What’s New With Dr. Hedge

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom Hedge. I’ve been a dentist for almost 40 years — and the biggest challenge I still see is getting people to floss.

Truth is, I’m not a great flosser either.
Come on, let’s be honest — it’s a pain. It’s hard to reach, hard to get between contacts.
And I’ve heard every excuse:

• “It makes my gums bleed.”
  (Well, they bleed because you don’t floss.)
  
  
• “I can’t reach the back.”
  (Totally fair — it’s tough.)
  
  

Then I Discovered the Flouse

One day, I was just scrolling Facebook and saw an ad for this device called Flouse.
At first, I thought: whatever. But I figured I’d better try it — for my patients.

And oh my God — this thing is amazing.
I’m somewhat addicted to flossing now.

Why the Flouse Works

There are a couple of really cool features that make it a game-changer:

1. Ultrasonic Vibration
   It vibrates at a frequency that, in my opinion, helps break up the biofilm — the bacterial mat that brushing alone can't reach, especially between the back teeth.
   
   
2. Bite Block Insertion
   You bite down to insert it between your teeth.
   That completely removes the hassle of “forcing floss” through tight contacts.
   
   

Take Care of Your $100,000 Smile

Let me remind you — you have $100,000 worth of teeth in your mouth.

If you lose one tooth, here’s what happens:

• Extraction
  
  
• Bone graft
  
  
• Implant
  
  
• Abutment
  
  
• And finally, the crown
  
  

That’s a $4,000–5,000 process — per tooth.

Multiply that by 28 teeth? It adds up.

So do yourself a favor:
Spend the $100–120 on a Flouse. (You might even find some discounts online.)

Totally worth it.Highly recommended — Dr. Tom Hedge

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom Hedge. I’ve been a dentist for almost 40 years — and the biggest challenge I still see is getting people to floss.

Truth is, I’m not a great flosser either.
Come on, let’s be honest — it’s a pain. It’s hard to reach, hard to get between contacts.
And I’ve heard every excuse:

• “It makes my gums bleed.”
  (Well, they bleed because you don’t floss.)
  
• “I can’t reach the back.”
  (Totally fair — it’s tough.)
  

Then I Discovered the Flouse

One day, I was just scrolling Facebook and saw an ad for this device called Flouse.
At first, I thought: whatever. But I figured I’d better try it — for my patients.

And oh my God — this thing is amazing.
I’m somewhat addicted to flossing now.

Why the Flouse Works

There are a couple of really cool features that make it a game-changer:

1. Ultrasonic Vibration
   It vibrates at a frequency that, in my opinion, helps break up the biofilm — the bacterial mat that brushing alone can't reach, especially between the back teeth.
   
   
2. Bite Block Insertion
   You bite down to insert it between your teeth.
   That completely removes the hassle of “forcing floss” through tight contacts.
   
   

Take Care of Your $100,000 Smile

Let me remind you — you have $100,000 worth of teeth in your mouth.

If you lose one tooth, here’s what happens:

• Extraction
  
• Bone graft
  
• Implant
  
• Abutment
  
• And finally, the crown
  
  

That’s a $4,000–5,000 process — per tooth.

Multiply that by 28 teeth? It adds up.

So do yourself a favor:
Spend the $100–120 on a Flouse. (You might even find some discounts online.)

Totally worth it.Highly recommended — Dr. Tom Hedge

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom Hedge.

One of the first questions people ask when they call our office about veneers is:

“How much do they cost?”

That’s a great question — and the honest answer is:

It depends.

The Car Analogy: Veneers Come in Levels

Let’s look at it like buying a car.

Here are three great vehicles:

• A Toyota Camry: dependable, functional, good value.
  
• A Range Rover: stylish and premium — but maybe not the best long-term reliability.
  
• A Lexus LS500: high-end, excellent quality, beautiful finish, long-lasting.
  

In our office, veneers are very similar.
We offer multiple levels of veneers depending on:

• The look you want
  
• How long you want them to last
  
• And how much you’re ready to invest
  

Not All Veneers Are Created Equal

Let’s look at two examples:

• On the left: these veneers are beautiful — with natural translucency and texture. Maybe a bit bold for some, but they look like real teeth.
  
• On the right: these look more like chiclets — flat, too white, and artificial.
  

Here’s a real story:
A patient went to Mexico to save money and got a set of veneers that looked like those chiclets.
She ended up spending even more when she came back to us to replace them properly.

The Bottom Line

Be careful where you get veneers — and understand:

• There are different qualities and aesthetic levels
  
• Your investment should be based on your goals, expectations, and longevity
  
• Veneers, when done right, should be:
  
  
  • Beautiful
    
  • Durable
    
  • And something you’re proud to smile with
    

If you have questions or want a consultation, give us a call.
Have a great day — Dr. Tom Hedge.

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom Hedge, and I want to talk to you about something we hear all the time:

“Do I have to wear my retainer for the rest of my life?”

The honest answer is… probably yes.

Why Retainers Matter — Forever

Here’s the reality:
If you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth will likely shift back — it’s called relapse.

I’ve had so many patients come in as adults and say:

“I had braces as a teenager, but look what happened to my teeth — they’re crowded again.”

Retainer Options: What Works & What Doesn’t

Let’s look at some of the most common types:

1. Hawley Retainer (Old School)

• The classic wire-and-acrylic type
  
• Uncomfortable, bulky
  
• Easy to lose, bend, or — let's be honest — have your dog chew it up
  

2. Bonded (Fixed) Retainer

• Cemented to the inside of your front teeth
  
  
• Hard to floss around
  
• Traps plaque and tartar — especially on lower front teeth, where saliva pools
  
• Good for holding, but bad for hygiene long-term
  

3. Clear Removable Retainer (Best Choice)

• Comfortable, invisible
  
• Easy to wear at night only
  
• If you’ve done clear aligner therapy like ClearCorrect or Invisalign, this will feel completely natural — you’ve already been wearing one 24/7
  

What Happens If You Don’t Wear It?

Let me show you a real case:

A patient had braces as a teenager, didn’t wear their retainer, and the teeth relapsed into crowding.
With modern aligners, we fixed the problem in less than four months.

From crooked to straight — just like that.

But here’s the kicker:
After the correction, you still have to wear your retainer at night — or the problem will come back.

Bottom Line

Yes, retainers are a lifetime commitment — but just at night, and the right type makes it simple.
Think of it as insurance for your smile.

Have a great day — Dr. Tom Hedge

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom Hedge, and I want to talk to you about how to keep your teeth and gums healthy — with real-world tools and techniques that we recommend in our practice.

Stop Using a Manual Toothbrush

One thing we don’t recommend anymore is the standard manual toothbrush.
It simply doesn’t do a good enough job.

What We Recommend: Oral-B iO Series

We love the Oral-B iO — and here’s why:

• Comes in Series 2 through 10
  
  
  • Prices range from $59 to $350
    
  • They all do the same essential job
    

Key Features:

• Oscillates and vibrates to clean thoroughly
  
• Smart pressure sensor:
  
  
  • Green = just right
    
  • Red = pressing too hard
    
    
• You don’t have to worry about hard, medium, or soft bristles — it adjusts for you
  
  
• The brush head hugs the tooth, cleaning around the gum line and between teeth
  

The Most Important Zone: Gum Line

When brushing, your focus should be on the interface between the tooth and the gum.
That’s where bacteria accumulate — and where flossing plays a key role.

Our Favorite Flossing Secret: A Compact Water Flosser

Most water flossers are bulky, counter-hogging machines you have to plug in.

We recommend a compact, handheld water flosser — around $35 on Amazon:

• Small and portable
  
• Rechargeable or battery powered
  
• Sprays a focused stream of water between teeth and under the gumline
  

“Even after you floss, you’ll be amazed at what still comes out when you use this.”

Should You Still Use Regular Floss?

Yes — absolutely.

Water flossers are great, but mechanical cleaning (like using a sponge on a dirty car) is still important.
Floss gets into those tight contacts and scrapes the sides of teeth.

Especially the back teeth:

• They’re wider
  
• They trap more food
  
• And they’re the most important to floss, even though all the diagrams only show the front teeth!
  

What Toothpaste Should You Use?

Honestly?

They’re all good.

Pick the one that:

• Tastes fresh
  
• Feels clean
  
• And helps encourage you to brush
  

The real work comes from mechanically removing plaque and bacteria — not the ingredients themselves.

Quick Summary: Dr. Hedge’s Essentials for Healthy Teeth & Gums

1. Oral-B iO electric toothbrush (any series)
   
2. Compact water flosser for between teeth
   
3. Traditional floss, especially for back molars
   
4. Any toothpaste you’ll actually use
   

Keep those gums tight and those teeth sparkling. You’ve got this.

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom Hedge — and welcome to this week’s video.

We all deal with aches and pains from time to time. Sometimes it’s a simple backache. Sometimes it’s post-surgical discomfort.
So today, I want to talk about a safe, highly effective, non-narcotic pain relief strategy I’ve been using for years.

Interestingly, the American Dental Association (ADA) recently gave this method its seal of approval.

What Is the Pain Relief Combo?

It’s simple.
Two over-the-counter medications that work together beautifully:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  

They’re:

• Non-narcotic
  
• Readily available
  
• And highly effective when combined
  

How They Work

• Acetaminophen is a centrally acting agent — it works in the brain to reduce pain perception.
  
• Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) — it reduces inflammation, one of the major contributors to pain.
  

By combining them, you get two mechanisms of action working together to suppress pain more effectively than either one alone.

Is It Safe to Combine Them?

Yes, absolutely.
These medications are metabolized through different organs:

• Ibuprofen through the kidneys
  
• Acetaminophen through the liver
  

So your body processes them separately, which makes combining them safe when taken as directed.

Recommended Dosage for Best Results

• 2 Extra-Strength Tylenol (500mg each)
  
• 2 Advil or generic ibuprofen (200mg each)
  
• Take together every 8 hours
  

This gives you:

• 1000mg of acetaminophen
  
• 400mg of ibuprofen
  

This combination is shown to:

• Act faster
  
• Provide stronger relief
  
• Last longer
  

✅ This dosage is well within the safe limits:

• Max acetaminophen: 4000mg per day
  
• Max ibuprofen: 1200mg per day (OTC guideline)
  

New Combo Pills — But Use With Caution

Advil recently released a combo pill containing:

• 250mg acetaminophen
  
• 125mg ibuprofen
  

While convenient, these are under-dosed compared to the optimal 1000mg/400mg combo. If you're able to manage your own timing, separate pills work better.

Final Summary (Screen Grab This)

🟩 Dr. Hedge’s Pain Relief Protocol

2 Extra-Strength Tylenol (1000mg)

• 2 Advil (400mg)
  Every 8 hours
  = Pain-free & narcotic-free
  
  

Let’s stay comfortable — and stay opioid-free.
Have a great day!