(360) 629-7229

7204 267th St. NW, Suite 102
Stanwood, WA 98292

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New Technology Announcement

Sample CBCT Software Analysis

We are excited to announce the installation of a new digital cone beam CT machine at Cascadia Dentistry!  Cone beam CT (CBCT) technology is a great tool for diagnosing a variety of conditions as it gives us a three-dimensional view of the hard tissue of your skull allowing us to map critical areas such as your trigeminal nerve and maxillary sinus without exploratory surgery.  A CBCT scan is instrumental in treatment planning for any implant placement and restoration and has quickly become the standard of care.  Once a scan is obtained it even allows us to fabricate surgical guides for surgeries like sinus lifts and implant placement(s) which ultimately makes your surgery easier. 

Previously we utilized a third-party service to acquire CBCT scans which required scheduling and payment through a mobile service which was just another hurdle to get through when planning for your surgery.  The ability to take CBCT scans on site will remove that hurdle altogether and provides us easy access to obtaining any scans as we need them.

We are very pleased and excited to announce this new development at our office.  We always strive to balance the need for advancing our technology with the timing that will best serve our patients.  If you would like to discuss how this change may serve your dental needs, please do not hesitate to contact us at 360-629-7229.

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Non-fluoridated Toothpastes

Occasionally, patients will ask for guidance with the use of fluoride as it relates to their dental care. I understand their concerns as there can be some misinformation about its risks.  I have talked about the many benefits of fluoride use before and continue to remain a firm advocate of its responsible use based upon the extensive research conducted on this naturally-occurring compound.  Per the American Dental Association (ADA): “More than 70 years of scientific research has consistently shown that an optimal level of fluoride in community water is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay by at least 25% in both children and adults. Simply by drinking water, Americans can benefit from fluoride’s cavity protection whether they are at home, work or school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named community water fluoridation one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.” (See https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation). 

 
Recently, I encountered new research that provides further evidence on the continued responsible use of fluoride.  New research results, published by the National Institute of Health, conclude that the use of non-fluoride containing toothpastes do not aid in the prevention of cavities.  In essence, the primary benefit of utilizing toothpaste while brushing is caries prevention. For patients that choose non-fluoride containing toothpastes, this recent research continues to support existing evidence that these patients will see higher rates of tooth decay.  I encourage those looking for more information to review the peer-reviewed findings published at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29766564. 

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Opioids in Dentistry

As the current opioid epidemic continues to grow and impact communities across our nation, one of the challenges I face as a dental provider is assisting my patients in very real pain while also considering the body of evidence linking opioid overprescription with addiction.  To address this correlation, I’d like to briefly discuss the practices I have always followed in prescribing pain relievers.  First, there are many compelling studies that show that taking Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen together at certain dosages are more effective than traditional opioid medications (see https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/well/common-pain-relievers-beat-opioids-for-dental-pain-relief.html).  Studies have examined the way in which these two medications, when taken together, amplify each other and become more effective at controlling pain.  For many adult patients, a dosage of 600mg of Ibuprofen (3x Advil regular strength) and 650mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol 2x regular strength) taken together every 5-6 hours can help to manage pain until we are able to determine the dental issue they may be experiencing, or during recovery post treatment.

Opioids, although a good pain reliever, have some very nasty side effects. The most obvious effect of opioids is that they are incredibly addictive. National prescription policies have been linked with a substantial increase in opioid related deaths and higher levels of addiction nationwide.  Long-term dependence on opioids, besides its damaging effects on the addicted individual’s quality of life as it relates to mental, social and financial considerations, can cause major health concerns, including nausea and vomiting, constipation, liver damage, brain damage due to hypoxia (depressed breathing) and in many cases, death. Opioids impair mental and physical activity and should be avoided in patients needing to drive or operate heavy machinery.

We understand that dental emergencies happen and pain is, unfortunately, a significant side effect of any oral condition.  It has long been the policy of Cascadia Dentistry to only prescribe any opioid-containing medications as a last resort and only at minimal quantities.  Our first line of pain management will continue to be the combination of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen to help our patients manage their discomfort until we can assist with addressing the source of their pain through treatment at our office.

If you have any questions about this policy or how Cascadia is focused on reducing the risk of addiction in our communities, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss further. For more information about our nation’s opioid epidemic, please see https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html

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Shade Checking Just Got Better!

As with everything, technology in dentistry is always improving and changing. As a result, we are always striving to find the best technology to improve the quality and outcome of your dental experience. Along these lines, I am pleased to announce our latest investment: introducing the Vita Easyshade V. The Vita Easyshade V is a tool for taking “custom” teeth shades at the chair without having to rely solely on our eyes. This is important because the slightest difference in tooth shades can really stand out, especially in the front or the “esthetic zone”. Relying on our eyes, alone, is not always sufficient and having another tool in our arsenal for some of the more difficult shade matches is meant to take some of the guess work out of the process. This tool has a great track record, already, and is known as the best digital shade detection system on the market. All we have to do is point the Vita Easyshade at a tooth and it will digitally measure the shade of your existing teeth. It’s that easy!

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Pediatric Oral Health

Pediatric oral hygiene is the foundation for ensuring a healthy transition for a child into their adult years.   As a parent of a two year old boy, I can say from personal experience that taking care of his teeth is hard but so is nearly everything you do with a child so I would not expect it would be any different. Setting a good example by brushing and flossing your children’s teeth is important to help establish a good routine that they will continue on their own into their adult years.  Oral health impacts children just as much, if not more, than their adult counterparts.

Parents often disregard cavities in their children’s teeth because they feel “it’s a baby tooth” and they feel that it will be replaced in a couple of years.  However, primary teeth serve a larger purpose by acting as placeholders for permanent teeth.  Without them, adult teeth very likely would not have enough room to erupt into their correct locations.  Additionally, baby teeth can also become abscessed, much like adult teeth.  In fact, tooth pain is one of the leading causes for children to miss school and should not be taken lightly.

Here are a few suggestions for any parent looking to implement a healthy routine with their child:

–          For younger children, if they sleep with a bottle, avoid anything in their bottle at night except water.

–          Once their teeth start erupting, set a good example by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.  Using a smear of fluoride toothpaste before your child can spit it all out will help fight tooth decay.  Once they can spit, a pea-sized amount of toothpaste starts to make more sense.

–          Getting kids in to see the dentist around one year of age for a “happy visit” is a great idea.  We can look at their teeth (if they will let us), let them ride in the chair and check out the gadgets we use for cleanings, like air and water hoses.  It sets the foundation to help kids feel more comfortable visiting a dental office and getting to know their hygienist and dentist.

–          I hear from parents that have had bad dental experiences as a child that they are afraid of passing on their dental phobia to their kids. This is a very real concern.  I recommend avoiding phrases like “it’s not going to hurt” when you talk to your kids about dental work and cleanings.  Children hear what you are not saying and can read between the lines about our own experiences.

–          Get a cheap electric toothbrush!  Oral-B makes all sorts of character electric toothbrushes.  It makes brushing their teeth fun and engaging.

–          You may find that boys need help longer with brushing their teeth.  Let them help with one hand on the brush but you should be doing the work until you are confident that they can do it themselves.  Let us evaluate if necessary!

–          Getting children on a fluoride supplement early is important in non-fluoridated communities like in Arlington and Stanwood-Camano areas.  Fluoride becomes incorporated into their adult teeth and lowers their cavity risk into their adult years by 300%!

If you have any questions, we can help. Please call us at 360-629-7229 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a pediatric visit for your child.