The Smile Generation [official blog]

In keeping with National Children’s Dental Health Month, we are reprinting with permission, a question and answer feature from Dear Doctor magazine. The Smile Generation connects you with great dentists including pediatric dentists, orthodontists and other specialists. This piece highlights the importance of maintaining the space caused by the premature loss of baby teeth. Q. [...]

Question: “I have a toothache but it’s not constant. It’s a pain that comes and goes, sometimes when I eat. What can I do to relieve the pain until I can make an appointment? Is this considered a dental emergency?” Answer by Dr. Darbro: “I am here to help think through this problem with you. [...]

This week our “Ask a Dentist” question comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous, however it is a topic that many will find relevant:  “I have a terrible fear of the dentist but my tooth pain is unbearable. What can I do?” Here is what our featured dentist wrote in reply: “Hi, my name [...]

Question: Mark H asked us on Facebook: “I have an old root canal, and the tooth has broken in half, what can I do, and could you help me…..please help” Dr. Matthew Darbro, DDS of Glendora Smiles Dentistry and Orthodontics, a Smile Generation-approved offices is this month’s featured dentist in our “Ask A Dentist” column. [...]

Dr. Minh Pham of Crossing Dental Group and Orthodontics in Perris, CA says while it is recommended to change your toothbrush once every three months, it’s probably better to change it monthly. More importantly, we should throw away our toothbrushes after an illness.

Dr. Kenneth Burson of Falcon Park Dental Group in Highlands Ranch, Colorado debunks a myth. A Facebook fan sent in a question: Are cavities contagious?  Dr. Burson says NO.  Cavities are caused primarily by bacteria that cling to teeth. The best thing to do is to maintain a healthy oral environment by brushing your teeth [...]

Rob B, a follower of the Smile Generation on Facebook asks:  Can a small hole in a porcelain bridge be repaired without replacing the entire bridge?  Dr. Jack Gorman of Gateway Dental Group in Folsom, CA answers the question in this video. The video was shot during the Annual American Dental Association (ADA) Session in [...]

Dr. Dhaval Patel, owner dentist from Pleasant Grove Dental Group and Orthodontics, a member of the Smile Generation family, in Roseville, CA answers this week’s questions.  One of our twitter followers asked: “What should we look for in a toothbrush?”  According to Dr. Patel, we should : “Choose a toothbrush with soft nylon bristles, which [...]

A concerned parent posted on our Twitter: “My young son grinds his teeth in his sleep… is this bad for his teeth and what can I do about it?” Dr. James Mallory, one of our Smile Generation dentists, replied: Many parents in my practices are often concerned with their child grinding during sleep. There are [...]

Our featured Smile Generation dentist, Dr. James Mallory, answers a general query about snoring. He writes: An estimated 80 million people in America snore. However, there’s a difference between someone who snores occasionally and someone who snores chronically or long-term. A chronic snorer is someone who snores whenever they sleep. It’s reasonable to think that [...]