Give Yourself the Gift of a Stunning Smile

We know how it is during the holiday season; we are all out hunting for the perfect gift! You probably have a list that you are checking and re-checking. You are searching for sales on just the right items and can’t wait to see the faces of those you love light up this holiday season. We hope that you are also taking some time to consider a gift for yourself. How about a stunning new smile? Maybe you need the gift of veneers!

Porcelain Veneers
We offer two types of veneers here in the office. The first is the more traditional type of veneers: porcelain. These veneers are crafted perfectly for your teeth. They are sturdy and will last for many years to come. Porcelain veneers can repair chips, cracks, gaps, uneven teeth, and severe discoloration. This is one of the top cosmetic procedures available!

Lumineers
A second type of veneer is the Lumineer. Lumineers are thinner than porcelain veneers, but they can be placed in one appointment because there is minimal preparation needed for your teeth. Lumineers can repair the same damage as veneers, but in quite a bit less time! Even though they are thin, Lumineers are very strong and will benefit your smile for years.

Don’t overlook yourself this holiday season. Take some time to consider a gift for the gift-giver: a new smile.Contact us today to set up a consultation or appointment. We would love to help you get the smile of your dreams this holiday season!

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Three Reasons to Stop Sleeping in Your Dentures

Your dentures go with you wherever you go. After all, you can’t speak or eat without them in, so it makes sense. When you come home at the end of the day, and you are preparing for bed, those dentures should come out and stay out until the next morning. This gives your dentures a chance to be cleaned, and it gives your mouth a break, but there are some more serious reasons to be sure that you are getting your denture-free time. Take a look below to see what we mean!

Increased Plaque on the Tongue and Dentures – Even though you no longer have your natural teeth, plaque is still a concern. When you don’t take the time to remove and soak your dentures, plaque can build up on your false teeth. You might also see a build up on your tongue.

Inflammation of the Gums – As we mentioned earlier, your mouth needs a rest, especially your gums. Your gums are highly sensitive, and they carry the burden of your dentures all day. Gums will sometimes even get sores from holding dentures. If you fail to give your gums a break at night, you will see an increase in inflammation and discomfort, making it more difficult to wear your dentures.

Higher Risk of Pneumonia – Maybe the most frightening risk that comes along with wearing your dentures at night is a very increased risk of developing pneumonia. Sleeping in dentures makes it difficult to swallow while you sleep, which can lead to problems for your lungs, like pneumonia.

Beyond the health risks, sleeping in your dentures is simply bad for your dentures. They need to be cleaned and soaked to remove harmful bacteria that causes bad breath. Contact us today to learn more about how to care for your dentures. We would love to give you some pointers and discuss how you can improve your denture experience. We hope to see you soon!

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Fight Bruxism with Relaxation

Bruxism

There is a common issue that many patients are suffering from without really knowing what they are doing. This issue is called bruxism. Bruxism is another word for grinding your teeth, and it can happen throughout the day or while you are sleeping at night. Bruxism is often a result of stress and anxiety throughout the day, causing your muscles to tense. The result is quite a bit of pain in your jaw and around your ears. You might also notice damage to your teeth. Below are some methods you can try to ease the anxiety and stress from your muscles.

Practice Relaxing Your Face
Some people just hold tension in their jaw. They do it without realizing what is happening. If this is you, practice holding your tongue between your front teeth. This will force your jaw to relax. With practice, your jaw will learn to stay relaxed throughout the day.

Drink Less Caffeine
A bad caffeine habit will accelerate your tension. Cut back, especially late in the day to relive some of the tension from your muscles. This will allow you to rest easier and get more sleep.

Use Relaxation Practices
Common relaxation practices can be great for patients struggling with bruxism. Warm compresses along the jawline before bed, and deep breathing will relax tense muscles, giving your jaw a chance to relax.

Stress and anxiety are not the only causes of bruxism, but they certainly are a major factor in most cases. Contact us if you suspect that you might have a problem with bruxism. A quick look at your jaw and teeth should give us the answers we need! Let’s get started today!

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Will You Enjoy Your Feast

Thanksgiving is upon us with all of its wonderful smells and tastes. The thought of turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and harvest vegetables is enough to make our mouths salivate right now! A feast like Thanksgiving is a fantastic experience for most of us, but for those without a healthy smile, Thanksgiving day can be a kind of torment, especially if you are wearing dentures that just don’t fit right.

If you are that family member who can never enjoy your meal because your dentures are unsteady, take a vow with us. This will be the last Thanksgiving before you solve your denture issues for good! Never again will you deal with slippery teeth while your family enjoys their meal. Never again will you hesitate to smile at your loved one for fear that your teeth aren’t set right. From now on, you will have steady, secure, natural-looking teeth!

Your Plan

In order to uphold your end of the vow, you’ll need an idea of what to expect. It begins with a simple consultation. We will check on the health of your smile and make sure implants are an option for you. From there, we will plan your procedure with a CT scan of your jaw and then bring you in for your implant surgery. Whether you opt for Teeth in a Day or implant-supported dentures, you can walk out of our office with your brand new smile!

Let this be your last Thanksgiving feast with slippery, painful dentures. Contact us today to set up a consultation to learn more about our implant solutions. We can’t wait to see your new smile! From all of us here at the office, Happy Thanksgiving!

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Invisalign Makes Special Events Easier

An adult wearing orthodontics has to deal with more commentary than a young person wearing the same type of orthodontics. We just don’t expect to see an adult with tinsel teeth, so when we have a friend or family member with braces, we can’t help but make comments. Of course adults sometimes need orthodontics, but that doesn’t stop us from teasing them just a bit. You can imagine how frustrating it must be for that patient when attending social gatherings and parties. Invisalign offers a completely different experience to adult patients in need or orthodontic treatment.

Rather than being labeled a metal mouth or brace face, you could experience complete comfort and confidence in the knowledge that no one around you will know that you are wearing braces! Invisalign is a system of clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth perfectly. They are so snug and thin that even people you are speaking to will not notice the orthodontic treatment, making social events much easier for you!

Starting the Procedure

If you are interested in orthodontics, or you have been told you need orthodontics to correct an alignment issue, we recommend looking into Invisalign. The beginning of the procedure is a consultation to determine if Invisalign is right from you. From there, we will take impressions of your teeth and make a plan for the movement of your smile. We will then create a series of aligners that you will switch out every two weeks until you achieve the smile of your dreams! We will need to see you about every six weeks to ensure that your treatment is going as planned.

Having orthodontics doesn’t have to be a speed bump in your social life. You can have a fantastic experience with Invisalign clear plastic aligners. Contact us today to set up a consultation, and let us know what you’d like to see happen for your smile. We can’t wait to help you achieve your smile goals!

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Help a Frightened Child Prepare For a Dental Exam

Small children are so much fun to be around because they are so curious and ask a lot of questions. Anyone who has parented a four-year-old can tell you that! When it comes to scheduling dental appointments for your child, you may find that your child is scared or anxious. It’s important to turn those feelings around into a positive experience here in the office. We have a few ideas to get you started, but ultimately you know what works best for your child.

1. Be Positive
Kids are not born afraid of the dentist. They learn that fear from those around them. You can help them feel comfortable in our office by staying positive when you speak about us. Talk about the good parts of going to the dentist, and get your child excited about the prospects!

2. Answer Questions
Allow your child to ask questions, and answer them truthfully. Kids don’t need a lot of detail, but they do want to know what to expect before they go somewhere. Tell them about the experience, and remember that every positive and negative tone will resonate with your child, so try to stay positive!

3. Encourage, Don’t Bribe
It’s tempting to ask your child to endure the dental office for a promised toy, but that doesn’t always work as well as you might think. It is much more effective to be there with your child and be encouraging throughout the appointment.

The first few appointments are very important for a child who is trying to learn about the dental office. Contact ustoday to set up that first appointment for your child. We can’t wait to meet with your little one and set the foundation for a happy, healthy smile in the years to come.

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How to Maintain Your Smile Through Diabetes

If you are living with diabetes, you know the long list of concerns that come along with that diagnosis. It seems like no part of your life will be left unaffected, and your oral health is no exception. However, with a little bit of intentional care, you will have no reason to worry about your smile. This November, as we recognize Diabetes Awareness Month, let’s discuss what is happening for your smile, and how you can protect yourself from problems.

To understand the importance of dental care, you first need to understand the risk. Diabetic patients are at higher risk for gum disease because they have a lower ability to resist infection. Not only are they more likely to develop gum disease, but they will see a much quicker progression of the disease. Gum disease causes sore, bleeding gum, and if left untreated will result in the loss of your teeth. Luckily, there are things you can do to protect yourself.

Maintaining a Healthy Smile

In order to keep your smile healthy, you will need to take great care of your teeth during your day to day hygiene routines. Flossing and brushing twice a day is paramount to your healthy smile. You might also consider an antiseptic mouth rinse to remove the bacteria that cause gum disease. Finally, you should maintain cleanings and exams every six months. In some cases, we might ask that you see us every 3-4 months for more effective care. Each of these things will work together to keep your mouth free of gum disease infection.

Don’t wait for a problem to happen. When you are living with diabetes, prevention is the name of the game.Contact us today to set up an appointment so that you can get in front of your oral care and stay healthy!

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Three Boosts to Your Smile for the Holidays

The holidays are approaching quickly, and there’s no time to lose in the quest for a more stunning smile. Some cosmetic treatments take months of your time, but we have some amazing procedures that will transform your smile in just one or two appointments! Take a look at those options below, and see which one would help you achieve your smile goals.

Whitening – For a smile that has lost it’s white shine, we offer fantastic whitening right here in the office. You can boost the color of your smile and feel more confident going into all of the holiday parties that are lining up ahead of you. Plus, you’ll know that your teeth are getting whitening that is safe for health of your smile.

Bonding – Teeth that have a few chips and cracks can be quickly repaired using dental bonding. This procedure allows us to use composite resin to shape and fill spaces in your tooth so that minor flaws are no longer a part of your smile.

Lumineers – For a smile with more significant damage, we might recommend porcelain veneers. However, veneers take quite a bit of time, whereas Lumineers accomplish the same task and can be placed in one single appointment.

Each of the above cosmetic procedures will need to be planned ahead of time and placed on a healthy set of teeth, so you might need an appointment before your actually transformation. Aside from that, these are the fastest cosmetic options on the market! Contact us today to learn more, and let us get to work to give you the smile of your dreams just in time for the holidays!

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Drinking More Water For Your Health

There are some things that benefit your body from head to toe. Things like exercise and eating plenty of vegetables are perfect examples of actions that benefit your entire being. Your oral health is not excluded from these healthy habits, but one of the best practices for your body and smile is learning to drink more water. This habit can be difficult to begin, but like all good things, it is well worth the extra effort!

Most of us realize that a drink like soda is bad for our teeth and body and should be a rare treat. However, we are finding that more and more of our patients are relying on juices and sports drinks for hydration because they don’t like the taste of water. That or they are adding a sugary powder to their water to add flavor. The problem is that juice, sports drinks, and powders leave a sugary residue on your teeth, increasing your risk for decay. The best beverage to drink throughout the day is pure, clear water.

Making Water More Attractive

As we mentioned above, many people skip water because they don’t enjoy the taste, even though they know water is the healthiest choice. There are great ways to improve the taste of water without adding sugar or other damaging ingredients. For example, we love to add sliced fruit to our water pitcher, or sprigs of herbs to add a punch of flavor. Kids might get into water with fun ice cubes or a special cup. The important thing is that you begin eliminating sugary beverages from your family’s diet, and increase water consumption.

This may be a new experience for your family, but with time, it will be one of the best benefits you can give to your kids and yourself. Contact us for more ideas to make water the number one beverage choice in your household. We can’t wait to hear how your water revolution is going!

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Creating a Floss Habit For Your Child

We’ve talked before about the importance of setting good foundations for your child to learn how to care for that precious smile. Learning these practices, however, isn’t always easy. With a clear plan, you can help your little one learn to brush, and you can introduce the habit of flossing, that eludes most American adults! Maybe if we introduce it to our children at an earlier age, we will see an increase in the benefits as they reach maturity!

The First Floss
You don’t need to begin using floss until your child has teeth that are touching. This may happen within the first year, or it may not. Pay close attention, and when you see that your child’s teeth have grown closer, it’s time to start flossing. At this early age, we recommend using a flosser (handle with a piece of floss suspended at the end) to gently clean your tot’s teeth.

Learn Flossers First
When your child has started to take control of his own brushing, at a preschool age, it’s time to hand over the flosser. Those little hands will need your help to learn to floss the teeth without harming the gums. You can rely on flossers until your child is well into elementary school.

Moving to Regular Floss
Once you feel like your child is ready to move on, you will have a new lesson to teach. Using regular floss is a skill that will need practice and patience. Be a good model and don’t be afraid to show your child what goes on in your mouth.

Floss is an incredibly important habit to build, no matter your age. If you aren’t flossing, you need to find a way to begin. Maybe the process of teaching your child will encourage you to start your own healthy habits. Contact us today for more information about how to begin a healthy flossing habit for yourself or your child. We would love to help!

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