As dentists we know we sometimes speak a slightly different, more clinical, language than our patients. We try not to be mysterious, but sometimes what’s common knowledge to us could be confusing to our patients. One common thing that patients want to know is the meaning of the different letters you see after our names: either DDS or DMD. So what’s the difference? Is one better than the other?

Any dentist will tell you that dental care is important, but what we might not explain is exactly WHY dental care is important. Though you see a different doctor for your physical health than you do for your oral health, much of what your dentist does is connected to your overall health.

What if we told you the more often you see your dentist, the less you’ll spend on dentistry? We know it sounds like a contradiction, but that is the power of preventive dentistry.

Often used as a training tool for children to brush effectively, dyes that highlight plaque buildup—or biofilm—have become more mainstream as effective delivery methods are incorporated into normal dental hygiene products. Originally in the form of a tablet, this temporary dye now can be found in specialized toothpaste & mouthwash.

Most of the time when orthodontics come up, it’s about straightening teeth. But straighter teeth aren’t just a cosmetic benefit, nor are they the only thing orthodontic treatment can do for you.