J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC Blog

We all know that Halloween is known for the consumption of loads and loads of candy. While this may be a child’s dream come true, there are consequences of overindulging in sweet treats. One of them is the development of cavities. So does that mean that your child has to skip all the festivities? Your dentist says, “No.” As you continue reading, you’ll learn about 5 Halloween candy tips that will protect your little one’s oral health while allowing for a joyous evening.

Patients often ask about whether there are any new technologies on the horizon, or currently in use, to help with different dental problems. There are many concepts being developed that could revolutionize the way care is delivered. My favorites are those that help prevent things, such as root canals. 

Many people have felt the jolting sensation of a sharp pain in a tooth after drinking cold beverages. A tooth is made up of tubules, microscopic channels that extend from the inner layer of tooth called dentin, all the way to the center of the tooth containing the nerve. The sensation comes from the temperature travelling through open tubules, either from damaged dentin caused… (Read More)

Do you pay much attention to those cards in a hotel room asking you to reuse your towels? Many people don’t. But one researcher, Robert Cialdini, a University of Phoenix professor and the author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, found a way to get guests to cooperate. He created a card saying that most guests who stayed “in this room” reused their towels. The response beat the typical compliance rate by 33 percent.

Cialdini calls this the “Social Proof Effect,” and it is a powerful force in our increasingly connected culture. It’s not about peer pressure. It’s about peer information, and how we behave and make decisions based on the standards, expectations,… (Read More)

October is here!!  It’s crunch time to get everything done that we haven’t gotten done during the rest of the year. For those with remaining dental benefits, it’s also the time of year to consider utilizing those so you don’t lose them.

Unused dental benefits go directly back to the insurance company, which generates hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars for the insurance companies each year. Dental insurance companies count on the fact that many people will not claim their $1000 or so in benefits by the end of the calendar year. Those with dental benefits should look for legitimate means to use these benefits before they are lost.

For example,… (Read More)

No two dental practices are alike! Each takes on the characteristics of the practitioner who owns it.  The personality of the owner is probably the key to how that office “feels” when you walk in the door.  Some practices may feel “clinical and efficient”, while others feel somewhat more home spun and laid back.  The dentist’s personality is reflected in his or her treatment preferences as well.

In my experience, all dentists will suggest what they feel to be the very best plan for any given patient.  The differences between the treatment suggested by one dentist and that of another reflects that dentist’s preferences based on his or her experience. Thus, differing treatment… (Read More)

This week the topic has nothing to do with dentistry. It is a topic that some will be able to relate to and others may not. It is a topic that some may appreciate and others may criticize. It may be something you have thought about before or maybe have never thought about. It is about thinking outside the box and being comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Regardless of your line of work, there comes a point when we all get comfortable with where we are and how we do things. Initially, that is a good feeling, but eventually it is a feeling that challenges us in our own growth. It is impossible to… (Read More)

Have you ever thought about how much your tongue actually does? Without it, you wouldn’t be able to taste your favorite foods, whistle your favorite song, or tell someone about your day. That’s why, according to your dentist, it’s important to not only brush and floss your teeth, but to clean your tongue as well. Let’s take a closer look at why and how you should clean your tongue every day.

What makes for an ideal doctor? Patients shared their views in a study which appeared in an issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. It’s based on nearly 200 patients treated at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Minnesota.

In phone interviews with people who had no professional ties with the Mayo Clinic, the patients described their best and worst experiences with their Mayo Clinic doctors, with confidentiality guaranteed. The doctors seen by the patients came from 14 medical specialties.

Here are the seven traits listed by the patients, along with the patients’ definitions of those traits:

• Confident: “The doctor’s confidence gives me confidence.”
• Empathetic: “The doctor tries to understand what I am… (Read More)

The Golden Years are much more “golden” if your teeth are in good shape. One of the most difficult areas I have had to address in my time as a dentist are issues concerning aging patients, specifically those who require assisted or nursing care.

Whether you are the one making decisions for someone else, or you are older and can make your own decisions, it is easy to let home care and regular dental visits decrease as time goes on. Dental health needs to stay at the top of the priority list for many reasons. Quality of life and the link between oral health and systemic health are two big ones.

Older… (Read More)

Gathered from various sources:

50% consider the smile the first facial feature they notice.

80% are not happy with their smile.

Smile enhanced procedures outnumber eyelid surgeries 5 to 1.

32% of Americans cite bad breath as the least attractive trait of their co-workers.

38.5 total days an average American spends brushing teeth over lifetime.

 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss.

60% of people don’t know that a sore jaw, when combined with chest pain, can signal a heart attack, especially in women.

Dentists recommend that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne… (Read More)