Memory care dentistry is a form of specialized dental care for people living with advanced Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Due to cognitive impairment, most dementia patients require assistance from family members or care professionals to take care of their oral health. If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or another form…
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Water Flossers / Water Flossing
What Are Water Flossers? Water flossers, also known as water irrigators, are devices that use a stream of pressurized water to clean between teeth and along the gumline. They are a popular alternative to traditional string floss for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing gum disease. Water flossers work by filling a reservoir with water…
Oral Health for Seniors / Geriatric Dental Care
Older adults often require extra medical and dental care. As we age, many dental issues become more prevalent including dry mouth (xerostomia), root and coronal caries, gum disease, sleep apnea, and teeth loss requiring dentures or implants. The specialized care for age-related dental problems is referred to as geriatric dentistry. In the USA, it’s estimated…
The Importance of Oral Hygiene
Proper oral hygiene is crucial not just for your teeth and gums but also for keeping your mind and body healthy and strong. Problems with your teeth and gum can lead to diseases in other parts of your body — including dementia and heart disease. Regular visits to your dentist can do more than just…
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatment
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a non-invasive, antimicrobial liquid medication used by dentists to prevent cavities and help with sensitivity. It is considered one of the best alternative treatments to filling cavities in teeth. Most SDF products are colorless and odorless, except some brands such as Advantage Arrest which have a blue tint. Compared to...
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a simple and non-invasive dental treatment that changes the color of tooth enamel to improve your smile. Teeth whitening is ideal if you have healthy, unrestored teeth and gums. Teeth with yellow tones respond best to whitening treatment. According to a recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, “close to...
Teeth Grinding/Bruxism
You can be diagnosed with teeth grinding – medically known as bruxism – if you excessively grind, clench, or gnash your teeth. Teeth grinding can happen while you are awake (awake bruxism) or sleeping (sleep bruxism), but you are much less likely to know that you grind your teeth while sleeping. About 10% of the…
Mobile Dental Clinic Provides Free Care in Bailey’s Crossroads
Check out this NBC Washington​ recent video story: Mobile Dental Clinic Provides Free Care in Bailey’s Crossroads See if you can spot our mobile clinic, Dr. Julie and Joon Coe in the video! DIVA is an active partner with The Fenwick Foundation​ and its Project ADAPT dental treatment program for low-resource seniors and immigrant community…
Gum Disease Stages and How It’s Treated
Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) happens when your gums become infected with bacteria. There are various gum disease stages, each with its worst (and best) case scenarios. Let's go through each stage of gum disease so you and your dentist can determine the best way to treat it and prevent future problems. RELATED: Three...
Root Canal Therapy Explained
Root canal therapy is a common and effective treatment used to repair or preserve teeth that have damaged or infected pulp (nerve tissue, blood vessels and other cellular inside of the root canal). Root canal therapy is also known as root canal, root canal procedure, endodontic therapy, endodontic treatment, or root canal treatment. In a...