J. Peter St. Clair, DMD, PC

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! While we may be giving thanks for the many blessings in our lives, we also often need to battle the stressors.

This time of year always seems more stressful, but stress in general is hard to avoid. We worry about school, work, finances, illness, children, relationships, and more. Some even worry about how much they worry. Not to add to your stress, but you should be aware that all that worrying could have a negative impact on not only your general health, but also your oral health.

According to an article in the Journal of Periodontology, there is a strong relationship between stress and… (Read More)

November is almost over!  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, perhaps a… (Read More)

It seems I have more and more patients telling me about their upcoming shoulder, hip, and knee replacement surgery. There are other parts that people have replaced, but those are the top three. Most of these people decide to go under the knife to improve their quality of life.

If you were born in the Paleolithic era, you could expect to live to 33 years old. The average global life expectancy in 2010 was more than double this number at 67 years. The main reasons for this are advances in hygiene, food production, and medical care.

On the bright side, if you were born in the Paleolithic era, you would most likely never need a… (Read More)

Red wine is an ancient beverage that is used in celebrations across the world. It’s known for its robust, fruity flavor, its dark color, and how it pairs amazingly well with red meat, making it an excellent way to commemorate a holiday. However, it is also notorious for its ability to stain or discolor teeth. Luckily, there are measures you can take to prevent that from happening as well as dental treatments that can undo the damage. Here are a few tips to follow at your next holiday gathering to avoid having a purplish smile afterward.

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Despite the generalized notion that people should visit a dentist bi-annually, I am more a proponent of individualized frequency recommendations based on a few factors. We are not all the same; therefore, each of us has our own specific needs.

Results from a recent Gallup-Healthways poll of 355,334 Americans indicate that more than one-third of the population, 34% to be exact, did not visit a dentist last year at all. Over 50% of the population said they visited the dentist one time or less last year.

In a study reported in The New York Times and other major media, a report by the Journal of Dental Research indicates “little evidence supports biannual preventive care for… (Read More)

This is the story about a woman I met recently named Carol. Carol’s story is the reason I do what I do every day and brings me back the next day. The interesting thing is that it has absolutely nothing to do with performing the actual physical work of dentistry.

Carol is in her 70’s and has gone to the dentist infrequently for most of her life. She presented to my office a couple of months ago for a second opinion. At our first appointment Carol brought her most recent x-rays, a treatment plan from another dentist, and a page-long list of questions. She was well-prepared for the consultation and seemed to know exactly what… (Read More)

There are five major reasons that people do not get the necessary dental care they need; six if you count the recent pandemic. The other five are money, time, lack of concern, fear and trust. Let’s take a quick look at each one and see if any of them fit you, and what dentists often try to do to overcome these obstacles for patients.

Although you may think that money would be the number one reason people avoid ideal dental treatment, it is not. Even in tougher economic times, money, although a significant barrier for many, is still not the number one issue for most. Dental health, and good health in general, always requires some kind… (Read More)

The two things you’re supposed to do to clean your teeth: Brush & Floss. Any of you have your hygienist get on your case about not flossing? You may be the best brusher in the world, but if you’re not cleaning between your teeth, we know it. Cleaning between the teeth is essential for good oral health, AND good overall health.

To reiterate, we need to think about brushable surfaces vs. non-brushable surfaces in the mouth. Floss, which is basically a piece of string, is great after eating corn-on-the-cob. Other than that, using an oral irrigator (water flosser), is much better at cleaning the non-brushable areas in the mouth.

Clinically, we usually see significant improvement… (Read More)

There are roughly 10 million people in the United States who have a TMJ disorder. This condition can cause quite a bit of discomfort, but it can typically be managed with the right steps. Since November is TMJ Awareness Month, now is a good time to become more familiar with the warning signs of TMJ disorder as well as how it can be treated; that way, you can make sure that you’re well-prepared when it comes to keeping this potentially painful problem under control. (more…)

I have focused the majority of my career on family preventive and general dentistry. While I enjoy most aspects of what I do, I firmly believe that a good percentage of dental problems are avoidable, which means that dentists shouldn’t be as busy as we are with routine fillings, removal of teeth, and many other procedures. While there are other factors at play, such as genetics, personal responsibility is often at the head of the pack.  

Prevention often takes a back seat to fixing problems.  Decayed, broken and worn teeth all had nothing wrong with them at some point. Granted, you have to fix what is already broken, but “How could it have been prevented?”… (Read More)