Willow Dental Care

Category: Life Skills

  • Sedation Dentistry

    Anxiety Free WillowSo many people are managing their lives to keep their anxiety triggers at bay. You’re not alone.

    Sometimes it’s hard to know what will trigger that tension, and unending worry and sense of uncertainty. Now, your dental office can’t offer you answers for the outside world, but they can promise that they offer a calm, serene space and a kind ear.

    Fear in a dental office comes in many forms. For some people they just don’t freeze well and dental work hurts. For others the gag reflex is so bad that just thinking about it will activate it. It’s nice to know that there are dental clinics that are not going to tell you it’s all in your head and they provide a safe non-judgmental environment. And if that’s not enough we have a secret weapon.

    That secret weapon? Conscious Sedation. No it’s not a weird meditation practice or a new fangled drug with unknown side affects. Conscious Sedation has been used for years in the dental field. Many dentists do believe that it isn’t necessary and patients should be able to calm down on their own and experience their dental visit fully. We don’t think that is necessarily true. The fear is very real and you can really feel the anxiety even though it was developed many many years ago. So if anxiety plagues your life, why wouldn’t you use the tools available to you? Especially if the tools are offered by trained professionals with an office fully equipped with monitors and updated safety equipment. Best of all is the fact that there is minimal side affects!

    So what is Conscious Sedation? Essentially, once your conscious sedation appointment is booked, there is an entire protocol to follow. Your dentist may prescribe you a night pill. You’ll need to take it as directed before you come to your dental appointment. In the morning at the dental office you will receive more pills. The rest is dream time. The beauty of this system is that you will be conscious enough to hear instructions and follow them. However throughout the appointment you may actually be asleep. If you are ever uncomfortable you will be able to signal the dentist to stop. Most of the time you will not remember your appointment. There are no after effects. You will not be groggy or have a “hangover” afterwards. We do ask for your own safety that you have someone pick you up after the appointment. We have known some patients who do lots of shopping after their sedation session and not remember a thing the next day.  Just a clean healthy mouth and a sense of well being and you return to work the next day.

    If anxiety isn’t a problem for you, Conscious Sedation is a wonderful way to power through a long list of dental work in one session. It will save you both time and stress!

  • Bad Breath: Mints are Not Enough

    dreamstime_l_33303370You look good. You feel good. But how is your breath? Like an unseen force bad breath can take you down without your knowledge. Sure everyone struggles after a particularly garlicky meal. But what we’re talking about is when your breath has a personality of it’s own. And it’s not the type of personality that wins friends and influences people.

    Garlic can actually be quite the culprit in terminally bad breath. Did you know that the sulphuric compounds within garlic stay on your teeth until they are scraped, brushed or flossed out? It’s true! Worse is when garlic has affected your breath via your lungs. It sounds a little bit of a stretch but it’s true. As your body metabolizes garlic, allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), is absorbed into the blood and then expelled through your lungs distributing the smell of garlic to whomever you are speaking with. AMS can also escape through your pores. This is why garlic breath is so hard to get rid of at times. No matter how much you clean and brush your mouth, the garlic odor will still be in the air you exhale because it comes from the lungs. http://www.breathmd.com/garlic-breath.php

    There are also overall health problems that might be causing your bad breath. Did you know that throat and lung infections may cause bad breath? Also kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes all may cause bad breath. If you have other symptoms that may suggest one of the illnesses suggested above contact your doctor. Tonsilloliths are calcium deposits that collect on the lymph nodes. They are too far down the throat often to be seen but can become painful and cause terrible halitosis. But assuming your bad breath is somewhat common, we asked our hygienists what is the most common cause of bad breathe.

    Sarah from Willow Dental Care Garrison and Keisha from Willow Dental Care Chilliwack agree, a lack of tongue brushing, or scraping causes a build up of bacteria on your tongue. This bacteria can become quite smelly. Brush your tongue once a day or scrape it with a tongue scraper every morning.

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
    Sarah from Willow Dental Care Garrison

     

    Sarah, also recommends keeping up with your bi annual dental check ups combined with daily dental hygiene care. Tooth decay can also have a smell to the very olfactory sensitive.

    If you are experiencing Acid Reflux, that could be the culprit of your bad breath. An unhealthy lifestyle also can add to bad breath. Not eating enough vegetables in your diet or simply having an overly acidic body can expel not the most enjoyable breath. Being a smoker is an obvious killer of good breath.

    Mouthwash is the usual go to when it comes to bad breath, but it does kill some of the bad bacteria in your mouth. Mostly, it just covers up the problem. As a quick fix, sure!

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
    Keisha from Willow Dental Care Chilliwack

    Looking for an on-the-run natural quick fix? May we suggest eating a breath cleanser:

    * Anise seeds will help with your digestion as well as help your breath.
    * Cardamom & fennel seeds are rather strong but can do the job too.
    * Dill, will only mask the odor.
    * Breaking off a small piece of a cinnamon stick and nibbling on it will help kill the bad bacteria and freshen your breath.
    * A single clove will do gang busters at killing the bad bacteria and keeping your breath nice and fresh, but remember you only need one!
    * Obviously parsley or mint sprigs freshen your breath in a natural way.
    * Lemon is wonderfully effective when you want to neutralize garlic breath as well as kill the bacteria that causes bad breath.
    * Green or peppermint tea, any tea that contains polyphenols will help to reduce the sulfur compounds that come from garlic.
    * Finally chewing coffee beans then spitting them out will also cleanse that garlic breath. You’ll have coffee breath, but some people like that.

    Probably one of the best and easiest natural preventions to bad breath is staying properly hydrated. Saliva kills a lot of the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath and cavities. So if you’re not drinking enough water, that might be the first thing you’ll want to add to your day. We’ve found there are lots of free water apps you can download onto your phone where you can track your consumption of liquids. Some you can even set a reminder so you drink more water if you are busy.

    But nothing beats having excellent oral health. That’s why we’re here for you! Let’s keep you healthy together! And no one would complain about having fresh breath when wanting to get close to their loved ones!

     

  • Your Vacation Dental Plan

    toothbrush beach title

    It is winter.

    Many of us take holidays during the winter season. Something to escape the cold and the rain.

    We know the idea of worrying about your oral health as you’re planning your sun soaked destination seems a little over the top. But hear us out. This is the inside track on how to make certain your oral health doesn’t interfere with your fun in the sun.

    See Your Dentist Before You Fly

    If your bi annual check up is due after you return or you are feeling some tooth pain or even have a bit of concern, see your dentist before you travel. This way if you have any dental issues pending they won’t become uncomfortable when you’re trying to relax by the pool. Also if you haven’t had the pleasure of flying with a root canal then you don’t know how excruciating it can be. The change in air pressure is disaster on an abscess tooth. If there is uncertainty about your tooth pain that cannot be resolved before you leave, ask your dentist to prescribe some antibiotics and pain killers that you can take with you. So why gamble and maybe have to suffer through your vacation in pain or go through the awkwardness of seeing a new dentist in a foreign land. Not all dentists are trained to deal with anxiety or even have good bedside manners. So book an appointment with your tried and true dentist and make certain you’re healthy before jetting off.

    Dry those Bristles

    As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, when you’re travelling, you’ll want to put your toothbrush away wet. Give it a good cold rinse and a tap on the side of the sink to get all food particles out. Please do not: dry it with a blow dryer or a paper towel. This way bacteria won’t grow in amongst the bristles in your travel case. A toothbrush cover is always available at the looney stores.

    Got a Toothbrush Will Travel

    Keep your oral health kit handy in your carryon bag. This way you’ll be able to freshen up under any circumstances. Nothing helps you feel put together like a freshened mouth. You might not be able to jump in a shower, but you’re mouth needn’t suffer. At least put your toothbrush in the carryon if space is limited. Don’t feel embarrassed to brush your teeth in a public bathroom. People are probably envious that you have a toothbrush.

    Also set up your travel kit with all your favourites: toothpaste, travel toothbrush, floss, soft picks, xylitol candy for dry mouth and mouthwash if you like. Everything is available in small travel sizes now. It’s an added incentive to care for your oral health when you bring some flavours of home.

    Most electric toothbrushes hold their charge for a very long time so you can bring the electric toothbrush without the charger. However, the tossing around inside your luggage will accidentally push the button and you will arrive at the vacation home with an electric toothbrush that is totally discharged. Try to buy an electric toothbrush with a carrying case or find a hard case at the looney store. Bringing your electric toothbrush guarantees that you will have a better clean. It is also easier to use when you come in from a night of revelry at the all inclusive.

    Some key ingredients to your travel kit should be:

    • Advil and extra strength Tylenol combined can be very effective if you have dental pain

    • Extra ortho wax for your braces

    • If you might have an infection, your dentist can prescribe antibiotics.

    • Disposable toothbrushes are a good idea in case you can’t get to your full oral health kit.

    • Any regular medications, small first aid kit, and a sewing kit, a couple of small zip lock bags

    Vacation Fun is More than Snacks!

    Although vacations are a great time to live it up, keep hydrated and choose healthy snacks. There’s no reason for your health to take too much of a hit! Healthy snacks of nuts, fruit and veggies are always easy on the run! Mix your own before you go. That way, you cut costs and you can choose lower sugar dried fruit and lower sodium nuts. In fact for a bigger health kick, mix your regular salted nuts with raw nuts.

    Now get out of here! Enjoy yourselves knowing that your oral health isn’t going to stop your fun!

  • Don’t Let Your Dental Plan Go to Waste!

    coins dental plan

    Truth: 95% of dental plans financial limits end December 31st. What does this mean to you? It means that you may be missing out.

    You may be missing a year of benefits that you could have used up. If you have a few treatments scheduled, getting some completed in 2015 means that there will be a full year of benefits to use in 2016.

    Many people never use their insurance benefit. Sometimes they don’t have a habit of visiting the dentist and sometimes it is due to high anxiety.

    For those who prefer to be treated through sedation, it is covered by most insurances. To be certain of the coverage the dental office would send in a preauthorization form. The answers come back sometimes in a few days and sometimes in a few weeks. Due to the privacy act, many insurances will only send the information of the approval just to the patients. Every insurance policy is different.

    Here is another truth. Did you know that if you have coverage for a cleaning every 9 months, this does NOT mean that you are eligible for a cleaning only every 9 months. Most plans are broken into two categories. The plans are written to allow polish, fluoride and an exam every 6 or 9 months. However most plans have more room for tartar removal which is the hygiene treatment that really keeps your gums healthy.

    What you need to look up on your plan is how many units of tartar removal you have allowable. This is usually called scaling or root planing. The average dental plan allows from 4 units to 16 units. What does that mean to you? Every time you go in for a cleaning with your hygienist, the average units used is two to three units. You could come and use the other available units of tartar removal and use up the allowable units every 4 months or 6 months as you need. Tartar removal helps maintain the health of gums, and prevents bone loss. Regular tartar removal encourages less bacteria build up and can help gums to reattach. Some people build up tartar faster and may have more gum problems. It is not just personal hygiene. It could be your chemical makeup in your saliva, or if you are taking medications that keep your mouth drier. So it is smart to look up your coverage for tartar removal and use the coverage appropriately.

    This extra dental care is even more important for pregnant women who should see their dentist every three months. Hormones during pregnancy can significantly damage gums and the extra bacteria that accumulates can be detrimental to the health of the baby. If you are past the age of 65, you also might require more oral health assistance than every six months. Added medication can dry your mouth which leads to faster decay. You may need more than your dental plan provides, so understanding your plan is very important. In the end, dental insurances are there to help and provide more but they are not there to provide the treatment that you require.

    Your dental office, has the experience with all different kinds of insurance coverage. Although you are ultimately responsible for your fees and your dental insurance, you can count on your clinic to help you decipher what is covered and will work with you to maximize your dental coverage. If you want to use your plan and not lose it for the year, call the dental office sooner than the end of December. Some treatments need to be preauthorized and that takes time.

    You’re probably covered for more than you think, so choose health. You’ll be glad you did.

  • Conscious Sedation – Is it for You?

    Conscious Sedation
    Conscious Sedation

    Do you have dental anxiety?  Have you put off dental treatment because you can’t stand the thought of going into a dental office? Do you have a touchy gag reflex? Or maybe you have a lot of work to get done? You might think that Conscious Sedation is only for extreme circumstances, but really it’s for everyone.   But what is it?

    Conscious Sedation is the use of light sedation medication that will keep you completely unaware but still conscious enough to be in the driver’s seat. So you may sleep and again you may not.  One thing our experience tells us is that you will not remember much about the whole procedure.   You are in the driver seat in the sense that you have complete control of all your airways unlike General Anesthetics and if you are uncomfortable you can let the dentist know and there is a reversal agent that will terminate all the sedation effects instantly. This makes the process very safe.  At that point a sedation office would stop all work until you are ready again.  You have the controls.  The best part?  Not only will you not remember a thing but possibly, all your dental work can be completed in one session.   

    Have you not been to the dentist in a long time? Conscious Sedation is great if you have a lot of work to get done and would like to finish it all in one appointment. This way the dentist can work for several hours and complete in one session what would have taken multiple appointments. Not only will that save you time but the anxiety of going to the dentist and sitting in one position for hours.

    Finally if you gag easily, which is a reflex and not your fault, conscious sedation will relax you while having dental work done. So you stay calm…breathe and the reflex is not activated.  Conscious sedation makes your dental experience one you’re happy to forget.

    Anxiety is a common when going to the dentist.  Often a memory of a terrible experience, the sound or the odor of the dental office will trigger anxiety. Or sometimes it’s the fear of being out of control, needle phobia.  Whatever it is, you are not alone. Dental anxiety is real. 

    Within Canada, the most recent study shows that 5.5% are very afraid, and 9.8% are somewhat afraid. However, in Ontario, where numerous fear and anxiety studies surrounding dental treatment have been conducted, the literature displays a higher value at roughly 10-17%.   This situation has serious negative cycle effects that are evident in patients’ behavior, including failed or postponed dental visits, lack of preventative care, and overall poor oral health ( Jonathan Campbell, DDS  2015-02-01  Oral Health Group)

    Finding a clinic where all the staff understands this, is of the utmost importance.  The office should provide a safe and non-judgmental environment. Ask your dentist how they handle anxious patients. Make certain they make time to listen to your concerns and give you options.  It is NOT an option to “ just get over it”.   In the end, if the dental office is considerate and kind to high fear patients, they must be great with patients without fear.

  • The How of Habits

    We are what we repeatedly do. “_Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit_”. – Aristotle

    pinky 2Habits happen. Good or bad we get the habit of a thought, an exercise or an experience and we tend to repeat that experience. Whether it’s falling asleep without brushing our teeth, doing yoga every morning or looking at your phone the moment you wake up, habits happen through repeat performance. The question is, are you happy with your habits? And if not what do you do about it?

    First: identify a few habits you appreciate and a couple you’d like to change. Be really specific. Give yourself true appreciation for the fact that you do drink 8 glasses of water a day or have successfully given up cigarettes. These things are still struggles for other people. Since you’ve got them done they kind of feel like no big deal. However when you’re facing a challenge to change or create a habit it’s good to remember your previous successes and glow in that success. Stand tall and take a proud credit for what you have accomplished.

    Once you remember how good you are at changing a habit, be specific regarding which habits you’re ready to change. Be honest with yourself. If it is quitting smoking, that is a big one. Maybe it’s the only habit you’re going to change for a while. Maybe add something easy to give yourself an easy A might be a great encouragement. Whichever you decide to do, write it down with clear steps.

    Your steps could be as simple as leaving the floss beside your toothbrush so you remember to use it every night, putting all your dental products on a nice tray by the sink, making a point of going to the sink the minute your pyjamas are on. Writing down your plan can help to solidify it. Change takes change. So if you want this January to be different, you have to do something differently.

    Now you’ve written it down, how do you be accountable? You can use an external force like a personal trainer or friend who’s willing to positively cheer you on. You need to make certain whoever is your friendly “bully” that they won’t take no for an answer and that they’ll believe in you. Also that their cheering style works for you. No one actually wants to be annoying, so work with your “bully”. OR..you can simply commit to your hygienist this year to floss more and come in for your 6 month check up and cleaning. Be accountable to them since they can tell if you have been flossing just by looking at your gums.

    Instead of trying to change everything at once, make small changes you could really stick with!

    A technique we really like is Jerry Seinfeld’s “Don’t Break the Chain”. It’s so simple. Get a calendar. Pick a habit. Mark an X on the calendar everyday you complete the habit. As you collect X’s on the calendar, you’re building a longer and longer chain of habit building success. If you miss a day, that’s ok. Just restart the chain. Don’t wait for Monday or next month or sunshine. The next X just restarts the chain. Jerry used this habit to encourage himself to write comedy everyday… AND he was pretty successful.

    There’s quite a debate regarding how long it takes to create a habit. We suggest being clear with your goals and use one of the techniques above. Also make it as enjoyable as possible. It’s something you plan to do for life so do what you can to make it easy on yourself.

    Oh and don’t forget to floss.

  • Fun While Brushing Your Teeth

    Make bedtime ritual more fun!!!

    Brush your teeth! Floss! How many times do parents have to say this… what happens when the child is inspired and excited to do his oral health “chores”? We see adults who have found they are more likely to floss if they have tools that inspire them, so why not kids too? Here are a few ideas that might just do it.

    allBrushesTimers:
    Everyone knows that you need to brush your teeth for two minutes minimum. You can set an egg timer, the timer on your phone or ipad, but why not use something more fun? The time will pass faster than you think. Here are some free timer apps you can look up.

    Brush DJ is good silly fun that keeps kids brushing.
    There’s a free app from OralB that uses Disney characters.
    Aquafresh Brush Time is another fun option.

    For us adults, we find that an electric toothbrush like the Oral B or Sonic Toothbrush is so much more effective that the shorter time with an electric toothbrush makes up for brushing manually for two minutes. However, at least try to use your electric brush for up to a minute at least.

     

    Brushes
    Now brushing for fun and brushing for two minutes is no longer an issue. What brush will bring a smile to their faces?starwars lightsabre toothbrush

    GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush combines a fun crayon shaped toothbrush with a light flashing timer.

    Now the toothbrush that some adults may secretly desire: Star Wars Lightsaber Toothbrush Check it out! Christmas is around the corner.

     

    gum chucksFloss
    The fun doesn’t stop with flossing.

    Dentek offers Marvel inspired flossers no flash but a lot of fantasy.

    Probably the most revolutionary is GumChucks. Finally an easy tool for kids and adults to floss before they have the dexterity to do so. Plus they have a fun numchuck feel as the floss goes flying into the garbage bin. We’ve seen kids love them and it was a real game to floss. These are offered only in a dental office. Ask your office about them.

  • Are you Prepared for the Season of Dating?

    wdc beach_piggyback_coupleWhether it’s mother nature’s inspired summer fever or the simple fact that the sun is out, summer tends to be The Season of Dating. What Toothbrush Confidential wants to empower you with is:

    1) Is your mouth Kiss ready?
    2) The Dangers of Kissing

    First off bad breath is going to kill your game no matter how delightfully funny and attractive you are. If you haven’t seen your dentist in six months, make an appointment for a cleaning and a check up, this way bleeding gums and bad breath shouldn’t be in your way. Of course you’ve been brushing and flossing daily, have you also been scraping your tongue? Check out this article from Toothbrush Confidential about the magic of tongue scraping.

    Also check out willowdentaloffers.com to read about the $99 cleaning and check up special just for this 2014 summer.

    Drink water. Not only will it help keep you hydrated in the heat, but it helps washing away food particles and bacteria that may cause bad breath. In the same breath, (pun not intended) try harder to brush more than once a day. Any movement over your teeth will dislodge the bacteria. If left untouched bacteria doubles in 24 hours.

    Eat only date friendly foods. Avoid things like garlic, coffee, onions and pretty much anything you wouldn’t want to smell on someone’s breath.

    Chewing fresh mint or sugar-free gum will help to keep your mouth fresh if you can’t reach for a toothbrush and will help wash away food particles.
    “I like your yellow teeth.” Said no one ever.
    Teeth yellow as you age. It happens. We drink coffee and wine and sometimes we need to take action to return to our natural bright white smiles. Toothbrush Confidential has broken down all the options when it comes to whitening here.

    Now you’ve got fresh breath, a shiny white smile and you’re ready to get out there and get your date on… is kissing actually dangerous?

    We hate to tell you yes. Each kiss with a frog or a prince may add 500 different types of germs and viruses most of which we have built up some immunity.

    Cold or Flu Virus
    ———-
    Colds or Flu Virus are probably the most obvious danger in the saliva exchange. So if you hear your date mention that they are not feeling great, you may want to postpone this kiss until you’re both feeling great.

    Cold Sores
    ———-
    If your date has any tiny, clear, fluid-filled blisters around their mouth and lips, they are most likely cold sores. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and are highly contagious when they are in this state or leaking fluid. Once scabbed over they may still be contagious. Beef up on your vitamin C and also try to use mouthwash more often which can cut curing time down. There is also evidence that cold sores can come from stress so add a Vitamin B to your daily vitamin regime.

    A wound near the lips is most likely herpes, so it’s best to avoid kissing anyone with visible sores near their mouth.
    Mononucleosis
    ———-
    Although Mononucleosis’ nickname is Kissing Disease, this virus can be shared through sharing food, utensils, glasses or straws. The can knock you out of commission for months so know your kissing partner before you lock lips.
    Oral Cancer
    ———-
    This one is probably the most shocking. Studies show that Oral Cancer may spread through human papillomavirus which may be transmitted through kissing. The good news though? Your dentist can scan you for oral cancer with a Velscope before any symptoms appear. A yearly scan is good practice.

    Your health is very important to us. We hope you feel empowered on your search for love.

  • Thumb Sucking: Adorable or Dangerous?

    Thumbsucking: Adorable or Dangerous
    Thumb Sucking: Adorable or Dangerous?

    Children often find comfort in thumb sucking. It’s adorable to witness and ultra sound photos have been taken of babies thumb sucking in the womb. Can something that brings so much relief and is so cute, actually be a problem?

    Yes, if it goes on too long. The level of intensity and duration of your child’s sucking, can create damage  to their facial growth ie the way their face gets shaped.

    Dental Impact Thumb sucking usually results in flaring of upper front teeth and restricts proper growth of the lower jaw.  These growth changes create an “Open Bite”.   This is when the top teeth do not cover the bottom teeth when the mouth is closed.  When swallowing, as the teeth cannot close together,  a tongue thrust habit is created.  This constant pushing of the tongue on the front teeth makes the open bite even worse.  Occasionally this tongue thrust habit creates speech problem like lisping or problems like malformed palate leading to breathing problems/apnea.   These are just a few of the dental impact starting from a simple thumb sucking habit.

    There are dental appliances that can be used to break the habit.  A consultation with the dentist when the child is 2 or 3 years old would allow your dentist to monitor the existing dentition and to assess any possible problems.

    To help you encourage your child to give up the thumb Toothbrush Confidential has gathered some excellent tactics and advice.  The success of these techniques requires a desire and cooperation from your child.

    Real World Results Pushing your child to quit something they find pleasurable usually ensures a child clings to the activity. You can wait until your child is in school and is faced with the judgment of other children. Peer teasing may create the fastest behavioral change but the dental damage might already be done.

    Carrot Over Stick Make the behavioral change a game. Reward-based system games got you to the gym so why wouldn’t it work with kids? Stickers on a calendar works well.  For each day your child doesn’t suck their thumb they receive a special sticker to commemorate their achievement. At the end of a preset timeline, daily then weekly then monthly, an appropriate prize is delivered.

    Make a Job of It  This is a lovely sneaky way to turn something that offers relief into a chore. Explain to your child that by only sucking their thumb they aren’t being fair to their other fingers. All fingers require the same amount of sucking. It’s only fair. Your child may grown so tired of all this “work” they might just let the entire thing go. If you don’t suck a thumb, then none of your fingers need to be sucked.

    Privatize Thumb sucking Teaching your child that thumb sucking is something not to be done in public may force your child to find other ways to soothe themselves. It might also turn thumb sucking into a negative habit.

    Reminder Fluid  This tactic has been seen as cruel, but some have found success with it. Dip your child’s thumb into something that tastes awful but is harmless, like vinegar. When the child returns to thumb sucking, it will not be a soothing experience and they’ll find another way to sooth themselves. Please do not use this method as punishment. A simpler version is to keep a glove or mitten on the child’s hand so thumb sucking isn’t an option.

    Someday My Prince Will Come Wait. Simply wait for your child to grow out of this habit. This may create some dental issues, or without any pressure your child might give it up on their own earlier than you think. Either way peer pressure will usually force a child to quit by the age of six.

    However you decide to deal with thumb sucking, we would love to hear about your experiences. Tell us in the comments below!

  • Where Do You Look?

    Every six months you go to the dentist. You take good care of your teeth.
    Usually it’s not a very stressful experience, until you’re sitting in the chair and the hygienist has started working away and where do you look?
    The TV above you is on, but it feels weird to stare past the hygienist while she’s working. Do you look at the hygienist? Do you try to pretend you’re somewhere else and daydream?
    Honestly this is one of those common awkward situations that happens to everyone!
    1. Close your eyes and count your breaths. This is a meditation technique and completely blocks out the question of where to look!
    2. Find a relaxing show on the TV and focus solely there. It’s not rude and the hygienist is used to it.
    3. Try relaxation techniques like closing your eyes and starting with your toes imagining them melting into the chair. Then mentally scan up through your body slowly. As you move up you’ll notice an overall relaxation and time will speed by.
    4.  Most of our Willow offices offer sunglasses.  This is useful for the water that splashes around and generally protects your eyes from flying debris.  The most useful bonus of sunglasses is that you can hide behind the glasses and really meditate.
    Overall the best tip is to mention it to your hygienist. All our staff prides themselves on our ability to put your comfort first. No reason to feel awkward. It’s an awkward situation and we do our best to make you feel good in our dental chair.