Blog - Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

All about tooth sensitivity

November 7, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

At Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we know that tooth sensitivity affects a lot of people. While the reasons may vary, there are many different ways to help those with tooth sensitivity:

1. One reason that tooth sensitivity may occur is because of gum recession. Exposure of the root surface can dramatically increase sensitivity. An exposed root has open channels into the nerve sensors, which can be activated by hot, cold and sweets. Regular use of a sensitivity tooth paste with the active ingredient 5% potassium nitrate can close or restrict these channels, which can help reduce tooth sensitivity.

2. Clenching and grinding of teeth can also contribute to sensitivity. If force is placed on the teeth, it can aggravate the nerves. Some theories state that clenching and grinding is one cause of gum recession and abfraction (the loss of tooth structure from force) of the tooth. Abfraction lesions are small cracks or notches in your teeth caused by chewing. Clenching your teeth, as well as chewing and biting put pressure on your teeth. Over time, this pressure can cause cracks and splits in the enamel, or outer layer, of your teeth.

Abfraction lesions can show up as notches on the chewing points (cusps) of the back teeth. They can also show up as lines or cracks on the outside of a tooth. You can see them if you look in a mirror and shine a flashlight or bright light on your teeth. The lines usually run up and down the length of a tooth. You also can have cracks in the neck of a tooth, which is the part closest to, or just under, your gums.

Wearing a bite splint can reduce the force on your teeth by decreasing the contraction force of your chewing muscles. We can also give you some self-help tips to prevent this common stress release at our office.

If people have extreme sensitivity at the time of their cleaning, we can apply a special polishing paste to protect the teeth which can last a couple of months. We can also apply a topical anesthetic to the gums and teeth that help relieve sensitivity during your cleaning.

Another way to help reduce tooth sensitivity is with a prescription toothpaste, such as Prevident 5000. It contains 5 times the amount of fluoride found in regular toothpaste. It can work like potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity, while also greatly decreasing your risk of cavities.

If you have any questions about tooth sensitivity, feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook, or ask us at your next appointment.

November activities at our office!

November 2, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

November is a busy month for all of us at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. It’s a month where we typically try to give back to the community and our staff. It is just one way to say thank you for supporting us all these years.

1. First, we are taking an afternnoon to go to Feed My Starving Children. As a team we pack meals to be shipped to people in impoverished nations, those strictened by drought and starvation. These meals contain all the essential vitamins, protein, and carbohydrates to prevent malnutrition and disease. It is a great way to bond as a team and think about those less fortunate.

2. Dr. Stephen Dalseth, Jodi, and Angie are headed to Haiti on Friday for a 10-day mission trip. They will be working at a sister parish of Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville. Their main goal is to clean all of the school children’s teeth, check for cavities, and place sealants on their permanent molars to protect against cavities. They will also be treating adults, primarily through exodontia, or extracting teeth. Dr. Dalseth is very passionate about this trip and has gone for several years. He serves on the committee that organizes and plans this annnual trip. At the office we always look forward to a presentation and stories of the experiences they have had. You can follow the trip and learn more by visiting the Risen Savior Catholic Community website.

3. We also sponsor a couple of famillies over the holidays through Armful of Love. Members of our staff make a donation, and the office matches the dollar amount. Last year we were able to sponsor two families! We go shopping for the families and then wrap all of the gifts so Armful of Love can deliever them. It is a great way to give back during the holiday season.

4. Lastly, we have a family night at the office. During this family night, the spouses and children of our staff come to the office after hours and we have a tooth cleaning party! After the tooth cleaning, we have a pizza party. The kids love playing together and it is a great way to see the all of the families from our office together. It is amazing how much the kids change every six months. Look for pictures on our website and Facebook page in the near future!

We hope you all have a great November!

Stories of comfort at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

October 27, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

Drs. Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel and team strive to make our patients feel comfortable and safe in the office at each appointment. We love being able to give patients a beautiful smile. Here are a few great stories from our office:

We met a new patient who came to Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to get a required check up before deployment. He was so anxious that he refused to come in past the doorway. We allowed him to sit in the doctors chair and talk about his concerns until he felt comfortable for us to take a look in his mouth. It turned out that he needed a lot of work done. Every tooth he had required some type of treatment. He knew that his anxiety and deeply rooted fear of the dentist caused him to have very infrequent visits to the dentist and his needs continued to pile up. We started out slow. Scheduling a few things at a time. Always making sure that he was comfortable. His treatment needs resulted in him having a total mouth reconstruction. He was deployed and spent a few years overseas. He told us when all his work was completed that we gave him his smile back. He had been embarrassed about the condition of his mouth for years and always held his hand over his mouth when talking and knew people thought he was crabby all the time because they never saw him smile. Its great to see that he is comfortable and trusting of our care and his renewed self confidence.

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We have a patient that has a terminal medical condition. His doctors haven’t given him very long to live. His disease has ravaged both his body and mouth. Now most people would think that your teeth would be the last thing on your mind if your going through this. When he came in and told us that he wanted us to fix his smile he said his reason for going through the work wasn’t for him but so that in his last days with his family they get to see his nice smile. He always comes in with a warm smile and kind words.

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We had a patient who struggled her whole life with mouth pain and what she thought were “ugly” teeth. She was terrified of the dentist and extremely embarrassed to have anyone see her teeth. She worked in a field that required that she have constant contact with the public and knew that not feeling comfortable to smile hindered that. She was a great candidate for implants and eventually had her mouth restored to great function and an even greater appearance. Not only was she able to smile the way she always wanted but she is one of a very small number of women that was happy to be able to gain weight since she no longer had any mouth pain.

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We see an older gentlemen who has Alzheimers. His wife is determined to make sure that his teeth are given the proper treatment. His memory of recent events is not as sharp as it used to be but he has a million stories to share about the life he’s led. He has taught us how to hunt and prepare a deer. He’s shown us the pictures to support his story. They are a sweet couple who always ask about how the staff and their children are doing despite their own trying circumstances.

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We saw a little girl for a cleaning one day. She was neither shy nor anxious. We giggled our way through the cleaning and she requested a certain toothbrush that we didn’t have on hand in the room. When I stepped out of the room to get it she thought it would be funny to play hide and seek. Fortunately she wasn’t a very good hider and her pigtail gave her away.

Halloween is our favorite holiday at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry!

October 19, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

At Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry we love to celebrate holidays at the dental office and one of our favorites is Halloween. One of Dr. Pascal Dalseth’s fondest memories is the year his brother made an eight foot tall grim reaper for the yard. They wrapped it with rope to look like dental floss and made a sign that said “ Floss or Die.” They both got a kick out of it.

Our Treatment Coordinator, Kathy A., loves to celebrate the season by bringing in special prizes for the kids around Halloween. This year she got Dracula teeth, super balls that look like eyeballs, and skull rings that the kids cannot get enough of!

Although Halloween is a fun time for kids it is important to remember safety first when you are out trick or treating. Dr. Weber asks that you take care to enjoy braces-friendly candy like Fun Dips and Pixie Sticks while avoiding chewy, sticky candies which may stick to your braces. Also, make sure you are always with a “buddy”, wear some reflective clothing so cars and people can see you, and remember to brush and floss after all of the fun!

What our office means to me, from Dr. Michel

October 11, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

“We usually see patients every three to six months. This allows us to really get to know patients and families, and develop relationships. It is really fun to be able to watch kids grow from toddlers to young adults and see how much they change.

Our goal is to provide patients with the best dental care so they can maintain great oral health. Oral health can affect the body as a whole, so good oral health has a postive impact on overall health of a patient.

I enjoy meeting new people. It is important to remember that everyone is unique and has had different experiences, so you really need to listen to them. It is wonderful when you can take an anxious or fearful patient and give them a good experience.

On a personal level I feel very fortuante to be in the dental field. It allows me the flexibilty to work and be able to spend time with my young children.”

Sincerely,
Dr. Michel

Why I love being a dentist, from Dr. Dalseth

October 11, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

“Being a dentist is a wonderful career. I often inform patients that I cannot imagine doing anything else for a career. I receive a tremendous amount of satisfaction being able to provide the best dental care for all of our patients.

We have been very fortunate to have many families that have been coming to Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry for multiple generations. It is nice to hear stories from grandparents and parents about their children as we watch them grow. It is also great to hear how much children look forward to coming to the dentist. It lets us know what a great job our staff is doing at making patients feel comfortable and welcomed.

I enjoy the opportunities to interact with my patients about the new technologies and procedures available to them. I love watching patients feel more comfortable with new products or techniques, such as dental implants. I am happy to share my knowledge of dentistry and encourage people to ask me questions about different procedures and the potential benefits!

Dentistry allows me to spend time with people and to help them achieve their dental goals. I am thankful that I was able to find such a fulfilling career.”

Sincerely,
Dr. Pascal Dalseth

What do you love about Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry?

October 7, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

From your very first visit to Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by the work of Drs Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,
The team at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Commonly asked questions at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

September 30, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

We receive a lot of great questions here at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Today we wanted to take a moment to answer some of your frequently asked questions. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact our office!

Q: Do you see children and at what age do should they come?
A: Families are important to us. As such, we love to see children and create a positive first experience. We usually recommend seeing children for the first time at 3 years old. If a parent has a question or concern, we would love to see them at any age.

Q: Do you take my insurance?
A: We accept most types of insurance. Benefit levels, however, may vary depending on your employer.

Q: How soon can I get in?
A: Our office tries to be as accommodating as possible. If you have a dental emergency, we will see you that day. If you are a new patient, our goal is to see you at your earliest convenience.

Q: How long has your staff been working with you?
A: We pride ourselves with the tenure of our staff. A number of staff have been with us for over 20 years. The majority of our staff have been with us for over 10 years! They enjoy working here and they know we put the patient first and have his or her best interest in mind. The staff loves the patients and the relationships that they have developed.

The most important question a patient should ask their dentist:

Q: How is my overall dental health and what can I do to maintain or improve it?
A: Regular preventive recall visits are key, whether they are every six months or every 3 months. This usually depends on your current dental condition.

Moooooove over gum disease!

September 22, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

Drs Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel want to know: Is dairy a major part of your diet? If not, it should be! A study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can actually lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). Results of the study also showed that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease.

Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Monterey Jack all stimulate the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque’s ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child’s teeth.

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about which dairy foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy, please give us a call.

Welcome to Our Blog!

September 7, 2011 by Dalseth Family Dentistry

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctors and staff – we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!