Have It All with Xylitol

October brings to mind harvest, pumpkins and CANDY! With Halloween just around the corner, I wanted to highlight an awesome sweetner you might have heard of already: Xylitol. A few quick notes about this amazing, natural product:

• Regular use of xylitol has been shown to reduce dental plaque - the first stage of cavity development, tartar formation, and tooth staining.
• Xylitol gum or mints used 3-5 times per day (total of 5 grams) is considered optimal. 
• Use of xylitol immediately after meals is the most effective at reduction of plaque and limiting contact time of sugar on teeth.
• For more on xylitol: Xylitol Fact Sheet

Happy October,

Dr. Lynda Tran

KaiDentistry.com

E-Cigs and Your Oral Health

As the debate continues on the safety and risks surrounding e-cigarettes, I wanted to share this little, short Fact Sheet on e-cigarettes and how they can attribute to your overall health. Although a lot of information is still unknown about these products, there are some definites which include their addictive nature. As always your dental team can provide you with information on these products. 

E-Cigarette Fact Sheet

Here's to an awesome weekend,

Dr. Lynda Tran

KaiDentistry.com

Review of Mouthguards

As football season gets under way, I thought it would be an opportune time to review sport mouthguards. I often get asked by patients what the difference is between a custom mouthguard and an over-the-counter one. As a member of the Academy of Sports Dentistry, we take teeth/jaw/soft tissue protection very seriously and have compiled a short and sweet summary to answer most questions about guards. If you have any further questions, I'm just an email away!

Mouthguard Summary Sheet

Go Texans (Why Texans? Ask me to find out.),

Dr. Lynda Tran

KaiDentistry.com

"Can't Feel My Face" Dentistry Cover

Being a big The Weeknd fan myself, this was just too good to not share!

Happy Friday,

Dr. Lynda Tran

KaiDentistry.com

Dr. Tran Receives Fellowship Award from AGD

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is pleased to announce that Lynda Tran DDS, MBA, FAGD, of Santa Cruz, CA received the association’s Fellowship Award during the AGD 2015 annual meeting, which took place June 20th in San Francisco.

The AGD Fellowship Award is presented to dentists who seek to provide the highest quality dental care by remaining current in their profession. To earn this prestigious honor, Dr. Tran completed 500 hours of dental continuing education, passed a comprehensive written exam, and fulfilled three years of continuous membership in the AGD.

As a Fellowship Award recipient, Dr. Tran joins more than 6,600 active AGD Fellows who have gone above and beyond the basic requirements to care for their patients’ oral health.

“We are proud to honor Dr. Tran for her commitment in reaching this lofty goal,” says AGD Immediate Past President W. Carter Brown, DMD, FAGD. “She has distinguished herself professionally among her peers and is a role model for both her fellow dentists and the Santa Cruz community.”

Dr. Tran graduated from UCSF School of Dentistry in 2010 and currently practices dentistry in Santa Cruz.

New Water Fluoridation Recommendation

On April 27, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its final public health service recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay. It has been more than 50 years since HHS has adjusted its federally recommended fluoride levels. HHS is now calling for 0.7 mg per liter of water instead of the once suggested 0.7 to 1.2 mg range.

According to the HHS’s official press release:

The change was recommended because Americans now have access to more sources of fluoride, such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, than they did when water fluoridation was first introduced in the U.S. As a result, there has been an increase in fluorosis, which, in most cases, manifests as barely visible lacy white marking or spots on the tooth enamel. The new recommended level will maintain the protective decay prevention benefits of water fluoridation and reduce the occurrence of dental fluorosis.

The AGD fully supports community water fluoridation programs and HHS’s updated recommendation for its use. In light of the revised guidelines, patients may have concerns about this recommendation as well as general questions about using fluoride to promote oral health and reduce tooth decay. It is important to stress to your patients that the safety and benefits of fluoride are well-documented and have been reviewed comprehensively by several scientific and public health organizations, both in the U.S. and around the world.

For more information on the HHS recommendation, email advocacy@agd.org.

Happy Friday,
Dr. Lynda Tran
KaiDentistry.com

Himalayan Health Exchange: April 2015

Earlier this month, I was fortunate enough to take a little time off and travel to the Himalayas. Here are just a few pictures from the trip...

Our Home Away From Home

Performing Extractions at a Local Classroom 

Outdoor Clinic Set Up 

Challenging Treatment Conditions (i.e. Heavy Rain and Cold Weather)

The Amazing Dental Team
(Dr. Doug, Me, Dr. Madalyn, Harish - Our Translator)

Some of My Favorite Kids :)

Future Doctors

The Himalayas

I was able to push myself to provide treatment for patients in some of the most challenging conditions I have experienced. I met some of the smartest, most talented, and caring doctors (and soon-to-be doctors) on this trip and was so thrilled to get to know all these amazing individuals. This truly was a life changing adventure and I hope to have the opportunity to return to this special place. My thoughts and prayers go out to families and those effected by the earthquake. 

Namaste,

Dr. Lynda Tran

KaiDentistry.com