At Bomstad Dental we are always striving to find you the best products possible. We have recently taken the time to tryout these latest products by Philips Sonicare. I am generally skeptical of whitening toothpastes, but I did feel my teeth got a little whiter while using the Philips Sonicare Whitening toothpaste. I also have very sensitive teeth and regularly use a sensitive toothpaste, but my teeth did not get sensitive while using this toothpaste-definitely a plus! I could see using the Philips Sonicare Whitening toothpaste between bleaching sessions. The toothpaste won't replace my bleach trays, nothing works better or faster than custom bleach trays...ok, Zoom Whitening is WAY better, but I'm talking about home tooth whitening solutions-ha! As I mentioned earlier, my teeth get really sensitive. I use a sensitive toothpaste everyday. The Philips Sonicare Sensitivity Relief toothpaste worked well for me. That being said, I didn't care for the toothpaste. The clean mint … [Read more...]
Bunny Cake in Time for Easter!
My grandmother started making bunny cakes for Easter in the '60s and my mother carried on the tradition. As a child, I loved to help decorate the bunny's face (probably because I liked jelly beans and licorice!). We do, however, have a long standing "argument" about adding coconut to the bunny. I have to admit, sprinkling coconut on the cake makes really cute bunny fur (and helps hide frosting imperfections!), but I simply don't care for coconut on my cake. Unfortunately, my mom LOVES coconut on her cake. As a compromise, she only puts pink (dyed) coconut on the ears and this makes everyone happy! Here is a picture of my mother, circa 1973. The early bunny cakes were made in a 9x13 cake pan, cutting off 2- 2x9 inch pieces for the ears. This is perfect because almost everyone has a 9x13 cake pan, even a 20 year old newlywed! Now we've started to use two round cake pans, allowing us to create ears AND a bowtie-so fancy! You can even buy cake pans in the shape of a bunny, as … [Read more...]
Bleeding Gums?
Bleeding gums can be a sign of a much bigger problem in your mouth. All too often bleeding gums are dismissed as brushing or flossing too hard. While it's true, trauma can cause gums to bleed, frequent bleeding is generally due to something else. The number one cause of bleeding gums is the build up of plaque along and below the gum line. This condition is called gingivitis or periodontal disease depending on it's severity. Gingivitis is easily treatable, a cleaning with your favorite hygienist will do the trick! Periodontal disease is an advanced stage of gingivitis and is more difficult to treat. It will require many appointments with your hygienist for root planing and scaling. This is done with anesthetic, so it's not as awful as it sounds! If you are still experiencing bleeding gums after receiving a good dental check up, it could be something other than poor dental hygiene. Bleeding gums could indicate a vitamin K or C deficiency, a bleeding disorder, leukemia, or poor … [Read more...]
Zoom! is Exceeding All Expectations
Zoom! Teeth Whitening System is a hit among patients and staff alike! Dr. Bomstad had some concerns about some of the teeth whitening systems in the past. He is always searching for the best equipment & products possible for his office and just wasn't satisfied with previous whitening systems. But, all of that changed when the new Zoom! Teeth Whitening System came onto the market! Before deciding to make the purchase, Dr. Bomstad brought it into the office for a trial run first. The results were amazing! The new Zoom! is a product Dr. Bomstad can not only stand behind, but is also something he is proud to offer his patients. Besides, would he use it himself if he didn't love it?! If you would like to make an appointment to see if you are a candidate for Zoom! Teeth Whitening, call 952-938-7746 or click HERE. … [Read more...]
We’re Excited to Offer Zoom Teeth Whitening!
We are excited to now be able to offer you the Zoom! Teeth Whitening System!!! The Zoom! Teeth Whitening System is an effective and safe way to whiten teeth. It is one of the most popular light activated systems on the market today. The Zoom! Teeth Whitening System uses a unique hydrogen peroxide based whitening gel and activator. The activator in the gel reacts with a special LED halide light giving you quick and beautiful results. At your initial consultation, Dr. Bomstad or Dr. Karban will verify that you are a candidate for whitening, assess your tooth shade and take impressions for your custom dental trays. On the day of treatment, a hygienist will prep your mouth for 3-4 Zoom! sessions. Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes. Before each new Zoom! session, the used whitening gel will be removed and new gel will be applied. After your treatments are over, you will receive your custom dental trays, one DayWhite or NiteWhite take-home whitening gel syringe and a Relief … [Read more...]
Time for Braces?
It's a big deal when your child loses their first baby tooth. They look so adorable with their missing teeth! Shortly after, one week to six months, an adult (permanent) tooth will appear-this is what I call the awkward years! Their little faces don't quite fit their new adult-size teeth. This can be concerning for parents when they see crooked teeth and large gaps as the new teeth erupt. It is often difficult for the untrained eye to determine if there really is an orthodontic problem. Here is an example of a little girl through the years. When her permanent teeth started to appear, they looked quite crooked. But when all of her permanent teeth came in, her teeth looked really straight. In reality, she ended up needing braces for smaller problems (malocclusions) that are not as noticeable, but if left untreated would have left her with jaw issues as an adult. Dr. Bomstad and Dr. Karban send most of their patients to Harrington Orthodontics or Lake Minnetonka … [Read more...]
Christmas Tree Farms
We try to make and keep as many traditions as possible during the holiday season. One of my personal favorites is cutting down our own Christmas tree. We are lucky to have so many wonderful Christmas tree farms in Minnesota, many within a short drive from the Twin Cities. Turks Tree Farm, located just outside of Litchfield, is one we have visited in the past. Some of the highlights include; live reindeer, visits from Santa, free cookies, cider & coloring books, hayrides, a gift shop, and of course plenty of beautiful Christmas trees to choose from. Petersen Christmas Tree Farm is another cute farm located in Clear Lake. Petersen's boasts very affordable tree prices, who doesn't like to save a little money while making memories?! They also have visits from Santa and hayrides. Petersen's allows your family pet to join you while you're picking out a tree, making for the perfect Christmas card photo op! With a gift shop, complimentary cider, candy canes & toys, Petersen's … [Read more...]
Internal Resorption
This blog is inspired by a good friend, recently diagnosed with internal resorption...who's wife happens to be a hygienist! Internal resorption is an unusual condition where the dentin and pulpal walls begin to resorb centrally within the root canal. Basically, your body's own cells are eating away at the tooth structure. Patients suffering from internal resorption will be asymptomatic early on. Teeth with internal resorption typically respond normally to pulpal and periapical tests until the lesion grows significantly in size. The first evidence of the lesion may be the appearance of a pink-hued area around the crown of the tooth, this is the vascular pulp tissue filling in the resorbed areas. Once necrosis (death) of the pulpal tissue takes place, the typical signs/symptoms of an abscessing tooth occur. Some of these symptoms include; bitter taste, bad breath, fever, pain with chewing, sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling of the gum or a pimple on the gum. So now you're … [Read more...]
What’s New in Dentistry?
Do you ever wonder what advances have been made in dentistry? Have you put off going to the dentist? Now IS the time to go! Depending on when your last dental visit was, a lot has changed. Digital x-rays have improved a dentist's ability to look for problems in your mouth. Digital x-rays are faster and more efficient, cutting down on the amount of radiation you receive. Besides looking for cavities, dental x-rays can detect the amount of bone below the tooth, look for placement of dental implants, and check to make sure all of the root has been cleaned out during a root canal. Digital x-rays can also be saved on a computer and used to compare future dental x-rays, allowing your dentist to give you better care by detecting the changes in your oral anatomy earlier. A dental veneer is a thin layer of porcelain that is place over your existing tooth to correct cosmetic defects. Dental veneers are now thinner than ever and thin is good! Thinner veneers help preserve more tooth … [Read more...]
Dental Trivia
We know you wanted to brush up on your dental trivia, so here it goes! Who invented dentures? Around 700BC, Etruscans in northern Italy made dentures out of human and animal teeth. George Washington was a famous denture wearer, but did you know his teeth were NOT made out of wood? George Washington's teeth were actually made from hippopotamus ivory, and human, donkey & horse teeth. "Doc" Holliday may have been one of the most famous dentists. Did you know his real name was John Henry? "Doc" Holliday earned his degree in dentistry from Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery at 20 years old. (Dr. Bomstad was 26) He ultimately died at the age of 36 from tuberculosis. Pennsylvania College of Dental surgery has now become the dental schools of Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. Famous People you didn't know were dentists: Edgar Buchanan- Actor known for his roles in … [Read more...]