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At Wahlers Family Dentistry, we see patients of all ages from toddlers to the elderly.  We love the youngest patients in our practice; unlike most adult patients they are usually happy and excited to be here!  Many parents wonder if a pediatric dentist is a better choice than a general dentist for their children.  The answer is a matter of personal preference.  Although most young children in this area of Pennsylvania see a pediatrician for their medical care, general dentists (and not pediatric dentists) actually see the majority of children for their dental care.  This is because routine dental care for children is not that different than dental care for ...

I enjoy seeing my patients, when they have just finished an extensive amount of dental work,take pride in their new smile.  Implants, crowns or veneers can have amazing results, either by enhancing a smile, or restoring teeth that were lost for various reasons.  What patients often do not realize though, is that their beautiful new teeth should be protected.  For patients who have just received extensive dental work, a nightguard can often be a wonderful, easy, and inexpensive way to protect your dental investment.  A nightguard is made in our office and is designed to wear during sleep, to protect teeth from grinding or clenching which can lead to cracked ...

What additional training is required for a dentist to become a cosmetic dentist?

This is actually a trick question, because the answer is none!  This is because Cosmetic Dentistry is not a recognized specialty by the ADA or by any Dental Board in the US.  It is essentially the same as if a dentist said they were a Friendly Dentist, or a Family Dentist or a Gentle Dentist; it is only a description that some dentists use to advertise.  All dentists are able to perform the same procedures and techniques on their patients, including whitening, implants, veneers, crowns, gingival grafting or gingivectomy (reshaping). 

Some dentists do have a particular love for performing ...

New Year’s Resolutions

2019 is upon us and undoubtedly there will be a multitude of resolutions made over the coming weeks.  Sadly, most of these resolutions will not make it past the first month or so, as we settle back into our normal routines.  Different theories exist on how many days in a row you need to do something before it becomes a habit, from 21 days to 12 weeks according to an internet search.  Certainly some resolutions are more difficult to keep than others.  For example, a new diet requires a change in food purchases, food preparation, having to deal with cravings, eating less, etc.  Likewise, starting to exercise requires ...

School is out and summer is here!  The increase in vacations, picnics, pool parties, and family barbecues means most of us (including me) will increase our intake of lemonade, iced tea, soda, smoothies, and mixed drinks.  While nothing beats a cold drink on a hot day, the list of summer drinks includes many that are packed with sugar.  Here are a few tips to follow this summer, so that your next dental appointment is filled with good news!

1. It is amazing how much sugar there is in a single serving of almost any sweet beverage- often more than in a serving of cookies or cake!  Ice water, unsweetened iced tea, or ...

Everyone knows sugar is unhealthy; terrible for our bodies and our teeth.   But sugars, in various forms, are in so many things we consume every day.  It is common knowledge that soda, candy, cookies, donuts, cake, etc. are loaded with sugar.  But sugars are also in products we might not normally think of, like pizza, coffee (if you add sugar), bread, yogurt, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, many soups, and almost every breakfast cereal. 

We all know that limiting or reducing the amount of sweets we eat is a noble goal and certainly something I would recommend.  As a dentist, I feel it is equally important to know that as far as our ...

We are happy to announce to our patients that we have recently completed an upgrade of our record keeping system, allowing us to go paperless.  Previously, our patients’ health information was recorded on paper and kept in physical charts.  For years, we have taken X-rays digitally, but like many medical and dental offices, much of the paperwork was still kept in a physical chart.  All new patients will now fill out their initial “paperwork” on an iPad, instead of using pen and paper.  Checking and updating health information is now quicker and easier, allowing us to provide higher quality care.  As a side benefit, we consume less paper, which is ...