In these economic times, it can be easy to feel a little down. We all like to do things for ourselves for a good pick-me-up such as, the latte, the mani/pedi hour or a great new hairstyle. Other folks like an escape with lottery tickets, sodas and cigarettes. Everyone has a secret pleasure whether it is texting friends on a cell phone or better yet a new cell phone to escape or renting movies. Life is great fun whether it is escaping or living just to get away from bad news.

I’ve been practicing dentistry for 15 years in the Southern Crescent Area and I love it. My mission in life is to help others claim their self-esteem. The best pick-me-up there can be is having a great feeling by someone telling you everything is going to be okay, you are in a safe place and make you feel good by focusing on the most important person in your life – You. Your needs and wants are put in front of all else. This is what a trip to the dentist could make you feel.

Sometimes it is easy to avoid the dentist by the excuses everyone has – too busy, too expensive and “I don’t have dental insurance”. Sometimes there are other reasons such as fear; embarrassment or we just don’t know whom to trust. Do you know someone in this situation?

Let’s face it; we can all “clean” our teeth ourselves without any profession help, right? The answer is YES, and quite honestly no for some. Everyone has different risk factors in not having a professional cleaning performed regularly. For some, I have seen 20 years without dental care without extensive problems and it is amazing when that does happen.

Maintenance in everything from cars, fitness and lawn is essential in keeping things running correctly. Oil changes and tire rotations are essential and the life expectancy of owning a car may be seven years. You wouldn’t just put gas in the car until it stopped running if you wanted to keep it in great shape, would you? It is so much cheaper to keep up with maintenance than to keep having breakdowns and car insurance doesn’t pay for repairs or maintenance.

Regular professional dental cleanings perform much more than buffing the stains from your teeth. Early insights to problems such as decay or gum disease caught are substantially less costly. What does a professional dental cleaning cost? It may cost the price of highlights at a mid-level salon or the cost of a family dinner at a moderately priced restaurant. The effects from a sound peace of mind are priceless. Choose health, you will be glad you did.

Dr. Linda King (Kohl) DDS, MAGD is a general dentist focusing on adult restorative dentistry. She has been practicing in her Locust Grove office since 1997. She is one of the youngest female dentists to attain her Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, an award that only 2% of dentists attain in the country. She is a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia’s dental school and attends hundreds of hours of continuing education in order to best service her clientele 30 miles south of Atlanta in Charming Locust Grove, Georgia. More information is available at
http://www.lindakingdds.com.