I’m excited to share with you what I just learned about Bluetooth technology! Finally I can sleep through the night knowing just what this modern technology has to do with a tooth.

What’s it for?

Bluetooth was created to unite devices without cable or wires.

See all those wires hooked up behind your computer desk? That’s the kind of mess Bluetooth was created to clean up. With Bluetooth technology, we don’t have to trip over that cable duct taped to the floor or group the 50 we have behind our desks with plastic ties to keep them from tangling. We’ve all seen more people than usual ”talking to themselves” as they walk down the street – that’s also thanks to good ol’ Bluetooth.

How does it work?

What happens is, the Bluetooth chip takes the information normally carried by cable and transmits it to the receiver Bluetooth chip found in devises such as your phone, computer, etc. Viola! You’re wireless.

So…what’s it got to do with a blue tooth?

The name “Bluetooth” was inspired by the Danish Viking and King, Harald Blatand (loosely translated in English as “Bluetooth”). This king united and controlled Denmark and Norway (as Bluetooth technology unites devices and people). This king apparently loved blueberries so much that his teeth were stained blue, leaving him with some pretty-looking molars. That’s where the name came from.

Hmmm… “Mr. King Blatand? Might I interest you in a one-hour BriteSmile Whitening appointment?”

Did you watch Oprah the other day? I did, and like I do every time, learned something new.  This time, I learned that yogurt is good for your gums!

Research shows that eating a couple ounces of yogurt every day will help protect from both gum disease and tooth loss. It’s the friendly bacteria in it that does the work. Isn’t that cool? I thought it was a delicious fact worth passing along.

Yogurt can benefit your health in other ways, too. Check out this article.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go grab myself a blueberry yogurt….or raspberry….or maybe peach…or….

You know the feeling. You're rearranging your living room.  It looked nice before...but there's just been something...missing.  Finally, you reach that moment when your couch and chairs are in their perfect place. "Ah, yes!" you say to yourself.  "It's just right!"  You might say it’s “feng shui.”

When you get a manicure, you choose a square end or rounded tip, long or short to achieve the natural-you look you're going for. If it's done well, you'll catch yourself admiring your hands during your next few business meetings.  It's a "wow!" feeling.  They're your natural nails, but now they look so much better!

Did you know you can enjoy this same feeling with your smile with cosmetic recontouring?  You can!  Just by ever-so-slightly changing the shape or angle of your existing tooth/teeth, you can really enhance your smile's appearance and shine. It’s icing on the cake for a smile that’s already nice; just needs that...something.  That something that makes you say, "Yes!  It's just right!" 

“Natural looking restorations” is a fancy name for any kind of tooth restoration that looks natural. They can be anything from inlays to onlays, fillings to crowns.

Natural looking restorations made of porcelain or resin-based material make your smile and laugh look prettier and more natural because you don’t have that silver or black coloring on your teeth. Did you know they’re also safer?

For instance, large silver fillings (amalgam fillings) lend to the breakage of teeth because the silver expands and contracts at a different rate than your natural tooth. Every time you bite into that nice cold ice cream cone or enjoy an extra-hot latte, unnecessary pressure can be put on the natural tooth underneath, potentially causing big breakage. 

Silver fillings also have mercury in them. Mercury can be released into your system, potentially causing health issues.

Porcelain fused to metal leaves black lines running along the gum line that can cause irritation. One of my most recent patients came in with gums red as beets! After redesigning her smile, she now enjoys healthy gums for the first time in 12 years.

There are a number of benefits to getting natural looking porcelain or resin-based restorations. Safety is one of them!

As some of you may know, back in September, I went back to school.  Yes, one weekend a month I pack my bags, lug my textbooks and cross the border  to Canada's Pacific Implant Institute for an intense weekend filled with lectures and hands-on surgical training.  Just five more trips and I'll have earned my Master Certificate in Oral Implantology. I'm so excited!

It took me two years and the opportunity to actually meet Dr. Zokol (my professor/mentor) on the PII campus to finally make the decision to go.  I'm happy I did and sometimes wonder why it took me so long.

What exciting challenges are you putting off?  Why? 

Write and tell us about it...then, GO for it!  We want updates!