Jon Frankel Dentistry

Category Archive: Healthy Mouth

  1. March is Women’s History Month and last Wednesday Frankel Dentistry celebrated International Women’s Day! Did you know over 90% of dental team members are female. Dentistry and support is a female dominated field.

    Dentistry would not be what it is today without the thousands of women who have dedicated their lives to oral health care.

    Empower a woman, empower a community – Celebrating the strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide on International Women’s Day.💙

    Let’s learn more about the importance of women in dentistry!

    Dental hygiene and assisting are important fields in the dental industry, with the role of women in these fields growing significantly in recent years. Women have been taking on more roles in dentistry and, as a result, are making significant contributions to the field. Among these roles, the positions of hygienists and EFDAs (Expanded Function Dental Assistants) stand out for their crucial contributions to dental care.

    Women in Dental Hygiene

    Dental hygiene is a critical aspect of dental care, as it helps prevent and manage oral health problems. Dental hygienists work in dental offices, clinics, and hospitals, and are responsible for performing dental cleanings, oral exams, and educating patients about proper oral hygiene practices. Women make up a significant portion of the dental hygiene workforce, with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association reporting that 98.4% of all dental hygienists in the United States are women.

    Women in EFDAs

    Expanded Function Dental Assistants, or EFDAs, work closely with dentists to provide essential dental care to patients. EFDAs are responsible for a variety of tasks, including placing and removing dental fillings, taking x-rays, and assisting with dental surgeries. Like dental hygiene, EFDAs play an essential role in the provision of dental care. Women make up a significant portion of the EFDA workforce as well, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that 95.6% of all dental assistants are women.

     

    Last week we also celebrated Dental Assistant’s Appreciation Week! How cute is our team?

    Dental assistants celebrating dentistry as a team!

    We love our Dental Assistants!

    The Importance of Women in Dentistry

    Women have always played an important role in the dental industry, but their contributions have become increasingly significant in recent years. The reasons for this include increasing numbers of women entering the dental field and a growing awareness of the importance of oral health. Women have proven to be highly skilled and knowledgeable dental professionals, bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the field.

    Women have made significant contributions to the dental industry as dental hygienists and EFDAs.  The growing numbers of women in these roles is a positive sign for the future of dental care and will undoubtedly continue to benefit patients for years to come. At Frankel Dentistry we are grateful for the women who have helped us build our practice and provide our Toledo and Maumee communities with excellent patient care. 

     

    Looking for a career in dentistry? Visit us online at jonfrankeldentistry.com/careers

     

  2. Taking care of your pet’s oral health is an important part of their overall well-being. A healthy mouth, promotes a healthy body! Just like humans, pets can suffer from a variety of dental issues, including plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease, if their oral health isn’t properly maintained.

    First, let’s talk about why pet oral health is so important. Not only can poor oral health lead to bad breath, but it can also create a number of other problems for your pet. For instance, bacteria can easily enter the bloodstream through the gums and cause infections in other organs. This can lead to a variety of illnesses and can even be life-threatening. That’s why it’s so important to practice good oral hygiene for your pet.

    Let’s talk about how to keep your pet’s mouth clean and healthy. One of the best ways to do this is by brushing your pet’s teeth regularly. You can purchase special pet toothbrushes and toothpaste at most pet stores. It’s also important to feed your pet a healthy, balanced diet and give them plenty of chew toys. This will help remove plaque and prevent tartar buildup.

    Finally, it’s also important to take your pet to the vet for regular checkups. While Frankel Dentistry does not care for animals, your vet can check your pet’s teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy and can provide advice on the best way to maintain your pet’s oral hygiene! Let’s help your best friend have a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles!

    We’ve said it time and time again but a healthy mouth promotes a healthy body! The same goes for the pets you love! Good oral hygiene is an important part of your pet’s overall health and well-being.

  3. Dental health is an important topic for parents to consider when it comes to their children. Taking care of a child’s oral health can start even before they have their first tooth. It’s important to introduce healthy habits early on to ensure that children have strong, healthy teeth and gums and a lifetime of healthy smiles.

    First and foremost, it’s important to schedule regular dental visits for your child. These visits should start when the first tooth appears and continue throughout their life. During the visits, the dentist will be able to provide advice on oral care, assess the condition of the teeth and gums, and offer preventive treatments such as fluoride applications. Frankel Dentistry offers look and learn appointments to help your child acclimate to the dental office environment while also ensuring their oral health is on the right track.

    At home, parents should help their children develop good brushing habits. Ideally, children should brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste. Parents should help children aged two and under brush their teeth, and should supervise brushing for children up to the age of six.

    In addition to brushing, children should also floss their teeth every day. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from in between teeth, which helps prevent the buildup of cavities and gum disease. It’s important to teach children the proper way to floss, as incorrect technique can do more harm than good.

    Finally, it’s important to limit the amount of sugary snacks and drinks that children consume. Sugary foods and drinks can increase the risk of cavities, so it’s best to limit their intake. Replace sugary snacks with healthy alternatives such as fruits, vegetables, and plain yogurt.

    By following these tips, parents can help ensure that their children have healthy teeth and gums for life. Let’s summarize! Regular visits to the dentist, good brushing habits, flossing, and limiting sugary snacks and drinks are all important components of a good dental health routine.

  4. Wearing down your smile by grinding your teeth throughout the night? Unbearable migraines as a result from uncontrollable clenching?
    Our Maumee office, Frankel and Puhl Dentistry could have a solution for you! Dr. Amber Puhl, DDS is now administering Botox to help treat TMJ and bruxism.

    Not sure what TMJ is? Let us break it down for you.

    The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders, a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD, can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement. Over 80% of patients suffer from some sort of TMJ disorder.
    Woman suffering from jaw pain and aches from TMJ.

    What causes TMJ?

    TMJ can be the result of a number of factors. Arthritis, jaw injury, teeth clenching and/or grinding all contribute to TMJ development. During early signs of teeth grinding and clenching we recommend visiting your dentist regarding night guards to protect your enamel and your jaw.

    Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:

    • Pain or tenderness of your jaw
    • Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
    • Aching pain in and around your ear
    • Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
    • Aching facial pain
    • Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
    Dr. Puhl and Dr. Frankel smiling

    Dr. Amber Puhl, DDS and Dr. Jon Frankel, DDS

    Botox Can Help!

    You have undoubtedly heard of Botox injections used to enhance lips, cheeks, or to smooth out wrinkles across the forehead or around the eyes. But you may not be familiar with Botox treatment for TMJ. When the Botox is injected into the temporalis and masseter muscles, it limits muscle function and relieves facial pain, headaches, and swelling associated with TMJ.

    Always Better! Frankel and Puhl Dentistry is adding Botox as a treatment option for patients who suffer from TMJ disorders. Continuing to learn and grow to best serve our patients is very important to us. After training and continued education with the American Academy of Facial Esthetics,  our very own Dr. Amber Puhl, DDS will be offering botox treatment!

    Struggling with tension headaches and jaw pain from TMJ? Botox could be your answer. Visit us online or call today to schedule an appointment.

  5. September is here! Can you believe how fast the 2022 year has gone by? As we start to enter the fall season, we want to remind you to not only visit the dentist to ensure optimal oral health but to continue to work on your self-improvement. September is Self Improvement month and it’s the perfect time to revisit your personal goals and take steps to be who you aspire to be! 

     

    This month, all our Frankel Dentistry team members are sharing their personal goals for the year! #AlwaysBetter! We are excited to get a jump start on positive, healthy habits that will help us create the lives we want to live! Here are just a few to help inspire you!

    A member of our finance team, Jerica, just purchased a home and has prioritized remodeling the space into something she adores!

    Brilliant and career driven, our new doctor Dr. Dhaliwal, hopes to become implant certified to allow her to change the lives of even more patients!

    Smiles in the front hope to start helping smiles in the back! Our front desk extraordinaire, Yasmeen, is taking steps to become a dental assistant and become part of our clinical team! 

    Happy and Healthy! It seems as though prioritizing and devising a healthcare plan is our most common goal. Dozens of us like Lisa, Megan, Hava, Dr. Frankel, Ashley, Brittany, and more are workin’ on their fitness!

    Little actions lead to big actions! Your self improvement goal can be big or small. Alexa wants to keep her car clean, Joellen wants to stop biting her nails, and Kylee wants to drink more water!

     

    With an #AlwaysBetter attitude, our Frankel Dentistry team is excited to work towards bettering ourselves to help better others! Little actions, little words, a little bit of love and encouragement are all things that combine to achieve a greater goal!

     

    What are some of your personal goals for September or even for the rest of the year?

    Four best girl friends smiling and laughing together beautiful teeth happy healthy smiles

    Jerica, Brittany, Elena, and Tara

  6. July is filled with dozens of reasons to smile. This month we smile because Frankel Dentistry is welcoming a new doctor. We are overjoyed to present Dr. Erin Waples D.D.S!

    Erin Waples, DDS.

    An Ohio native and former Ohio State Buckeye! Dr. Waples was born and raised in the small village of Mogadore in Northeastern Ohio. She grew up loving soccer, track, and the great outdoors, spending dozens of weekends camping and hiking with her family. 

    She attended the University of Akron where she studied Biomedical Engineering. She knew she wanted a fulfilling, impactful career while still being able to maintain a work life balance. Post graduation she began shadowing different career fields and discovered her passion for dentistry. “There is something so special about working with your hands, touching the lives of patients, and creating long lasting relationships and friendships.” 

    A young Erin Waples pursued her dental degree at THE Ohio State University. She spent her time in Columbus playing intramural soccer, attending Buckeye games with friends, and serving the community through the Delta Sigma Delta organization.

    Dr. Waples is special to us because she is special to someone here! While at THE Ohio State University she met her fiance, fellow Frankel and Puhl dentist, Dr. Westmeyer. Dr. Westmeyer is also an OSU alumni and has been a part of our Maumee team since 2019. These two are avid adventurers! They enjoy camping, hiking, snow sports, and exploring national parks and new destinations! In October 2021 Dr. Westmeyer popped the question and now they patiently plan and await their big day. In the meantime these two are thrilled and grateful to serve the NWO community through their passions. 

    Frankel Dentistry is thrilled to have Dr. Waples a part our team. We cannot wait to Change Lives a Smile at a Time with her.

  7. How often do you feel oral pain after enjoying a bite of your summer sundae on a nice July night? Or struggle to enjoy a nice hot cup of soup? You could be struggling with tooth sensitivity. 

    What is tooth sensitivity?

    Tooth sensitivity is pain or discomfort as a response to hot and cold stimuli. This can be anything from hot foods to cold air.

    What causes tooth sensitivity?

    Let’s look at the anatomy of a tooth. The strong outer layer of a tooth is called enamel. The more enamel is worn down the more sensitive the tooth becomes. 

    There are many factors which could contribute to tooth sensitivity such as:

    -brushing too hard

    -Acidic foods

    -Teeth grinding

    -Tooth decay

    -Gastrointestinal issues such as GERD

    How to care for sensitive teeth?

    First and foremost visit a dentist for a full exam. A cleaning and professional exam can help detect any deeper issues which could be causing your sensitivity or any other oral health concerns. Your dentist may recommend fluoride treatments to help protect and rebuild your enamel. They may also recommend alcohol- free mouthwash and a toothpaste specialized for sensitive teeth. Specialized products often have desensitizing ingredients to help block discomfort and limited irritating ingredients. 

    Maintaining a strong, consistent oral health care routine at home can do wonders for your oral health. Invest in products which can help rebuild and protect enamel. Practice a healthy diet and try limiting acidic foods. Frankel Dentistry wants to help you achieve and maintain optimal oral health care. Visit us on our other online platforms to learn more about your oral health.

    Facebook: Frankel Dentistry 

    Instagram: Frankel Dentistry

    Linkedin: Frankel Dentistry

  8. June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and Frankel Dentistry is spreading awareness and encouraging healthy habits. Did you know over 350,000 men die every year from heart disease? And only 3 out 5 have regular physicals. Believe it or not, your oral health is connected to your health! This is why we always say a Healthy Mouth Promotes a Healthy Body! Oral health is often overlooked but did you know there are currently 3.6 billion individuals struggling with oral diseases? 

    Father and Son smiling and laughing. Baby is waving. Healthy, bright smile. University of Toledo representative. University of Toledo gear.

    Your mouth is typically a good indicator of your overall well-being. Individuals with periodontal disease have the same risk factors as those with heart disease. Diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and Alzthemiers can all be connected to oral health. Frankel Dentistry wants to see you live a healthy, happy life with smiles to share for years to come. How can you make sure you’re practicing a healthy lifestyle?

    Here are some heart healthy habits to help encourage a healthy lifestyle!

    1. A healthy diet.

    Limit your fat and sodium consumption! Highly fat foods are known to increase your risk of heart disease or stroke. This is because fatty foods increase cholesterol which lead to high blood pressure, build up in the blood, clogged arteries, and more. 

    A heart healthy diet includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and limit processed foods. 

    1. Exercise!

    30 minutes a few days a week is all you need! Cardio exercises such as walking, running, cycling, or exercise classes all help strengthen your heart. Find a form of exercise you love and will look forward to! 

    1. DENTAL CARE

    As you know a healthy mouth promotes a healthy body! Studies have shown bacteria in the mouth creates plaque which can move into the bloodstream and increase your risk for diabetes, stroke, and more. Remember to brush twice a day for at least two minutes, floss regularly, and schedule your recare appointments! 

    1. Quality rest.

    Quality sleep is essential to your health and well-being. Sleep allows your heart to rest as well as improve blood pressure and heart rate. We recommend a 7-8 hours of quality rest a night.

    er wearing small business owned merchandise. Toledo family. Toledo Father
  9. On May 31st we celebrated National Smile Day! As a dental practice we love any reason to share smiles. One of our Core Values is gratitude, so needless to say it’s easy for us to find reasons for us to smile. Our patients make us smile, our teams make us smile, our careers make us smile. Sharing a smile with someone can mean more than you know!

    In order to express our gratitude for the ones who make us smile, we gifted glass mugs to our patients on Friday to show our appreciation!

    As we celebrated National Smile Day a patient mentioned how smiling wasn’t always the norm, in fact it was “frowned upon”. We decided to do our research!

    In early 1600s portraits you often see individuals emotionless and lacking a positive expression. This is because people suffer tooth rot and decay from poor diet and high sugars. As dentistry developed the smile slowly became more popular. In the early 1700’s French began to show their teeth in portraits, this was quickly rejected by priests and reformists insisting smiling and laughter showed lack of self control or good manners. In the 1800s dentistry emerged, as dentistry developed so did an attitude of authenticity. By the 1950’s smiling in portraits became the norm and has developed into the smile we love to share today!

    Gratitude, encouragement, and TECHNOLOGY!

    A look and learn with NEW tech!

    Tired of those sticky, gunky impressions? So are we!

    Frankel Dentistry is excited to introduce the latest technological addition to our practice THE Itero Scanner an intraoral scanner which captures 6000 digital images in under a minute. This means we can have a full digital mold of your mouth in minutes. Popular for restorative  and orthodontic dentistry, the Itero helps us quickly and accurately identify your clinical needs, intracaries, crowns, veneers, and develop an action plan. 

  10. The Toledo Blade held their first ever Reader’s Choice Awards. This year Toledo Blade Readers voted Frankel Dentistry as Best Dentist! We are honored and grateful to serve our Toledo community through excellent, quality dental care. Our doctors, healthcare providers, and staff consistently strive to create a positive experience for every patient. From the minute you step in our door to the second you leave we want to ensure you feel safe and welcomed. Our patients are what motivate us to be the best. Our team is guided by our core values, “Serve All” and “Always Better” and everyday we highlight the importance of gratitude, encouragement, and togetherness. These values lead us to create gold standard, genuine dental care for our community. Thank you The Blade and thank you Toledo, we are grateful to serve you!