Patient Care

Above any other medical need, people are more likely to skip seeing the dentist because they can’t afford it. Many people choose not to buy dental insurance because it’s an added cost without a lot of perceived value. For some reason, people simply feel more comfortable taking this risk because they don’t fully understand the… (Read More)

Saliva. Just the word can conjure an array of images in your imagination. From salivating at a delicious meal to studying Pavlov’s dogs to watching a baseball player spit, life is full of saliva! And that’s a good thing because saliva is very important for oral and overall health. Problems with saliva can lead to… (Read More)

Did you know more than 26 million Americans have asthma, and it’s the leading chronic disease in children? As dental health professionals who understand how deeply your oral and overall health rely on one another and want both to be optimal for your child, we feel it’s important to talk about how asthma might affect… (Read More)

We all know that it’s important to take care of our health, but that’s often easier said than done. Health and hygiene routines are an investment of your time every day. So, wouldn’t it be great if you could accomplish more by actually doing less?  As it turns out, when it comes to oral health… (Read More)

What are mamelon teeth? If you’re a new parent, whether your babe’s teeth are just emerging or they’re starting to fall out, you might wonder, “What are those bumps on their front teeth?”  Mamelon teeth appear in the front of the mouth (the incisors) both on top and bottom and are characterized by bumpy ridges…. (Read More)

If you’re a new mom or about to be one, you’re likely already used to putting your needs second to the needs of this beautiful new little person in your life – but maintaining good oral hygiene is still important for keeping you and your baby in tip-top shape.  If something happens and you need… (Read More)

If you’re one of the 40 million Americans with sensitive teeth, you must be familiar with the painful zing that follows a hot drink, a bite of ice cream, or just a deep breath of cold air. These and other elements can cause sudden discomfort if you have sensitive teeth, also called dentin hypersensitivity.  Each… (Read More)

We’re not talking about a movie, but a hardened substance on your child’s teeth called tartar or calculus—another slightly confusing term, right? No math equations here, except maybe Plaque + Time = Tartar.   That’s right, tartar begins as plaque, which is the accumulation of tiny food particles and bacteria. Our mouths are home to upwards… (Read More)

As a parent, you only want what’s best for your little one. Whether you’re a new mom navigating the waters of caring for your firstborn, or a seasoned pro ready to start your family softball team (sorry neighbor kids, all positions are filled), preventing tooth decay in kids is never an easy feat.  Because tiny… (Read More)

Do you remember your first time chewing gum? If you’re like some of us at Whalen Dentistry, you might even recall hearing that swallowing gum would result in it staying in your stomach for up to seven years!  There are a lot of myths that still float around these days, so if you hear that… (Read More)