An Amazing Honor

In May, my father and I were honored to win the 2009 Health Care Heroes Award in the category of dentistry. After serving the Sunnyside community for more than 50 years, it was a great and humbling experience for both of us to be recognized for our efforts.

As a continuation of that award, the Houston Business Journal -- which sponsored the event -- has featured Dr. Zeb F. Poindexter Jr. and I in the current issue. Find out more information at the Houston Business Journal's Web site. Cheers.

And to all of the current, former, and expectant fathers in the world, may you have a blessed Father's Day.

-Dr. P

The Do's and Don’ts of Dentistry

There are many misconceptions about oral health care, dentistry, and routine procedures. While many people think they know the answers to common dental problems, most are wrong. Here is a list of dental facts to help you during your next appointment:

• Dental work does not have to hurt. Some people may have had bad childhood experiences with the dentist, causing them to fear their appointments and procedures. Come into the office with an open mind -- don't be apprehensive.
• The old wives' tale that your must pull your teeth as you age is not true. If you maintain a schedule of regular routine checkups, dentists will be able to preserve your natural teeth for as long as possible. Routine exams are less costly than finding a resolution to a problem. In some cases, after prolonged decay, the decision whether to pull or save the tooth depends on the infection and/or around the tooth. Prevention is better than cure
• Another old wives' tale is that people have to have their wisdom teeth pulled. The only reason to pull wisdom teeth is if they are crowding the mouth and causing the bite to be comfortable. A dentist will be able to tell you if this should happen.
• The belief that root canal therapy has to hurt is false. In most cases, root canals hurt because the tooth has become infected. Once an infection has set in, the tooth becomes harder to numb. If you visit a dentist as soon as it begins to ache, most of the problems can be avoided.
• Over the course of a life, people may need to replace teeth; but people need to know that implants are not for everyone. A dentist will need to check the bone density to ensure they are strong enough to support the implant or implant system.
• Just like implants, not everyone can have their teeth successfully whitened. The color of your teeth comes from the inside out, so work on the outside is not always effective. There are programs that can help lighten your teeth, but a dentist will need to help you implement them.
• Do not ever leave our child in a dentist's office alone. The apprehension of separation from their parents can cause children to have bad experiences with the dentist. When you combine this with the potentially painful procedure they will have completed, it can cause a permanent fear of the dentist.
  

Simple rules and understandings can make a trip to the dentist much easier on everyone involved. If you have further questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact our office at 713-734-7611.

'I Make People Smile'

Being a dentist is an important part of our community. The service dentist provide is invaluable -- just ask someone who has had a toothache. Most of all, I get to give back to society in many different ways.

When I am asked what I do for a living, I reply "I get to make people smile." Truly, I enjoy my work because of the relationships, and since both of my parents provided an immeasurable service to the community, I enjoy being able to carry on my family's legacy.

I graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston in 1984 with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. I received my Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry in 1993. During my 25 years of practice, I have been an instructor, teacher, surgeon, counselor, dentist, husband, father, and friend. In an effort to ensure you get the right information, I will periodically post blogs abut oral health care and our community.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call my office at 713-734-7611.