We recently upgraded our digital x-rays. We first got digital x-rays in 1997. We got the Schick Digital X-rays because they were one of the first companies to come out for dentistry, and had a good reputation. We purchased digital x-rays because it can reduce the amount of radiation exposure to up to 90%. We thought that was an awesome benefit to all of our patients.  It also made us "Green" before green was cool. We now eliminated the use of the chemicals for developing the films. It also was very cool in that the pictures would appear on the computer monitors in just seconds. This was cutting edge back in 1997. Schick upgraded the software about four times and the hardware kept evolving too.

With the advance of computers and graphics, we now can see things much more clearly and much earlier. That means the small cavity can be taken care of while it is still small. This in turn helps peoples oral health and pocket book from stopping decay, disease, and infection before it gets large. Another benefit is that we can now email someone's records to the insurance company, other health care providers, and specialists. 

We now use Schick 33. The same great company but now has signifigantly better graphics and resolution. Next time you are in the office, make sure to ask us to show you the software and some of    the cool things the program can do.    

Best in Hawaii 2012
I want to thank all of you who voted for my practice in the Honolulu Magazine poll. And, I am so happy to have been voted one of The Best in Hawaii for the fourth straight year.
I am so happy to receive this award for a fourth time. With the recognition we received last year, many patients heard about us and our work with...

One power of social networking is to help people by sharing your knowledge, experience, and advice. On Facebook, Twitter,and Linked in, etc...it is not unusual for some one to complain or ask questions about a symptom. For instance, recently my own sister was having a problem with her tooth. She was unaware that it was a tooth problem. She then...

My wife saw this in a magazine. I thought it would great to share on the blog!! I wish i would of thought to write this all my self!!
Enjoy!!
James Merrett DDS
Ditch Your Toothbrush
Sorry, you do still have to brush, but you may be able to do more to keep your teeth clean
By Jess Levine, Women's Health
Find more
A Perfect Smile
Take Care of Your Teeth
6...

There is something about this time of year that makes people get motivated. The holidays are behind us and the summer is only a few months away. And, a lot of people are either waiting on their tax refund or know what the damage is there, so the pressure is off. In general, as we swing into April, it‘s a time when people start thinking about d...

I saw this article on MSN.com and thought I would share.
James Merrett DDS
Oral Health: Don’t Brush it Aside
Your mouth is trying to tell you something.
By Rich Maloof for MSN Health & Fitness
What motivates you to visit the dentist: A sore molar? Time for a cleaning? A crush on the hygienist? These are all (or nearly all) sound reasons for keeping...

I see many mouths everyday and fortunately most mouths I see are healthy.
However,here is a list of general health-related conditions that show warning signs in your mouth. Sure you want to keep your dental health strong and many people know that gum disease is connected with heart disease. I encourage you to have more awareness of your dental...

Many people buy so-called “Teeth Whitening” toothpaste hoping to get whiter teeth. Hoping that a $5-$10 tube of toothopaste will be the miracle to get their teeth white. For most people, these toothpastes do not provide the result they are looking for. Is this a form of false advertising? Actually, it’s not. The confusion lies in the definition o...

We know many of our clients enjoy the benefit of dental insurance. Did you know that if you do not use all of your benefits for the year the insurance company gets to keep your money? Did you also know that only 20% of you people who have insurance use it?
There is only about 12 weeks left in 2010. We have to take out about two of those due to the...

Back to school or Fall Cleaning
We are all familiar with back to school time. I used to love a commercial I used to see with parents shopping for school supplies singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year". When the kids go back to school it is a great way to get yourself organized and back on track. Out with the old; in with the new. Time...

PREGNANCY AND ORAL HEALTH
Did you know that pregnancy is a time to take extra special care of your teeth and gums? Your oral health can affect the general and dental health of your unborn child. Any infection during pregnancy is a cause for concern. A mouth infection, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, can lead to premature birth and low...

We are excited about the introduction of new technolgy on Maui. We are going to be adding Cerec to our office. What is Cerec you ask???
CEREC is a dental restoration product that allows a dental practitioners to produce an indirect ceramic dental restoration using a variety of computer assisted technologies, including 3D photography and CAD/CAM....

Why Teeth Get Darker!
Why Are My Teeth Darker?
There are many reasons why our teeth change colors and appear darker over time. When our teeth darken, it can not only make us self conscious of our smile, but can also affect our self confidence and self esteem. Over the years, our teeth darken for many reasons.
The most common reasons are:
*As we age,...

Oral Piercing and Your Health
Oral piercing is becoming more prevalent in society. Young adults, athletes, musicians, and many more are piercing their lips or tongue to make a statement. Before making the decision to visit a piercing parlor, it is important to know the risks and side effects that can be involved with oral piercing.
According to the...

Oral Piercing and Your Health
Oral piercing is becoming more prevalent in society. Young adults, athletes, musicians, and many more are piercing their lips or tongue to make a statement. Before making the decision to visit a piercing parlor, it is important to know the risks and side effects that can be involved with oral piercing.
According to the...

FDA Rules on Mercury Fillings
Last week the Federal Drug Administration ruled that the use of Mercury in the mouth for Mercury-Silver fillings, known as Amalgams, is safe. This came as a surprise to some anti-Amalgam groups who have claimed that the Mercury can cause many maladies in humans. Even President Obama had made statements against Mercury...

Treating Gum Disease Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers

ScienceDaily (May 29, 2009) — Here's one more reason to keep your teeth healthy. People, who suffer from gum disease and also have a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis, reduced their arthritic pain, number of swollen joints and the degree of morning stiffness when they cured their dental p...

GREAT NEWS... Sweden has officially banned all mercury including the use of mercury containing amalgam fillings. Please see below for the official press release. This will hopefully speed up the US FDA to seriously re-consider the re-certification of amalgam as a safe medical device for use...
Subject: Sweden bans amalgam effective June 1 2009
A...

Happy New Year
I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy new year. Going into 2009, you are assured to get the same high-quality attention and dental care from my team and I. Each year, we all do our best to improve our skills and our practice to offer you the best dental service on Maui.
And, as we head into the new year, I’d like to r...

It is definitely one of the themes you are hearing a lot about lately. People are refocusing on the basics on a lot of topics. And, one that should be top of your list is dental care.
Dental care could be one of the easiest parts of your day. Simple brushing and flossing can keep your teeth in good condition and help you avoid long-term problems....