Rittenhouse Smiles

01/19/2026

🙌Some of you have already experienced and learned about this little known trick at our office. We offer TUMS upon arriving to your dental visit for those who have a history of difficulty getting numb for treatment. We thought we would share the science behind it…

🦷💉 The Core Issue: Tissue pH Affects Anesthesia

Most dental local anesthetics (like lidocaine, articaine, etc.) are weak bases.
For them to work, they must:
1. Cross the nerve membrane (uncharged form)
2. Then block the sodium channels inside the nerve

👉 They cross nerves best when the surrounding tissue pH is closer to neutral or slightly alkaline.

⸻

⚠️ Why Anesthesia Sometimes Works Poorly

If your oral tissues are more acidic, anesthesia:
• Takes longer to kick in
• Wears off faster
• Feels incomplete (“still feel pressure or sharpness”)

Common causes of acidic oral tissue:
• Anxiety/stress (raises lactic acid)
• Infection or inflammation
• GERD / acid reflux
• Frequent soda/acidic foods
• Smoking or dehydration

⸻

🍬 How Tums Help

Tums = calcium carbonate (a base / antacid)

When chewed:
• Neutralizes acid in saliva and oral tissues
• Slightly raises local pH
• Creates a more favorable environment for anesthetic molecules to pe*****te nerves

Result:

✅ Faster onset
✅ Deeper numbness
✅ Less need for repeated injections

This is especially noticeable in:
• Patients with dental anxiety
• Patients who “never get numb”
• Lower jaw / molar anesthesia
• Long appointments

⸻

🧠 It’s generally safe unless:
• You have kidney disease
• You’re on calcium-restricted diets
• You already take high-dose calcium

⸻

🕒 Best Way to Do It
• Chew 1–2 regular Tums or place in bottom back cheek area. No need to swallow. That’s optional
• 15–30 minutes before your appointment
• Avoid acidic drinks (coffee, soda, citrus) beforehand

⸻

🔑 Bottom Line

Chewing Tums before a dental appointment can help anesthesia work faster and better because it:
✔ Raises oral pH
✔ Improves nerve pe*******on of anesthetic
✔ Reduces the “hard to numb” effect

12/22/2025

We say this all the time during our routine exams and X-rays. 👍🦷

When patients hear the word “radiation,” it often creates unnecessary fear. In reality, modern dental X-rays are among the safest medical imaging tools available today. The radiation dose is extremely small—comparable to everyday sources we are exposed to without realizing it.

For perspective:

🔹 Eating a banana exposes you to natural radiation from potassium. One dental X-ray delivers roughly the same amount as eating a few bananas.

🔹 A few minutes in sunlight can expose you to more radiation than a dental X-ray.

🔹 A short airplane flight exposes you to several times more radiation than a complete set of dental X-rays.

Dental imaging has become even safer thanks to technological advances. Older film-based X-rays required higher radiation doses, but today’s digital X-ray systems reduce exposure by up to 90% while providing clearer, more precise images. This allows dentists to detect problems earlier and treat them more effectively.

Dentists also follow strict safety protocols. Lead aprons and thyroid collars are used to shield sensitive areas, and all X-rays follow the ALARA principle—keeping radiation As Low As Reasonably Achievable. This means X-rays are taken only when clinically necessary, never routinely or without a diagnostic purpose.

In summary, the radiation from dental X-rays is minimal, well-controlled, and far outweighed by the benefits of early detection. Rather than being harmful, dental X-rays are an essential tool for protecting your teeth, jaw, and overall health.

12/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CF9UpxcCr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A knocked-out permanent tooth can be saved — but you must act quickly. The best chance of success is when treatment starts within 30–60 minutes. Here’s what to do right away:

1. Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part you see in the mouth). Never touch the root.

2. Rinse gently with clean water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub or remove any tissue attached.

3. Put it back into the socket if possible and gently bite on a clean cloth to hold it in place.

4. If you cannot reinsert it, store it in milk, saline solution, or inside the person’s cheek to keep the root cells alive.

5. Go to a dentist or emergency room right away.

This applies only to permanent (adult) teeth. Baby teeth should never be put back into the socket, because doing so can damage the developing adult tooth underneath.

🔹Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.

12/10/2025

life at 😊A quick snapshot of our view as we left for the day🌅🦷🌇🦷🌇🦷🌇 🦷🌇🦷. Stay warm everyone! Brrrrr🥶❄️

11/28/2025

🍁🦷 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Rittenhouse Smiles! 🦷🍁

This season, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our amazing patients. Thank you for your trust, dedication, and for allowing us to be part of your journey to a healthier, brighter smile. Your confidence inspires us every day, and we feel truly blessed to serve such wonderful individuals.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday filled with love, laughter, and beautiful smiles! 😊✨

With heartfelt thanks,
The Rittenhouse Smiles Team

11/22/2025

This week Dr. Cronin received this certificate from the Dean at Penn Dental School where she is a proud faculty member. This prestigious affiliation reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of dental innovation and providing our patients with the highest quality care.

When you choose us, you're not just getting a friendly, trusted dental team—you're also benefiting from the expertise and cutting-edge knowledge from one of the top dental institutions in the country.

Thank you for trusting us with your smile! 😊✨🤩

11/22/2025

Ever wondered why a toothache can sometimes turn into a headache?

The answer lies in the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest and most complex nerves in the head. This nerve carries sensory signals from the face, including your teeth, jaw, and gums, straight to the brain. When a tooth is inflamed or infected, it can overstimulate the trigeminal nerve, which may then trigger pain signals that spread to the head, causing a headache.

Dental issues like cavities, abscesses, or gum disease can all irritate this nerve, which explains why dental pain often radiates beyond the mouth. To manage the pain effectively, treating the underlying dental source is essential, not just the headache. In some cases, dentists and neurologists collaborate to ease symptoms by addressing both the oral infection and the nerve pathways involved.

This trigeminal connection also shows how closely oral health is linked with overall health. Routine dental check-ups, early treatment of tooth decay, and strong oral hygiene habits can prevent small problems from developing into severe, nerve-driven headaches.

So if a toothache starts spreading into your head, it is not random—it is your trigeminal nerve signalling a deeper issue. Protecting your oral health may help prevent days of unnecessary headache and discomfort.

🔹 Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional dental advice.

11/14/2025

Listen to your teeth’s way of sending an early message before it gets worse. This post invites you in to understand some good foundation dental knowledge. Not mentioned but should be is the fact the excessive biting forces over time can also affect the nerves of teeth. It’s not always a cavity that does this. I’ve seen plenty of healthy teeth that die from longterm forces such as: clenching, grinding, poorly balanced tooth-tooth relationship and food selection/habits such as ice chewing. Listen to your teeth because most times they are trying to give you a warning to seek out early intervention before bigger issues form. 💕🦷Dr. Cronin

Why a Toothache Can Feel Almost Unbearable

There’s a simple anatomical reason for it: every tooth is a living structure.
At the center lies the dental pulp, containing nerves and blood vessels, all enclosed beneath hard layers of dentin and enamel. When decay, a crack, or an infection reaches that inner core, the nerve gets trapped inside a rigid space with zero room to expand.

As inflammation builds, the pressure inside the tooth rises and squeezes the nerve fibers, triggering sharp, persistent pain that can radiate into the jaw, ear, or even the head.
This is why regular painkillers often fail to provide full relief — the source of the problem isn’t on the surface, it’s deep inside the tooth.

And it’s not only cavities that can set this off. A dental abscess, nerve exposure from wear, or inflammation in the tissues around the root can lead to the same severe pain response.
The mouth has limited ways to signal trouble, and pain is its most direct warning.

That’s why a toothache should never be ignored. The more treatment is delayed, the deeper an infection can spread, even allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream in some cases.
So the next time a tooth starts hurting, don’t rely on painkillers to mask it.
Your body is sending a message… and your teeth need attention before the situation worsens.

Note : This information is educational and academic in nature. It is not a medical consultation. If you’re experiencing pain or concerns, consult a trusted healthcare professional.

11/03/2025

Our winning voter for our Pumpkin Decorating Contest is…. Deja!
Congratulations Deja! Your Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush is ready for pickup! 🥳😃🏆!!!

11/01/2025

🎃… and the WINNER is … the witch pumpkin created by Audree, our patient coordinator🎉🎃🧙‍♀️🥇Congrats Audree!
2nd place: Dr. Cooper (spa pumpkin)
3rd place: Julissa (hat/scarf pumpkin)
4th place: Shalu (tooth pumpkin)
5th place: Dr. Cronin (crab pumpkin)
6th place: Kat (scary pumpkin)
7th place: Zoe (Yoda pumpkin)
8th place: Julie (mummy pumpkin)

🎃Overall, we received 93 votes! Thank you to all that participated both in-person and on social media! One of the voters will be drawn on monday to win a Sonicare Toothbrush~Stay Tuned!

10/30/2025

Heartbroken💔I met Pierre 11 years ago. It was simple. I treated him like every other patient which included giving my typical tough dental love verbiage. I never asked him to advertise me on his show, but casually he would mention my name every now and then and other patients would tell me. During his dental visits, we would laugh because his notorious dry humor, full of intellectual wit and clever wordplay, constantly engaged all of us at the office. He would poke fun at my office playlist calling it “chick music” because I did not play the famous WMMR rock music that he loved. We would throw fun comments back-n-forth and he would force me out my deeply serious clinical focus over and over. In short, this wonderful man got enjoyment making others smile. I was humbled by his trust & honored to know such a deep-hearted incredible human. These photos in 2017 were taken at the end of one of his visits after another moment of laughter. I’m so glad he was in just three weeks ago for his routine cleaning to remind me once again that laughter and smiles can’t exist without the other. Thank you Pierre for your trust, laughter and for simply being you. Rest in peace~You will forever be remembered & loved by me and by so many~💗Dr. Cronin
🙏🏼🤗🥰🎤🎵🦷

10/27/2025

Thus begins HALLOWEEN week and also the end of October 2025🎃! Join us & have fun VOTING for your favorite pumpkin created by your Rittenhouse Smiles Team! Not only will the winner get a prize BUT we will also randomly pick a voter to win a Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush! Double prize, Double win, Double FUN!