At North Grand Dental, we are always happy to discuss or answer any questions you have about treatment or treatment options. We have many resources for patient education and want to make sure you know exactly what is going on when we are doing a procedure. Don’t hesitate to ask us questions about the right oral health care for you!
The best way to whiten your teeth is to use a bleaching agent (either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) and an appropriate during of time. Toothpastes and mouth rinses generally do not work to whiten teeth, and they can increase gum recession or damage due to how abrasive they can be. We recommend either Crest White Strips or having bleach trays made in our office.
The different brands of toothpastes and toothbrushes can be overwhelming at times. We recommend using a fluoridated toothpaste and a soft bristled toothbrush. The toothbrush mechanically removes harmful plaque which can cause gum disease and cavities. The fluoride in the toothpaste makes the teeth more resistant to acid breakdown, thus decreasing the chance for cavities forming. For people with sensitive teeth, we recommend using a sensitivity toothpaste that contains the ingredient Potassium Nitrate to help decrease sensitivity. We also recommend using floss to clean areas of your mouth that your toothbrush cannot clean, i.e., in-between the teeth and under the gums.
The point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
The point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
The point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
The point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
Public water fluoridation has been safe and effective at reducing cavities in children and adults for over 70 years. Most water naturally contains low levels of fluoride in it; however, not enough fluoride to produce any benefits against cavities. Public water has added fluoride in it to reduce childhood and adult caries or cavities. It has been shown to reduce cavities by up to 25%! Unless you drink well water, your water likely has appropriate amounts of fluoride in it. Community water fluoridation is recommended by the American Dental Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the US Public Health Service, the World Health Organization and nearly all public health, medical and dental organizations and practitioners. Due to it’s huge success at decreasing decay, the CDC has named water fluoridation one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century!
We improve our patient’s smiles every single day. There are many options available to improving your smile including crowns, veneers, esthetic bonding, moving the teeth slightly, bridges and implants. Come in for a consultation today and see how we can drastically improve your smile and confidence!
Many patients suffer from dental anxiety. At North Grand Dental we strive to make your experience as comfortable as possible. We have tv’s in every room, Bluetooth headphones available, warm blankets, Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas as well as a friendly and calming staff. We understand a lot of patients don’t enjoy coming to the dentist and we do everything possible to make every patient’s experience enjoyable and comfortable!
Dental insurance coverage can be difficult to understand, and each plan is different. Our doctors, staff and front desk can all help guide you with any questions you have about coverage. We routinely file pre-authorizations for dental procedures, so that you know exactly what your insurance will cover before we even do the procedure. We gladly accept and bill most insurances. We are in-network providers of Delta Dental, United Healthcare and Wellmark.
Dental implants are a great option for replacing a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. Implants do require good bone support to have a predictable result. Just about everyone can be a candidate to have implants to replace teeth, but some people may require a separate bone grafting procedure prior to having the implants done. Stop into North Grand Dental to get more information and see if implants are right for you!
Dentistry is quickly moving into a more digital workflow. At North Grand Dental, we have all digital x-ray machines which mean much less radiation for our patients and a much better x-ray image. We also have a 3Shape Trios Digital Impression Machine that makes impression taking much more comfortable for our patients. Digital impressions are also more accurate than the traditional impressions.
When patients haven’t had their teeth cleaned in a long time, a deep cleaning may be recommended by their dentist. A deep cleaning is also referred to as Scaling and Root Planing and needs to be done when there are signs of Periodontal Disease present. Periodontal Disease is gum disease where there is evidence of bone loss that support the teeth. This can be seen on radiographs and can also be confirmed by deep gum pockets between the teeth and the gums. Its cause is a buildup of large amounts of plaque and tartar, or calculus. Chronic plaque and tartar buildup lead to gum inflammation which starts a cascade of events eventually leading to bone loss. If left untreated, it can cause tooth pain, infection and ultimately tooth loss. A deep cleaning stops the process of Periodontal Disease by getting down underneath the gum tissues and removing the harmful plaque and tartar. This is done by one of our Registered Dental Hygienists or Dentists and is usually accompanied by local anesthetics or numbing agents so that it is comfortable for the patient. It is usually necessary to do this in multiple visits. We can do regular cleanings for patients that don’t have periodontal disease or have been through the deep cleaning procedure already and are set up on a maintenance or recall program. Regular cleanings typically require no local anesthetic and can be done in 30-60 minutes.
The point of using dummy text for your paragraph is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters. making it look like readable English.
Dental Sealants are preventive measures taken by the dentist to reduce cavities or caries in children and adults. The chewing surfaces of posterior or back teeth have small grooves and pits which are common areas for cavities to form. A sealant is a resin material that protects chewing teeth from getting cavities by creating a barrier for bacteria to get into these small grooves and pits. They are very easy to apply, are painless and can be effective at reducing cavities in both children and adults!
Many people have a habit of grinding or clenching their teeth. This habit is called Bruxism. It can wear the enamel off the teeth and cause the teeth to develop cracks or fractures. Some side effects from bruxism include headaches or earaches, sore jaw muscles, clicking of the jaws, toothaches, sensitive teeth, broken teeth and trouble sleeping. Many people do this in their sleep at night. Usually a custom made nightguard can be fabricated to help alleviate these symptoms and stop the habit. Ask us about the possible treatment options that are right for you.
Some patients have severe wear on their teeth from many years of clenching, grinding or just everyday wear and tear. Patients with strong biting forces can wear their teeth down relatively quickly. A bite guard can be fabricated to prevent this from happening. Once it has occurred, crowns can be put on all the teeth to restore your bite and improve your function and esthetics. A crown is a cap that covers the whole tooth and protects the tooth underneath it. The crowns look like real teeth and can prevent more wear from occurring on the natural tooth structure.
TMJ is short for Temporomandibular Joint and is the joint where the lower jawbone meets your skull. Everyone has 2 TMJ’s. Some people have pain and inflammation associated with this joint and that is called TMD or Temporomandibular Disorder. TMD can be treated by managing pain, removing habits that lead to increased stresses or forces on the TMJ, exercises or stretches for the joint and fabrication of a stabilization splint. Sometimes in severe cases, patients will be referred to a physical therapist who specializes in TMJ exercises.
Many people suffer from sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and don’t even know it. Sleep Apnea is largely undiagnosed and can have multiple treatments. An easy treatment approach is to have a sleep apnea appliance fabricated at our office. We work with your physician to determine if a dental sleep appliance can benefit you. Using our digital impression machine we can quickly and accurately take an impression and have an appliance fabricated to help you improve sleep, improve overall health and decrease fatigue. Sleep appliances fabricated at our dental office can also decrease snoring which allows your significant other a better nights sleep as well.
A tooth cavity is an area of diseased tooth or hole in the tooth that forms from tooth decay. When you eat or drink, bacteria in your mouth start to break down that food and the result is an acidic byproduct that starts to breakdown the enamel of your tooth. Overtime, this can soften the enamel and lead to a hole in the tooth, inflammation of the nerve of the tooth and even an abscess or infection in the tooth if left untreated. If caught soon enough, the cavity can typically be removed by the dentist and filled with a composite (tooth colored) or amalgam (sliver) filling. When left untreated, tooth decay can cause toothaches and infections which may require a root canal or extraction of the tooth.
A root canal is performed when the nerve tissue inside of the tooth has been irreversibly damaged. The nerve tissue or bacteria inside of the tooth is removed during a root canal procedure and filled, allowing you to keep your tooth and eliminate pain or discomfort. Root canals are performed under local anesthetic where we numb the tooth; therefore, they are typically not painful. After having a root canal procedure performed, the tooth can sometimes be sore for a day or two before feeling back to normal again.
Dentures are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. Dentures are removable, meaning the patient can take them in and out on their own. A partial denture is used to replace one or more missing teeth, and it is usually supported by the other remaining teeth. A complete denture or “plate” is made when all of the teeth are missing.