Improving the lives and smiles of patients for over 25 years

Dr. Farley's goal is to add value to patients' lives and increase their self-esteem by the creation of beautiful, predictable and long lasting restorations. He always takes into consideration his patients needs and opinions. His practice philosophy can be summed up in one word - Excellence.

You, your child and cavities

Our team read an interesting article pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the news with you, our valued patients and parents.

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria have been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

We know tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

Be sure to read the article and learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment, please feel free to give us a call!

Team Building Fun With Empower Leadership Sports and Adventure Center in Middletown, CT

Recently our team embarked on a two day, intensive team building workshop at the Empower Leadership Sports and Adventure Center, located in Middletown, CT. Amy Morgan, CEO of the Pride Institute joined us for our practice management meeting, helping us devise ways to serve you, our patients, even better!

A little zip lining fun was just what we needed to refuel our energy, and close out a great team building event! Check out some of the photos we've posted on our Facebook page. A big thanks to the instructors at Empower, along with Chris and Amy. You guys are all awesome!

September is National Gum Care Month

Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can be difficult to recognize. Many people do not recognize the warning signs - bleeding and swollen gums - as a precursor to gum disease. This month, a national campaign is underway to raise awareness about gum health and periodontal disease, and our Windsor, CT dental team wanted to do our part to help spread the word!

Early recognition and action are the most important steps to health gums, and ultimately a health body too! Studies are published every year linking oral health, including the gums, to the health of other areas of the body, such as the heart. One of the most important steps to improving the care of your gums is recognizing the warning signs for gum disease. These can include:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. We can take proactive steps to prevent gingivitis and gum disease, while showing you how to improve gum care in your daily oral hygiene habits.

Recipes from Gail

Don't know what to do with all those ripe bananas in this hot, humid weather? Too hot to bake banana bread? Try two of my favorite cool ways to use them up. Not only are they delicious but they'll give you and anyone who enjoys them with you a boost of energy!

Banana Shake

2 Frozen, Peeled, Sliced Bananas
1 Banana flavored Light n Fit yogurt
1 Scoop Soy Protein(if desired)
2 Cups milk
Mix all ingredients in blender until desired thickness. This recipe also works well with frozen strawberries and raspberries. Mix your favorite frozen fruits and yogurts to make your own delicious shakes! Enjoy!


Frozen Banana Popsicles

Ripe Bananas
Popsicle sticks(can be found in craft store)
Semi-sweet chocolate morsels (approximately 1 cup per 4 Banana halves)

Halve Bananas, push each half onto a popsicle stick. Place on cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Once Frozen, melt chocolate morsels and roll banana pops in melted chocolate. Chocolate will harden quickly.

For an extra treat roll Banana pop in melted peanut butter and then chocolate! Add chopped nuts, coconut and/or sprinkles to any combination for an extra special pop!

I hope you enjoy these recipes! Feel free to send me your feedback as well as any creative modifications you've made to these yummy banana treats!

-Gail, Patient Coordinator

Omega-3 may combat mouth bacteria, boost oral health

Recently, an article was published on the dental health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids of marine and plant origin. A new study from the University of Kentucky reveals that all types of food-borne omega-3 fats (like tuna, walnuts and spinach) cut the numbers of oral disease bacteria by half or more.

The study found that "the dental health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids of marine and plant origin have been found to have strong anti-bacterial activity against a range of oral pathogens and "may include anti-bacterial effects, extending the benefits beyond inflammation." The doctors involved in the study said that they planned to conduct further studies needed to prove that omega-3s acids work to benefit oral health. While this is encouraging news, we wanted to remind you that diet, hygiene, and other factors, are key to improving your oral health. Remember to consult us if you have any questions about your diet and the effect it can have on your oral health.

Ask Dr. Farley: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than the typical braces you see at the orthodontist's office. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Farley the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

How was your experience with Dr. Farley & Team?

Dr. Farley and his team love getting patient reviews. And lately, we've been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share one with you today! If you'd like to leave a review, click the image below and write one on Google!


Dr. Farley's office is AMAZING!
I had been in search of a dentist for over a year. Finally, a friend recommended Dr. Farley's office with the enthusiasm you might expect from someone who is telling you about their new car. After checking out the website, I was really impressed with how meticulous they were about keeping the patient informed. I called to book my appointment and the receptionist was very friendly and accommodating. When the day of my appoinment arrived, I walked into a beautiful, serene office, where I waited about two minutes before they called me in for my cleaning. My hygenist was kind and funny and explained everything she was doing as we went along. When Dr. Farley came in to check my teeth, he noticed things that previous dentists had missed, and was able to offer several solutions if I wanted to address these issues. Overall, this was the best experience I have ever had at a dentist's office. The staff is truly amazing and I will never go anywhere else!

Single-Visit Tooth Restorations in Windsor CT with CEREC

CEREC is a technology for restoring damaged teeth, and this restoration can be completed in a single visit to Dr. Farley. It makes your teeth stronger and more beautiful — all while keeping your teeth looking natural. The restoration is metal-free and the high-grade ceramic material is compatible with the natural tissue found in your mouth. This is the finest restorative material available today, all in one appointment.

The CEREC Process

First, Dr. Farley will meet with you to discuss the details of the procedure. During the procedure, we will apply a thin layer of reflective powder onto your tooth and will use a special camera to take a photo of your tooth. Using Computer Aided Design, the photo serves as an optimal impression. The restoration will then be designed by the computer on this impression. Then CEREC will use a diamond bur and disk to create your restoration piece out of a high tech ceramic. Finally, the ceramic restoration is bonded to your tooth using state-of-the-art adhesive dentistry.

Dr. Farley is your Windsor, CT CEREC dentist for single-visit tooth restorations. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Summer Fun with Dr. Farley & Team

Summer is in full swing and our team is as always working hard and playing hard! We wanted to update everyone on the recent news and events with Dr. Farley & Team.

Congratulations to Dr. Farley who took first place in his time trial at Limerock Race Track this month. A big thank you is in order for our patient, friend and Windsor Feud host Jerry Wistrom for coming to show his support for our favorite racer and dentist!

More exciting than Dr. Farley's adventures is the news that Jenn and her husband Bill welcomed a baby boy in April. Robert James Ostiguy was born on April 21st and is growing so fast. Congrats to the Ostiguy family! Now Jenn, come back to work, we miss you!

Do you have any exciting news or fun to share? Leave a comment on our Facebook page, we'd love to hear from you!

Ask Dr. Farley: When should my child come in for a visit?

We believe a child's first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable and positive. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. And that's precisely why our team and Dr. Farley make a practice of using pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe your child's first dental visit and treatment. We want you to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), children should visit Dr. Farley by their first birthday. It is important that your child's newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. For more information on the advantages of pediatric dentistry at our Windsor, CT dental office, please give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

A few patient reviews for Dr. Farley & Team

Dr. Steven Farley, serving Windsor, CT and surrounding areas, has been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients say they like best about Dr. Farley and team:

I love everyone equally. Gail, Sharon and Wendy were all extremely helpful and what can I say about Dr. Farley. He's the best. ~ Clair T.

Competence. Everyone does everything so very well. I know that I'm getting the absolute best care possible. ~ Gerald W.

All your staff are friendly, professional and welcoming. Your dentistry has the comfort of hometown with an exceptional level of professionalism. I always feel Dr. Farley is current with the latest technology and developments in treatment. ~ Diana K.

Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office! Dr. Farley and team love getting patient testimonials!

What do you love about Dr. Farley & Team?

From your very first visit to our office, Dr. Farley and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by our work? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you!

Summer Teeth Whitening Special with Dr. Farley

Your wedding is coming up, and you want your smile to be its brightest. Or, maybe you have an important speaking engagement. Whatever the reason, tooth bleaching isn’t just for movie stars, and it isn’t just for one day. The most effective, longest lasting, and safest method of tooth bleaching is a dentist-supervised tray system. Please call our office to inquire about our Summer Whitening Special!

--Dr. Steven W. Farley, dentist in Windsor, CT

Dr. Farley & Team Wishing You a Happy 4th of July

This upcoming Sunday - which happens to be Independence Day, of course - Dr. Farley and our staff will celebrate our nation's 234th birthday. For most folks, the Fourth of July is a chance to celebrate and commemorate America's Declaration of Independence. It's also a time for every American to pay homage to all our soldiers, past, present and future - who lost their lives in battle - and the brave servicemen- and women who place themselves in harm's way every day so that we may continue enjoy our freedoms.

Today, we thought we'd ask: what are your Fourth of July weekend plans? Are you heading to a barbecue? A picnic? Hitting the open road with family? Having fun in the sun?

Whatever you might be doing over Independence Day weekend, our entire staff hope you have a great week and a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! Feel free to post your Independence Day photos on our Facebook page!

With Dr. Farley- 24/7 access to your account

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at our office enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Smile, and you might just live longer!

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. We have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Dr. Farley on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!

Smile--June is National Smile Month!

Now that we’re in June, Dr. Farley & team thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to see us!

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
* Visit us regularly (every 6 months)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call.

Meet Our Dentist

My goal is to add value to my patients' lives and increase their self-esteem by the creation of beautiful, predictable, long lasting restorations. I always take into consideration my patient's needs and opinions. My practice philosophy can be summed up in one word- excellence.

I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, graduating cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1973. I graduated with high honors from the Columbia University School of Dental Medicine in 1977, and then went on to a hospital-based General Practice Residency program at Hartford Hospital, where I received advanced training in all of the dental specialties.

I have made a serious commitment to be a lifelong student of my profession. I am an active alumni member of the L.D.Pankey Institute, one of the most advanced post-doctoral education centers in the world. In 2004, I received a Fellowship award from the Academy of General Dentistry. This career milestone requires continuous membership in the Academy of General Dentistry, which includes a strict continuing education component, completion of over 500 hours of coursework, and the passing of a comprehensive written examination.