Blog

If you fear shots, injections, or medical needles in general, you may be suffering from trypanophobia—and an estimated 10 percent of Americans share the same aversion. The general public calls it “needle phobia” but the DSM-IV classified it as a specific phobia of medical needles as of 1994.  Dr. Nozik & Dr. Tumminelli understands these… (Read More)

We know a lot of our friends and neighbors aren’t fans of being asked how often they brush and floss, but at White Spruce Dental, we hope you know it’s because we care and want to help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life! Getting to know your habits also helps us personalize… (Read More)

For such a seemingly small part of your body, the tongue plays a major role in many everyday functions, such as talking, helping you digest and taste food, and swallowing. In fact, the appearance of your tongue may speak volumes (pun slightly intended) about the state of your oral and overall health.  Today, Rochester dentists,… (Read More)

No one wants to think about the words “abscessed tooth” applying to their own mouth, but to paraphrase Sun Tzu, it’s a good idea to know your enemy. Causes of an abscessed tooth include: Tooth decay Gum disease A cracked tooth When a tooth is compromised by one or more of these conditions, bacteria may… (Read More)

Teeth are typically the first thing that comes to mind for people when they hear the words dentist or dentistry, which makes sense—the root word dent actually means tooth! However, your teeth require healthy gums to hold them in place.  Did you know gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss? That’s why… (Read More)

At White Spruce Dental, we know a lot of people feel they’re adding a layer of tooth decay and gum disease prevention to their oral hygiene routines when they swish with mouthwash—which may be true, but it depends on the mouthwash. If you floss and brush properly, mouthwash isn’t always necessary, and certain types could… (Read More)

You’ve worn your braces or aligners, kept your checkup appointments, and followed treatment instructions from Dr. Kenneth Nozik & Dr. John Tumminelli. You love your new smile, but it’s not over yet—how long will you have to wear a retainer? There are two types of retainers: removable and fixed. Removable retainers are taken out of… (Read More)

Mail-order braces are a controversial dental topic, and Dr. Nozik & Dr. Tumminelli of White Spruce Dental weighs in today. Direct-to-consumer orthodontics companies make many appealing promises—no dental visits, aligners delivered to your door, and lower costs. But are the risks worth it?  Not according to this consumer alert from the American Association of Orthodontists… (Read More)

At White Spruce Dental, education is paramount in our mission to help our Rochester friends and neighbors improve and maintain their oral health. For this reason, we try to avoid using dental jargon when we’re speaking with our valued patient family.  However, there are terms that can’t be broken down as easily; in those cases,… (Read More)

Electric toothbrushes have been on the market for years now, and whether you’re a devout user or a critical skeptic, you may still be wondering: do they really work better, or have we all been duped? Dr. Nozik & Dr. Tumminelli is here to break down some of the myths and separate fact from fiction… (Read More)