Dental Anxiety?

Fear of the Dentist afflicts more than 80% of North American adults.  That is Sad!  More than half of those say fear may keep them from going to the dentist.  That’s bad and unnecessary.  This can lead to poor oral health which left untreated can lead to more serious and increasingly expensive problems.  Don’t let your anxiety keep you from benefitting from preventive, restorative or cosmetic dentistry.  We have many new innovations to help you to control your concerns including comfort items (blankets, pillows, etc.) to sedation options. Call for an appointment to discuss the options that are appropriate for you.  806-698-6684

From the mouth of babes...

From Racheal :
My son, Christian, had to go to the doctor to have his nose checked.  When he came home, I asked how his appointment went.  He said "they had to stick a stick up my nose and it kinda hurt. But mom, how come thier office is not like your office?" I asked what he meant. He said "well, nobody talked to me, it was very quiet, and the nurse left me alone after the doctor left." I explained to him that our office is a special place. We love to interact with our patients and have fun at work. Did I mention that my son is 11 years old?! It's funny that an 11 year old boy  notices efforts that we take for patient comfort!

We hope to see you soon!
     Racheal Z.
     ~ dental assistant

Sugary Drinks

Did you know... Sugar (such as those in energy drinks and soft drinks) mixed with the bacteria in your mouth produces acid. This acid attacks your enamel for up to 20 minutes after you take your last sip. When sugar is consumed over and over again, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. And when the tooth decays from this, the enamel does not grow back. The only option once decay occurs is to see your dentist and have the tooth treated.  Make sure to limit sugary drinks and brush, floss, and rinse regularly!

Texas Dental Association

Last month our office went to the Texas Dental Association (TDA) annual meeting in San Antonio. This meeting allows us to get our continuing education requirements for the year, learn about and experiment with all of the newest equipment and dental materials, and just basically get excited about where dentistry is going. TDA is also a great time for the girls in the office to get a break from the everyday drill and fill and spend time together as a team. Reflecting back on this year’s meeting, and thinking about how much fun we had, we decided to share our experiences with you, our patients! Here are some things that the lovely ladies of Kathleen Nichols Dentistry had to say…

“I took a class about making our patient’s experience in the office better. I picked up a quote that I really thought was great “We cannot be 1000 times better than our competition, but we can be 1000 times better in small ways.”
Debbie Rice, Treatment Coordinator

“I took a forensic dentistry class, it was so interesting! Forensic dentistry uses scientific findings to legal and judicial issues. Dr Nichols and I work with the county coroner every so often, so it was really great to learn more about what we are doing!”
Shan Sherwood, Dental Assistant

“The classes that I attended at TDA reinforced our belief that being on top of technology is the most accurate and efficient way to inform and educate our patients”
Savannah Perez, Dental Assistant

“I really enjoyed my nitrous class. It was very informative, and the instructor made it fun and easy to learn.”
Sandra Estrada, Dental Assistant

“I always love going to TDA because it gives the girls in the office a chance to hang out outside of the office (and Lubbock!) We had a great time!”
Shay Tidmore, Dental Hygienist

“After sitting in several classes and listening to staff from other offices talk, I came to realize just how blessed we are here. Our office, and entire team ROCKS!”
Bandy Hightower, Dental Hygienist

“I learned about the strong relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes. Uncontrolled periodontal disease can worsen diabetes, and uncontrolled diabetes can worsen periodontal disease. Even for non-diabetics, uncontrolled or untreated periodontal disease can increase the risk of developing diabetes!”
Allison Nguyen, Dental Hygienist

“Being relatively new to the office, I didn’t quite know what to expect from these girls! We had a great time traveling together and I got to know them a little bit better out side of the office. It was so great to see each of the girls go on to the exhibit floor and do their own independent research on new products and find ways to make our office a better place to work, and for our patients to be comfortable and have a great experience! I got to do my own research about dental lasers and all of the really great things they will do! It’s so nice to have tools like this in the office to be able to give my patients the best, most advanced care available. I am so thankful to have such a great support system, the ladies of Kathleen Nichols Dentistry really are AMAZING! They make it fun to come to work!”
Beth Dannenberg, DDS

“As a member of the board of directors, I spent the majority of my time in the Texas Dental Association House of Delegates. This is the legislative body representing Texas’s dentists and dental patients. I also attended a continuing education course on emerging trends in cavity prevention. Yes, sugar-free gum IS actually good for your teeth! We had a great time as an office, and we look forward to next year!!”
Kathleen Nichols, DDS

This is the first of many blogs from our office so that we can better connected with you, our patients! Please feel free to comment or ask any questions, we will get back to you as soon as possible.

All the Best!
Dr. Kathleen Nichols & Dr. Beth Dannenberg

Dr. Beth Dannenberg

Dr. Beth Dannenberg is scheduling patients for Monday February 8th.  Stop by and meet her.  We know you are going to love her!