Bob Koenitzer DDS Blog

If you’re a busy person, at times it might seem impossible to keep track of everything going on in your life, and there’s a good chance that despite your best efforts, things might slip through the cracks and become afterthoughts or forgotten about entirely! Unfortunately, something that people often neglect is routine dental care—and though it might not always seem like a huge deal, skipping out on these routine visits can spell bad news for your oral health. But you also shouldn’t fret about visiting your dentist if you haven’t gone in a while; at the end of the day, they still want to help your smile to look and feel its best! With that said, here’s what you should keep in mind if you find yourself finally heading back to your dentist’s office after an extended hiatus.

Every six months, you should visit your dentist for preventive care. During these visits, your smile will be thoroughly cleaned to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Additionally, your dentist will perform a thorough checkup to ensure that you don’t have any oral health problems developing. These biannual visits offer the perfect opportunity to ask your dentist questions regarding your grin. Read on to learn six questions to ask your dentist at your next appointment.

As the weather gets colder, it’s not uncommon to experience oral health issues such as tooth sensitivity, chapped lips, and dry mouth. Do you often struggle with these problems during the winter? If so, being proactive about taking care of your smile can help. Below are 5 useful tips from your dentist that can help you protect your mouth while you’re waiting for spring to arrive.

After many years of dealing with crooked teeth and misalignment, you’re thinking about choosing Invisalign to straighten your smile! By closely following the instructions of your dentist, you will have beautifully aligned teeth in a short period of time. Until you’re able to get your first set of aligners, there are some steps that you can take to prepare for your treatment. Continue reading to learn some helpful tips to set yourself up for success.

If you want to beautify your smile, chances are you’ve considered cosmetic dentistry. The field has the power to give you pearly whites that really live up to their name! Still, you may wonder, “How long does cosmetic dentistry last in Petaluma?” You wouldn’t want to buy an expensive service that doesn’t stick around for a while. Lucky for you, your local dentist is here to answer your concern. Read on to learn the average lifespan of three cosmetic dental treatments and tips for making them last.

You can’t put a price on the benefits associated with a beautiful smile. Unfortunately, not everyone wins the genetic lottery. Whether from your family genes, trauma, or neglect, veneers can give you a picture-perfect smile. However, they are a big commitment because your cosmetic dentist will need to shave off some enamel, which won’t grow back. How much enamel needs to be removed for veneers in Petaluma? Not enough for you to worry about damaging your teeth. 

(more…)

It’s no secret that root canal therapy is one of the most feared dental procedures. Though they have built up a bad reputation due to the rapid spread of misinformation over the years, root canals have a 97% success rate and alleviate the pain that comes with severe tooth infections. If your dentist tells you that you need to get a root canal for one of your pearly whites, you may be wondering how long the procedure will take. Read on to learn more about how the procedure works as well as how long you can expect to be in the treatment chair.

When your dentist first informs you that you have to get a root canal, your initial reaction may be to dread the impending procedure. After all, TV shows, movies, and other forms of media have made it abundantly clear that this procedure is incredibly uncomfortable. Fortunately, the bad reputation that root canal therapy has gotten is unwarranted. To learn if root canals are painful, read on to see how the procedure works and what you can expect treatment to feel like.

There isn’t any doubt, cold and flu season is here. Along with cooler weather comes running noses and sore throats. The average child catches 6-8 colds per year. They are more susceptible to illness because they can’t resist touching germy surfaces or sticking things in their mouth. At the first sign your child isn’t feeling well, you head to the medicine cabinet to combat their symptoms. While you help them on their road to recovery, don’t let simple mistakes harm their dental health. Here are 4 tips you need to know to safeguard your child’s smile from cold and flu season.

(more…)

While historical records are spotty on the exact details, it is believed the first Thanksgiving may have occurred 400 years ago in the fall of 1621. Approximately 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered with 53 Pilgrims for a feast that supposedly lasted three days. Imagine deciding after two days of feasting that another day was needed!

Anyhow, some things have certainly changed about the modern Thanksgiving. For one, lobster isn’t a common modern Thanksgiving item as it was back then. What about the oral hygiene practiced in those days? It was, in fact, a thing in the 1600s. Read on to learn about the diets and toothcare habits of the attendees at the first Thanksgiving.