In the United States, we smile when we’re happy or when we want to covey warmth and friendliness to another. Because it comes so naturally to us when we’re happy, it’s easy to think of smiling as a universal human gesture. Not all cultures interpret smiles in the same way, however, and some may even take it as a sign of sadness.

In many Asian societies, smiling is viewed as a frivolous activity and indicates that you are not taking a situation seriously. According to the Retrospectacle neuroscience blog, this belief is so prevalent that Koreans are known for their common saying, “He who smiles a lot is not a real man.” Smiling is also used to convey embarrassment, sadness, confusion and even anger in Asian cultures and is used to smooth over awkward situations. In China, smiling in greeting is acceptable, but you should do so with your mouth closed, since a wide, toothy grin is often viewed as silly and a bit daft. Continue reading →

Regular dental care, both at home and in the dental office, is extremely important. Of course, visiting your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning improves your dental hygiene. What some do not realize is that the dentist does much more than simply brush your teeth, and proper oral hygiene has benefits reaching way beyond your mouth, with links to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. In spite of all the benefits, many people neglect routine dental visits. Perhaps a better understanding of what the dentist does will encourage more to keep up with these important appointments.

 
One part of a dental visit is a cleaning. Dentists will often pay extra close attention to plaque and tartar. Plaque and tartar can build up very quickly if good hygiene is not practiced at home. Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria. If not cleaned, plaque will harden into tartar and can lead to various oral diseases. Brushing and flossing at home can remove plaque, but cannot remove tartar once it is formed. Dentists have a special tool that is able to remove tartar during a dental visit. Continue reading →

Determine Your Needs
Before going to the dentist it is necessary for patients to understand what they are expecting from their care provider. If a perspective patient is interested in certain services they should research whether the dental office they are going to provides these cosmetic procedures. Also asking about insurance coverage acceptance is important before scheduling an initial consultation. Discussing any fears and previous negative experiences with dental care with the person who is scheduling the appointment can be helpful for people who are nervous about returning to receive dental care.

Gather Dental Records
When a dentist is provided with the proper access to important information about a patients dental history they are better able to address any existing problems. Gathering all records prior to going to an initial consultation will also give the dentist the opportunity to look over the information prior to the appointment. This can save time during the initial consultation so that the process moves quickly to avoid any nervous energy which may exist in the patient. Having access to records will also allow the dentist to know of any weak spots in the mouth of a new patient. Continue reading →