Dental Myths

We stumbled over an article -- actually delivering some rather old news -- discussing how the legend that our nation's first president, George Washington, was just that, a legend. Seems he actually had more high class dentures made of ivory and other highly non-wooden products.

At Hamlin Dental Group, we're definitely committed to fostering truthfulness when it comes to all kinds of dental matters, though we admit that separating fact from fiction isn't always easy. Certain things are definitely true: sugary foods really can be very bad for your teeth; twice yearly dental visits really really are essential. Other things are definitely untrue: Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson is very definitely not the Tooth Fairy, for example. He just played the character in a movie. The real Tooth Fairy looks nothing like him!

The truth of other beliefs is less clear. You don't have to be a patriotic North Hollywood dentist to have heard that British teeth are, shall we say, not all that you would expect from one of the world's great nations. On the one hand, we've all seen the jokes aimed at everyone from the UK's royal family to extremely fictional superspy Austin Powers about poor English dental hygiene. However, some argue that it's simply that British celebrities are less concerned with dental uniformity and therefore don't always take advantage of the outstanding cosmetic dentistry that is standard among American celebs. We'll call that one a wash.

Fortunately for our pateints, being straightforward with patients about facts relating to a patient's dental health is a cornerstone of Hamlin's approach to family dentistry with a friendly and personal touch. We're here to give you the facts and let the myths take care of themselves!

You Say It's Your Birthday (Cake)

Believe it or not, we celebrate birthdays here at Hamlin Dental Group in pretty much the same way you likely do at your home and office. Yes, when our own Dr. Reza had his birthday only hours before we wrote this, we celebrated with the traditional, sugar-laden, ice cream and cake.

Yes, while some folks might assume that an Encino, Northridge or North Hollywood dentist and dental team might live some kind of ultra-ascetic lifestyle, at least when it comes to tasty tooth-decay causing sugar products, we're only human. Of course, we know how to minimize the harm that comes from eating sugary foods when it comes to teeth, and that's really the rub.

In the coming months we'll all be celebrating Halloween, aka dental plaque's favorite holiday, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas, not to mention countless birthdays. Let's just say that while doctors and dentists might suggest we'd all be better off if we skipped the sugary treats entirely, our approach to family dentistry involves more of what you might call a harm reduction model.

In other words, celebrate now; brush and floss thoroughly later...but not too much later!

6 Tips to Fight White Coat Syndrome

Plenty of people have a latent fear or mistrust of doctors, medical professionals, or anyone in a lab coat. So much so that there's actually a scientific term for it. It's called white coat syndrome, and it has very real observable and measurable physical effects on patients. Many people actually experience an increase in blood pressure while being examined by medical personnel as their heart rate increases due to the stress they experience. 

Not only do the effects of white coat syndrome strike many dental patience, but as a medical field, more people experience anxiety and fear at the dentist than in any other form of medicine. Fear of the dentist is very common for understandable reasons. A dentist must poke and prod in your mouth with an intimidating set of tools. 

Never-the-less, dentistry, and the overall field of medicine, are important to your well being and getting regular check ups will improve your quality of life. At Hamlin Dental Group, we want to help you get there. Here are six tips for facing your fears and fighting your anxiety! 

1. State your needs: Ask what can be done to make you more comfortable and communicate with your dentist. If something hurts, say something! Don't be prideful. Remember, family dentistry is a business designed to help you not do you harm. 
2. Ask for information: A significant amount of fear stems from the unknown. Ask lots of questions! If you enter the situation knowing exactly what's going to happen and what you're going to feel, you won't be as nervous. 
3. Go with someone you trust: Bring a support system! Choose a caring friend or family member who you know will make you feel better. 
4. Use distraction: Bring along your favorite music or, if you have a smartphone, ask your dentist if you can catch up on Orange is the New Black on Netflix during a procedure. 
5. Employ meditation techniques: Try the "leaky tire" breathy exercise. Take a deep breath, then slowly let the air out through slightly pursed lips. It will lower your heart rate. 

At Hamlin, we know plenty of people have misgivings about the dentist. That's why we dedicate ourselves to providing a warm, caring environment along with our top-notch treatment to soothe any fears you may have. If you're looking for a North Hollywood dentist, look no further!  

The Gentle Cure for Dental-Phobia

Lancaster Online reports that Restore, a $100,000 study that delves into the relationship between dental-phobia and past trauma in life, is making significant strides toward reducing dental-phobia. The study involved 150 lower-income individuals who were exposed to one of three different dental models designed to reduce anxiety - environmental, interpersonal and relaxation-oriented.

The goal of the researchers was to find out why some people experience so much fear when they're in the dental chair. It's a particularly intriguing issue, considering how important dentistry is to one's overall health.

Victims of physical and mental abuse often "live in a heightened state of trauma every day," says Colleen Elmer, executive director of Water Street Health Services. Elmer went on to explain that "phobia of dentists is really common."

Different methods of stress relief explored in the study include progressive muscle relaxation, pre-appointment meetings wherein patients can get an explanation of what to expect, and soothing elements like running water sounds and the scent of lavender.

At Hamlin Dental Group, we're particularly attuned to the nervousness people can feel before a dental appointment. That's why our family dentistry team has always been committed to gentle dentistry since our founding. We're glad to see that the warm, patient-focused care offered at our Northridge, Van Nuys and North Hollywood dentist is catching on, and we hope those who feel nervous about their trip to the dentist will take advantage of our treatment!
 

Be Grateful!

There's no getting around the fact that, if you're reading this, the odds are that you're pretty darn lucky compared to your ancestors. Progress has brought us so many improvements in the quality of our lives in almost every aspect.

Naturally at Hamlin Dental Group our thoughts tend to go to dentistry -- trust us when we say that the field has advanced greatly since you're grandparent's great grandparent's time. Just for starters, it's arguable that the first tooth extraction without significant pain was performed some time in the 1850s. Procaine, better known today as Novocaine, didn't come around until 1905. Before that -- and quite a long time after for people who didn't have access to the most type advanced dentistry -- just about any involved dental procedure was, to put it mildly, difficult.

The good news is that the practice of family dentistry has continued to advance each year. From invisible orthodontia through products like Invisalign to increasingly gentle methods of delivering everything from teeth cleanings to root canals and more, a visit to a Van Nuys, Northridge, or North Hollywood dentist at Hamlin Dental Group is a pretty excellent example of how we're all lucky to benefit from the everything that modern technology as well as medical and dental science, has come up with. It's really something to be grateful for. 

Don't Go 88 Years Between Visits to the Dentist!

At Hamlin Dental Group, our patients know that when they visit our office, they experience warm, gentle dentistry from a skilled and dedicated team. That's why our North Hollywood dentist sees a lot of loyal patients making regular appointments for dental check-ups and various other services. 

However, we understand that there are many people around the world who aren't luck enough to have the same quality dentistry at their disposal as that offered from our dentist in Northridge. That's why we found it so inspiring to read about a team of dentists working with the UK charity SmileStar who treated a number of patients who had never been to a dentist even once before in their lives!

National Geographic reports that last month, Kenya's first-even mobile dental clinic moved into the Westgate Samburu Community, where many people go their entire lives without ever seeing a dentist - and often suffer with painful oral conditions for a number of years. One such person was an 88-year-old Samburu who had two very painful teeth removed, causing her to "smile like a lion", according to writer Paul Steyn.

All in all, there were 500 teeth extracted by the mobile dentists. "I've never seen people so keen to sit in a dental chair and have their teeth removed," said Ali Allport, the conservation and community manager for the Safari Collection - an organization that managed the project on the ground.

Remember, every appointment with Hamlin Dental Group is an opportunity for gentle dentistry that not everyone gets to experience, so don't hesitate to schedule your next check-up today!