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InformationAbout our Practice
Today, we have over 6,000 patients supported by: 3 Dentists, 5 Registered Dental Hygienists, 5 Clinical Assistants, 2 Office Personnel, 1 Practice Administrator.
For more information Click Here.
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Shemen Dental Group LLPShemen Dental Group LLP
Welcome to our Practice
We are very grateful you have chosen to put your trust and confidence in us for your dental health.
We hope your experience here will be exceptional - so exceptional that you will invite your family and friends to come experience the difference.
The question has come up several times: Where did you get the word Shemen ?
Shemen is an Old Testament word for oil. Oil, In ancient times had many uses and meanings. It represented an ointment for healing and also played a significant role in sacrifice and worship. We want to be the Lord's ointment of healing, and we want the things we do to be an acceptable act of worship for the gifts God has given us. www.shemendental.com
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Shemen Dental Newsletter
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Shemen Dental Newsletter
The Sjogrens Syndrome Desert
The Mojave Desert is a unique environment where moisture is scarce. Your mouth is also a unique environment, and if you suffer from Sjögren's Syndrome, your mouth likely feels like a desert, too.
Sjögren's Syndrome occurs when your body mistakes your salivary glands for foreign intruders and attacks them.
Occasionally, everyone's mouth feels dry like desert sand. Perhaps it was something you ate or a medication you took that caused your saliva flow to diminish. However, this desert goes beyond occasional dryness, as any of the four million Sjögren's Syndrome sufferers in the U.S. with will tell you.
Unfortunately, someone with Sjögren's Syndrome typically has the disease for six years before it is diagnosed because it mimics and co-exists with several other conditions. You likely recognize the names of two of those conditions: rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
To complicate diagnosis, no two people have the same signs or symptoms. Some signs and symptoms include—- enlarged saliva glands
- thick, sticky saliva
- decreased ability to taste foods and smell
- difficulty chewing, swallowing and talking
- burning sensation in the mouth
- dry cough, nose and skin
- sore or cracked tongue
- extreme fatigue
- joint pain
- increase in cavities
- teeth are sensitive to hot, cold and sweets
- oral infections, like yeast (thrush)
digestion problems - difficulty tolerating dentures
There is no cure for Sjögren's Syndrome, and saliva is one of the most important fluids in your body. It helps to protect you from bacteria, yeasts and viruses.
During your regular check-ups, we can usually detect early stages of Sjögren's Syndrome before you are aware of dryness in your mouth. We can monitor your dental health and give you recommendations for things you can do at home to ease the desert sand discomfort you will no doubt experience. There are prescription medications and new over-the-counter oral care products that might provide relief.
The desert is an interesting place to visit, but you probably don't want to live there! If you have Sjögren's Syndrome, we need to intervene quickly. Please call us right away if you are experiencing a dental issue. We want to keep you and your teeth in the best of health.Your Daily Dental Theater Matinees
Our goal is to provide you with the best dental information and care possible. One of the most valuable tools we use to achieve that goal is a patient education program.
When your hygienist or I ask you about your home oral care, you likely "tune us out." You've heard our routine so many times you can recite it by heart. We understand. But we are persistent because we know how important everything is that concerns your teeth, whether it is your oral hygiene, a diagnosis or a post-surgical procedure.
Our patient education program was designed to help you better understand your oral issues. We will show you short, live-action videos with dynamic 3-D animations that present dental scenarios pertaining to your situation.
After the videos we can print out the information you just heard. You take the 1-page handout home to share with your family. This is especially beneficial if your family or loved ones need to be consulted before you make your decision to proceed with the treatment plan.
There are also videos about cosmetic procedures you may be curious about but previously thought weren't right for you. You will see dramatic before and after photographs of real patients, not actors, who had the same procedure. Our patient education program even has videos created especially for young children, ‘tweens and teens.
Patients tell us that they appreciate being part of their treatment program. They are confident they are making good, educated decisions about their oral care.
Make an appointment today for your next regular cleaning or if you have a dental issue or concern. Come in, tune in and turn on. We'll pop the popcorn and turn down the lights!
Natural Colored Fillings: Right For You
It happens. Your best efforts to prevent tooth decay were unsuccessful. In the Good Old Days we had one option to restore your decayed tooth: a metal filling. Now, we have another option: a tooth-colored filling.
There are three, excellent tooth-colored filling choices:
Composite resin—made from glass powder or quartz and resin (a form of plastic). It is color matched to your teeth so that the restoration will look natural. The filling is sturdy and durable. It is stronger than a metal filling because it is bonded directly to your tooth.Glass ionomer—made from acrylic acids (type of plastic) and glass powders. This is a good material to fill a small cavity between your teeth or a cavity on a tooth root. A glass ionomer filling contains fluoride, which is good for your tooth.
Porcelain—is a clay material. After it is melted and cooled, it is extremely hard which makes it a good choice for a crown, a protective "cap" that fits over a tooth. Porcelain lets light shine through, just like your natural teeth.
Which is the best choice for you? That depends on factors such as the health of your teeth and other oral tissues, your overall health, where the cavity is located and the look you want.
Be sure and call right away if you have any dental concerns or you notice a change in your oral tissues. Together, we can make good decisions about your oral care to keep your teeth their sparkling and healthy best.
Fight Tooth Decay with Fluoride Varnish
Tooth decay is the most preventable disease amongst young children; yet it is the number one, chronic childhood disease that is increasing every year according to the Centers for Disease Control. The pain and suffering caused by tooth decay affects a child's ability to learn, socialize, eat and talk.
Fluoride varnish is one simple dental procedure that can effectively fight childhood tooth decay. Young children simply don't have the fine motor skills to do a thorough job of brushing their teeth, so they need the extra protection that fluoride varnish provides.
There are several ways to deliver fluoride to teeth: gels, toothpastes, mouth washes and foams, but the most effective is fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is painted onto your child’s teeth. Paint it on and let it harden. That's it. Over a period of time, the varnish slowly releases its fluoride to give the teeth continuous protection.
One study showed that when fluoride varnish was applied twice during a school year, the progress of tooth decay reversed in over 80 percent of the children tested.
Because it is so easy and quick to apply, it is a perfect solution for children who are fidgety, anxious, or emotionally or physically challenged.
The American Dental Association recommends that a child have fluoride varnish applications twice each year, which we can do during those twice-yearly regular check-ups. We need to start fluoride varnish treatments when your child is about 1–year old.
Give us a call and get that check-up scheduled. We want to make sure your youngster's teeth will be pain-free and last a lifetime!
Cancer and Oral Care Take Teamwork
Cancer and oral health may seem unlikely partners, but your oral tissues are going to be at the center of a firestorm when you begin cancer treatments.
If we can examine you two weeks prior to beginning your treatments, we can likely prevent serious dental problems.
Some oral problems you may experience and preventive measures you can do at home include—
Xerostomia—Cancer treatments affect the salivary glands, which result in dry mouth (xerostomia). Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Without the protective saliva, oral bacteria voraciously feed on sugary drinks and food and eventually cause tooth decay. Chew sugarless gum or suck on mints made with the natural sweetener, xylitol. We can prescribe a saliva substitute.Oral hygiene—Keep a stringent oral care routine even though you won't want to crawl out of bed. Brush with fluoride toothpaste after each meal and before you go to bed, and clean your tongue with a tongue scraper. Use a mouth rinse that does not contain alcohol because alcohol can cause xerostomia. Gently floss every day.
Cavities—Radiation can cause rampant cavities. Using a gel fluoride product every day will be your teeth's best friend.
Etched tooth enamel—A hard, protective layer of mineral covers your teeth. Cancer treatments can cause you to regurgitate stomach acids that destroy tooth enamel. Immediately after regurgitating, rinse your mouth with ¼ teaspoon baking soda stirred into 1 cup warm water.
Infection—Chemo can make you less resistant to oral bacterial and fungal infections. Watch for signs of swelling, bleeding, a sore, or a sticky white film in your mouth. Immediately call our office or your oncologist so that we can prescribe a medication to get the infection under control.
Good oral health will help you as you proceed with your cancer treatment program. It is critical that you make and keep your appointments so that we can assist you during this stressful, topsy-turvy time.