Patient Education

CEREC

Crowns in an Hour

You go to the dentist because of toothache, or maybe for your bi-annual checkup, and you get the bad news: you need a crown. You’ll have to schedule two appointments – one for preparation and placement of a temporary crown, and one for placement of the permanent crown. Do you have that kind of time to spare? Between the appointments, your temporary crown could crack or fall out, and then you’d have to make yet another trip to the dentist. A crown is important, though, so you shouldn’t delay treatment. A crown can salvage a tooth that may otherwise have to be removed and replaced with a prosthetic.

We Feel Your Pain

We understand the inconvenience patients face with a traditional crown, and because your time is as valuable as your smile, we now use a revolutionary tool that mills a permanent crown in about an hour: CEREC.

How CEREC Works

After taking a 3D image of your tooth, our CEREC machine can mill a strong, beautiful restoration in about an hour. We’ll permanently place the crown during your single visit, and you’ll leave our office with a full, healthy smile.

Tried and True Technology

Millions of patients worldwide have experienced the convenience of CEREC crowns. CEREC Blocs, the material from which the crowns are milled, are backed with 20 years of research, so you can rest assured they offer a durable restoration that you can trust. CEREC can also mill inlays, onlays, and veneers for your convenience. Ask us about CEREC crowns today so you can spend less time in the dentist’s chair and more time sharing your smile.

X-Rays

A Little Ray Goes a Long Way

Despite concerns, traditional dental X-rays are a safe and important part of a thorough dental evaluation. By viewing the inside of your teeth and accompanying oral structures, we can more effectively care for your smile. Concerns over radiation exposure associated with dental X-rays have no solid basis. In fact, the high-speed film we use minimizes ionizing radiation that is passed along to the patient. The amount of radiation a patient is exposed to is less than that the exposure the natural atmosphere exposes a person to over about eight weeks. Radiograph technicians step out of the room while X-rays are being taken because they see many patients and take many X-rays. Compounded, the exposure could compromise their health over the course of their dental career.

Why X-Rays are Important

Dental radiographs, or X-rays, provide us with valuable information because with them, we can see what's going on beneath, between, and under your teeth and gums. We can also detect problems in existing dental work, as well as receding bone and abscesses. For instance, cavities and gum disease show up as dark places on white teeth and bone images. Not only do X-rays help us diagnose dental problems and develop customized treatment plans, but they document your dental health status, establishing a baseline from which to monitor changes over time. 

If you have questions or concerns about X-rays or other dental procedures, please call us or share your concerns with us at your appointment. As your preferred dental care provider, we want you to be informed and confident in the care you receive in our office.

DIAGNOdent

Finding Decay the Easy Way

One of the most important things we do for our patients is identify and fill cavities. Since any spot of decay can threaten the integrity of an entire tooth, detection is key to preventing a host of potential problems. Lengthy poking and probing sessions have been an acceptable, if not very comfortable, part of dental exams for years. However, such methods of decay detection are only 50 to 75-percent successful. Cavities can hide along fissure lines or inside biting and occlusal surfaces. Further, mechanical exploratory methods are limited to finding only those cavities that are equal to or larger than the probe head. To make the process more comfortable and comprehensive, we use DIAGNOdent, a revolutionary dental laser that finds cavities in the earliest stages.

Laser Reflection Spots Imperfection

DIAGNOdent technology uses a laser diode to inspect teeth, comparing reflection wavelength against a healthy baseline wavelength to uncover decay. First, we take a benchmark reading by aiming the laser onto one of your healthy enamel tooth surfaces, shining the laser into all suspect areas. As it pulses into grooves, fissures and cracks, the laser reflects fluorescent light of a specific wavelength which is measured by receptors, converted to an acoustic signal, evaluated electronically to reveal a value between one and 100, and then displayed on a screen. Any variation from the healthy baseline value stimulates emission of a different wavelength and alerts us to a weakened area of decay. Not surprisingly, this technology quickly and precisely identifies even the tiniest bit of decay. This means shallower, simpler fillings, preserving more tooth structure, and providing a specific means of monitoring suspicious areas. No X-rays are required with DIAGNOdent, so patients do not have to worry about radiation exposure.

Oral Health

How Your Oral Health Affects Your General Health

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense: poor oral health is linked to poor physical health.Your mouth is a key entryway into the rest of the body. If the mouth has a chronic infection or disease, then your entire body may be indirectly or directly exposed to those bacteria.

Research shows connections between periodontal disease and poor cardiovascular health, increased risk of stroke, diabetes, problem pregnancies, respiratory diseases, and osteoporosis in women. What's more, some studies indicate that people who lose all of their natural teeth may have a much shorter life span.

If you want to up your odds of a happy, healthy life, treat your body with respect and put your money (and effort) where your mouth is. Try starting with the basics: learn the latest tips, techniques, and tools for top-notch oral hygiene. Then, branch out: incorporate a healthy diet, exercise, fresh air, and sufficient uninterrupted rest. Eliminate unhealthy habits, and remember, taking care of your teeth can benefit your whole body.

How we can help:
            Oral cancer screenings
            Regular check ups and professional cleanings
            Periodontal assessments for gum disease
            Snore guards for peaceful, rewarding sleep
            Restorative dentistry to eliminate bacteria and maintain tooth structure
            Sealants to deter tooth decay
            Fluoride supplements for healthier teeth

As our patients, your health and wellness are important to us. If you have questions about your oral health and its impact on your general health, please call our office, email us, or schedule a consultation today.

Composite Resins

Composite Resins: Strengthen Your Smile

If you're embarrassed about your smile because of decay or dark fillings in your teeth, you may be a good candidate for composite resins. A silicon dioxide-filled, tooth-colored plastic mixture, composite resins can restore teeth to an attractive, healthy state. Composite resins represent several advantages over traditional silver, or amalgam, fillings.

Because composite resins are not made of metal, we can blend and mix shades to find the perfect color to match your natural teeth. This means only you and your dentist will know you have fillings. Another pro is that the tooth/composite bond actually supports the remaining tooth structure, deterring breakage and insulating against temperature changes. Medium and small composites can last seven to ten years – that’s as long as the tried and true amalgams. Best of all, composite resins allow us to keep more of your natural tooth structure intact than amalgams. We believe in conservative dentistry – the more natural tooth structure you keep, the better teeth you’ll likely have in the future.

Some patients experience mild and temporary post-placement sensitivity from composite resin fillings. The only caution we usually mention is that coffee, tea, and other staining foods and beverages may discolor your composites unless you ask to have them coated with a clear plastic sealant.

TMJ Disorders

Managing Stress to Help Your Jaw Rest

You may spend most of your life unaware of the important little triangular-shaped joints located in front of your ears. Lined with cartilage, these joints move with a smooth, gliding motion. Under normal conditions, they join your lower jaw and temporal bone, allowing your mouth to open and close easily. However, stress or an improper bite can cause the joints to dysfunction, exposing nerve endings to create pain. In fact, the temporomandibular joint is highly sensitive to overall physical, emotional, and psychological stress. It is affected by the mechanics of your bite and the condition of your jaw muscles. A little extra stress, a little extra fatigue, a little change in your bite, and you may temporarily knock the whole system out of balance. The resulting TMJ disorder, or TMD, can create a variety of mild to severe symptoms, from jaw clicking and minor discomfort to sharp pain in your temple, ear, neck, and shoulders. 

The condition is very common in our culture, so we evaluate every patient for TMJ dysfunction at their regular dental exam. If we detect a problem, our goals are to arrest it, protect teeth from further damage, and correct underlying bite misalignment. Therapy may involve fitting you with a physiologic bite appliance, suggesting ways to alleviate stress, and recommending symptom relief measures. Typically, TMJ patients need to avoid chewing gum or hard, chewy food, take small bites, and alternate chewing between both sides of the mouth. Good nutrition will help the joint heal more quickly; good posture will also help relieve discomfort. A straight back, relaxed neck, and side-sleeping position are also helpful. To relieve soreness, light temple and jaw massage will stimulate circulation and relax the muscles. If pain is present, we suggest alternating moist heat and cold for 20 minutes to further increase circulation.  Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or analgesics can be very helpful as well.

For more information about TMJ, TMD, or neuromuscular dentistry, call our office. We want help you receive the relief you deserve.

Teeth Whitening

What’s Up with Whitening?

Popular, safe, and effective, teeth whitening has given patients across the world a reason to smile. Your appearance can affect you socially, emotionally, and even in business successes. People who smile with confidence are viewed as warm, inviting, and beautiful. Now, with professional whitening systems, we can help you achieve the pearly whites of magazine models and movie stars.

Why Teeth Discolor

Chemicals in foods, beverages, and tobacco can change the color of your teeth, as can the effects of aging. Medications such as tetracycline, excessive fluoride, and previous dental work may also cause unsightly stains on your tooth enamel. Genetics can also affect the color of your teeth. While we think of tooth enamel as white, the natural, unstained shade of your teeth can range from pearly white to bluish gray to pale yellow. Even if you brush and floss daily, stains can tarnish your beautiful smile and steal the confident image you want to convey.

Whitening Options

You don’t have to live with discolored teeth. After a thorough examination, we can recommend the best option for whitening and brightening your smile.

In-Office Whitening

In-office whitening is one of the safest and quickest ways to safely whiten your teeth. During this process, we will place a protective rubber dam around your gums and apply a solution of 32 percent carbamide peroxide, a chemical found in most bleaching products, to your teeth. Depending on the whitening method, your dentist may also use a laser or special lamp to speed up the bleaching process. In-office whitening can give you dazzlingly white teeth in less than an hour

At-Home Whitening

If you’d prefer not to avoid a dental appointment, we can create clear, customized bleaching trays for you to whiten at home. The professional-grade at-home whitening solution usually contains 10 percent carbamide peroxide. Simply pour the solution into your custom mouth trays and wear them for an hour a day. You will notice whiter teeth almost immediately, but the most dramatic results will appear after one to two weeks of daily treatments.

Over-the-Counter Whitening

You can also purchase home use whiteners over the counter. While there are so many on the market, most of these products are not as effective as the bleaching methods available in our office. If you prefer to use a store-bought whitening system, ask us which product would work best for you. We want you to have a smile you will be proud of, so we’re happy to help. Use over-the-counter products as directed, and never use whiteners for more than the recommended time period.

Whitening Toothpastes

If your teeth are sensitive to bleaching, your dentists may recommend a dentifrice (whitening toothpaste). These contain chemical or polishing agents to gently remove stains from the surface of your teeth. While your teeth won’t be as white as if you used a bleaching system, whitening toothpaste is safe, easy to use, and can be purchased over the counter.

After Whitening

With all whitening systems, we advise patients not to eat or drink foods that stain, or to smoke, since recently-whitened teeth absorb stains. Whitening systems can also cause increased sensitivity in your teeth and gums. These side effects pass with time, but if they persist or other problems arise, you should contact your dentist immediately.

Whitening Alternatives

If bleaching and whitening can’t get your teeth as white as you’d like, veneers or bonding may be a good solution. These cosmetic procedures are long lasting and do not discolor or stain. In addition to whitening your smile, veneers and bonding can cover cracks, chips, and slight misalignments.

Dental Implants

Now patients who are missing teeth have a strong, beautiful alternative to bridges, partials, or full dentures. Dental implants will improve your smile and your lifestyle. They look, feel, and function like natural teeth because of a titanium anchor attached to the jawbone. Implants can also anchor bridges, partials, or full dentures to eliminate slipping.

After a thorough evaluation, your dentist can tell you whether you’re a candidate for dental implants. They require adequate bone structure for placement. The first stage of the procedure involves oral surgery in which a titanium post is implanted into the jawbone for each missing tooth or for the new teeth that will anchor a bridge or denture. Nature will take its course, allowing your bone tissue to fuse with the titanium post. This creates a solid foundation.

Once the implants are secured, your dentist will attach a handcrafted, permanent crown to each post. The restorations will match your natural teeth and blend seamlessly with your smile.

By imitating an entire natural tooth, from the root up, dental implants offer a prosthetic that closely mimics nature. The result?  Dental implant patients enjoy restored function, which allows a healthy diet of hard-to-chew foods. Speech may also improve. Strong and secure, your new smile will boost your confidence, enhance your appearance, and improve your quality of life.