6035 Burke Centre Parkway, Suite 260
Burke, VA 22015
(703) 978-1446

Our Blog


When Was Your Last Dental Cleaning?

May 18th, 2012

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 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 us 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!

Race for the Cure with Sunshine Dentists

May 10th, 2012

Sunshine Dentists will be walking in this year’s Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure! We will be heading to Washington DC on June 2, 2012 for the 5K race. We hope that others can sponsor our team in our mission to help end breast cancer. Dr. Donohue and Patterson Dental have pledged over $1000!

Are you participating in this year’s event? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page!

May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month!

May 4th, 2012


Our practice knows that image can be everything. May happens to be National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.
We know one of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a visit to our office. Has your child visited our office in the past six months for his or her regular check-up? We invite you to give us a call to book your appointment!
See you soon!

Salivary Testing at Sunshine Dentists

April 25th, 2012


Salivary testing is a method that our team at Sunshine Dentists uses for the diagnosis and treatment of certain types of persistent periodontal disease. Lab tests have become a routine part of our medical care, yet dentists have historically just “guessed” about the types of bacteria that are present in their patients’ mouths, and therefore guessed about the optimal treatment.

With the help of a simple and painless salivary test, our patients will know they are receiving the appropriate treatments and antibiotics. It’s care like this that sets Sunshine Dentists apart from other dental practices. We want to treat our patients’ total health, not just their teeth.

To learn more about salivary testing, visit this great article or ask us at the office!

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