You may have heard about the KOHA requirement for your child to start kindergarten. Well, look no further! This blog will explain exactly what the KOHA is. In January 2024, the State of Michigan mandated that all children beginning their first year of school must have a dental assessment completed within 6 months of the start of the school year.... read more »
Clear aligner therapy refers to orthodontic treatment that utilizes clear aligners instead of metal braces to align teeth. A well-known brand of aligners is Invisalign® clear aligners, though there are numerous brands available. Aligners are clear plastic trays that are custom-made to fit your teeth. As you wear your aligners and graduate to the next set of trays, your teeth... read more »
Patients often ask me what to do for canker sores, those dreaded sores we sometimes get in our mouths for seemingly no apparent reason. They come, they last a few days to a few weeks or even months and then go away. They may come back at a different spot in the mouth or in the same spot a little... read more »
In this blog, we’re going to discuss the process of IV sedation from a historical perspective to practical considerations. First a really, really brief historical perspective. IV sedation kickstarted in the 1650’s. William Harvey was an English physician who discovered the circulatory system of the body through theory and experimentation. He showed that arteries and veins form a complete circuit... read more »
In our last blog we learned about some of the history of sedation and the different forms of sedation. Today we are going to focus on how sedation relates to pain management. Most people face two hurdles when heading to their dentist: anxiety and pain. The latter can be controlled and when under control can help remove the former. Let’s explain. John doesn’t want... read more »
The history of sedation dentistry is a fascinating one that started in the 1840’s when Horace Wells and William T. G. Morton founded the use of anesthesia. They were the first ones to use nitrous oxide for pain management. Prior to 1840, pain management consisted of alcohol which was often given preoperatively (and perhaps still is). A drink consisting of... read more »
Here at Briar Pointe Dentistry, we endeavor to use our new blog as a regular means for publishing valuable content for our community through monthly blog posts. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, we’re able to further explore some of the most important topics pertaining to our industry and area of expertise here on our website through these articles.... read more »