Asselin, and Dr Voytilla to be used for the restorative clinic. Unfortunately, as was previously explained, the FCC hygiene clinic is unavailable and the SOS and GKAS events have been cancelled from their Feb 26th,2011 date. Please look for this event's return!

What’s the “down-low” on Electric Toothbrushes?

Doesn't it seem like there's been a lot of advertising going on lately about electric toothbrushes? Especially those funky ones on TV infomercials? Well, to help sort through all the hype, I'd like to cover some features to look for when buying an electric toothbrush. If you have decided to go ahead and buy an electric toothbrush, either sonic or high end conventional rotary type, you will find that the various models you have to choose from will each offer their own combination of options. Some of these options will vary by way of the design type of the toothbrush (i.e. sonic or conventional electric) while other features will vary by way of the individual manufacturer and what they feel is important to offer.

Listed below are the options we have observed as being available. No doubt you will find some of these to be of great benefit and then others of much less importance to your specific situation, but I list them all in an attempt to be thorough and complete.

Electric toothbrush timers: As you probably know, one of the main problems with brushing is that many people simply do not brush long enough. So to help to alleviate this problem many electric toothbrush manufacturers have incorporated timers (with either audible or tactile signals) into their products so to give their users an idea of how long to brush. The most common variations on the idea of brush timers are as follows:

Brushing duration timers: These timers are intended to provide a guideline related to the total amount of time to brush. Typically these timers trigger at one or two minute intervals.

Quadrant timers: Dentists will often refer to the mouth as being composed of four "quadrants" (i.e. the upper left teeth, the lower right teeth, etc...). Some electric toothbrush manufacturers have incorporated timers into their brushes that trigger at intervals marking how long you should brush each single quadrant of your mouth. Usually these timers trigger at 30-second intervals.

Electric toothbrush power settings: Some electric toothbrush designs allow for an option that sets the power of the brushing action to either a "high" or "low" level.

Typically an electric toothbrush's greatest benefits will be achieved with the brush set to its higher setting. The lower power setting is usually suggested for those who have just started to use the product and find that either they or their oral tissues require a transitional brushing motion.

Is more than one person going to use your electric toothbrush?: If more than one person will be using your new electric toothbrush you will need a way of identifying each individual person's brush head. Most manufacturers color code their brush heads so they can be easily identified. You will also have to consider where you are going to store these extra brush heads when they are not in use. With some electric toothbrush models the brush heads can be stored on the toothbrush's recharging base.

Replacement brush heads: Just as with manual toothbrushes, the bristles of electric toothbrush brush heads do wear out. I reviewed the websites of several electric toothbrush manufacturers and found that they typically recommend replacing brush heads somewhere between every 3 to 6 months. When choosing an electric toothbrush don't forget to figure in the cost and availability of replacement brush heads.

Does the electric toothbrush have a money back guarantee trial period?

Some toothbrush manufacturers and/or vendors offer a trial period during which you can use and evaluate an electric toothbrush. This may be an important option to those who have never used an electric toothbrush before and are hesitant to go to the expense of buying one, not knowing if they will use it.

I hope that this was educational and that it helps you find the right brush for you! And if you really want to know which brush I actually use, please leave a comment/email address and I'll message you back!

Wacky Wednesday: What Not to Do to Your Teeth

What Not to Do to Your Teeth

So you think your teeth are strong. They can handle anything, right? Wrong. While you may be tempted to use your teeth as a household tool or stress relief aid, think again. You could be damaging your teeth beyond repair. A recent poll of local dentists to find out some of the worst (and wackiest) dental habits they have seen in patients.

Warning: do not try these at home!

1. Cleaning teeth with Comet, bleach or other household cleaners. Household cleaners are abrasive and will wear down the enamel of your teeth. Some cleaners are poisonous.
   
2. Chewing toenails. Your teeth are for chewing food and speaking. Use a nail file or clippers to keep your mouth…and your feet…safe from bacteria.
   
3. Using "crazy glue"for loose dental work. Super-strong glue will still dissolve over time. See your dentist for long-term solution for loose dental work.
   
4. Opening beer bottles with teeth. This can break the tooth; get that bottle opener out of the drawer!
   
5. Sucking on lemons. This is sometimes done with the misguided goal to whiten teeth or freshen breath. But, the citric acid will break down the enamel on your teeth and cause sensitivity and decay.
   
6. Filing teeth(real & fake) with a nail file. You can risk taking too much of the tooth and damaging the tooth. See your dentist if the shape of the tooth doesn't seem right.
   
7. Flossing with household items. Dentists have seen people floss with objects including hair, needles, credit cards, paper, and rubber bands. These things can break in your mouth and put you at risk for injury and infection. Hard items like paperclips will wear away enamel when used repeatedly and can even chip your tooth.
   
8. Rinsing with acidic liquids. Just like sucking on lemons, sloshing liquids like vinegar, orange juice or soda in your mouth will wear away teeth and cause decay. Your best bet is a mouthwash containing fluoride or xylitol.
   
9. Removing teeth with pliers/power tools. Yep, leave this to the professional! Doing it yourself risks infection, broken teeth, and bone damage to your jaw.
   
10. Chewing pens. This can fracture teeth, leading to otherwise unnecessary dental treatment, besides maybe swallowing some ink. There are safer ways to relieve stress and fight boredom. Preserve your teeth for their real jobs: talking and chewing food.
    

    
    

If you would like your smile to be attractive and healthy, Dr Treva Diane Lee can be reached at 559-921-4693 or visit her website www.TrevaLeeDDS.com for free reports!