Benefits of using an Electric Toothbrush

If you haven't  tried an electric toothbrush you are missing out! The ease of use and positive impact they can make on your oral health makes it an investment worthwhile. Many people even claim they will never go back to a manual toothbrush.  Why not let the brush do it for you?

More effective: An electric toothbrush comes with a built in timer that ensures you brush for the proper amount of time and some will even tell you when to switch to a different part of your mouth so you aren't missing any.

On average an adult can complete around 300 strokes a minute with a manual brush. Whereas an electric toothbrush will typically rotate from 7,500 to 3,000 strokes a minute removing more plaque and leaving your teeth cleaner!

Easy for all ages: Your child will find brushing fun with a specially designed toothbrush that plays music or tells you when to switch and you can rest assured their teeth are getting clean! Those with arthritis, or for those who simply find brushing difficult or straining, this is a much easier process with greater results.

At Glacier Dental we stand behind the electric toothbrush as a fantastic way to improve your overall oral health. We would be happy to provide a disposable head to let you try before you buy  the next time you are in the office!  

What is the purpose of Dental X-rays?

Have you ever wondered why you need to have x-rays taken at your continuous care visits? At Glacier Dental we pride ourselves in making sure you receive the best care possible and we could not do it without the help from routine x-rays. There are several  types that allow us to see the tooth and jaw differently. 

• Bitewing x-rays: These are the x-rays where you have to bite down on the x-ray film while the photo is being taken. Bitewings are taken so that we can see decay in-between your teeth – a tricky area we can’t see with the naked eye . Typically 4 bitewing x-rays are taken in order to see all 4 quadrants of your mouth.

At Glacier Dental we recommend taking bitewing x-rays once a year to ensure the most accurate diagnosis . If you have dental insurance it is likely that your insurance will cover these annually. Take a look at what this bitewing x-ray looks like and notice how you can see between each tooth.

• Panoramic X-ray: The Panoramic X-ray is another common image that allows us to see the entire mouth. This type of image shows the presence of wisdom teeth, abscesses, tumors, and cysts that otherwise could not be seen  Panoramic x-rays are also critical for implant and  orthodontic treatment to evaluate the health of the roots, bones, and permanent teeth development.
  

Typically we recommend a panorex every 3-5 years, depending on the patient.

• Periapical X-ray: More commonly known as PA’s these dental x-rays focus on 1-2 teeth up close. If you are experiencing a toothache or if there is a suspicious looking area on one of your teeth, we would take a PA to get a better idea of what is going on. With these x-rays we are also able to see the root structure of the tooth.
  

We also recommend having periapical x-rays taken once a year when your 4 bitewing x-rays are taken.

 Each type of dental x-ray that we take serves a very different purpose. It is important for us to have all the information we need in order to properly take care of your dental health.

Pink Pumpkins for the Cure!

It's time to get creative! That's right folks October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all month long Glacier Dental will be holding a Pumpkin Decorating Contest. For just $5 we will give you a pumpkin to razzle dazzle. At the end of the month we will go through the patch and select the best decorated pumpkin to win a super awesome prize.

The best part is all of the proceeds will be matched by Glacier Dental and go to the Conquer Cancer Foundation. We need you help in making a big,pink, glorious pumpkin patch in our front yard!

Glacier Dental loves our patients!

 Glacier Dental's 2016 Patient Appreciation BBQ was a blast! Thanks to all who came out and celebrated our awesome patients with us. From the delicious pulled pork from Beck's to the cornbread, beans, coleslaw and much more this BBQ had all the fixins.

Once the bellies were full a round of  yard games was in order!  Every game played was rewarded with raffle tickets to drop into some amazing gift baskets drawings. The fun didn't stop there. People lined up for their chance to play Pie Face with the doctors! I think they were cleaning whip cream off of their faces all night! 

The night wrapped up with a drawing for an Alaskan Cruise for 2. Kyle, the winner, earned his entry for referring 3 people to Glacier Dental throughout the year. After he won he said that he and his wife would finally go on the honeymoon they never got to go on. We couldn't be more excited for them.

From the entire team at Glacier Dental thank you for choosing us to serve you and we look forward t seeing you soon!

How to Stop Clenching and Grinding

Do you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth during the day? Or maybe you wake up in the morning with a headache and a sore jaw? Worry no more, here at Glacier Dental we have a few options to help you relax your jaw and take it easy on your teeth! Our first option for you is our night guard, which is best suited for those who are clenching and grinding while they sleep. This device takes the pressure off your teeth and jaw by slightly opening your bite while you sleep. Our second option for you is Botox! Botox is administered into your jaw muscles to help them relax, thus making your bite much more gentle on your teeth. Botox is a great option for patients who grind both morning and night, as it works 24/7. However, those who opt for Botox should return every 3 months for another treatment to keep your jaw muscles relaxed. Both a night guard and Botox are great solutions for your clenching and grinding. If either sounds like something you may be interested in, please call our office at (920) 235-3251, we would be more than happy to assist you in putting an end to the painful clenching and grinding!

Botox, not just for Cosmetics!
                                                                                                                                                                            





As you can see in this photograph, a night guard is low profile, and takes the pressure off your back teeth while you sleep!

What a night guard looks like up close!

Good Things Come in Three!

Glacier Dental has been voted Best of Winnebago for both 2014 and 2015, so we’d be crazy not to try for it again in 2016! Voting for Best of Winnebago begins on Sunday, September 11^th and we would love to have your vote.  If you believe that Glacier Dental is truly the best of the best, please visit http://www.wisinfo.biz/bestofwinnebago/ to cast your vote for Glacier Dental as Best of Winnebago 2016. You may vote once per day per e-mail so tell your friends and family to cast their votes as well! Also be sure to cast your votes for other businesses in our community who do outstanding work and deserve recognition!

Sharing the love with OAHS

Glacier Dental recently wrapped up a donation drive for the Oshkosh Area Humane Society to help out our four-legged friends. Glacier Dental employees and patients were thrilled to donate an abundance of toys, food, cleaning supplies and treats. The staff at OAHS was kind enough to give us a tour of their facility after dropping off the donations. It was fun to mingle with the furry friends that OAHS houses and helps on a daily basis. OAHS is always in need of volunteers or items such as paper towels, bleach, disinfecting wipes, various Purina cat and dog foods, squeaky dog toys and much more.

Interested in donating to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society? Visit https://www.oahs.org/donate/wish-list for a complete list of items needed.

Interested in Volunteering for the Oshkosh Area Humane Society? Visit https://www.oahs.org/volunteer for more information on how to get started.

You can also help the Oshkosh Area Humane Society by participating in their Walk for the Animals on Saturday, September 17th. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and includes food, prizes and much more! Show your support and make the pledge today at https://www.oahs.org/walkfortheanimals/walk-for-the-animals.