Dr. Judith Fisch grew up outside of Albany, NY and attended dental hygiene school in Syracuse, NY. Realizing she wanted to be a dentist she pursued her Bachelors degree at SUNY Oswego and then went on to Georgetown University School of Dentistry in Washington, DC. After four long and intense years of training, she and husband (& classmate), Dr. David Heaton, began a new phase with the US Navy.

Gaining considerable experience in dentistry as well as the Navy, they returned to Rutland and entered private practice with Daves dad. The practice was started by Dr. Ronald Heaton in the early 1960s and has served many residents of Rutland County for over 60 years!

Dr. Fisch has been involved with organized dentistry throughout her career and is a past president of the Vermont State Dental Society and a former trustee of the American Dental Association Board of Trustees representing the six New England States.

Most recently, Dr. Fisch obtained her diplomate status in Dental Sleep Medicine through the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. She is one of three dentists in the state of Vermont with this status. At her adjunct practice, Green Mountain Dental Sleep Center, Dr. Fisch treats patients with obstructive sleep apnea using oral appliance therapy.

The staff at Heaton and Fisch Dental Associates provides a welcoming atmosphere for each patient. Their combined talents and professional skills provide trusted, compassionate, and comprehensive care for patients of all ages.

Each member of our team works together to meet all the dental needs of our patients. We take great pride in our knowledge and experience, and are committed to continuing education focused on state-of-the-art dentistry.

Sara has worked in the dental field for over 20 years. She enjoys walking, baking, card making, and has played handbells for 30+ years. She enjoys family time, traveling, and her two dogs, Charlie and Bob.

Jessie has over 33 years experience as a certified and expanded funtional dental assistant. Her unique interests are grounds keeping, landscaping, and cooking. Her hobbies include snowshoeing, flower gardening, and walking.

Rebecca joined the staff at Heaton & Fisch Dental in 2014. While assisting treatments and procedures, she ensures an optimum experience for both doctor and patient. She loves horses and making art as well as hiking and skiing with her husband, son and two dogs.

A dental hygienist with extensive experience, Brittney ensures each patient is educated in correct hygiene techniques. She most enjoys cooking and family time with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. They stay busy with baseball, golf, and skiing.

Your mouth needs saliva to be able to work properly. Saliva keeps your mouth moist, and it helps to break down your food and helps you to swallow. It also acts as a cleanser. It is constantly washing around your mouth and teeth, fightingtooth decayand helping to keep your teeth clean. Dry mouth or xerostomia is a condition which affects the flow of saliva, causing your mouth to feel dry.

There are several symptoms to look out for. The most obvious one is, of course, a dry mouth. Some people feel that their saliva has become thick and sticky, making it difficult to speak or swallow. Some people also have a prickly or burning sensation in their mouth and become sensitive to certain foods. The mouth can become sore and there is a higher risk of tooth decay andgum disease. In some cases, the mouth can also become red and shiny. If you have any of these symptoms it doesnt necessarily mean that you have dry mouth. But it may be best to talk to your dental team or doctor about it.

Dry mouth can be a symptom of many different problems and can happen as you get older. Quite often it is a side effect of medication especially heart, blood pressure and depression tablets. Your doctor, pharmacist or dental team should be able to tell you whether your medication can cause problems. Dry mouth can also be caused by medical treatments such as radiotherapy, or surgery to the head or neck.

Saliva helps to cancel out the acid that attacks your teeth, and is a very important part of your dental health. Saliva helps to break down food while you are chewing, allowing you to swallow more easily. Some people find that they have problems with swallowing when their saliva flow is affected.

Saliva is also very important in fighting tooth decay. It helps to fight the bacteria that form dental plaque and cause tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque is the thin, sticky film that keeps forming on your teeth.

There are a number of products designed to help your mouth stay moist and comfortable. These are usually gels or sprays. Some have extra ingredients which may help prevent tooth and gum problems. There are also special products to help with your day-to-day oral hygiene (for example toothpastes and mouth rinses).

You have a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease with dry mouth, and these can get worse more quickly than usual. So it is important to visit your dental team regularly. Your dental team will tell you how often you should visit.

There are different ways of relieving the symptoms of dry mouth. Some people find that sipping water, or sucking sugar-free sweets, helps in the short term. It is very important to use sugar-free products, as dry mouth can make you more likely to have tooth decay.Chewing sugar-free gumcan also help as it encourages your mouth to make saliva. Your dental team might recommend products such as mouth rinses, gels, toothpastes, and products containing xylitol