Get Dental Veneers and Improve Your Smile Before the Holidays Arrive

You can use dental veneers to improve your smile before the holidays.  If you have been dreaming of having a beautiful smile and were considering a cosmetic dentistry procedure, schedule an appointment with our dental office. We can examine your teeth, discuss your smile goals, and provide you with solutions for transforming your smile before the holiday pictures are taken.

The first thing that we will do is clean your teeth.  When teeth are clean and healthy, they look better in general. This will also allow us to determine if you have any oral health issues that need to be dealt with prior to performing a cosmetic dentistry procedure.  If you do, we can provide treatment right away so that you can move on to transforming your smile. 

Dental veneers are an excellent way to do so because of how versatile they are.  Veneers can be used to close gaps in your teeth, cover dark stains, restore teeth that have been chipped or damaged, and even straighten a tooth that is mildly crooked.  The options are so vast that even Hollywood stars use them to improve their smiles.  During your consultation, let us know what you don’t like about your teeth so that we can determine what the best course of treatment is. 

When you schedule an appointment to get veneers, it will take a couple of weeks to complete the process, so it is important to get started quickly.  On your first appointment, we will take an impression of your teeth that can be sent to a dental lab.  The lab technicians will use the impression to create dental veneers that are the perfect size and shape for your existing teeth.  

Simultaneously, we will prepare your teeth by removing a small portion of the enamel that is on the surface.  This way the veneers will lay flat onto the surface of your teeth without making them look large or out of place.  In order to protect the prepared teeth, you will need to wear temporary veneers that are attached using removable water-based glue.  Since they are designed to come off, you need to be careful not to eat any foods that could pop them off or brush too aggressively. 

When the dental lab has finished, you will come back for a follow-up appointment so that we can bond the permanent veneers to your teeth.  This can be done in a couple of hours and afterwards your teeth will look amazing. Keep in mind that your teeth may be sensitive for a couple of days after the procedure so it is important to time everything correctly.  After a few days, you will feel as good as new, and your smile will look amazing.  You can eat all of your favorite foods while wearing veneers so enjoying a holiday treat won’t be a problem.  As an added benefit, they don’t stain like normal teeth do so enjoying an occasional glass of wine won’t impact the color of your new and beautiful smile.  To get started, call and schedule an appointment today. 

Tips From The Family Dentist For Brushing Your Teeth the Right Way

When you visit our family dentist office, we can demonstrate how to properly clean your teeth.  There are many misconceptions when it comes to teeth brushing, leading many people to do it wrong. Unfortunately, if you don’t brush properly your teeth won’t get as clean as they need to, and you can end up irritating your gums. 

Here is the truth about teeth brushing and what you need to know:

• The two-minute myth.  Most of us were told that you have to brush your teeth for two-minutes at a time, and if you do, they will get perfectly clean.  While two-minutes is a good timeframe to shoot for, it’s more important to brush correctly than to brush for a certain period of time.  You need to brush for as long as it takes for your teeth to feel perfectly clean.
• Hard is not best.  Many people use a hard toothbrush because they think it will give the best clean.  As a family dentist, we actually recommend that patients switch to a soft one.  A hard toothbrush can strip the enamel off of your teeth, creating tooth sensitivity.  They can also cause your gums to become irritated and even bleed.  A soft toothbrush can give you as good of a clean but without the irritation or complications. 
• Use a circular motion.  When brushing your teeth, move your toothbrush in a circular pattern instead of brushing back to front. This will help you to remove more bacteria and plaque without irritating your gums. 
• Buy a new one.  This is extremely important.  Don’t use your toothbrush for more than three months.  If you do, the bristles will start to split, and you won’t be cleaning your teeth as well. Bacteria can also form on your toothbrush so by using the same one you could be putting germs on your teeth. We will give you a new toothbrush during your teeth cleanings as well. 
• Pick the right toothpaste.  Your toothpaste should be approved by the American Dental Association and contain fluoride.  This way your paste will both clean and strengthen your teeth. 
• Floss daily.  Don’t forget to floss while you are brushing your teeth.  Flossing is important for keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy.  Do so at least daily. 
• Frequency matters.  Brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day and after every meal if possible.  This way sugar and bacteria cannot remain on your teeth for a prolonged period of time, and your risk of cavities will be reduced. 

As a family dentist, we help our patients to stay in optimal oral health and one way to do so is by demonstrating how to brush and floss teeth.  If you have any questions, we can answer them during your next teeth cleaning.  We also recommend having your teeth cleaned twice a year so that we can remove the bacteria and plaque that you were unable to reach.  By doing this frequently, we can reduce your risk of getting an infection. 

Tips for Keeping Your Kids Teeth Healthy This Halloween from our General Dentistry Office

In our local general dentistry office, we treat patients of all ages and have regular conversations with parents about eating candy on Halloween.  This is the time of year where the sugar comes out in massive quantities and the candy they get on Halloween can last all the way to the cakes and pies of Thanksgiving.  With three full months of treats ahead, it is important to set the trend for healthy habits in October instead of waiting for December. 

The first thing you should do is schedule a dental exam and teeth cleaning.  By removing the plaque and bacteria from your teeth and your kids' teeth, we can help to prevent cavities from forming.  If you do have any cavities, we can treat them right away so that the infection doesn't spread.  The same is true for gum disease. By catching and treating it early, we can prevent further infection. 

Once you know that you and your kids have healthy teeth, it is important to keep them that way.  In addition to visiting our general dentistry office, here are steps you can take this Halloween to keep teeth in good health. 

• Limit the candy intake.  Before going trick-or-treating, set a limit as to how much candy everyone is allowed to have.  Limit yourself, as well.  This way there are no arguments while you're out and about.  Simultaneously, you will be preventing a massive sugar overload from happening. 
• Eat a healthy dinner.  Make sure that you and your kids eat a healthy dinner before going out.  This needs to include lean protein, dairy, complex carbs, and veggies.  By eating a well-balanced meal, you and your kids will have immediate and sustained energy.  Additionally, your kids won’t feel the urge to pig out on candy since they will already be full. 
• Bring healthy snacks.  You can carry things like apples and sliced cheese with you while trick-or-treating.  If someone gets hungry, they can tap into these snacks instead of diving into the candy bag.  This is a good solution for everyone in the group.
• Carry water.  Every time your child eats a piece of candy, give them a drink of water.  This will help to wash away the sugar and prevent it from simply sitting on your kids' teeth all night.  It will also help them to stay full throughout the evening. 
• Brush teeth.  Make sure that as soon as you get home, their teeth get brushed with a fluoride toothpaste.  This will remove the sugar from their teeth, and gums and the fluoride can actually help to strengthen teeth 
• Put the candy away.  Don’t leave the candy out because if you do, your kids will be tempted to eat a piece every time they walk through the room.  Once they have reached their limit, it should be put in a safe place so that they have to ask permission to have another piece. 

In our general dentistry office, we focus on keeping our patients in good oral health so follow these tips to prevent a Halloween cavity. 

Ways to Treat Sensitive Teeth From Your Local Dentist

When visiting your local dentist office, let us know if you are struggling with sensitive teeth.  This is a common condition that tends to get worse with age. Many of the seniors we treat complain of their teeth hurting when drinking something cold like iced tea, eating a bowl of ice cream, or brushing their teeth.  While common, this can still be inconvenient, and we can help your teeth to feel better.

Before you treat sensitive teeth, it is important to understand why teeth become sensitive in the first place.  Your teeth are protected by a layer of enamel and underneath your gums they are protected by cementum.  These two elements cover the dentin that your teeth are made of.  When they wear away, the dentin is exposed.  The problem with dentin is that it is full of holes that contain root endings.  If you were to look at dentin under a microscope, you would see something that looks like a bunch of small round holes had been punched through it.  Understandably, when this is exposed – your teeth become sensitive.

Over time, the enamel wears away through a process called demineralization. What you eat and drink is largely to blame, and you can combat it by eating a healthy diet with nuts, veggies, dairy and lean protein along with taking care of your teeth overall. Regular teeth cleanings at our dentist office will also help to preserve your enamel. 

Other causes of tooth sensitivity are cavities and gum disease.  If you have an infection in your mouth, it will cause your teeth to become more sensitive and potentially painful.  If we see any signs of cavities or gum disease, it can be treated in our office so that you can feel better right away.

At home, you can feel better by brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush and desensitizing toothpaste.  This will block sensations from being transferred through the dentin and to the roots of the tooth.  While this will block the pain, you must also address the root of the issue.  If your pain is caused by due to losing enamel, you should brush with a fluoride toothpaste or request an in-office fluoride treatment.  This places a mineral directly onto your teeth and strengthens them so that the dentin will not be exposed in the first place.  You may also want to have a bonding procedure completed where a tooth colored substance is bonded to your teeth in order to protect the dentin.

Teeth that require more serious treatment can have dental crowns placed onto them.  A crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely and prevents anything from touching it.  This way you can eat, drink, and brush your teeth without feeling pain because nothing actually touches the tooth.  Before this procedure can be completed, we must diagnose and treat any other infections that may be present. 

By following these steps at home and visiting the dentist, your teeth will start to feel better. 

Your Family Dentist Can Prevent and Treat Children’s Tooth Decay

As a family dentist, we focus on preventative oral health care and work to keep our patients cavity free.  With kids, this is particularly important because a toothache is difficult to deal with, and no child wants to undergo a major dental procedure.  By protecting and strengthening teeth, we can prevent many oral infections so that children can live pain-free.

There are several ways to protect your children from getting tooth decay but first it is important to note that it can happen at any time.  Many parents make the mistake of thinking that babies and toddlers are not susceptible to tooth decay.  In reality, it is incredibly common for young ones to develop cavities.  When they do, it is commonly referred to as baby bottle tooth decay because the biggest risk factor is letting children take a bottle to bed with milk or juice in it.  As the sugar from the drinks sits on the teeth, it can lead to infection.

We recommend that parents start to take care of their kids' teeth before they ever start coming in.  With babies, you can use a washrag to wipe away sugar from the gums and as they get older, brushing and flossing should be a normal routine in both the morning and evening.  Whenever you brush your teeth – brush theirs.  This is an essential step in preventing tooth decay and as a family dentist we must stress the importance of creating a good oral health routine when your kids are young.

Other than brushing and flossing, make sure to feed your children a healthy diet that contains crunchy fruits and vegetables, nuts, dairy, lean protein and green leafy vegetables in order to strengthen their teeth.  Additionally, regular trips to the dentist are important for keeping teeth cavity free.  We can remove the plaque and bacteria that you can’t get to at home.  We can also apply a fluoride treatment that has been known to prevent cavities.

If, during one of these dental exams, we identify signs of tooth decay, we will let you know and discuss a treatment plan.  Depending on how old they are, we will make a recommendation to treat it immediately or wait a few months. At our office, Dr. Rado practices gentle and kind dentistry and can provide treatment in a way that is not scary or intimidating for children.  She can even provide various forms of pain relief or sedation.  This can be incredibly important when working with children since they have a difficult time sitting still and any discomfort would only make it worst.

After years of experience as a family dentist, Dr. Rado is an expert at providing dental care and treating children in a way that gets the job done while keeping them comfortable.  If your child is complaining of a toothache, call and schedule your appointment so that we can examine them right away and set a course for treatment. 

A Dentist Review of Boston University’s Study on Gum Health and Coffee

As a local dentist office, we pay attention to research studies that can shed light into additional ways our patients can stay in good oral health.  We focus on preventative oral health care and sometimes by changing a routine slightly; the risk of an oral infection can be reduced.  Recently, we read an interesting report published by Boston University.

In this particular study, 1,000 men were observed for 30 years.  This was a long and ongoing study to determine how coffee impacts the health of teeth and gums.  Researchers found that men who drank one or more cups of coffee a day had less bone loss in their teeth than others within the group.  Bone loss is a common symptom of gum disease and can eventually lead to teeth falling out.  Interestingly, they found a direct link between drinking coffee and better long-term oral health.  Given the duration of the study, the findings are significant.  Additionally, they did not find any oral health consequences to being a heavy coffee drinker.

As a dentist, we understand that caffeine can have benefits to the gums and the body overall, when used in moderation.  The report was published by Raul Garcia, D.M.D., who came to the conclusion that the anti-inflammatory agents in coffee were likely responsible for the improved gum health.  Basically, if you drink coffee, you have less of a risk of your gums swelling.  Swollen gums can be uncomfortable and lead to further complications like bleeding.  Both diabetics and pregnant women are naturally at an increased risk of swollen gums since they tend to suffer from reduced blood flow overall.  Drinking a cup of coffee may have additional benefits for people with these risk factors, though only men were studied.

The results of the test may apply to other types of drinks with caffeine such as tea.  Caffeinated green tea may be a better option simply because it won’t stain your teeth as much as coffee will.  As a dentist, it is important for us to point out that coffee does stain teeth so if you drink a lot of it – you may need our teeth whitening services in order to brighten your teeth and remove yellow stains.  Fortunately, this is an easy procedure so if you want the benefits of coffee without the stains – you can.

Coffee is not a solve-all for gum disease so make sure to still practice good oral hygiene at home.  This includes brushing and flossing throughout the day to remove sugar, bacteria and plaque.  You should also drink a lot of water because coffee can make you dehydrated, and hydration is important for the health of your body and for producing the saliva that is necessary for a healthy mouth.   We also recommend that everyone have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.  This allows us to remove bacteria and plaque that weren’t removed with at-home care.  As with most things in life, balance is important.  Adding a cup of coffee to an existing healthy routine, can be good for your gums and help your teeth to stay healthy for years to come.

Dental Veneers Expert, Dr. Rado, Attended the International Symposium on Ceramics

Dr. Rado is passionate about cosmetic dentistry, and dental veneers are one solution she uses to transform her patient’s smiles.  Cosmetic dentistry can do far more than restore a damaged tooth.  It can give people their confidence back and change the way that they approach life.  Studies conducted by Oral-B found that those with a beautiful smile were considered to be 20% more attractive than those without.  A smile transformation can literally change your appearance and how people view you and Dr. Rado enjoys being part of that transformative process.

Her passion drives her to continue to learn new ways to improve her craft and deliver stunning results for patients.  In June, she attended the International Symposium on Ceramics to learn about new best practices and how she can implement them in our dental practice. Some of the lectures included information on how to improve shading so that the ceramics look as natural as possible while others addressed the complexities of full mouth restorations.

Some technological improvements, like CAD/CAM adhesive technologies make it possible for more of the natural tooth to be preserved.  When a patient gets dental veneers, the dentist typically has to prepare the tooth by removing enamel from it.  This is done so that the veneer, a thin shell, can lay flat and in line with the gums.  If enamel isn’t removed, the glue and veneer may be so bulky that the tooth sticks out above the rest.  This new type of adhesive is applied so thinly that less of the natural tooth enamel needs to be removed, which is better for the tooth and the patient overall.

Many of the lectures involved demonstrating new ways to apply ceramic and porcelain veneers with minimally invasive techniques that preserve the natural tooth structure and are more comfortable overall.  As a painless dentist, Dr. Rado is always interested in finding new ways to improve her patient’s dental experience and was able to learn new tips and suggestions for doing so.  The benefit of attending this type of event is that dentists can learn from each other. Very often, one person is pioneering a certain technique that when combined with what the dentist is already doing, can deliver superior results.  Dr. Rado uses these opportunities to both share with and learn from the dental community at large.

New technology is also being utilized in the dental laboratory which makes creating perfect looking dental veneers easier than ever.  Some of this new technology was being demonstrated, and it highlights how easy it is to view what a patients smile will look like when the veneers or another cosmetic application is applied.  This allows the dentist and lab techs to work together to make changes to the design before they are completed.  As this technology improves, it may reduce the procedure time by nearly eliminating the need to make adjustments to the veneers before they are applied.  Dr. Rado is following this and will continue to implement the technology that she feels will be most beneficial for our patients.