Dr. S. Clarke Woodruff

I can not agree more, please watch this video. Pediatric sleep deprivation is missed too often.

It is an honor to have been named to the 2019 Select Dentists of the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley Style’s September issue has all the details. I am humbled to have been nominated by my colleagues. https://lehighvalleystyle.com/

DENTAL X-RAYS FACTS & FICTION One of the most frequent objections to my recommendations to include dental x-ray evaluation as part of a complete dental examination is that the patient is concerned about the amount of radiation that they would be exposed. So, facts and basic science are necessary in order to make an informed decision about this sensitive subject. ... We are all exposed to background radiation every day, 365 days a year. We cannot avoid it; it is there all the time. The only way to completely avoid it, would be to wear total lead lined clothing covering our entire body. Not very practical. This background radiation comes from two main sources., cosmic radiation, and radiation from ground sources. On average this background radiation is 2.5-3 mSieverts per year. What’s a Sievert? It is a unit of dose equivalent, or the biological effect of ionizing radiation. How does this compare to other sources of radiation? Suppose we live in Colorado or New Mexico at an elevation above 5000 feet. Then the background radiation would be increased by about .8 mSieverts. What would happen if we flew on a commercial flight at 35000 feet for 4-5 hours? We would be exposed to another .035 mSieverts. You can see that there is radiation around us ALL the time. How does this compare with the radiation exposure from dental x-rays? Well it depends on the type of study that is performed. If it is just a 4 exposure limited bite wing series, then the radiation level is about .005 mSieverts if the office is using a digital system. An older film-based system would be about double that. That is close to the amount of background radiation in just one day. Here is a chart of common radiographs test and their related exposure levels Source Federal EPA TEST mSieverts Mammogram .42 Chest x-ray .1 Head CT 2 Whole body CT 10 How does this compare with higher exposures limits? The lowest annual dose at which any increase in cancer is clear = 100 mSieverts CONCLUSIONS: It is obvious that the radiation levels for dental x-rays examinations are VERY SAFE. You are at more risk from the radon in your basement than the radiation from a dental x-ray examination. If you would like more information or want to discuss this or any other dental matter, I would be glad to offer you a free 15-minute consultation. We use a digital radiographic x-ray system and ALL test are done with lead apron coverage. Just call 610-838-6597 for an appointment.

Happy Pi Day 3.14

Dr Levin is a well respected expert on dental office management. He is talking about a savings program that we started earlier this month. If you do not have a dental benefit program (dental insurance) this is an excellent alternative to consider. It is a win-win for all. Call me at 610-838-6597 for more information.

We are excited to announce a new saving program at our office, for patients that do not have a dental benefits program, that they would find very attractive. It is a simple, affordable membership plan that features 1. Discounts on treatment 2. Immediate eligibility 3. No deductibles, copays, or yearly maximums 4. No or low cost preventive care... Sounds too good to be true? No, this is for real. There is complete transparency. For a low monthly payment, it gives you access to no charge preventive appointments and a 10-20% discount on our regular fee schedule. This is not dental insurance, which is the biggest scam going, but a true dental benefit or savings program. It is designed for patients that would like an alternative to dental insurance that would help them maintain their dental health at the one of the best dental practice in the Lehigh Valley. There are some restrictions, such as cosmetic procedures are exempt, and it does not cover any treatment at a specialist office. That is about it for the restrictions. Would you like to know more? Do one of the following: 1. call my office at 610-838-6597 2. Go to Kleer.com and use office code ZM3F I hope to hear from you soon! https://member.kleer.com/?slug=ZM3F

I have metal fillings..

Did you know that sugar isn't the only thing that causes cavities? Researchers have found that acidic food changes the pH in our mouths and that's what leads to cavities.

Spending the day with my team learning better practice management skills. Great facilitator Lois Banta.

Brushing too often or too hard can cause gum recession, and damage the root surfaces of the teeth by wearing them down. Remember to brush gently 2 times a day for 2 minutes.

What type of brusher are you?

Here's to a Happy Fall for all on this day of the Autumn Equinox.