Welcome to our Blog

One of the great things about dentistry is being able to enhance patient’s lives so significantly. Allowing people to look better, smile more readily, be free of pain, chew and function normally, live longer and have nice fresh breath for speaking and kissing are just a few of the things we do to improve the lives of everyone we touch. Even the most basic dental procedures are incredibly important – without good dental hygiene and regular cleanings millions more teeth would be lost every year. We hope you enjoy our blog and find the information within useful and sometimes even entertaining.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear!


Here’s an interesting quiz for you.

Who originally dispensed the famous recommendation to “see your dentist twice a year?”

We all know it’s true (or do we???) – so when and where do you think that bit of advice originated?

 a)      The American Dental Association in 1933
 b)      The world’s first dental college – The University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1845
 c)      An article in The Journal of Oral Surgery by Dr. Henry Horseacre in 1909 entitled “Proper
         Protocol for Dental Cleanings.”
 d)     A radio ad for Pepsodent Toothpaste in 1929

Believe it or not, if you guessed “d” you are correct!

Most of us know the famous order to “see your dentist twice a year.” Some insurance companies even use that interval to define their standards for payment. But the fact is that phrase was developed with no scientific basis at all – and to sell toothpaste!

Another example of this logic was the ad campaign for Pear’s Soap in the late 1800s. The slogan “Have you used Pear’s soap today” ushered in the habit of daily bathing! And while that was certainly a good thing, the fact is that we are all different and to expect that everyone requires the same schedule for their health needs just doesn’t make sense.

When you wash your hair, do you “rinse and repeat?” Do you associate diamonds with engagement rings? Are you convinced that Volvo builds the safest cars? If so, you’ve been influenced by advertising, not necessarily facts. Don’t worry – we are all guilty of it!

At Acreview Dental Clinic, we don’t believe in a cookie cutter approach when your health is involved. In order to determine the correct dental treatment for you (including how often you should have your teeth cleaned) we perform a thorough examination, checking your teeth, gums, medical history, bite, jaw muscles and more. We even do an oral cancer screening at every check-up.

Everyone is different, so despite what the ad men from Pepsodent once said, let’s scientifically determine the correct schedule for your dental visits by looking at the facts, not an ad slogan. Then you can look forward to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums – and keep smiling forever!

If you have any questions or you would like to schedule a visit, please call (250) 338-9085.
We are here to help you!

3 comments:

  1. We have just posted a "Check-In" offer to Yelp ... if you have friends or family who are in need of a new dental office, send them this link for a discount on their New Patient Experience. Be aware, this offer will only show on a mobile device.
    http://www.yelp.ca/biz/acreview-dental-clinic-courtenay

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's true. Pepsodent did recommend visiting the dentists twice a year, but just right after, it says use Pepsodent twice a day in their slogan. It's definitely a good thing to visit our dentists twice a year. This way, the dentist can take a good look at the health of our teeth and determine whether we need thorough cleaning and restoration. If you don’t visit the dentist advised, you might find yourself suffering from toothaches due to poor maintenance.

    Jane Tinkle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jane for your comment. Not only is it important for your dentist to perform regular check-up exams to look for problem areas, your hygienist will also help you to maintain your oral health by recommending an interval for cleaning (hygiene) appointments that meets your specific needs.

      Delete