What Our Team Loves About Dr. Burke!

IT’S SO GREAT TO GET UP each day, go to work, and be part of something great—a practice that truly cares about our patients. We love helping people achieve beautiful smiles. Most importantly, we value the relationships we build with you—and with other team members.

That’s why we’re so grateful for the person who makes it all possible, Dr. Burke.

Why We Love Dr. Burke:

As a little surprise to Dr. Burke we wanted to show our appreciation! We asked team members to comment with a favorite memory about Dr. Burke, or something about why they love working with our fearless leader!   And it’s no surprise to us that the words “kind” and “generous” and “funny” were used repeatedly. 

Amy: “What I love most about Dr. Burke is his special talent to connect with his diverse patient clientele.  From the young to the old, he has a special way of educating, communicating, and entertaining patients of all ages!”

“He makes it enjoyable to come to work every day because you know you’re going to laugh all day!

 Amber, “I love how compassionate Dr. Burke is about his patients and team.  He is always positive!”

Holly: “Where do I start?  Dr. Burke is one of the most caring employers I’ve ever met!  He takes very good care of all his team and is so generous.  He loves to make people laugh!  It’s never a dull moment at work!” 

Chelsea really appreciates his fun spirit and friendly demeanor.

Kathy: “I have worked for him for 23 years……he has gone above and beyond professionally for me and his entire staff!”

And Mary loves his free-spirited personality and genuine kindness toward everyone.

Over and over again, his team and patients commented on his great sense of humor.  When asked to share their favorite memories of him, we heard some hilarious stories!

Amy told us of the time he accidentally set his Christmas gift on fire!

Stacey really enjoys making the zany videos with him!! “He is a true creative genius”. Dr. Burke’s videos are infamous!  

Amber loves to see him dressing up in crazy costumes.  You never know what he will show up wearing for ANY event.

“My favorite memory is hanging out the window of a moving SUV, video recording him in the Bite-Mobile for the Rolling B.O. video!”

Chelsea: “My first year working here, we had an elderly patient come in with a broken retainer.  She said, “My bottom has a crack in it.’  Dr. Burke responded with, ‘Mine does too!’   Dr. Burke and I started cracking up….”

“When a balloon popped during our removal party and he yelled out, “Clean pair of shorts at a Chair 1!’  

Kathy shared a hilarious story of when she first started working with Dr. Burke.  She was mixing up impression material and it flew across the room and landed, SPLAT, on Dr. Burke’s back while he was treating a patient.  She was mortified!  He looked over his shoulder and went right back to the patient.  Meanwhile, Kathy had to wait until it dried before she peeled it off of his shirt, while trying not to laugh (or CRY!). 

We ALL really appreciate his generosity to all of us and to the community.  He loves giving back and is passionate in his commitment to help others. 

It’s true….our team loves our Dr. Burke!  He has created an atmosphere of making us feel like family….and it extends to our patients and their families as well.  As Holly says’ “God knew what he was doing when he brought him into our lives”. 

Thanks for all you do, Dr. Burke!

When should adult teeth erupt?

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Parents ask me this question often! So I thought it might be helpful to provide some information and a handy chart to which you can refer when an adult tooth seems to want to stay in hiding.

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• Most people have two sets of teeth during their life: a set of primary or “baby” teeth and the permanent or “adult” teeth.
• Besides helping children chew and pronounce words, the primary teeth hold a place in the jaws for the permanent teeth, which begin to push through the gums as the primary teeth are shed.
• While most children have 20 primary teeth—10 in each of the upper and lower jaws—these teeth eventually are replaced by 32 permanent teeth, 16 in each jaw.
• The first permanent molars usually erupt between ages 6 and 7 years. For that reason, they often are called the “six-year molars.” They are among the “extra” permanent teeth in that they don’t replace an existing primary tooth. These important teeth sometimes are mistaken for primary teeth. However, they are permanent and must be cared for properly if they are to last throughout the child’s lifetime. The six-year molars also help determine the shape of the lower face and affect the position and health of other permanent teeth.
• Most children have 28 of their permanent teeth by age 13 years. These include four central incisors, four lateral incisors, eight premolars, four canines and eight molars.
• The last of the permanent teeth to appear are called “third molars,” or “wisdom teeth.” They usually begin to erupt—pushing their way through the gums—between ages 17 and 21 years. Because they are so far back in the mouth, third molars often are not needed for chewing and are difficult to keep clean. Your dentist may recommend their removal to prevent potential complications when third molars are erupted partially or are impacted.

 This chart and photograph identify the names of the permanent teeth and provide the approximate ages at which you can expect the teeth to erupt

Heredity and other factors may influence the approximate ages at which children’s primary teeth shed and their permanent teeth emerge.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) from the smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach into the pits and fissures (depressions and grooves) of the chewing surfaces to remove food and plaque.

Protect permanent teeth by brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance, cleaning between teeth once a day with floss or another interdental cleaner and scheduling regular dental visits.

After all this information, the answer to the question "When will my teeth erupt?" remains "I'm not sure!"   My personal view is that there is a four year range for the expected eruption of any tooth.  We use special x-rays at our office to determine the expected eruption of your teeth and to discover if teeth are missing or out of position.  Feel free to ask me any questions regarding your particular eruption pattern.   

Thanks for sharing our practice (and our blog) with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. We appreciate your kind referrals!

Content reproduced from Journal of the American Dental Association:  1-2006

This just in from the American Dental Association:

Oral Cancer: What to do if something unusual shows up

Oral cancer is a type of cancer that develops in your mouth. It is typically diagnosed in people between the ages 55 and 64 years, and it occurs more often in men than women. It is estimated that oral cancer will make up about 3% of all cancers diagnosed in 2017.

Oral cancer may show up as an unusual lump or spot on your lips, the roof of your mouth, under or on the front part of your tongue, along the gumline or the floor of the mouth, or on the lining of your cheeks—places you can see when you look in the mirror.

When oral cancer is found early and treated—before it has time to spread to other areas of the body—the 5-year survival rate nearly doubles

You are the expert on what your mouth usually looks and feels like and may be the first to notice something unusual such as

• a sore or irritation that does not go away within 3 weeks;
• red or white patches;
• a lump;
• rough spots on normally smooth areas.

Any of these could be a sign of oral cancer. Or you may notice other symptoms that might signal a need for a closer look. These can include unexplained ear pain or throat trouble such as tenderness or numbness. In addition, hoarseness when you talk could be a sign of cancer in your throat, an area your dentist cannot see during a general examination. Be sure to tell your dentist if you have experienced any of these.

Regular Dental Visits

Seeing your dentist regularly is key to maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can tell you when to come back for regularly scheduled appointments. As part of your examination, your dentist can look and feel in and around your mouth. Often during an examination, no unusual lumps or sores are found. However, your dentist could find a lump or sore that calls for a closer look. If so, he or she may want to refer you to a specialist, keep an eye on it him- or herself, or provide some treatment to see if it goes away. If it does not heal in a reasonable amount of time, your dentist may suggest that you have a biopsy. During a biopsy, a sample of the area will be taken for a more detailed look at the tissue. In some cases, your dentist may think that it would be best to have a biopsy right away, without waiting to see if the lump or sore goes away.

It may seem scary but having a biopsy is the best way to find out what is going on with lumps or sores that seem out of place. Evaluating any of these unusual findings is important; early detection increases the chances for a good outcome.

Taking Charge

Oral cancer is not common. Despite that, you should be aware of the signs and work with your dentist to know the next steps if something unusual develops. Picking up on something unusual in your mouth and having a biopsy, if necessary, are important ways you can catch cancer early, which can double the 5-year survival rate.

Thanks for sharing our practice (and our blog) with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. We appreciate your kind referrals!

Content reproduced from Journal of the American Dental Association:  10-2017

4 WAYS LAUGHTER AND A CONFIDENT SMILE ARE LIFE CHANGING

BECAUSE IT USUALLY HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY, we don’t often think about smiling or laughing. However, they both really do make us feel better—and, studies continue to reveal more of their many benefits.

1. Smiling Evokes Trust

A recent study published in the Journal of Economic Psychology suggests that people may be as much as 10% more willing to trust someone who smiles.

2. Smiling Could Increase Your Net Worth

Some economists suggest that smiles may have real, monetary value! Another study found that smiling waitresses earn more tips (makes sense, right?).

3. Smiling Lifts Your Spirit And Those Around You

Life is full of ups and downs. Smiling can reduce distressing emotions and be an invaluable tool in moving forward with our heads held high. And equally important, grins and chuckles can calm and comfort those around us. Here’s an example of how someone else’s smile (laugh) can lift YOUR day.

4. Smiling May Help You Look Younger!

That elusive fountain of youth may not be found in surgeries or potions—rather, a study suggests that the path to looking younger may be found through our smiles.

Let’s Get You Smiling And Laughing More (or again)!

We know that some people don’t reap the benefits of smiling and laughing because they’re embarrassed or self-conscious about their teeth. Are you one of those people? We’d like to help. At Burke Orthodontics and Invisalign, we love visiting with our patients about their smiles. We want you to smile confidently!

Thanks for sharing our practice (and our blog) with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. We appreciate your kind referrals!