J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC

Studies have shown a link between teeth grinding, clenching and headaches. There are also links to people who have sleep breathing disorders, and those who take serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRI). Some brand names of these drugs are Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. Many people grind and clench their teeth for many different reasons – let’s not forget STRESS!

For people who grind or clench, the muscles that open and close the jaw can become painful from overuse, causing a range of symptoms from tension to migraine headaches to jaw joint (TMJ) problems to tooth pain. Here is a simple test – look at your tongue in the mirror without sticking it out.… (Read More)

A while back, The Boston Globe ran an article entitled “Advice for all ages: Don’t skip the dentist.” It started with, “A team of researchers from London and the University of Connecticut announced that aggressive treatment of gum disease can improve the function of blood vessel walls in the body, potentially reducing the risk of heart attacks.” 

The concept is nothing new. We have known for years of the mouth-body connection with health. However, the key to the statement above is “aggressive treatment of gum disease”.

What does aggressive treatment of gum disease mean? Basically, it means that instead of watching and waiting for resolution of gum problems on their own, whatever… (Read More)

We’re a week into the last year of another decade. Wow, does time fly! Do you have your list of New Year’s resolutions to make 2020 the best year ever? Throughout the year I’m always adding things to my list of things to do. As with many to-do lists, some of the items on it keep getting pushed down in the ranking of priorities because of the constraints of time. So, just like last year, my first New Year’s resolution is to take that list and purify it.

Many driven people pride themselves on how many tasks and commitments they are able to take on. This is difficult to sustain. Eventually, this philosophy… (Read More)

It seems that there’s always a new fad that appears online. One of the latest topics trending involves sleep apnea treatment being associated with weight loss. Because the new year is getting underway and you may be eager to drop a few pounds, a local dentist weighs in to clear up any confusion so you can know what to expect from any sleep breathing treatment you may undergo.

Thanks again to the The Town Common for another great year. At the end of each of the past 14 years, I have used this space to publish these 21 Suggestions for Success authored by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. It is the perfect time to reflect on the year past and prepare for any changes we need to make for the year to come.

How was 2019 for you? While reflecting on the past year is important, thinking forward to the year to come is even more important. The past is in the past.

Cut this out and put it on the refrigerator. Read this list often and take these suggestions to… (Read More)

Last week I discussed the importance of communication in any relationship, specifically the healthcare provider/patient relationship. Trust is mutually built as this relationship develops over time.

“There’s not enough time in the day.” Have you ever used this excuse? I said this yesterday to someone. We all tend to waste a lot of time, or at least don’t use the time we have as effectively as we could. You would think that in our technology-filled world, time management would be easier. Some of this technology actually gets in the way by adding even more of a time commitment to things that reduce interpersonal communication.

Here’s an example. It’s time to buy a… (Read More)

Patients see things differently than dentists. Often, what is important to dentists is not important to patients and vice versa. This seems like the hysterical discovery of the obvious, but dentists often have a blind spot when it comes to seeing things from a patient’s viewpoint.

We often have a similar blind spot in our ability to communicate with patients. When asked to rate their ability to communicate with patients, 60% of physicians rated themselves in the top 10%.

Dentists would probably have similar results.

Communication is key to any relationship. Why then do healthcare professionals, dentists specifically, often have poor communication skills with their patients? There is no one answer… (Read More)

AAA reports that a record-breaking 112.5 million Americans will be traveling by plane, train, and car this holiday season. Are you one of them? Unfortunately, somewhere between packing bags and wrapping presents dental health can get left out in the cold. With an abundance of sugary treats, holiday parties, and crazy schedules, this season can be a difficult time of year for your teeth. If you’re travelling for the holidays, avoid a trip to your emergency dentist and protect that holly, jolly smile with these 5 tips!

Last year I wrote a column about a study I saw in an article from over a decade ago. It was about the poor odds people have about making changes in their life actually happen. The article was an outpouring of concern from healthcare experts and doctors, all looking for a way to change the behavior of people who love their lifestyle so much that they were willing to literally die from it.

In the Johns Hopkins study, 9 of 10 heart surgery patients chose to return to their unhealthy lifestyle, rather than make the changes needed to live longer. Very few were convinced by their doctors to make radical daily changes.

We all have people we look up to, whether it is in our personal or professional life.  One of those people in my professional life is the late Dr. LD Pankey. Dr. Pankey was a true visionary. There is an advanced dental education institute named after him in Florida, where dentists learn from his influential teachings.

I recently read an article he wrote in 1981, 8 years before his death. It is interesting to read some of the things he wrote, because it shows how much things have not changed and how well he understood people and his profession. I would like to share a few paragraphs from this piece:

“Another important… (Read More)