Dentistry Blogs

Your dentist may prescribe medication for you to take at home an hour before your appointment to manage anxiety and relax you. You’ll almost certainly want to bring a companion with you on the trip to and from the dentist’s office. You may be convinced that you can get there on your own, but you’re probably wrong. Get someone to drive or escort you.Once you are at the dentist’s office you may receive more sedation, either orally (liquid...

Most health insurance plans don’t cover dental care, so this becomes the key question. You ask yourself, if you can get access to affordable dental care through cheap dental insurance, the kind that won’t break your budget but will help you and your loved ones. In other words, is dental insurance worth the cost?You can search this question online, but you won’t find any consistent answers.You’ll find articles (usually on sites selling...

Crooked teeth, overbite, or whatever your oral insecurity may be, clear braces are a great choice—but there are a few things to get straight first before you visit your cosmetic dentist.1. Yes, you actually have to wear them.It’s an all-too-true reality, but there’s no dancing it around it: You have to keep the aligners on for at least 20 hours a day or you won’t get the best results (22 hours is the rec, but you can boot two hours if...

What You Need to Know about Oral Appliances for Snoring and Sleep ApneaSnoring is often a sign of life-threatening sleep apnea. Oral appliances for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are NOT available over-the-counter in the United States. They are only FDA approved and available through a qualified dentist once a physician has made an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis.How do you choose a Sleep Disorders Dentist?A qualified...

What Is The Best Time For Orthodontic Treatment?Developing malocclusions or bad bites, can be recognized as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, early steps can be taken to reduce the need for major orthodontic treatment at a later age.Stage I – Early Treatment: This period of treatment encompasses ages 2 to 6 years. At this young age, we are concerned with underdeveloped dental arches, the premature loss of primary teeth, and harmful habits...

Did you know that nitrous oxide has been used in dental procedures for 100 years? It’s an extremely safe way to make sure your child is comfortable during otherwise uncomfortable dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, and extractions. Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that can be easily controlled, does not affect heart rate, and has no ill effects on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. Nitrous oxide has no odor and, used in...

As a general rule, the sooner a tooth can get back into its socket inside the mouth, the better chance it has to survive long-term.1. When a tooth gets knocked out, it is important to pick it up while only touching the crown of the tooth (the crown is the part of the tooth that is normally visible inside your mouth.)  If you can’t find the tooth try as hard as you can to find it.  Although aspiration rarely occurs, it is possible that...

Those who struggle with visits to the dentist due to high anxiety or stress have found that sedation dentistry is a great solution for them. This approach allows patients to be much more comfortable and relaxed during their time in the dentist chair while allowing the dentist to engage in a more effective treatment. Sedatives are delivered to the patient through a variety of ways, including by mouth, under the tongue, inhaled through the nose or...

Understanding adolescent dentistryYou might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how dangerous these piercings can be. There are many risks involved with oral piercings, including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, blood poisoning, heart infections, brain abscess, nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia), receding gums or scar tissue. Your mouth contains...

Did you know that fear and anxiety plague around 40 million Americans when it comes to their dental appointments? If the thought of going to the dentist ties your stomach into knots, you’re not alone! Here we specialize in helping patients relax and essentially “sleep” through their dental procedures. Read on to determine if you’re a candidate for sedation dentistry.What is Sedation Dentistry?Sedation dentistry utilizes a number of...