Team Update

Hello everyone,

We have been busy over here in the office and we are excited to share some updates from our staff. From new employees, to babies on the way, we want you to share in our celebrations!

To start off, we have our newest member, Kristina. Kristina is a dental assistant with over ten years of experience. She started with us in July and we are so thrilled to have her skills to share with our patients. Kristina is an excellent baker and decorates her cakes like a professional! She has quickly become an asset around the office with her hard-working attitude and caring personality.

Happy 4th of July!

Good afternoon patients of Christine D. Laster – We want to wish a great Independence Day from our office family to yours! Today we are dedicating our blog to the most-eaten foods on America’s birthday, along with the increased likelihood of consumption on July 4th rather than any other day.

Potato salad – Americans are 540% more likely to eat potato salad on July 4th than any other day of the year! Crazy!
Baked beans – 357% more likely to be eaten
Hot dogs – 210% more likely to be eaten
Hamburgers – 117% more likely to be eaten
Pickles – 167% more likely to be eaten
Cole slaw – 150% more likely to be eaten

The Passing of Dr. Don Ferrell Jackson

Hello patients of Dr. Christine Laster. We want to make you all aware of the recent passing of Dr. Don Ferrell Jackson, the very first owner of our dental office location. It is with a very heavy heart that we acknowledge his death on April 25, 2018, at the age of 86.

Dr. Jackson was born in 1931 in Mingo Township, NC, a little ways outside of Fayetteville. He served in the Air Force before attending UNC Chapel Hill for his undergraduate education and then later, his dental education. While at UNC, Don met his wife, Ruth, and they were married in 1958. Dr. Jackson’s wife, Ruth, also attended dental school at UNC and upon graduation, they opened the practice we operate out of today. They worked at this practice until their retirement in 1996. We are very proud of his hard work and dedication to dentistry, and the patients we have gained from his legacy.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day from Dr. Christine D. Laster and team! The Fourth of July celebrations in America may have changed a lot over the years, but there is no doubt that we Americans love to celebrate the anniversary of our country’s independence! Today we’re devoting the Christine D. Laster, DDS blog to some fun facts about the Fourth!

My, how we have grown! This year the United States Census Bureau estimates that our country has 313.9 million residents celebrating the Fourth of July this year, but back in 1776 there were just 2.5 million members of the country.
Our country loves to show how proud that we are of our independence. Did you know that there are 31 United States places with the word “Liberty” in their names? The state of Iowa actually has four towns with the word Liberty in the name: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty, and West Liberty.
The United States loves Fourth of July food! It is expected that around 150 million hot dogs are eaten on the Fourth each year. One of the Fourth’s most popular sides, potato salad, goes just perfectly with the hotdogs and hamburgers that are standard Fourth of July fare. Some people choose potato chips instead, but we wouldn’t have such a plethora of potatoes if not for the prodigious production of the states of Idaho and Washington — they provide about half of all the potatoes in the United States today!
Americans love celebrating the Fourth outdoors: About 74 million Americans fire up their BBQ grill every Fourth of July.
The Chinese contribution: Did you know that Americans have spent more than $211 million on fireworks that were imported from China?

Caring for Your Smile While Wearing Invisalign®

Getting your braces off is exciting. You’ve been working on your new smile for months or years, and it’s time for the trips to our Raleigh, NC office to pay off. Can you imagine how bad it would be to discover that your teeth are straight, but that there’s decay?

Caring for your smile while wearing Invisalign goes beyond just waiting for your teeth to get straighter. It involves cleaning your teeth regularly and thoroughly to prevent tooth decay. That way, your smile will be more beautiful than ever when you’re done with your Invisalign treatment.

Who benefits from Invisalign®?

One problem with trying to answer the question as to who benefits from Invisalign is that the simple answer is “almost everyone.” The see-through, almost invisible aligners for straightening teeth are specifically molded to fit each individual’s mouth. Unlike conventional braces, they can be removed when eating and when cleaning the teeth. Because they use less force in straightening teeth than metal braces, the risk of harm to teeth is lessened.

Seven Foods that will Give You a Smashing Smile

As the saying goes, you are what you eat. But did you know that what you eat also affects your smile? Chow down on these seven tasty treats, recommended by Dr. Christine D. Laster and our staff, for a healthier mouth and a smashing smile!

Sesame Seeds

These tiny seeds that you find in some Chinese and Thai dishes (as well as on top of your hamburger bun) are packed with bone-building calcium. They help to preserve and protect the bone that supports your teeth and gums. As a bonus, they also help to build up your tooth enamel while sloughing away plaque.

Healthy Summer Foods

It’s summer—that wonderful time of year when fresh and delicious produce abounds. Dr. Christine D. Laster will tell you that your teeth, gums, and tissues all rely on an appropriate mix of vitamins and minerals to maintain good oral health no matter what time of year. In previous studies, nutrients in fruits and vegetables such as dietary fiber, potassium, and antioxidants have all been associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and cancers, including oral cancer.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is not only a federal holiday in the United States, but it is a day of observance and remembrance of those who died in service. Originally known as Decoration Day, this solemn day has been marked on calendars since the end of the American Civil War as a day to commemorate both the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died in the war.

Marking the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, or other tokens has been practiced throughout history, but it wasn’t until the mark of the end of the Civil War that a special day was decided upon as the one to spend in remembrance. By 1890, every state in the country was observing Decoration Day. It wasn’t until 1967 when the name formally changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, in order to encompass all fallen American soldiers in all wars and conflicts. In June of 1968, Congress moved the official date of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May in order to create a three day weekend.

Top Reasons People Choose Veneers

Dental veneers are a way to correct and transform your smile by using “contact lens”-thin shells of porcelain or ceramic material and bonding them to the front of your teeth. They are strong and durable, look and feel like natural teeth, and improve your smile immediately. Here are some of the top reasons to consider getting dental veneers.