East Bay Oral Surgery

We would like to thank UC Berkeley’s Pre-Health DeCal for inviting Dr. Gronbach to join their dental panel. This last Tuesday, Dr. Gronbach spoke to a group of college students interested in pursing careers in healthcare. The Pre-Health DeCal is a course that exposes students to the various healthcare fields. The panel hosted a range of dental professionals and collegues including;

Dr. Edward Jang, General Dentist

Dr. Eric Axelrode, Orthodontist

Dr. Margarita Lachica, Orthodontist

Dr. Ali Rezai, Endodontist

Dr. Keith Gronbach, Oral Surgeon

The doctors shared their valuable experience and expertise with eager pre-health students. The panel allowed students to learn more about the dental field, as well as the interconnected nature between dental specialties. One student even described the panel as the “Fab Five of Dentistry,” saying she didn’t realize all of the diverse roles in the field and how they come together. The panel showed how dentistry is truly a team sport; your oral surgeon is working with your dentist who may also be working with an endodontist! It was a fun-filled, informative night for both the students and professionals.

 

During these uncertain times, obtaining healthcare treatment can be especially stressful and anxiety inducing. Our office is doing everything possible to ease your stresses and anxieties towards receiving care. Dental procedures and surgeries can cause anxiety for many individuals. This is completely normal, and we want you to know we are here to help. Please let us know about any reservations you may be experiencing. 

Techniques to Decrease Anxiety

• Inform our office – If you are a little stressed, please tell us. Do not feel embarrassed to inform us about your anxiety, we can tailor the experience to help calm your nerves.
• Headphones – We encourage patients to bring headphones to listen to music or audiobooks during surgery.
• Comforting items –  Feel free to bring comforting objects such as a blanket or stuffed animal. 
• Watch what you eat and drink – Avoid sugary, high caffeinated beverages prior to appointments in order to decrease the jitters.
• Appointment time – Try scheduling appointments during a time of day when you are typically less anxious. Possibly avoid rush hour traffic.
• Communicate with hand signals – To gain a sense of control during surgery, we can create a hand signal for you to communicate with us when you feel uncomfortable. This can be empowering and decrease stress.  
• Mindful techniques – Holding your breath can decrease oxygen and create a panic-like feeling. During the procedure focus on regular breathing techniques to comfort your mind and body. Meditation and guided breathing can help relax the mind. 
• Additional options – There are multiple other options available such as a prescribed oral sedation, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and many others. Please discuss your level of stress with Dr. Gronbach and together we can develop the most peaceful experience possible.

We understand many face anxiety due to dental procedures, especially during these unprecedented times. We are here to help, so please feel comfortable sharing any hesitations you have regarding your dental appointment.

 

Each year over $500 million is spent replacing and repairing knocked out teeth. Most of these dental injuries occur in sports, especially amongst the youth. Approximately 3 million teeth are knocked out a year due to youth sporting events. Wearing a mouth guard drastically decreases the likelihood of facial damage by protecting the teeth and jaw. Mouth guards are significantly less expensive than than the cost of repairing an unfortunate injury.

You have a few options, ranging in price…
1. Stock mouth guards – Purchased at a local sporting goods store, pharmacy, or department store. While inexpensive, they come pre-formed and may offer a bulky fit.

2. Boil-and-bite mouth guards – Commonly available at sporting goods store as well. The thermoplastic material is softening in boiled water and then placed in the mouth to shape.

3. Custom fitted mouth guards – Made by your dentist and offers the best fit. While slightly more expensive than the prior options, the custom fit offers more protection and lasts longer.

Invest in a mouth guard for sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and any other contact sport. We hope to never see you or your child here in the office with a knocked out tooth!

For more information visit…

AAOMS Guide to Mouth Guards – Selecting the Correct One

AAOMS Mouth Guards Graphic

AAOMS When Do You Need a Mouth Guard?

This past weekend East Bay Oral Surgery participated in the Lafayette Res Run for Education. Staff members, accompanied with friends and family, completed the 2 mile walk/run. The event also included a “Healthy Lifestyles Fair,” which offered festive games, treats, and booths for the community. The family friendly affair offered many fun activities for kids, such as, decorating pumpkins and “fishing” for Halloween prizes.  The event also aims to give back to the community, with all of the money earned going towards local schools in the area! Overall it was a fun-filled Sunday morning 🙂

Thank you to everyone who came out and we hope to see you next year!

 

Start the school year off with a sparkling smile by following these oral health tips!

• Develop a brushing and flossing routine by remembering the rule of twos. Brush twice a day for two minutes each time. Don’t forget to floss at least once a day! Also, remember to purchase new toothbrush heads every 3 months. Another way to remember this is to change the brush every time a report card comes out.
• Sports are also an important and fun aspect of school. With football, water polo, and other seasons right around the corner look into mouth guards. Consult your local dentist if one is necessary and they will be happy to fit your child with a protective custom fit. You do not want a visit to our office to replace a knocked out tooth!
• Remember to pack healthy snacks and lunches for the busy school schedule. Healthy habits are important to develop at a young age. Avoiding heavily sugary and starchy foods that promote decay are key to healthy teeth!
• Schedule dental appointments to prevent future dental problems. Regular check ups are important!

There are multiple benefits of maintaining good oral health for your children! Following these tips will decrease the likelihood of your child missing school due to cavities and gum diseases. Proper oral health leads to better grades and
improved concentration due to less mouth pain. We hope everyone is having an amazing start to the new school year!

Thank you to everyone who attended our 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta last Thursday! We would like to announce the official winners…

Spa Night Basket-Sara with Dr. Ko’s Office
Margarita Night Basket- Ashley with Lamorinda Tooth Buds
Date Night Basket- Gail with Dr Osterman
Instant Pot – Zayne with Dr. Schellinck’s office

Dr. Gronbach and staff randomly selected the raffle winners this past Tuesday. You can view the video on our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/1773038982956946/videos/2307199826235866/

Again, congratulations to the winners and we hope to see everyone at next year’s fiesta!

Last Thursday, our office hosted its 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

May 5th commemorates Mexico’s victory in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. During which, the Mexican Army defeated the invading French troops despite being drastically outnumbered. Cinco de Mayo is a day to celebrate the country’s rich heritage and pride. Take a look below to see how dental offices in the East Bay joined together and celebrated!

Over a dozen offices stopped by to enjoy a lunch break filled with tacos, chips, and guacamole! In the dental community, interactions between offices are often limited to talking on the phone and patient referrals. That’s why, the fiesta was an amazing opportunity for offices to come together and socialize with one another face to face. Lamorinda Tooth Buds brought the heat with their festive costumes and therapy dog Buddy. Everyone enjoyed getting outside and hanging out with other offices! The fiesta also included a fiery competitive raffle for various gift baskets and an Instant Pot (winners will be announced soon!).

Lastly, we would like to give an extra big thank you to Erin, who did the amazing job of organizing this fiesta!

We hope to see you all next year at the 2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!!

 

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