Make 2011 the Year to Improve your Oral Health

Many folks in Missouri consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2011? The Dental Excellence team recommends that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

-Your friends at Dental Excellence

And the winner of the 2010 Ugliest Sweater or Sweatshirt Contest is....Trish!

Thanks to all of our patients who voted on our Facebook page in Dental Excellence's Ugliest Sweater or Sweatshirt Contest. The winner is “A,” Dr. Van Biber’s dental assistant Trish. She was presented with a gift certificate from Dr. Hawkins to the On the Border Restaurant.

Congratulations Trish!

A few patient reviews for Dental Excellence

Drs. Carr, Hawkins, LaBarca, Smith, Wiley and team, serving Independence Missouri deliver the highest quality dental care in a personalized environment. We make dental treatment fun and enjoyable. Just see what our patients have to say!

"I cannot stress enough how efficient, professional, and caring the staff and doctors at Dental Excellence are. I have never been treated better or more effectively by any medical professional."
-Thomas

"My wife and I have been patients for over 35 years and have always been pleased with the excellent dental care we received and, if we had a problem, the treatment we received to correct the problem. We started there because my wife's boss was a patient and recommend the dental office highly and we have always been glad that we took his advice. We are retired now and live at the Lake of the Ozarks but we still come back to Independence for our dental work because of the excellent treatment we have always received."
-Donald

"Dr Hawkins made what might have been a frightening experience very pleasant for our son. Thanks Dr Hawkins and staff for all you do!"
-Jacob

We need your help! Help us Vote for The UGLIEST Christmas Sweater/Sweatshirt.

Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful patients!

Last night we had our office Christmas party and it was filled with food and fun! We asked our employees to participate in a contest by wearing the ugliest sweater or sweatshirt they could find to the party. But, we need your HELP!

We are asking our patients to help us decide the winner by voting on the top 3 ugliest sweaters or sweatshirts from the party. We just couldn’t decide!! You can vote by choosing either A, B or C as the ugliest Christmas sweater or sweatshirt. You can vote by letting us know on our blog, our Facebook Page or during your next visit to Dental Excellence. We need your vote by December 21st so we can announce the winner on December 23rd.

We look forward to seeing what you guys think!
--Dental Excellence

Stay healthy this Holiday Season--Replace your Toothbrush!

After recovering from a cold or flu, Drs. Carr, Hawkins, LaBarca, Smith, and Wiley will all tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Dental Excellence if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Staying connected with Dental Excellence

At Dental Excellence, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech website and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Independence, Missouri.

As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our Facebook page. For social media to work, however, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we take a little time to research how to best use social media moving forward, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Please post your thoughts or give us a call! Have a wonderful weekend!