Bagley, Goodwin, & Hrinda Dental Blog

Exceptional Dental Care for Greenfield, MA and Beyond

December 9, 2013

Dental Appointment Welcome to the blog for Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda. Here you’ll find valuable information about the general, cosmetic, and restorative services we offer, plus helpful tips about oral health in general. Whether you’re just looking for some information on a particular dental service, or you’re new to the Greenfield area and need to find a permanent dentist, we think you’ll find our blog helpful.

Our doctors offer care for a wide variety of common oral health problems. Some of our most popular services include:

Working with you one-on-one, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda can help you understand how your smile is doing and what services you might need to improve your health. We recommend that our patients from Greenfield, MA and beyond see us for care at least twice a year. Through regular appointments like these, we can check for changes that might indicate the need for more advanced care.

Do you want to schedule an appointment with Drs. Bagley, Goodwin or Hrinda? Call our Greenfield dental office today. We serve patients from Deerfield, Conway, Shelburne Falls, Turners Falls, Northfield, Amherst, Northampton, and beyond. And for more info on our services, explore our site or check back with our blog.

Greenfield Dentists Highlight Tooth Renewal Study

May 31, 2013

Alligator Teeth Fascinating scientific research is being done all the time to improve the field of dentistry. Through studies over the years, we came to find out the importance of fluoride and dental sealants. Research has allowed us to come up with better materials for making tooth restorations and dental implants look aesthetically pleasing while still being durable. Recent research done at the University of Southern California could be one of the first steps in learning how stem cells can help us regenerate teeth the way certain animals do in nature. Greenfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda will tell you more about this fascinating new information.

Future Hope for Natural Human Tooth Restoration

The global team of researchers were led by USC pathology Professor Cheng-Ming Chuong, M.D., Ph.D. Titling the study “Specialized stem cell niche enables repetitive renewal of alligator teeth,” the scientists results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences.

Professor Chong pointed out that people only generate teeth twice in their life time. The first is when baby teeth gradually erupt. After they fall out one-at-a-time, permanent teeth grow in. This is a small amount of teeth renewal compared to the alligator, which was the focus of the study. The research team focused on stem cells as being an important part of the natural regrowth of teeth that occurs when an alligator has a dental casualty due to hunting or fighting. The theory of the study was that if we can understand the way alligator’s teeth work, maybe we can replicate the process to restore human teeth.

The Three Faces of Alligator Teeth (more…)

Greenfield, MA Dentists Educate on Gum Disease

May 24, 2013

GumsAndTeeth Don’t panic if one of your Greenfield, MA dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda. tell you that you have gum disease at your next checkup. While we are passionate about trying to prevent gum disease when possible, the problem is pervasive. In fact, roughly 80% of American adults have some form of gum disease as we speak. You may be one of the majority, or on your way to your first signs of gingivitis (early gum disease). Education and implementation of proper oral hygiene at home can help.

Preventing Gum Disease Before it Starts

You can start your gum disease prevention in two simple ways:

You should visit your Greenfield, MA dentists for checkups and cleanings every six months, year after year. A mere 24% of people in the United States follow this schedule, but it’s never too late to make a change. Gum disease is inflammation that results from infection. It begins with plaque, which calcifies into tartar. When tartar develops, there’s only one person that can clean it off safely and properly – your dental hygienist. This is why twice annual cleanings are so important.
Twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and swishing your mouth with a germ killing rinse approved by the ADA (American Dental Association) will keep plaque and tartar from building up quickly between dental cleanings. Follow a proper regimen, and you’ll likely find that your dental checkups get easier and easier, and your dentist and hygienist will be congratulating you for the good work. (more…)

Children’s Dentistry Offered in Greenfield

May 18, 2013

Father Son Brushing Are you hoping to set a tone for a lifetime of positive experiences at the dentist for your child? Your Greenfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, are dedicated to offering the best care for patients of all ages. We understand children and are happy to offer kid-friendly dentistry to our littlest patients.

Dental Education at Home

Do you teach your child how to take care of their teeth? Many parents know that they need to tell kids to brush their teeth, but they don’t realize that it’s best to do the brushing at least up to 8-years-old. Children simply don’t have the dexterity and patience to do a proper two minute job. Preventive dental appointments are recommended every six months from the time your baby’s teeth first start to erupt. Don’t forget to encourage your little ones to floss at night. As they get further in to their childhood years, your Greenfield dentists may suggest dental sealants and fluoride treatments which can strengthen, protect, and cause an inhospitable environment for bacteria to congregate on young teeth.

Dental Education in the Office

It’s perfectly normal for children to be uneasy about new experiences. This is why we have armed our office with kid-friendly amenities to make the experience more comfortable and exciting. If your child is particularly nervous, be sure to let them know they have headphones with their favorite music, heated neck pillows and blankets, and lots of friendly faces to look forward to. (more…)

Greenfield, MA Dentists Describe Modern Dentures

May 11, 2013

Older Smiling Couple Ideally, we hope that you visit us every six months, and keep up with your twice-daily oral hygiene so that you can keep your natural teeth for your entire long life. However, things happen. Injuries can occur. Bad habits of earlier days can rear their ugly heads even as you’ve adopted better dental self-care more recently. If you lose one tooth, several, or every single one in your mouth, we can help with tooth replacements. For some people dentures are the best option. Greenfield, MA dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, will tell you more about this tried-and-true means of restoring a smile with missing teeth. (more…)

East Deerfield Dentists Explain Gaps in Teeth

May 5, 2013

You may not be familiar with the word diastema, but chances are you have seen many of them in your life. Most frequently between the top two front teeth, a diastema is a gap or space. Some people choose to appreciate the teeth they were born with, and sport their gaps proudly. However, many people are very uncomfortable having a significant space between teeth – especially the front ones. Fortunately, for people that feel self-conscious about having a diastema there are several treatment options. East Deerfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda will share them with you.

Causes of Diastemas

Why do you suppose that some people end up with a prominent gap in between their front teeth? Children often have natural gaps in their primary teeth to make room for the permanent ones that will one day erupt. However, there are adolescents, teens, and adults who have size discrepancies in teeth that cause a permanent diastema. Another cause might be an oversized labial frenulum (the skin that connects gum tissue to your lip. Misalignment or protrusion of teeth can also cause spaces in teeth. (more…)

Quiz on Clear Braces from Greenfield Dentists

April 28, 2013

TrueOrFalse We ended last month blogging about Invisalign, the clear solution for straightening teeth that we offer in our Greenfield office. For adults and teens that feel self-conscious about the idea of wearing braces but believe straight teeth will improve their quality of life and dental health, Invisalign can be a good alternative to traditional braces. Your Greenfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, previously offered you FAQs on clear braces. Today we’re going to challenge you to a quiz to see how well you were paying attention.

Questions

Q1. True or false: Invisalign consists of the same aligners for all patients, so you must have a specific set of straightening needs that fall in line with that.

Q2. True or false: Invisalign aligners consist of one set of aligners per patient.

Q3. True or false: Dentists keep the different sizes and shapes of aligners in-office, much like optometrists keep different sizes and types of contact lenses in their office. (more…)

Greenfield Family Dentists Highlight Fun and Interesting Facts

April 20, 2013

HappyFamily We try to teach you plenty of facts about important topics in dentistry in our weekly blog, but sometimes it’s fun to lighten things up a little. Here’s an example of a fun fact: chocolate (of the dark variety and in moderation) is not only good for your heart, but also your teeth? The reason is a compound called theobromine that is found in the cocoa bean and has been shown to harden tooth enamel. That’s not all. The American Dental Hygienist’s Association (ADA) reports that chocolate can inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans (bacteria that cause tooth decay). Read on for more interesting factoids related to dentistry from your Greenfield family dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda. (more…)

Can Baking Soda Brighten Your Teeth?

April 15, 2013

Certain foods are best eaten in moderation. Cakes, pies, cookies, and anything full of sugar or refined carbohydrates are definitely best avoided if you want healthy teeth and a slim waistline. However, most baked goods contain one ingredient that some people swear by as a natural teeth whitener: baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate. Greenfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda offer in-office and at-home teeth whitening procedures that are sure to give you a noticeably whiter and brighter smile in as little as an hour. However, for maintenance, an occasional dose of baking soda won’t hurt once in a while. Read on to understand why.

Sodium Bicarbonate Around the House

Sodium bicarbonate is a main ingredient in many baking recipes because of its ability to make things rise. Baking soda combines with any acid-containing ingredients in your recipe. The reaction of these two compounds results in gas bubbles to produce sumptuous, fluffy, well-risen desserts. Without this chemical reaction, your cookies would be flat, and you’d have two dozen sunken in muffins to throw out. Baking soda isn’t just for baking, however. (more…)

Food Enhancements that Might Stain Your Teeth

April 8, 2013

WhiteTeeth A white smile is the equivalent of a more youthful and vibrant appearance. No wonder teeth whitening has become one of the most highly requested cosmetic dental services available. Your Greenfield dentists offer more efficient and effective whitening and brightening solutions than the over-the-counter methods. Our professional in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments can produce maximum results to refresh and invigorate your gorgeous grin. After you have taken the time to whiten your teeth, you may want to be cautious about what you consume. Here are a few suggestions of foods to stay away from if stains are a concern.

Are You a Sushi Fan?

Soy sauce goes with rice as well as cheese goes with crackers, or ketchup goes with fries. The Japanese identified what has become known as the fifth taste – umami. The salty liquid known as soy sauce might go great as a dipping sauce when eating certain foods, but that dark brown color is not so hot for your teeth. If you simply can’t give up your favorite Japanese condiment, consider swishing water around in your mouth in between each soy sauce drenched sushi roll, so the dark color does not remain in contact with your teeth.