Each year, approximately 15-20 children arrive from Afghanistan on a medical mission that brings them to the United States for medical and dental treatment. They stay an average for approximately six weeks, although some of the more sick children stay much longer, sometimes with host families for an entire year.

On June 1st, our office along with a team of dentists will screen these children and perform all treatment necessary to restore them to ideal dental health. It is a very rewarding feeling to unselfishly give back to children who otherwise have no access to care. We have seen and treated some amazing problems and it is a time we look forward to every year.

If you would like to help Solace for the Children or would consider getting involved by hosting a child, please contact Dr. Mullens who will connect you with the organization. You can learn more at our Facebook page.

Thanks for the question. Your first visit typically includes an x-ray that allows us to view the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, and tooth decay.

The initial visit also involves getting your medical history. When you share your medical history with us, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Please let us know if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if you have recently been ill. Also tell us the names, doses, and frequency of any medications you are taking — whether prescription or over-the-counter products — and the name of your physician. Please also let us know about any changes in your health or medications. This information will us select the most safe and effective method of treatment path for you.

Have any more questions about your first visit? Please give us a call!

At (insert practice name), we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with an orthodontic consultation. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in to discuss your treatment options?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule an appointment or ask us on Facebook!

Cities have been adjusting the fluoride levels in water since 1964. Since that time, fluoridation has dramatically improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans. Community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay, but you may not be drinking as much fluoridated water as you may think. If bottled or home-purified water is your main source for drinking water, you may be missing out on this extremely safe and effective mineral that prevents tooth decay.

Of course, using toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Approval is a good source of fluoride, but optimal levels of absorption can only be achieved if you use it as directed: brushing twice a day for two to three minutes each time.

At our office, you can receive professionally applied topical fluoride during your next dental checkup. This is extremely important for people who are at high risk for tooth decay, including children, people with less than perfect oral hygiene, people undergoing orthodontic treatment, and people with weakened enamel due to lifestyle choices or genetic factors. If you have any questions regarding fluoride, please feel free to ask us at the office. We want you to have the healthiest smile possible.

Spring is in the air! As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Thank you! Have a great week!

Visiting our office regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

We are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Please let us now if you have any questions about your oral health during your next appointment. Take care of your teeth!

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, talk to our team. We can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to treat it.

There are many reasons for bad breath:
• What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.

The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits with our office for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

Today I wanted to thank you for your patience with our office during our closure for Spring Break. I enjoyed some much needed time off with my family, and we even managed to catch some dinner a few times here in Horseshoe Beach, Florida!

We returned Monday, March 19th and look forward to seeing you soon!

What exciting adventures did you have this spring break? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Happy March Madness!

Dr. Rick Mullens

We will be rolling out our new Facebook Timeline page soon and would love for you to check it out!

You’ll find all the useful information that was there before, but now in a fun, new layout. When you Like us on Facebook, you’ll be able to check out photos of our office, find out about new events and contests, or you can even leave a note about how much you enjoyed your visit at our office. We love hearing your feedback to make our practice serve you and your family even better. To make life even easier, if you “Like” us on Facebook, you’ll automatically receive updates from our office right on your own news feed!

See you on Facebook!

I have funny story of my own!

When I was young, maybe six or seven years old, I remember acting up one time before receiving an injection from my pediatric dentist, Dr. Fain, in Daytona Beach. I must have been writhing in the chair because he grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a couple of firm shakes, and probably a little voice control to go with it, and man, I tell you, I never acted up again!

Truth be told, I idolized Dr. Fain and I think I was just having a bad day. He is truly the reason I decided early in life that I wanted to be a dentist. He loved his patients and did everything he could to make our experiences positive and pleasant.

However, I do think we employ more genteel measures these days to start our young (and sometimes older!) patients off in the right direction. To be honest, those TVs in our ceilings provide most of the behavior managment I need to safely and comfortably treat our patients.

I doubt I will ever grab someone by the shoulders, but just in case, I know it's always a technique at my disposal!

- Dr. Richard Mullens

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco users are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75 percent of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health, we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For support, start with Dr. Richard C. Mullens! We can help by recommending different options to help you quit, and above all we will support you throughout the quitting process. We are dedicated to helping you protect your oral health – and quitting smoking is significant step in the right direction.

As a child, I have to admit that I feared the injection. However, I had a wonderful pediatric dentist, Dr. Charles Fain, that was so patient with me. He was gentle, and he carefully talked me through each and every procedure that he performed on me. Believe it or not, I had to have a lot of dental care when I was young!

I believe that because I have been the dental patient numerous times, I have a lot of empathy now for my own patients. We go to great lengths to be certain that our patients are comfortable during their appointments. There are so many techniques and technologies available now to minimize anxiety and discomfort during dental treatment. We utilize computerized injection systems, offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation, and we also have never abandoned the simple, old fashioned TLC for all of our patients.

I idolized Dr. Fain and he seemed to enjoy caring for me. I thought he had a great job, and as a result, I've nearly always known I wanted to be a dentist. In fact, the attached picture is of me performing my first dental exam on my sister in the back seat of our car! Take special notice of her body language-it screams, "Are you done yet?" Or, "Really, is this the best game we can play on a long family vacation?"

We are especially fond of our young patients. Starting them off with positive experiences at an early age develops a lifelong relationship and commitment to dental care that will positively impact their health for a lifetime. We have many kids in our practice that literally beg their parents to come see us. We are most flattered!

-Dr. Richard Mullens

The best advice I have received regarding patient relationships was that, although it is not always popular, being transparent and honest in all matters regarding a patient's health will always ring true. It is always in the patient's best interest to be presented with the facts without distortion. Patients must be allowed to partner in the decisions regarding their well-being, based on the facts.

We have built in excess of 20 years of trust into the relationships we have in our office with our patients, and it is a facet of our relationship and service that we take very seriously.

If you have any questions about your treatment at our office, or your oral health, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

-Dr. Rick Mullens

With February being National Children's Dental Health Month, our team at Dr. Richard Mullens' office thought we'd share a few good oral hygiene tips with our patients, courtesy of the American Dental Association, or ADA.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush, using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.
• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and place between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.
• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as vegetables, fruits and cheese and avoid sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, make sure to brush after doing so.
• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these beverages create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. When drinking one of these beverages, avoid sipping on it throughout the day. Rather, have a drink and then brush your teeth.
• Regular dental visits: You should visit us regularly (approximately every six months).

National Children's Dental Health Month, now in its 62nd year, aims to increase awareness about the importance of kids' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Dr. Mullens', please feel free to give us a call!

Did you know February is American Heart Month? It’s a great time to take notice of the health of your heart, says Dr. Richard C. Mullens. Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting our office on a regular basis can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. And because people with dental insurance are more likely to visit their dentist when they should, a healthy mouth begins with a visit with Dr. Mullens. In observance of Heart Month, it’s also important to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25). If you have any questions about heart health, or about your treatment, please give us a call today.

Thanks for the question! Yes! In fact, it's even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit our office regularly. When you're wearing braces, food may be caught in places that your toothbrush normally can't reach. This causes bacteria to build up and can lead to cavities, gingivitis and even gum disease. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care. Our staff at Dr. Richard Mullens' office will work closely with your orthodontist to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy while you're undergoing orthodontic treatment.

If it has been more than six months since your last visit to our Jacksonville office, please give us a call!

Dr. Richard Mullens and our team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Richard C. Mullens, DDS, serving Jacksonville, FL and surrounding communities, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share one especially great one with you today! Happy Monday!

My Experience: The office and staff are warm and welcoming. They value their patients' time as I never have to wait to be seen.

Experience With Team: Dr. Mullens and staff are extremely friendly and go out of their way to make sure I am comfortable before, during and after the appointment.

Favorite Thing About Practice: You care. It is obvious.... From the treatment I receive in the office and the follow up calls. I had to have a cavity filled and had anxiety about it and Dr. Mullens called me directly prior to the appointment to put me at ease. Never had any medical professional do that.

How Can We Improve: I honestly don't think there is anything I could suggest to improve my experience.

Rating: Great!

Additional Comments: Thank you for taking my fears and anxieties to heart and putting me at ease for my appointments.....

One word nobody wants to hear when they visit Dr. Richard Mullens is "cavity!" That’s right, the dreaded cavity; but what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by your dentist, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up

Dr. Richard Mullens and the team celebrated Christmas and the end of a terrific 2011 by blowing off a little steam at Latitude 30! The ladies beat Dr. Mullens in bowling...it wasn't even close!!

We were also excited to announce that K. Bietenholz was our December winner in our monthly drawing for referring us a great new patient! She won a $100 gift certificate to BB's restaurant in San Marco.

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. We look forward to serving your dental needs in 2012 and beyond! Happy New Year from Dr. Mullens and all of us at the office!

The year is almost over, so we wanted to ask what was memorable about 2011 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2012? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

We hope all of our wonderful patients are having a restful and joyous holiday. As an office, we are spending some precious time with our families and resting this week in order to serve each of you in the New Year with a smile and excellent service. In the event that you might need us this week, please call the office and choose the emergency prompt on our phone system, which will contact Dr. Mullens directly. We are here to help if you have an emergency.

Blessings to all and warm wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

-- Dr. Mullens and team