Provides practical information and advice on topics related to dental and overall health.
Have you ever visited a new dentist and been told you need a “smile makeover,” with the implication that if your teeth were whiter and straighter, you would be more successful and happier? Or maybe you’ve never had a cavity – and now, suddenly, you have a half dozen that require immediate attention. Perhaps you’ve been told you need a root canal or a crown or implant. What are all these things? Which procedure is best for your situation?
Did you leave those offices thinking, “It’s not really bothering me. Do I need to get all this work done?”
Nothing But the Tooth is a ready guide to dental health that answers all your questions and the ones you didn’t even know to ask. It begins with the most important question: how to choose a competent and ethical dentist – and ends with a discussion about technological advances in the dental field. Topics such as the cost of dental treatment, pediatric and geriatric dental needs, and the link between sleep apnea and your mouth are covered. Most importantly, it guides readers to a better understanding of the link between dental and overall health.
Teresa Yang, DDS, has practiced dentistry for more than 30 years. She has also taught clinical dentistry and practice management at the UCLA School of Dentistry, where she currently serves on the Board of Counselors. As a member of the Forbes Health Advisory Board, she provides expertise on dental articles. Dr. Yang is a past trustee at the California Dental Association (CDA) and served on its Foundation board. She is the 2021 recipient of the Carl Lundgren award from the Western Los Angeles Dental Society.
Her articles have appeared in the CDA Journal and DrBicuspid.com, where she is a contributing writer. She currently serves as editor of WestViews, a publication of the Western Los Angeles Dental Society. She lives in Los Angeles. Read her blog at www.teresayangdds.com.
Introduction
Chapter 1
How Do I Find – and Keep - A Good Dentist?
Chapter 2
Why is Dentistry So Expensive?
Chapter 3
Will My Teeth Fall Out If I Don’t Get Them Cleaned Twice A Year?
Chapter 4
Didn’t I JUST Have X-rays Taken?
Chapter 5
Confusion in the Dental Aisle – Help!
Chapter 6
I Want That Perfect Smile on Instagram – But Are Those Fake Teeth?
Chapter 7
It’s Not Bothering Me – Why Should I Get It Fixed?
Chapter 8
OK, I Need A Crown – Now What?
Chapter 9
What? Root Canal, Gum Surgery ?!@#$%!
Chapter 10
What You Need to Know About Implants
Chapter 11
Kids and Seniors, Two Ends of the Spectrum
Chapter 12
Specialist Referrals – Why Can’t You Just Do It, Doc?
Chapter 13
Orthodontic Secrets
Chapter 14
Much More Than Drill and Fill
Chapter 15
Advances and Changes in Dentistry
Chapter 16
The Crazy Confusing World of Dental Insurance
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Index
Dentist Yang debuts with a pragmatic overview of how patients can navigate the dental care system. To find a good dentist, Yang recommends asking friends for referrals or contacting a local branch of the American Dental Association. She suggests that dental work is expensive primarily because dentists have to recoup student loan debt and the cost of new equipment, but she notes that patients can receive less costly care by seeing a dentist-in-training. Yang walks through common procedures, explaining that root canals are performed by drilling a small opening in the tooth, cleaning the canals that run the length of the tooth, and filling the cavity with a material called gutta percha. Elsewhere, she covers how to get that perfect smile on Instagram by bleaching or getting veneers and how often to visit the dentist—once per year is enough for most, though people who are pregnant or have diabetes may want to go more frequently. The guidance is practical, and patients will appreciate the insight into what it’s like on the other end of the drill (“treating your cell phone as a body part” and “chronic lateness” number among dentists’ pet peeves). This will make readers’ next trip to the dentist a little less intimidating.
— Publishers Weekly
If you want to fully understand dentistry and how to choose the right dentist, its all here in this easy-to-read guide.
— Fred Joyal, Co-founder, 1-800-DENTIST
Dentists and physicians are natural partners in the delivery of healthcare. Dr. Yang explains clearly how dentists are sometimes the first to diagnose disease and direct the patient accordingly. Nothing But the Tooth is about so much more than teeth.
— Rick Lehman, MD, Medical Director, US Center for Sports Medicine
Dr. Yang understands the importance of oral health and its connection to overall health. She provides practical and useful information that every dental patient needs for optimum health.
— Kami Hoss, DDS, MS, Author of If Your Mouth Could Talk, Co-founder of The Super Dentists
Dr. Yang channels her outstanding professional knowledge to help make the world of oral health care accessible for all audiences.
— Paul H. Krebsbach, DDS, PhD
In Nothing But the Tooth: An Insiders Guide to Dental Health, Dr. Teresa Yang does what no dentist has ever done - answers the most frequently asked patient questions in simple, easy to understand, and extremely helpful language. Now patients dont need a dental degree to get the best answers to things like Why do I need a crown?, Do I really need x-rays again?, Why is dental care so expensive?, and many many more. This book should be required reading for any dental patient or dental patient-to-be, and it would be a great asset to the reception area of any dental practice.
— Richard H. Madow, DDS, Dentist and Dental Consultant, Co-founder, The Madow Center for Dental Practice Success
Throughout my years of working with Dr. Teresa Yang, I have not only found her to be a wealth of knowledge on the subject of dentistry, but also someone who is very passionate about making sure people understand exactly how dental care impacts them and why oral health is so important. I know this book will make a difference for so many patients.
— Kevin Henry, Founder of Kevin Speaks Dental, Former editor-in-chief, DrBicuspid.com
If youre looking for an informative and practical guide to dental health, look no further than Nothing But the Tooth: An Insiders Guide to Dental Health by Dr. Teresa Yang. This comprehensive guide to the dental profession can help anyone navigate the ins and outs of dentistry, such as how to find a good dentist, when to see a specialist, and why brand name implants matter.
As a respected leader in the dental professional, Dr. Yang shares her wealth of knowledge in a way that is accessible to the general public. Dr. Yangs expertise and ability to balance technical information with easy-to-read advice make this book an invaluable resource for anyone.
Whether youre looking to improve your oral hygiene or seeking to learn more about dental health, Nothing But the Tooth is a must-read. Dr. Yang will guide you towards making informed decisions about your dental and overall health. This book is a valuable resource that readers will refer to time and time again.
— Theresa Pablos, Editor-in-chief of DrBicuspid
This guide to dental health combines information about fluoride and insurance (or lack thereof) with such fascinating historical nuggets as the ancient use of horsehair to floss and how, more than 4,000 years ago, Egyptians used twigs to make toothbrushes and whitened their teeth with a paste of pumice stone and white wine vinegar. Yang, a dentist for more than three decades, makes a compelling case for the importance of teeth and the medical professionals who take care of them. She gives plenty of tips, including to brush twice a day for two minutes, and look for the American Dental Association seal of approval on toothpastes. For the record, her favorite product is floss, which has been manufactured commercially since 1882. Yang shares buyer-beware advice about heading abroad for cheaper dental work, etiquette advice about dental appointments, parental advice about not sending kids to school with sugary Fruit Roll-Ups, and general guidance about choosing brushes with soft bristles to avoid injuring gums. “Dentistry is about so much more than drill and fill,” she writes. Indeed.
— Booklist
