Monday, Feb. 20 marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents' Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in zero died in office.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents, measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

Becoming a dentist has resulted in a rewarding profession, much of it due to the interaction and relationships I have been able to form with patients, staff and other dental colleagues. I have been fortunate to have a great mentor, my father, Dr. Dalseth. He has instilled in me the importance of treating people fairly, honestly, and the way that you would want to be treated. I think it is important to see things through patients eyes. If they are anxious, we determine how can we help them cope. If it is a new procedure, how can I best explain it to them? What I have found over the years is the best thing we can do is listen. Not only listen to what a patient is saying, but also how they are saying it.

Dentistry is a wonderful career and, for me, I cannot image doing anything else. We are always trying to improve and bring new ideas to the forefront and hopefully we can make a splash!

- Dr. Pascal Dalseth

February is National Dental Health Month, and all of us at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry love to celebrate this time of year and share our knowledge with our patients and people in the community. During the month of February, we visit a number of the local schools to give presentations. At these presentations we discuss the importance of a healthy diet and the difference between good and bad snacks, and how to make the right choices. We also review oral hygiene techniques such as brushing, flossing and the use of a fluoride rinse. I also love to read a book in the classroom that is dental related, such as, Dr. Desoto. We love that the kids are engaged and ask great questions.

In the office will promote Dental Health Month as a way to focus our attention on good oral hygiene and its importance to overall systemic health. Our oral health is important, and there is a strong link between oral health and low birth weight in babies, heart disease, diabetes, and potentially strokes. To make it fun we will have drawings for prizes, such as custom bleach trays, movie tickets, electric toothbrushes, and much more!

I would encourage anyone who has not been to the dentist lately to call us and schedule a check-up. It is a great way to get caught up on your oral health and potentially win some great prizes! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Thanks for the question! Yes! In fact, it's even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit our office regularly. When you're wearing braces, food may be caught in places that your toothbrush normally can't reach. This causes bacteria to build up and can lead to cavities, gingivitis and even gum disease. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care. Our staff at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry will work closely with your orthodontist to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy while you're undergoing orthodontic treatment.

If it has been more than six months since your last visit to our Apple Valley office, please give us a call! We look forward to your next visit!