Aging and Dental Health

As we age, good dental health becomes more important. It is a common misconception that tooth loss is inevitable … it’s not! We should be able to keep our natural teeth our whole lives. What IS true is that our teeth change as we age; and previous behaviors that never seemed to harm our teeth before suddenly cause major dental problems. The key is keeping up with regular dental appointments so that we can catch issues before they get to0 big to handle. If you have an elderly loved one, make sure that they are going to the dentist regularly. Many will forget to make appointments, or forget to brush their teeth altogether. Keeping their teeth healthy will not only increase their comfort, but can even increase the length of their...

February is American Heart Health Month

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, February is American Heart Health month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women (1 in 4 people). Research shows that gum disease increases the risk of heart disease and can exacerbate existing heart conditions. With your heart in mind, we highly suggest that people with heart disease or a family history of heart disease be checked regularly for gum disease by getting their regular dental cleanings. The sooner a problem is caught, the...

Washington, Lincoln and Their Teeth

Happy Birthday, Mr. President! Both the 1st and the 16th presidents celebrated their birthdays in February. While little is known about the state of Lincoln’s oral health (indeed no picture of the president smiling exists),Washington is rather famous for his wooden dentures. Or is he…? It turns out, Washington didn’t have wooden teeth at all! Wood is one of very worst materials dentures can be made from – the bacteria in human saliva would break down the material and turn it to pulp. Instead, dentures of the 1700s were made out of porcelain, ivory and bone – both human and animal. Washington even kept some of his own pulled teeth with the hopes that they could be used for his dentures. Talk about resourceful! Today’s dentures are made from plastic or porcelain and have a custom fit – unlike poor Washington’s. Here at Sunshine Dental, we have same-day repair, in case anything should happen to damage your...

Black History Month; First African-American Dentist, Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman DDS

February is Black History Month; so today we have chosen to highlight and honor the United States’ first professionally trained African American dentist, Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman, DDS. Born in 1846 in Washington DC, to parents who had been slaves, Freeman worked as apprentice for a white dentist who encouraged him to apply to dental college and get his certification. After being rejected by two other schools, Freeman was accepted into Harvard Medical School at the age of 21. Upon graduation, he set up his private practice in Washington DC, and began mentoring other African American youths interested in medical practice until his death. Honored by the all-black National Dental Association in1913, previous called the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society in 1907, the NDA adopted Dr. Freeman’s mission to extend dental treatment and education to the poor, disabled, elderly, and those racially discriminated...