Ronald K. Walker, DDS

03/31/2023

DEA National RX Take Back Day
Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Take this opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused medications on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10am-2pm. You can go to https://www.dea.gov/takebackday -locator to find a location near your home.

The DEA thanks you for your support!

The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications fro...

03/13/2023

Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

Here are some tips for common dental emergencies:
For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it in between your cheek and gums, in milk, or use a tooth preservation product that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Then, get to your dentist’s office right away.
For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down.
If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.
For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues.
For objects stuck in the mouth, try to gently remove with floss but do not try to remove it with sharp or pointed instruments.
When you have a dental emergency, it’s important to visit your dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible.

Here are some simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to the teeth:
Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities.
Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
Use scissors, NEVER your teeth, to cut things.
Call your dentist and provide as much detail as possible about your condition.

03/06/2023

Happy National Dentist's Day to our Dr. Walker!

07/15/2022

What about DIY Teeth Whitening?

BEWARE of trendy DIY teeth whitening products like whitening with charcoal, that can damage your teeth.

While trendy, whitening teeth with ingredients found at home or over-the-counter like charcoal, baking soda may remove surface staining, but can’t lighten the shade of teeth. Additionally, patients using such ingredients run the risk of abrading their tooth enamel, causing long-term damage and discoloration.

The only substance proven to actually whiten tooth enamel color is peroxide—whether it be carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, with both yielding high quality results. Both amounts of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, depending on the product, are in are commonly found in and processed by the body, and are considered safe and non-toxic to use on the teeth.

03/17/2022

The gigs for Dr. Ron and the Painkillers at Bar Vinedo on Saturday, March 19 and Saturday, April 23 have been postponed. Watch for updates and say a healing prayer for our extraordinary drummer, Cyd.

01/31/2022

Why Does the Dentist Take my Blood Pressure?

We’ve all been there. You sit down for your dental appointment, ready and prepared for a filling or crown, and then…the blood pressure cuff comes out. And we think, “What’s this for?” Read along as we get answers on why your dentists and dental hygienists check your blood pressure at your dental appointment.

Why did they take my blood pressure at the dentist?
There are many reasons why the dentist or assistant may need to check your blood pressure at your appointment. This can range from establishing your baseline to alerts in hypertension to measuring your anxiety levels. Namely, your blood pressure is key to understanding your overall health at the time of your appointment.

This is especially important since many Americans see their dentist more often than their physician at every 6-month cleaning. It’s a crucial health check and an opportunity to understand the changes in your overall health.

Can dental problems cause high blood pressure?
As humans, our bodies react differently when we are in pain or experiencing high anxiety. If you have high blood pressure, your dentist may need to adjust your treatment plan. Once determined, your dentist can make a better customized treatment plan for your specific needs.

For example, some dentists may be able to offer light sedation options for those patients who have high anxiety which is causing their blood pressure to rise. Additionally, patients who are in pain from a tooth that needs to be extracted will see a drop in their blood pressure after that painful tooth has been removed.

In extremely hypertensive situations, however, you may be asked to visit your primary care physician to discuss ways to reduce your blood pressure before beginning any dental care treatment.

10/12/2021

Study: Oral Health Associated With COVID-19 Severity In Those With Heart Disease Dimensions Of Dental Hygiene (10/8, Machado) reported that “individuals with cardiovascular disease experienced greater severity of COVID-19 illness and longer recovery times in the presence of poor oral health, according to new research out of Egypt.” In a study of 86 patients with cardiovascular disease, researchers found that “those who tested positive for COVID-19 via a PCR test and scored the lowest on a questionnaire assessing oral health endured more severe illness, longer recovery times, and higher levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation, than those patients with better oral health scores.”
HealthDay (10/8, Preidt) reported that study lead author Dr. Ahmed Mustafa Basuoni, a cardiology consultant at Cairo University in Egypt, said, “Oral tissues could act as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2, developing a high viral load in the oral cavity. Therefore, we recommended maintenance of oral health and improving oral hygiene measures, especially during COVID-19 infection.” The “study will be presented at a joint meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the Egyptian Society of Cardiology and the ACC Egypt Chapter on Oct. 14-15.”

07/30/2021

CDC Suggests Vaccinated Individuals Infected With Delta Coronavirus Variant Carry High Viral Loads
The Washington Post (7/29, Ellerbeck, Cunningham) reports, “CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said earlier this week that she has research indicating vaccinated people infected with Delta are carrying high viral loads – a new phenomenon, compared with how the original version of the virus behaved.” One “outside expert briefed on the data confirmed to” the Post “that those were the findings.” Meanwhile, “as for the CDC, a spokeswoman acknowledged there are studies forthcoming but didn’t clarify when they might be released.”
The New York Times (7/29, Mandavilli) reports, “The recommendation that vaccinated people in some parts of the country dust off their masks was based largely on” the “troublesome finding, according to” Dr. Walensky. People with “breakthrough infections – cases that occur despite full vaccination – of the Delta variant may be just as contagious as unvaccinated people, even if they have no symptoms.”
CDC Says Transmission Rates In 69.3% Of US Counties Trigger Mask Mandate Under Latest Guidance
Reuters (7/29, Shepardson) reports the CDC “said on Thursday that 69.3% of U.S. counties had transmission rates of COVID-19 high enough to warrant indoor masking in public spaces and should immediately resume the policy.” That figure represents an increase from 66.6%. Overall, “52.2% of U.S. counties have high COVID-19 community transmission rates and 17.1% have substantial rates, the CDC said.”

07/26/2021

Go to barvinedo.com for more information on the venue... great food, drinks and service. Or, visit their FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/Bar-Viñedo-749121591789630/