What is gum (periodontal) disease? Gum disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth.  It is a major cause of tooth loss, bleeding gums, and bad breath in adults.  Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. What can cause gum disease? Gum disease is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. There are other factors that can contribute to gum disease including: Hormonal Changes such as those occurring during pregnancy and menopause Illnesses including cancer, HIV, and diabetes Medications that lessen the flow … Continue reading →

The innovations in technology are everywhere in the world today… even dentistry!  In today’s post I am going to talk about a few; digital x rays, Diagnodent(laser cavity detector), and tooth colored fillings. Digital X Rays Digital X ray technology provides us with a clear picture of your teeth and allows us to better diagnose what is going on in your mouth.  We can “zoom in” on the digital x ray to clearly show the patient the decay.  It only requires a small amount of radiation to further limit a patient’s exposure.  And digital xray is FAST so you don’t have … Continue reading →

Having a healthy mouth is important to a person’s overall well being.  As you know the office staff at Grandview Dental Care is compromised of all women….. except for Dr. T.  We all like to snack and are constantly on the lookout for things that taste good, are quick, and have some redeeming value from a health perspective. Women’s Health Magazine has just put out their 2nd annual 125 Best Pre-Packaged Foods.  http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/premium-packaged-foods Check it out and let us know your favorites. Some of our office favorites which may or may not be on this year’s list: Doctor Kracker Snack Chips (amazon.com) … Continue reading →

It’s a contract between your Employer and the Insurance Company Your dental insurance is based upon a contract made between your employer and an insurance company. This contract determines: What your employer pays for the dental benefit which in turn effects what you pay What sort of dental procedures your plan will cover.  Many plans don’t cover procedures that have been the standard of care for over a decade.  (tooth colored fillings, dental implants, etc) The fee schedule or how much money will be paid for particular procedures and how much you the patient will have to pay How much coverage … Continue reading →

If you have a missing tooth there are typically 2 options to fix this situation.  A dental implant or a bridge.  Dr. Thompson can perform either procedure so he can help you determine which is your best option. Pros of Dental Implants A dental implant looks and functions like a real tooth There is no reduction in tooth structure on any of your surrounding teeth, like there is with a bridge You maintain an implant like any other tooth with regular brushing and flossing Lasts indefinitely Implants don’t get cavities Better solution and “standard of care” in today’s modern dentistry … Continue reading →

Have you ever said to yourself, a dentist is a dentist. They all received similiar training in dental school… I just need to pick one off my list.  SCARY! Well… I’m not sure what you do for a living but in your profession I am sure there are different levels of quality, dependability, care, value and there are some people that “do what you do” that are better than others. A dentist is no different.  Some dentists are better than others.  Many years ago we introduced a revolutionary idea: use every modern dental technique available to avoid putting our patients in pain. Sedation … Continue reading →

All too often patients come to me after many, many years spent wondering Wondering if the issues with their smile can be solved Wondering if the cost (in dollars) will be too high Wondering if the change will change their looks Perhaps hoping that it will Perhaps hoping that it won’t One thing I can tell you is that most cosmetic dental problems can be solved.  The materials that are available in dentistry are light-years ahead fo what was available 15 years ago.  And the technology keeps getting better. There are products that can match your tooth color precisely in … Continue reading →

I love my electric toothbrush!  I recently got back from a week of vacation where I didn’t pack my electric toothbrush.  I figured I could do just as good of a job with my manual oral B and some floss.  Come on! I work in a dental office I must know what I’m doing! Well, I am glad to have my electric toothbrush back.  It gets off the daily sludge and makes my teeth feel all smooth and slippery and clean, almost like I just came from my cleaning with the Hygienist.  So what electric toothbrush do I use?  I like … Continue reading →

Ok, so it’s not the most pleasant dinner topic but let’s face it, we’ve all been around others when their breath has been a little overwhelming.  We all know that bad breath can spoil our dates, business meetings, and social interactions in general.  We may be annoying others even without knowing it.  Are there simple steps you can take to ensure that your mouth doesn’t stink.  Yes, there are.  Bad breath does not necessarily mean that there is a dental problem, but seeing your dentist on a regular basis can make sure that there isn’t a problem. The simplest factors … Continue reading →

In February of 2008 Dr. Thompson and the staff at Grandview Dental Care (and their Spouses) took a week long cruise together.  We visited San Juan, St. Thomas, St. John, St Martin, Antigua, and Barbados.   We had a lot of fun and team building and look forward to our next trip together.  SInce you typically only see us in scrubs, we thought we would share our “formal night” picture with you.  Do you recognize us without a mask on?