As a Veneers Dentist, We Love Porcelain Veneers!

As a veneers dentist, we look for solutions that are simple and efficient - dental veneers meet both of these criteria. Made of the finest, thinnest strip of porcelain the veneers fit onto the teeth, or over the teeth, as a replacement to enamel that has been worn away, chipped, or broken. Often a small fraction of the enamel will need to be stripped away in order to make room for the dental veneer to fit flush with the rest of the teeth. Since the dental veneer has to take the place of enamel, the thin strip of porcelain has to have many of the same qualities as the enamel itself. As such, the veneer is extremely hard. This allows it to withstand the rigors of a eating a regular diet. At the same time, like enamel, the porcelain is brittle and is not designed to do things like opening bottles which can crack the veneer in much the same way as it can damage a natural tooth.

Not only do dental veneers have some of the qualities of enamel, but the veneer is also designed to serve a very important duality of functions. First they look and feel like the real thing, meaning you will never have a tooth that is different from the surrounding teeth. This is very important for the esthetic appeal of the teeth. Secondly dental veneers can give the tooth protection. This is especially important when there is some level of decay, and the tooth needs to be bolstered against further infection. The veneer takes the place of the enamel in blocking the damage from spreading further and in many cases can actually help to save the tooth itself.

Dental veneers can have a very long lifecycle. With the proper care and maintenance, the dental veneers can last anywhere from seven to thirty years. Naturally there is no real way to predict how long one of these devices will last with any sense of certainty. Each mouth is different, and additionally each person will take care of their mouth, and by extension their veneers, differently. As the mouth changes, and faced with additional complications like diseases, there is always a possibility that your veneers may need replacing. However, like teeth, veneers can last longer if you have regular checkups with a veneers dentist.

It is important to note that dental veneers won't really impact your overall quality of life. This is because they are designed specifically to ensure that they blend in and behave like a natural tooth. The veneers fit snugly into the tooth itself, so they do not stand out. Maintenance of the veneers is no different from keeping you regular teeth clean and as long as you follow a routine of brushing, flossing, and seeing the dentist for regular professional cleanings, the veneers require no additional care. The only area where we advise a difference in your lifestyle is in the things that you eat and drink. Veneers do not stain, but the teeth around them do. Eating and drinking foods that could stain your teeth could result in your veneers being whiter than the teeth around them. If, however, you need to whiten your natural teeth, we can perform a whitening procedure in our veneers dentist office.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist

A Kids' Dentist Can Be Your Partner in Oral Health

Being a kids' dentist can be greatly rewarding. It also comes with its own unique set of challenges, mostly springing from the fact that a children’s dentist works with young, wiggly patients. Though often more compliant than their adult counterparts, children have an intrinsic fear of the things they do not understand, making it even more important that we take the time to explain each step of the process to them. Additionally, parents can be overly frightened of having their children's teeth worked on, making for a sometimes tense situation. All of this is challenging enough but is made even more complex by the fact that children’s teeth are unique from a biological perspective. Children are still growing and developing, which includes their teeth. As such, it takes special attention and care to help the teeth while being aware that the jaw bone is yet to solidify fully. In a sense, we have a special opportunity, with children’s dentistry, to make an impact while the mouth is still developing. 

A children’s dentist is not just a practitioner who specializes in small teeth. The largest part of our job is to educate the children and parents with regard to great oral health and habits. As difficult as it may be for some people to believe, we would actually prefer to see you less. If, as your child’s dentist, we could only have the pleasure of seeing you twice a year for teeth cleanings, we would consider it a job well done. In order to get there, however, we need to help you create healthy habits in your children. These habits, once developed, will carry over into adulthood and ensure that your child has extremely healthy teeth for the rest of their life. 

Of all the habits we discuss, perhaps the most difficult to change are eating habits. Recently a comprehensive study was performed that found some alarming statistics when it comes to children’s access to sugar. Most children love sugar and left to their own devices would consume far too many snacks with a high sugar content. This is why parental supervision is so important. This study found that only 25% of parents follow the recommendation dietary limits on sugary snacks. These parents followed the guidelines of not allowing their children high sugar content snacks more than twice a week. On the opposite end of the spectrum, at around 14%, were parents who allowed their children to snack on these kinds of snacks three or four times in a given day. The majority of parents, around 60%, were in the middle by allowing this kind of snacking at least once per day.  As a kids dentist, we can help you by providing ideas for how to replace sugary snacks with healthy ones. 

We know that working together can produce positive results and that you as a parent, have your child’s best interest at heart. As a kids' dentist, we have seen dentist/parent partnerships work in the past and believe that this is the best solution for addressing the snacking challenge.  Given that over 93% of parents, according to the study, brush their children’s teeth at least once per day, we have a lot of encouragement that new habits can be formed and children can start eating healthier foods again. 

The Process a Veneers Dentist Uses to Restore Teeth

As a veneers dentist, we can restore teeth that have been damaged while simultaneously improving their appearance.  Made of porcelain, dental veneers have become a powerful tool for correcting numerous dental challenges. When you consider the array of dental problems that can be fixed with dental veneers it is easy to forget that they are, in fact, a wafer-thin strip of porcelain which is incredibly brittle in its unattached state. One the veneer is attached to the tooth, replacing some of the enamel, it takes on the strength of a normal tooth and is almost as durable as a naturally occurring tooth would be. It is due to the veneers strength and ability to blend in with the natural teeth that we use if for repairing chipped teeth, correcting unsightly spaces between teeth, adjusting misaligned teeth, and even to improve the color or size of your teeth. 

While dental veneers are an incredible solution to many minor problems, they are also able to solve these problems while blending seamlessly into your mouth. Once a veneer is in place, no one will be able to tell the difference between your regular teeth and the one that is repaired using the dental veneer. To do this, we will need to see you at least twice. The first time is to consult and give you an idea of what to expect. Following this we will prepare the tooth to receive the dental veneer. On the second visit, we will actually place the veneer and make sure that it is a perfect fit. 

Dental veneers, visit one:
During the first visit, we will give you a lot of information, after which we will focus on making sure the tooth is ready for the veneer. To do this, we will get an exact color match, by comparing your teeth with a shade card. This allows us to pick, not just the coloring, but, the shading to match your mouth. If all of your visible teeth are getting veneers, you can simply select the shade that you like.  During this visit, two important procedures will take place. First, our veneers dentist will trim the enamel on the tooth. A minimal amount of enamel, as low as between 0.5 and 0.7 millimeters, will be removed. This, quite simply, is to make room for the dental veneer to take the place of this enamel. Once the enamel has been trimmed, we will take an implant of the area. This gives us the measurements we need to create your veneers. Before you leave we will also place a temporary veneer onto your tooth in order to protect it from sensitivity. 

Dental veneers, visit two:
Once the veneers have returned from the lab, it is time to fit them. During this visit, our veneers dentist will be fitting the veneers and working to ensure that they are a match. To that end, we will place them, remove them, trim them, and replace them multiple times until we are satisfied that the fit is perfect and has no adverse effect on your bite patterns. We will also check the shading to ensure the dental veneer fits in with the rest of your teeth. Once this is completed, we can cement the veneer in place and complete the restoration for you.

A TMJ Dentist Can Treat Your Jaw Pain Using These Procedures

As a TMJ dentist, there are several procedures we can recommend to help alleviate any pain or discomfort you feel in your jaw.  TMJ will affect somewhere between twenty and thirty percent of the entire population of the United States. While there have not been any comprehensive nationwide studies done, smaller studies show that only chronic back pain causes more distress on a national scale. As a matter of fact, tooth pain is the only condition that causes more facial distress than TMJ. Over 15% of all TMJ cases that go untreated and will become chronic, which often requires surgical intervention to correct. Considering that only about two-thirds of all people who have TMJ seek out the medical attention they need, this is a large gap in education that must be provided to the general public about this condition. 

Understanding TMJ is a little bit harder than understanding a single condition diseases. This is because TMJ is a symptom complex, meaning that it is a series or group of symptoms that may have multiple causes and unfortunately multiple ways of treating those causes. All of this has lead to a level of confusion about the condition and how to best treat it. What is not in dispute is the importance of treating TMJ before it escalates and becomes chronic, a condition that could affect a person’s jaw movement and hence hinder chewing, yawning, and talking. 

As a TMJ dentist, we prefer to treat the condition right away using a non-surgical, non-invasive method.  One of the main causes of TMJ is grinding and clenching teeth at night.  We make it impossible for teeth to touch so that they cannot clench.  This is done by wearing a removable oral appliance that looks like a full retainer.  It is connected and prevents the teeth from clenching.  It is a simple step to take because you only need to wear it before going to bed and take it out again in the morning.  While easy to do, this should alleviate many of your symptoms and soreness.  Once chronic TMJ sets in, there are three main options for treatment. 

Arthrocentesis is the most minor of the procedures that a TMJ dentist can use to clean the damaged tissue and treat TMJ. Usually, this treatment is recommended when a patient has no prior history of TMJ and is suffering from locked jaw as a result of the condition. The needle can be inserted into the joint to flush or clean out the joint. Any damaged tissue can then be removed with a special tool, and ultimately unstick the joint. All of this is done under general anesthesia, but the procedure has minimal recovery time and no risk of scarring or nerve damage. 

Arthroscopic surgery is a little more complex and involves making a small incision under the ear of the patient. Arthroscopic surgery relies on specialized tools, with a camera and flashlight attached that are inserted into the patient and give the orthodontist a clear view of the jaw. Seeing the areas of damage magnified on a video screen, allows the surgeon to remove any damaged tissue and align the disc as necessary. This surgery is also performed under general anesthesia and is considered to be minimally invasive. The risk of infection, scarring, and nerve damage are also greatly reduced as is the amount of time recommended for recovery. 

If you are currently experiencing jaw or joint pain, call and schedule an appointment with a TMJ dentist. 

Learn How a Sedation Dentist Can Help You to Stay Comfortable

As a sedation dentist, we make it possible for people to get dental work done that have been unable to visit the dentist. For a number of Americans, sedation dentistry, is the answer to a life-long fear of the dentist chair. Studies have shown that somewhere between 5% and 8% of Americans have never visited the dentist because they are afraid of the experience. There is no doubt that the fear is a legitimate one, and there are a number of theories why people are so afraid of oral procedures. One theory, that makes a lot of sense, is the helplessness many people feel while in the chair. Having a person hovering over you, with your mouth open to the point of being barely able to speak, can cause a great deal of anxiety for some people. 

Luckily a sedation dentist has a solution to help ease some of the anxiety. By allowing our patients to select the level of sedation they want, we can provide them with an experience that is stress-free and still gets the dental work they need to be done. It is inaccurate to refer to sedation dentistry as “sleep dentistry”, a term that is relatively popular, because it is only in some cases that the patient is actually asleep. Much of the time the sedation is at the minimal levels, which allows us to take the edge off and ensure that you are comfortable. 

You will need to make a number of decisions with regard to the level of sedation, you want, and need, and also the method of delivery. We will then advise you on the benefits and risks of each of the options, so that you have a complete understanding of sedation and how it works with dentistry. There are four levels of sedation that you can elect for. We will give advice and recommendations for each of these in conjunction with the procedure you are going to be getting. 

Mild sedation is the most moderate form of sedation, typically administered using inhalation. A mask is placed over your nose and mouth, following which you will be asked to breathe normally. A solution of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, will be administered. Nitrous oxide causes you to relax and let go of excess anxiety during the procedure. 

Moderate or conscious sedation is typically given using a pill. The sedation dentist can determine what level of sedation, you require, and work with an anesthesiologist to get you a pill that has the right level of anesthesia. Typically this kind of sedation does leave you with a heavy tongue and slightly drowsy. 

Deep sedation sits somewhere between moderate sedation and full general anesthesia. Deep sedation puts you into a light sleep, from which you could easily be awakened. This allows you to be relatively unaware of the activity around you as we perform the oral work you need. 

General anesthesia is the heaviest form of sedation and is typically associated with surgical procedures. Given through an IV, general anesthesia is monitored throughout the surgery and the levels can be adjusted constantly to ensure that patients remain asleep and comfortable. 

If you want to learn more about the ways we can help you to relax, schedule an appointment at our sedation dentist office. 

Learn How to Properly Brush Your Teeth from a General Dentist

In our general dentist office, we treat patients of all ages and show both kids and adults how to brush their teeth correctly.  If you only brush your teeth occasionally and try to rush through it, you probably aren’t getting the best clean.  While your intentions are good, if you don’t brush correctly you may be wasting your time.  Make the most of your efforts by changing your routine and incorporating these simple tips:

• Timing matters.  The faster you can get sugar off of your teeth, the better.  Carry a soft travel toothbrush with you and use it throughout the day.  As an added bonus, your teeth will be less likely to stain, and your breath will smell fresher without the need for gum. No matter what you should brush your teeth at least every night and every morning. 
• Use the right brush.  As a general dentist, we recommend that our patients use a soft toothbrush instead of a hard one.  This is important because a soft toothbrush will get your teeth clean, but it won’t strip the enamel off of your teeth or irritate your gums.  If you can use an electric brush that is even better.
• Keep it new.  The bristles on your toothbrush need to look new. Once they start to fray, you have kept it for too long.  We recommend buying a new brush every three months and if you have an electric one, switching out the brush heads.  This will help you to consistently get a good clean. 
• Toothpaste.  You should use toothpaste that contains fluoride because this is a mineral that will keep your teeth strong and help to prevent cavities. We recommend that children receive fluoride treatments when they visit our office, and this is one additional way to keep teeth healthy and strong in between teeth cleanings.  If your teeth are sensitive, you may want to use desensitizing toothpaste instead. 
• Brush in circles.  You should brush your teeth in a circular pattern that starts at the gum line and moves towards the center of your mouth.  This way bacteria, plaque and food, are pushed away from your gums. This is a far better way to brush then going from back to front, which can irritate your gums.
• Keep it clean.  Your toothbrush needs to stay clean and dry so that bacteria cannot develop on the brush itself.  Use a toothbrush holder so that it can air out throughout the day.  You can also put it in an empty dishwasher so that your brush can get cleaned and sterilized on a weekly basis.

When you visit our general dentist office, we will remove any plaque and bacteria that have been left behind from your daily brushing and flossing.  Working together we can help to prevent cavities and gum disease so that you can stay in excellent oral health.  Taking the time to do so will prevent you from experiencing discomfort down the road.

Learn How You Can Save Money While Visiting the Family Dentist

Don’t let money prevent you from visiting our family dentist office.  There are ways that you can save and reduce your overall dental care expense.  We also offer financing solutions and can discuss payment plans if you need it. This way you and your family can get the care that you need without worrying about your budget.

When trying to manage your health care cost, you can start by planning for preventative care.  We recommend that you schedule a teeth cleaning for twice a year.  This way we can remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth in order to prevent cavities and gum disease from developing.  When you prevent infections, you also prevent the need for more expensive dental procedures.  Most insurance companies will pay for this type of treatment so you may have little to no out of pocket expense. 

You can also save money by investing in a dental savings plan.  These plans can be bought online and work by giving you discounts on a variety of treatments.  It can be used by itself or in combination with an insurance plan. This is especially beneficial for people that want to get orthodontics treatments or major dental work.  You can get more information when visiting our family dentist office. 

Whenever possible, take steps to avoid a dental emergency so that you can keep your health care cost at a manageable level.  Brushing your teeth two to three times a day, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and eating healthy are all ways to do so.  They keep your teeth clean and strong so that they are less prone to infection.  We also recommend that the athletes in the family wear a mouth guard.  The American Dental Association claims that over 200,000 high school and college athletes avoid injury every year by wearing one.  When you can prevent injuries and infections, you can prevent the need to pay for major emergency dental work. 

If you do need a dental procedure, ask about your options.  There is typically more than one way to have dental work done.  For example, if one of your teeth has fallen out you can use dental implants, a dental bridge or dentures to replace it.  Likewise, a chipped tooth may be fixed with a bonding procedure, dental veneers, and a dental crown.  During your consultation let us know if you have specific budgetary constraints so that we can make recommendations as to which procedures can solve the problem while staying within your budget.  

In our family dentist office, we understand that at times families need to have dental work completed but simply can’t afford it.  Whether you chip a tooth during the holidays or while saving to buy a house, medical emergencies can strike at inopportune times.  We offer financing solutions and payment plans that can help. This way you can get the procedure that you need without having to pay anything out of pocket immediately.  

These are some of the ways that you can continue to get the dental care that you need while saving money and living within your budget.