Why Are You Taking My Picture?

At your first dental visit, we gather a bunch of information to know as much as we can about you, your dental health and your dental history.  X-rays, charting of exisiting dental work, gum measurments and photographs all help us create your current dental record.

Photographs are an important tool for education.  What better way to explain what we see, by showing you exactly!  These photos show us the shape of your teeth, how your lips drape, the color and texture of your gums.   The photos will show us how your teeth and bite fit together, any chips or cracks within the tooth or filling.  We then are able to compare things like, wear, cracks
and recession from visit to visit.  We use photographs of you and your teeth to help explain your dental health and why certain treatment is recommended.  Then by showing you what we see you can make the best decision for you and your teeth. 

You know what they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words!"

Are You a Nighttime Grinder? This Post is for You!

What is the difference between a night guard made in the dental office vs. one I buy at the pharmacy?

For starters an office made guard is a lot less bulky, lower profile and is custom fit to only your teeth.  This guard, unlike a rubber one, is hard acrylic and is like an ice skating rink for the teeth.  A soft pharmacy guard, will lock your teeth in place and transfer the grinding pressure to your temporomandibular joint.  With an office made guard your teeth and jaw can move freely and comfortably.

4 Reasons Your Braces are Still On

1.   Compliance isn't happening at home.
Treatment drastically slows down if your not:  wearing your rubber bands, coming in for your adjustments on time or if you're breaking brackets and wires frequently.

2. Your bite still needs correcting.
The front teeth may look perfectly straight, but the primary focus of braces is to pull your teeth in the correct position so you can bite and chew.  These changes may go unnoticed by yo

u but if a tooth is even a few millimeters out of position, over time, it can create uneven wear.  This results in, shortening of teeth, cracking of teeth and even chipping or breaking.

3. You're an Adult
Braces on adults take longer because the bone supporting the teeth isn't as responsive to change as when you were younger and still growing.

4.  Your teeth and bite need a lot of correcting.
Cross-bites, over-bites, under-bites and severe crowding take longer to correct and straighten out.

The fastest way to get your braces off is controlling what you can: wear your rubber bands, brush your teeth and come in for your appointments.  The rest we will take care of and communicate with you if there a any delays in treatment.

The First Steps in Orthodontic Treatment

Straight teeth not only look great, but they will allow your teeth to wear properly, make your teeth easier to clean, provide you with healthier gums and decrease headaches and jaw pain, to name a few.  We take steps not only in children, but in adults, to explain what we are seeing in your mouth and explain why braces or Invisalign may benefit you.

Dr. Scott does both braces and Invisalign in our office.  To determine the best course of treatment for you, we first do a "records" appointment.  At this appointment we take photographs of your teeth, your bite and how that all impacts your facial features, profile, etc.  Next, we take impression of your teeth and create models.  We also take radiographs to determine what your skeletal make up is (underbite, overbite, etc.) and what angle your teeth are coming in and what angle your roots are positioned. There is a fee for this appointment, but that does not commit you to further orthodontic treatment. 

After gathering all the information, it is then Dr. Scott will make a treatment recommendations, determine approximate length of treatment, any complications that could arise and cost of treatment.  This is the consultation appointment and is designed to provide answers to all questions and we ask that a parent be present with their child.

After the consult appointment, orthodontic treatment will begin!

4 Tips to Help with Jaw Soreness

Treat it like a sprained ankle
~Rest the joint. Avoid chewy foods: gums, bagels, pizza crusts, etc.
~Use heat and ice compresses on the joint.
~Take NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), which can help reduce swelling and pain.

Get a night guard
~If you find that you are clenching and grinding at night a guard can help relieve stress on the jaw joint.

Put your tongue to the roof of your mouth

~If you catch yourself clenching or grinding during the day, the simple act of placing your tongue to the roof of your mouth will make you aware of it and provide separation of your teeth.

Massage
~Massaging the muscles around the jaw will increase blood flow to the area and loosen tight muscles surrounding the jaw joint.

Best Tooth Paste for Gums

Do you have bleeding gums, gingivitis or periodontal (gum) disease?  These are the best tooth pastes on the market for you!

I Was Told My Tooth is Cracked. What Now?

Cracked teeth are fairly common and most often fixable.  Some teeth have been in your mouth since you were 6 years old and have been through some wear and tear.

Most common causes of a cracked tooth:

• Clenching and Grinding
• Large silver fillings
• Older fillings
• Root canalled teeth

How do I know if I have a cracked tooth?

• You or your dental professional can see it.  At our office we will take a photograph of the crack, so you can see what we see.
• You have off and on biting sensitivity. 
• Sensitivity to hot and/or cold
• Gum swelling
• A "line" of stain 

How is a cracked tooth treated?

• If a crack is superficial (simple) and not causing any pain, removing the crack and placing a filling can be done.
• If a crack is large (complex) and symptomatic, the best treatment is a crown.  A crown is placed over the top of the tooth to prevent the crack from spreading and progressing.  Eating and drinking will cause flexure of the tooth.  A crown prevents that flexure, keeping that crack right where it is.

What happens if I leave a crack and do nothing?

• Much like a crack on the sidewalk it will spread.  The larger the crack the more symptoms and pain you can have, as the crack gets closer to the nerve.
• The crack can cause the tooth to split in two.  Often this will result in needed the tooth extracted.