Have you ever been surprised by your blood pressure being checked before your dental appointment? While you would expect this at your doctors appointment it might seem unusual at your dental visit.
Checking your blood pressure is something we will do as soon as you get in the chair and is routine for all dental visits!
While we do everything possible to make you comfortable, undergoing dental work can create stressful feelings. Blood pressure normally increases when stress occurs, including before dental procedures. If you already have issues with high blood pressure, any circumstance that might increase it could lead to health problems or even an emergency like a stroke. If your blood pressure is high, we may forgo any planned procedures and refer you to a physician for further examination.
Local anesthesia is an important part of dental work—without it we couldn’t provide maximum comfort during procedures. Most anesthetics include epinephrine, which helps prolong the numbing effect. Epinephrine also constricts blood vessels, which in turn can elevate blood pressure. We may need to adjust the anesthesia drugs and dosages we use in your case if you have high blood pressure.
The symptoms for high blood pressure can be subtle and often go unnoticed. A blood pressure screening check is often the first indication of a problem. That’s why blood pressure screenings in a variety of healthcare settings are so important. A routine blood pressure check at your dentist (who hopefully sees you at least every six months) is one more opportunity to find out. Discovering you may have high blood pressure is the first step to controlling it and hopefully avoiding more serious conditions like diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Get Derby ready with some history, the Derby Day schedule and a yummy snack everyone will love!
On May 17th, 1875, the racetrack opened its gates and the Louisville Jockey Club sponsored the very first Kentucky Derby. A total of fifteen three-year-old Thoroughbred horses raced one and a half miles in front of a cheering crowd of approximately 10,000 spectators. In 2018 more than 157,000 people attended the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, marking the eighth-highest attendance total in the race’s history.
Dr. Jennifer Wells and her husband Zach attended the Queens Cup in Charlotte in 2016!
Below is the 2019 Derby Day Schedule!
Of course there will be FOOD!
Burbon Bacon Chex Mix
Ingredients
1 bag (15 oz) Chex Mix® traditional snack mix
1 cup pecan halves
1/2 lb bacon (6 to 8 slices), crisply cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons bourbon
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1. Heat oven to 300°F. Line two 15x10x1-inch pans with foil. Spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix snack mix, pecans and bacon. Set aside.
2. In 2-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar, butter and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly around edges. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Cool 2 minutes. Carefully stir in bourbon and chipotle chili powder. Pour over snack mixture; toss until evenly coated.
3. Spread snack mixture on pans. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, to caramelize mixture. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Break into pieces. Store covered in refrigerator.
Electric toothbrushes have been on the market for years now and you may still be wondering: do they really work better?
Nothing is wrong with your ol’ trusty manual toothbrush! People have been brushing manually for decades and still are to this day! Yes, they both accomplish the same end goal, but one is clearly more efficient than the other.
So, the question becomes not what is wrong with manual toothbrushes, but what’s wrong with how we’re using them? With the proper technique and routine, manual toothbrushes and floss are usually all that’s needed to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The problem is, most of us slack off with and we don’t brush long enough or use the proper technique to clean our teeth and gums effectively.
All that hard work!
Do you ever struggle to find the energy to brush and floss right before bedtime? Well if you did, you might be interested to know that electric toothbrushes are not only more effective, but they require less effort than a manual! As the name implies, manual brushes require your own energy to move the brush in small circles (not up and down). With electric toothbrushes you can sit back and let the brush do the work for you. Now you do still have to do some work but the brush does most of the heavy lifting. So, if your technique isn’t perfect (like most of us), you can rest assured you’re still getting a quality clean each time.
Proper brushing technique requires a certain level of dexterity, which can make it difficult for children, the elderly, or people with physical disabilities. Electric brushes are great for everyone, of course, but these particular demographics that may otherwise struggle to brush effectively can have a trusty tool on their side to get the job done better.
But an electric toothbrush is expensive!!!
Not compared to a dental crown or gum disease treatment! We know, the cost of an electric brush can be more than three times that of a manual and often you get a manual brush for free after seeing the dentist. When you look at the lifetime value and return on the investment, electric is the way to go. Electric brushes can range anywhere from $30-$200+ dollars, but with up to 150x the cleaning power, the investment is well worth it.
If you’re an expert brusher and flosser with perfect technique and you’ve never had any issues with tooth decay or gingivitis, then a manual toothbrush is probably just fine—but if you’re like the rest of us, an electric toothbrush is the way to go.
We would be happy to recommend one that suits your individual needs and budget. We recommend a electric toothbrush for all ages as well! Whatever brush you use, be sure to use light pressure, a 45-degree angle, and small circular motions for at least two minutes, twice per day for the best results!
