You relax as the chair warms and massages your back. Soothing colors surround you, and calming music fills your ears. No one can interrupt this 30 minutes just for you. No phone calls, no demands, no guilt about just being still and doing nothing—with your mouth wide open.

Get close. Closer. Eww, not that close.

New technology is helping Oral Facial Surgery Institute & Implant Center perform cutting-edge dental restoration for patients with the most complex needs.

There are many approaches to a younger-looking face, from cosmetics to plastic surgery. But one of the most important components of a youthful appearance is a healthy smile. Maintaining the teeth and gums is critical to your overall beauty regimen.

Does your pet have a case of bad breath? If so, don’t blame Fluffy or Fido, area vets say. Good oral hygiene is an important part of your pet’s grooming, and this often-overlooked aspect of their care should start early.

Dr. Jeffrey Marsh takes the Chinese proverb, Teach a man to fish… a step further. He believes in “teaching men to fish, so they can teach others to fish.”

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, romance is in the air. For inspiration, we surveyed a group of St. Louisans about their idea of a romantic evening. 

The American Sleep Association estimates that about 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops for short periods multiple times during the night. Sleep apnea doesn’t only cause excessive daytime sleepiness, its most noticeable effect; it also increases risk for heart attack and stroke, making it a serious medical condition for the millions who don’t know they have it.

Most adults remember getting the bad news at least once during a childhood visit to the dentist: You have a cavity. That announcement was followed by the dreaded return visit for a filling. And despite having more cavity-prevention tools at their disposal, many of today’s children are following in their parents’ footsteps.

Nothing says How nice to see you! or Thanks for a great weekend at the country house! better than a thoughtfully selected gift. We’ve come up with a selection of home décor items sure to please the most discerning recipient.

Halloween was just a few days ago, so I’m sure the kids still have bags of candy around the house. With candy comes the threat of cavities (and a perfect segue into childhood dental care).

It’s common custom to sit down with an attorney to plan a will and determine how your assets will be distributed after your passing. You want to make sure the objectives for your wealth are fulfilled, even if you are not there to oversee them. Establishing a relationship with a trust company also can add to that peace of mind, says Maurice Quiroga of PNC Wealth Management. “When you create that estate plan, you’re doing it for the benefit of your loved ones, and a trust company is going to implement the strategy that you’ve underwritten.”

Children used to spend years with a mouthful of metal as braces slowly repositioned crooked teeth. Today, kids have lots of options, and braces are even considered a fashion statement.

When is it wise to remove wisdom teeth? These ‘third molars’ at the very back of the gums might erupt completely in perfect position—but it’s not likely. More often than not, wisdom teeth become stuck, or impacted, only erupting partially or emerging in any number of incorrect positions. When this happens, the wisdom teeth often become difficult to clean properly, causing tooth decay, discomfort and infection.

Located at Mercy St. Louis in Creve Coeur, Oral Facial Surgery Institute & Implant Center is a private practice offering a full scope of treatments and services, ranging from simple ailments to more complicated cases, says Dr. Michael Noble. The facility is a Level 1 Trauma Center, providing all of the facial trauma services for Mercy St. Louis. “We handle patients with facial lacerations or any trauma, including broken facial bones,” says Noble, who is a founding member and serves as director of Oral Facial Surgery Institute, as well as director of its accredited maxillo facial fellowship program, which takes one person from the U.S. each year and provides them with additional training in the specialty.

What’s something you’ve been doing since childhood, but still don’t do quite right? For many people, the answer is brushing your teeth.

Whether it was started seven or 106 years ago, each of these health clinics has a strong reputation of providing critical care at low or no cost for area residents who couldn’t afford it otherwise.

Your teeth are nothing without your gums. Healthy gums support teeth that tend to stay firmly fixed in place. But that’s not the only reason to ensure your gums stay healthy.

You wake up exhausted and struggle to stay awake throughout the day. Your loud snoring often keeps your spouse up all night, and sometimes you wake up gasping for air. These symptoms are often indicative of sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening disorder that affects more than 18 million Americans. “Some studies say that it affects 20 percent of the population, but less than 1 percent has been diagnosed,” says Dr. Kevin Postol. “Without treatment, you have seven years taken off your life and higher risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes.”

Story: It’s May, and for Ethel and Norman Thayer Jr. that means trekking to their summer hideaway in Maine on a lake called Golden Pond. Norman, a retired English professor, and Ethel have been journeying to this idyllic retreat of Ethel’s childhood for nearly 50 years, while friends have come and gone. Charlie the mail carrier is a constant, though, annually asking about their daughter Chelsea, a former girlfriend he still fondly misses.

Looking for a way to get involved in the community? A good way to start is to get involved in the life of a child.

They’re the subject of songs, poems and proverbs, and we all know someone whose smile can light up a room. But for those with missing or broken teeth, smiling is something to be avoided. “It’s so hard on people for so many reasons,” explains Dr. Bob Willis, a prosodontist at ClearChoice Dental Implant Center in St. Louis. “Besides affecting their appearance and self-esteem, there’s a huge lack of function, including affecting their dietary choices. Nice, crunchy or chewy food that everyone enjoys? People with broken teeth avoid eating those things because it hurts!” This can lead to nutritional problems, he adds, because so many nutritious foods, like raw fruits and vegetables, are often crunchy. “They end up choosing soft foods that may be high in carbohydrates.”

Teenagers seem to be the bread and butter of an orthodontics practice. The typical teen, wearing braces for a year or two to straighten crooked teeth, is a common sight in an orthodontist’s waiting room. Yet more and more pre-teens and children, some as young as 7, are beginning orthodontic treatment to avoid more serious problems with bite and tooth alignment down the road.

One of the easiest ways to transform your appearance is by brightening your smile. Stained, yellowed teeth make people appear older and less healthy, and whitening is a simple process that can result in a remarkable difference.