Dr. Patti Bradley Wins Reader’s Choice Award!

October 27, 2010

Filed under: Blog,Your Appearance,Your Comfort,Your Health — Tags: cosmetic dentist greensboro, Dr. David Bradley, Dr. Patti Bradley, Dr. Phil Boswell, Family Dentist Greensboro, Greensboro Dentist, Lake Oconee Dentist — @ 11:07 pm

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWN DR. PATTI BRADLEY!Lake Oconee Living magazine readers have chosen Dr. Patti as the 2010 Reader’s Choice for Best Dentist award for the Lake Oconee Area.

The magazine invited its readers to vote in 46 different categories for “the best” of Lake Oconee. With more than 7,000 people voting across all categories, she is truly honored to be recognized by her patients. Be sure to pick up the winter issue of the magazine for a featured article on Dr. Patti!

We express sincere thanks to the readers of Lake Oconee Living who voted for all our doctors. Dr. David and Dr. Phil will be trying even harder to catch Dr. Patti in next year’s voting!Thank you for your support and for trusting us with your dental care.

If you haven’t had a chance already, please take a moment to BECOME A FAN ON OUR FACEBOOK microsite! It’s full of great information and you’ll soon have a chance to win a new iPad and collect rewards for referring your family and friends!Click the image below:Also, follow us onTwitter to keep up with everything going on in our practice!

Thanks! We look forward to seeing you during your next visit to our practice.

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65+ Year Old Smiles Require Special Care

October 23, 2010

Filed under: Blog,Your Appearance,Your Comfort,Your Health — Tags: cosmetic dentist greensboro, Dr. David Bradley, Dr. Patti Bradley, Dr. Phil Boswell, Greensboro Dentist, Lake Oconee Dentist — @ 10:37 pm

DURING GENERATIONS PAST, the chances were slim that somebody would keep healthy, natural teeth over their entire lifetime. Fortunately, today’s remarkable technologies and advanced materials, coupled with the artistic eyes and extensive training of the entire team here at Lake Oconee Dental greatly increase the likelihood that you’ll keep your smile for life!

Once in a while, when we visit with our valued patients, we sense that making decisions about dental treatments isn’t easy. To help you understand dental service decision making, we’ve set up a simple framework. It’s our hope that this will help bring additional clarity to your decision making.And of course, making such decisions is ALWAYS up to you. We just want to be sure you have good information.

We’ve divided “The Lifetime of Your Smile” into four phases that we are going to talk about over the next few weeks:

Your 1–20 Year Old Smile
Your 20–40 Year Old Smile
Your 40–65 Year Old Smile
Your 65+ Year Old Smile

In addition to finding YOUR smile’s current phase, you have family members, loved ones, and friends who are in the other phases. We invite you to pass the information along!

Some Must do’s. Some Should do’s. Some Could do’s.

Daily—consciously and subconsciously—we prioritize decision making by “musts,” “shoulds,” and “coulds.” Here at Lake Oconee Dentistryour goal is to make sure you’re comfortable with every oral health decision you make, and that you see the difference between the “musts,” the “shoulds,” and the “coulds.”

These lists are NOT exhaustive—there are no right or wrong answers to what you must, should, or could be doing about YOUR OWN oral health. Everyone has different priorities. Think of these posts as a starting point! And if you have questions, please contact us and we’ll chat.

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Today We’re Considering 65+ Year Old Smiles

THERE ARE NO AGE LIMITS ON A FANTASTIC, ENGAGING SMILE! Most people don’t know—for the most part—that losing one’s teeth during the golden years has little to do with aging and a lot to do with gum disease! That same disease is also linked to diabetes, cancer, and heart problems. But you need NOT be a victim. As average life spans increase, it’s an important time to understand your aging smile.

Must do’s.

As we get older, our receding gums can expose roots to cavities and decay. Don’t ever postpone your regular professional visits.
Some of the dental work in your mouth may be many decades old, thus greatly increasing the risk of decay setting in around the edges of old fillings or crowns. See Drs. David Bradley, Patti Bradley, or Phil Boswell to be sure you aren’t at risk.

Should do’s.

Today’s dental implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth. If you’re missing teeth, advanced restorative implants may be the solution for you.
Boost self confidence. A recent study indicates that nearly 90% of dental implant patients who previously wore dentures say confidence is up, and, the procedure was worth repeating.

Could do’s.

It isn’t complicated and there’s very little discomfort. More and more “seasoned” citizens are keeping their teeth AND beautifying their smiles with cosmetic veneers. Now you can too.

Here at our Lake Oconee practice, we want to be your oral health partners for life! Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, if you haven’t already by clicking below:

Watch for our next blog post to learn about one of the other phases in “The Lifetime of A Smile”!

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Remember… Don’t Brush TOO Hard

October 21, 2010

OF COURSE…Brushing our teeth is an important component of our lifelong oral health! We all know that! But, did you also know that there’s actually some important techniques to brushing your teeth? It’s not something often talked about… Not exactly typical dinner conversation!

As Drs. Patti Bradley, David Bradley, and Phil Boswell treat you and your family, one of the things that we often notice (although well intentioned) is that some of you just brush your teeth too hard.

Among other problems, brushing too hard can cause tooth sensitivity. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, sensitivity affects millions and millions of people in this country. There are lots of other possible reasons for sensitivity as well, including eating acidic foods and drinking acidic beverages—but your aggressive brushing techniques may be a cause.

Dr. David Bradley says, “If your protective enamel layer over your teeth becomes eroded, and/or your gumline recedes from brushing too hard, the softer tissue (the dentin) can be exposed. This dentin is connected to your tooth’s nerve which can cause sensitivity and/or pain.”

Certain whitening products and mouthwashes can also contribute. And of course, if there’s a problem in your mouth such as a cracked tooth, this can be causing pain as well (Word to the wise: Keep your regularly scheduled checkup appointments! We can catch things before they become a problem.).

So, what can you do?

Use soft-bristled toothbrushes.
Hold toothbrush in your fingertips—not like a construction worker with a hammer.
Brush gently.
Use a desensitizing toothpaste.
Brush in circular motions.
Use your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle.

Helping you take good care of your teeth is important to every member of our team here at Lake Oconee Dentistry. If you ever have any questions, be sure to contact us!

Speaking of fun… Some creative folks at an ad agency we found called Richter 7 who made this fun little clip. Wow… And you’re wondering if YOU’RE brushing too hard?!

If you haven’t already, be sure to LIKE our Facebook microsite by clicking on the logo below:

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Early Oral Cancer Detection Saves Lives

October 6, 2010

Filed under: Blog,Your Comfort,Your Health — Tags: cosmetic dentist greensboro, Dr. David Bradley, Dr. Patti Bradley, Dr. Phil Boswell, Lake Oconee Dentist, Oral Cancer Greensboro — @ 11:07 pm

HERE AT LAKE OCONEE DENTISTRY, IT’S ALWAYS SURPRISING TO US HOW LITTLE “PRESS COVERAGE” ORAL CANCER SEEMS TO GET compared to all of the other types of cancer. The statistics, however, are significant… In the U.S. alone, over 35,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. And while early detection boosts survival rates way up to 80 or 90%, often the diagnoses doesn’t happen until the cancer has progressed much farther than it needs to.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “Why does something as serious as oral cancer go undetected so often?” One of the reasons is that most of the time the symptoms are not painful—and people just don’t know to check! After all, if it doesn’t hurt, there’s no problem, right? Unfortunately, we’re sorry to report that some dentists don’t really check for it either. Detecting oral cancer in its later stages significantly lowers the survival rate.

The Oral Cancer Foundation reports thatif you’re experiencing some of all of the following symptoms, you should have Drs. Patti Bradley, David Bradley, or Phil Boswell take a look:

Abnormal jaw swelling
Thickening or lump in one of your cheeks
Difficulty swallowing or chewing (often)
A sore in your mouth that doesn’t seem to heal within 2 weeks
Difficulty moving your jaw or your tongue
White and/or red patches on any part of your mouth or throat
Numbness in parts (or all) of your mouth

Of course, there could always be some other causes for these symptoms—but having them checked by our team here at Lake Oconee Dentistry will provide the peace of mind you need in knowing the real causes of these symptoms.

It goes without saying (just like in sports) that the best offense is a great defense…That is, keep your regularly scheduled cleaning appointments and screenings. Doing so GREATLY increases the liklihood that problems will be detected early. Trust us… IT IS SO absolutely worth it.

Here at our Greensboro practice, as your lifelong oral health partner, we want to keep you and those you love as healthy as possible. Let us know if you have other questions about oral cancer or any symptoms above. And share this information on Facebook OR on Twitter with someone you know! Staying informed helps us all stay healthier.

We look forward to talking with you the next time you visit our office. Thanks!

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