• All dental staff involved in patient care clean their hands before each and every patient and use appropriate protective garb such as gloves, masks, gowns and eyewear.

• A new set of gloves and masks are used for each patient.

• Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, instrument tray, dental light, drawer handles and countertops, have been cleaned and decontaminated.  Protective barriers are used on surfaces that may be touched.

• Non-disposable dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized between patients. In my office we sterilize instruments using a high heat autoclave and pre-disinfect the instruments before they are sterilized. Instruments are not opened until the patient is in front of them.

• Disposable items like needles or gauze are placed in special bags or containers for special, monitored disposal.

• Your well-being is important to me and my staff, which is why we follow stringent infection control procedures and comply with all state regulations for the protection of our patients.

Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, PA

8226 Douglas Ave. Suite 859

Dallas, TX 75225

(214) 363-4414

www.dallassmiledentist.com

Infection Control in the Dental Office (Video)

• You can visit the American Dental Association’s website at www.mouthhealthy.org and use the search term“infection control” to see a video on this topic. The website has a lot of information to help you take care of your oral health, too.

Cavities are the most common infectious disease of childhood. Babies are not born with the bacteria that cause tooth decay. They usually get the bacteria from their mother, caregiver, or siblings at a young age through shared saliva or objects that have saliva on them. Diet and habits also play a role is cavity development.

As a family dentist and a mother of a 1 year old, I often get questions from parents on how to help their children prevent cavities. So what’s a parent to do to keep his or her child’s mouth healthy?

• Take care of your own dental health and make sure you are cavity free, so you are not as likely to share the cavity germs with your kids. See a dentist at least every 6 months! Be a good role model! Don’t plant seeds of anxiety in your kids. Going to the dentist is fun!

• Do not put anything in your baby’s mouth that has contacted your mouth or another person’s mouth. This includes spoons, cups, thermometers, toys, pacifiers.

• As soon as the baby teeth come in, start to clean them with a wet soft washcloth and then work up to a small finger brush or baby toothbrush. You can use training toothpaste without fluoride until they are old enough to spit and not swallow it. When they are older, ADA approved toothpaste with fluoride should be used.

• Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day. Try to do this as the last step before bed and don’t give food or drinks after brushing. Routine is crucial for little ones. Make it fun!

• Do not put your child to bed with a bottle or Sippy cup of milk or juice. Anything with sugar (milk sugar, fruit sugar, and table sugar) can cause cavities, especially at night when salivary flow is low.

• Train your child to enjoy healthy low-sugar snacks like cheese, yogurt, and vegetables. Try not to let your child snack all day. Have an eating schedule and avoid using sugary treats to manage behavior.

It is important that parents establish a dental home. “The dental home is the ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient and parent, inclusive of all aspects of oral health delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated, and family-centered way. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventative and routine oral health care. Referral by the primary care physician or health provider has been recommended based on risk assessment, as early as 6 months of age, 6 months after the first tooth erupts, and no later than 12 months of age (1).”

“Show me those baby teeth”

Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD

Aesthetic and Family Dentistry

8226 Douglas Ave., Ste 859

Dallas, TX 75225

(214) 363-4414

http://www.dallassmiledentist.com
Reference
1. http://www.aapd.org/advocacy/dentalhome/
2. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/

A recent story prompted me to have some great discussions with my patients, so I thought it would be a great topic to share on my blog.  There was a study that came out in a medical journal that tried to correlate patients having dental radiographs back in the 1980s to them developing a type of benign brain tumor.  The way the data was collected was to ask the person to recollect back in the 1980s what their history was of receiving dental X-rays.  In other words, there were no verifiable facts collected from these patients.   Scientifically, there were flaws to this study and the American Dental Association disputed the study.  http://www.ada.org/news/6979.aspx

Before I discuss radiation levels and the technological advances in dental X-rays, I would like to address a question that my dental colleagues and I often get asked. Why do we take those X-rays? What are we looking for? We as dentists have numerous diagnostic aids at our disposal, including visual and tactile sense (mirror and explorer), magnification, and cavity detection lasers.  One thing we still haven’t mastered is being able to see inside the human body without some type of imaging.

Many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen without x-rays such as:

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing fillings and crowns
• infections in the bone
• bone loss
• periodontal (gum) disease
• abscesses or cysts
• developmental abnormalities
• impacted or hidden teeth
• carotid artery blockage
• TMJ pathology
• sinus pathology
• cancer in the jaw bone or soft tissue

Catching a lesion when it is small can make for a simple, inexpensive solution, rather than not being able to detect a problem until it is too large, when much more extensive treatment may be indicated. Looking at the outside of a tooth and trying to make a diagnosis without an X-ray is like taking your car to your favorite trusted mechanic and asking him what’s wrong with your engine without allowing him to raise the hood!

The prevalence of digital X-rays has reduced the amount of radiation used to create an image by about 90 percent more than the old films that were used. Lead shields are used to cover the chest and thyroid.  We do not take unnecessary images and follow the ALARA Principle: “As Low As Reasonably Achievable”   to reach a diagnosis and the American Dental Association guidelines for frequency of x-rays.  http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/topics_radiography_chart.pdf

We are exposed to radiation every day from various sources, such as frequent airplane travel, high altitudes, minerals in the soil, and appliances in our homes (like smoke detectors and television screens).

The amount of radiation (mrem) that a patient receives during dental x-rays is very small when compared to other sources of radiation in everyday life.  In addition, our office uses modern digital x-rays. The amount of radiation received from a digital x-ray can decrease radiation up to another 80%. That means while a standard x-ray gives off 0.5 mrem, a digital x-ray can give off as little as 0.1 mrem.

The average person in the United States is exposed to 300-360 mREM in background radiation each year. 

** You would have to take 27 full mouth sets of digital x-rays (486 x-rays) to equal 2 chest x-rays.

References:

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray

http://www.new.ans.org/pi/resources/dosechart/

http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/topics_radiography_chart.pdf

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/x/x-rays.aspx

Written by: Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD

http://www.dallassmiledentist.com  8226 Douglas Ave. Ste 859, Dallas, TX 75225 214-363-4414

The “Future Healthcare Professional Scholarship” awarded by Dr. Sarah Tevis Poteet, was developed to help Highland Park senior students interested in pursuing an education and career in healthcare.  Dr. Poteet’s passion for dentistry and helping others stems from her own personal dental experiences, and she desires to encourage students to also make a difference in people’s lives. 

Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD

8226 Douglas Ave. Suite 859

Dallas, TX 75225

214-363-4414

www.dallassmiledentist.com

Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD

8226 Douglas Ave, Suite 859

Dallas, TX 75225

(214) 363-4414

www.dallassmiledentist.com
4.2 grams=1 teaspoon=1 cube

I’m the Business Manager for Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD. For those of you who’s been following my Invisalign treatment blog. I’m happy to report that my Invisalign treatment is complete! I must say….time passed quickly. The entire treatment took approximately 7 months and I’m very happy with the results. I no longer have the space between my upper front teeth and no more crowding on my lower front teeth.

           Before                                                                                                                             After

The next process is to take impression for upper and lower retainers. Teeth have a great deal of “memory” and will try to return to their original position. Dr. Poteet recommends that I wear my retainers full time for the first 2 months. Then eventually I can wear my retainers at night. Again, this is case by case instructions. Every treatment case is different and Dr. Poteet will advise accordingly. All patients have different levels of relapse potential, so some will need to sleep in their retainers every night indefinitely.

In some cases, a permanent fixed retainer can be bonded on the tongue side of the lower front teeth.

Choosing to straighten you teeth is a big decision and it can affect your appearance and lifestyle too. Invisalign is a simple way to accomplish this. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if you’re interested in learning more about Invisalign. I would be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Poteet to discuss your new smile. You may also visit our website www.dallassmiledentist.com to learn more.

Thank you Dr. Poteet!

Posted by: Christie McClure – Business Manager

You have so much to think about during pregnancy, but don’t overlook your oral health, which can be affected by the hormonal changes you will experience during this time.

For example, women are more likely to develop gingivitis or bleeding, swelling gums, during pregnancy. Left untreated, gingivitis can affect the supporting gum tissues that hold your teeth in place. Your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings to prevent gingivitis. Some studies have shown that gum disease can increase the risk of premature birth.

You should continue to see your dentist during pregnancy for oral examinations and professional teeth cleanings. Tell your dentist that you are pregnant and any changes you have noticed in your oral health along with any medications or supplements you are taking. Dental x-rays can often by delayed until after your baby is born, unless there is an emergency with a tooth. Be sure to floss and brush teeth, gums, and tongue twice a day.

Frequent snacking may increase your risk of developing cavities. Be sure to follow a good diet, take prenatal vitamins, and avoid refined sugar and carbohydrate snacking. Also, vomiting from morning sickness exposes the teeth to strong acid which can erode the tooth enamel. Rinse your mouth with water and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing teeth after acid exposure. Chewing sugar free gum with xylitol can help prevent tooth decay and neutralize acid.

Cavities are a contagious disease caused by bacteria in saliva. It is important to make sure all active decay is removed from your mouth to decrease the risk of passing on this cavity prone bacteria to your baby once they are born. Your oral health is an important part of your overall health, and untreated dental disease can be harmful to you and your baby.
Visit your dentist to help give your baby a healthy start!

Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD
Aesthetic and Family Dentistry
http://www.dallassmiledentist.com
8226 Douglas Ave. Suite 859
Dallas, TX 75225
214-363-4414

    Remember, don’t take the field without the most important protective gear……

UNDER ARMOUR PERFORMANCE BOIL-N-BITE MOUTHWEAR!!

Call our office to pick up your boil-n-bite mouthguard and have it fitted in our office today!!
A properly fitted mouthguard can help prevent mouth injuries. Helmet strap included with each mouthpiece.

Note: Under Armour Custom-Fitted Mouthwear is available at our office, but only for students who no longer have baby teeth present and are not wearing braces or involved in active orthodontic treatment. If you are part of team or know someone who would be interested in custom fit, please call us at 214-363-4414. You may also visit our website for more information http://www.dallassmiledentist.com.

Protect Your Teeth

ArmourBite® Mouthguards provide the impact protection
you and your children need and the enhanced performance you
want. Now, just in time for football season, the ArmourBite®
Mouthguard is available in a wide range of colors. Custom
team colors, your name and team number, and helmet straps
are available. For growing young kids, we offer a lower cost
“boil and bite” version. They even fit over braces!

Benefits include: impact protection, increased strength,
increased endurance, and improved reaction time.

Custom Mouthguard with strap

Boil and Bite Mouthguards

Call to schedule an appointment before football season begins. Team colors, names, and numbers can be customized for you. A smile is worth protecting!

Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, FAGD
8226 Douglas Ave. Suite 859
Dallas, TX 75225
214-363-4414
http://www.dallassmiledentist.com

There are many things we eat in our daily lives that are filled with acid. Foods and drinks high in acid can erode our teeth. Acid can dissolve enamel and contribute to tooth decay and sensitivity. Find the acidity of your favorite foods and drinks by following this link: http://www.pronamel.us/what_is_acid_erosion/food_acidity_finder.aspx

Here are a few examples of what to eat and not eat, and what to drink and not drink. Also listed is their acid content. The lower the Ph, the higher the acidic content.
Battery Acid= 1.0 acid content. Water= 7.0 acid content or neutral.

Eat this: Acidity                       Not that: Acidity
Cheddar cheese 6.0                    Dill Pickles 3.2
Bananas 5.2                               Stawberries 3.0
Pears 5.7                                   Apples 3.1
Carrot Sticks 5.3                         Oranges 2.8
Eggs 6.6                                    Grapefruit 3.8
Yogurt 4.2                                  Plums 2.8
Bread 6.2                                   Salad Dressing(on Salad) 3.6
Almonds 5.0                               Salt and Vinegar Chips 2.3

Drink this: Acidity                    Not that: Acidity
Water 7.0                                  Coffee 2.4
Milk 6.4                                     Orange Juice 3.3
Barq’s Root Beer 4.6                   Pepsi 2.4
Water 7.0                                  Vitamin Water 4.0
Tea (Black) 4.2                           Iced Tea 2.9

Written by: Kathryn Taylor, RDA at the office of Sarah Tevis Poteet, DDS, PA  www.dallassmiledentist.com