Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

You've probably noticed some of the many changes that have been taking place here in our office.  Today's blog post aims at getting everyone caught up on what we've been doing!

Our office is now located at 114 S. Witchduck Road,
Virginia Beach. The building is also home to
Scott Orthodontics and Shall We Dance Studios.

The biggest change this summer, our office moved. June 1st we moved from Great Neck Road, to Witchduck Road. The office is right next to the 264WB ramp to Witchduck Road, near the Sears Home Central building.

A new white sign with a toothbrush can be found at the building marquee, and that's where you'll see our new name! Because Dr. Dooley is like one-stop-shopping for all of your dental needs, we have updated the practice name to now be Total Care Dentistry, Mary T. Dooley, DDS. We think the name sounds pretty nifty! You will also notice the reappearance of Dr. Dooley's green sign from our previous location soon facing Witchduck Road.



We are also happy to display a new logo featuring the new practice name. Thank to all of our patients who took part in either in-office or Facebook voting for the design! Your input is greatly appreciated!

We are very excited to present a new name and
logo! The design speaks to our strong ties to our
area's military families!

We are in the process of redesigning our website to feature services growing in popularity, such as dentures, implants and cosmetic procedures. Never fear, we are always happy to take care of your basic oral hygiene needs to keep you smiling! The site includes videos and testimonials from real patients. You'll also find links to news releases we think you'll want to read, and publish our monthly newsletters!

Don't forget to take advantage of our appointment scheduler, you can send us requests 24/7. The new look will appear at the URL http://www.dooleytotalcaredentistry.com in the coming weeks!



Use your smart phone app to scan this QR code for
instant access to our site at any time. Forms, scheduling
information, and more are at your fingertips!

As you know Dr. Dooley is always on the cutting edge of digital dentistry, and we've added another advancement to the list of offerings. You can now use your smart phone to connect to our website anytime with our new QR code. You'll find it on our Facebook page, on our new business cards and on our google places page. Use it at will! You never know when you might find a special offer along the way!

As we've mentioned in the past, we are still looking for our permanent new home, we will make an announcement when we have this information. Meanwhile, thank you for your patience and understanding!

Back to school tips and tricks!

With just a few weeks remaining until the school bells ring again, it's time to start thinking about back to school lists. For most parents, the list gets more lengthy every year. A few more composition books, then a gadget shows up on the list... before you know it they'll need their own laptops and tablets for college. Never fear, our back to school tips and tricks aren't pricey, and they'll help keep your kids healthy, too!

Pack or prepare after school snacks like popcorn. They're
sugarless, taste great and can be strung for out of
class time projects!

Your child's teacher will be the one influencing much of her day, but your presence can be felt in other ways. We love little post-its in lunch boxes, and handwritten notes from home on napkins. They go a long way in making your child smile. But also consider the foods in your lunch from home. Fruit rolls and raisins are popular additions to the mid-day meal, but they aren't the most tooth friendly. Because of the gummy texture, fruit rolls, raisins and similar type foods can stick in the "nooks and crannies" of the teeth and cause cavities. Instead, consider fresh fruits. Fresh fruits are a more instant source of energy for your child. Fruits like apples and bananas are best because they are not acidic and require little effort for your child to chow down!

Instead of a juice box or mini can of soda, consider sending a bottled water and flavor packet. Check the sugar content of the flavoring first as there are no-sugar and no artificial sweetener versions available. Juices are yummy, but should be limited to 8 ounces a day. Additionally, the high sugar content is not only poor nutrition but also can again, lead to cavities! Chances are your child needs to replenish her water stores from gym class or recess anyway!

Ask your child's elementary school teacher if dental health is part of any lesson planned for the year. You might consider scheduling your child's dental appointment around that time to help drive the lesson home. If not, our website is full of resources that can help you instruct your child on proper techniques and overall good oral hygiene!

Finally, if your child is one of the very few who will brush at school, fantastic! Reward her, she's doing great! But don't forget to encourage everyone else to brush after that after school snack. Any time we brush after meals we're doing our mouths a favor.

Enjoy this new school year! Your lesson for today is over :)

Your best bat

Prince Fielder made a splash at the All-Star Home Run Derby in Kansas City last night. Eight splashes to be exact, as he lofted balls straight into the right field fountains. The Detroit slugger is now in the history books along side Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to win multiple derby titles.

The pro-baller will tell you practice is key in his successes. That and a little video game action as a child with Griffey Jr. and his father. Baseball at its simplest is repetitive motion: load, step, swing. As long as you can see and predict exactly where that speeding bullet of a ball will be... when it will be at the optimal position, you're good to go.

Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder beat Toronto's Jose Bautista 12-7
in the MLB MVP Home run Derby July 9th.

The breakdown of the sport got us thinking about the surprising similarities between baseball and prosthodontics.

As a prosthodontist, a specialist in the replacement of missing teeth, Dr. Mary Dooley is familiar with repetitive motion, but that isn't what makes her so precise. It is her ability to "see that ball" and predict where it will be that gives her an edge.

Computer guided implant dentistry allows
virtual placement of implants to ensure success!

In the field of modern-day tooth replacement, patients of Dr. Mary Dooley are asked to have a CT scan performed. Consider this the "load" element in our baseball analogy. With a CT scan, prosthodontists are able to prepare for your dental implant surgery in its early stages. The next step in the process is unique. Our office utilizes advanced computer guides that allow the viritual placement of every implant. It is this stage that we'll label the "step." In reality, this is what allows Dr. Dooley to see and predict exactly where the real-life implants will go in a live patient. The virtual imagery gives her the precision she needs to make your case a home run. She can see where to place the implant, how deep to insert the implant and what size implant you'll need for optimal positioning. Finally, surgery day, and she "swings," and gets that hit of a lifetime with the successful placement and healing of new dental implants! The winner in this case, is the patient, but we're happy to accept the applause!   

The advancement is so important it puts the use of digital x-rays back in the shadows. No longer will prosthodontists have to extrapolate information from xrays. The ability to see a patient's implants before placement is amazing!

If you are considering having full size or mini dental implants, ask your doctor if they will be using a computerized surgical guide. Your chances of success will be dramatically increased, and your smile, that much brighter! Total Care Dentistry and Dr. Mary Dooley are excited to offer specials on implant placement this summer. Call 757-486-4880 or click here to schedule online and ask for more information.

4 Bad Dental Health Practices You Should Avoid

It isn't often that I'll share something we found online, but this article is great.
Please, take a few minutes and take this advise, and mine, to heart!

4 Bad Dental Health Practices You Should Avoid - Dental Health Magazine

We're Moving!

Last week we announced the office of Dr. Mary T. Dooley will soon be moving. To help communicate with you, our valued patients we have put together these FAQ's. Please don't hesitate to call us at 757-486-4880 with any questions!

Q. What is the address? Where is it?

A. Our new location is very centrally location in Virginia Beach. It is 1 block south of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Witchduck Road intersection, right at the 264 & Witchduck Road interchange. Next to the Sears building.

114 S. Witchduck Road, Suite 201

Virginia Beach, VA, 23454

  

Q. Will the phone number change?

A. No, our phone number will not change. You will be able to contact us as you always have, with zero to no interruption! Our phone number is 757-486-4880 or, reach us online at office@drdooleydental.com. Our website is www.drdooleydental.com.

Q. Will my existing appointment change?

A. It is our goal to keep all appointments as scheduled. Unless you have been contacted with a change, your appointment is already scheduled for you at the new temporary office location.

Q. You say “temporary” what does that mean? How long will you be there?

A. Plans are in the works for a new permanent home for Mary T. Dooley, DDS and staff. We cannot announce those changes as of yet and no timeline is available. However, it is our goal to stay in our temporary home as long as we need to maintain quality care. It is our goal to make sure you will always be able to see Dr. Dooley!

Q. What other changes are in store?

A. We like to think big! You may have noticed improvements to our website and social media in the past few months. We plan on expanding digitally, and more!  Look for more information about this over the next year.

Make yourself comfy!

All too often patients think of a trip to the dentist as sterile, cold and uninviting. That may have been true 20 years ago, but today its more like a break! Truth be told we see patients actually fall asleep in the dental chair quite often!

Our office welcomes modern creature comforts you're used to at home! For instance, our patients are welcome to bring their own I-pods. This is a great option for teens and young adults who like to express themselves through music. Feeling a chill? We will gladly warm things up a bit for you with a nice cozy throw. Is your little one a bit anxious? Have them bring a favorite stuffed animal to their next appointment. We'll give them a quick "exam" and help your youngster feel a little more at ease! We know adults get a little nervous too. Check out our article on relieving stress and anxiety, and consider bringing something to cuddle yourself! OK, maybe not a stuffed animal, but a stress ball will work wonders!

At Mary T. Dooley, DDS, we are always looking for new ways to make our patients feel more at ease. If you have a suggestion, let us know! With convenient scheduling online, over the phone and in person, our goal is to make you smile!

A Surprising Player in Tooth Decay

If you drink lots of water but still have a dry mouth, or suffer with bad breath, the problem could be dry mouth. Dry mouth is a condition in which your mouth is unusually dry. Dry mouth is pretty common, and might seem just annoying. But a dry mouth can affect the health of your teeth.

Dry mouth can lead to problems because saliva helps prevent tooth decay. Your saliva limits bacterial growth and washes away food particles. Saliva also enhances your ability to taste and makes it easier to swallow.

 Dry mouth is, in some cases, a side effect of medication. Dry mouth may improve with an adjusted dosage or a new prescription. This means that patients of any age can suffer from dry mouth. Dry mouth advances the rate of dental decay at an alarming rate, but can be somewhat controlled.

If you're not producing enough saliva, you may notice the following signs and symptoms:

• Dryness in your mouth
• Saliva that seems thick and stringy
• Sores or split skin at the corners of your mouth
• Cracked lips
• Bad breath                                                       
• Difficulty speaking and swallowing
• Sore throat
• An altered sense of taste
• A fungal infection in your mouth
• Increased plaque, tooth decay and gum disease

In women, dry mouth may result in lipstick adhering to the teeth.

If  Dr. Dooley or your hygienist does not notice your dry mouth, ask about it during your next dental exam appointment. Try these simple remedies to help stop your dry mouth:

• Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free hard candies.
• Limit your caffeine intake. Caffeine can make your mouth drier.
• Avoid sugary or acidic foods and candies because they increase the risk of tooth decay.
• Don't use a mouthwash that contains alcohol because alcohol can be drying.
• Stop all tobacco use if you smoke or chew tobacco.
• Sip water or suck ice chips throughout the day to moisten your mouth and drink water during meals to aid chewing and swallowing.
• Try over-the-counter saliva substitutes. Look for ones containing carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose, such as Biotene Oral Balance.
• Avoid using over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants because they can make your symptoms worse.
• Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
• Add moisture to the air at night with a room humidifier.

Dry mouth is a common concern of patients. You can visit our website's FAQ section to read answers to more common questions.
Taken in part from Mayo Clinic.com, Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.