Show #499 Airing Sunday, 11/9/09
November 1st — already? I’ll have to “gobble” down my Halloween candy before those Thanksgiving chocolate turkeys arrive. It’s been a tough year, but Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude for health, family and friends. And today I’m thankful for our guest, Dr. Steven Marsh. He’s here to tell us why we should be grateful for healthy teeth!
Question: Good health is always on the list of things to be thankful for — and that includes out teeth, right?
Answer: Absolutely. We tend to take some things for granted in life, but if you talk to folks who invested in their teeth over the years — took care of them, prevented tooth loss — they’re thankful they still have their teeth — and a healthy smile.
But if you haven’t cared for your teeth and now you have problems — and this is especially true for older folks — there are ways to bring back your smile.
Question: Some folks might say, at a certain age, why bother?
Answer: There’s the utilitarian reason — so you can eat and chew.
But there also are personal reasons:
Your teeth and your smile can really affect how you feel about yourself.
And, I find this a lot with those who are widowed or divorced — they want to look good so they can enjoy life more.
Fixing your smile can really improve your self-image; when you look good, you feel good.
For example, I had one patient who is about 65 years old, works in sales and decided to invest in his teeth.
When the work was done, his sales went up 40 percent!
Question: Give us some ideas for how we can show out teeth some appreciation for all of their daily hard work.
Answer: In general, we’re talking about building up teeth. They could be broken down, fractured or just worn down by daily wear or grinding your teeth. [insert pictures-Bonding] [insert pictures-Crowns] [insert pictures-Restoration]
Question: We've focused on things to be thankful for today, and with Veteran's Day coming up on the 11th, its a good time to be thankful for those who have served or are serving in the military. You were in the Air Force, right? And you also found a way to bring a smile to another local vet. Tell us about that.
Answer: Several other dentists in the area and I participated in Smiles for Troops. I was able to provide my service to help a veteran from the Iraq war. His bottom teeth needed a lot of attention — not as a result of anything to do with the war — and I was able to help him.
Say thanks to your teeth by treating them to the smile they deserve! And, thankfully, Steve can help you with that! Give him a call. His number is next.
