Halloween Time is here and so therefore Candy Time is here.

As a dentist concerned about the oral health of our patients,  let’s talk about Halloween candy.

First of all, for those of you who have been through our free and very entertaining Plaque Control Instruction…you may remember this.  SUGAR DOES NOT HARM PLAQUE FREE TEETH!  Oh yes, now it is coming back to you.  Tooth decay occurs when a colony of bacteria, like a furry little moldy bio-film on your teeth, produces toxic acid waste and holds it in place until the acid dissolves tooth structure.  The germs that make up this plaque colony always produce acid, regardless of whether you eat anything or not…even candy.  So it is best to just get and stay plaque free with careful daily brushing and flossing and the use of other aids.  BUT IF YOU MISS SOME PLAQUE AND FEED IT SUGAR…it produces 3 times the acid for 20 minutes per sugar exposure.

SO GET THOSE KIDS PLAQUE FREE BEFORE they hit the Halloween goodies.  And maybe limit the exposures, in case they missed some plaque.  Gooey or sticky sweets hang around longer and really add up the exposure time.  But remember a plaque free tooth is safe from the ill effects of sugar…not the rest of the body mind you… but the teeth, if clean, do not suffer.  You might use a disclosing tablet and help your child check for missed areas right before the big night (consider the added effect of a scary red mouth…Boo!). Plaque re-grows about every 24 hours, so a once-a-day thoroughness is mandatory, all the time, aside from Halloween issues.

So how about this proposal?  Get the kids plaque free in the afternoon of the Big Night, then let them eat what they want of the treats when they get home from trick or treating.  After they are asleep, leave a small amount in their bag-under-the bed but go through it first, discarding questionable and low quality items.  Take the rest and divide it up into little plastic baggies, with just enough that you would allow in their school lunch in each bag, and freeze it.  That way you can grab a baggie and throw it in their lunch on certain days when you have deemed their morning oral hygiene better than usual.  Reward/Incentive.  It never hurts.

As for suggestions about handing out apples and nickels instead of candy (I’ve even tried brushes and toothpaste, mind you  :D ) I say DON’T.  Give the little Goblins what they want.  My attempts at saving the neighborhood kids from the Demon Decay only got my house egged and my pumpkins smashed.  Now I give them Snickers.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN,

Dr. Presley-Nelson

Noted San Francisco author and novelist visits the dentist!

Sarah M. Glover has published a new novel, GRAVE REFRAIN, available in local bookstores (I got mine on West Portal Avenue) and on Amazon.  It is a dark and spooky romance set in fabled San Francisco where "when it comes to true love, one lifetime is never enough."  This book is a great Halloween Read, equal parts contemporary and paranormal, love story and ghost story, you can't put it down!

Long time patient, Sarah, is an up and coming author. We enjoy her dental visits. We have so many famous and talented patients!  We feel truly blessed to have them AND ALL OF YOU come and see us.  Your trust in us is a privilege. 

-"Doc" PN

Dr. Presley-Nelson and Staff enjoy a continuing education day out of the office!

 

 

Here you see Dr. Presley-Nelson and staff learning ways to take better care of patients at a recent continuing education day, held at the Burlingame Marriott Hotel. It was an intense day-long event featuring different classes for different staff vocations. Kathleen, our illustrious hygienist attended seminars for hygienists, the assisting staff went to lectures for chairside assistants, and office personnel learned better ways to serve patients in insurance, appointment booking, and telephone matters.

 

Dr. Presley-Nelson attended a very stimulating day-long seminar by Dr. Atlas of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. One of the many topics was how to increase bond strength to the tooth in white fillings. As usual when a class is good, this promoted the purchase of new materials. Dr. Presley-Nelson was particularly impressed with a certain unfilled, flowable resin for lining the pulpal floor that actually shrinks upon curing toward the tooth structure instead of AWAY from the tooth. This was demonstrated by a new technique involving an "ultrasonic movie or film" that actually showed the material's action during its hardening phase. Marvelous new things are happening in dentistry all the time!

 

A lot of learning and a great lunch later, we are all back with the best and the latest, to take care of our first priority OUR PATIENTS!

African Gray Parrot looks forward to new toothbrushes from Dr. Presley-Nelson's office!

Long time dental patient's Siobhan and Bill Ruck (Siobhan actually painted Doc's name on the glass door 30 years ago!) sent our office this great photo.  They have a parrot who likes to get his new toothbrush every few months, from Dr. Presley-Nelson's office...AND USE IT ON HIS BEAK!

Siobhan writes:

"Harlan is an African Grey Parrot, hatched in April 2011. He came to us at three and a half months. He shares his room (but not his cage!) with Kodachrome, a Sun Conure who is 23 years old and has been with us since she was six months old. The humans in the house are Bill, a broadcast engineer, and Siobhan, a bookkeeper (and one of Dr. Presley-Nelson's very first patients! ).

Because Harlan came to us when he was fairly young - still being hand-fed - we started teaching him good habits from the start. He was potty-trained within a couple of months, something that's important for a bird that's going to spend a lot of time on your shoulder. He developed a fascination with toothbrushes so I gave him one of his own. He likes to brush his beak. Beaks don't need the same kind of care as teeth, of course; they are made of keratin like your nails, and grow throughout the birds life. But it's a good example for kids, so why not?

And now his beak will be extra shiny for his next singing performance. He likes improvising vocals with the classical station - maybe he can get a combo together with Doc's boys!"

Kodachrome and Harlan meet:

 The first time Siobhan sent this picture to her family, her youngest brother said they should name the new bird in keeping with the theme - Monochrome. Not exactly accurate - his tail is bright red. (A safe light for the darkroom.)

Famous Clarinetist from San Francisco Symphony has Teeth Adjusted to Aid in Playing His Instrument

Luis has been a patient of Dr. Presley-Nelson's for many years. She has worked with him to keep his smile healthy and attractive, yet shaped in such as way as to assist him in playing the clarinet.  Here you see one of their "adjusting sessions".  Other patients and all the staff benefit from Luis' beautiful playing during these sessions.  There is always something enjoyable and unique going on in Dr. Presley-Nelson's dental office.

Luis Baez earned a B.M. from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. His teachers include Robert Marcellus, Larry Combs and Roger Hiller. Mr. Baez is the associate principal and E-flat clarinetist of the San Francisco Symphony, where he began his tenure in 1990, and acted as principal clarinetist from 2004 to 2007. His numerous solo appearances include San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the United States Navy Band. Baez has also performed chamber music extensively throughout the Bay Area and at the Telluride Chamber Music Festival. He has performed on many critically acclaimed recordings with the San Francisco Symphony as well as film scores and various recording projects and was featured on the Symphony's "Keeping Score" videos. A sought after clinician, Baez has presented master classes throughout California, at the University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music, New World Symphony and at the Eastman School of Music.

Luis recently heard some symphonic music played on the dental office Ipod prepared by Doc's sons, and noticed it was not by the San Francisco Symphony.  He took immediate action and is preparing a flash drive to replace the pieces with music from our City's wonderful orchestra! Thank you Luis!

A Musical Dental Patient!

When not brushing and flossing Chris Donohoe is an independent singer/songwriter.  His thought-provoking lyrics and emotionally charged songs reflect a variety of musical influences from James Taylor to the Foo Fighters.  He has been traveling to Nashville to write and record for over 10 years.  

He released his first independent album "What Drives You" in 2009.  It is a compilation of songs written during years pitching songs on Nashville's famed Music Row. 2010 brought an exotic twist to Chris' music as he and his family moved to Madrid, Spain for a year to soak in the culture, eat tapas, and enjoy the sleep-deprived lifestyle of the Madrileño.  He recorded "Hermosilla" while there with Jazz/Flamenco fusion bandleader Pedro Ojesto and some of Spain's finest flamenco musicians.

His latest release "March" (2011) was inspired by the illness and death of his youngest brother Terrence.  "I learned so many lessons from my brother as he battled his disease.  I can say any song I write in the future will have a little of what he taught me about life in it." At the heart of "March" is the theme of gratitude; it is woven through many of the album's songs.  "Terrence faced his death with incredible grace. He said to me 'I have no regrets and I am grateful for you.’  This has inspired me to put gratitude at the forefront of my existence, express it often, and teach the power of gratitude to my children."

Chris plays the occasional coffeehouse and house concert. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Robin, and their 4 children.

Famous Dental Patient Wins Award!

The American Pharmacy Association awarded our long-time dental patient, Steve Protzel Pharm.D, the distinguished 2012 "One to One Patient Counseling" award in March in New Orleans. Steve was selected as one of the top 10 pharmacists in the country!! We are so proud of our famous dental patient, it is an honor every time he comes to see us here in the dental office. Steve was recognized for his community work and his passion in aiding patients with mental health issues. His contributions have been invaluable for the last 35 years and have had a tremendous positive impact on the profession of pharmacy.  We salute our prestigious patient and are glad he chooses us to be his dental health care providers. Kudos to you Steve!