Going to the Dentist (according to Bill Cosby)

Now although some of this video can be true, a visit to the dental office can also be fun.  The American Dental Association recommends that a dental exam and cleaning is completed every 6 months in order to maintain a healthy mouth.  Dental x-rays are important in diagnosing any pathology below your gums as well as in between your teeth.  To prevent decay, brush twice a day and floss twice a week.  For more information on keeping your mouth and teeth healthy, click here.

When should your child have their first dental checkup?

Many parent magazines and pediatricians recommend that a child have their first dental checkup when they get their first tooth. 

In most cases we believe that 2 1/2 - 3 years of age is early enough for that first visit unless you have reasons for concern, like a discolored tooth.

We recommend bringing the child along to a visit with a parent or an older sibling allowing them to get familiar with the environment before being scheduled for their very own visit.

Our hygiene staff is dedicated to providing a comfortable and fun learning environment to teach their young  patients about good dental habits!
For more information click here.

Get Flossed!

It's time to get ready for the holidays! When preparing for these family gatherings we pay close attention to the appearance of our table setting. We bring out the fine china and the good sliverware, checking to make sure they are pristine and the silver is polished. Do we treat our teeth the same way? Do we clean in between our teeth just as we would the tines of our good forks?  Next time you set your table don't forget to clean your teeth just like you would your finest silverware! 

Guatemala Day 1 Cont'd.....

Guatemala…..Day 1 Cont’d

When we get to the customs officer he asks “Do you have any drugs?”  I say, “Yes, for the practice of dentistry.”  I show him my dental license, they x-ray the bags and that's it!  What an awesome answer to prayer!
As we head outside we realize we are really in Guatemala!  We see a hand waving and two friendly faces appear in the crowd.  Our best friends Norm and Vicki Sutton are there to pick us up with a 15 passenger van and a pickup for the luggage.  It is great to see them and after a quick hello we are loaded up and off to San Andreas and it is only 2:30 pm.

The drive to San Andreas will take 6-6 ½ hours even though the distance is only 120 miles.  The first 90 miles are paved mountain roads and crowded city streets and navigating them will take about 4 hours.  The last 30 miles will be on a one lane dirt, or rather mud road since we have arrived during their rainy season, and will take the remaining 2 1/2 hours.

Guatemala....Day 1

Here it is, July 6th - just 3 days after our son Tim's wedding and we are at the airport ready to go to Guatemala. It is 5:30am and we have 5 bags to check - each of them as close to 50 lbs as we can get them.  A quick check of what we are taking includes a full dental operatory with a compressor vacuum and handpieces, clothing, dental supplies/ instruments and Bible school supplies!  After a long goodbye with our daughter Katy it is off to the gate and the flight to Houston before the final leg to Guatemala City.

Having been to Guatemala City 9 years earlier, we knew what to expect, but immediately noticed that the terminal there was much nicer than we remembered.  As we headed toward the baggage claim we asked the team of  10 who were with us to pray that we could get all of our bags through customs as it would be our last hurdle before entering the country.....