Austin Dental Wellness - Joan Sefcik, DDS

04/02/2026

“Long term, non-vital tissue in the jaw can become a silent stressor. In some cases, it may harbor bacteria, contribute to low-grade inflammation, and place a subtle burden on the immune system. Not always painful. Not always obvious. But often significant.”

04/01/2026

Antibiotic and NSAID use in childhood may lead to weakened tooth enamel, which can increase the risk of sensitivity and tooth decay.
https://www.drbicuspid.com/dental-hygiene/infection-control/article/15820168/what-you-need-to-know-about-antibiotics-and-teeth

03/26/2026

According to this study: “Microplastics are extremely prevalent and persistent pollutants, which are not only increasing in quantity, but potentially enriching harmful human/animal pathogens and drug-resistant bacteria.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025006956?via%3Dihub

03/25/2026

More and more communities all over the country are considering removing fluoride from drinking water.

03/20/2026

03/18/2026

“If you can afford a private dentist, you probably won't see a mercury filling again. But if you're a child on Medicaid, an inmate, or a service member relying on military dental care, mercury amalgam — a material that's roughly half mercury by weight — may still be the default material placed in your mouth. But not because it's better — because it's cheaper.”
https://www.austindentalwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/mercury-dental-fillings-public-health-systems-pdf.pdf

03/17/2026

Sometimes, history is stranger than fiction!

03/13/2026

Down in Austin for the IAOMT | International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology's spring meeting - & posing here during the morning break with a couple of awesome women: Dr. Elizabeth Rayne and biological hygienist Barbara Tritz (a/k/a The Queen of Dental Hygiene)!

03/10/2026

From the article:
In a nutshell, this is what happened in this lawsuit:
“The judge had to decide whether fluoridation is an unreasonable risk to human health.
“The premier scientific authority on the subject, the National Toxicology Program, was about to release a review of the highest-quality studies in the world.
“The judge wanted to wait for the review so he could make a more informed decision, based on the best science.
“If the law disallows this, something is wrong with the law.”
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/epa-hearing-overturn-landmark-fluoride-ruling-process-not-public-health/?

The EPA on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to overturn a groundbreaking 2024 decision requiring it to regulate fluoride in drinking water, not by challenging the court’s finding that fluoridation poses an “unreasonable risk” to children’s health, but by arguing the judge overstepped pr...

03/06/2026

If only it was a joke….com

02/27/2026

We get it, times are tough. But please, please don’t buy $10 snap on veneers from Amazon. These are supposed to be a temporary solution, but wearers can get lulled into avoiding proper dental care once their problem is hidden.

02/25/2026

Have you received any of these mystery seeds?
Follow this link for more details:

https://texasagriculture.gov/News-Events/Article/10744/Texas-Agriculture-Commissioner-Sid-Miller-Sounds-Alarm-Surge-in-Unsolicited-Mys