Spring Lake Dental Group
Spring Forward
Author: Kimberly N. Powell, DDS, MS, FAGD
We recently had to set our clocks forward in anticipation of spring, warm weather, and clear skies. When I think of spring, I also think of a time of reflection and new beginnings. It’s a time to remember lessons that were learned, implement skills that benefit our personal and work life, anticipate new adventures and partnerships. Spring turns things over. I can see the joy it brings, people tend to exhale after holding their breathes in the cold months and the time of hibernation. The season gives us all something to look forward to. Even nature responds to it. I hope we all move forward in these coming months with patience and purpose. Let us spring forward together with more gratitude, care, love.
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Mar 15th, 2024
5:11 am
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Dental Assistants Recognition
- Sabrina Clinkscales is our senior assistant. She has been part of SLGD since the early days of the practice, working hand in hand with Dr. Dickerhoff. Today, she is the leader of the dental assistants and surely keeps the team together!
- Sabrina Gilmore has been with us for 7 years. She is one of the kindest and most compassionate people you will ever meet. Sabrina is extremely talented and her understanding of the dental field makes her a valuable part of our team!
- Dolores Necessary: yes, she is necessary! Oh, what would we do without her? She started as the sterilization technician, and today is the right hand to of all of us. She knows the ins and outs of the sterilization process, as well as chair side assisting. We would not be the same well oiled machine without her!
- Katisha McArthur is the person who always has a smile and positive attitude. She moves fast and will get it done!
- Norma Salisbury is my hispanic partner! Our Colombian dental assistant will fill your day with a warm smile and gentle care. Norma has become a central part of our team. She is extremely knowledgeable and talented, humble and compassionate!
- Aislyn Huertas is one of our newest additions to the clinical team, and she has amazed me in such a great way. She is a fast learner, eager to improve her skills, and showing to be greatly talented. I am so glad she joined our Spring Lake Dental Group family!
- Jamoya and Karen are our newest additions to the team and already proving to be a great!
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Mar 7th, 2024
6:45 am
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Can My Child or Teen Whiten Their Teeth?
Author: Dr. Sarah Mischo, DMD
Many parents first may notice that their child’s teeth appear to be more yellow in color once their adult teeth starting coming in. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are generally lighter or whiter in color compared to the adult tooth, so when an adult tooth is next to a baby tooth it may appear more vellow in color. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) does not recommend whitening a child’s teeth until they have all their permanent teeth and have no active decay. Most children will lose all of their primary teeth between the ages of 12 and 13 and then it takes another two years for the enamel to fully calcify so children really should not whiten their teeth until they are 14 or 15 years old.
There are a couple different products on the market that are sate for children to use to whiten their teeth while also avoiding bleaching. Whitening Toothpaste: this is a safer approach to removing surface stains. Try to find a whitening toothpaste specifically formulated for children rather than adults. An example of a children’s whitening toothpaste is SuperMouth toothpaste which is a nano-hydroxyapatite (what 97% of enamel is made of to naturally whiten teeth.) Baking Soda: this will help remove surface stains as well. Combine a little baking soda with water to create a paste. This should be used after the child has brushed their teeth with fluoridated toothpaste. Whitening Strips: these may be used only for children who have all their permanent teeth at around age 14 to 15. The whitening strips contain hydrogen peroxide which helps remove surface stains, but will also penetrate through the enamel into the underlying structure of dentin. Tooth sensitivity may result if these products are being used too frequently or incorrectly. An adult should supervise the adolescent to ensure proper use. If you or your child have any questions or concerns regarding tooth whitening please reach out to your dental professionals at Spring Lake Dental Group!
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Feb 29th, 2024
5:09 am
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Dental Hacks
Author: Kimberly N. Powell, DDS, MS, FAGD
In the January issue of AGD Impact, there is an article entitled The Truth BehindToday’s Hottest Social Media Dental Hacks. Certain topics or “hacks” were mentioned such as DIY whitening, teeth filing, DIY orthodontics, and mouth-taping.
One hack that I want to discuss is the DIY whitening. There are over-the-counter whitening products like whitening toothpastes, whitening pens, and white strips. However, the previous mentioned article reports that recent videos show people using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove stains on their teeth and create brighter smiles. The sponges used in the magic eraser contains a compound, formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer. As formaldehyde is considered a carcinogen, accidental ingestion could be dangerous and repeated use could cause enamel wear. Another hack is using undiluted hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as an oral mouth rinse, but the user is instructed to mix at least an equal amount of water with it, thus diluting it. Due to the properties of hydrogen peroxide, swallowing undiluted amounts could cause stomach bleeding, breathing problems, and even be life-threatening. Another hack is using acid-containing fruits or vinegar to whiten teeth. The acid can erode the enamel and expose the yellow-colored dentin resulting in the opposite effect. There are tested products and in-office professional whitening procedures that can give users the results they desire. There is no need to do-it-yourself when it can be done correctly and safely by someone else.
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Feb 22nd, 2024
5:28 am
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Your Childs First Dental Visit
Author: Dr. Alison V. Berger, DMD, FAGD
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Feb 15th, 2024
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Celebrating Dr. Kimberly Powell
Author: Dr. David Dickerhoff, DDS, MAGD, FOCOI
My blog is going to be in homage to my friend and associate, Dr. Kimberly Powell. February 2024 marks her ninth year providing care at Spring Lake Dental Group. I found out about Dr. Powell from a mutual acquaintance and knew that she was working in a corporate dental office in the Washington, DC area and was looking for a way to practice dentistry with more control over how she took care of the patients who trusted her. After contacting her, I learned that she grew up in Mississippi, achieved her undergraduate degree from Alcorn State and was a 2012 graduate of the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, TN. She graduated from her one year general practice residency program at the University of Mississippi before coming to join us here in Spring Lake, NC. She immediately identified as a lifelong student and asked me how she should proceed to get additional credentials through the Academy of General Dentistry. I told her that the Fellowship and Mastership credential was extremely challenging to acquire, but well worth her time and effort. Within the year, she had passed the written examination for Fellowship and acquired the necessary hours of continuing education to qualify for the Fellowship award. Only 12% of general dentists qualify for this award and we are extremely proud of her as she attempts now to qualify for the Mastership award.
I have watched her practice dentistry within the umbrella that is Spring Lake Dental Group, and I could not be more proud to call her my friend and associate. An aspect of Dr. Powell’s personality that you may not be familiar with is her deep dedication to her faith and her country. An extremely humble Christian that counts her blessings each and every day, she follows American politics closely and is an active participant in being an educated electorate who votes with caring passion and commitment. My faith in the future of this great country is buoyed by my relationship with her. Our commitment to serving the military community of family members and retirees is shared by Dr. Powell and she understands the personal financial liabilities of accepting military and retiree insurance, and lovingly makes that sacrifice.
Kim has a very close knit family that she treasures, and she has most definitely become an integral part of our SLDG family over these past nine years. Please join me in celebrating her nine year anniversary and celebrating the amazing woman that is Dr. Kimberly Powell!
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Feb 8th, 2024
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The Importance of Dental Ergonomics
Author: Dr. Sarah Mischo, DMD
I recently read an article in the American Dental Association (ADA) Newspaper that made me stop and think about ergonomics. Ergonomics is the study of people’s interaction with their workplace environments, and being almost 32 weeks pregnant has definitely made me more aware of the uncomfortable positions, repetitive hand movements, and high pitched noises that are a part of dental work every day.
In 2021 the ADA completed the Dentist Health and Well-Being Survey Report and found that 84% of dentists report having some sort of pain or discomfort while working, and more than a third reported hearing issues. Many dentists and hygienists suffer from musculoskeletal related injuries (specifically neck and back pain) which is the #1 cause of early retirement for dental professionals.
One of the tools many dental professionals use to help them avoid injury in the workplace is dental loupes. These are the special glasses your dentist or hygienist wears. Loupes carry magnification lenses that come in a wide variety of strengths (1.5x magnification to 8x magnification or greater). They help dental professionals see your teeth close up without having to compromise their posture. Loupes are specially made to fit each operator, and the focal length of the lenses on each pair is set to fit the working distance for one specific individual.
In addition to tools like loupes, dental professionals spend a great deal of time considering proper patient and provider positioning, lighting, and access to instrumentation and materials, all to ensure that the office is as comfortable as possible for both you and your dentist! I hope this brief blog post helps you stop and consider the way your body interacts with your workplace, and answers a few questions about your next dental visit, too!
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Jan 18th, 2024
11:21 am
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MS Effects on Physical and Oral Health
Author: Kimberly N. Powell, DDS, MS, FAGD
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease. It can occur at any age, even as early as 20 years old. Symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty walking, tingling or numbness, fatigue, poor coordination, paralysis, slurred speech, and poor cognition. Resulting complications can include further muscle weakness. Some of the oral complaints associated with MS have been difficulty swallowing, TMJ pain, dry and burning mouth, and tooth sensitivity. The goal of treatment for MS is to slow development and progression of the disease. Unfortunately, some medications used to treat MS can lower the body’s resistance against systemic and oral infections (i.e., thrush). Other oral adverse reactions are dry mouth, oral ulcers, bleeding gums, inflammation of the tongue, and oral swellings. The disease itself and the medication to treat it put MS individuals at risk for poor oral health. Fatigue, muscle weakness, compromised coordination caused by the disease can make toothbrushing and flossing difficult. To compensate for these challenges, more frequent dental visits could be scheduled with a preference towards morning appointments were fatigue is less likely to be present. During dental appointments, adjusting the chair where it is less reclined can prevent breathing difficulties. At home modifications could consist of using manual toothbrushes with bulky handles and/or power brushes, using a weighted glove when brushing to help control hand tremors, and to sit during oral hygiene care. There is an increased risk for dental caries and erosion from dry mouth. For caries control, applying an in-office fluoride varnish, using a prescription-level fluoride toothpaste at home and salivary substitutes are beneficial. Treating patients affected by MS poses its challenges. However, the challenges that the clinical team face pales in comparison to the individual living with the disease. Hence, our goal is to provide the best information and service for our patients who come to us for care.
Source for article content: Multiple Sclerosis and Oral Health, Fiona Collins, BDS, MBA, MA, FPFA, colgateoralhealthnetwork.com
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Jan 12th, 2024
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Stay Safe in 2024
Author: Dr. David Dickerhoff, DDS, MAGD, FOCOI
The Center for Disease Control says that Influenza and COVID-19 infections are increasing and could get worse. The Associated Press (AP) on December 22, 2023 reported, “Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming months and weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new version of the coronavirus that may be spreading more easily.” On December 22 nd , the CDC said that high levels of flu-like illnesses were reported in seventeen states last week – up three from the week before. Officials are also “keeping an eye on a version of the ever-evolving coronavirus, known as JN.1.” The CDC said that the COVID’s JN.1. accounts for 39% to 50% of cases in the United States as of December 23, according to the agency’s projections. The CDC said, “the variant continues to cause an increasing share of infections and is now the most widely circulating variant in the country”.
When I went to get my third COVID booster from the local Walgreens last week, I asked how much I owed after the immunization. I had heard that the government had stopped paying for COVID inoculations. It seems that they only stopped paying for COVID testing. The immunizations are still covered, or at least mine was. It is worth checking into.
Use your best judgement as to whether you will get the newest booster. Our practice continues to use universal precautions in treating our patients. We have been sensitized to vector factors for virus spread and we work hard to protect your health as well as ours.
Wishing you a very healthy and happy 2024.
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Dec 29th, 2023
8:34 am
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Bone Grafting
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Dec 15th, 2023
4:05 am
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