Informational Articles

Snoring: How bad could it be?
How bad can it get?
by Dr. Bobbitt
January, 2008

Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness are often the only visible symptoms of an insidious, potentially devastating condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is estimated that approximately 32% of the American adult population suffers from some type of sleep problem. 32%! In a country with 300 million people, that’s almost 100 million sufferers. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has compounded the importance of this issue by stating that drivers with sleep apnea are up to 7 or more times as likely to be involved in a traffic accident than are people with normal sleep habits. Read on. . .

Why Ultrasonic scaling?
by Deborah Hoyt R.D.H.
January, 2007

I have been asked this question several times over the past few years and thought that many other patients may wonder why our hygienists use ultrasonics in our cleaning procedures.

Though I have been a practicing registered dental hygienist for over 30 years, it wasn‘t until I joined Dr. Bobbitt‘s practice in 1996 that I began to use ultrasonic scalers on a routine basis. Even though ultrasonic instrumentation has been considered “state of the art” since the early 80’s, the offices I had previously worked in did not have enough tips to make them routinely available for use on each patient. The lack of availability did not allow me the chance to develop the skills needed to become proficient in their use. It was used almost like a jack hammer, using the vibrating, pulsating cycle on the tip of the instrument to break up stubborn tartar deposits. It works real well for that purpose, but used correctly, it offers many tremendous advantages for patients and hygienist.
Read on. . .

Cavities
by Erin Keough, RDH
January, 2008

Cavities, decay and dental caries are all different terms relating to the process of the chemical breakdown of tooth structure. People usually associate tooth decay with children, mainly due to kids’ love of candy and soda, but tooth decay can certainly affect adults as well. Sugars, acids (which have a low ph), the frequency of consumption of those sugars/acids, poor saliva amount/quality due to certain medications, aging and select types of immune system problems (i.e.: Sjogren’s Syndrome and diabetes) certainly contribute to this troublesome situation. Decay, however, can be controlled. Read on. . .

Levels of Care
by Dr. Bobbitt
January, 2008

• Preventative Maintenance
• Restorative Care
• Renovation Care
• Reconstructive Care

What do these levels of care mean and why would I need this type of treatment?
Read on. . .

"3,2,3" "3,2,3"
Decoding the Numbers
by Deborah Hoyt, RDH
July, 2006

The dental hygienist is examining your teeth and she starts calling off numbers, 3,2,3, 3,2,3 and you wonder what these numbers mean and what does it have to do with your teeth. The procedure is referred to as periodontal probing or charting and it is a valuable diagnostic record for the health of your mouth. Read on. . .

"The Hygienist"
They Do More Than You Think!
by Deborah Hoyt, RDH
July, 2006

The dental hygienist more than just brightens and cleans your teeth by polishing and removing plaque and calculus and applying fluoride treatments. She takes x-rays, shows you how to brush and nags you about flossing. They do oral cancer screenings, periodontal (or gum) evaluations, give nutritional recommendations, and aid the dentist in evaluating tooth and tissue health.  They are a second set of eyes, looking, examining, and recommending treatment for your teeth, trying their best to provide you with the services most suitable for your needs. Read on. . .