Dental Cleaning 35242
Posted on 10. Jan, 2012 by Dr. G in Blog, General Dentistry, Preventive
The holidays are over, so now it’s time to get in gear! Remember, most insurances pay 100% on cleanings! Don’t stay away for too long.
According to the American Dental Association, there are a few things we all should do to maintain oral health
1. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and replace brush heads every several months.
2. Floss daily to prevent gum disease and tooth decay which occurs in between teeth.
3. Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and professional cleanings.
Remember when you visit your dental hygienist and dentist to come armed with any and all questions you may have regarding anything from eating and dental hygiene habits to cosmetic treatment options. That’s what we’re here for!
Birmingham Cosmetic Dentist
Posted on 17. Nov, 2011 by Dr. G in General Dentistry
With the holidays just around the corner, you have probably been looking for the perfect gift for your friends family members (or yourself)! Well, we were too, and we’re excited to say that we’ve found it! Whitening to go! This holiday season we will be offering two different types of whitening pens. First, The Zoom! pen, which contains the same active ingredient as tooth whitening gel in a convenient pen that you can carry wherever you go! The Zoom pen can be applied twice a day to maintain that white bright smile or it can be used after drinking coffee, tea, or red wine to restore brightness back to your teeth. The Zoom pen is available for $20 and is a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your list!
We are also excited to be offering the “Chic-Flic” whitening pen. The Chic-Flic is designed for ladies and has a dual tip, one side is a lip-plumper and the other is a paint-on whitening gel for whitening touch-ups. It has a mirror on one side and an LED light on the other for easy and quick application. For just $30, the Chic-Flic is another perfect stocking stuffer! Check out their website and reviews here. Please ask us about these great products next time we see you!
280 General Dentist
Posted on 17. Oct, 2011 by Dr. G in General Dentistry
We are very excited to announce that we now have intraoral cameras. This great new technology allows us to get up close pictures of your teeth, which allows us to better illustrate dental issues and help the patient in deciding treatment options. As usual, we are happy to answer any questions regarding this and any other service we provide here at Narrows Family Dentistry.
Veneers: Inverness, AL
Posted on 09. May, 2011 by Dr. G in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry
We proudly offer cosmetic dental services and feel these can be some of the most rewarding. One of the several cosmetic dental services we offer are porcelain veneers, which we have pictured below. This is an actual patient at Narrows Family Dentistry, in her words “I love them!”
Before
After
Please call us and ask about our cosmetic services today!
Children’s Dentist Chelsea, AL
Posted on 09. Apr, 2011 by Dr. G in General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry
Many patients in my practice ask the question: When should I take my child for his or her first dental visit? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as you may think. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a trip to the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth coming in and no later than 12 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry also recommends 1 year of age. This recommendation is based on finding a “dental home” for your child, so that he or she may get acquainted with his or her dentist and the process of a dental appointment. It also ensures that you receive proper guidance regarding tooth care and what to expect if your child has a dental emergency. While it is important to follow these guidelines, our typical recommendation is that as long as the child has no problems with his or her teeth, no pain, soreness, or trauma, then 2 years of age, or when all of the baby teeth have come in should be the earliest appropriate time to establish the “dental home.” Please remember that these first appointments are more about establishing a good relationship with the child than anything else. Don’t expect them to be much like your typical cleaning appointment.
Parents should have an active role in their children’s dental health not only in infanthood and toddlerhood but also throughout childhood. Children are not capable of properly cleaning their teeth and gums until at least age 10. We often encourage parents to look in the child’s mouth to make sure they do not spot any problems. Many times cavities are visible in baby teeth. And, listen to your child if they complain about a tooth hurting. We enjoy treating children as well as the rest of the family here at Narrows Family Dentistry.
As usual, if you would like any further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
I Want Whiter Teeth Chelsea, AL
Posted on 16. Feb, 2011 by Dr. G in General Dentistry
A beautiful smile can light up a room. It can make someone feel healthy and confident. One way to really improve your smile is to whiten your teeth. Often this can be achieved through simple techniques such as using whitening toothpastes or over-the-counter whitening strips. But for a faster, more permanent solution professional whitening is usually required. This process is very simple and consists of one quick visit to the office for impressions (or molds) to be made of your teeth. Then, we make custom trays that are used to hold the whitening gel onto your teeth. The trays are usually worn for 30 minutes to an hour a day, and although it usually requires about 2 weeks to complete, you will begin seeing results right away!
We gladly offer whitening services, so call today!
Cosmetic Dentist Inverness, AL
Posted on 26. Jan, 2011 by Dr. G in General Dentistry, Preventive
While we try to tailor our recommendations to each patient’s individual needs, there are certain things that we widely recommend. Our hygiene team is committed to finding the latest and greatest products for cavity prevention and oral health maintenance. In this post, I will share some of those findings.
First is ACT mouthwash. ACT is a great fluoride rinse for children and adults. It can calcify soft areas of enamel and prevent cavities from forming. It is also great for people with braces.
Burt’s Bees toothpaste. Burt’s Bees toothpaste contains a substance called calcium sodium phosphosilicate, which is derived from cranberries and has been shown to prevent plaque from sticking to the teeth. It comes in a whitening formula and a multicare variety, and both contain fluoride. It has also been shown to help with sensitivity and gingivitis.
We also provide a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste in office, Fluoridex for particularly susceptible patients.
For our periodontal patients, we offer the prescription antimicrobial rinse, PerioRx. This is a chlorhexidine rinse that kills bacteria and reduces gingival inflammation.
Just as a disclaimer, we are not endorsing any one product brand over others. These are the particular products we use based on the research we have done. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading!
Family Dentist, 35242
Posted on 01. Nov, 2010 by Dr. G in General Dentistry
A Filling is needed when there is a “cavity” in the tooth. So, the real question is, what is a cavity? Cavities or tooth decay occur when the protective bacteria contained in your saliva interact with the sugar or starch that you take in, in the form of sweets or bread. This makes an acid that, when presented to the enamel for long enough or with enough frequency can break it down. Once the breakdown begins in the enamel, which covers and protects the teeth, it spreads through the dentin or underlying surface of the tooth, like water eventually eats through wood. This is when a cavity forms. If the cavity goes untreated, it can reach the nerve of the tooth (which is contained in the root), and cause a toothache that can only be resolved by a root canal or extraction of the tooth.
The dentist, drills or cuts through the decay in your tooth and removes it completely, then it can stop spreading. This leaves a hole, which must be filled by a material.
There are two main types of filling materials, amalgam and composite. Amalgam is the tradition “silver” or “gray” filling material that has been used for many years. It contains a mixture of metals, including Mercury. Once it is mixed, it is packed into the tooth and carved, and it hardens on its own within minutes.
photo credit to mynewsmile.com
Composite is the “tooth-colored” material that is requested more frequently these days. Composite is made out of several different synthetic materials and is often referred to as resin. Composites are placed through a bonding technique that involves, etching or conditioning the tooth, applying adhesive, then placing the composite material in layers. The process requires dryness (which is why you are stuffed full of cotton rolls) and the adhesive and composite are cured with a special UV light. It is a slightly longer process than an amalgam, but the result is a tooth that doesn’t look like it ever had a cavity in the first place!
photo credit to mynewsmile.com
At Narrows Family Dentistry, we do both amalgams and composites as we see fit, or at patient’s request. I hope this has been an informative post, and as always, thanks for reading!
Cosmetic Dentist, Chelsea, AL
Posted on 31. Aug, 2010 by Dr. G in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry
Many people are faced with hopeless or non-restorable teeth that have to be extracted (removed). Once you have lost a tooth you are usually given several options.
First, you can replace it with an implant. This is only true is some cases, where there is enough bone in your jaw and you are healthy enough to accept an implant. Implants are inserted into the jaw bone and act as roots, then a crown is placed on top. Implants require surgery and usually take a minimum of 3 months to complete due to the healing process required. They can also be costly as dental insurance still does not cover them well.
The second option is a bridge. A bridge consists of placing a crown on either side of the missing tooth space, and splinting another tooth to those crowns. When the bridge is placed, you will have three teeth that are joined. This can make flossing difficult, but otherwise a bridge feels and functions just as normal teeth would. A bride is fixed and does not come in and out, which leads us to the third option, a partial denture.
A partial denture is usually used to replace multiple missing teeth. It is a removable unit that clasps onto other teeth in your mouth. Partial dentures do not function exactly like normal teeth and usually require patients to adjust their speech and eating habits. Many people find partial dentures to be a satisfying replacement for their missing teeth and keep them for years.
The final option is to do nothing. Some patients choose this option for a variety of reasons including financial reasons. Depending on what tooth is missing, this can be an acceptable option. The main consequence is that other teeth will shift in order to accommodate this space, and it can cause these, otherwise healthy teeth to begin having problems.
If you have a missing tooth and would like to discuss your options, feel free to call our office and we will be glad to do a consultation with you.
General Dentist, Inverness, AL
Posted on 15. May, 2010 by Dr. G in General Dentistry
If you’ve ever had a filling or crown done before then you have probably had your bite adjusted at the end of the appointment. The dental assistant puts a piece of blue paper called articulating paper in your mouth, asks you to bite together, chew side to side, then the dentist adjusts your tooth, rinse and repeat until your bite “feels right.” This can be a tedious process that lasts more than just a few seconds and takes place after your filling is already done. So, what are we doing, and why is it so important anyway?
The term dentists use to describe the way the upper and lower teeth come together is occlusion. Your occlusion is complex, dynamic and dependent on many factors which work together to maintain a healthy balance. One slight alteration in any of these factors can have an exaggerated effect on the whole. For example, if you are under stress and you grind your teeth either at night or during the day, it can have an affect not only your teeth, but also your jaw joint, facial muscles, gums, even the nerves in your teeth and face.
To help you understand this better, let’s look at what factors play into your bite. First, you have the upper and lower teeth, rooted in your upper and lower jaw bones. These teeth each have nerves within them that allow you to feel hot and cold and alert you when you are chewing something too hard. Between the upper and lower jaw, there exists a hinge, known as your temporomandibular joint or TMJ. This hinge allows you to move your lower jaw from your skull. Also, there is a disc or piece of cartilage in the joint. This disc can wear thin over time or slip just as the cartilage in your knee or elbow joint can. Lastly, there are muscles in your face that control your jaw movements. These muscles can become overworked and sore when too much stress is put on them, just as the muscles in the rest of your body can get sore after a workout or injury.
When you have a high spot on a filling or crown, the brunt of your chewing force, which is quite strong, is taken by that one tooth instead of being distributed among all of your teeth, which then causes inflammation in the surrounding area of the tooth and root. This results in a distressed nerve. The only way the nerve can respond is by producing sensitivity to cold and biting. Therefore, the first time you bite into something hard or cold water hits that bruised tooth, you feel a painful sensation. This pain is usually transient and goes away as soon as the water warms up or is swallowed. If the pain lingers, it can mean there is a problem with the nerve and may the tooth may need further attention.
High spots left untreated can cause permanent damage to the tooth and can result in root canal treatment and/or a crown. The fix is very simple, a few more rounds of tapping on articulating paper and a little adjusting and the balance will be restored once again.