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Say cheese when it comes to your dental health

Dr. Rick Wolfert, DMD, The Toothboss

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

If you are said to have a “cheesy” smile, it’s not thought to be a compliment. Yet according to recent dental studies, cheese may just be the key ingredient to healthy teeth and a healthy smile as it can offer protection from acid erosion—the breakdown of enamel brought on by coffee, tea, wine, soda, and other similar drinks.

According to Academy of General Dentistry study, our mouths naturally have a slightly acidic pH. When we ingest things like coffee, soda, tea, etc. the pH level sinks even lower, potentially damaging the tooth enamel. Cheese dairy products, consumed shortly after or with these acidic food products create saliva. The saliva then acts as a neutralizing agent, restoring and even elevating the pH levels in our mouths.

“The easiest way to protect your teeth from excess amounts of acids is to not drink soda, coffee, tea or any other thing that causes acid build-up. For most of us, that’s not terribly realistic,” said Richard Wolfert, DMD, a South Weymouth, MA dentist known as “The Toothboss”. “Fortunately, we’re learning more and more ways to minimize the impact of these acids. It certainly gives new meaning to cheesy smile and just saying cheese.”

Cheese is not the only dairy product that has this impact. While cheese can restore and elevate pH levels for 30 minutes after consumption, milk and yogurt can have the same impact but for just 10 minutes.

Beyond creating saliva, cheese also contains teeth-strengthening casein phosphate. So cheese has the dual benefit of strengthening teeth and sustaining the color of your teeth.

“The hidden benefit of cheese for oral health is that you don’t have to eat a whole block of cheese to get this benefit. About a third of a slice of cheese creates enough saliva to minimize the acidity from a glass of wine you might have with dinner, especially if you nibble occasionally on the cheese during the course of your meal,” said Wolfert.

Adds Wolfert, “I will tell you one thing, it certainly does change the meaning of ‘just say cheese’.”

For more information on The Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

The Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

The Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through Springstone.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

Say cheese when it comes to your dental healthRead More

Sugar-free doesn’t exactly mean cavity-free

Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss”

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

For those who drink diet soda and other diet drinks, one of your primary arguments for doing so is reducing your sugar intake. While there’s been some documentation that some of the chemicals in diet sodas can play a role in weight gain, there’s mounting evidence that diet drinks with artificial sweeteners can play a role in tooth decay.

“The common perception is that if there’s no sugar in a drink then it’s better for your teeth. In theory, that’s true. A regular soda with sugar is worse for your teeth than a diet soda, but that doesn’t tell the entire story,” said Dr. Richard E. Wolfert, DMD, a South Weymouth dentist known as The Toothboss with a practice located at 1121 Main Street. “The bacteria will not use artificial sweetener to form acid the way they do with regular sugars. But that doesn’t mean a diet soda can’t harm your teeth. The diet drinks are acidic on their own without the aid of the bacteria to help form the acid. Both can demineralize a tooth, causing erosion and cavities. So, although a soda with sugar may be slightly worse at causing cavities and erosion, diet drinks are not without consequences.”

So what should diet-conscious consumers drink if sugar and sugar sweeteners are both bad? Wolfert recommends good old fashioned water from the tap doesn’t cause any erosion of your teeth over any amount of exposure. It also has no calories. And, depending on your community, even offers fluoride.

Adds Wolfert. “Of course, it’s probably not realistic to think that people can drink only water and never have a soft drink. Moderation, as it is with everything, is the key. And if you want to have a diet soda, be sure to brush or at least rinse your mouth out with water shortly after to lessen the exposure to those acids found in diet drinks.”

Beyond drinking water and careful brushing, Wolfert also recommends selecting drinks that utilize sweeteners made from natural ingredients, like Stevia.

“I’m also encouraged about products that utilize sugar alcohols that can actually protect against dental cavities, like Xylitol,” said Wolfert. “Xylitol is a natural sweetener sourced from strawberries and other fruits. It’s not in drinks yet, but you can find Xylitol in chewing gums, syrups, candies and tooth pastes. Bacteria in your mouth are not able to breakdown Xylitol when you chew gum or eat candy containing the ingredients. Therefore, no bacterial acids are produced.  In the absence of bacterial acids, the process of cavity formation is nullified before it even begins. This makes Xylitol that rare thing – a sweetener that’s actually good for your teeth.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental.

For more information on The Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

The Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

The Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

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Is a sports drink worse than a soda? Ask a dentist.

Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA The Toothboss

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

There’s the perception that sports drinks are good, soda is bad. Sports drinks hydrate, soda dehydrates you and, worse, is loaded with sugar. While you probably won’t find any dental health professional recommending a soda any time soon, it might surprise you to know what dentists view as the lesser of two evils—at least when it comes to the well-being of your teeth.

“Most sports and energy drinks are loaded with sugar. In the short-term, they can re-energize you and rehydrate you somewhat. But if you drink several a day you are putting your teeth at serious risk,” said Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA The Toothboss, who owns and operates a dental practice at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth. “”Many sports drinks contain tons of sugar which combines with the bacteria in plaque that has adhered to the tooth surface. These acids erodes the enamel surface leading to cavities.”

These acids can soften tooth substance and promote formation of plaque, which erodes the enamel. Enamel breakdown leads to cavities.”

So is soda better for you than a sports or energy drink? According to a study contracted by the Academy of General Dentistry it is.

The AGD study considered what continuous exposure to a variety of “soft” drinks would do to your teeth, specifically the enamel portion of the tooth, over a 14-day period. Continuous exposure was considered several servings over the course of a 12-hour period.

The results revealed the erosion of a tooth’s enamel in milligrams:

  • Snapple Classic Lemonade – 30mg
  • Red Bull – 22mg
  • Gatorade (lemon-lime) – 20mg
  • Propel Fitness Water – 14mg
  • Arizona Iced Tea – 9 mg
  • Coca Cola – 3mg

So, technically, soda is better for your teeth than the sports drinks that promise to restore your electrolytes and other health benefits. But does that mean dentists endorse soda over sports drinks? Hardly.

“The lesser of two evils is still an evil,” said Wolfert. “What that study doesn’t reveal is that good old fashioned water from the tap doesn’t cause any erosion of your teeth over any amount of exposure. It also has no calories. And, depending on your community, even offers fluoride.”

Adds Wolfert. “Of course, it’s probably not realistic to think that people can drink only water and never have a soft drink. Moderation, as it is with everything, is the key. And if you want to have a sports drink or soda, be sure to brush or at least rinse your mouth out with water shortly after to lessen the exposure to those sugars can do.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental.

For more information on The Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

The Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

The Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

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South Weymouth dentist celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with ice cream?

: Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss” (far left) poses with Friendly’s Chris Lund, Kelsy Bannon and Owner Bobby Arruda. Dr. Wolfert and Friendly’s locations in Weymouth are celebrating National Tooth Fairy Day the week of March 4.

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

For most children and their parents, the celebration for losing a tooth involves a visit from the Tooth Fairy and some monetary reward. Left out of the equation is the person who cares for your children’s teeth: your dentist. That’s why South Weymouth Dentist Richard Wolfert, DMD, decided to join the celebration of National Tooth Fairy Day, February 28, with local Friendly’s restaurants in Weymouth.

Dr. Wolfert, who goes by the nickname of The Toothboss at his 1121 Main Street practice, donated 200 toothbrushes to the two Friendly’s Restaurants in Weymouth. The toothbrushes were given out to customers under the age of 12 who visit Friendly’s at 1021 Main Street and 415 Washington Street in Weymouth the week of March 4.

“It may seem kind of an unusual alliance, but an occasional sweet like ice cream isn’t the end of the world as long as you are consistently taking care of your teeth,” said Wolfert. “That means brushing, flossing and regular checkups at the dentist.”

In addition to toothbrushes, the gift bags given out included a coupon for a free checkup with Dr. Wolfert. That exam includes X-rays and a cleaning and can be used by any member of the family, not just the kids.

“On behalf of our younger customers, we’d like to thank Dr. Wolfert for his generous donation of the toothbrushes and free exam. It’s a great reminder for kids and their families to brush their teeth and get regular checkups at the dentist,” said Bobby Arruda, owner of both Friendly’s locations in Weymouth.

As part of his Tooth Fairy Day, Dr. Wolfert is also handing out Friendly’s coupons to younger patients with one stipulation: you must brush after every meal.

“You are never too young to start taking proper care of your teeth,” said Wolfert. “With all the studies linking dental hygiene or lack thereof to serious conditions, it’s critical for everybody to take better care of their teeth.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and accepts most insurance plans. The Toothboss also accepts payment from most insurance companies, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental.

For more information on the Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

The Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

The Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

South Weymouth dentist celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with ice cream?Read More

South Weymouth dental practice honored for donating dental services to elderly and vulnerable patients.

The Toothboss, Dr. Richard Wolfert, with David Masci

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

As a dentist, Richard Wolfert, DMD, thought he had seen enough plaque. That was until he received a plaque of a different kind—an award–from Donated Dental Services (DDS).

DDS is a national non-profit organization comprised of nearly 20,000 dental professionals who donate dental services for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically at-risk. The South Weymouth dentist is one of those providers.

“We’ve been involved with DDS over the past few years. The patients we’ve treated have needed everything from a full set of dentures to major dental work like root canals and crowns,” said Wolfert. “I believe that my treatment makes these patients healthier, makes them feel better about themselves, and makes me feel great to be able to provide these services to such a deserving people.”

One of the patients Dr. Wolfert has recently treated is David Masci of Lexington, Mass. Masci is awaiting transplants for both his pancreas and kidney and undergoes dialysis treatments three times a week, three to four hours per visit. So while some might consider sitting in a dentist’s chair for several hours for major dental work to be a nightmare, for Masci it’s a blessing.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to smile again,” said Masci.

DDS provides an invaluable resource to so many who need dental care. In fact, since 1985, when DDS launched, 109,843 vulnerable people have received more than $215 million worth of dental services for seriously neglected dental diseases. Dr. Wolfert is the sole provider of DDS services on the South Shore.

“The patients we treat have some serious problems but they usually leave here smiling and making me smile,” said Wolfert.

If you or somebody you know is a vulnerable person in need of dental care, please visit DDS’s Dental Lifeline at http://www.dentallifeline.org or by calling 888.471.6334.

Dr. Wolfert’s practice, Smiles by the Toothboss, is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He offers a offers a wide range of dental services, including comprehensive examinations, sedation dentistry, cosmetics, tooth-colored restorations, partial and full dentures; dental implants, periodontics (early cases treated) and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available). For more information, you can visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About Smiles by the Toothboss

Smiles by the Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

Smiles by the Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

South Weymouth dental practice honored for donating dental services to elderly and vulnerable patients.Read More

Missing a tooth or need one replaced? Dental implants provide a permanent solution.

Dental implant
Smiles by the Toothboss, located in South Weymouth, MA, performs dental implants

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

As a child, a missing tooth is a rite of passage and cause for children to celebrate an anticipated visit from the Tooth Fairy. As adults, a missing tooth or tooth that might need to be replaced is cause for discomfort on many levels, most notably emotional and financial. Unfortunately, many people opt for a quick fix or least costly fix and that can lead to more problems.

“The emotional impact of losing one of your teeth combined with the financial cost associated with repairing it leads people to some rather hasty decisions without considering all the factors,” said Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD and owner of Smiles by the Toothboss in South Weymouth. “We recommend dental implants because it offers a permanent solution without altering any teeth besides the missing one.”

Treatments for missing teeth or teeth that need replacing include:

  • Transitional replacement – Merely an aesthetic solution that offers limited functionality.
  • Bridge – This involves a tooth replacement and trimming adjacent teeth to transition smoothly with the false tooth. Trimming teeth can increase risk of the tooth abscessing or gum disease.
  • Dental implant – A Titanium based cylinder that replaces the missing tooth root. After a period of time and when the implant has integrated other parts will be placed on the implant, enabling your dentist to eventually place a crown (cap) on the implant.

The process of replacing a tooth via dental implant takes three to six months. An oral surgeon performs the initial phase, which involves replacing the root. Typically, your regular dentist will complete the remainder of the procedure, placing the crown/cap on the implant.

The cost of a dental implant can vary depending on the extent of the repair. Most dental plans will not cover the surgery portion of the procedure. Most plans will cover the crown portion of the procedure up to a certain amount (for most plans, it’s around $1500). You should check with your dental plan provider before committing to a dental implant to be certain of exactly how much is covered. 

“A dental implant is certainly a conservative approach,” said Wolfert. “More and more dentists are recommending dental implants as the preferred method of tooth replacement because of its durability and the lack of potential side effects.”

In addition to crowns for dental implants, Dr. Wolfert offers a wide range of dental services, including comprehensive examinations, cosmetics, tooth-colored restorations, partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated) and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

Dr. Wolfert’s practice, Smiles by the Toothboss, is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. For more information, you can visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About Smiles by the Toothboss

Smiles by the Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

Smiles by the Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

Missing a tooth or need one replaced? Dental implants provide a permanent solution.Read More