New Play "Ether Dome" Makes us Grateful for Advancements in Field of Anesthesia

At Hamlin Dental Group, we believe in gentle treatment to ensure the comfort of our patients. In that regard, thank goodness for anesthesiology because, without it, that job would be much more difficult. By the late 19th century, pioneers in the field gave us anesthesia which revolutionized medicine, and allowed for much easier surgical procedures that took away the patient's pain. Considering the intimate nature of the work, it's no wonder to us that it was a dentist to make the discovery.

The new play "Ether Dome", a production of California's own La Jolla Playhouse, follows real life Connecticut dentist Dr. Horace Wells who first pioneered the use of nitrous oxide to dull his patient's pain. After pairing with William Morton, the duo began using ether to eliminate pain entirely. Though anesthesiology and the methods to dull pain are much more advanced today, without these first important steps, a trip to the dentist would be less of the carefree experience that it is at Hamlin, and more of arduous undertaking. 

Though we wouldn't blame you for wanting to stay away from the dentist in the 1800s, there's definitely no reason to avoid a checkup today. Good oral hygiene isn't enough; a trip to the dentist is the only sure way to prevent serious dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay. The Hamlin Dental group is here for you as one of the top practitioners of family dentistry in the LA area.

Could Dental Beads be Bad?

Why do we provide friendly, gentle dentistry for patients of all ages at Hamlin Dental Group? Well, first of all, because our team is naturally warm and friendly, but also, because we genuinely care about the health of our patients. That's why our Van Nuys dentist team wanted to share this recent news about the increasingly common plastic beads found in many popular toothpastes.

A variety of popular toothpaste brands have been advertising the use of polyethylene plastic beads in their toothpaste for a few years now. While the Food and Drug Administration has found them to be safe, a recent article in The Washington Post calls that into question.

The have found that the beads do not disintegrate and they are not biodegradable, leading many dental professionals to worry that they may be getting stuck in the tiny crevices between the teeth and gums. Once that happens, they can trap bacteria in the gums, potentially leading to gingivitis and infection.

Toothpaste company Crest has already began phasing out microbeads due to the growing concern. and what they refer to as "changing consumer and dental professional preferences".

We're happy to see that changes are being made, because the last thing we ever want to see is dental products that do more harm than good. One thing is for certain, whether you're in need of dental products like Invisalign® in North Hollywood to brighten your smile, or you're simply looking for tips on picking out the perfect toothpaste for your needs, you can never do better than Hamlin Dental Group!