Dental Phobia
Tim Day is a master sergeant in the Air Force. When the Gulf War erupted in the early 1990s, he was one of the first to volunteer for Operation Desert Storm. He also runs three miles a day and plays full contact football, often emerging from games blo…
Learn MoreTooth Accidents
What should I do if my child bumps or chips a tooth? If the tooth was merely jarred or loosened slightly, you probably won’t need to do anything, though it’s a good idea to call your child’s dentist to get her opinion. If you see some bleeding from th…
Learn MoreLosing a Permanent Tooth
There are two basic ways to have a tooth removed: You can go to the dentist for a careful extraction, or you can take a serious blow to the face. Unfortunately, many people end up going with option number two. They catch a stray elbow during a basketb…
Learn MoreBraces for Adults
Am I too old for braces?Although teeth can be moved more easily while the jaw is still growing, it’s never too late for braces. In fact, about 20 percent of orthodontic patients these days are adults, many of them on their second set of tinsel teeth. …
Learn MoreBacterial Endocarditis
After years of dodging bullets and taking on bad guys, the fictitious NYPD Blue character Detective Bobby Simone finally died — after a visit to his dentist. He caught a bacterial infection from an oral treatment in the dentist’s chair, and the germ …
Learn MoreBaby Bottle Tooth Decay
If your child is old enough to have teeth, he’s old enough to have tooth problems. For infants and toddlers, the biggest threat to dental health is baby bottle tooth decay. Here’s what you need to know about this common — but largely preventable — p…
Learn MoreDental Procedures A-Z
Braces (orthodontic treatment) — once nicknamed “railroad tracks,” braces are metal, ceramic, or synthetic brackets and wires attached to the teeth, and adjusted regularly in order to move teeth into their proper places in the mouth. Braces are used …
Learn MoreDentists
As a dentist for more than 30 years, Mike Downing, DDS, of Billings, Montana, has seen human fear in all its forms, from nervous twitches and darting eyes to outright crying — and not just from kids, either.But when Downing puts on his mask and picks…
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