HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CURIOUS about all the odd facts dental professionals like Dr. Hammond and Dr. Ellis have floating around in their heads all day?

Did you know…

• Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in a human’s body.
• Toothbrush bristles were originally made from cow hair.
• A shark goes through about 40 SETS of teeth during its lifetime.
• A person’s teeth set is unique—much like their fingerprints. Even identical twins do not have exactly the same set of teeth. Did you know that your tongue print is also unique?
• The average woman smiles about 62 times a day! A man? Only 8!
• Kids laugh around 400 times a day. Adults… just 15.
• According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the average person only brushes for 45 to 70 seconds a day. The recommended amount of time is 2-3 minutes.
• People who are right-handed typically chew their food on the right side of their mouth. Left handers? The left side.
• 50% of people consider the smile the first facial feature they notice.
• 80% of people are not happy with their smile.
• 78% of Americans have had at least one cavity by age 17.
• 32% of Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait of a co-worker.
• According to the recent American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey, 92% of Americans believe that an attractive smile is an important social asset.

Well, there you have it! We hope you enjoyed those facts! It never hurts to know a little more about your smile. Contact us if you have any other dental-related questions or to set up an appointment!

Oh, and please “Like” us on Facebook too!

We look forward to seeing you during your next visit!

FOR SOME OF US, THERE MAY BE A SIMPLER, YET EFFECTIVE way to have a drop-dead gorgeous smile.

Traditional veneers require a considerable amount of tooth reduction—that is, the size of your teeth must be reduced in order to “cap” or cover your teeth with a veneer. Unlike traditional veneers, our prepless veneers are extremely thin (generally about 0.2 to 0.4 mm) and require little to no reduction of your tooth enamel. Plus, they’re unbelievably strong!

Prepless veneers are also aesthetically pleasing because they block out undesirable colors and allow the beauty of the natural teeth to shine through. Because all of the color is built straight into the veneer instead of added onto the surface,  Dr. Hammond and Dr. Ellis is able to make the most of the available space.

Though the simplicity of a prepless veneers procedure makes it one of the most appealing of our cosmetic dentistry options, it is not always the best solution for everyone. Because the veneers are so thin they are best suited for patients whose teeth are a little smaller or slightly spaced out. The only way to really determine if you are a good candidate for prepless veneers is to visit with  Dr. Hammond and Dr. Ellis And keep in mind… Individuals who clench and grind their teeth are typically not the best candidates for prepless veneers as those activities could cause the veneers to chip or crack.

If you are wondering whether or not prepless veneers are the solution for you then set up a smile consultation today!  Dr. Hammond and Dr. Ellis would love to go through your options with you.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

HAVE YOU RECENTLY VISITED WITH a friend or coworker and had a flash of silver catch your eye?

Fortunately, today’s advances in dentistry and oral health awareness are causing these silver alloy fillings to gradually become thing of the past. Here at our practice we now offer you, our valued patients, beautiful white composite fillings that match your teeth. When you open wide and visit with people, your fillings will no longer draw unwanted attention. In fact, it’s practically impossible to even tell the fillings are there!

If you still have silver amalgam fillings from your past, we recommend that you consider having them replaced—and not just because of their less aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Silver amalgam fillings don’t bond as well to teeth—in order to make sure the filling is held in place, it has to be prepared with “undercuts” that can weaken the tooth structure and result in fractures. Amalgam fillings can also corrode over time as they swell and expand, putting you at risk for cracks. Additional problems can also occur as moisture and bacteria leak through microscopic spaces that develop between the tooth and the filling over time. Often, if not given immediate attention, this can cause a tooth to decay completely and/or break.

White composite fillings don’t require undercuts in your teeth, making them much more proficient in bonding, and definitely superior. In fact, such fillings can actually help strengthen teeth. And of course they’re much more aesthetically pleasing.

Still have questions about silver amalgam fillings and what to do about them? Set up an appointment with us. We’d love to go over all the options with you.

And don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook so we can stay connected with you!

“OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW,”

How will you be celebrating the beginning of the new year? What are your resolutions for 2012?

Each country has their own unique way of ringing in the new year—and some even observe the holiday on a completely different date—but we are all unified in our desire to celebrate, reflect, renew, and find joy in the season.

Here are a few fun trivia facts about New Year’s celebrations around the world:

- In Spain, it’s tradition to eat a grape with every chime of the clock at midnight.
– In Ecuador, people publicly burn effigies representing people and events from the past year. Kinda wild!
– The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah.
– In Italy, people wear red underwear on New Year’s Day to bring good luck for the coming year.
– The second new moon after the winter solstice determines the date of the Chinese New Year.
– The Thai celebration of “Songkran” is a time for visiting families, bringing out statues of Buddha, and throwing water at passersby to wash away bad luck!

Here at our practice we’re excited about the new year. As we reflect and renew, our thoughts turn to you, our valued patients and friends. Thank you. Thanks for the trust you place in our practice. Our commitment to you throughout this new year is to continue to provide you with the very best service possible.

Oh, and by the way…please remember not to open any celebratory bottles with your teeth! As much as we’d love to see you, we doubt that you want to spend New Year’s Day in our practice evaluating your chipped tooth!

The #1 reason we use social media tools is to stay connected with you. We want to know what you like about our practice. And when you see things that we can improve, we want your feedback and ideas. So be sure to connect with us on Facebook, and use the comment area below as needed.

From our entire team, we wish you the very best in 2012.

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” ~ Benjamin Franklin