Dr. Howell and Tanya cooked away for everyone

Karin, Hannah, Chelsea, Lacey, Dr. Howell, Melissa, & Tanya

The girls were so THIRSTY!  They worked hard flipping dogs & burgers.

We had lots of giveaways.  Congrats to all our winners!

We had an AWESOME time at our patient appreciation party last week.  Besides the great turnout, we had plenty of hamburgers, hot dogs and snacks for everyone!

After our bbq, we all headed over to the Scera pool for some fun and relaxation.

Thanks to everyone that came to celebrate with us.  We had a great time!  If you missed us this year, come next year – it’s guaranteed to be a BLAST!

This is why we use the Diagnodent on permanent teeth at exams. If Dr. Howell has a concern about a permanent tooth, we use the Diagnodent.  This tool detects decay below the tooth surface by reading tooth density.  The Diagnodent helps many of our patients receive the care they need while the cavity is still small.

More information on the Diagnodent can be found at:
http://www.kavousa.com/Default.aspx?navid=552872&oid=009&lid=Us

First of all, we find that a traditional cleaning can be frightening for most young children. It is important to us that your child has a good
experience and develops a positive relationship with going to the
dentist. A traumatic experience at a dental office can affect a
child for the rest of their life. We want to not only take good care
of your child’s teeth, but we want your kids to have a good time!
Secondly, cleaning and scaling can potentially harm the enamel of a
child’s teeth.  This is because the enamel on a young child is much
softer than that on an adult’s teeth. Scaling and performing an
adult prophylaxis on a child can burn away this protective tooth
layer and create the possibility for future dental problems.  In an
effort to help protect your children’s teeth and to ensure that they
have a positive experience, we brush their teeth with a regular
toothbrush, in order to resemble the way they are accustomed to
having their teeth brushed at home. 

However, we do use a special tooth paste clinically designed to polish and deep clean teeth so you can be sure your child is leaving with an exceptionally clean mouth!  We also work with children on brushing habits, instructing both parents and children on how to better take care of their teeth!
Of course, once a child has reached an appropriate age, we perform a full
adult cleaning.  Dr. Howell will also scale away any tartar build-up or
stains that might have accumulated on their teeth, using an electric
scaler.

If you prefer to have an adult cleaning done on your child before
they reach the age of ten, we are happy to accommodate you.

Annie Stott

Dental Assistant

We like to see patients more often for flouride treatments.  The flouride treatment we use helps to prevent decay by up to 70%.  We also give lessons on how to properly brush and floss teeth.  Our stain and brush lessons are 3 visits for $15.  During these lessons an assistant will stain your childs teeth, have them look in the mirror to spot where sugar bugs might be hiding and helps them to brush in a way that will help rid their teeth of those bugs. 

Through careful study, Dr. Howell has created a preventative program that has helped tremendously on patients who have a high rate of decay.  it recalcifies the teeth, makes them stronger, and stops decay from starting or spreading all together. 

Our ultimate goal is healthy happy children with healthy happy teeth!

Chris Ward

Dental Assistant

            An excellent way to reverse the acidic environment in our mouth is to eat something that will neutralize the acids.  One classic food that is readily available is to eat cheese whether it be Swiss or cheddar cheese.  It is ideal to eat the cheese before one eats the sugary snack.  This will counter act the effect of the germs.

            Another alternative to a sugar snack is to chew a gum with xylitol such as found in Orbit or Trident Gum.  This type of sugar is one that the germs cannot digest and actually causes the germs to break down and die.  It is a consideration as a replacement to the summer snacks.  Obviously if one has to have the sugar snack, then brushing right after would be ideal.  Again the toothpaste will neutralize or dissolve the acid preventing the enamel of the teeth from breaking down into a cavity.

            Obviously, sticky treats can be more damaging than liquids or non-sticky treats.  When it comes to that point in time when you give a child the summer treat, consider these points when deciding what to give them.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.  I appreciate the patients we care for and always want them to have healthy teeth and gums for life.

Dr. R. Bruce Howell

We are very excited with the results of this program! Through it, we have seen many patients’ dental health improve drastically. Teeth with beginnings of decay restore themselves through this daily treatment. Smiles are brightened. Each patient has become more confident in their appearance. Our patients are so excited by their beautified teeth that they want to brush and floss everyday. By building this confidence and enthusiasm at a young age, these patients are developing habits that will keep their teeth beautiful and healthy throughout their lives.