Thanks for the question. Your first visit typically includes an x-ray that allows us to view the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, and tooth decay.

The initial visit also involves getting your medical history. When you share your medical history with us, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Please let us know if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if you have recently been ill. Also tell us the names, doses, and frequency of any medications you are taking — whether prescription or over-the-counter products — and the name of your physician. Please also let us know about any changes in your health or medications. This information will us select the most safe and effective method of treatment path for you.

Have any more questions about your first visit? Please give us a call!

At Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we know image is everything. May happens to be National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

We know one of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a visit to our office. Has your child visited our practice in the past six months for his or her regular check-up? We invite you to give us a call to book your appointment!

See you soon!

Have you noticed pain and discomfort in your jaw? Does your TMJ click or pop? Have you noticed that your teeth are wearing or becoming shorter? Does your spouse tell you that you grind your teeth at night?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be showing signs of occlusal disease.

Occlusal disease is caused by an imbalance in how your teeth meet. With this imbalance or interference, our bodies try and rub or grind it smooth, which causes the wear and destruction of all of our teeth. Dr. Sara Michel has been working with the Dawson Institute, studying the causes and cures of occlusal disease. Call to set up an appointment with her to discuss your concerns.

If a person has some mild discomfort in thier muscle of mastication (the muscles we use to chew with) there could be other contributing factors other than an occlusal imbalance. Soreness of the jaw muscles can be cause by excessive caffeine, sleeping on your stomach, chewing too much stick chew foods, such as bagels. Not chewing food evenly on both side of the mouth could also be a cause. Some hints at relieving the symptoms of discomfort include: moist heat compresses, ibuprofen, softer diet, and less caffeine.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, feel free to call us at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.

- Dr. Pascal

Last night was Family Night at the dental office. It is an event we have twice a year for all of the staff member, their spouses and children. It is a great time to get everyone together and reconnect. The children have a great time playing games and comparing check-ups. We had about 25 people last night. After we clean everybody's teeth we celebrate the great check ups with pizza and ice cream. The wonderful part is seeing how much the children have grown and how fast they can become friends. The next days is always fun as the staff share stories about how much fun their children had and how they are looking forward to the next Family Night.

Check out the photos on Facebook

Dr. Pascal

Spring is in the air! As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Thank you! Have a great week!

Visiting our office regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

We are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment. Take care of your teeth!

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, talk to our team. We can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to treat it.

There are many reasons for bad breath:
• What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.

The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits with our office for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

When I look at our immediate community, I think about our dental office and relationships have have developed between the entire staff. We are fortunate in having a staff that is focused on the patients' needs, and by listening we are able to help them achieve their goals. We are extremely proud of our staff and the fact that they have been with us for a long time. This month we are celebrating the ten years Jennifer R. has been with us. I am sure over the years many current patients have had the opportunity to have Jennifer clean their teeth. She is a bright person who is continually seeking learn more, not only about dental hygiene, but Invisalign, dental implants, and cosmetic dentistry. Next time you are in the office and you see Jennifer, congratulate her on her dedication to preventative dental care and the outstanding treatment she continues to provide.

As the year progresses Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is going to highlight other staff memebers that have reached milestones with us.

Dr. Pascal

Have you ever noticed how many types of toothpaste are out there? Every brand seems to make a particular claim why theirs is the best...but do you know which is right for you? What are all of those different ingredients? Do they really work or is it a gimmick? Here are a couple of facts and tips to help you find the toothpaste that is best for you:

Toothpastes contain 2 types of ingredients:
1. Active: such as those that control cavities, plaque, gingivitis, hypersensitivity, and tartar
2. Inactive: these are things that cause the toothpaste to foam, thickening agents, preservatives, sweeteners/flavorings, and coloring agents.

The active ingredients are listed first on the tube in alphabetical order. The inactive ingredients are next, listed from greatest to least concentration.

When you go to the drug store, think about what your needs are:
1. Cavity control: When looking at the active ingredients, the toothpaste must contain fluoride.
2. Hypersensitivity: There are two active ingredients that are proven to help. The first is Potassium Nitrate at 5% concentration. It works by blocking repolarization of the nerve, thus stopping transmission of the signal. Stannous fluoride also works by occluding the dentinal tubules, which prevents the movement of fluid within the tooth.
3. Anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis: triclosan, zinc citrate and stannous fluoride are the leading ingredients to reduce plaque and gingivitis. They are effective because they are either bactericidal or bacteriostatic, meaning they either kill bacteria or prevent its growth.
4. Anti-calculus (anti-tartar): These types of toothpastes inhibit the mineralization of dental plaque or the crystalline formation of calculus. Some of the ingredients include: pyrophosphates, zinc salts, triclosan/copolymers, and sodium hexametaphosphate.
5. Whitening: Most whitening toothpastes make their claims because they remove extrinsic stain. This is accomplished through an abrasive incorporated into the toothpaste such as sodium bicarbonate, silicas, and aluminum oxide.

Hopefully the next time you are out buying toothpaste, you can make the best choice for your oral health. If you have questions about which toothpaste is right for you, feel free to give us a call at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry or ask us on Facebook!

Winter sports are wrapping up and spring sports are ramping up, so I think now is a good time to review facial protection. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, 5 million teeth are knock out annually on children, high school athletes, and adults. It is essential that an athlete's mouth guard fits properly, is comfortable and is worn. Whether the athletic mouth guard is fabricated in our office, or it is a take home kit from the sporting goods store, it must protect and cover the vital structures.

The guard should cover all of the maxillary (upper) teeth and extend onto the gum several millimeters in order to be an adequate shock absorber. It should not be too thin and should be replaced at least annually, especially if your child is still loosing teeth. However, an improper fit will not provide adequate protection. If you have a question about your child's athletic mouth guard, feel free to give us a call.

Lastly, I want to wish all of the athletes competing in sections, state, or other season ending tournaments the best of luck. I will be watching the sports page for the results!

-Dr. Pascal Dalseth

Cavities occur as a result of the destruction of tooth structure, called tooth decay. Tooth decay can affect both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth). While it is very important to brush and floss every day to remove food particles and plaque, regular cleanings and checkups at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is the best way to help avoid cavities.

Drs. Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel can discover cavities during your regular dental checkup. The tooth surface feels soft when probed with a dental instrument. X-rays can also show cavities before they become visible to the eye. In advanced stages of tooth decay, you might experience a toothache, especially after consuming sweet, hot, or cold foods or drinks. Other signs of tooth decay are visible pits or holes in the teeth.

Don’t wait for a toothache!

Remember, the longer you wait to treat a cavity, the more extensive your treatment will be. A small cavity can be treated with a filling, while a large cavity that weakens the structure of your tooth may require a crown. If the decay is so bad that it causes the nerve or pulp of the tooth to die, a root canal or tooth removal may be your only options. If you think you may have a cavity, contact our office and schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure you leave with a healthy, pain-free smile!

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!

Drs. Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel and their team are always available to answer patient questions about teeth and oral health. We strive to provide our patients with quality care and a warm, family-friendly environment.

We also recognize that the most important questions are our responsibility to answer. Some of the questions that we hear in the office include:

From the front desk:
-- Do you take my insurance?
-- Why are we out of network?

From the clinical staff:
-- What age should I bring my child for their first visit?
-- What is the difference between a regular clean and a periodontal cleaning?
-- Will this hurt?
-- Do I have to do this?

We also encourage you to ask us:

-- How are my teeth affecting my overall health?
-- Why do I get cavities?
-- What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future?
-- How beneficial is preventative care?

Most important questions to ask your dentist?
-- Can you explain the problem to me, how can I resolve it, and how can I prevent it from happening again?

Answers to these and other questions often vary from patient to patient. We encourage to ask us the next time to you have an appointment at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. We want your dental experience to be informative and comfortable.

At Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we know nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth. Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of WebMD.

Let’s start with brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, evading a trip to visit to the dnetist is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry at least twice a year or as recommended, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your natural teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you’re wearing braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick up that candy bar, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Even if you brush and floss daily, it is still important to see us at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry every 6 months, or as recommended.

Why?

• We can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed.
• Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay.
• Frequent visits can allow us to treat a problem early to prevent future complications.

If you are overdue for an appointment with us, please give us a call today!

-- Drs Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel

Many folks consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2012? Dr. Pascal Dalseth and our team recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give us a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from our friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, we know your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

Maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, our friends at the American Dental Association recommend nuts or dried fruit, which are a nice alternative to sugars and have a greater nutritional value—and can satisfy your sweet tooth! Both nuts and fruit are a great source of fiber and act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, nuts are a great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9, nutrients that contribute to a healthy immune system. Nuts are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with reducing heart disease and lower blood pressure.

If you must indulge in chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season, remember to brush your teeth after eating sugary treats. Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

- Dr. Pascal Dalseth and team

The advancements in dentistry are incredible. The standard of dental care has changed significantly for people who are missing one tooth or all their teeth. Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is proud to offer our patients dental implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are a predicatible way to create a natural feeling prosthesis that can restore your esthetic and functional needs.

Dental implants can be life changing for a person. They can actually prevent the loss of bone. In fact, there is no need for an adhesive like you would use to hold a denture from floating around in your mouth. A dental implant is secure and does not move while you eat or talk. People with dental implants can become more healthy because of a better diet, improved self-esteem, and confidence.

To learn more about dental implants at our office, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

At Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, our YouTube, Facebook and blog are all areas where patients can find out what we have been up to. There are informational videos on procedures and updates on CE. This a place were we let you know what we have been doing including activities in the community and special events at the office. We also update on highlights of the season and the week of both staff and their family.

I would enjoy having my patients let me know what they would like to see. Is there a specific are of dentistry that you are thinking about? Has there been something in the media about a material or procedure. Do you like the tidbits about what we are doing outside the office?

I cannot wait to hear!

From Dr. Pascal Dalseth DDS

It’s Fall. Leaves are turning shades of orange and red, the wind is picking up and getting cooler, and pumpkin patches are full of bright orange pumpkins. Families gather together, kids head out trick-or-treating, and as always, wedding bells are ringing. That's right, Fall is one of the best times of year to tie the knot! If you are gearing up for a wedding this Fall, consider matching that white dress to a perfectly white smile!

At Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry we offer in-office tooth whitening for the bride, the groom, or the entire wedding party! You get the girls together to get their nails done, and now you can get them together to get their teeth done!

In-office whitening is the quickest, most effective way to achieve whiter teeth. Because we are dental professionals, we have the expertise to use higher percentages of whitening agents than the at-home systems allow. So you can get a brighter white, usually in just one visit!

Give us a ring and let us add some extra sparkle to your “I do”!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. It is a time that brings families together, gives us an opportunity to appreciate and be thankful for all that has happened throughout the year. Thanksgiving also seems to be the commencement of the giving season and thinking about helping those less fortunate than most of us. At Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry we also believe in giving back.

This past week we had the opportunity to visit Feed My Starving Children again. It is a wonderful organization that allows volunteers to pack and ship nutrient rich meals to children in countries where starvation is cause by drought, political unrest, or natural disasters. Last Friday the entire staff packed 25,056 meals, which is enough to feed 65 children for 1 year. At the end, a FMSC employee shared a story about an 8 year boy for EL Salvador who weighed 19 pounds, after 6 months of Manna pack meals the young boy weighed 74 pounds. His stomach was no longer distended and his hair had begun to grow. It is an amazing story of how a few people working together can help so many.

The one thing I took away from when volunteering at FMSC was, that sometime the greatest gift a person can give is one of time. The gift of time is important, whether you are reading to your child, listening to your grandparents share a story, picking up trash along the roadway, or working at a foodshelf. Without your gift of time, you are leaving a void that cannot be filled.

On this week of Thanksgiving all of us at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and want to thank you all you for sharing your time with us.

Dr. Pascal

With the start of the busy holiday season right around the corner, our staff at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry wanted to stop for a moment to say how thankful we are to have you in our dental family. We realize that our practice thrives because of great patients like you. We are the lucky ones because we not only help keep you and your smile healthy, but we also have the pleasure of knowing you and your loved ones.

As always, if you know anyone we can help, just let us know. We promise to give them the same quality care that we have given you over the years.

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Visiting the dentist for the first time should be a positive experience, one that child would like to repeat again and again. When I was young I loved to go to the dentist, but perhaps that is because my father was my dentist. But as kids I think we are all looking for the same thing: a cheerful, friendly person who is willing to explain and show things before they were done. A prize at the end is also a plus! Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has seen families for multiple generations now, and even some of the young adults are telling their children about the prize basket they had when they came to see our office as a kids. It's the same basket that we use today!

I think it is important for parents to talk to their children about coming to the dentist in a positive, non-threatening manner. The majority of the kids we see at our office love to come back for their next appointments. Their parents love to share this, and it makes us feel good about the work we do.

For our staff we have family night. We see all the staffs' kids and spouses, and clean their teeth. When we are all done we have a pizza party and ice cream! We try to make everyone's dental experience positive and enjoyable.

-Dr. Pascal Dalseth

At Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we know that tooth sensitivity affects a lot of people. While the reasons may vary, there are many different ways to help those with tooth sensitivity:

1. One reason that tooth sensitivity may occur is because of gum recession. Exposure of the root surface can dramatically increase sensitivity. An exposed root has open channels into the nerve sensors, which can be activated by hot, cold and sweets. Regular use of a sensitivity tooth paste with the active ingredient 5% potassium nitrate can close or restrict these channels, which can help reduce tooth sensitivity.

2. Clenching and grinding of teeth can also contribute to sensitivity. If force is placed on the teeth, it can aggravate the nerves. Some theories state that clenching and grinding is one cause of gum recession and abfraction (the loss of tooth structure from force) of the tooth. Abfraction lesions are small cracks or notches in your teeth caused by chewing. Clenching your teeth, as well as chewing and biting put pressure on your teeth. Over time, this pressure can cause cracks and splits in the enamel, or outer layer, of your teeth.

Abfraction lesions can show up as notches on the chewing points (cusps) of the back teeth. They can also show up as lines or cracks on the outside of a tooth. You can see them if you look in a mirror and shine a flashlight or bright light on your teeth. The lines usually run up and down the length of a tooth. You also can have cracks in the neck of a tooth, which is the part closest to, or just under, your gums.

Wearing a bite splint can reduce the force on your teeth by decreasing the contraction force of your chewing muscles. We can also give you some self-help tips to prevent this common stress release at our office.

If people have extreme sensitivity at the time of their cleaning, we can apply a special polishing paste to protect the teeth which can last a couple of months. We can also apply a topical anesthetic to the gums and teeth that help relieve sensitivity during your cleaning.

Another way to help reduce tooth sensitivity is with a prescription toothpaste, such as Prevident 5000. It contains 5 times the amount of fluoride found in regular toothpaste. It can work like potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity, while also greatly decreasing your risk of cavities.

If you have any questions about tooth sensitivity, feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook, or ask us at your next appointment.

November is a busy month for all of us at Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. It's a month where we typically try to give back to the community and our staff. It is just one way to say thank you for supporting us all these years.

1. First, we are taking an afternnoon to go to Feed My Starving Children. As a team we pack meals to be shipped to people in impoverished nations, those strictened by drought and starvation. These meals contain all the essential vitamins, protein, and carbohydrates to prevent malnutrition and disease. It is a great way to bond as a team and think about those less fortunate.

2. Dr. Stephen Dalseth, Jodi, and Angie are headed to Haiti on Friday for a 10-day mission trip. They will be working at a sister parish of Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville. Their main goal is to clean all of the school children's teeth, check for cavities, and place sealants on their permanent molars to protect against cavities. They will also be treating adults, primarily through exodontia, or extracting teeth. Dr. Dalseth is very passionate about this trip and has gone for several years. He serves on the committee that organizes and plans this annnual trip. At the office we always look forward to a presentation and stories of the experiences they have had. You can follow the trip and learn more by visiting the Risen Savior Catholic Community website.

3. We also sponsor a couple of famillies over the holidays through Armful of Love. Members of our staff make a donation, and the office matches the dollar amount. Last year we were able to sponsor two families! We go shopping for the families and then wrap all of the gifts so Armful of Love can deliever them. It is a great way to give back during the holiday season.

4. Lastly, we have a family night at the office. During this family night, the spouses and children of our staff come to the office after hours and we have a tooth cleaning party! After the tooth cleaning, we have a pizza party. The kids love playing together and it is a great way to see the all of the families from our office together. It is amazing how much the kids change every six months. Look for pictures on our website and Facebook page in the near future!

We hope you all have a great November!

Drs. Stephen Dalseth, Pascal Dalseth, Todd Weber, and Sara Michel and team strive to make our patients feel comfortable and safe in the office at each appointment. We love being able to give patients a beautiful smile. Here are a few great stories from our office:

We met a new patient who came to Dalseth Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to get a required check up before deployment. He was so anxious that he refused to come in past the doorway. We allowed him to sit in the doctors chair and talk about his concerns until he felt comfortable for us to take a look in his mouth. It turned out that he needed a lot of work done. Every tooth he had required some type of treatment. He knew that his anxiety and deeply rooted fear of the dentist caused him to have very infrequent visits to the dentist and his needs continued to pile up. We started out slow. Scheduling a few things at a time. Always making sure that he was comfortable. His treatment needs resulted in him having a total mouth reconstruction. He was deployed and spent a few years overseas. He told us when all his work was completed that we gave him his smile back. He had been embarrassed about the condition of his mouth for years and always held his hand over his mouth when talking and knew people thought he was crabby all the time because they never saw him smile. Its great to see that he is comfortable and trusting of our care and his renewed self confidence.

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We have a patient that has a terminal medical condition. His doctors haven’t given him very long to live. His disease has ravaged both his body and mouth. Now most people would think that your teeth would be the last thing on your mind if your going through this. When he came in and told us that he wanted us to fix his smile he said his reason for going through the work wasn’t for him but so that in his last days with his family they get to see his nice smile. He always comes in with a warm smile and kind words.

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We had a patient who struggled her whole life with mouth pain and what she thought were “ugly” teeth. She was terrified of the dentist and extremely embarrassed to have anyone see her teeth. She worked in a field that required that she have constant contact with the public and knew that not feeling comfortable to smile hindered that. She was a great candidate for implants and eventually had her mouth restored to great function and an even greater appearance. Not only was she able to smile the way she always wanted but she is one of a very small number of women that was happy to be able to gain weight since she no longer had any mouth pain.

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We see an older gentlemen who has Alzheimers. His wife is determined to make sure that his teeth are given the proper treatment. His memory of recent events is not as sharp as it used to be but he has a million stories to share about the life he’s led. He has taught us how to hunt and prepare a deer. He’s shown us the pictures to support his story. They are a sweet couple who always ask about how the staff and their children are doing despite their own trying circumstances.

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We saw a little girl for a cleaning one day. She was neither shy nor anxious. We giggled our way through the cleaning and she requested a certain toothbrush that we didn’t have on hand in the room. When I stepped out of the room to get it she thought it would be funny to play hide and seek. Fortunately she wasn’t a very good hider and her pigtail gave her away.

"We usually see patients every three to six months. This allows us to really get to know patients and families, and develop relationships. It is really fun to be able to watch kids grow from toddlers to young adults and see how much they change.

Our goal is to provide patients with the best dental care so they can maintain great oral health. Oral health can affect the body as a whole, so good oral health has a postive impact on overall health of a patient.

I enjoy meeting new people. It is important to remember that everyone is unique and has had different experiences, so you really need to listen to them. It is wonderful when you can take an anxious or fearful patient and give them a good experience.

On a personal level I feel very fortuante to be in the dental field. It allows me the flexibilty to work and be able to spend time with my young children."

Sincerely,
Dr. Michel

We receive a lot of great questions here at Dalseth Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Today we wanted to take a moment to answer some of your frequently asked questions. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact our office!

Q: Do you see children and at what age do should they come?
A: Families are important to us. As such, we love to see children and create a positive first experience. We usually recommend seeing children for the first time at 3 years old. If a parent has a question or concern, we would love to see them at any age.

Q: Do you take my insurance?
A: We accept most types of insurance. Benefit levels, however, may vary depending on your employer.

Q: How soon can I get in?
A: Our office tries to be as accommodating as possible. If you have a dental emergency, we will see you that day. If you are a new patient, our goal is to see you at your earliest convenience.

Q: How long has your staff been working with you?
A: We pride ourselves with the tenure of our staff. A number of staff have been with us for over 20 years. The majority of our staff have been with us for over 10 years! They enjoy working here and they know we put the patient first and have his or her best interest in mind. The staff loves the patients and the relationships that they have developed.

The most important question a patient should ask their dentist:

Q: How is my overall dental health and what can I do to maintain or improve it?
A: Regular preventive recall visits are key, whether they are every six months or every 3 months. This usually depends on your current dental condition.