by Dr. Allan Melnick on January 11, 2012
On the social front, there’s only one way to look at bad breath. It smells! Chronic halitosis affects more than half of Americans – and yet it’s still often taboo to discuss the problem openly. Some dentists even hesitate to bring up the topic if patients don’t initiate the conversation.
So, let’s be honest. Offensive breath can wilt conversation faster than just about anything. It’s an age-old problem, mentioned in numerous ancient writings. Currently, Americans spend billions of dollars each year on mints, mouthwash, toothpaste and breath sprays to freshen their breaths and boost self-confidence.
While breath-masking products help, I think a more effective approach is to identify the root of the problem! Is the odor’s source simply your penchant for foods with garlic, onion and other strong spices, or are you lax on your oral hygiene habits? Nine times out of 10, poor oral hygiene is the main problem. [click to continue…]
by Dr. Allan Melnick on December 8, 2011
I think laughter does a body good. We do a lot of it in our Encino dental office. We provide the utmost in cosmetic and general dentistry care, but we think friendliness and humor complement the professionalism. So, here’s a joke that’s made the rounds for years. It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
One day, a woman walked into a dental office and asked how much it would cost to extract wisdom teeth.
“A bag of gold,” the dentist replied.
“That’s ridiculous,” the woman said. “Isn’t there a cheaper way?”
“Well,” the dentist said, “if you don’t use an anesthetic, I will charge you only half a bag of gold.”
“That’s still too expensive,” the woman huffed.
“OK,” responded the dentist. “If we forgo the anesthesia and simply pull the teeth with pliers, I can knock the price to a quarter pound of gold.”
“No-o-o,” groaned the woman. “It’s still too much.”
“Well,” said the dentist, scratching his head, “I could find a dental student to do it for 15 bucks.”
“Awesome!” said the woman. “Book my husband for next Friday.”
This joke is light-hearted, but it brings up a serious topic. Wisdom teeth. [click to continue…]
by Dr. Allan Melnick on October 25, 2011
Last month a young Cincinnati father died as the result of a tooth infection. It made the national news. Although this 24-year-old had been advised to have oral surgery on his painful wisdom tooth, he was unemployed and uninsured. He decided to wait it out.
When his whole face began to swell, he went to the emergency room. He was prescribed pain medication and antibiotics, but decided to treat only the pain because of expenses. He did not get his antibiotic prescription filled. The infection spread to his brain and his life was cut short.
These are desperate times and it saddens me to know that this young man lost his life because of his decision, which was influenced by his joblessness and lack of health insurance. Unfortunately, he is not alone. Others are making similar choices, putting their health at risk too. [click to continue…]
by Dr. Allan Melnick on September 30, 2011
The Little Details…like Spit!
The late John Wooden, UCLA’s legendary basketball coach, was wise both on the court and off. After his coaching career, he was a coveted guest speaker around the country and is often quoted. One bit of advice attributed to Coach Wooden is this nugget of truth:
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
I know it’s a simple statement, but it is really so true! That’s why it popped into my mind while I was catching up recently on some dental research.
For most people the term “dentistry” brings to mind the mouth, teeth and gums. The term “saliva” or “spit” is not typically our first thought. I suppose the general population is kind of squeamish about that sort of thing, but as a family dentist, I had to get over that reaction long ago! [click to continue…]
