Talking gum disease with Dr. McDonald

Periodontal disease (gum disease) is one of the most silent diseases known to mankind. Left alone, the virulent bacteria will eat away at your jaw bone and the gums will eventually follow the bone, hence the term gum disease.

Periodontal disease has been directly correlated to many systemic diseases. Numerous studies have shown the bacteria from gum pockets found in and around arteries and other organs of the body. It has been proven that pregnant women with periodontal disease have a much higher rate of low birth weight as well as premature babies. Diabetics are more susceptible to gum pathogens and it has been found that diabetics with the presence of gum disease have a less desirable outcome with their sugar control. The oral bacteria have also been shown to pass through saliva to other people. These are just a few facts. To learn more about the link between your gums and your health, you can visit this helpful site.

Regular dental care will aid in diagnosis of gum disease. At your check up appointments we evaluate your gum pockets. This periodontal exam in combination with x-rays can aid the proper diagnosis and treatment.

In the past the only available tools were deep scaling and root planning, gum surgery and antibiotic treatment. However, thanks to the advances in treatment of gum disease we now have some other options.

Laser Gum Treatment: The laser light will kill the bacteria and promote better gum tissue regeneration. This procedure is used in conjunction with scaling to clean the roots and promote healing. It is painless and quick and you should not need anything stronger than what you take for a headache for the first day or two.

Oral DNA testing: A saliva test that detects which bacteria are contributing to the presence of your gum disease and which antibiotic to use to target those specific bacteria.


Your mouth is the gateway into your body. Protect yourself and schedule for a dental exam.

To your health,

Dr. Rabee McDonald

Vote for LifeTime Smiles as Best Dentist in Escondido!

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It is time again to vote for the Best Dentist in Escondido! Dr. Rabee McDonald and our entire team at Lifetime Smiles are proud to be nominated!

Caring. Comfortable. A gentle touch. Pain-free. Exceptional service. Those words aren't usually associated with dental care, are they? Well, at LifetimeSmiles, our patients use those words frequently to describe their dental experience with us.

Even so, we know that dental appointments can sometimes evoke feelings of anxiety. That's why we take great pride in helping our patients feel comfortable throughout their visit. Great dental care starts the moment you enter our office. Our first concern is to ensure that your needs are being met, whether it's to ease your nervousness or to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We want you to have a positive experience each time you're with us. You'll always be greeted warmly and treated with the utmost care.'

Thank you. We would be honored to have your vote!

April dental implant promotion at Lifetime Smiles!

Dr. McDonald and our team at Lifetime Smiles are proud to announce our April dental implant promotion! Now through April 30th, we are glad to give you a $100 discount on each implant crown. Give us a call today at (760) 747-1811 to schedule your appointment!

What to do if your child's tooth gets knocked out, from Dr. McDonald

I hardly get called for emergencies but when I do most of the time it is over the weekend. The reason for the call is usually not a toothache but a knocked out or severely damaged front tooth from a sport accident. The results are usually devastating, despite our best efforts to save the tooth. Over time the tooth is usually lost with a resulting space that forces your young child to wear a retainer with a tooth in it until they are 16-18 years old at which point we have to place an implant and a crown. Not only is this just horrible for a young child to wear a fake tooth for a long time but the cost is devastating to parents.

All of this can be avoided by wearing a sport guard. I am not talking about a sports authority sport guard but one that is custom made for your child's mouth and for the particular sport to withstand the forces should an accident come your way. I hope this never happens to anyone but if it does I hope you have listened to me and protected your child's smile.

What to do If your child's tooth gets knocked out:

You have to find the tooth immediately and handle it from the tooth portion and not the root portion. Do not touch the root as most of the tissue is hopefully still alive.

Attempt to line up the tooth and put it back into the socket the best that you can after placing the tooth in your child's cheek to clean it. Please do not run the tooth under hot water. If you have saline you can place it in the solution for a minute and then replant the tooth.

If you don't have the stomach to place the tooth in the socket, keep it in your child's cheek and call us immediately. Please do not wrap the tooth in a tissue. If your child is traumatized and will not keep it in their cheek place it in milk or saline solution till you get to our office. There is only a 45 minute window to place the tooth back in the socket. After this time line the chances of success decrease tremendously.

Wouldn't it be better to just wear a professionally made mouth guard?

Dr. McDonald

LifetimeSmiles, supporting Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Visiting Drs. McDonald and Prais and our team at LifetimeSmiles on a regular basis will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy as well. 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.

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, we screen our patients for oral cancer. Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. In less than five minutes, we will conduct a thorough oral cancer screening exam, using the FDA-approved ViziLite Plus technology to help detect oral cancer and pre-malignant abnormalities.

As your dentists, Drs. McDonald and Prais are specialists who work 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 at our convenient Escondido office. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

When Was Your Last Dental Cleaning? From Dr. McDonald

You water the garden three times a week, you change your car's oil every three months, and you replace the batteries in your smoke detectors once a year. Your teeth need to see your dentist on a regular schedule, too.

While daily oral hygiene habits are essential to good oral health, professional dental cleanings at our Escondido dental office ensure your teeth are treated to a deeper level of cleaning. We recommend for most of our patients to have a checkup at least every six months. In addition to a thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth, these regular visits help Dr. McDonald and our team at Lifetime Smiles detect and prevent the onset of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. During your visit, we’ll check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. We’ll also check old fillings and restorations, as these can wear away over time from constant chewing, grinding, or clenching.

If you are predisposed to oral diseases, you may need to visit our office more often than every six months. Factors at play in these diseases include age, pregnancy, tobacco use, medical conditions (such as diabetes, dry mouth, or HIV infection), along with how well you take care of your teeth on a daily basis.

Make sure your teeth get the professional attention they deserve – If you’re overdue for your next cleaning, check with our office to schedule an appointment!

Bad Breath is No Good

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 LifetimeSmiles and 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 LifetimeSmiles 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!

Connect with Dr. McDonald on Facebook!

Dr. McDonald & team have rolled out our new Facebook Timeline page 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!

Dr. McDonald, reminding you about the importance of oral cancer screenings

We hope you all had a great weekend! Visiting Drs. McDonald and Prais and our team at LifetimeSmiles on a regular basis will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy as well. 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. Today, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene.

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, we screen our patients for oral cancer. Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. In less than five minutes, we will conduct a thorough oral cancer screening exam, using the FDA-approved ViziLite Plus technology to help detect oral cancer and pre-malignant abnormalities.

As your dentists, Drs. McDonald and Prais are specialists who work 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 at our convenient Escondido office. Take care of your teeth, and smile bright!

Love your or your child's smile? Tell us about it!

Caring. Comfortable. A gentle touch. Pain-free. Exceptional service. Those words aren't usually associated with dental care, are they? Well, at LifetimeSmiles, our patients use those words frequently to describe their dental experience with us.

At LifetimeSmiles, we look at every patient as a whole to ensure you get all the personalized attention you deserve. Drs. Rabee McDonald and Jeff Prais provide comprehensive care for your overall health.

Whether you’ve just come in for a single appointment or your family has been visiting our convenient Escondido, CA dental office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review on our Facebook page or on our Google Places page!

We look forward to reading your reviews!

Cavities: Not Just Kids’ Stuff, from Lifetime Smiles

Cavities occur as a result of the destruction of tooth structure, called tooth decay. Tooth decay can affect both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth). While it is very important to brush and floss every day to remove food particles and plaque, regular cleanings and checkups at Lifetime Smiles is the best way to help avoid cavities.

Drs. McDonald & Prais can discover cavities during your regular dental checkup. The tooth surface feels soft when probed with a dental instrument. X-rays can also show cavities before they become visible to the eye. In advanced stages of tooth decay, you might experience a toothache, especially after consuming sweet, hot, or cold foods or drinks. Other signs of tooth decay are visible pits or holes in the teeth.

Don’t wait for a toothache!

Remember, the longer you wait to treat a cavity, the more extensive your treatment will be. A small cavity can be treated with a filling, while a large cavity that weakens the structure of your tooth may require a crown. If the decay is so bad that it causes the nerve or pulp of the tooth to die, a root canal or tooth removal may be your only options. If you think you may have a cavity, contact Lifetime Smiles at our Escondido office and schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure you leave with a healthy, pain-free smile!

Ask Dr. McDonald: "My Teeth Feel Fine. Do I still need to see a dentist?"

Thanks for the question. Simply put, yes! Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is essential to keeping your smile in tip-top shape. At Lifetime Smiles, we offer a number of preventive services to ensure the health of your mouth and the beauty of your teeth. We’d like to think that your smile is just as important to us as it is to you!

Another good reason to visit Lifetime Smiles every six months is to check for “hidden” problems you may not even realize you have. Tiny cavities can form in the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth and may only be found through a professional exam. If left untreated, these cavities can get worse, needing more extensive treatment, and costing you even more time and money. During your routine exam, one of our hygienists will also check to make sure your fillings or other dental restorations are in good shape.

It’s important to prevent problems before they start. If it has been more than six months six your last visit, please contact our Escondido dental office to schedule your routine checkup! See you soon!

February featured testimonials for Lifetime Smiles!

Happy Monday! Here they are, our February featured testimonials! Thanks to everyone who wrote in during the past month, from Dr. Rabee McDonald all of us at Lifetime Smiles!

Very laid back atmosphere with an attitude that sez "Special orders don't upset us". Dr. Mac is very chill as is the whole staff. My experience was top notch and Laurie gets the nod for being the "Ichiban" hygenist. I've been a patient since 1977, having said that you can deduct that I have a "Lifetime Smile". - Gary L.

"Everyone from the front desk to the Dentist was very friendly and professional. I liked the Hygienist in particular. They gave good advice without pushing." - Deborah S.

"Thanks for being so understanding and changing schedling. I fdo appreciate it. Had a cleaning done by Kelly. This is the first time I have met her and she did a great job. Very Professional but Friendly. It is always good to see Tammy and Dr McDonald." - Mike G.

Dr. McDonald and team, celebrating National Dental Health Month

Did you know February is National Dental Health Month? It's a great time of the year to renew those resolutions about continuing to practice great dental hygiene at home and by visiting Lifetime Smiles. Today, we thought we'd discuss the importance of preventative oral care. While most people are familiar with traditional heart-saving practices such as eating healthy and exercising regularly, lesser-known are the benefits that great oral hygiene provides to one’s cardiovascular health.

Here are a few tips to help you continue those New Year's resolutions:

*Remember that poor oral hygiene is linked to serious common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia and osteoporosis.

*Brush and floss every day to remove the plaque that can lead to cavities. Flossing daily removes food debris that your toothbrush cannot reach after meals.

*Replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or after a cold or illness to prevent re-infection. Remember to use a soft toothbrush so you won’t wear off the enamel of your teeth.

*Visit our Escondido office regularly. The American Dental Association recommends you visit Drs. McDonald and Prais every six months for regular checkups and cleanings. Fluoride treatments twice a year will help prevent tooth decay.

Each February (and all year long), our team at Lifetime Smiles focus on the preventive oral care of our patients. Have you visited our office the past six months? If not, it’s time to give us a call and schedule an appointment!

Ask Dr. McDonald: If I have braces, do I still need a dental checkup every 6 months?

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 Lifetime Smiles 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 Escondido office, please give us a call!

Dreaming of a dazzling smile? We can help!

The fact is, most of us aren’t born with a red carpet smile. And that’s where Dr. Rabee McDonald and our team at Lifetime Smiles can help. Of course, orthodontic treatment help make your teeth stay strong, healthy and become perfectly-aligned. But did you know you can get the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted — without braces?

Our team at Lifetime Smiles are proud to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time at our office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you in for a visit at our Escondido office. Please give us a call to set one up! A consultation with Dr. McDonald and Dr. Prais can determine if Invisalign is right for you. See you soon!

Your dental & cardiovascular health, from Lifetime Smiles

Happy Monday!

Don’t put off your next visit to LifetimeSmiles any longer! As we’ve shared in previous blog posts, oral health issues have been increasingly linked to other health concerns, such as heart disease. Cardiovascular disease remains American’s number one killer, claiming more lives than the rest of major causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. 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.

Studies are also beginning to suggest that patients, especially those with periodontal disease, are believed to have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. Since most patients are not regularly visiting a heart specialist, their regular visits to the office of Dr. Rabee McDonald can help detect early warning signs of heart issues, prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. We’d also like you to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25).

Additionally, if it’s been more than six months since your last visit to our Escondido dental office, please give us a call!

January featured patient testimonials!

Here they are, our January featured testimonials! Thanks again to everyone who wrote in - happy new year from Dr. Rabee McDonald all of us at Lifetime Smiles!

"For me, a trip to LS is much more than an "appointment" or "office visit". I honestly feel I am simply visiting friends. I love the casual and "humorous" atmosphere. I always tease them about my "special discount", but the services are exceptional and an incredible value for the attention and care I receive." - Ernie N.

"Kelly was great. I miss my Stacy but it was fun being asked what toothbrush I used and how often I flossed. Kari Witman PS- I was getting the bidding up on the toothbrush you donated and ended up being the last bidder. The YMCA thanks you and this sonic care is Much easier to clean. Thanks again." - Keri W.

"That was the fastest crown I have ever received! Great and no pain!" - Becky S.

"The coffee was good, the conversation stimulating, and the people gracious. It didn't hurt a bit. (Of course, it was my wife who sat in the dentist chair!)" - Allen H.