Governor Fidel Herrera Beltran spoke to dentists from Mexico and the United States about his administration’s plans and programs to maintain the health, including oral health, of Veracruz residents.

He mentioned the “Faithful Smile” program as an example, which has provided teeth replacements for 80,000 elderly adults.

The governor spoke at the opening of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Mexican eademy of Pediatric Dentistry, which gathered specialists from both Mexico and the U.S. Dentists gathered for four days at the event in Boca del Rio, Veracruz.

The governor also said that shortly, his administration would be signing an agreement that will seek the inclusion of dental health in the Seguro Popular health plan.

Herrera said that in working to strengthen dental programs in the state, his administration had equipped all the dentistry consultation rooms in the state hospital system, renovated dental chairs in the schools, and refurbished mobile dental units to serve rural areas of the state.

The modernization of dental practice in the state has had the support of all parts of state government, said the governor, adding that the goal is to strengthen the culture of oral care and health in the state.

Herrera said the state Family Development System (DIF) has also been instrumental in spreading the word about good oral health practices.

Proctor & Gamble’s ongoing research indicates that nine out of ten children in the GCC region have decayed, missing or filled teeth. These statistics are extremely high compared to Europe indicating that dental hygiene and oral health is a topic that needs to be addressed. Mohammed Azzawe, Brand Manager for Crest & Oral-B at Proctor & Gamble Arabian Peninsula talks about the latest dental hygiene technologies developed to improve oral hygiene in the Middle East. These technologies will be showcased at the region’s largest dentistry event, Dentistry 2009, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 10 to 12 of November 2009.

At this year’s event, Oral-B will be exhibiting a new range of toothbrushes with Anti-Bacterial Bristle Protection, a technology which inhibits bacterial growth on bristles for up to three months. The new Oral-B Expert toothbrushes with Anti-Bacterial Bristle Protection use silver ion technology – a silver additive that is known to have antimicrobial properties. This allows for controlled silver-ion release and the constant introduction of new silver containing particles as the bristles wear during normal use. Silver ions are common antimicrobial agents and are used in a variety of different consumer and medical products.

Mr Azzawe believes Oral-B’s new technology will go along way to improving oral hygiene.

“Bacteria lives everywhere and in particular it grows on wet brushes after they have been used. Oral-B’s new technology helps to keep your brush clean and effective keeping acid erosion and cavities at bay.”

Oral-B works with dental professionals around the globe to develop products that are clinically proven to remove the most plaque and to promote oral hygiene. By showcasing this latest technology at Dentistry 2009, Oral-B will ensure that practitioners in the Middle East are aware of the most technologically advanced dental products and will be able to recommend the use of these products to their patients, saving time, money and unnecessary trips to the dentist.

“There will also be a corner devoted to Crest Expert Gum Protection, a new advanced toothpaste technology that shows improved product benefits that specifically addresses areas dentists care about enamel, gums and sensitivity,” says Mr Azzawe. “The toothpaste contains stannous fluoride which strengthens the enamel, in addition to reducing gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity. The formula is made novel with the addition of Sodium Hexa Meta Phosphate (SHMP) which protects teeth against staining.

“Dentistry 2009 is organised by IIR Middle East Life Sciences Division, the same organisation who brought the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress to Dubai. Oral-B associates itself with leading organisers in order to reach out to the industry professionals who attend an important meeting like this.” 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Halloween would not be Halloween without candy and sweets, but it is important to remember that the threat of cavities and tooth decay never takes a break. It is unrealistic for parents to expect their children not to indulge a little this time of year, but there are several tips the California Dental Association recommends to promote good oral health now and through the year.

– Offer healthier alternatives to candy – This does not have to mean

carrot sticks and toothbrushes, but treats sweetened with ‘xylitol,’ a

natural sugar substitute, help prevent plaque build up on teeth.

Offering sugar-free gum after eating candy is a great way to fight the

bacteria that causes tooth decay and the chewing motion also stimulates

the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse teeth.

– Monitor you child’s candy consumption – Parents should be in charge of

Halloween candy, not children. Establishing a candy bank is a popular

option and giving access to the bank after eating dinner helps to limit

the quantity of candy consumed. This is also an ideal opportunity to

teach about the importance of moderation.

– Better to eat two pieces at once than separately over the day – It is

the frequency that is the most important factor in tooth decay not the

quantity. This helps to limit exposure to acids that are left behind on

teeth after eating.

– Avoid sticky candies like taffy and gummy candies – Anything that stays

in the mouth or on the teeth for an extended period of time leaves acid

on teeth that causes tooth decay. This includes hard candies, lollipops,

caramel chews and the always dangerous jaw breaker.

– Reinforce positive oral health habits – Remind your child to brush their

teeth after every meal or at least twice a day and to floss each day.

Look at the labels of candy and other foods to show your child what to

look for on the packaging. Anything that ends in -ose like glucose,

fructose, and sucrose are sugars and should be avoided.

– Visit a CDA member dentist – In order to maintain proper oral and

overall health all children should visit a dentist twice a year starting

at age 1 or when their first tooth comes in.

Go to www.cda.org for more information on maintaining your oral health or to find a CDA dentist in your area.

The California Dental Association is the non-profit organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA supports its members in their practices and service to the public through innovation in education, advocacy and related programs. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA’s membership consists of more than 24,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda.org

Tulsa-based Shortline Dental has opened its third office at 1671 E. 71st St., and is still seeking to “treat all patients, infants to dentures.”

The clinic, which features 10 examination rooms and a video arcade for younger patients, will have a six-person staff. Dentists Robert Baird and Celeste Riggs will perform a range of general dentistry services and minor surgeries.

Shortline Dental owner and Tulsa native Mike Riggs, also a dentist, said the clinic seeks to meet the dental needs of all residents of his hometown, including the poor and uninsured.

While Mike Riggs and dentist Jeffery Brorerman are assigned to the east Tulsa clinic, dentist Daniel A. Warlick is assigned to the north Tulsa operation.

“Our patients range from families living below the poverty line to those with large, expendable incomes,” Mike Riggs said. “Our goal is to give all Tulsans another option for affordable, high-quality oral health care in their communities.”

Shortline Dental opened its original east Tulsa clinic in 2006 at 21st Street and Mingo Road, and now has 15 employees. Two years later, a second clinic opened at Pine and Lewis avenues in north Tulsa, an area with a high percentage of SoonerCare patients, according to Riggs. It has 10 employees.

According to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, about 20 percent of Tulsa County residents were enrolled in the SoonerCare program in 2008. The majority of SoonerCare enrollees are 18 and under.

“While dental care has sharply improved

for upper and middle classes from the past, the lower class has limited access to care,” Mike Riggs said in an e-mail. “We provide that access with children and adults.”

Like Shortline Dental’s east and north Tulsa locations, the new south Tulsa clinic will accept most insurance plans as well as SoonerCare. Credit plans for the uninsured also are available.

“No child chooses the family situation into which they are born,” Mike Riggs said. “We believe everyone deserves to have their oral health needs met, no matter where they live.”

Shortline recently signed a contract to provide no-cost dental education, supplies and screenings to six Title One elementary schools within the Union school district: Rosa Parks, Briar Glen, Boevers, Roy Clark, Grove and McAuliffe. Title One schools are those with 50 percent or more students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

“Education is very important in that a lot of times, people don’t realize they need regular checkups and aren’t preforming preventive home care as they should,” Mike Riggs said. ” We don’t differentiate between SoonerCare patients and cash patients. They’re all treated exactly the same, as we ourselves would like to be treated.”

Mike Riggs said he “cringes” at the “dental chain” title.

“A dental chain to me would seem impersonal and unexceptional,” he said. “We like to treat SoonerCare patients for a number of reasons. All our doctors went to Oklahoma University College of Dentistry (which is quite a good clinical school) and perform high quality work. We all came from the class of 2004 and 2007, so we know each other well; we can trust and rely on each others’ work.”

Hours at the new clinic are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. For appointments, call 340-5020.

Poor dental hygiene is one of the most common ailments in pets, mainly because of the difficulty in brushing your pet’s teeth. Bad dental hygiene can have severe consequences on your pet’s health.

Dr. David Jones, a veterinarian who specializes in dentistry at Aloha Animal Hospital Associates, says, “Eight-five percent of dogs and cats will have some notable level of gingivitis by the age of 2.”

Recognizing dental disease in pets is difficult and best left to your veterinarian. “Dogs and cats don’t complain much, and almost always are eating and drinking OK, even with broken teeth,” said Jones.

Common dental problems are plaque, gingivitis, missing teeth, tenderness and a bad smell.

“Occasionally you will see signs of oral pain such as dropping food, or chewing on one side of the mouth,” adds Jones.

He recommends daily brushing with a pet toothpaste as the best way to remove plaque and reduce gingivitis. By making brushing a daily routine, you will be more likely to spot dental problems.

Another option for an oral hygiene program is dental pet food such as Hill’s T/D or Eukanuba/Iams products with hexametaphosphate to reduce plaque and calculus. You can also try rawhide chews and topical treatments.

Dr. Jones cautions not to let your pet chew on bones, rocks, ice or sticks. They commonly cause broken teeth in dogs. And he advises that pets should have a regular dental examination at least every six months.

For those who have elderly pets and are concerned about anesthesia, Dr. Jones reassures us, “Older pets usually can have a safe anesthesia, it just takes them longer to recover. The general rule is that if they can walk in the front door, chances are that they will be walking back out afterwards.”

Julie Ford’s pug Yoda is a special member of the family. When family members started noticing his bad breath, she took him to Dr. Jones for a dental checkup.

With Ford watching and reporting each detail of the procedure, here’s what she observed:

Yoda was put under anesthesia. As he lay on the heated mattress and his vitals were monitored by machines, Dr. Jones examined Yoda’s teeth.

After a thorough teeth cleaning, Dr. Jones X-rayed the teeth and found an abscessed tooth. Overall, Yoda needed five teeth pulled. Even though he was under anesthesia, Dr. Jones still injected his gums with painkillers before extracting the bad teeth, so Yoda wouldn’t have much pain when he woke up.

After the anesthesia was turned off, Yoda awoke quickly, although a little groggy. He recognized his mom and then drifted back to sleep in the recovery room. Yoda stayed several more hours before he was able to go home that evening.

He was sent home with antibiotics and painkillers. “Yoda was allowed to eat wet food when he got home,” says Ford.

Yoda made a miraculous recovery from his oral surgery. “Each day, Yoda has gotten more and more energy. It’s so obvious to me now that he had been in serious pain before his teeth were pulled,” says Ford. “He has been chasing our cat around the house again. I am so, so glad that he’s feeling better.”

Unions representing thousands of teachers and state and local government workers are bracing for the worst if Congress adopts a proposed “Cadillac” tax on health insurance.

The 40 percent levy on health care costs above $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families passed the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on Oct. 13. If the tax were to become law, experts said, government employees in New York would be hit hard because their powerful unions have negotiated benefits that go beyond medical and prescription drug coverage to include, among others, dental and vision.

The tax would be paid by insurers who then are expected to pass it along in the form of higher premiums, deductibles and co-pays.

“A lot of state workers would qualify because of the dental and vision, and the fact that health care is the fastest growing expense,” said Kenneth Brynien, head of the 59,000-member state Public Employees Federation.

For and against

Supporters of the “Cadillac” tax, proposed to take effect in 2013, said it would act as a brake on runaway health care costs. They argued that employers and unions would scale back benefits to avoid the tax thresholds.

Employers “then would convert the resulting savings into higher wages or fringe benefits for their employees,” said Paul N. Van de Water of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based think tank.

But opponents of the tax predicted widespread erosion of health benefits. They said people with comprehensive insurance plans would be unfairly pitted against those with lesser ones, in order to pay for coverage for the uninsured.

“You’re penalizing people for having good health care benefits . . . and pushing everybody down to the lowest common denominator,” said Stephen Madarasz, spokesman for the 85,000-member Civil Service Employees Association, the largest union of state workers.

Sympathy for the hardships of bureaucrats, teachers and police may be muted, however.

“These people have some nerve,” said Fred Gorman, of Nesconset, an advocate for school property tax relief. “They pay next to nothing in premiums. They earn much more than the average homeowner, and now they want sympathy because someone says, ‘You got to pay taxes on your health benefits.’ “

Nonetheless, the public-sector unions, including CSEA and PEF, are sounding an alarm over the tax and lobbying to derail it.

The fight in Washington has revived questions about why government employees have such robust health care and whether it can be sustained when public treasuries have been depleted by the recession.

A review of benefits shows large disparities between the public and private sectors, with the exception of top executives and unionized manufacturing workers, who often have generous coverage.

Employee contributions to premiums also are lower in government. State workers and teachers pay between 5 percent and 20 percent depending on coverage type. Suffolk workers and Nassau workers hired before January 2002 pay nothing.

Unions are quick to point out that wages for government service are lower than for comparable work in business. Generous benefits, they said, offset smaller salaries and were won through tough bargaining.

“People went into public service even though they knew the salary was less because they knew there was [job] security, health benefits and a pension,” said Brynien, of the state Public Employees Federation.

Politicians back richer health benefits because they often rely on union contributions and get-out-the-vote operations to stay in office. There’s also less risk of voter backlash with benefit gains, compared to wage increases, political observers said.

“No working politician will stand up to the public unions,” said Richard Epstein, a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank.

Tackling LI’s costs

Nassau and Suffolk officials have been working with unions to rein in health care expenses. But experts said costs are higher on Long Island and in New York City than many places, in part because of state mandates.

The Senate legislation acknowledges this and provides a limited remedy. Tax thresholds for New York and 16 other high-cost states would be set higher in the first year and gradually decline to the national level over the next two years.

Over time, the tax would affect more government workers and people in the private sector. “We’re going to get hit and so is just about everyone on Long Island who has health insurance,” said Carl Korn, spokesman for the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers union.

In Suffolk, passing along the tax would be complicated by the county’s self-insured status, with benefit plans jointly administered by labor and management. Any change would require negotiations with the unions.

Jeffrey L. Tempera, Suffolk’s director of labor relations, said, “I don’t see how the county or any municipality could eat those costs.”

Taxing “Cadillac” health plans

Legislation adopted by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee includes tax on high-cost health insurance plans sponsored by employers, beginning in 2013. Here’s how it would work:

-A 40 percent tax imposed on health plan costs above $8,000 a year for individual coverage and $21,000 for a family coverage.

-Retirees age 55 and up, and members of high-risk occupations such as police and construction would be exempt unless their plans were above $9,850 for individuals or $26,000 for families.

-Increases in these thresholds would be tied to the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, plus 1 percentage point.

-Insurers pay the tax but likely would pass along the expense to workers.

-In New York and 16 other states with the highest health care costs, the thresholds would be set higher in 2013, and gradually decline to the national level by 2016. The thresholds in 2013 would be:

—Individual coverage: $9,600

—Family coverage: $25,200

High-risk professions and retirees:

—Individual coverage: $11,820

—Family coverage: $31,200

Note: A health plan’s cost is based on more than medical and prescription drug coverage. The total value also includes coverage for dental, vision and supplementary medical/catastrophic events, along with reimbursements under flexible spending accounts for medical expenses or health reimbursement arrangements and employer contributions to employee health savings accounts.

The Highlands County Health Department began offering free dental care to uninsured pregnant women last Wednesday and its offices are already booked for the next two weeks.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from women learning about it through their OBGYN’s,” said Dr. Gerald Pyser, dental executive director for Highlands County Health Department.

Uninsured pregnant women and those receiving Medicaid are now eligible for free dental care at the health department’s dental office in Sebring.

The dental program, New Maty’s Dental Program, is the first to be offered to pregnant women in the county. According to Florida Department of Health’s 2008 statistics the program hopes to reach Highlands County’s 150 pregnant teens and 565 single mothers.

“The county has a high teen pregnancy rate and that’s really what’s driving the wheel,” Pyser said.

The program will offer free preventive and restorative care for pregnant women through out their pregnancy.

The health department’s program also seeks to educate expecting mothers on preventive dental care for their infants.

Pyser said pre-dental care leads to healthier mothers and infants.

“Treatment and prevention of dental and gum disease in pregnancy has a very positive effect on preventing preterm labor and low birth weight infants,” he said.

The department hired Dr. Joel Shapses, a dentist from Collier County, to treat patients for this program once a week on Wednesday by appointment.

Pyser said the program is permanent and based on the needs of the county.

“We hope to expand the program,” he said.

For more information on New Maty’s Dental Program, call 382-7257.

As New Orleans’s governmental services collapsed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Norman Francis, president of Xavier University of Louisiana–the “Black Notre Dame of the South”–organized an armada of boats and a convoy of buses to evacuate students and staffers stranded at the flooded campus.

Even more remarkable: Within weeks, Francis ordered up his own storm–of repairs, fundraising, and morale-boosting for the 4,000-student campus. By January 2006, the nation’s most successful training ground for African-American physicians, scientists, and pharmacists was back.

In 2007, Xavier graduated 165 African-American math and science majors. Ohio State, high and dry with more than 50,000 students, graduated 27; MIT, 12. But Xavier is no degree mill. It places a disproportionate number of its grads into medical and dental schools. Among the alumni: Alexis Herman, secretary of labor under President Clinton, and Regina Benjamin, winner of a “MacArthur genius grant,” President Obama’s nominee to be surgeon general, and an America’s Best Leaders pick in 2008.

Reopening so quickly “was quite a feat. It was dangerous just trying to get back into New Orleans through October [2005],” recalls Leonard Weather, a Louisiana physician, former Xavier lecturer, and president-elect of the National Medical Association, a group of African-American doctors. Francis “has done an incredible job,” Weather says.

The son of a barber, Francis worked his way through Xavier and desegregated nearby Loyola Law School. He traveled the South as a civil rights lawyer. As a Xavier dean in the 1960s, he ignored bomb threats to house Freedom Riders in the school’s dorms. In 1968, just 36, Francis took the helm at Xavier and quietly built the science program into what he complains is one of the world’s “best-kept secrets.”

There is no fairy-tale post-hurricane ending, though. Xavier struggles with Katrina damage, the recession, and longtime societal problems. Enrollment hasn’t recovered to pre-Katrina levels. About 90 percent of Xavier students need financial aid. But Francis, a 2006 recipient of the Medal of Freedom, has raised millions to fund scholarships and improvements. At 78, he is bubbling with plans to improve Xavier’s pharmacy and business programs, science summer schools for youngsters, and teacher training programs. With Obama funneling billions of dollars into education, Francis believes that “Xavier is sitting on the cusp of an opportunity it never had before.”

Maybe the secret is finally getting out.

Coast Dental is now offering smile makeovers with Lumineers ultra-thin veneers to patients who want a beautiful, white smile without the pain, shots and drilling of traditional veneers. Lumineers veneers provide a great way to cosmetically correct crooked, gapped, misshapen and dull teeth in just two visits, and create smiles that are attractive and natural-looking. Lumineers veneers have been clinically proven to last 20 years. All 28 Coast Dental Atlanta practices offer competitive prices and savings on Lumineers. For details visit www.CoastDental.com/Lumineers.__

Traditional veneers require painful shots and irreversible removal of significant tooth structure, which can permanently damage teeth and cause sensitivity. “Treatment with Lumineers is virtually non-invasive. Coast Dental is excited to provide our patients with this safe option for customizing a smile that they will be proud to show off,” said Adam Diasti, D.D.S., president of Coast Dental.

The ground-breaking LUMITray technology makes completing a smile makeover fast and easy. Lumineers carries a five-year warranty. Schedule a Lumineers consultation at any Coast Dental practice in Atlanta. To locate the nearest practice call 1-888-COAST-44 or visit www.CoastDental.com/FindADentist.

Coast Dental offers patient financing with no annual fee and monthly payments starting as low as $25 for qualified patients. Coast Dental participates with over 200 dental insurance plans. Patients without dental insurance can save an average of 30 to 60 percent on most dental services by joining Coast Dental’s exclusive discount dental plan, Smile Plus(A), for a low annual fee. Contact the practice for details.

About Coast Dental

Coast Dental is the Southeast’s leading provider of dental services, with 28 affiliated offices in Georgia and 88 in Florida. Coast Dental Services, Inc. is a leading management company that provides comprehensive, non-clinical business and administrative services to its affiliated practices. The dentists are employees or independent contractors of Coast Dental of Georgia, P.C. For more information, visit www.CoastDental.com.

About Lumineers

Lumineers is the industry-leading, original ultra-thin veneer product made by Den-Mat Holdings, LLC, Santa Maria, California. Lumineers was listed as one of the Top 10 products by Dental Products Report and awarded five pluses in the Editors’ Choice Award by The Dental Advisor. For more information, call 1-800-445-0345 or visit www.Lumineers.com.

SOURCE Coast Dental Services, Inc.

Credit: Coast Dental Services, Inc.

The Brunswick News

When Robin Moxley looked in the mirror, she found something that troubled her. The Jesup resident felt that her teeth just weren’t as white as she wanted them to be.

“I’m a coffee drinker so they were stained and I didn’t like the yellow,” she said.

Moxley went online and found Brunswick dentist Angela Britt. She and her whole family decided to have their teeth whitened.

They aren’t alone. Teeth whitening is still popular even in a down economy. The old adage that “a smile increases your face value” is proving true. Perhaps that’s why many people still choose to invest in their pearly whites.

Britt definitely believes it boosts self esteem.

“Smiling makes you feel good all over and a healthy brighter smile helps you feel good about yourself. I also think that a smile says a lot about a person’s overall appearance. A whiter, brighter smile enhances self-esteem and helps one to open up and shine,” she said.

Britt also says that makeover shows have added to the buzz about the procedure.

“It is a relatively easy and fast way to brighten a smile. The whitening procedures became very popular with the makeover shows and continues to be popular,” she said.

With advances in technology, there are a number of new whitening applications available. At her office at 110 Professional Center Dr. in Brunswick, Britt offers a number of these techniques to clients.

“Our office offers Zoom Chairside, a 45-minute treatment with an average change of eight shades. You get immediate results,” she said.

Britt says that it is a long-lasting treatment that yields less fading. It’s also safe and comfortable.

“It is performed by a dental professional. We cover the lips and gums, leaving only the teeth exposed. We apply the Zoom whitening gel, which is further activated by the Zoom lamp,” she said.

“The Zoom light and gel work together to gently penetrate the teeth, breaking up stains and discoloration. We do include take home touch-up trays with our chair-side procedure so that patients can continue to maintain the whitening results at home.”

Britt offers other treatments too.

“For take-home trays, we take impressions in the office so that the patient has custom-fit trays. The treatment time is seven to 14 days on average with a change of six shades. It is self-applied in trays but does not have immediate results.”

There are whitening strips, gels and toothpaste. The whitening strips and paint on gel typically take longer to yield results. This usually takes from seven to 30 days on average. Teeth only change three to four shades

“It can result in inconsistent tooth whitening with no immediate results,” she said.

As for toothpaste, results can take a month or longer with possible changes of only one to two shades.

“The results fade if you stop using the toothpaste and it only works on stains that are on the tooth surface such as coffee or tea,” Britt said.

One of the most important things about teeth whitening is being prepared. Dentist Susan Bishop’s office, 123 Main St., Plantation Village, St. Simons Island is a general and cosmetic practice. She sees both children and adults and provides a variety of services including teeth whitening.

“We offer the Biolase Laser, which allows us to perform many procedures without the use of a drill or anesthesia, and we are certified and licensed to provide Conscience Sedation for stress free dentistry,” she said.

But she does caution patients before going through with a procedure.

“Patients should have a complete dental exam with x-rays to make certain that there is no decay present before starting any whitening procedure. Only natural tooth structure can be whitened,” she said.

“Resin (tooth colored) fillings, crowns and bridges and veneers will not lighten during bleaching procedures. Patients should also be aware that some sensitivity is a normal side effect of bleaching and is only temporary. There are steps that can be taken to minimize this sensitivity.”

One of the most important aspects of teeth whitening is keeping it safe. Both Britt and Bishop stress that patients must have procedures preformed by a dental professional.

“The bleaching options that we offer our patients utilize materials that have been tested and approved by the ADA so patients can be assured of their safety. All procedures are performed and monitored by certified and licensed staff members and Dr. Bishop,” Bishop said.

“It is extremely important that all bleaching procedures are monitored by a licensed dentist to insure optimum results and to prevent injury to teeth and gums.”

Credit: The Brunswick News, Ga.