Valley Health Magazine

By Jill Throckmorton, R.D.H.

Have you ever noticed that during the average visit to your dental office, you actually spend more time with the hygienist than the dentist? You may not be aware of how instrumental and knowledgeable your dental hygienist really is in helping maintain your oral health. So, just who is this masked individual and why should you trust him/her?

By Thomas E. Bramanti, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Advances in dental health have exploded over the past 25 years. People today have more choices and care options to achieve their health goals than ever before. Although making the right decisions regarding your dental health has always been important, the ever-advancing technology and scientific breakthroughs have given us a wealth of new, critical information about mouth-body connections. Dentistry has had a significant public health impact on controlling disease. The introduction of fluoride into the U.S. public water supplies combined with oral health education efforts has dramatically reduced the incidence of tooth decay in the last 30 years. Many young people today do not possess a single filling because of this.

By Harold E. Coulston, Jr., D.M.D.

Bruxism is defined simply as the “clenching and grinding of the teeth,” which occurs in all humans at some point in their lives. Many people go through life without experiencing any of the damaging effects of bruxism. Unfortunately others, who are sometimes referred to as “Bruxomaniacs” experience a wide range of problems, and will be the focus of this article.