The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, including our focus on infection control. If you need dental care after weeks in quarantine, you’ll probably be looking for a “safe dentist near me” specifically. Thankfully, your Winthrop dentist has implemented several additional safety measures to safeguard your health while you receive the dental treatment you need. Find out how they’re helping you practice social distancing when you come in for your appointment during COVID-19.

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During the quarantine, you’re doing your best to practice social distancing and stay home. You’re working from home, ordering your groceries online, and avoiding direct contact with other people as much as possible. Now is not the time to take unnecessary risks, which is why many businesses, stores, and practices are temporarily closed. Although your emergency dentist in Winthrop is still available for urgent treatment, you want to avoid putting you or their staff at risk of infection. In this blog post, you’ll learn how you can prevent dental emergencies during the quarantine and keep your smile healthy until some normalcy returns.

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Do you enjoy listening to podcasts? Perhaps you listen to them as you do chores around the house, while you work out at the gym, or on your commute to work. Podcasts can be great resources for information and advice, entertainment, and motivation. We are excited to announce that all three generations of Brooks dentists recently participated in a podcast for Boston University, where both Dr. Howard and Dr. Stephanie attended dental school. During this podcast, they discuss running a family business, learning to adapt to the ever-evolving field of dentistry, and consistently delivering exceptional dental care to our patients. Before you listen to the podcast about your dentist in Boston, take a few minutes to learn more about each generation at Brooks Dental.

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We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation, and we want to let you know that we are taking all the proper precautions to maintain a sterile environment for our patients and staff. We are ensuring that in addition to all surfaces regularly cleaned and disinfected, all door handles, light switches, armrests, and any other surfaces handled by patients/staff are disinfected multiple times throughout each workday. We are also increasing the frequency of our professional cleaning service during this time.
Another very important precaution we are taking is educating our patients on steps they can take to minimize exposure. These steps include:

• Avoid touching face, eyes, nose, mouth, etc.
• Avoid handshaking (“no contact policy”)
• Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or with inner arm
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20
• seconds
• Stay home if sick or symptomatic
• Avoid touching face, eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

If you have an upcoming appointment and you are experiencing symptoms (cough, fever, chills, aches), we will be happy to reschedule your appointment to a later date.

We will continue operating our normal hours, and we will post updates here as necessary. Maintaining a sanitized, sterile environment is something we do and have always done on a regular basis, so this protocol remains ongoing. 

Lastly, we are regularly monitoring developments regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and the American Dental Association (ADA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for healthcare providers. Your health and wellbeing is our priority. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit the Center for Disease Control website.
Warm Regards, 
The Brooks Dental Team 

We recently participated in a podcast with Boston University discussing the success and growth of our practice over three generations and how we continue to evolve with advancements in dentistry. We invite you to take some time to listen to this podcast and learn more about our expertise and dedication to exceeding our patients’ expectations!

Got a toothache?

Have you ever had severe tooth pain? What starts out as mild sensitivity can build until the discomfort becomes too much to bear. When you have a debilitating toothache, you just want the pain to go away as soon as possible. Well, did you know that in many of these kinds of cases, a root canal is the treatment of choice? Despite the negative myths about root canals, this pain-relieving, tooth-saving procedure is nothing to be afraid of.

Why We Need Root Canals

In the United States, it is estimated that about 15 percent of patients avoid seeking professional dental help out of fear; however, root canals have an unfair reputation. The truth is that rather than causing pain, root canals are performed to remove the source of pain from a deeply decayed or damaged tooth.

 Decay-causing bacteria can reach far into the tooth and cause destruction. A root canal halts the process of decay and removes the source of pain – the nerve tissue. A root canal treated tooth typically looks no different than any other tooth. The procedure is essentially a filling that is performed within the canals (on the inside) of the tooth roots. The purpose is to save the tooth and take the patient out of pain, as opposed to removing the whole tooth and leaving an empty space. In America, there are about 15 million root canals performed every year. That’s 15 million teeth that otherwise would have to be extracted completely!

When You Need A Root Canal

So how can you tell that you need a root canal? Other than having a severe toothache, you may also have a tooth that has suffered damage from an injury, such as biting on an olive pit, or grinding excessively at night. Sometimes, a root canal is necessary even if no pain exists at all. Anytime the nerve (also called the “pulp”) is exposed to harmful bacteria, a root canal is necessary to remove the bacteria and infected pulp.

How Brooks Dental Can Help

At Brooks Dental, we offer the complete package of root canal therapy in one location. Instead of being referred to an endodontist for the procedure, you can stay with the team you already trust and are familiar with. Our dentists have the clinical experience and training to handle your treatment entirely in-house. In fact, even if the tooth ultimately needs to be extracted, we can provide a dental implant, the gold standard of tooth replacement, right here in our Winthrop office.

Whether you’re coming in for a routine checkup or a root canal, our team will prove optimal care for our patients and their smiles.

Right around this time of year, you can’t go anywhere without seeing red and pink hearts and for good reason. In February, we can celebrate not only love but heart health as well. It makes sense that February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, intended to help people learn more about the cause of 1 in every 4 deaths in the United States. If you visit us this month, don’t be surprised if you see us wearing red to help spread awareness!

You may already know some ways you can keep your heart healthy, such as regular exercise and eating more fruits and vegetables, but did you know that you can improve your heart health by taking care of your smile? It’s true! In fact, February is also Gum Disease Awareness Month, and by the end of this newsletter, you’ll understand why these two diseases share a month.

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It’s the beginning of a new year and a new decade! Do you have goals for this year? We certainly do. This month is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to positive changes, and we want to take this opportunity to share our thoughts with you, our amazing patients. 

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WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR BROOKS DENTAL FOR 60 YEARS OF SERVICE!

Brooks Dental is incredibly proud to be serving the residents of Winthrop and surrounding communities. It’s amazing to think that we’ve been established right here in Winthrop Center for 60 years now. Dr. Barry, Dr. Howard, and Dr. Stephanie Brooks are honored to continue the Brooks Dental legacy.

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At Brooks Dental, we’ve been incredibly grateful to Winthrop and the surrounding communities for giving us the opportunity to provide exceptional dentistry, whether we are preventing dental disease or cosmetically enhancing smiles. Recently, one of our patients was ecstatic with the results of her cosmetic treatment, and we’re honored to share her personal testimonial in this month’s newsletter.

Zoe worked with Dr. Stephanie to choose the right treatment that would accomplish her goal of improving her smile. Below, we’ll be highlighting Zoe’s experience throughout the veneer process. If you’ve been considering improving your smile and think cosmetic dentistry is right for you, read on to learn more and follow Zoe’s story. (more…)

When tooth pain strikes, you might find yourself asking a lot of questions. Is it simply caused by food that is stuck between my teeth?, or is it something that is more serious. Depending on the type of discomfort you’re experiencing, your tooth may be in far worse condition than you might think. In this instance, it’s best that you make a call to the dentists at Brooks Dental for additional guidance and necessary treatment.

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