The majority of patients who fear the dentist report a negative childhood dental experience caused their phobia. At Donald Marks Family Dentistry, we go above and beyond to ensure every single patient is completely comfortable in our office – and that includes children! We love working with young patients. Our team members chose to enter the dental field because we care about people and want to help them keep their smiles healthy. We want young patients to love visiting our office and caring for their smiles at home. Keep reading to find out more about children’s dentistry or contact our State College dental team to schedule your child’s first appointment today.
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August 30, 2017
Your First Children’s Dentistry Appointment
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August 9, 2017
What Does a Restorative Dentist Do?
We all work hard to keep our smiles healthy with daily brushing and flossing and regular trips to the dentist, but even the most diligent oral hygiene routine can have gaps that allow for tooth decay or damage. That’s where a restorative dentist comes into play. A good restorative dentist will provide treatments that preserve the maximum amount of natural tooth structure and recreate lost dental shape and function. A restorative dentist does all of this while keeping in mind the way any treatment will impact the appearance of the smile and overall health. Suffice to say, finding a good restorative dentist is key to keeping a healthy, happy smile on your face. The good news is, the general dentist you trust with your routine oral health and hygiene visits is likely also a skilled restorative dentistry practitioner.
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August 6, 2016
Donald Marks DMD provides State College invisible braces
Many adults and older teens would like to improve the appearance of their smiles. However, they are embarrassed by traditional metal wire and bracket braces–that “metal mouth” look. A great alternative for mild to moderate tooth alignment issues is American-made ClearCorrect aligners. Dr. Donald Marks and Dr. John Martin evaluate State College patients for these invisible braces, offering them better oral health and great smile aesthetics. (more…)
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May 31, 2016
New Sleep Apnea Website Coming Soon!
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects a large portion of the population — more than 18 million Americans are struggling with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, many cases go ignored or misdiagnosed simply because the condition’s side effects are similar to those of other disorders affecting sleep, like depression and anxiety. But it couldn’t be more important for sufferers to seek an effective treatment. That’s why we’re so excited to unveil our newest resource for people affected by snoring and sleep apnea in State College: a brand new website focused solely on the condition and its treatment!
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December 7, 2015
Dentist in State College Says a Brighter Smile Matters
As your dentist in State College, I have a real interest in keeping your smile as healthy — and as beautiful — as it can be. When it comes to achieving the latter, I like to recommend the quickest way to dramatically improve your smile. It’s teeth whitening, and I’ve seen the positive difference it makes in a life again and again. Keep reading to learn more about the treatment, and how it can improve your smile right in time for the holidays!
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November 12, 2015
Get the Facts on ClearCorrect Clear Braces State College
If you’ve ever been told you need braces but said no because of the time, hassle, discomfort, or embarrassment of traditional metal, the ClearCorrect alignment tray system may be right for you. For many years, metal brackets and wires have been used to correct crooked, gapped, and misaligned teeth by tightening wires that pull brackets shifting teeth into proper alignment. Traditional orthodontics are extremely effective, but treatment impacts every aspect of patients’ lives. Bracket and wire braces require regular visits for tightening and adjustment, changes to diet and oral hygiene routines, take as long as 24 months to complete, and give patients a metallic smile. Thanks to advances in orthodontics, our State College, PA dental patients have a more cosmetic, convenient solution: the ClearCorrect alignment tray system.
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October 31, 2015
Dentist in State College, PA Says Avoid These 5 Foods
It’s no secret that what we eat has a big effect on the way our teeth look. Like coffee, a well-known smile stainer (that’s why you won’t find it on this list — it’s been talked about enough). There are some things you may not realize are slowly staining your smile, though. If you’d like to achieve noticeably whiter teeth naturally this fall, your dentist in State College, PA says avoid these five foods.
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September 15, 2015
Tips for Flossing Properly from the Dentist State College, PA, Turns to for Oral Health Care
Dr. Donald Marks and Dr. John Martin need your help—not for their sake, but for the sake of your dental and oral health. We take the health of your smile very seriously, so we offer a comprehensive selection of general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Nevertheless, we need you to do your part at home with regular oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing at least once a day. Yes, you read that correctly—floss your teeth every day. Flossing is just as important (if not more so some believe) as brushing your teeth.
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August 20, 2015
Don’t Forget Your Tongue When Brushing Your Teeth
That clean, fresh feeling you get after brushing your teeth is wonderful, isn’t it? After a restful sleep, one of the first things you do once you wake up is brush your teeth (after breakfast). Brushing your teeth serves a couple of purposes: First, it helps keep your teeth clean by removing tooth decay, plaque and other bacteria that is too small to see. Second, it freshens your breath. Have you smelled either your own or someone else’s breath right after they’ve woken up? It can be stinky. Hopefully, you’re practicing good brushing techniques and cleaning every part of each tooth.
Your tongue can also help keep your mouth clean and fresh if you give it a good brush. It’s true! There are many people who never think that the tongue can be brushed. We’re here to tell you that not only is brushing your tongue helping keep your breath fresh, but it also helps keep bacteria off of its surface. Our office in State College, PA wants you to know how important it is to keep that tongue as clean as possible. A good tongue brushing can go a long way in helping you maintain great oral health. Dr. Donald Marks and Dr. John Martin are the dentists State College residents can visit for priceless dental tips.
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July 21, 2015
Proper Tooth Brushing Techniques
Brushing your teeth may be a habit that you take for granted. After all, most people begin to brush their own teeth around the age of 2 or 3 (with some adult backup), but what many of us don’t realize is we’ve never updated our tooth brushing techniques. Our teeth require different hygiene and care at different stages of our lives. One of the most essential elements of dental hygiene is proper tooth brushing, but if you’re still brushing the way mom or dad taught you as a child, you may not be cleaning your teeth effectively. Let the skilled staff at Donald Marks Family Dentistry help you make the most out of your daily tooth brushing routine. Call to schedule a dental hygiene appointment with our State Park, PA dental practice today.
Tooth Brushing Recommendations from the Dentist State College, PA Trusts
When it comes to brushing, we recommend double checking the basics:
- Brush twice a day – brushing once in the morning and once before going to sleep is routine, and a 3rd brushing following your afternoon meal can be beneficial as well. However, all things should be done in moderation, and this includes tooth brushing. Done more than 3 times a day, brushing can damage gums.
- Check your brush – If you’re using a brush labeled “hard bristled,” one that is not American Dental Association approved, or one that is more than 3 or 4 months old, throw it out and get a new one. The ideal tooth brush should be soft or extra soft bristled to minimize damage to gums and maximize dental cleaning results. Always look for the ADA seal of approval when purchasing dental hygiene items as these have undergone more rigorous testing for effectiveness. Replace toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months to prevent contamination and maintain optimal brushing effectiveness. This includes mechanical tooth brushes. Make sure to purchase a mechanical brush that has replaceable heads.
- Check the clock – If you’re not brushing for at least two minutes, you are not thoroughly cleaning each tooth. Brushing longer than two minutes is even better. Many people gauge their brushing time using a timer, by brushing for the length of an entire song, or by brushing through a commercial break on television. Whatever trick you use, make sure to set aside at least 2 minutes every morning and evening to brush your teeth.
- Brush gently – Whether you apply a great deal of pressure while you brush or just a little, you are likely going to remove the same amount of plaque from your teeth and gums. Brush gently to avoid damaging soft tissue or causing gum recession. Holding your toothbrush with only 2 to 3 fingers like a pen, pencil, or paintbrush is a great way to build the habit of brushing with less pressure.
The Bass Method for Brushing
Many people are taught to brush their teeth as children using big circles or back and forth motions with the bristles flat against the outside and tops of teeth. Many children are never taught to brush the inside of their teeth at all. While these methods may be effective for children with poor hand eye coordination who are just developing the necessary motor skills to keep up their hygiene, there’s a reason we don’t brush our hair or wash our bodies the way we did when we were 3. Why would we continue to brush our teeth that way? For patients who want to start a more effective brushing routine, the Bass method is an option the team at Donald Marks Family Dentistry highly recommends.
How the Bass method works:
- Place your brush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth, against the gum line.
- Quickly move the toothbrush back and forth. The bristles should remain stationary while only your hand and the brush move.
- Count to ten, gently flick the bristles toward the biting surface of your tooth to shift plaque out from under gums, and proceed to the next tooth.
- Continue this process for each tooth inside and out.
- To clean the tops of teeth, place the brush flat on your biting surface and move back and forth keeping bristles stationary as you did with your other teeth.
- Count to ten and move to the next tooth. Continue until each tooth has been cleaned.
The Bass brushing method is preferred by many dentists and hygienists because it encourages increased periodontal care, and maximizes the effectiveness of each brush stroke. Ask your dental hygienist to explain or demonstrate effective brushing techniques for your, unique bite next time you visit our office.
Contact us for More Information
We’re always here to help, no matter what your dental care needs, but we’re dedicated to improved preventive care so our patients are more likely to retain their natural smiles for life. Call Donald Marks Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment today. Our State College, PA dental practice welcomes patients from neighboring communities Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewistown, and Phillipsburg.
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