Congratulations again to Laurie K for winning Yamamoto and Lee, Roseville Family Dentist’s second Patient Appreciation Drawing. (Shown here with our hygienist Tina, who picked her name out of the box of tickets.) Thanks to all of you who make your appointments, keep your appointments and pay what you owe. You are the reason we do what we do!
Happy Holidays to all!
Dr. Steve
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…Laurie K! Congratulations on winning our second Patient Appreciation Drawing! For those that didn’t win, we will be doing a third drawing. This time, we’ll be giving away a complimentary 18-hole round of golf for four with cart at Timber Creek Golf Course, Billy Casper’s Championship Course at Sun City Roseville (up to $264 value!). The next drawing will be on March 1, 2011. Click here for the rules. Just keep scheduling your next dental appointment before you leave the office, keep your appointment, and pay before you go! You could be our next winner!
Good luck!
Dr. Steve
Roseville Family Dentist
Read MoreI know this is a tad late, but is it really ever to late to be thankful? So, without further delay, here are the top 10 things I am thankful for as a dentist:
10- Having a job- In this economy, I am ever so thankful to be gainfully employed.
9- Continuing Education Providers- people who satisfy my unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
8- Supply Reps- people who keep us well stocked in the supplies we need to do what we do. Many of them also provide continuing education and are a valuable source of useful information.
7- Janitors and Equipment Repair People- These are the people who keep us up and running (like a well oiled machine!).
6- Labs- the men and women who make the precision crowns, bridges and dentures (along with other dental appliances) that we put in people’s mouths.
5- Dental Specialists- here in Roseville, we have some of the best Periodontists, Endodontists, Oral Surgeons and Orthodontists I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. When a case takes me beyond my comfort level, I know these specialists will take outstanding care of our…
4- Patients- without whom I would not have #10 on this list. Our patients here in Roseville, Granite Bay and surrounding communities are motivated partners in their dental health, appreciative of the service we provide, and patient enough to put up with my singing and bad humor.
3- Staff- Describing our staff as “wonderful and caring” is only the tip of the iceberg. They are also dedicated, highly skilled, honest, creative, adaptable, empathetic and hard working people who are really a lot of fun to work with. (I’m sure I missed many other appropriate positive adjectives to describe them; these are the ones I could think of off the top of my head.)
2- The World’s Best Partner- Dr. Lynn Yamamoto, the founder and creator of the culture we call Yamamoto and Lee, Family Dentistry, is not just an outstanding dentist of the utmost integrity, but she is also an all-around-amazing person and I can’t believe how fortunate I am to call her my friend.
And now for the number 1 thing I am most thankful for…
1- Life and Family- I know this is not specific to being a dentist, but ultimately, this is the reason for me being a dentist. During Thanksgiving week, our family lost an aunt and gained a grandchild. For me, it serves as a reminder of how precious life and family are. So more than anything, I am thankful for the opportunity to live and to love.
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you all have your own top 10 list of things to be thankful for.
Dr. Steve
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When is the best time to brush your teeth? All our lives, we’ve heard it’s important to brush and floss out teeth right after eating. Dentists have been telling this to patients since toothpaste was invented. But some people in the industry are wondering if this is such a good idea. Whenever we consume something acidic, or something sweet which gets turned into acid, the outer layer of our tooth enamel is weakened by the acid attack. So some people recommend waiting 30-60 minutes after eating before scrubbing, and possible abrading the weakened enamel.
So, is it better to brush and floss immediately to remove food and plaque which may be contributing to tooth decay? Or, is it better to wait for the mouth to be less acidic and decrease the chance of eroding enamel away? At this time, there really is no clear answer. It’s mostly speculation at this time. There’s not much research to show which is really better for teeth. Either way, you’re doing more good than harm. Here’s what I recommend:
-Limit the number of times a day you eat or drink acidic and sugary foods and drinks
-Use soft-bristled toothbrushes with gentle circular cleaning motions rather than back and forth scrubbing
-Remember that flossing and brushing are more for preventing gum disease than for preventing decay, so floss daily and brush at least twice daily, whenever it makes the most sense to you
-And lastly, don’t worry too much about it
If any new research comes out clearly favoring one over the other, I’ll let you know!
Dr. Steve
Read MoreDid anyone see the two Dr. Oz shows on oral cancer and dentistry? I must confess that I did not. But I heard about them. Here’s what the American Dental Association (ADA) says about the shows:
Dental X-rays
On Sept. 28, The Dr. Oz Show covered thyroid cancer and during a portion of the show, the host (Mehmet Oz, MD) said he was concerned whether the radiation patients receive from dental X-rays was a contributing factor in developing thyroid cancer. He then promoted the use of protective leaded aprons and thyroid collars to decrease radiation exposure.
Oral Cancer Examinations and Adjunctive Screening Devices
Oct. 1, The Dr. Oz Show will air a segment entitled, “A Trip to the Dentist Could Save Your Life,” that will discuss oral cancer adjunctive screening devices.
We always use leaded aprons with thyroid collars to protect our patients, even though it seems the x-ray machines do a good job of limiting the x-ray exposure to the jaw already. Interesting to note is that when I took my daughter to the doctors for a broken arm, they did not use an apron despite the greater dose and area of coverage of their x-ray machines. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take much time nor money to use an apron for an extra margin of safety.
We also always perform an oral cancer screening at our exam appointments. There are several adjunctive screening devices on the market which are supposed to help find oral cancer earlier. While it is possible that some of them may some day be proven to be helpful, the ADA this year stated that there is “insufficient evidence to determine” if they actually decrease mortality rates. Until there is better evidence showing that they help, we choose not to add to the cost of treatment by using them. If we see or feel anything suspicious, we will refer for further testing, which is more definitive.
Hopefully these shows by Dr. Oz have got you thinking about things that we think about all the time. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Dr. Steve
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Tiffany L! Congratulations on winning our Patient Appreciation quarterly drawing! Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time, we’re doing it again this quarter. We’ll be giving away another iPod Nano. The next drawing will be on December 1, 2010. Click here for the rules.
Good luck!
Dr. Steve
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Here’s a link (click on picture to the left) to an article of a case study where a patient with a tongue bar caused a gap between her front teeth. In all my years as a dentist, I don’t recall seeing a David Letterman front tooth gap due to a tongue bar. Maybe I just haven’t noticed it. But I have seen broken teeth from people chewing on them. So if you have a tongue bar, please don’t chew on it. And if you notice a gap forming between your front teeth, stop pushing it against them. Or, better yet, remove the bar. They’re “so 5 minutes ago”, anyway.
Dr. Steve
ps- Thanks to Ford Dental Group for tweeting the article!
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We’ve just been voted Best Dentists in Roseville and Granite Bay by the readers of the Press Tribune in their annual Best of the Best survey! We are honored to have been chosen. Thank you to all of our loyal patients and to our incredible staff for making us the best. If there were categories for best patients and best staff, you would have our vote. We promise to continue to work hard to earn the title and to constantly improve our service to our patients. We really do want this to be an office you would be comfortable sending your family and friends to for outstanding dental care.
Our very own Katie finished her dental hygiene program this year and needs a board patient to take her exam this Saturday. She’s looking for someone who hasn’t had their teeth cleaned in over 2 years and who is available all day this Saturday (July 24). If you know someone who fits these criteria and who could benefit from a free teeth cleaning, please call and let us know (ASAP). If that person qualifies, they will receive free cleanings worth over $350!
Thanks!
Dr. Steve
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Our very own Roseville dentist, Dr. Lynn Yamamoto, is the cover girl for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer! Just go to their website, and you will see her smiling face along with her husband, Tom. For those who don’t know, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a fund raiser to raise money for education, awareness, access to treatment, support services and research.
This weekend, they will be walking a marathon and a half in the San Francisco Avon Walk. Please go to the website and help her reach her fundraising goal. At the top of the page, click on “donate”, then “donate to a walker…”, then enter her name “Lynn Yamamoto”. Donations are completely tax deductible.
Dr. Lynn is IN IT TO END IT! And you can be, too!
Dr. Steve
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