Healing Smiles

09/23/2025

We want to give you a heads up: Dr Chronister has made the difficult decision to step away from being a participating provider for Delta Dental. Delta's required write-offs have increased to much over time that they barely cover our overhead. We can not provide quality care at that rate.

You may have already received a lettter from Delta saying you will be responsible for 100% of your payment if you stay with us. That's only partially true. Here's the full story: We will still submit the claim and then bill you for your part. You will pay us directly for the full fee AFTER delta has paid YOU directly for their part. What Delta will pay you is roughly 25% of the fee. When we were a participating office, you paid 50%. The differential in the new scenerio would be about 25% for you. We recommned you call Delta to find out exactly what they will pay.

09/22/2025

Turns out ChatGPT can brush up on the basics of oral health, but when it comes to root canals, soft tissue, or smoking-related dental drama—it kind of chokes on the floss. 🦷😂 Moral of the story: still book that dentist appointment, no matter how charming your chatbot sounds!

ChatGPT struggles with detailed answers to specialised queries around smoking and oral health, according to a new study.

09/19/2025

Tricks of the trade.

09/18/2025

New evidence shows sugary drink taxes are working—these taxes reduce soda consumption, lower obesity rates, and improve pregnancy, oral, and general health outcomes in communities. Plus, the revenue raised is going back into public good—think healthy food access and early childhood education.

Great news! New research shows taxing sugary drinks reduces consumption, which leads to healthier communities.

09/17/2025

Adding a serving of leafy greens every day may help slow memory loss and thinking-decline in older adults—with those eating more greens performing on brain tests like someone 11 years younger compared to those eating hardly any. ([Rush University System for Health Simple swaps like a daily salad or adding spinach to smoothies could make a big difference.

Consumer Reports experts discuss new research from Rush University that shows a strong link between eating leafy greens and reducing cognitive disease.

09/16/2025

New research from UC San Diego reveals that individuals diagnosed with cannabis use disorder are over three times more likely to develop oral cancer within five years compared to those without. Even after accounting for smoking, the risk remains elevated—raising concerns about cannabis-related health screening and public education.

Cannabis use disorder is associated with a significantly higher risk of oral cancer, says new research from UC San Diego School of Medicine.

09/15/2025

A salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Country Eggs has left 95 people sick across 14+ states since January, with 18 hospitalizations reported. The implicated eggs — “sunshine yolks” or “omega-3 golden yolks” from Country Eggs LLC — are subject to recall; consumers are urged to check their fridges and discard or return any affected product.

At least 95 people in more than a dozen states have been sickened in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning tied to recalled eggs.

09/08/2025

New research confirms there’s no link between COVID‑19 vaccination and miscarriage—so moms-to-be can breathe easier. Science continues to show that the vaccine is safe during pregnancy and helps protect both mom and baby.

THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 (HealthDay News) — There’s no link between the COVID-19 vaccine and miscarriage, a new study says.

09/05/2025

Take some valuable off screen time to take care of yourself!

09/04/2025

Turns out 10,000 steps aren’t your magic health number—science now says just 5,000–7,000 steps can give you pretty much all the benefits without running in circles. So your couch-to-fridge marathons still count (kind of)—now go celebrate your ‘walking win’ with a victory snack!

The potential health benefits start to level off at a much lower number.

09/03/2025

Despite headlines, a recent review finds that at U.S. fluoridation levels there's no credible evidence linking fluoride to lower IQs in children — and high-quality data shows more to support its safety and cavity-fighting benefits. Stay informed: the studies suggesting cognitive risks often involve much higher fluoride exposures or unreliable data.

America has been preventing tooth decay with fluoridated water for over 75 years. Fluoridation is effective, safe and benefits everyone regardless of age or income. About 3 out of 4 people in U.S. communities enjoy fluoridated water. Until recently, questions about fluoride and IQ were rare.

09/02/2025

New research shows that prolonged water-only fasting can increase inflammation and strain the heart, despite short-term weight loss benefits. Experts warn that extreme fasting may raise cardiovascular risks, making it important to consult a doctor before trying it.

Recommendations to try water-only fasting diets may be filling up your social media feeds, but researchers are warning people to seek medical advice before starting these diets, because of the potential negative impacts.