Learn About Professional Teeth Whitening Brands

If you want information on professional teeth whitening brands, we encourage you to call and schedule an appointment. Things are changing all the time with companies releasing new and improved products. Visiting our office allows us to provide you with the latest updates. Still, there are a few things you should know about whitening your teeth before you do so.

The Process

When you whiten your teeth, you can do so using an at-home whitening kit or with laser whitening. We recommend using the at-home kit. Regardless of how you whiten your teeth, the solution will typically contain some level of peroxide. The type of peroxide in the solution and its chemical makeup, in general, will influence how effective it is for whitening teeth. Most products you buy in the store will only remove the surface stains on your teeth. While they will make your teeth look better, they will not turn yellow teeth bright white. On the other hand, a professional-grade whitening solution penetrates the enamel and begins the process of oxidization. This is where the molecules inside your teeth begin to reflect less light and appear colorless. Your smile will look bright white as a result, and your teeth will no longer be yellow. This is the type of solution we use in our office.

The Application

When comparing professional teeth whitening brands, you should also consider how the solution is applied to the teeth. Some whitening kits have you brush on the solution using a pen, but the results from this are not significant because the solution will not remain on your teeth long enough. Whitening strips are a better option, but they can still slip out of place, and many people find them to be inconvenient. We recommend you use a kit that uses whitening trays. This way, a solution is placed in the trays for you to then secure around your teeth and wear for thirty minutes or so. The only challenge with this option is that if you buy a kit from the store, the trays will not be designed for your teeth, but for anyone who buys the products. This creates a risk of leakage or the trays slipping out of place. For this reason, we suggest you use professional teeth whitening brands sold by our office. We will begin by having you come in for an appointment, where we make an impression of your teeth. Using that impression, we will then create customized trays designed to fit you perfectly. As a result, the whitening solution will remain in place, not leak out, and the process will be entirely comfortable. Simultaneously, since the solution is professional-grade, you will see the best possible results.

Invisalign Dentist  >  Emergency Dentist

Cosmetic Dentist Procedures That Will Make You Smile

If you have teeth you are unhappy with, modern cosmetic dentists make it easier than ever before to attain the smile you have always wanted. If you need a self-confidence boost, want a more attractive smile, or are concerned about health risks due to crowded teeth, we can help. We provide a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures with the ability to improve your teeth. Learn more about the services we offer and how we can give you your best smile.

Teeth Whitening:

We offer in-office and at-home whitening solutions that range in effectiveness and simplicity. We have options that can suit any budget while still providing you with whiter teeth by eliminating stains and discoloration. A simple teeth whitening cosmetic dentists can provide you with surprising results.

Dental Bonding:

If you have chipped or cracked teeth or a single discolored tooth, we can provide you with dental bonding, which covers injured teeth and imperfections with a malleable solution that is permanently hardened after being placed in the correct area. This option will quickly and easily fix small dental imperfections.

Dental Contouring:

Dental contouring can be employed to align and reshape crooked or misshapen teeth. We will gently buff areas of each tooth to create a more attractively shaped structure.
White Fillings: If you have metallic fillings and would like a tooth-colored update, we can remove your dated fillings and replace them with a more attractive option. Our white fillings will blend in with your tooth color perfectly and look natural when you smile.
Dental Veneers: Our veneers are thin, porcelain shells bonded to the fronts of your teeth. They effectively cover discolored, misshapen, and oddly spaced teeth and also improve the look of jagged or chipped teeth edges. Veneers are customized for your individual needs and attractively cover dental flaws, improving your appearance drastically.

Dental Implants:

If you have missing teeth, you should consider receiving our dental implants instead of getting traditional dentures. Dental implants last forever, look and feel more natural, and are created to match surrounding teeth. Our implants are planted into your jawbone for a permanent foundation.
Dental Bridges: If you don't want a removable dental replacement, but prefer to avoid the cost and procedure of dental implants, dental bridges are an excellent option. A fabricated tooth is held in a gap by two crowns placed over abutment teeth. This is a more permanent option than dentures and provides a natural looking replacement.

These are only a few of our most common cosmetic dentists can improve the appearance and health of your teeth. Most of our treatments are minimally invasive and do not cause discomfort during or after the process. We use appropriate anesthetics as needed to offer you the most comfortable visit possible. You will be pleased with your improved smile and quick results. Our quality materials, products, and procedures provide long-lasting and beautiful teeth resilient to staining and wear.

General Dentist  >  Smile Makeover

Get the Facts About Dental Veneers and How They Are Used

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are some of the most versatile tools we have when it comes to correcting defects in your teeth. Dental veneers, also known as ceramic or porcelain veneers, are extremely thin pieces of porcelain that we use to replace the damaged enamel on your teeth. The reason dental veneers are so effective is their thinness. Being paper thin, these veneers take on many of the same qualities as naturally occurring enamel. They are extremely hard, which gives you a long-term solution when your enamel has become damaged. They are also extremely brittle, just like enamel, and so you will need to protect your teeth the same way you would protect natural teeth. Being extremely malleable, veneers can be molded to fix a variety of problems with the teeth.

Do dental veneers work for everyone?

Dental veneers are an extremely versatile solution, and in most cases can be used by anyone. For us to make sure that you are an excellent candidate for dental veneers, we will schedule an initial consultation and also a first examination. During your examination, we will make sure that your mouth is in excellent condition and primed to replace your enamel with the veneers. If we find any issues that might become a problem later on in the process, we will work on solutions so that your dental veneers placement is seamless. On rare occasions, during this initial examination, we will find that there are people who cannot get dental veneers and for them we will explore other potential solutions to damaged teeth.

How are dental veneers attached?

As soon as we know that you are an excellent candidate to receive dental veneers, we can proceed to the next step. This step involves selecting the color and shade that you want for your veneers. We will have your veneers custom made to fit your needs, including the shade that you choose from.  That information will along with an impression of your teeth will be sent to a dental lab for the final veneers to be created.  In the meantime, we will prepare your tooth by removing a portion of your enamel to make sure that the veneers fit flat against the rest of your tooth. Typically this is only a few millimeters but it allows the veneer to fit flush with the tooth.  We will then place a temporary veneer on top of it.

Once we have the permanent veneers, we will fit them to your tooth. After making sure that the color is right, we will make any slight adjustments so that the veneer fits the tooth perfectly. We will also check to make sure that your bite is not affected, and once all the elements are perfectly in sync we will cement the dental veneers to your teeth.

What problems do dental veneers fix?

Dental veneers can fix a whole range of challenges. They are an extremely durable and versatile solution. We use them extensively to fix minor breaks, cracks, and chips in teeth. It is often preferable to use veneers over other procedures like dental crowns because veneers only require a small portion of your enamel to be removed. Veneers are also used for cosmetic fixes like making your teeth whiter, straightening them, and correcting minor bite and placement issues.

Sedation Dentist  >  Smile Makeover

General Dentistry Visits Are Helpful for Your Oral Health: Learn Why

Visits to our general dentistry office are the one that we often describe as routine visits. Typically these are scheduled six months apart so that we can keep a careful watch on your oral health and ensure that you do not have any unforeseen problems with your mouth. Luckily there is a growing segment of educated patients that see the importance of these visits, and we can get them scheduled easily. The question about why these visits are so important is actually an easy one to answer. Your mouth, teeth, and gums should be inspected every six months because they are the first step in your digestive process. Everything that goes in the mouth, or occurs naturally in the mouth, ultimately will end up in your digestive system and could, therefore, end up causing other health problems if an oral infection exists. Keeping your teeth and gums in perfect health is a good way to ensure that the rest of your body also has limited exposure to risks like oral infections.
 
Ironically the routine that we put you through when you come in for these visits are the very things that cause some patients to question if they really need to see their general dentist once every six months. From an outside perspective, we always seem to do the same things but there are important reasons why. First we will clean your teeth, which includes a polishing so that they are gleaming white. During the cleaning process, we will remove excess plaque from the teeth and the gums themselves. This helps to reduce the potential of erosion and decay. Next you may receive a fluoride treatment if necessary. Then the dentist will perform an oral examination. During this examination, we are looking for soft spots that may become cavities in the future and also active cavities that need to be filled. Sometimes x-rays may be in order to check on the inside of the tooth, the root, and the jawbone.

Finally, we will send you home with a brand new toothbrush and floss. Handing you, a toothbrush and floss is one of those subtle things that we do to keep your oral health in good condition. We know that most people forget to change their toothbrush once every six months, as is recommended. So when you come to our general dentistry office to get an examination we hand you a toothbrush as a reminder that the time has come to throw away the old one and replace it. We do not expect you to, necessarily, use the one we provide as long as you replace the old toothbrush at home.

Another thing we do but do not talk about, is give you a screening for oral cancer when we are examining your mouth. Oral cancer is a deadly disease that can, at times, go unnoticed. In order to combat this, we have made it a practice to examine your mouth, looking for signs of oral cancer every time you come in for a routine well visit. While your physician may be able to give you similar exam, when you visit our general dentistry office once every six months it is easier because nobody knows your teeth better than we do.

Teeth Whitening  >  Dental Restorations

An Invisalign® Dentist Makes it Easy to Straighten Teeth

For many, a trip to an Invisalign dentist is the key to having a far more full, and productive social experience. It is this quest for a better social experience that has led many adults to seek out an Invisalign® dentist. Today, 1 in every 5 patients that seek orthodontic care are adults. This is revolutionary considering that just a few short years ago, few adult would consider straightening their teeth, regardless of their need. The idea of having a mouth full of metal that is both hard to hide and restricting keeps adults away from getting their malocclusion fixed.

Today, however, we know that a smile is one of the most important, and potentially one of the most influential, expressions that we have. In a recent study, it was found that 89% of people surveyed agreed that a great smile is one of the most important factors that makes a person more attractive. In fact, 53% of people stated that the first thing they noticed about a person and used to make that first judgment about them, was their smile. This is a hugely important statistic for an adult with crooked teeth, especially when you factor in the reality that most people make their first impressions about a person within 15 seconds of meeting them. This means that how confident you are in your smile, and how willing you are to use it, could make a significant difference in how people perceive you in a first impression scenario. For many Americans, 52%, smiling would be a lot easier, and they would do more of it if they only had a better looking smile. This is where we can help.  As an Invisalign dentist, we have the skills to do so.

The first steps in working with an Invisalign dentist are going to be the most exciting. As you come in and realize that you are starting down a journey that will end with perfectly straight teeth, there is excitement and, for some, a little bit of concern. All of this is completely normal, as is the desire to ask a lot of questions. We know that patients want to learn as much as they can about Invisalign® dentistry and are happy to answer all of your questions. One of the most frequently asked questions is why Invisalign® is so popular. The answer to that lies in the fact that Invisalign® is customizable, that it is very comfortable, and that the aligners are completely clear which makes them virtually invisible.

During your initial visits, we will be taking a lot of measurements. This allows the laboratory to create a custom set of aligners that are designed to fit your mouth, and your mouth alone. These aligners change every two weeks to move the teeth gradually into a better-aligned place following a plan that we will help to create. The customization also means that the aligners are completely comfortable with over 86% of patients reporting they were absolutely used to the new aligners within a few days of receiving them. For patients, the most exciting aspect of working with an Invisalign® dentist is the fact that the aligners are virtually invisible, meaning you can wear them for the prescribed 22 hours per day without most people noticing that you have them on.

Dental Restorations  >  Teeth Whitening

Visit a Family Dentist in Franklin, TN for Help With Your Dental Anxiety

Being a family dentist in Franklin, TN places us in an extremely important position, one that is unique to family physicians, and dentists. We become your confidant and the people most likely to talk about dental issues that nobody else would necessarily be willing to do. This includes the question of fear. Fear of dentists is a phenomenon that spans the globe and can be found in every country that practices dentistry. From right here at the office of a family dentist in Franklin, TN to all around the country, there are people who are deadly afraid of going to the dentist. Even among people who do go, they have a level of anxiety before the visit. We have found that anywhere from 9 percent to 20 percent of patients experience mild to severe anxiety before a dentist visit, especially while in our waiting room. For people who do actually go to the dentist, this anxiety can be the result of many things, including a bad experience somewhere else, or because they have not been in for a while and are concerned about the state of their teeth. We are happy that you are coming in regardless of your fear because there is an entire group of Americans who will never visit a dentist office barring an emergency dental situation. For 26 percent of the country, they would rather have bad oral health and terrible teeth than ever consider visiting a dentist office. This kind of fear and anxiety is perfectly normal. It is something we deal with every day as a practicing family dentist in Franklin, TN.

How your family dentist in Franklin, TN can help you overcome your fear of dentistry

What we have discovered is that we can help you make the transition from absolute fear to a level of understanding, and thus make the visit less intense and more comfortable. To do this, you have to be willing to do three things. First, you must confront the fear that you have and identify it. Unnamed and non-specific fears tend to become exaggerated in our own minds. In order to counter this, we want to narrow down what you are afraid of. Some people are afraid of the tools we use, others are afraid that they may experience pain while still others are concerned that they cannot be in control when sitting in the chair. All of these are legitimate, and once we isolate what fear is bothering you the most, we can work around it to make you more comfortable. Second, you must be educated about the processes and work we do. When you know how much care we take, the precautions, and the skill that goes into the work, you will know that you are in good hands. Even more importantly, the more you know about something, the less likely you are to fear it. We are always here to answer questions and even show you the equipment if you need to do so to overcome some fears. The final step is to establish a routine of care. When you make a habit of coming in at least two times per year for maintenance, cleaning, and a routine examination, you build up a sense of familiarity with the dentist, the equipment, and the processes, which will help you greatly in completely overcoming your fears.

General Dentist  >  Cosmetic Dentist

Visit Our Invisalign® Dentist Office to Straighten Your Teeth This Summer

As an Invisalign® dentist, we know that visiting our office could be the best way for you to kick off your summer. Summer is the season for fun. With kids out of school, families heading off on vacation, there are pool parties, barbecues, and celebration all around. Now the drab, dullness of winter is in the past people are getting rid of their woolen socks, packing away their comforters and heavy jackets, and heading outside. People even tend to smile more. As a result, if you are one of the millions of Americans that is conscious about your smile, then you should definitely consider visiting our office to speak with an Invisalign® dentist.

With the invisible retainers working all summer long, you will be well on your way to having a perfect smile and the confidence that goes with it. Visit our office this week, and you could be starting your treatment by the end of summer. For many of our patients, this means that by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, with the family gatherings and photographs, you could already be seeing noticeable differences in the straightness of your teeth. The bottom line is that you don’t have to let malocclusion, also known as crooked teeth, ruin your confidence summer after summer. Take the plunge and start down the road to a beautiful straight smile by coming to our Invisalign® dentist office.

As an Invisalign® dentist, we will share with you the many benefits of using the Invisalign® system to straighten your teeth. For the purposes of a summer treatment, perhaps the most important is that you will not have a mouth full of metal the entire season. As the summer heats up so do people eating out, with things like barbecues being the focal point of socializing. With traditional braces, you always have to watch what you eat. You cannot eat certain foods, and when you are enjoying smoked ribs, there is always a chance that food could get caught in the metal around your teeth. This is uncomfortable and requires that you spend extra time cleaning your braces. With clear aligners, you have no such worries. You can eat virtually everything since you are supposed to remove the aligners for the duration of your meal. We do not recommend removing them for more than a few hours, since Invisalign® works best if it is in place at least 22 hours a day, but this is an option that you do not have with traditional braces.

By virtue of being almost completely invisible, your Invisalign® aligners will quietly and privately go to work giving you the straightest teeth possible. Very few people will notice the thin plastic trays in your mouth, and those that do may ask about them because they too have been considering how do deal with their own malocclusion. Fewer people will notice your aligners than would your braces, but virtually everyone you know will recognize the straight, beautiful, and confident look that you will have once the treatment is completed.  To get started, call our Invisalign® dentist office today.

Most people aspire to have a more attractive smile, and a great way to accomplish that is by having a teeth whitening service done by our office. Many people practice perfect oral hygiene, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your smile will be stain free. Yellowing and staining can happen due to several factors, but don't be discouraged, we can help.

Causes of Teeth Staining

Smoking and tobacco: This habit is not only unhealthy, but it is also bad for your teeth and dental hygiene. It can cause oral cancer or other oral tissue sores, and it can encourage periodontal disease. Smoking and tobacco use can also stain your teeth with a yellow tinge.

Drinks and Food: Drinking soda, tea, red wine, dark juices, and coffee can yellow your teeth fairly quickly if you don’t brush your teeth right after you consume them. Not only are these beverages mostly dark colored, but they are also acidic which can soften your enamel and encourage stain wear. Many healthy fruits and vegetables like beets, tomatoes, berries, cherries, curry, and many other foods can actually stain your teeth when you eat them. Don’t let this hinder you from enjoying healthy foods. Brush your teeth following consumption or swish water in your mouth to help remove stains before they set in. It can also be helpful to use a straw when you drink dark colored or acidic beverages. Rich colored candies can also stain your teeth. If it is staining your tongue, it is a good indicator that it is also staining your teeth, just in a less obvious way.

Poor Dental Hygiene: If you do not brush your teeth adequately, you are not properly removing plaque, grime, and staining substances.

Disease: Many diseases can discolor teeth as well as soften the enamel that protects your teeth.
Age: As you age, your enamel becomes weaker than it once was. As your enamel weakens, your teeth become more susceptible to staining.

Dental Trauma: If you have had an accident that injured your tooth’s roots, it can cause discoloration. An accident can also harm your dental enamel which and make your teeth more likely to yellow.  
These are not the only reasons you have tooth staining and softening of dental enamel, but these are a few of the more common causes. If you can avoid foods and drinks (or brush your teeth after) and bad habits that cause staining, your teeth will be more likely to remain a whiter shade. If you would like immediate teeth whitening, we can help.

Our office can offer you a variety of teeth whitening options that will lighten your teeth to a whiter shade. Many people complain of teeth sensitivities when they go through teeth whitening, but we have options that don’t contain harsh chemicals. We also have special toothpaste that you can use following whitening to relieve sensitivities and strengthen dental enamel. Whatever your particular needs are, we can look over your teeth and determine what the best teeth whitening options are for you.

Get Your Smile Makeover Following an Accident

If you need a smile makeover following damages caused by an accident, our office can help. Even if the damage to your teeth is not very noticeable, it can turn into bigger health problems in the future. By visiting us for a smile makeover, you can prevent further unappealing damages to your teeth. We offer several procedures that will reverse your smile back to normal or leave it looking even better than it once did. If you have any of the damages below, visit our office for a smile makeover as soon as you can.

Mild Tooth Chip or Crack:

For a mild tooth chip or crack, we can offer you our excellent bonding services. We use a tooth-colored, hard material to cover your vulnerable areas. The material will be coated over the damages and will be hardened to a long-lasting finish. Bonding may help your tooth from facing future damage, and it will leave your tooth looking natural.  This procedure can be completed in one visit for your convenience.
 
Severe Tooth Damages:

If you have a more severe crack or chip, or your tooth has been misshapen in any way, a crown or veneers may be the best options for you. A crown will be placed over your whole tooth and can cover more problematic cracks and chips. Our dental crown will keep your tooth safe when faced and allow you to bite down like normal. It will also protect your tooth from decay and sensitivities. Veneers can change the entire appearance of your smile if you need a complete smile lift. They can cover a variety of flaws and even discoloration. The veneers will be bonded to the front of your teeth and will provide a hard, smooth surface that will look like your natural teeth.

A Missing Tooth or Multiple Teeth:

If your tooth has been knocked out, a dental bridge or dental implant will be your most valuable options. A dental bridge can replace one or more teeth. The fabricated teeth are natural looking and tough so they won’t look out of place with your other teeth. Your dental bridge will be anchored to a few of your other teeth to provide security and staying power. This option looks attractive and provides durable results. A dental implant will require a more invasive procedure, but it will be our most permanent option for replacing a missing tooth. Our implant will be secured to your jawbone with a titanium post. This post will graft to your bone with time so that it will create a permanent structure much like your natural tooth. A personalized tooth will be created to look like your other teeth and will be attached to it at the surface of your gums. A dental implant is an incredibly durable and attractive solution to missing teeth. It will work just as well as your original teeth did.
No matter how big your needs are, we have services that will remedy them. Our dentist can provide you with the best smile makeover you could hope for and a permanent, attractive smile solution.

Our Emergency Dentist Office Can Keep You Out of the ER

Contacting an emergency dentist is really not a hard thing. Making sure you have a relationship with one so that you are comfortable when you do need urgent care, and know the people and doctors, takes a little more effort. The reality is that most Americans do not give much thought to their teeth at all. In fact, over 40% do not even visit the dentist with the frequency that they should to maintain optimum health. When you start to consider that most people do not believe or think about, the fact that they might one day need urgent medical attention, it becomes apparent why most people do not have an emergency dentist in their contacts. A toothache, however, can appear at any time and usually, it would seem, tends to do so at the most inconvenient times and locations. Not having an emergency dentist you can call means you will be scrambling at two o'clock in the morning to google the name of someone who can take away your discomfort, or will mean jumping in the car for a trip down to your local emergency room. Taking the precaution to have emergency contacts for dental and medical emergencies is a small but potentially important step that can help you to plan ahead.  As such, we recommend putting our office number in your cell phone.

An Emergency Dentist vs. an ER Doctor
An emergency dentist is trained as a dentist and offers services outside of regular business hours as well. As one, we are similar to the doctors in an ER, given our ability to treat you immediately, but there are notable differences. Over the last several years, there has been an uptick in the number of people visiting the emergency room of their local hospital for dental issues or emergencies connected to their teeth. In a three-year study, that encompassed 24 states, the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that the number of dental patients visiting the ER had increased by 16%. This means that there are literally thousands of patients getting dental attention from doctors that are not trained to be emergency dentists. Unfortunately, skilled as they are, these emergency room physicians are not trained to diagnose and treat the dental illnesses that may be causing your discomfort. As a result, they can treat the symptoms but will not be able to treat the actual cause of the symptoms and chances are you will need to return to the ER or go see an emergency dentist sooner rather than later. The same study found that over 20% of the people seeking dental help in the ER were actually returning patients, coming back with the same symptoms.  If they had visited an emergency dentist, the issue causing the discomfort would have been addressed in the first place.
The most common reason why people seek out emergency care for their teeth is a toothache. A toothache is also a perfect example of why you should be treated by an emergency dentist, not just a regular doctor. A toothache can be just that, a simple tooth pain, or it can be a symptom of a much deeper problem like an infection or gum diseases that need treatment by a dentist.  When you visit our emergency dentist office, we can address any oral health problem you are facing and do so quickly so that you don't need to visit the ER.

Family Dentist  >  Dentist

Dental Restorations Will Preserve Your Natural Teeth

In our office, we use dental restorations to preserve teeth that would otherwise have to be pulled.  It is incredibly important to keep your natural teeth in place for as long as possible.  Most people think of their teeth and consider their smile or how they need teeth to chew.  Both are true and good reasons to keep your smile in excellent health.  Still, there is an even greater reason – your jawbone.  If your tooth falls out and isn't replaced, with something like an implant, you could experience significant bone loss that eventually changes the appearance of your face.  Considering how everything in the body works together, our job is to restore teeth so that they can continue performing their critical functions.

There are several ways that we can do so, and the recommended treatment plan will depend on the extent of the damage.  If, for example, you simply have cavities, we will remove the decayed portion of your tooth and use a dental filling to restore it.  This can be done with a tooth-colored filling that looks entirely natural. If the damage is more extensive like a crack, chip or the enamel has worn away, we will need to consider other cosmetic solutions. Dental restorations like veneers and crowns are often preferred for adults while youths may prefer dental bonding.  A bonding procedure can be completed in one session as a tooth-colored material is applied to the tooth, shaped, then hardened using a dental light.  Even chipped teeth can be restored using this method.

A dental veneer and dental crown work to restore the more significant damage and both operate in a similar fashion.  The main difference is that a veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of the natural tooth where a dental crown surrounds the tooth.  In order to prepare a damaged tooth for either of these procedures, enamel must be removed from the surface of the tooth so that the restorative material will lay flat once placed.  This is done in the first visit where an impression is also taken of the teeth.  In order to protect the damaged and exposed tooth, a temporary veneer or crown will be placed on it that can be worn until the dental lab is done creating the permanent one.

Once the permanent veneer or crown is ready, patients return to our office to have it bonded into place.  First, we will make any last minute adjustments and ensure that it is a perfect match.  In the case of a dental crown, we also need to check the bite to ensure that it fits correctly with the surrounding teeth.  If it does, we can complete the procedure.  Both of these dental restorations are designed to match your natural teeth so they will look perfect once in place.  Our restorations will allow you to eat like normal and bite down without discomfort.  Most importantly, your smile will remain healthy and intact.  To get started, call and schedule a dental exam.

Dental Implants  >  Dental Veneers

Watch Adventure Time With a Family Dentist in Franklin, TN

As a family dentist in Franklin, TN, we are always looking for fun tips that can make our younger patients excited about brushing their teeth.  The American Dental Association has as well, and their solution was to have kids watch two minute cartoons while brushing.  Some of these are geared for younger kids while others are for teens.  Whether they like Adventure Time or a funny song by Hot Peas and Butter, these videos will help your kids to get excited about brushing their teeth.

This solves two issues that many parents face at bedtime: getting their kids to brush their teeth and to stop playing.  Watching a short cartoon while brushing is a simple solution for you; while making your kids feel like they got a win.  That works! All you need to watch these videos is your computer, tablet, or a smartphone.  Simultaneously, if they watch these videos on a regular basis, they will get used to what two minutes looks like and start to judge how long they have been brushing even when it isn’t on.  That’s the ultimate goal – teaching your kids good oral hygiene habits that they can keep as they age.

If you aren’t interested in playing the videos, try listening to their favorite song.  Whether you have girls, that can’t stop singing “Let it Go” from Frozen or a tween into the latest Bruno Mars video, playing it for them can make brushing teeth a lot more enjoyable.  This can especially be helpful in the morning when kids have a difficult time getting up and getting ready for school.  Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of music to set a positive and energized tone for the day. As a family dentist in Franklin, TN, we like these ideas because they help kids to associate oral hygiene with having fun.

Our goal is to help your child to enjoy having clean and healthy teeth.  We know that the better job they do of brushing their teeth now, the more likely they are to stay cavity and gum disease free.  Additionally, this will instill habits that they can carry throughout their lifetime.  Since no one wants to have a cavity or a toothache, these healthy habits are necessary for a lifetime of good oral health. We also want to remind you that teenagers are notorious for not brushing their teeth, and since most of them attend to their own hygiene, parents will often miss it.  The cavities won’t, however, so even your teenager may need to be reminded to keep brushing.

The reward for instilling these habits now is a teen that turns into an adult with good oral health.  Things like gum disease, after all, can lead to bone and tooth loss – something that no one is immune from.  The best way to prevent this condition is through regular brushing and flossing along with visiting the dentist twice a year for regular teeth cleanings.  Together, these habits work to prevent oral health problems like infections, gum disease, and even a dental abscess.  When you put videos on for your child or teen, remember that as silly as it may seem, you are helping them to stay healthy for years to come. Next, be sure to take them to see a family dentist in Franklin, TN twice a year for regular teeth cleanings.

Procedures Performed by a Cosmetic Dentist for Your Gum Health

As a cosmetic dentist, there is a fundamental focus that drives our practice. Our attention is squarely focused on the appearance of the teeth and gums.  As such, our craft has been honed in such a manner that we have a reputation for creating beautiful smiles. When you decide that you want whiter teeth, you come see us for teeth whitening. Lose a tooth? We can provide you with dental implants, a dental crown, or a bridge to replace the lost tooth or teeth. Other procedures we do on a daily basis are contouring or reshaping of the teeth, installing dental veneers, and using Invisalign® to help straighten your teeth. While all of these are well known, there are also some procedures that are not so well known, among the populous, but are still regular features that are used to improve oral health. Two of these, described below, were actually founded in the medical aspects of dentistry. Today, they are still being used to cure medical issues, but have also found a cosmetic application and as such we use these procedures in our cosmetic dentist office to help make your gums look better.

One procedure a cosmetic dentist does, which is often overlooked, is known as a gingivectomy. This procedure is still used to make sure a person does not lose their teeth, and so there is significant crossover in function and esthetics. Traditionally people who have a gingivectomy are suffering from a gum disease like periodontitis. The disease causes the gums to become separated from the teeth. This in turn creates deep pockets in the gums which are a great breeding ground for infections and bacteria. Plaque, which is normally hard to remove, becomes even harder to brush away when it can hide in these deep pockets. In order to protect the underlying bone, which supports the teeth, we may suggest that you to have this procedure done. These deep pockets also create an ugly smile, which is where the cross over into cosmetic dentistry takes place.

The surgery is performed using local anesthesia which is injected into the gums around the site of the pockets. Following this, we will trim away the excess or loose gum tissue, effectively removing the pockets and restoring the gums to their healthy and beautiful form. After the surgery, we may cover the gums with putty to offer a level of protection while they are healing completely. While we are working to remove the pockets, as a cosmetic dentist, we will also make sure to contour your gums, which change frequently during this process, to a pleasing shape.

The other procedure that we do quite frequently is known as tissue sculpting or gum reshaping. People who suffer from conditions like gum recession frequently find that they need their gums to be reshaped so that they properly cover the teeth. Done in the clinic, tissue sculpting is performed under a local anesthesia using laser, radiosurgery, or a traditional scalpel to sculpt the gums into the proper shape. These are only two of the procedures we perform that can help your gums to be healthier and look more pleasing.  

When You Have Bad Breath – Visit a General Dentist

In our general dentist office, we can help you with a variety of oral health issues, including bad breath.  This is thought to be a fairly minor condition, and most people don’t seek help for it, using gum and breath mints instead.  While we understand that this may seem easier, you could be covering up an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.  With that in mind, if you find that your breath is smelling worse than it used to, or it still stinks after you brush your teeth, give us a call.

During your dental exam, we will begin by cleaning your teeth and in some people, this is all that is required.   Food and plaque can easily become stuck on and in between teeth.  While brushing at home, can help to remove it, this is often not enough, making a professional teeth cleaning important.  We recommend having your teeth cleaned twice a year, which will help with your breath and your health.

After your teeth have been cleaned, we will look for any infections.  As a general dentist, we find that many people will unknowingly live with a tooth infection and not seek treatment until it becomes too uncomfortable to eat.  Persistent bad breath is a sign of an infection, and if you come in right away, we can treat the condition before it causes you discomfort, or it is allowed to spread.  This is better for your health and your comfort.  Once the infected area is removed, we will restore the tooth structure and use a dental crown as necessary for preserving it.

If you don’t have a tooth infection, you may have gum disease that is causing your breath to stink.  Gum disease is incredibly common and, like a tooth infection, many people don’t realize they have it until the disease has progressed.  If you can catch it early, this is best for your health.  Plaque becoming stuck under the gums is often the cause of gum disease so by performing a deep cleaning we can treat the condition.  This, however, does require an early diagnosis.  When gum disease is left untreated, the gums may start to recede and pull away from the tooth structure.  As it does so, pockets are created in the gum tissue, a prime spot for bacteria and plaque to gather.  This can lead to bone and tooth loss as the bacteria create acid to attack the teeth.  If, however, you come in due to bad breath, or because you notice that your gums are red, we can treat the condition before any of these additional problems arise.

In our general dentist office, we can also provide you with ideas for how to treat bad breath at home.  Some you already know like brushing your teeth after meals and flossing once a day.  However, a lot of our patients have never heard of a tongue scraper, and this simple tool can remove bacteria that causes bad breath.  To try it out, go to your local drug store and incorporate it into your nightly teeth brushing routine.

The Wonders of Modern Dentistry

Sponsor Spotlight
Dr. Allen Blourchian - New Image Dentistry
155 Covey Drive, Suite 300
Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 591-4490
www.SmilesNashville.com

We live in exciting times. It is true that there are challenges that are new and unique to our era, like privacy issues, texting and driving, sensory overload, etc. But we also benefit from advances in science and technology.

Dentistry has come a long way in the last couple of decades. It is a lot more than a healing art. Today's dentistry offers options for people that were only dreamed of few years ago.

Take cosmetic dentistry for example. It is a routine procedure these days. People, who are interested in improving their appearance (and maybe self-confidence, I may add) can predictably and in few visits achieve dramatic results with smile makeovers that will last for decades, if not a lifetime. The materials and science of cosmetic dentistry have advanced considerably. Beautiful is also durable.

Or consider dental implants. Not long ago, dental implants were the best kept secret in dentistry. People did not know about them. Not having the option of implant dentistry available would lead to less than optimum treatment options for missing teeth.

Losing a tooth starts a cascade of problems. Bone loss is one of them. If you have ever seen a picture of an elderly with no teeth and shrunken lower face, you know what I am talking about. It is not the age causing this, but loss of teeth. Loss of all teeth in one arch leads to loss of bone in the entire arch and collapse of vertical dimension of the lower face.

Of course one can restore the facial appearance with dentures, but that is not the same as having your own teeth: chewing is limited and as time passes, the bone loss continues, making the denture loose.

With the new “All on Four” procedure, one can regain the chewing function and also a beautiful smile. It is a procedure that allows placing dental implants and teeth the same day. It reduces the time from several months to just one day, avoids complicated bone grafts and fixes the teeth to the jaw.

Dental implants are also a better option than a dental bridge, partial, etc. They feel and act like one's own teeth, while preserving bone. With the use of CT-scans and digital imaging, implant placement is predictable and has great chance of success.

Another exciting advance in dentistry is the use of lasers. Periodontal (gum) disease afflicts majority of population in varying degrees. This disease is a painless, silent disease that if untreated, could have systemic ramification. It has been shown that there is strong correlation between coronary artery disease and periodontal disease.

LANAP is a laser procedure that treats periodontal disease. It is approved by FDA to regenerate lost bone and periodontal ligaments. It is an alternate (and much more comfortable) procedure in place of traditional gum surgery.

By the way, if getting a dental appointment is not something you are looking for you may want to ask about dental sedation. Taking a few pills before the appointment will help you “take a nap” while undergoing dental treatment with little or no memory afterwards. Years of neglect can be reversed within one or two “nap” appointments.

 As we move forward, more and more advances are in the horizon. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of this field.

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