It is extremely important to maintain regular visits to the dentist and have the dental work you need done right away to avoid additional tooth damage.  However, it can become a rather expensive endeavor if you have multiple oral hygiene problems to address.

If you do not have access to dental insurance, there are other options that enable you to get the dental procedures you need performed.  Many dentists now offer payment plans to ensure affordability and access to quality dental care for all patients, regardless of whether they have dental insurance. 

There are different payment plan arrangements made by various dentists.  Some are done through a formal company that require a credit check prior to extending credit for dental work.  Much like a credit card, the company will predetermine a dollar amount for dental work you can finance and you pay a monthly bill to clear up the balance.  Even if you have poor credit, you may be able to obtain the financing you need by having a co-signer on your application.  The application is quick, easy to process and gives you immediate credit to get dental procedures done right away.

Other dentists will offer a private payment agreement with some of their patients, especially if the dental work is a few hundred dollars or less.  Discuss breaking down dental visits and payments to make them more affordable with the office manager or billing clerk at your dentist's office.  Often they will find an arrangement that works for you because they really want you to get the care you need.

Don't put off the dental care you need because of cash flow – there are payment plans available to get the work you need done today.

At the root of all oral evil is plaque and food debris left on your teeth that can cause tooth enamel to break down and cavities to form.

Your mouth naturally contains bacteria from the food you eat, which turns into plaque on your teeth.  When this plaque stays on your teeth, it can compromise tooth enamel.  Enamel is hard and made up of mineral salts such as calcium.  These mineral salts are subject to attack by acids, which causes tooth enamel to break down.

When plaque forms on your teeth and doesn't get removed by brushing or the saliva in your mouth, it produces acid as it eats up sugar.  The acid begins to eat away at your tooth enamel and tiny holes begin to form in the enamel.  As the little holes in your enamel increase in size over time, a cavity forms in your tooth. 

To avoid having your tooth enamel compromised, minimize your sweet snack and brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day.  Remember to use dental floss in between your teeth daily.  Most importantly, scheduled routine examinations with your dentist to check and clean your teeth.  Your dentist will see the beginnings signs of tooth decay and be able to stop them in their tracks before they cause more damage.

As people watch the incredible results on television shows such as Extreme Makeover, cosmetic dentistry is becoming the most sought after form of dental care today.  With modern advancements in dental technology, it is quicker and easier than ever to get the Hollywood smile you always dreamed of.

Patients with discolored teeth, chipped teeth and even cracked teeth will be pleased with the variety of options available at a cosmetic dentist's office.  Professional tooth whitening can be done in just one or two visits to the dental office and yields incredible results.  Patients can enjoy teeth that are five to ten shades whiter after having just one or two dental whitening treatments done by their dentist.

Another option for correcting imperfect teeth is dental bonding.  The dental bonding material is sculpted around your tooth by a dentist to correct imperfections and then heat is applied to strengthen the bond so the bonded tooth works as well as a natural tooth.

Finally, there are porcelain veneers that can even correct misaligned teeth.  Porcelain veneers are tooth colored, thin shells that get bonded to the front of your teeth to perfect your smile.

Because cosmetic dentistry is painless, effective and simple, many people are deciding to improve their overall oral appearance and hygiene through cosmetic dental procedures.

Although dental procedures may make us anxious, modern techniques make them simpler and safer than ever.  Additionally, there are several ways to take your mind off dental procedures so you can have the necessary work done in your mouth.

Some patients find it relaxing to listen to soothing music, watch television, engage in deep breathing techniques and even think of positive thoughts or images to distract them during dental procedures.  Others feel more relaxed if they take an analgesic, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, prior to going for dental work. 

There are additional options your dentist can offer.  Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, can relax you prior to a dental procedure.  Oral sedatives may be administered to alleviate anxiety.  These sedatives may be taken before going to the dentist or at the dental office, depending on what your dentist administers.  For more serious oral procedures, general anesthesia may be used and you simply wake up when the dental work is done.

With all the different ways to take your mind off having dental procedures, there is no reason to put off going to the dentist to maintain good oral hygiene, which benefits your overall health and well-being.

The average annual cost of dental care varies according to your age, where you reside and the magnitude of your dental problems and treatment options.  Of course dental care is absolutely priceless when you consider that proper oral hygiene is the basis for overall good health.

The basic facts about the cost of annual dental care begin with children when they start their dental visits.  Children between the ages of 2 years old and 11 years old have approximate annual dental expenses of $327, which includes a dental exam and a possible expense.  Children between the ages of 12 years old to 17 years old have average dental expenses of $742 each year.  By the time people reach adulthood, many dental insurance plans estimate annual dental expenses will range from $1,200 to $1,800 each year, although there are people that spend significantly more.  These amounts include basic dental care and treatment and do not account for cosmetic dental procedures.

Overall, each year American spend about 70 billion dollars on dental care, including cosmetic dentistry.  Although dental procedures can be costly, there are dental insurance plans as well as dental payment plans to help offset the costs of having necessary dental work done.  After all, the value of a healthy smile is absolutely priceless.

Are you suffering with chipped or cracked teeth and feel embarrassed or upset?  There are simple solutions available at your dental office to instantly improve the appearance and performance of those chipped or cracked teeth.

For teeth that are slightly chipped or cracked, dental bonding is a super solution.  During dental bonding, a dentist uses a tooth colored material and heat to sculpt a new, perfect tooth.  The procedure is painless and you can leave the dentist's office with an attractive new smile.

For more severely chipped or cracked teeth, you dentist may decide to use a dental crown.  The tooth is covered with a dental cap called a crown, which may be made from dental porcelain or ceramic.  Badly damaged teeth can be stabilized with dental crowns.

Finally, really cracked or broken teeth that require extraction can be replaced with a dental bridge or dental implants.  A dental bridge resembles a tooth or teeth and is anchored to the neighboring teeth.  Dental implants are actually implanted into the gums individually to look and work just like your own teeth.

No matter how chipped or cracked your teeth may be, contact your dentist to find out the best way to a better smile.

For people with discolored teeth, professional tooth whitening can make a dramatic difference in their appearance.  There are several different methods of whitening teeth that involve various procedures and time constraints.  The best news about tooth whitening is that 96 percent of patients experience a noticeable lightening effect that improves their smile.

In-office tooth bleaching is usually done in one to three visits.  In some instances, the whitening is done with the traditional hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent and accelerated with a light or heat source.  Other whitening systems are taken home by the patient and use a custom fitted dental dam and the bleaching agent to gradually whiten teeth over a period of a few weeks.  The time its takes to whiten teeth professionally at home varies, depending upon the extent of discoloration and the results desired by the patient.

Once your teeth have been whitened, the lightening effect usually lasts for anywhere from one to three years.  However, each person is different so the time the whitening procedure lasts varies depending on genetics and the amount of staining food and drink that crosses the teeth.  Consuming a great deal of coffee, cola, red wine and other staining foods can cause your teeth to become discolored more quickly.

Consider the benefits of having a more beautiful smile and contact your dentist today to discuss the advantages of professional tooth whitening.

If you were with us for the last six issues, you’ll recall Threat #1 to your dental health was Neglect, Threat #2—Under-treatment, Threat #3—Over-treatment, Threat #4—diet, Threat #5—Medications and Threat #6—Overall Health.

This week we’re going to discus Threat #7, “Too Old Syndrome.” 

This threat crawls into your smile and takes up residence when you start to tell yourself things like:

“I’m too old to have work done; I’m too old to have healthy teeth, and I’m too old to deserve treatment.”  

And believe it or not, many of us start reciting this silent mantra as early as our 50s!

The worst part is it’s NOT even true! You see dentists have discovered, through empirical evidence, that improving and taking care of the condition of your teeth is not only beneficial to your health…it actually helps you live LONGER!

Just the other day I had a 96-year-old woman in my office who did not begin restoring her smile until well after retirement. Over the course of her treatment she had dental implants, crowns and a slew of other procedures performed. And today she gives credit for her good health to the treatment she gave herself permission to receive.

But the benefits to healthy, good-looking teeth don’t stop there.  

You probably know as well as I do that an ugly smile affects:

• How people treat you,
• What they think about you,
• Your success at work, and even
• Your romantic life. 

Fair or not, it’s true. You can go to the best salons, wear the best suits and drive the most expensive cars, but if your teeth are ugly, twisted, missing or broken…it’s going to say far more about you than you want it to!

The good news is there’s an easy fix.  Learn how you can get the life you want, by contacting our dental health consultants—(804) 320-6800

Is it safe to receive dental care during pregnancy?  Many dental procedures are safe to have during pregnancy, some are necessary and there a few that should be avoided until after your child is born.

It is important to maintain good oral hygiene during pregnancy.  Brush after every meal, floss daily, use fluoride toothpaste, drink fluorinated water and eat a well-balanced diet while you are pregnant to keep your mouth as healthy as possible.  Certain dental issues that may arise during pregnancy include increased salivation, gums bleeding and additional build up of plaque from increased hormonal levels and additional eating.

Continue routine dental visits and examinations during your pregnancy and discuss health and medication changes with your dentist.  It is safe to have a dental exam during pregnancy.  However, unless x-rays are necessary for immediate treatment, they should be avoided.  If you need x-rays, make sure you wear a leaded apron during the process.  Elective dental treatments such be avoided, especially during the first three months of your pregnancy.  Cosmetic procedures to avoid include teeth whitening or bonding.

Although some of your options are limited during pregnancy, it is safe and recommended that you see your dentist for routine checkups and treatment.

What exactly is supportive periodontal therapy, frequently referred to as SPT?  For normal, healthy mouths, regular cleanings are an adequate way to prevent dental disease and maintain good oral hygiene.  However, if there is the presence of periodontal disease, other methods of treatment need to be exercised and this is where supportive periodontal therapy comes in.

A recent NIDR study revealed that over ninety percent of people over 13 years old have some type of periodontal disease.  When periodontal disease exists, nonsurgical periodontal therapy is required to establish proper oral hygiene.  This therapy is called periodontal debridement and may include therapeutic scaling or root planing to remove plaque and calculus from the teeth and below the gumline.  After periodontal therapy is complete, a patient's oral health should be maintained through supportive periodontal maintenance.

Supportive periodontal maintenance involves continuing care visits to monitor the oral health of the patient and additional debridement procedures to prevent the return of periodontal disease.  Other procedures used for supportive periodontal maintenance include antimicrobial irrigation and treating dental hypersensitivity.

If you have periodontal problems, discuss periodontal therapy and supportive periodontal maintenance options with your dentist today so you can establish and maintain a more healthy mouth.