Community Water Fluoridation

Hi everyone,

Check out my new blog entry regarding the benefits of fluoride in your community's drinking water.  Fluoride, in the optimal amounts, has been shown to have great positive mental, dental, and economic effects.  Of course too much fluoride is not good (can cause enamel mottling) but just the right amount is beneficial.  Read about it here:

http://www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com/water-fluoridation/

Augmented reality

Check out this great video. A company in Japan has come up with a augmented and virtual reality system to help dental students with their dentist training.  It's possible this type of virtual training may becoming to dental schools in the US in the near future.  Aspiring future dentists have an exciting future ahead in their dental school education!

http://www.voanews.com/a/3824388.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/a/3824388.html

From the desk of your gentle dentist,
Dr. Chien

Bellevue Family Dentistry
1299 156th Ave NE #115
Bellevue, WA  98007
(425) 614-1600

Dental fillings discovered on 13,000 year old skeleton

I found an interesting article worth sharing.  Be thankful your dentist uses modern dental equipment when doing fillings on your teeth :)

http://www.livescience.com/58722-earliest-dental-fillings-ice-age-skeleton.html

Good things happen when you brush your teeth!

Good things happen when you brush your teeth.  Apparently, these good things are not restricted towards your oral health, but your mental health as well!

Check out the article below....

http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/retired-man-solves-decadesold-maths-problems-while-brushing-his-teeth/

Warm Regards,
Dr. Chien

Bellevue Family Dentistry
1299 156th Ave NE# 115
Bellevue, WA  98007

Does your wisdom tooth hurt?

Does your wisdom tooth hurt?  If you are finding that you are having pain in wisdom teeth and would like to find out its cause and treatment options, be sure to check our new blog http://www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com/wisdom-tooth-hurts/

From the desk of your family dentist,

Dr. Chien

Ourdental health blog has moved!

Our dental health has moved to a new page to better serve our readers.  Please direct your browser to the URL below for our updated blog address to stay up to date on new articles and information.  Smiles!

http://www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com/dental-health-blog/

how to get rid of bad dog breath

Yorkshire showing his teeth :)

Did you know plaque and tartar buildup is not only bad for us (people) but also bad for our pets, especially dogs!  Puppy breath is nice until it develops into "doggie breath" which at that point becomes an annoyance for us.  Just as we take care of our kids and our own oral health with toothbrushes and toothpaste, our pet's oral health is important too.

Most pet owners are probably not as attentive to their dogs oral health and hygiene, but our pet dog's teeth and gums need care, just like people's teeth.  Recently increases in pet care products (including canine toothbrushes and toothpastes), which help makes taking care of our dog's oral health more readily accessible. 
 
Young pups have 28 primary (baby) teeth; adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth.  Majority of dogs exhibit signs and symptoms of gum disease by 3 years of age (or roughly 21 dog years) when all of their adult teeth have come in.  Below are some signs of gums disease in dogs to watch for as our dogs mature in age:

GUM DISEASE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN DOGS

• Tartar buildup (looks like a dark yellow or dark black hard residue on the dog's teeth)
• Red, puffy, and bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Crowded teeth and malocclusion 
• Not wanting to eat and weight loss
• Red discharge 
• Atypical behavioral change

For our furry friends there are recommended dog toothbrushes and toothpastes at Petsmart.  Be sure to use a soft bristle toothbrush, just like your dentist recommends for adults and kids.  For toothpaste fluoride is not recommended as dogs have a tendency to ingest the toothpaste; some toothpastes for dogs are actually baking soda based.  Fret not if one cannot find a specific toothpaste or toothbrush, it's the actual physical removal of the plaque that is important.

When one first starts brushing their dog's teeth, initially have the the dog smell and taste the toothpaste (some toothpastes are actually meat flavored!).  Start brushing one side of the dog's teeth, and then brush the other side.  Take frequent breaks if necessary.  Also try to see if you notice any changes or discolorations in your pet's teeth and gums.  Make it a fun bonding event!

Take your canine friend to the veterinarian at least once a year for a preventive exam and a dental cleaning (usually performed under general anesthesia) and be sure to inquire if the vet includes an assessment of your dog's oral health.  If you have any questions on your dog's dental health please consult your family veterinarian.  Woof!

From your friendly family dentist in Bellevue,
Peter Chien, DMD, MPH
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
425-614-1600