An Invisalign® Dentist Has Solutions For You and Your Teen

As an Invisalign dentist, we are seeing a greater interest in young adults and teens for this alternative means of straightening teeth. Invisalign® has two distinct qualities that make it immensely popular among adults. They are extremely convenient to use, and they are very discrete. The inconspicuous nature of these tooth straightening devices have made them a favorite among adults who want to straighten their teeth without having the slightly embarrassing look that comes from wearing traditional braces. For adults, it is almost revolutionary that they have a discrete path to straighter more beautiful teeth. Sadly, a lot of parents have not made the same leap when it comes to planning a treatment for their teenagers.  They are among the largest group that use braces; they are also a group that depends on their parents to make medical choices for them. As such, there is certainly a strong case to be made for selecting Invisalign® for teenagers.

The makers of Invisalign® have come out with a new product designed specifically with a teenage audience in mind. Similar to adults, teenagers have a lot of peer pressure and the desire to hide their treatment, as they straighten their teeth, is very important to teenagers. When you consider the habits of most teenagers, the food that they prefer to eat, the importance looks play in their social structure, and their busy schedules it becomes clear that parents should be considering Invisalign® Teen as an option for their growing child. It is a stellar alternative to the traditional metal braces.

There are natural advantages to working with Invisalign®, however, some patients have concerns about the effectiveness, and so it is important to note that this product works on exactly the same principle as traditional braces. Traditional braces work to move teeth into a proper alignment by exerting pressure on them. This is achieved using connected brackets, screws, and rubber bands. With Invisalign® the same effect is evident by using a series of progressive aligners, essentially putting a similar amount of pressure on the teeth to make them move. The difference is that with the new technology, this can be achieved without you or your teenager having to have a mouth full of metal and constantly having to visit our office for adjustments.  As an Invisalign® dentist, we find that the conveniences of this solution cannot be understated.

One of the biggest complaints teenagers have against traditional braces, other than the fact that it hampers their looks, is the fact that it comes with a laundry list of foods that can no longer be eaten. Since braces are permanently affixed to the mouth, they have to be protected from damage. As a result your child will not be able to eat anything that is too sticky, too sweet, too sour, or too hard for fear that any of these may damage the wires or brackets in the braces. With Invisalign® there are no such restrictions. The aligners are fully removable and are supposed to be taken out to eat meals. Once you are done eating, rinse out your mouth to clean your teeth, then put the aligners back in.  As an Invisalign® dentist, we can go over all of the benefits with you during a consultation.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Cerec Dentistry

Call Us if You Need an Emergency Dentist

As an emergency dentist, we understand that it is impossible to control when you will have a dental emergency.  Even those who are fastidious about oral health can still end up in a car wreck, hurt while playing sports, slip and fall down, etc., all of which can lead to a damaged tooth and dental emergency.  In fact, according to the National Fall Safety Institute slip and falls account for 9 million trips to the emergency room every year.  With that in mind, you truly never know when you may need emergency dentist care.  Fortunately, we are here when you do.  Regardless of how you hurt yourself or how damaged your teeth are, give us a call.  If we do not answer, we will get back to you right away so that you can receive the dental care that you need.

Solutions Offered by an Emergency Dentist
As an emergency dentist, we offer extended hours that are far beyond what you can find with a traditional dentist.  Many local dentists restrict their hours of operation to Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm.  While this works for many people, it can make it difficult for those with busy work schedules or a dental emergency to get the care that they need.  As a result, many people seek dental care from the emergency room of a local hospital.  This is unwise because general physicians are not trained in how to diagnose or treat dental problems.  They can triage the problem and provide medication, but that's it.  This leads to repeat visits because the health issue is never actually addressed.  When you visit our dental office, your experience will be entirely different.  Even though we are available 24 hours a day, we still provide the same comprehensive dental care that you can receive during normal business hours.  This means that we can examine your teeth, take x-rays, diagnose the problem and provide you with immediate care.  If you have damaged your tooth, we may restore it with a bonding procedure, dental veneers, or dental crowns.  If you have lost a tooth, we can try to save it or provide you with a denture, dental bridge, or dental implant as a replacement solution.  Finally, if your tooth is infected, we can typically save it by performing a root canal.
When you visit our dental office, you can be confident knowing that you will receive the highest quality of dental care from a team of experts.  We are equipped to handle whatever your dental needs may be.

Tips for Staying Healthy
If you want to decrease the chance that you will ever need an emergency dentist, it is important to take care of your teeth and gums. While you cannot prevent most accidents, if you play sports you can decrease your risk for getting injured.  We recommend that you wear a mouthguard while playing or practicing sports so that your teeth will not be damaged if hit.  Simultaneously, if you receive ongoing dental care, the chance of you developing a sudden toothache will also be reduced.

Dental Office  >  Dentist

Common Dental Myths Debunked by Our Dental Office

In our dental office, we are regularly asked questions about oral health, and some of the things we hear are based on myth rather than reality. It is normal for dental myths to circulate throughout the community, but a few can lead to unhealthy habits, so it is important to visit our dental office to ask questions if you have them. This way, we can make sure you are armed with the correct information that can lead to healthy teeth and gums. In the meantime, here are some truths you should know.

Myth #1: Natural sugar is not bad for your teeth.
The Truth – All sugar is bad for your teeth. Whether it is found in fruit juice, honey, etc., the more sugar and starch that you eat and drink, the more likely you are to get cavities. We recommend that you brush your teeth after eating and rinse your mouth after drinking juice, milk, or anything else high in sugar.

Myth #2: Baby teeth do not matter since they are going to fall out anyway.
The Truth – Baby teeth are incredibly important. We encourage parents to take care of their children's baby teeth by brushing and flossing them on a daily basis and visiting our dental office for a professional cleaning once or twice a year. This allows us to keep their teeth healthy and cavity-free. Remember that your child's teeth will hurt if they get a cavity, just like it would if you got a cavity. Taking care of them is not optional if you want to keep your children healthy and comfortable.

Myth #3: If my gums bleed, I should avoid brushing them.
The Truth – Gums that bleed typically do so because of gum disease. Yes, you can irritate your gums by brushing too aggressively, but if you are applying steady pressure, they should be fine. Brushing them is a way to help them return to better health because any plaque that is presently irritating them needs to be removed. If they continue to bleed, visit our office for a dental examination and deep cleaning.

Myth #4: Hard toothbrushes are the best for your teeth.
The Truth – It is easy to understand why it would seem like hard toothbrushes are the best. In truth, they can damage your teeth. Aggressive brushing can lead to erosion, and when the enamel erodes, it will not grow back. When too much of it is lost, you could have sensitive teeth that can only be helped with another dental procedure, such as the placing of a dental crown or a bonding procedure. To protect your teeth and keep them clean, we recommend using a soft or electronic toothbrush. By brushing with even pressure for two minutes at a time, you can get your teeth sparkling clean without the risk of being too aggressive.

We invite you to call our dental office and schedule an appointment to ask all your oral health questions. This way, you can receive the information you need for lifelong oral health while making sure you are not operating under any dental myths.

Dentist  >  General Dentist

If You Are Pressed for Time, You Need CEREC Dentistry

We provide CEREC dentistry for patients looking for an immediate dental restoration or to improve the appearance of their smile. If you are currently in need of dental care and want to have your oral health issues solved immediately, CEREC is the best solution for you because it allows us to eliminate the need for a dental lab in most cases. This means there is no delay between when you visit our office with a need and when we will be able to resolve that need.

Traditional Dentistry vs. CEREC Dentistry

The difference between the two options is dramatic, and the best way to describe it is with an example. If you chip a tooth playing softball, you will need to visit a dentist to have that tooth restored so you can eat like normal and not be in discomfort. Typically, on your first appointment, your teeth will be examined and x-rays taken. Next, an impression of your mouth and measurements will be taken so information can be sent to the dental lab for them to create a new crown or veneer. While, in the office, a portion of enamel will be removed from your tooth so when the final restoration is complete, it can be placed without making your tooth appear overly large. The challenge is that your prepared tooth will be sensitive to everything, including air. To protect it, a temporary restoration needs to be secured using removable glue. You will then need to wear it for a week or two and be careful with what you eat and how you brush your teeth during this time. Many patients have complained that this is inconvenient and requires too many dental appointments since you would then need to come back in so the temporary can be removed and the final restoration bonded in place. That scenario is what you can expect with traditional dentistry.

CEREC dentistry is entirely different. When you come in for a restoration, measurements and images are taken and then uploaded into our software so a 3D model of your tooth can be created. The software will come up with a blueprint that is sent to our milling machine so your restoration can be completed while your tooth is being prepared. A portion of the enamel will still need to be removed, but once done, there is no need for a temporary restoration to be secured. This means you will not need to worry about what you eat or have the temporary come loose. Instead, you will be fitted for a permanent restoration before you leave, and we will bond it in place. When you walk out our doors, you will be doing so with a fully restored tooth that looks completely natural. In this way, CEREC dentistry is enhancing and improving the experience of our patients.

Given how fast and easy CEREC dentistry is, many of our patients are also seeking this solution to improve the appearance of their teeth by using restorations to close gaps, make teeth appear straighter, cover dark stains, and more. To learn about these options for your smile, call and schedule an appointment today.

Dental Veneers  >  Invisalign Dentist

The Impact And Convenience Of Dental Veneers

Among dental devices, dental veneers have made a true impact on how people get their teeth fixed. The goal when you go to a cosmetic dentist is to make sure you leave with a better smile and great-looking teeth. To this end, your cosmetic dentist has a number of tools and tricks, including multiple treatment options that can be used in tandem to give you the best results. Even in this crowded marketplace, dental veneers have been able to shine with their price point, their ease of use, and a number of other advantages they bring to the table. As the demand for better-looking smiles has increased, dental veneers have become one of the most popular ways to achieve that. Many people like the fact that dental veneers augment the teeth, keeping most of your original tooth structure in place while making them look better. Whenever you start augmenting your teeth or using a dental prosthetic, you will be in a situation where your cosmetic dentist will need to remove some or all of your natural enamel to fit the new device.

When it comes to dental veneers, we only remove a very small portion of the enamel, often less than a few millimeters. This allows the veneers to fit properly on the tooth. On the other hand, if you were to get dental crowns, they would require that we shave away the vast majority of your natural enamel, leaving only a nub to which we can attach the new crown for stability. With dental implants, it is even more severe. Dental implants, unlike dental veneers, require that we remove the entire tooth and the root with it, so there is room for a new implant and its new crown. The ability to save the vast majority of your enamel is only one advantage dental veneers offer. Other advantages include a quicker healing and treatment time.

When you opt to get dental veneers, you are shortening the time of your treatment significantly. For the most part, unless there are unforeseen circumstances, you will get your custom dental veneers fitted on the second visit. While this visit may be slightly longer than a traditional appointment, it is far shorter than the treatment time that comes with other options of treatment. For example, you can actually correct mild malocclusion, or crooked teeth, with your dental veneers. On the other hand, you could choose to use braces or Invisalign ® to do the same treatment. Where your veneers would be fitted and completed in the second visit, your braces would require a year or more of treatment. While it is true that veneers can only resolve minor crooked teeth, and that if your condition is severe, you will still need braces or Invisalign®, it is also true that after you are done with your straightening using one of those methods, you will need to add additional treatments like teeth whitening to finish the effect. Dental veneers can solve both problems in one simple solution.

Invisalign Dentist  >  Cosmetic Dentist

The Importance of A Dental Office Visit

We know that the dental office probably ranks highly among places you would least like to visit on a regular basis. Which, in a sense, is ironic given that people who make a habit of coming to the dentist office at least twice a year ultimately end up spending less time getting treatment. This is because we are able to do two things on these routine visits. First, we keep the teeth clean and remove excess plaque. The removal of excess plaque helps contribute to lowered potential for cavities. Second, we examine your mouth thoroughly, which allows us to catch any budding problems and treat them before they grow into something more serious. However, there are still many people who have not heard the message that visiting your dental office will actually save you time, money, and discomfort in the long run. In a study conducted recently, researchers looked at data concerning dental visits over a 12-month span. To get an accurate assessment, they looked at the 10-year span from 2002 to 2012 and found that the overall percentage of people who visit the dentist at least once every 12 months had gone down in that time period. In 2002, 44.5 percent of people visited the dentist at least once a year. By 2012, that number had dropped to 42.1 percent. This means that fewer people are coming in for an annual checkup.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), there is already 27.5 percent of Americans who suffer from untreated decay and cavities. In some demographics, children between the ages of 12 and 15, for example, that number is much higher, often around 50 percent. In addition to this, there is an entire segment of the adult population, 14 percent to be precise, that believes the condition of their teeth is poor. A routine, often short, visit to the dentist office can cure many of these problems and help you stay in the best oral health possible. For the folks who have not been to a dental office in a while and need a little more prompting, here are a few additional reasons why you should consider making that appointment as soon as possible.

The mouth, in many senses, is a barometer for the rest of your body. Examining your mouth gives the staff at the dental office an insight into what is going on with your health. An example of this is that we can tell if you have a vitamin deficiency just through the process of examining your mouth. In addition to this, it has become standard practice at dental offices around the country to conduct a routine oral cancer screening when doing your bi-annual examination. This is because of a growing concern about the number of oral cancer cases. For a dentist, it makes sense to perform the screening, because it is easier for us to catch early symptoms, like lesions that may appear on the mouth or in the throat. Catching a disease like cancer gives you the best chance of fighting and curing it, making screenings an important reason to visit the dental office.

General Dentist  >  Painless Dentist

Visit Our General Dentist Office as Part of Your Back to School Routine

If you have a child that is going back to school, or you are headed back to school yourself, visit our general dentist office as part of your back to school routine. Visiting the dentist regularly is incredibly important, and fitting it into your schedule at a time you will remember can be challenging. Including a visit to our general dentist office in your normal routine makes it more convenient for you.

Save Time

Back to school season is a busy time for everyone, but scheduling important medical and dentist appointments during this time makes sense. Avoid having to take off work or school later by visiting the general dentist now, while you still have a little free time. If you schedule an appointment now, you won't have to think about coming to the dentist for another six months. This will give you an abundance of time to get back into a routine at school or work before you have to make another visit, and it may help you plan ahead for when you know you will have time off.

Prepare for Sports

If you or your child are planning on playing sports this year, a visit to a general dentist office is even more important to consider. A great form of protection from dental damage and tooth loss is a mouthguard, which can be worn during all physical activities that could involve a collision with a ball or another person. Wearing a correctly manufactured and comfortably fitted mouthguard during sports, physical education classes, and even recess can save you time and money in the long run. More importantly, it can save your teeth from irreversible damage and a lot of discomfort.

Revamp Your Diet

Once you have your teeth checked, you may be encouraged to revamp your diet for the coming year. If you have cavities, it may be a rude awakening that you should avoid eating as many sweets, drinking as much soda, or consuming acidic, sticky, and sweet substances altogether. Packing your lunch or planning to eat healthy meals is not only great for your overall health and waistline, but it is also necessary for a healthy mouth. When you visit our general dentist office as part of your back to school routine, we can help suggest healthy foods and drinks that can contribute to stronger teeth.

Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene

Visiting our general dentist office will help you or your child develop better oral hygiene. During the summer break, when you are having fun all day and staying up late, it is easy to forget to perform regular brushing and flossing. If we find cavities during your visit, we can remove the damage and repair your tooth before the coming school year. We can also point out areas where you may not be performing the best brushing or flossing techniques and provide tips on how to accomplish a perfect oral hygiene routine. Also, don't forget to buy new toothbrushes and toothpaste while you are out purchasing school gear.

Do not forget to visit our general dentist office as you are preparing all areas of your life for the school year. We can help you maintain good health and keep you or your child in school without the need to take time off to have a filling placed or a general teeth cleaning.

Dentist  >  Dental Office