Stars, Stripes, and Smiles at Hamlin Dental Group

In about a week, it'll be the Fourth of July. We'll be surrounded by friends and family, perhaps seeing fireworks in the park or simply just grilling. At the very least, we'll have a nice day off of work. There's definitely a lot to celebrate about Independence Day. There's something else that Hamlin Dental Group will celebrate that day: the fact that we don't have the dental health of our nation's forefathers.

Take George Washington, for example. He was a great man: our nation's first leader, cherished war hero, and as Henry Lee once said "first in the hearts of his countrymen." However, his teeth are the stuff of legend. His dentures were widely claimed to have been made of wood, even though none of his four sets were (one set was made out of hippopotamus ivory). Reports have stated that Mr. Washington began losing his teeth in his 20s. Luckily, with a Hamlin dentist in North Hollywood, Northridge, or Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley residents don't have to repeat history when it comes to their teeth. Regular cleanings and check ups in our kid-friendly offices allow for a preventative (and gentle) approach to dental health. 

Let's say George Washington did stop into our dentist Northridge office; we would happily help him out. We offer full smile makeovers for people hoping to restore aesthetic beauty to their smiles. Dental bridges, custom dentures, porcelain fillings, veneers, dental implants, and much more are at our disposal to restore the function and beauty to anybody's mouth. Have a great Independence Day and we hope to see you soon!

Hamlin Dental Group's office in Northridge

Dentists are cool! Really!

With so many clients working in entertainment, it's hard for us Hamlin Dental folks not to think about our portrayal onscreen. Turn on the TV on any given night and you'll like see movies or televisions shows about the lives of doctors in Boston, New York, or some other major urban center. But we never expect to see a TV show focusing on the glamorous doings of a dentist in Northridge.

Sure, there have been dentists on TV, but not too many. There was the enthusiastic Jerry Robinson on the 1970's classic sitcom, "The Bob Newhart Show." And who can't love Hermey, the misfit elf and aspiring dentist who befriended "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer"? A really good early episode of the outstanding FX series "Justified" featured an idealistic dentist and a former organized crime accountant who was inspired to change careers by, wouldn't you know it, Hermey.

Still, while every TV and screenplay writer might visit his or her dentist in North Hollywood, for the most part they never seem to think of us as a proper topic for an exciting and romantic TV show. While we understand that the life of a dentist in Van Nuys might not exactly be the life of a James Bond or a Sherlock Holmes, we also understand that the lives of real life spies and private detectives as actually quite undramatic for the most part, too. And, if doctors can inspire a million TV shows, can't the people who care for the health of the mouth get at least one?

Will a TV show about dentists with exciting personal lives ever make prime time? Who knows but, in the meantime, we'll always have Hermey.

Individualized Dental Care? Sounds Good to Us!

Well, this is interesting. At Hamlin Dental Group, it should come as no surprise that we love a big bright smile. After all, we're the dentist in Van Nuys that our people of all ages trust for a warm, gentle dental experience with from skilled and knowledgeable professionals. However, as much as we love to see the sparkling smiles of our patients, we enjoy a good smile ourselves as well!

That's why we were particularly happy to read a story this morning from CBS News.com about a new study that will help dentists to treat patients at a more individual, personalized level. From looking over a pool of over 5,000 patients for 16 years, researchers have found some interesting results regarding dental health.

For over 50 years, the dental community has prescribed all individuals visit the dentist twice a year to ensure their teeth remain healthy. The study found that for individuals suffering from gum disease, tooth loss, or mutations in their IL-1 gene, twice a year may not be quite enough, while for others, two trips may not always be entirely necessary.

"We think that now with this new information, we're able to treat patients at the individual level...instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment," says Dr. William Giannobile, study leader and chair of the department of periodontics and oral medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.  

For now, we definitely recommend our patients still visit our friendly dentist in North Hollywood, Van Nuys and Northridge at least twice a year. However, in the future, we may be able to offer even more individualized care than we do already - and that's something to smile about!

Don't Do Drugs - or Sugary Soda, for that Matter

 

At Hamlin Dental Group, we couldn't be more proud of our reputation for warm, friendly and experienced dentistry in Southern California. In fact, as the dentist in North Hollywood trusted by people of all ages, we are constantly working to ensure each patient receives the top-quality care they've come to expect from us. That drive, coupled with our natural interest in all things related to dentistry has inspired us to regularly keep up to date on the latest trends and scientific advances in the field, occasionally leading us to fascinating new stories related to the field.

One recent article to capture our attention was found at the site Medical News Today, titled "Similar Damage Caused to Teeth by Soda and Illegal Drugs". For some time, we've been well aware of the harmful effects of sugary sodas on teeth, but this study was still a wake up call for us. A case study published in a recent issue of General Dentistry found that drinking large quantities of carbonated soda could be as damaging to your teeth as methamphetamine and crack cocaine usage.   

In the study, an admitted user of methamphetamine, a previous longtime user of cocaine and an excessive diet soda drinker were studied. Researchers found the same severity of tooth erosion in each participant's mouth. The process of tooth erosion occurs when acid wears away tooth enamel, the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth. Without this protection, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked and discolored.

It should go without saying that we also recommend our patients avoid cocaine and methamphetamine use, but as the favored dentist in Van Nuys of individuals of all ages, we advise our patients to minimize their intake of soda in favor of water, as well. If you absolutely must have a soda, try to rinse the mouth with water following the consumption of soda, or chew sugar-free gum, both of which will increase the flow of saliva.