Dental Blog for Charlotte NC Dentist

Why Do Dentists Still Use the Drill & Shots?

If you had to name 2 reasons why people hate getting dental work done, there's no doubt that the drill and the shot would be in the top 5, if not Number 1 and 2. Even as a dentist, I completely understand this; in December 2015, I had 3 fillings done and 1 tooth extracted (separate visits), and I didn't like the sound of the drill or the zing of the shot either, nor did I like being numb for hours afterwards. So why is it that, even in the year 2016 with all of the amazing technology available to us, dentists still use the drill to work on teeth and shots that make you numb for hours? BTW - We Don't Use Novocaine Any More This is one of those little pet peeves that I'm going to mention quickly, not that I expect it to make a difference. :-) If you were born after 1980 or so, you have never ever EVER had novocaine. Not once. I don't care what you think - you haven't. How can I be so sure? Easy - it was discontinued in the early 1980's. My fellow blogging dentist Dr. Nicholas Calcaterra wrote more about the evolution of dental anesthetics in his excellent article Dental Mythbusters #4: Dentists Still Use Novocaine if you'd like to know more. But you CAN still watch the Steve Martin film if you really want some Novocaine. :-D Those Dang Nerves Aren't On the Surface It's an unfortunate fact of anatomy that the nerves that give our teeth sensitivity to temperature and pressure are deep inside the gums and bone where we can't easily reach them. Honest-to-goodness, we have to give shots of numbing anesthetic [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:28:59-04:00 February 20th, 2016|Dentistry in the News, Family dentistry, Laser Dentistry|0 Comments

2015: Year in Review for a Charlotte Dentist

Hard to believe, but 2015 really is a wrap! And what an amazing year it was for our practice, so I'd like to take a few moments and share with you some of what made 2015 such a fabulous year, along with a few challenges we faced and overcome, plus what we're excited about in 2016. A Changing of the Guard As I wrote at the end of 2014, we sadly said say good-bye to Rosie., our long-time dental assistant, who moved home to Arizona to be with her family. And while we still miss her, we've gained 2 wonderful new assistants, Charlene and Rose, and I know that those of you who've met them know just how fortunate we are to have found them. And you can check out the "About Our Team" page to learn a bit more about them and our other great team members. With over 30 years of assisting experience, Charlene brings a steady hand, lots of hard-earned knowledge, and a kind heart. She lightens my work especially with her knowledge of dentures and surgery, as well as knowing how to explain sometimes complicated procedures to patients in ways that make sense. Rose is just a bit younger :-) and brings her youthful enthusiasm, energy, and desire to learn, as she just started assisting in the summer of 2014. She's stepped up to the plate and does a terrific job with our orthodontic and CEREC patients especially. While many of you know her, I really should formally introduce Amber, our part-time hygienist, who's been working with us for 3 years. She started her career as a hygienist in 2011. [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:02-04:00 January 22nd, 2016|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments

2015: A Review of this Charlotte Dentist’s Blogs

Back in 2014, I was kind of a blogging machine, with 29 total blog articles published that year. In 2015, partially due to some neck/shoulder problems, I wasn't able to write nearly as much, as I had to stay away from the keyboard for several months, but I still did publish 15 total articles. Five of those were minor office announcements, but 10 of them were quite in-depth and took a heck of a lot of work. That's the other reason I didn't write as prolifically, because each article took much longer to research, fact-check, and verify. Thanks to some networking and connecting with people in the science, nutrition, farming, medicine, and skeptical communities, my posts in 2015 were read by a tremendously larger audience, and I'm very grateful to all the people who helped spread the word. Best Dental Blog Posts of 2015 ➣ Fluoride is Safe and Effective: after reading way too many BS articles about the alleged dangers of fluoride, I knew it was time to write an in-depth article on just how safe and effective it is at preventing cavities. All that crap thrown around by anti-fluoridationists is just that - crap. Every single claim they've ever made has been thoroughly debunked and shown to be false. I do review changed AAP Guidelines, too. ➣ Water Fluoridation Does NOT Increase ADHD: this was in response to a BS article in Newsweek by an anti-fluoride journalist (Newsweek should be ashamed) about a totally crappy study that absolutely didn't prove any connection between ADHD and water fluoridation. I took this one personally, since I'm also ADD. And while I'm at it, I should mention that French kids DO have ADHD - I'm French. That editorial [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:05-04:00 January 18th, 2016|Cosmetic dentistry, Health & Food, Skeptical Thinking, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments

I Love Sugar & Bacon
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I Love Sugar & Bacon

Health & Food, Taking Care of Your Teeth

I Love Sugar & Bacon

In the last month there have been articles running wild in the news and on social media on 2 subjects that are driving me nuts with how the journalism is misrepresenting or badly overblowing the results. And I just can't let it go because - well, danggit, they're going after 2 of my favorite things! And yes, we're talking about sugar and bacon. Seriously, y'all.......do not mess with sugar and bacon unless you've got really AMAZING evidence. Which these studies don't. So if you are like me and you enjoy sugar in your coffee or tea and you enjoy some bacon, deli meats, and steak, it's ok - keep enjoying them! But if you're having to argue with your husband or wife about why you still eat bacon and use sugar in your coffee, here's the ammo you need. (Please thank me with market style bacon from Fresh Market, ok? :-) I've written about how bad science journalism can be in some previous articles that you can read here: 10 Simple Truths about Food Bad Reporting on Fluoride by Newsweek Fluoride does NOT increase ADHD Why I Don't Buy Organic Food Anymore Bad Science Reporting #1: Sugar, Kids, and Health Improvements First of all, let me be clear that, as a dentist, I am firmly of the opinion that it's a good idea to limit your sugar intake because excess sugar is bad for your teeth and your overall health. Glucose, fructose, sucrose, it doesn't matter. Too much of it is bad for you. Even if it's in "healthy juices!" I don't think that any reasonable person would disagree with that. Where I DO have a problem, though, is when people exaggerate the effects of sugar, [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2018-02-15T20:56:12-05:00 November 12th, 2015|Health & Food, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments

Charlotte Dentist Winter Coat Drive

Do you have any coats hanging in your closet, stuffed in drawers, thrown in the attic or basement that are still wearable? If so, why not drop them off here at our Charlotte dental office from now (November 10th, 2015) up until March 21st, 2016, and we will be donating them on a regular basis to local charities for those in need during the predicted cold and wet winter ahead.

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:10-04:00 November 10th, 2015|Uncategorized|0 Comments

2015 Halloween Candy Buy Back!

Indeed, it's once again to start planning for how to get rid of the massive pillowcases, plastic pumpkins, or who knows what else your kids used to collect ridiculous amounts of candy this coming October 31st, 2015, aka HALLOWEEN! Because as much as I, a dentist who makes a living by fixing peoples' cavities, love the effects that candy has on everyone's teeth (no.....I promise I'm kidding, ok? I'm trying to be dramatic here for effect - quit being suspicious!), I'm also a Dad and I have ZERO desire for my own daughter to be eating that much candy, just like you don't. So what do you do? Here's your answer! Yup, the perfect way to get your kids to WANT to give up that candy! By donating their candy, they will receive $1 dollar per pound of wrapped, unopened candy up to $5 maximum. At the same time, they will be helping to bring some smiles and happiness to our US troops serving abroad through the work of Operation Gratitude. This non-profit organization collects the candy and divides it up as part of Care Packages that are mailed to those who are working to protect our country around the world. Not only that, we will offer Free Cavity Screenings, let the kids write a letter to the soldiers to be included with the candy, have fun with some crafts, get a goodie bag of fun stuff, and even enter a Raffle to win a Family 4-Pack of Movie Tickets. Sunday, November 1st 1:00pm - 4:00pm 4601 Park Rd. #175, Charlotte, NC 28209 704-364-7069

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:13-04:00 September 23rd, 2015|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Family dentistry|0 Comments

A Lion, a Dentist, and an Internet Lynch Mob

Oh boy, what a week it's been for the profession of dentistry. You do know what I"m talking about, right? Cecil the Lion was killed by an American hunter who happened to be a dentist. And while the outrage about the shooting of a lion is IMO certainly justified given the circumstances under which it happened, I have been shocked at the level of vitriol and hatred that has been unleashed in the media and across social media at my profession. But really...why are they even connected? I Only Shoot With a Big Camera You may have heard the saying that "Photographers are cruel people: first they shoot you, then they frame you, then they hang you on the wall." It's all said in good fun though, and as a photographer who would LOVE to go on a photo safari to "shoot" lions (from a very long distance away with a really big lens that just makes it look like I'm close), I laugh at that, too. But hunting with weapons isn't my thing. Last time I picked up a gun was a .22 rifle with my grandfather about 33 years ago for shooting at paper targets. I have no interest in shooting living animals, and to tell the truth, I find trophy hunting morally disgusting. Interestingly, however, I understand that there are some benefits to it, in that restricted hunting has been used to raise huge sums of money for conservation purposes. My colleague in Florida, Dr. Michael Barr, provides some thought-provoking background on how this works in his own response, which you can read here. Whether you agree with him or not, I believe his points have merit and must be considered. I am [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:16-04:00 July 31st, 2015|Dentistry in the News|0 Comments

More Bad Journalism on Fluoride

To paraphrase Britney Spears (my apologies to all), “Ooops, [Newsweek] Did It Again.” Oh yes, sadly, they did - their fearless and misinformed journalist Douglas Main has jumped into the proverbial fluoridated waters and misinterpreted yet another study about fluoride effectiveness. He had a bit of help this time, however, in that the article found here is actually based on a Cochrane Review from the Cochrane Collaboration, generally considered to be one of the best sources of systematic reviews of the scientific literature on a particular topic. This time….not so much. That’s not to say that the Review is bad, per say, but there are some significant weaknesses that Main conveniently ignores while overstating the minimal conclusions that can realistically be made. Starting with Previous Bad and Debunked Claims Main starts by referencing several of his own previous articles in Newsweek relating to studies that purportedly link Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) to ADHD, underactive thyroid, and endocrine (hormone) disruption. Referencing your own journalism is not considered kosher in the scientific literature and does nothing to support your claims, but when those articles and studies have already been shown to be fundamentally flawed, he’s really starting off poorly. The study and related article about an alleged link between ADHD and CWF has been thoroughly debunked here, here, and in my own rebuttal here. The claims of an alleged link between CWF and underactive thyroid have been discussed here and here. Strike 1 for Main As is typical, anti-fluoridationists do a good job of misstating and misrepresenting science that doesn’t necessarily agree with them in order either (1) make the science itself look bad, or (2) make it look as if the science supports them when [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:19-04:00 July 25th, 2015|Cavities, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments

How Many Veneers Do You Need?

So you're unhappy with your smile and are thinking about getting some cosmetic dentistry done, but you're not sure how many teeth will be involved or how to plan your budget? Well, in this article I'll answer many of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that we hear during Cosmetic Dentistry Consultations, especially because we're seeing a lot more patients interested in Smile Makeovers these days. To get started, take a good look at this old image of Matthew Perry from his early days in Friends to get an idea of what you DON'T want. :-) Most likely, many of your questions will be answered simply by looking at it, but we'll cover each question individually. If you'd like to see more examples of the cosmetic dentistry that we do in our Charlotte dental office, you can read and see more here: Cosmetic Dentistry Before-and-After Porcelain Veneers Before-and-After Porcelain Bridges A New Smile with Porcelain Veneers for a Wedding But First - Veneers/Crowns or Braces? Before we start talking about how many porcelain veneers or crowns you need/want, let's talk about when cosmetic dentistry is best and when braces, whether Invisalign, Six Month Braces, or the Inman Aligner, might be a better choice. In simplest terms, I suggest thinking of it like this: If you like the way your teeth look overall, but they're just crooked in some way, braces are always the way to go. After all, it's less expensive and non-invasive. But if your teeth are badly worn, or severely stained, or broken, or will somehow look ugly even if they are straight, then porcelain veneers/crowns may be a better option, because they can make the teeth look beautiful, not just straight. How Many [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:21-04:00 July 23rd, 2015|Cosmetic dentistry, Porcelain Crowns, Porcelain Veneers|0 Comments

Do You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Taken Out?

Given all the other nonsense floating around social media, I shouldn't be surprised at seeing this old item resurrected and circulating about yet another way that dentists allegedly rip off the public: wisdom teeth extractions. So let's talk about the following questions, then cover the answers. Unlike most of my articles, this is going to be a lot of LISTS! I've also included a sampling of x-rays taken in my office within just the last few weeks as examples of many of these situations. At the end of the article, I'll also provide a short debunking of the nonsense in this article that occasionally floats around FB and Twitter: Wisdom Teeth Dental Scam & Why You Need Your Wisdom Teeth (hint: you really don't). Why Should Wisdom Teeth be Removed? Even before getting to the reasons why wisdom teeth need to be removed sometimes, let's talk about how dentists and oral surgeons generally diagnose and describe wisdom teeth, aka 3rd molars. The most common x-ray used to see wisdom teeth and figure out if they need to be extracted or not is called a panoramic x-ray. It looks like this: The most obvious reason that wisdom teeth should be removed is if they have a big cavity and would be difficult to fix because of how far back in the mouth they are. If you can't keep them clean, you'll just get cavities again. Save yourself the hassle now and get rid of them. If they can only erupt partially and are still partially covered by gum tissue, that's a great place for bacteria to grow since it's very difficult to clean them. If the bacteria grow out of control, the infection is called pericoronitis (infection of the gum [...]

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By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:29:24-04:00 June 27th, 2015|Emergency dental visit, Taking Care of Your Teeth, Wisdom teeth|0 Comments