Why You Should Bring Your Child to Our Kids Dentist Office

As a kids dentist, we have to help cure some of the same ailments that plague adult patients. While there are certain oral health problems that are more apt to impact a child, in our day to day practice, much of what we treat would also be found in adults. The challenge with being a kid's dentist is that it is much harder to get to the root of the problem.

Typically kids are much more relative. For example, if you were to ask an adult patient where the pain was, they could give you an exact place. The same holds true for questions like how long ago the pain started and how acute it is. For a child, the irritation is in their mouth, and that is often all they can tell you. Answers to questions like when the pain started depend on the parents ability to answer much of the time. Also, there is the intimidation factor. When it comes to children, there is often a fear associated with going to the dentist. Being in a strange place, surrounded by people in white coats, and with all of the unknown dental equipment, is enough to worry a child who was already nervous. As someone specializing in treating children, we know how to help them to relax so that they can enjoy their visit and tell us what is wrong in the first place.

Cavities in Children
At a kids dentist, the number one thing we treat is cavities. This is because children love sweets, and the bacteria that causes decay loves sugar and starch. For parents, you should know how cavities work and more importantly how you can prevent them.

Bacteria, of all kinds, lives in the human mouth. This bacteria will attempt to colonize the teeth, and in the process will cover your or your child's teeth with a thin film that is known as plaque. Left without cleaning, plaque quickly builds up and can do extensive damage to young teeth. The bacteria inside of the plaque secrete acid. The flow of this acid increases when the bacteria are exposed to its favorite foods, sugar and starch. These acids then wash over the teeth, gradually eating away at the enamel until they form a hole. This is a cavity, which will lead to your child needing an appointment with our kids dentist office. Unchecked cavities can cause discomfort, will grow larger, spread, and even lead to some gum diseases. It is important that you come in and have your child's cavity filled as soon as you know it is there. Often, we will catch a cavity during a routine, twice yearly, examination that you bring your children in for.

The most common way that you can tell that there is something wrong with your child's teeth is sensitivity. Children experience sensitivity in their teeth before anything major happens. When your child starts to complain about not being able to bite into hot, cold, or sweet, you may want to start considering bringing them in for an examination, as tooth sensitivity in children is often an indicator of a deeper underlying problem.

Family Dentist  >  Dentist

A Veneers Dentist Can Improve Your Teeth With a Simple Process

If you are trying to find a way to improve your teeth, a veneers dentist can provide you with a whiter, straighter, and more attractive smile. Veneers are a thin layer of porcelain sometimes referred to as dental ceramic that is adhered to the fronts of your teeth to provide coverage of flaws. The results of veneers are instant and provide you with the smile you have always wanted with the least amount of inconvenient dental work.

About Our Veneers
Our veneers are very natural looking and improve the appearance of your teeth with only two appointments in our veneers dentist office. They are customized and created just for your teeth to improve the imperfections you want to be covered.

Who is a Candidate for Our Dental Veneers
If you have healthy, fully developed teeth, dental veneers are a great option for your improvements. We do not advise people whose gums are infected to have veneers applied until after this problems are taken care of. Veneers are not meant to protect your teeth from bacteria and decay, they are meant to be used as an attractive cosmetic improvement.  

What Flaws Veneers Can Cover
Our veneers dentist office can place veneers on teeth that need shaping and contouring improvements, lengthening adjustments, gap coverage, and whitening and straightening help. Veneers will look beautiful when applied to properly prepared teeth, and the best part is, no one will even realize it is a dental restoration rather than your natural teeth.

Needed Preparation for Veneers
In order to prepare your teeth, our team will gently etch or buff the layer of enamel on the fronts of your teeth to create a proper base for the veneers. After this is accomplished, temporary and permanent veneers can be securely bonded to your teeth for long-lasting coverage.

Side Effects of Veneers
Our veneers dentist office can assure you that side effects are limited to slight sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures directly following veneers placement. The cause of this is the enamel alteration that takes place during application. Sensitivities will subside within a few days.

How Long Dental Veneers Last
How long your veneers last will depend on your treatment and care of them. In most cases, our veneers last for 15-20 years. With age, your dental structure can shift, and your gums can recede. This will cause your veneers to be more vulnerable to damage. If your veneers are damaged or need to be replaced for any other reason, it is simple and easy for our veneers dentist office to provide you with newer and better looking veneers as needed.

We hope our breakdown of the veneers process has helped you understand how effective, simple, and quick our dental veneers service is. We want to help you attain the straighter, whiter, and more attractive smile you have always desired. Your first step to a beautiful smile makeover is visiting our office as soon as you can.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist

A Teeth Whitening Procedure Can Get You Ready for Graduation Day

Get ready for the camera with a teeth whitening procedure.  After four years of hard work, it is time for graduation and your photo-worthy moment.  As your family descends upon the school with their smartphone and digital camera in hand, you will be spending the day smiling and posing.  Whitening your teeth ahead of time will help you to enjoy your pictures a little more. We understand that this is a busy few months with turning in final homework, preparing your resume, packing up your student housing, etc.  Fortunately, you can improve your smile with an appointment to our office, without taking a lot of time away.  A teeth whitening procedure is easy to complete, the results are stunning, and you can do it in time for graduation.

Why so many college students need a teeth whitening treatment.
Graduating with a college degree is hard work.  That work is often fueled by late-night study sessions where jugs of coffee and energy drinks are consumed, and candy bars opened.  Sugar, caffeine, and energy products may be necessary to help you to stay awake, study, and get the grades you need.  However, they are not good for your teeth.  These products can leave your teeth stained and yellow, something that will age you.  As a result, many college students leave for school with healthy and white teeth, only to graduate with plaque buildup and stains.  We want to clean and whiten your teeth right away so that you can walk into the next phase of life with a beautiful smile.

Plan for your future and schedule a teeth whitening procedure.
To fully understand why you should whiten your teeth, you should know about recent studies.  To determine the impact of a beautiful smile on a persons' career, studies have been completed.  It turns out that people with a beautiful smile are more likely to be hired by a prospective employer.  Granted, this is if all other things are equal so whitening your teeth doesn't mean that you should apply for the CEO job.  It does mean, however, that if you were going after the same job as a college grad with a similar resume, the person with the more attractive smile is more likely to be hired.  Once the job is yours, people with a more attractive smile are more likely to get a raise as well.

Once you have decided to whiten your teeth, you must determine how you will do so.  We recommend that you skip the store –bought whitening products because they don't work very well. They can do a good job at removing the surface stains, but most people have deep stains that are below the surface of the enamel.  In order to remove them, you need a professional grade solution – our solution.  When the whitening gel is applied to your teeth, it will penetrate below the surface of the enamel and start the process of oxidization.  This is where the molecules change to reflect less light, appearing colorless and giving you a stunning smile.

Dental Implants  >  Cosmetic Dentist

How Dental Implants are Placed in the Jawbone

Most people know dental implants are tiny prosthetics that are used to create a new fake tooth. Few people, outside of patients who have received one, are aware of just how great a dental implant can be. For starters, dental implants are based on a simple grounding philosophy. Since the root of the tooth is the grounding for the tooth, the dental implants we use provide the same level of strength and security to the new dental crown that we place over them. Additionally the root has a very important and symbiotic relationship with your jawbone, which works to help in stabilizing the tooth itself. Our tiny titanium implants mimic this relationship perfectly. What this does for you is it creates a circumstance where your new fake tooth is strongly grounded in an implant that is literally a perfect non-biological imitation of your root. As such you can eat anything that you would normally eat, without fear of causing unnecessary damage to your new implant or crown. This also means that you do not have to engage in special cleaning activities. Simply brush your teeth, and floss, like you would normally do and the new tooth will also get clean.

Did you know that dental implants come in two different types? Most people, even those who have dental implants, are usually not aware of this fact. There are two types of dental implants because in order for a traditional dental implant to be successful there is a prerequisite for the jawbone to be healthy. The jawbone and the dental implant have a symbiotic relationship, which means the jawbone has to have sufficient density, or bone mass, to sustain and support the implant. We will typically find this out during our initial consultations and examinations, where we will take x-rays. If your jawbone can sustain an implant, we will use the traditional implant. Also known as an Endosteal implant, this implant is a cylindrical shaped device, often a screw, made of titanium. It is inserted directly into the jawbone for maximum stability and to ensure the relationship between the two.

For other patients, however, they may not have the jaw bone density that is required to place an Endosteal implant. In cases like this the patient, you, have one of the two choices. You can have reconstructive surgery on the jaw to make it stronger and able to withstand and support the implant. The other option, for those that do not want to or cannot undergo reconstructive surgery, is to use an implant known as a Subperiosteal implant. A Subperiosteal implant functions much the same way as an Endosteal implant, with one notable exception. A Subperiosteal implant is placed into the gum but not into the jawbone. It is placed on top of, or slightly above the jawbone itself. This provides the security and stability that the dental crown needs, without putting added pressure on the already weakened jawbone. The initial examination will tell us what kind of implant you need, and we can make sure you have all the information you need to make a decision.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist

Visit Our Dental Office to Replace Missing Teeth

In our dental office, we know that tooth loss and dentures are not something any of us think about every day. Very few people actually consider that they might someday need to wear dentures. Recent studies have shown that, among adults, more than 60% have never given any serious thought to the idea that they might someday need a dental prosthetic device for lost teeth. It is not because our teeth are getting stronger, or that the improved technology is helping people keep their teeth longer. Rather it is because tooth loss is seen as a problem for tomorrow, never really thought of today.

Ironically the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry found that by the year 2020, over 37.6 million Americans will probably be wearing a full set of dentures. This did not look at partial dentures. Those are impressive numbers when you consider that just 15 years ago only 33.6 million people were in need of a full set of dentures. With an aging population and the same problems that have always existed, dentures are very much a reality for many of our futures. When you consider that among women of the age of 40 or older, 19% are already wearing dentures, the future may not be quite as far off as one would like to imagine.

In our dental office, dentures and implants are directly related to tooth loss. This means that you have a better chance of avoiding needing dentures if you take good care of your teeth, and if you make it a habit to visit the dentist at least twice per year. Neither one of these is guaranteed since there are two main causes of tooth loss, which leads to needing dentures.

The first is gum disease. Gum disease gives you plenty of forewarning, making it easier for you to get the treatment you need. Typically, however, there is a short window in which to seek treatment before the disease damages the teeth and leads to tooth loss. If you are part of the 53% of Americans that are currently visiting the dentist twice a year, chances are we will catch any infections early, and address them. If you are part of the 47% that does not visit the dentist regularly, you should consider switching sides.

Another important way to avoid dentures is to brush your teeth twice per day, carefully removing any plaque buildup. Currently, only around 69% of us are brushing our teeth twice a day; the rest are taking a risk with tooth loss. Great hygiene, visiting the dentist and being careful what you eat are great ways to start offsetting the likelihood that you will need dentures later in life.

There are numerous small things that can happen that should lead you to be concerned about tooth loss. Diseases like gingivitis can cause you to lose your teeth and require you to get dentures or some other prosthetic replacement. One of the leading signs of gingivitis is bleeding from the gums. However, gum bleeding is experienced by 70% of all people at some point during their life so it is hard to know the difference, and you should visit our dental office so that we can determine if you have gum disease.  Our goal is to keep you in excellent oral health but if you do lose any teeth, we can replace them with dentures or dental implants in order to give you a natural looking smile again.

Dental Implants  >  Sedation Dentist

The Difference Between a Sedation Dentist and Traditional Dentistry

The difference between a sedation dentist and traditional dentistry could result in a far better dental experience for you. Everyone knows what traditional dentistry involves, including visits that can often end up in physical discomfort for the patient. Discomfort is the main reason that so many people let important dentist visits fall to the back burner. Discomfort can cause anxiety, fear, and general unrest when the thought of visiting a traditional dentist comes up. This is often referred to as dental phobia. You don't have to let yourself fall prey to uncomfortable dentist visits or no dental care at all. With a sedation dentist, you will see a huge turn around in your attitude toward visiting the dentist and your comfort level during the appointment. We can help relieve your worries and fears with sedation dentistry. 

Get ready to relax.
Sedation dentistry uses different forms of anesthesia to cause relaxation and contentment during your visit. No matter your level of anxiety or pain, we can provide an effective remedy. Through our calming sedation techniques, you will achieve more confidence and overall happiness during your dental appointments.

Our controlled outcomes of sedation range from light to deep. We help you attain a tranquil mindset with a few different simple techniques, whereas traditional dentistry does not offer any way to ease your nerves. For a light sedation, we can administer Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, through a mask that covers your nose. This will ease you into a relaxed, peaceful level of sedation while also allowing you to be aware of your surroundings in a less apprehensive way. Oral benzodiazepines are other forms of light or medium sedation. These will be provided to you before your appointment. You will normally take them 20 minutes to one hour before you sit down in our dentist chair. They provide a peaceful environment that will allow you to be aware of what is going on. If your anxiety needs are great, we can offer you a deeper level of sedation through an IV. This is normally reserved for serious anxiety cases or oral surgery. All of our techniques provide you with a peace of mind, and they have very little to zero side effects. The most common side effect is a slight memory loss from your time in the dentist chair, which many people view as a perk.

We can ensure your safety during any sedation practice. As a sedation dentist, we can offer you a worry-free dental visit. Take advantage of these amazing anxiety relievers; doing so will result in better overall health of your teeth and gums. We can get your teeth in tip-top shape, meaning you won't have to visit the dentist as often. We still encourage bi-annual or annual visits to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Let us, as a sedation dentist, provide you with what traditional dentistry can't, the calming and effective dental experience you deserve. To get started, call and schedule your dental exam today.

Dental Implants  >  Family Dentist

Call Our Family Dentist Office If You Have Bad Breath

At our family dentist office, we want to hear from you if you are suffering from bad breath.  This can be a sign of a greater health condition so while it may be easy to blame your morning latte, we want to get to the bottom of what is causing the odor protruding from your mouth.  Yes, there are times where breath stinks as a direct result of what you have eaten.  This, however, is easy to identify and after brushing your teeth, your breath will typically smell better.  What concerns us, is breath that continues to smell bad even after you brush your teeth or is persistently getting worse.  If you aren't sure, ask your family since they are likely to be honest with you.

One of the common causes for bad breath is teeth that haven't been professionally cleaned for a long time.  There are certain areas within every mouth that are difficult to reach with at-home care.  Even those that are fastidious about brushing and flossing, may be unable to reach every area, and this is where we come in.  We can clean your teeth and remove the plaque and bacteria from hard to reach places.  This is good for your health and may also improve how your breath smells.

During these teeth cleanings and dental exams, we will also look for signs of an infection.  An infected tooth can cause irritation and sensitivity when you bite down but in many cases, you may not notice it until the infection requires immediate care.  We prefer, however, to treat the tooth before it reaches this point.  Your breath can be an early sign of the infection so if you come in right away, we can remove the infection and restore the tooth before you are bothered by it.  Depending on the severity of the infection, we may need to perform a root canal.  Given modern dental technology, this can be done while you remain completely comfortable in our family dentist office.

Another condition that we will look for is gum disease.  In its most extreme state, gum disease can cause  your gums to recede and pockets to form in the gum tissue.  This can lead to bone loss and future tooth loss.  However, if we catch the condition early enough you may not even know that you have it.  Gingivitis can make your gums red and swollen but the irritation is minor, and we can treat the gums by simply removing the plaque and tartar from under the surface of the gum tissue.  Once done, the gums will begin to return to good health.  Early detection allows us to prevent damage to your teeth and helps you to avoid discomfort.

In our family dentist office, we want to know about changes in your breath due to these primary health concerns.  It is our goal to help our patients avoid discomfort, and early detection and treatment makes this possible.  Therefore, if you notice that your breath stinks even after brushing, give us a call.

General Dentist  >  Dental