Dr. Sullivan's Blog

If you just cannot function without your morning cup of tea, you certainly are not alone! In fact, black tea is the world’s most consumed beverage. Here at the office of Gilbert and Mesa, AZ dentist Sheldon Sullivan, we are happy to report to readers of our blog some exciting news about your beverage of choice.

Science Daily has reported that researchers at the Medical College of Georgia have discovered a higher concentration of tooth-friendly fluoride in black tea than originally thought. Reports published previously show between 1 to 5 milligrams of fluoride per liter of black tea, but this new study suggests that number could be as high as 9 milligrams. For more than five decades, the American Dental Association has endorsed the use of fluoride as a safe and effective means to prevent tooth decay. As with anything, black tea should be enjoyed in moderation, of course.

You can thank your friendly Gilbert, AZ cosmetic dentist office for giving you one more reason to enjoy that delicious cup of tea!

We know that the way people communicate is very different than it was just a few years ago, that’s why we are so excited about our new online patient communication system! With the new system we can send our established patients email and/or text messages to remind them about upcoming appointments. Our patients can confirm their appointments, and even request appoitments by email. It’s so simple, when you receive an email or text from our office all you have to do is click the button to confirm. We know when you’re busy you can’t always answer a phone call or check the “snail – mail” for reminders, but almost everyone checks their phone and email everyday. That’s why this system is so great. It makes scheduling and confirming appointments easy for you. If you haven’t received a text or email from us to welcome you please give our office a call to give us your email address or you can just email it to us at dawn@azsmiles.com. We look forward to having you join us on the web!

By Melissa – Dental Assistant

What are my options for whitening? There are several ways to whiten teeth, also referred to as teeth bleaching. Teeth bleaching  at home takes approximately two to three weeks to achieve the desired level of whiteness. While many dentists now offer in-office services such as  Zoom!® laser teeth whitening, which takes about two hours in office, both can produce dazzling results.

If you are looking for an easy way to brighten your smile and remove stains, teeth whitening may be right for you.

What stained my teeth? Teeth can be stained by beverages (such as tea, coffee, colas, red wine), foods (such as berries, tomatoes, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar), tobacco products, certain medicines, and genetic factors.    

Will teeth whitening affect my previous dental work? Teeth whitening is a non-invasive procedure that is safe for patients who have had previous dental work. Your dentist will examine your existing dental work and oral hygiene before beginning the teeth whitening procedure. If there are signs that previous dental work has become weakened or needs to be fixed, your dentist will probably suggest repairs before continuing with the teeth whitening procedure.

Does it hurt? The teeth whitening procedure is not painful; however, some patients may experience minor sensitivity in certain teeth and around the gum line after the procedure has taken place. Patients who prefer the take home method may request that their dentist provide them with a milder concentration of the peroxide-based gel that is used to avoid sensitivity.

What is used to whiten my teeth? Bleach products contain a peroxide agent (usually carbamide peroxide, which comes in concentrations of 10%, 16%, and 22%)

Is it permanent? Teeth whitening can produce dramatic results. However, it is important to keep in mind that daily oral hygiene is an important part of maintaining teeth whitening results. Cigarette smoking, coffee, and tea will still stain the teeth after whitening. If this happens, an occasional touch-up with an over-the-counter or take-home teeth whitening product should keep your teeth looking as good as they did following the whitening procedure.        

As you’ve probably noticed, we are now blogging on a regular basis. We’re excited about that and are also getting connected on facebook! We want you to get to know who we are here at Dr. Sullivan’s and this is a great way to do it. We hope that you will get to know each one of us on the team and learn why we love what we do and why we feel passionate about helping people through dentistry. We would love for you to become our “friend” on facebook.

The other way you can connect with us in on kudzu.com and yelp.com. The great thing about these websites is that you can read what our patients have written about their experience in our office. It’s a great way to get to know us if you’re new to our office. We’d love to hear about your experience in our office and invite you to write a review. It’s easy, just go to either Kudzu or Yelp, type in Sheldon Sullivan DDS and click on our page. Then just click on “write a review”, it’s that simple.

We look forward to hearing from you on the web!!

We were excited to get our copy of the Phoenix Magazine in the mail this week. It’s the Top Dentists issue for 2010 and Dr. Sullivan was voted one of the top dentists in the General as well as the Cosmetic category. The dentists on the list are selected through a peer-review survey that the magazine randomly mails to valley dentists. Who better to judge the best qualified dentists than other dentists? We are grateful for this recognition and to be one of the top vote getters in the Cosmetic category. Dr. Sullivan works hard to excel in his profession and give his patients the best treatment available. We are proud to be a part of his team and be a part of changing people’s lives through dentistry. THANK YOU DR. SULLIVAN!
Jennifer, Dawn x2, Joni, Melissa, and Brittany

by Joni – Hygienist

DOES YOUR MOUTH FEEL AS DRY AS COTTON?
Does your mouth feel dry and sticky when you wake up? Do you feel the urge to drink lots of water? Dry mouth can create difficulty swallowing, chewing your food, or even speaking clearly. With a dry mouth, the chance of having tooth decay increases significantly without warning and can even happen quickly.

WHAT IS DRY MOUTH?
Dry mouth, also call xerostomia, is a condition in which your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva (spit) creating an extremely dry environment. The most common cause of dry mouth is due to prescriptions; other causes can be, but not limited to, radiation therapy or autoimmune disorders. Whatever you do, don’t stop taking your medicine but mention dry mouth to your physician as soon as you can. While you may not fall into one of the previous categories, it is always important to tell your physician or your hygienist if it is a continual problem.

DRY MOUTH SYMPTOMS:

DRY MOUTH COMFORT TIPS:

Try using a nighttime humidifier to moisten room air. 

Adapted from the following website: http://www.dentalcare.com/en-US/patient/english/xerostomia.jspx

We had a glimpse of the future in our office the other day. At his last visit, Stetson, who is one of our staff members son, wanted to see what it would be like to be a dentist. Our hygienist Brittany, was a good sport and let him check her teeth with a mirror and then floss them for her. We even gave him his own name tag at is request, “Dr. Stetson DDS”. Our family members are an important part of each of our lives, so it’s fun to have them in our office from time to time. Our patients are like our family as well and we always look forward to having you in our office.

By Jennifer – team leader

Have you ever heard the saying, “Your day goes the way the corners of your mouth turn.”?  The power of a smile can have an incredible impact on others around us. People tend to think more positively of those who are smiling than those who are not. There are many interesting facts in regards to a smile.

Some Smile Facts:

In a survey: 87% think that people feel good about themselves when they smile.

It has been said that the workplace is more productive when people smile.

It’s a simple gesture, it takes no effort or time, and it can brighten someone’s day.

When we smile, we release endorphins that help us feel better.  Even faking a smile can make you happier!

Healthy smiles create excitement and vitality. 

The first thing people usually look at when they meet you is your Smile!

Many researchers and health studies have proven that laughter has a healing effect on patients. People are advised to smile rather than frown and that “laughter is the best medicine.”

Smiling is natural… not a learned habit that humans get from watching others.  Even infants who are born blind smile.

Did you know that on average women smile 62 times a day, while most men smile approximately 8 times a day.

Many adults agree that an attractive smile is an important social asset.

On average, adults say they always remember someone with an attractive smile.

Don’t forget to smile.

By Joni – Hygienist

Did you know that cavities are contagious? It’s true! Cavities are an infection of bacteria in the mouth that live and thrive on what you eat and drink. This is especially true with foods and drinks containing lots of sugar, such as sticky, chewy sweets, many juices, and sodas to name a few. These bacteria can be passed not only from one tooth to another but also from person to person. This can happen by sharing eating utensils or straws, drinking after one another, sharing toothbrushes, even kissing on the mouth. This is just one of many great reasons to keep your mouth healthy and cavity-free. Bacteria from an unhealthy mouth may be unintentionally passed to a family member.

What do We Do? Prevention…

I’m happy you asked. Fluoride is nature’s most effective cavity-fighter and cavity-preventer. Fluoride may also minimize the germs that cause cavities. It has been proven that by having professional fluoride treatments from your dentist, cavities are reduced significantly and even prevented all together. 

Join us in the prevention and spreading of decay. We recommend that you visit our office for regular hygiene treatment and dental check-ups. Have cavities and gum problems treated immediately. Be aware of sharing anything that has been in someone else’s mouth. Drink plenty of fluoridated water. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride, and floss once a day. Limit sweets to mealtimes, and choose healthy snacks, such as fruits.

The photos below depict decay that was found under an existing restoration, and was much larger than anticipated.

We are excited to welcome Breanne to our team this summer. Breanne is learning all about the art of dental assisting and back office responsibilities. She is proving to be a great help to Melissa while learning some valuable skills. Breanne is 17 and heading into her senior year of high school this fall. She will be attending EVIT, studying to be an esthetician. She would also like to attend culinary school because she enjoys creating delicious food. We hope she’ll make something yummy for all of us! Breanne has brought a quiet and kind presence to our office and we are glad to have her here.