Articles by: Peter Drews, D.D.S., M.A.G.D.

Over 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints. RA is a disabling condition, and can lead to long-term joint damage resulting in persistent pain and loss of function in affected areas. A study published in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication […]

It is our goal as dentists to inform our patients f their current oral conditions, and to provide multiple treatment plan options to choose from that will improve their oral condition. We understand that it is not realistic, or practical, to assume that every patient wants the ideal treatment plan, which is why we pride […]

This is a question that I get almost once a week.  Having the opportunity to just go to my supply room and grab my favorite brand makes it too easy for me.  I wanted to put together a blog that explains how to select a toothpaste from the drug store aisle.  I am going to […]

Health concerns about fat and cholesterol have prompted many people to become vegetarians, and the nutritional deficiencies that can sometimes result may reveal themselves during dental exams. Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Ludwig Leibsohn, DDS says he usually asks patients if they adhere to vegetarian or other special diets. “Most adult vegetarians are very knowledgeable […]

I recently received an email asking the question, “Where do cavities come from?”  With the popularity of energy drinks, dentists (at least in my area of the country) are seeing a segment of these young patients with a high number of cavities.  To understand how a cavity forms, you need to have an understanding of […]

Patient Question: “Why do you want to fill baby teeth? They will fall out anyway.” Dr. Drews’s Answer: “I can understand why you would wonder about that. It is confusing when some of the teeth we call baby teeth may stay in a child’s mouth until he’s 12. While it is true that baby teeth […]

Clear aligner therapy is a lot like traditional braces in for correcting a variety of orthodontic issues (crooked teeth, crowded teeth, gaps, bite misalignments, etc). However, invisible braces are a discreet and convenient alternative in some instances. Clear aligners work using a series of clear, removable “trays” that are custom fit to your teeth and […]

As young children, losing a tooth is probably one of the more exciting milestones we have. Unfortunately, the tooth fairy isn’t going to pay any of us middle-aged folks a visit with her money purse, nor are there a third set of strong, shiny white teeth coming to replace the ones that we might lose […]

Every week we receive questions from patients regarding natural supplements that claim to help the health of their gums. There is a lot of information on the web about such supplements that claim to help; unfortunately, there are no large studies that follow good research standards that allow us to state, unequivocally, “This is the […]

I get a lot of questions from parents as they start to bring their kids in for regular dental check ups. Some people even wonder why they should bother treating children’s teeth since “the teeth are going to fall out anyway.” The truth is, good oral hygiene begins before your child’s teeth even erupt and […]