WHITE-4-Life: FREE WHITENING FOR LIFE!!!

FREE WHITENING FOR LIFE? YES, PLEASE!!!

With all the health benefits that come with seeing your dentist regularly, do we really need one more reason to visit your dentist every six months? YES!  

Now at Plaza Health Dentistry you can have free whitening for life!!!

Yes, let me repeat that … Free-Whitening-For-Life ...
                                                          ... Also known as "WHITE-4-Life"

 

Before and After Whitening

This is how it works …

1.     You buy the custom made trays that fit your teeth perfectly, for $299.00.  These bleaching trays are fabricated specifically for your teeth and gum architecture.

2.     You visit the dentist every six months (or at least you know you should (: ), right? Right! So, while you're doing the "right" thing for your oral health - seeing your dentist and hygienist for "continuing care" visits (eating your veggies) you'll receive whitening gel syringes for FREE - for the rest of your life (dessert)!  
      That’s right! At every six-month visit when you get your teeth cleaned and examined you will receive complimentary syringes of whitening gel … not to mention the old standard of a new toothbrush and floss!  

The whitening gel that you receive with this program is considerably better than over-the-counter whitening products and can only be obtained through a licensed professional.  The whitening agent used in our gel is professional strength carbamide peroxide.  It is often recommended that you whiten your teeth after a professional cleaning.  If you find your smile needs to “lighten up” in between appointments, just stop in for your complimentary “booster” gel.  Don’t wait, ask one of the Plaza Health Dentistry team members for details on how to get started! Never worry about whitening your teeth again! 

Replace Missing Teeth in 2013 - Dentures & Implants

Dentures & Implants

When I was little I thought dentures were part of the normal aging process.  My  grandparents would take their teeth out at night (and even around meal times!). How we think about losing our teeth is a cultural phenomenon and varies greatly depending on what part of the country, or world that you live in.  However, with the advances in dentistry and knowing what we know about preventative care in oral health there is really no need to ever need dentures, notwithstanding tooth loss due to trauma.  For those who do need dentures…Let’s talk dentures!

George Washington's Dentures

Dentures, also known as false teeth, are actually a prosthetic, much like an artificial leg or arm.  Their purpose is to replace a missing body part with an artificial body part.  Dentures have changed greatly since…we’ll just go with the most famous pair of dentures in the United States…George Washington’s false teeth.

 Today, dentures can be custom made to fit your mouth exactly.  We realize that while we need dentures to chew our food and enunciate words correctly they also serve a cosmetic purpose and provide cheek and lip support.  Did you know that you can pick out the shape and size of your teeth on a denture?  In some cases, the lab can make your dentures to look just like the smile you were born with. 

Dentures have come a long way, and we even have options as far as securing dentures in your mouth.  Many people who live with dentures hate using denture adhesive, and the hard plastic shell that goes across the upper palate.  Many people say that the plastic upper palate on the upper denture keeps them from tasting their food or feeling the temperature of their food.  Many people are choosing implant supported dentures for this reason.

Implant Supported Dentures

 Implant-Retained dentures are dentures that are secured in place with the assistance of dental implants.  See Dental terminology for a full list of terms if you don’t understand.  Dental implants help to maintain jaw bone and prevent further bone loss.  Implants also provide a stable base for the dentures which eliminates completely the need for adhesive, the plastic upper palate, as well as dentures that flop around in the mouth. Implant-Retained dentures are a great option, but still need to be removed at night for cleaning. 

Implant Supported Bridges

For a more life like long term "Fixed" option implant supported fixed-bridges are a great option.  These are dental bridges that are held securely and remain "fixed" in the mouth with dental implants.  These would not have to be removed at night and are considered a fixed option.  This is a great option for people who are embarrassed by having to take their teeth out at night! 

As with any prosthetic, dentures and bridges do need regular maintenance and care.  It is recommended that dentures be replaced every 5 to 7 years.  In addition, regular exams with your dentist are recommended to make sure dentures are fitting properly and that no other oral health concerns are present.  Daily hygiene is still very important to ensure that your oral health is at its optimal.  Brushing the soft tissue in the mouth is still recommended and that dentures are brushed and soaked daily to remove any bacteria or fungus that may be on them. 

The dentures of today have come a long way - especially with the advent of Implants.  Today's "false teeth" aren’t your grandma’s dentures anymore!  

 

Bad Breath

Whew! My Breath Stinks!

Did you know that Americans list bad breath as the number one thing they would change about their co-workers?  For many people bad breath can be very embarrassing.  Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be a temporary thing caused by diet, such as eating onions or garlic.  However, if you have bad breath that is persistent and doesn’t improve with hygiene or diet changes, also known as chronic bad breath,  you might want to consult with your dentist. 

There are many reasons that people experience chronic bad breath, but the most common are:

·        Gum Disease – People who experience advanced stages of gum disease, also known as periodontitis, often have a very distinct smell to their breath.  Periodontitis, if left untreated to can cause many health concerns, some of which can lead to premature death or premature aging.  The only way to treat periodontitis is treatment provided by your dentist.

·        Dry mouth – Dry mouth occurs when there is a dramatic drop in the amount of saliva production in the mouth.  Saliva helps to minimize bacterial growth and to wash away food particles. For those who experience this it can be very uncomfortable, but it can also cause bad breath and tooth decay.  Consult with your dentist for treatment options.

·        Sinus problems – postnasal drip can cause bad breath as well.  Working with a physician closely to find the best treatment options can help to minimize this problem.

·        Systemic infections – These affect your entire body.  These include diabetes, respiratory infections, certain liver conditions and many more.

It is very important to consult your dentist or physician if you experience chronic bad breath, because bad breath may be a symptom of a bigger underlying health issue.  Using products that are often marketed to cure bad breath can often cause more harm.  These products often mask bad breath, but don’t treat the underlying cause of the bad breath. Many people find discussing their bad breath to be uncomfortable or embarrassing, but I can assure that your health care provider only wants to help you, and has helped many people just like you.  By seeking treatment you no longer have to live with embarrassing bad breath, but you may also do your health a favor!

Dental Terminology and Dental Procedures

Dental Terminology and Dental Procedures

Visit any dental office or clinic and more than likely you will hear dental teminology or dental procedures that you are not familiar with.  Don't worry you're not alone.  Most patients, unless they have a background in dentistry, don't get the "tech talk" uttered by the staff of a dental office .  So, as a 101 style education on the subject, here are a list of some of the more common dental terms and what they mean.

Tooth numbers – In dentistry we number teeth as a way to help us identify which tooth/teeth we are talking about accurately and quickly.  Adults have 32 permanent teeth, sometimes called secondary teeth.  Adult teeth are numbered 1 – 32. Tooth #1 is your top right wisdom tooth. As you go towards the front of your mouth the next one is tooth #2.  Go all the way around the top of the mouth, numbering each tooth in consecutive order as you go, to the wisdom tooth on the top left and that is #16. Then we drop down to the lower teeth, but this time we go left to right.  The lower bottom left wisdom tooth is #17 go all the way around, numbering as you go, and to the lower bottom right and that is tooth #32.  Baby teeth, or primary teeth, are lettered A – T, and are lettered in the same rotation as permanent teeth.

Crown of the tooth- this is the part of the tooth that is above the natural gum line.

Root of the tooth – This is the part of the tooth that is below the gum line.  Sometimes people  have gum recession and will have root exposure, but typically it is below the gum line.

Composite/resin fillings – These are fillings that are tooth colored.  Unlike amalgam fillings these bond to the teeth and more aesthetically pleasing.

Amalgam (silver-mercury) fillings that are made of metal.  At one time these were a great option for filling cavities, but today we have materials that are much safer and better for our teeth and health.

Crowns – This is a restoration that is used when there is not enough natural tooth structure to support a filling or an inlay or onlay. Crowns cover the whole tooth.  Your natural tooth is prepped in a way that allows this restoration to sit on the tooth and cover it completely all the way around all sides. These are typically made of porcelain, but can be made of metal or porcelain fused to metal.  Crowns are really "Old-School" - and are almost always less-optimal of a treatment option (they are more invasive - and don't last as long due to re-decay).

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays/Onlays – These are dental restorations that are used when the decay in the crown of the tooth is too big to use a filling, but not large enough to warrant a crown.  They fit in the decayed area of the tooth like a puzzle piece and, unlike (and better than) a crown, they are BONDED to the tooth.



Dental Bridge – a fixed restoration that is used to replace a missing tooth. Bridges use the adjacent teeth on each side of the missing tooth.  Crowns are placed on each of the adjacent teeth and a false tooth is bonded to these crowns, essentially creating a bridge between the crowns.



dental bridge

Root Canal – is a procedure used to save a tooth from being removed.  When the nerve inside the tooth becomes irreversibly damaged or infected the only two options for treatment are extraction or root canal.  While root canals have a nasty reputation, they really are as easy as getting a filling. Dentistry today has made great strides in ensuring patient’s comfort.  During this procedure the dentist opens a small hole in the tooth then “painlessly” removes the infected/damaged part of the tooth.  The tooth is then filled in with a material and restored with a crown.  This allows the patient to keep their tooth, which is preferable to any replacement option.

Dental Implants

Dental implant – If you do have a missing tooth, this is my preferred replacement option.  This is the option that is most like your natural tooth/teeth.  It feels, looks and functions like a natural tooth. A screw is placed in the bone below the gum line, where the root of the tooth would have been.  Then a crown made for the implant is placed on top of the implant.  It may sound painful, but just as you can’t feel the roots of your teeth, you won’t feel the implant either.  There are many advantages to this option.  The biggest being it is permanent! Also, with other tooth replacement options patients still lose bone levels, with this option bone levels are maintained. Implants can be used to support dentures or bridges as well.

If you have any other dental terms you would like to have explained please leave a comment and I will be happy to answer any and all questions!  Adjacent teeth on both sides of where the tooth/teeth are missing. Crowns are placed on the existing teeth on either side of the missing tooth and a false tooth is bonded to these crowns where the tooth is missing, essentially, making a “bridge” between two crowns.