Visit a Spanish Speaking Dentist so Your Family Members Can Stay in Good Oral Health

As a Spanish speaking dentist, we play an important role in helping our community to stay healthy.  We understand how common it is for people to fear visiting the dentist.  Millions of adults have some form of dental anxiety, and this can be made worse by not speaking the same language as your health care provider.  Whether visiting the dentist or a doctor, it is helpful to be able to communicate about what is bothering you and to be able to ask questions without the help of a translator.  While it is common to bring a child to the appointment, you don’t have to when visiting our office. 

There are many advantages to visiting our office, and it starts with education.  It is important for us to be able to convey how to care for your teeth.  We believe in providing information on healthcare and speaking Spanish allows us to do so for a segment of the population that would otherwise be unable to have in-depth conversations about oral health.  As an example, we like to demonstrate how to properly brush teeth by brushing in a circular fashion. We also like to tell patients about food they can eat to stay in better oral health.  

When it is time for a dental treatment, as a Spanish speaking dentist, we know that it is important to be able to explain how the procedure works prior to getting started. It can be frightening or overwhelming to have dental work done if you don’t know what to expect, why it is necessary, or how the procedure works in general.  We eliminate these anxieties and fears by taking the time to thoroughly explain what we need to do, the steps that we will take, and what the results will be when the procedure is completed.  It is easier for us to explain things directly and answer any questions than it would be to use a translator.  

The level of care, that we provide, is the same for all of our patients, regardless of what language they speak.  We offer the highest quality of dental care for patients of all ages, so the main difference is really in how comfortable a patient feels.  By removing the barriers to conversation, our patients can relax and feel at ease. 

If you have a family member that needs to have dental work completed or hasn’t visited the dentist in a long time, call and schedule an appointment.  Any concerns, that they have, can quickly be put to rest by working with a Spanish speaking dentist.  If they have dental anxiety that goes beyond the ability to converse, we can help with this as well by offering sedation dentistry and pain relief as necessary but it all starts with an initial consultation.

To learn more about preventative dental care or restorations, call and schedule an appointment with our dentist office today. 

As a Dentist We Treat Patients Suffering From Acid Reflux In Order to Prevent Erosion

If you have acid reflux, a trip to the dentist is in order. Acid can erode your teeth as it comes up from your stomach.  The more frequently the attacks occur, the greater your risk of tooth damage.  With seven million U.S. adults suffering from acid reflux, this is a major cause of tooth damage and known as reflux-induced erosion. 

We can help to prevent damage by keeping teeth clean and healthy along with strengthening them.  Regular teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments can help along with bonding procedures to seal in the dentin.  When more serious erosion has occurred, we often recommend dental crowns in order to protect the teeth.  A crown can be made of either silver amalgam or ceramic and will cover all sides of the tooth.  This way the acid cannot directly touch the tooth.  Simultaneously, if bone loss has started due to reflux-induced erosion, a crown can save the tooth, preventing it from being pulled.  

We recommend that you visit our dentist office at least twice a year and more frequently if you suffer from acid reflux.  This allows us to identify any signs of erosion immediately and provide treatment before bone loss occurs.  It is far better to fortify teeth on a consistent basis than to wait until there are holes or other damage to your teeth. 

Additionally, you can reduce your risk of reflux-induced erosion by seeing your family doctor and asking them to prescribe medication that you can take on a daily basis.  Typically, a once a day pill can help to keep your reflux under control.  Otherwise, you can take a drug store antacid to help reduce the acid as the attack begins.  Some patients also find that drinking a glass of soy, almond, or cows' milk can help their stomach to calm down. 

One way, to feel better while reducing the frequency of your acid reflux attacks, is to monitor what you eat.  Keep a food journal and write down every time that you have an attack.  Look for a common denominator.  There may be particular foods you are eating that are causing problems with your digestive system.  Once you know what they are, you can easily eliminate them from your diet until you have the condition at a more controllable level. This is incredibly important because not only is acid reflux uncomfortable, but it can damage other areas of your body like your teeth. 

As a dentist, we also recommend avoiding things that could further irritate your teeth.  This means staying away from foods that have a high acid content like lemons and limes.  You should also practice caution when brushing your teeth and use a soft toothbrush in order to prevent accidental erosion of the enamel.  Even dental procedures like teeth whitening need to be performed with caution so let us know about your condition right away. This will allow us to incorporate that knowledge into any treatment plans that we recommend. 

An Emergency Dentist Can Help With Your Broken Jaw

A broken jaw means a trip the emergency dentist. Like with many fractures, a broken jaw can occur for a number or reasons and is extremely painful. It will also require emergency medical assistance that can be offered by a dentist or at a hospital emergency room. Jawbone fractures, or a broken jaw is the third most common type of fracture after fractures of the nose and the cheekbone. Identifying a broken jaw and realizing that you need to be seen by a dentist, is relatively easy. 

You need to visit our office if you have any of the following symptoms:

•    Severe pain in the joint along your jawbone
•    Inability to open your mouth widely
•    Bruising, swelling, and tenderness along the jaw and under your ear
•    Your jaw being improperly aligned and feeling off
•    Missing teeth or loosened teeth
•    Bleeding from the area of the incident

There are quite a number of ways that a person’s jaw can get fractured. Called the mandible, the jaw bone is often likely to fracture in more than one place. The direct fracture occurs where the jaw made contact with whatever broke it, and a second fracture occurs somewhere else along the jaw. The second fracture will often be close to the joint at the end of the jawbone. There are several ways you can break your jaw:

•    Falling due to an accident. This occurs more commonly with children and also in adults, especially older adults, who can faint.
•    Slamming into the dashboard of a vehicle due to a collision. This can occur even when the airbag deploys if the collision is severe.
•    Falling off a moving vehicle or ride. Any collision to the jaw from a moving vehicle can result in a trip to the emergency dentist with a broken jaw.
•    Contact sports are also responsible for many jaw breaks. An impact collision during the sport or a fall can result in a broken mandible.
•    Getting hit or punched in the jaw can also result in a break.
Once you realize that you may have a broken jaw, as a result of any one of these occurrences, you should contact an emergency dentist immediately. Prolonged time between the incident and getting treatment can further damage the jaw or cause unnecessary complications in the treatment options.
While you are waiting to be seen by an emergency dentist, there are a few steps you should take.
•    Apply a cold compress to the jaw using ice or frozen vegetables. This will help reduce the swelling and will also help with localized pain. Use light pressure so as to avoid more pain and damage to the bone.
•    Create a support to stabilize the jaw. You can easily do this by using a towel. Wrap the towel under the jaw and fasten it, by tying, on your head. This will hold the jawbone in place while waiting for treatment.
•    You can take an over the counter pain medication, just be sure to note what time you take it and the dosage so that you can give that information to us, in our emergency dentist office. 

If you have any type of dental emergency, we can help.  Call to schedule an appointment.

Learn About the Differences Between Dental Teeth Whitening and Whats in the Store

With so many options in teeth whitening solutions is can often be hard to decide what the best treatment method is. Dentists have been working with patients for years in an effort to get whiter, and more importantly, healthier teeth so we know the best way to get the brighter smile you have been looking for. With smiles being important for confidence, it is important that you get the teeth whitening solution that is best suited for you and will quickly give you that smile you have always wanted. While some store bought solutions can have the same effect, there are distinct differences that you should be aware of when deciding how to proceed with teeth whitening. 

Are the chemicals used in teeth whitening the same over the counter as at the dentist’s office?

The main ingredient in teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide, which serves to remove stains and whiten teeth. In some store bought solutions, there is carbamide peroxide, which consists largely of hydrogen peroxide. The solution that we use at the dentist’s office also has hydrogen peroxide. That is where the similarities end. The chemical make-up of the solution that one can purchase from the store consists of around 3% hydrogen peroxide. This means that you will get whiter teeth, but the process will take longer. On the other hand, dentists have at our disposal gels that have a significantly higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide. Because of the high strength of the bleaching agent, only medical professionals can administer these gels. A dentist can use solutions which have between 15% and 43% hydrogen peroxide and will take care to protect your gums and soft tissue from coming in contact with them so as to ensure that you do not have irritation. 

Some store bought solutions use dental trays, isn’t this the same as the dentist office teeth whitening process?

Using trays is the most effective way of whitening your teeth. Fundamentally a tray is designed to fit over your teeth and stay in place.  This allows for you (or your dentist) to place the teeth whitening gel into the tray and bring it in direct contact with the teeth. As a result, both dentists and over the counter solutions use them. There are differences, however, between the two.

When we make you a tray at our dentist office, it is designed specifically for your mouth. To do this, we will take an impression of your teeth and then use that as a mold to create a custom tray which will fit exactly over your teeth. What this does is it reduces the ability of the gel to come in contact with your gums or soft tissue. It also ensures that the gel remains in contact with your teeth for the most amount of time, leading to better results. On the other hand, the product bought at the store provides you with a one size fits all tray. While this may fit your mouth perfectly, it could also leave gaps which could result in the gel leaking and coming in contact with your gums which can lead to irritation. 

Regardless of what solution you chose, it is always recommended that you meet with your dentist first to discuss your options. This allows you to make an informed decision and reach out to your doctor if some form of irritation should occur while using an over the counter teeth whitening solution. 

It’s Time for Football and Perhaps an Emergency Dentist?

With the arrival of fall sports, an emergency dentist is busier than ever. Most people don’t realize how dangerous playing sports can be for your teeth.  Even a recreational game of football or pickup game of basketball can end with a broken tooth and need for help right away.  According to the American Dental Association, sports injuries are one of the highest, if not the highest, cause of tooth injuries within the U.S.  Additionally, sports injuries lead to 13 to 39 percent of adult tooth loss on an annual basis.  This is a huge percentage when you consider how few adults play organized sports. Even a casual game can lead to an injury.

There are ways to protect your teeth this fall and throughout your lifetime.  Begin by keeping your teeth healthy.  When teeth and gums are free from infection and gum disease, they are stronger than teeth that are infected.  When you think of your teeth, consider a pond that has been frozen over after months of cold winter.  When the ice is solid, it is safe to skate on that pond and hours of fun can be had by children throughout the neighborhood.  When that same pond has a tiny crack, simply walking on it can lead to the ice shattering and someone falling into the icy cold water.  Teeth are similar in that when they are strong and infection free, they won’t break when used or even bumped into.  If, however, there is a small crack or cavity, that same tooth can experience major damage if hit while playing sports.

In order to avoid needing to take a trip to the emergency dentist, we recommend that our patients have their teeth cleaned twice a year so that we can remove bacteria and plaque in order to prevent cavities and gum disease.  If we notice any signs of infection, it can be treated right away so that your teeth can stay strong and healthy.  This preventative step is critical for maintaining strong teeth.

If, however, your tooth does become damaged – we offer restorative solutions that can repair your tooth so that you can eat and speak like normal, without pain.  If, for example, your tooth has been cracked we can use a dental veneer or dental crown to restore it.  A veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of your existing tooth and good for small cracks or chips.  A crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth and a better option for a tooth with a major crack or one that has lost a significant amount of enamel.  We can also help if your tooth has fallen out.  We offer both dental bridges and dental implants as a way to replace a missing tooth.

Regardless of how your teeth have been damaged, as an emergency dentist we can repair your tooth and help you to get back to life and back in the game as quickly as possible.  If you need help – give us a call, even if it’s on the weekend. 

Wine Drinkers Rejoice – A Cosmetic Dentist Can Keep Your Teeth Looking Beautiful

As a local cosmetic dentist, we can keep our patients’ teeth looking bright, white, and beautiful regardless of what they like to drink.  Most wine and coffee drinkers know that their teeth can become stained but giving up their favorite beverage is simply no fun.  We get it and provide ways to help our patients look great while enabling them to enjoy eating and drinking all of their favorite foods without worry. 

One of the ways we help our patients is by offering a teeth whitening procedure.  This can be done every three months or once a year, depending on how your teeth look now and how white you want your teeth to become. This is an affordable way to keep your teeth looking amazing and will remove the majority of stains while turning yellow teeth into bright white ones.  The challenge with teeth whitening alone is that some stains may not come out with this procedure and in between visits your teeth may become yellow again.  This is not ideal for people that want to continue to drink wine and coffee or smoke cigarettes.  While the whitening effect works, once you start doing these things again – teeth will respond by yellowing.  

Dental veneers are an alternative solution that is excellent for people who want to keep drinking wine without the fear of their teeth becoming stained. Veneers are made of ceramic or porcelain which are stain resistant materials. They don’t respond to the food that you eat or your favorite glass of merlot. Instead, they hold their shade of white fairly well.  This makes it important to work with a cosmetic dentist to select the perfect shade of veneers prior to having them bonded to your teeth.  

The veneer itself is a thin shell that is placed on the top of your natural teeth.  It can cover dark stains, close gaps in teeth, correct damaged teeth, even out the length of teeth and more.  It is an extremely effective procedure and works well if you have teeth that are not responding to whitening, or you want a more permanent way to keep your teeth white.  

Patients that also have damaged teeth may benefit from wearing dental crowns.  We offer crowns in an all-ceramic material that looks completely natural.  They are a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely, making a crown ideal for teeth that are cracked, or a large portion of the tooth is missing. Since they are made in a ceramic or porcelain material, they look beautiful and are also stain resistant.  

Before having dental veneers or crowns placed on your teeth, we recommend that you have your teeth cleaned and whitened.  This allows us to ensure your teeth are healthy and remove any bacteria or plaque.  Additionally, by having your teeth whitened you can make an educated decision as to which teeth you want to have veneers on.  You may only need them on one or two teeth, instead of all of them.  To learn more about your options, call our cosmetic dentist office today. 

Old Town Dentistry is the Best Dentist for Treating Gum Disease

We are the best dentist in town for treating gum disease because we start by focusing on preventative care.  Having your teeth cleaned and examined twice a year is essential for staying in good oral health because it allows our dental hygienist to remove bacteria and plaque from on and around your teeth and gums.  No matter how diligent you are about brushing at home, there are places in your mouth that are difficult to reach without the help of a professional.

Gum disease is typically caused by a lack of oral hygiene and access to dental care. You can take preventative measures by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily.  Flossing is particularly important for the health of your gums as it can remove plaque from the area near the bottom of your teeth.  You can also use an antiseptic mouthwash to help kill bacteria.

Some people are at higher risk of gum disease.  This includes people with diabetes, those who smoke and use smokeless tobacco products.  If you are in this category, it is wise to have your teeth cleaned more than twice a year in order to prevent an infection from forming.  Patients trust Old Town Dentistry as the best dentist in town for preventing infections and treating them quickly if they do develop.

Gingivitis is gum disease in its initial stage.  When caught early during routine dental exams it can be treated by performing a deep cleaning of the gums.  Bacteria are removed from on, around, and underneath the gum line.  This can be done fairly quickly and with minimal discomfort.  The benefit to having a deep cleaning performed is that the gums will typically heal themselves once the bacteria is removed.  This is the best stage to catch and treat gum disease because it won’t interfere with an active lifestyle like advanced stages will.

When gum disease is left untreated, the gums will start to recede.  Teeth will start to appear longer and larger as the gums shrink away.  They will also become red, swollen, and may bleed.  The further they recede the more at risk a person is for additional complications.  Pockets can form in the gum tissue which will expose the tooth and root system.  Bacteria can then start to attack the tooth creating a need for a root canal or even causing the tooth to fall out.  In order to treat this a gum graft may need to be done to close up the pocket and secure the gums back into place.

Catching and treating gum disease early is important and makes it possible to avoid more complex procedures.  Old Town Dentistry is the best dentist in Alexandria because we understand the importance of helping our patients to avoid oral pain and complications.  We are diligent about identifying signs and symptoms of developing conditions so that treatment can begin immediately before complications arise.  To schedule an appointment call our office at (703) 683-0800.

Studies Link Teeth Whitening to How Attractive People Think You Are

As a dentist, teeth whitening procedures are a tool we use to help our patients improve their smile and overall appearance.  This is a non-invasive way of doing so and is both convenient and affordable for our patients.  For years, we have seen the dramatic results that whitening teeth can make to a person’s appearance and how attractive they consider themselves to be.  Now, there is evidence that a beautiful smile also impacts how the world sees you.

Oral-B makes a variety of products for people to use on their teeth and gums.  They also have a sizeable research department and recently completed a study where the polled 2,000 people in an attempt to find out if a beautiful smile impacts how attractive a person is and if so, by how much.  They found that people with a beautiful smile were thought to be 20 percent more attractive and five years younger than they actually were.  This is an important study because it quantified the type of impact improving your smile can make in your overall appearance.

The University of California conducted further research that was not specific to smiles but focused on finding out whether or not being attractive actually made a difference in how successful someone was.  The results clearly indicated that it does.  They found that when a person was considered attractive they typically made 12 percent more money than their peers in addition to being perceived as a better team player and more helpful.  The better looking a person is, the more successful they are at work – statistically that is.  Information provided by Match.com completes the picture.  They found that after polling 5,000 men and women, both sexes thought that a beautiful smile was the most attractive quality in a person.  Fortunately, this is easy to achieve with a teeth whitening procedure.

According to these and other studies, physical appearance can make an impact on a person’s life.  Being attractive has to start with being healthy.  This applies to the health of your body and your mouth.  Regular teeth cleanings can keep your teeth and gums free from an infection, help to prevent teeth from becoming damaged, and prevent future tooth loss.  When teeth and gums are healthy they will naturally look more attractive.

Teeth whitening can produce dramatic results in healthy teeth.  Our professional whitening procedure can whiten teeth by up to eight shades, turning a dull and boring smile into something bright and beautiful.  This is by far the simplest way to improve your smile and is also affordable.  We start by making a mold of your mouth so that customized whitening trays can be created in the lab.  These plastic trays will fit your teeth snuggly and securely so that when whitening solution is added they will stay in place and not fall out.  The whitening solution should be worn for several hours at night until the desired results are achieved.  This typically takes a week or two.  Patients who want to whiten their teeth faster can do so using our in-office whitening procedure that takes around an hour to complete. The end result of both is a beautiful smile that can statistically improve your life in multiple ways.

Your Local Alexandria Dentist Can Prevent Bad Breath

If you struggle with bad breath a trip to the dentist can help.  This is a common issue that many people deal with.  Unfortunately when bad breath becomes excessive it can ruin a conversation, cause people to become embarrassed, and present an overall impression of bad health.  That impression may not be so far from the truth.  Bad breath can be a sign of an infection, oral or otherwise. 

Statistically 80 percent of bad breath comes from something inside of the mouth. The other 20 percent is likely caused by a respiratory infection.  If you are not feeling well and have constant bad breath you should call your physician to see if you need to be taking medication.  A lingering sinus infection is one of the health issues that can lead to bad breath and it can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics. 

If you are otherwise in good health, your bad breath is caused by an oral health or hygiene issue.  This is something your dentist can directly help you with.  At Old Town Dentistry we recommend that patients have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.  This allows our dental hygienist to remove lingering bacteria and plaque from on and in between teeth as well as along the gum line.  Bacteria and plaque can create a foul smelling odor, especially when trapped in between teeth.  This is partly why flossing is so important removing bacteria and plaque which will greatly reduce bad breath.  

After your teeth cleaning our dentist will inspect your teeth and gums to determine if there are any infections or tooth decay – both can create bad breath.  These are two major oral health issues that may naturally produce a bad smell because they are a sign of something being infected inside of your mouth.  Just like an infection in the rest of your body can create an odor, this can as well. Treating it will help you to feel better along with reducing these symptoms. 

In addition to regular visits to the dentist there are several things you can do to improve your breath at home including:

• Drinking more water.   Saliva is the body’s natural way of washing away bacteria and food particles.  While it doesn’t work 100 percent of the time, it does make a major impact.  So much so that people with little saliva are diagnosed with a condition called dry mouth.  This creates bad breath and puts people at risk for cavities.  You can prevent it by drinking plenty of water. 
• Brushing after meals.  Carry a soft toothbrush with you and use it after eating.  This will remove bacteria, food particles, and any lingering smells created after eating. Even a quick brush will work wonders and make sure to brush your tongue since smells can become trapped there. 
• Flossing every day.  If you want good breath, flossing every day is not negotiable.  To find out if you are flossing enough, use this simple test.  Wash your hands and floss your teeth.  If your fingers stink afterwards it has probably been too long since you flossed.

Implementing a good oral hygiene routine at home and visiting the dentist twice a year will help you decrease your bad breath.  To learn more schedule an appointment with Old Town Dentistry today.

Teeth Whitening for Your Special Day

Old Town Dentistry provides teeth whitening for your special day or big event.  If you are getting married, going on the trip of a lifetime, graduating, or celebrating a major event, do so with a smile you can be proud of.  Many people are embarrassed about their smile and a common complaint is yellow or stained teeth.  Over time it is easy for teeth to become stained, especially for smokers, coffee, tea, and wine drinkers.  Brushing alone cannot remove stains or restore teeth to their original appearance.  Fortunately, we offer a solution that does. 

There are several ways to whiten your teeth.  Using special toothpaste or buying over the counter strips, are a readily available option.  The challenge with these methods is that they do not make a large difference.  They can typically only whiten teeth by up to two shades and are best as a maintenance step in between professional treatments. 

If you are looking for dramatic results you will need professional teeth whitening.  Old Town Dentistry provides a variety of cosmetic dentistry solutions and this is one of the most popular.  Patients who want to transform their smile should start with this simple procedure because it makes such a large impact in a short amount of time.  We even provide a way for people to whiten their teeth at their own convenience. We can take a mold of a patient’s mouth and create custom whitening trays in our office.  These trays fit perfectly and surround your upper and bottom teeth.  When you are at home, simply insert the professional grade whitening gel into the trays and secure them into place.  They should be worn for a couple of hours for ten days. Afterwards, you will have stunning white teeth. 

At Old Town Dentistry, we understand that our patients are busy. With appointments to run to, meetings to keep, family life, and more, it can be difficult to head to the dentist to whiten your teeth.  By offering an at-home solution we provide a way for our patients to love their smile regardless of where in the world they find themselves.  Simply pack your teeth whitening trays and go. 

For most people a simple teeth whitening treatment will produce the results that they need to feel confident enough to smile for pictures.  This will make your special day more memorable since your teeth will be beautiful in person and in photos.  If after whitening your teeth you still aren’t satisfied with your smile, schedule an appointment to discuss cosmetic procedures. There are several ways that we can create a stunning smile.  For example, dental veneers can be placed on top of your existing teeth to cover dark stains, close gaps, make teeth even, and even straighten them.  Teeth that are severely crooked or need to be replaced may benefit from dental implants.  Implants are a permanent solution for replacing teeth that look perfectly natural and beautiful.  Those who want to straighten all of their teeth should try Invisalign.  These are only a few of the dental procedures we perform on a daily basis.  To learn more or to purchase your custom teeth whitening trays, schedule an appointment with Old Town Dentistry today.

Old Town Dentist Can Treat Your Dental Abscess

In our comfortable Old Town Dentist offices, we treat patients with a variety of oral health issues, including a dental abscess.  We recommend that patients have their teeth cleaned and a full dental exam twice a year.  This allows us to remove bacteria and plaque that form on the teeth and gums before they have a chance to create a cavity or cause gum disease.   When patients are seen infrequently, it gives bacteria and infections the opportunity to spread and this can eventually lead to the formation of a dental abscess. The smaller the cavity, the easier it is for us to treat before it can expand or lead to additional pain and discomfort.

A dental abscess is a tooth infection that spreads into the gums and bone structure.  It can even spread into the neck.  It is important to understand that an abscess is an infection, which will continue to spread and cause increasing amounts of pain until it either bursts on its own or is treated under the medical supervision of a dentist’s office.

An abscess starts as a small and seemingly insignificant infection, likely a cavity.  If a patient has a dental exam upon feeling the first signs of discomfort, the infection won’t have the opportunity to spread and form an abscess in the first place.  This is the best way to avoid experiencing a lot of pain.

If you have any of these symptoms call Old Town Dentist and schedule an appointment immediately:

• Tooth pain.
• Swollen, painful, or bleeding gums.
• Red swollen face and neck.
• An area of your mouth or jaw that is sensitive to the touch.
• Flu like symptoms that are accompanying mouth pain.
• Puss inside of your mouth.

These can all be signs of a severe tooth infection or dental abscess that require immediate treatment. 

During the dental examination, we will look for the area where the infection is coming from.  This could be deep inside of the tooth, requiring a dental x-ray, or more obvious and close to the surface.  If the abscess is drainable, this is typically the first step in removing the infection.  The spot can be cut open, and puss drained out, then followed up with antibiotics and further dental treatments.  When the infection has settled into the neck or floor of the mouth, dental surgery may need to be performed in order to drain it.  We will prescribe pain medication as needed to help patients feel less discomfort during and after the process.

Once the infection is drained, it is important to identify any other infected areas within the mouth.  Since an abscess starts as a small infection, it is unwise to let even the smallest cavity remain.  Whether in one sitting or a follow up appointment, we will remove any other cavities, perform root canals as necessary, and deep clean the gums in order to remove bacteria and infection.  This is extremely important for a persons’ long term oral health.

At Old Town Dentist, we help patients suffering from oral infections but prefer to help patients avoid them in the first place.  Rather than waiting for an infection to spread and cause pain, we want to remove the infection early so that our patients can live life fully and without interruption.  Call and schedule your dental exam today so that we can keep you on track for good oral health. 

A Dentist Can Identify Early Signs of Oral Cancer

As a local dentist, we help patients to stay in the best possible oral health.  Regular dental examinations and at home preventative care are essential for staying healthy. While, at home, you should brush your teeth after meals, floss, and use an antiseptic mouthwash daily.  When you visit our office we can clean your teeth and gums to remove bacteria and plaque that has built up over time.  This will prevent cavities and gum disease.  We can also look for signs of oral cancer so that if present, you can receive treatments quickly.

Men are at greater risk of oral cancer than women and once a man turns fifty he is at the greatest risk of all.  The American Cancer Society reported that over 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year within the United States.  This is a significant number when you consider how little the disease is talked about.  Most people are unaware that this is a common disease and are unsure of what symptoms to watch for.

As a local dentist, we try to educate and inform our patients so that they can watch for signs of oral cancer and schedule appointments quickly if they see something to be concerned about.  There are several signs you can watch for at home including: difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, rough patches inside of your mouth, bumps, lumps, sores that won’t heal, and bleeding.  This can all indicate that something is wrong and that you potentially have oral cancer.

A visit to the dentist is the first step in seeing if the symptoms you are experiencing are cancerous or if they are related to other oral health issues such as gum disease.  For example, gum disease can also make your gums bleed and cause pain.  During your dental examination, we will inspect your teeth, gums, and mouth to identify any potential oral health issues that you are experiencing.  If something is identified that appears to be cancerous, you will likely be referred to an oral surgeon so that they can remove a piece of tissue to be tested in the lab.

There are things you can do at home to prevent oral cancer, including:

• Stop chewing tobacco.  Smokeless tobacco products are extremely dangerous for your health.  People that chew tobacco, snuff, or dip are sixty times more likely to get oral cancer.  The increase is staggering.  If you are chewing do whatever you can to quit in order to stay healthy.
• Smoking.  People that smoke cigarettes or cigars have a six times greater chance of being diagnosed with oral cancer.
• Drinking too much.  Drinking alcohol in excess is dangerous for your liver and your mouth.  People that drink too much have a six times greater chance (the same as if they smoked) of getting oral cancer.  Studies are unclear as to what is considered excessive but many doctors agree that over two drinks a day is too much.

If you are worried about your oral health, or want to make sure that you continue to stay healthy, schedule an appointment with our local dentist office.  We will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth to ensure that you are in good health and stay that way. 

An Implant Dentist Helps Seniors

As a local Implant Dentist, we help senior citizens to maintain their oral health and the full functionality of their teeth.  Over seventy percent of U.S. adults will lose some or all of their teeth.  This is a staggering number that demonstrates the importance of ongoing dental care.  By visiting the dentist twice a year and practicing good at home care, you may be able to prevent tooth loss.

Fortunately, modern dental technology has made it possible for seniors to maintain the full functionality of their teeth.  In the past, tooth loss meant that you had two options – dentures or having a missing tooth.  Seniors that could afford it would typically choose to wear dentures, however, they can be uncomfortable. Even modern dentures can pop out or float in your mouth while eating or speaking.  Implant technology solves this problem.

As an Implant Dentist, we offer a variety of ways for seniors to replace the teeth they have lost.  Here are some popular options.

Full Dental Implants

This procedure replaces each missing tooth, and its root system, individually.  We implant a metal piece underneath the gum line and secure it to your jaw bone.  The metal piece and jaw bone fuse together, creating an extremely strong synthetic root.  Once healed, a second metal piece is attached to the first at the surface of your gum line, and a new synthetic tooth is attached to it.  This is ideal for patients that are missing teeth in random areas throughout their mouth.  It can be used to replace all of your teeth or specific teeth and new ones can be added at any time.  Once in place you care for them like a normal tooth and can eat all of your favorite foods.

Implants and Dentures

One of the common complaints with dentures is that they pop out.  Simultaneously, replacing each tooth individually takes more time.  We can replace entire sections of your teeth using a combination of the two technologies.  Dentures are created in a lab and instead of popping them in and out at night, they can be permanently secured to your jaw bone.   Using a metal implant, they can be either screwed into your jaw bone so that they stay in place permanently, or the dentures can attach to a metal implant, allowing you to remove them when you want to.  Both options are more stable and secure than traditional dentures and allow you to eat, drink, and speak, without fear of their coming out.

During your initial consultation, we will evaluate the health of your gums and discuss the various ways to replace your missing teeth.  We will make recommendations based on your lifestyle and timeframe for when you want the procedure to be completed.  As an Implant Dentist we pride ourselves in providing solutions for patients.  There is no one size fits all answer.  Instead, our recommendations are based on our patient’s needs and wishes.  By working together, we can create a treatment plan with extraordinary results. 

Visiting the Dentist While Pregnant

You should visit the dentist twice during your pregnancy to have your teeth examined and cleaned.  When you are pregnant, the hormonal changes put you at greater risk of developing gum disease and cavities.  This can be prevented by having your dental office remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gum line.  Your body is working hard to create a child, untreated oral health issues are an unnecessary complication.

Many medical professionals believe that the healthier you are during pregnancy; the healthier your baby will be when they are born and throughout early life.  There are steps you can take to be as healthy as possible including visiting your medical doctor regularly and having your teeth cleaned.  We also recommend that you eat and drink the additional nutrients you need to stay in good health.  This includes loading up on calcium, water, green leafy vegetables, fruits, protein, and more. You should also take a calcium supplement along with your prenatal vitamins to keep your teeth and bones strong both during and after pregnancy.

As a dentist, we get calls from pregnant women wondering if seeing the dentist is safe during pregnancy. It is absolutely safe.  We do ask that patients inform us of their pregnancy so that we can make appropriate adjustments to their treatment plan.  We will not use anything or do anything that could be harmful to your or your child.  Instead, teeth cleanings will actually help you and your child to be in better health.  Our office is safe, family friendly, and comfortable.  Our staff will walk you through the process and answer any questions that you may have so that you can feel relaxed during your dental treatments.

We recommend that during your pregnancy you pay extra attention to your oral healthy by brushing after every meal and flossing daily. This will remove most of the bacteria and plaque that tries to form in your mouth.  As an additional precaution, you should rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash daily.  This will kill much of the bacteria that remains.  As a final precaution, having your teeth cleaned will remove plaque and tartar that you were unable to remove on your own.  These steps will help to prevent cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease from forming.

After Your Baby is Born

We also treat children.  When your baby is born, we can become the dental care provider that your entire family sees.  This is both convenient and provides continuity of care that can help your family to stay healthy throughout the years.

When your baby starts to form their first tooth, you should buy a rubber toothbrush and use it on their gums and teeth.  The pressure will provide relief from pain and it will keep their teeth and gums healthy.  As they grow, you can use a child toothbrush and toothpaste.  An electric one will make the job even easier.  Once you baby has turned one year old you should bring them in for their first trip to the dentist.  Practicing good oral health now will help them stay healthy into adulthood. 

Visit a Dentist Instead of Going to the ER for Your Dental Emergencies

Many people think of the ER and not the dentist when they get hurt.  While the emergency room has its place, ER doctors do not treat conditions related to your teeth.  You could end up waiting in the lobby for hours only to be told to call your family dentist to assist with your emergency.

Even though standard office hours end in the early evening, we are happy to help patients in an emergency.  If we don’t answer the phone, leave a message, state your emergency, and we will call you back as quickly as possible.

There are several reasons you may need to see a dentist immediately.  These include:

·         Severe toothache.  If you are in a lot of pain, it is important to give us a call.  This is likely a sign of tooth decay, a cavity, or a massive bacterial infection. These symptoms will not abate on their own because you need to address what is causing them.  We can treat you quickly and help you to enjoy a pain free life.

·         Pus is coming out of your tooth.  When a bacterial infection enters the inner portion of your tooth, known as the dental pulp, and infects your root system, your body could respond by generating pus.  The pus needs somewhere to go so a hole will develop in your tooth and pus will drain out of it.  If you notice anything along these lines you probably need an emergency root canal to prevent the infection from spreading.

·         A tooth falls out.  Whether playing baseball or in an auto accident, it is fairly common for teeth to be knocked out.  When this happens you can try to save the tooth by placing it into a glass of milk.  Bring it with you so that our dentist can try to reattach it.  If that doesn’t work, we can provide you with a dental implant to replace the tooth.

·         Chipped tooth.  If your tooth is bumped into or hit, you could end up with a chipped or broken tooth.  When this is the case, we can correct the problem quickly so that your roots are not left exposed.

·         Auto accident.  If you’re in a car wreck and bump your mouth, it could lead to loose teeth and bleeding.  Visit our office so that we can inspect your tooth and make treatment suggestions.  Your teeth are precious, making it important to maintain them.

You never know when or where a dental emergency will strike.  When it does, it is important to know who to call for fast results.  Old Town Dentistry has an expert staff that welcomes guests with a smile while providing exceptional patient care.  We treat patients of all ages so whether you have a young child that injures a tooth at baseball practice or need emergency care for an elder patients; we have the staff, tools and equipment needed to get the job done right.

There are many reasons to see a dentist.  It is important to visit the right one.  Old Town Dentistry has an excellent reputation for providing excellent care.  Call us today to experience it for yourself!

Teeth Whitening Procedures Will Improve Your Appearance Quickly

For an amazing smile try one of our teeth whitening procedures.  As a dentist, we offer a way to brighten your smile in under an hour. Our in-office treatments produce amazing results that are difficult to achieve, using over the counter treatments.

As people age, their smile becomes dull, and their teeth start to yellow.  This is a natural process that happens in part due to genetics and in part due to what you eat and drink.  There are specific items that will cause your teeth to yellow.  If you want to maintain a whiter smile it is important to avoid smoking, drinking coffee, tea, and soda.  Even apples have been known to discolor teeth.  Cutting out your morning latte may not be an option but visiting our office is a simple one.

It is easy to schedule a teeth whitening procedure.  Our office is accepting new patients and the entire process typically takes less than an hour.  If you have an extended lunch break, you can even get this done during your work day.  Otherwise, we are happy to schedule you for the first or last appointment of the day so that it doesn’t interfere with your busy schedule.  Our staff is very accommodating and will work around your day.

There are ways to whiten your teeth at home, but they are nowhere near as effective.

·         Whitening strips.  You can purchase these from any local drug store.  You wear them daily for a couple of weeks, and the overall result is typically two shades whiter than when you started. Our in-office procedure takes an hours and whitens by eight shades.

·         Whitening toothpaste.  We recommend using this in between treatments.  It will help your teeth to stay bright.  If you use it as your only form of treatment, the impact will be minimal.

·         Whitening trays.  These trays can be bought at the drug store, but the liquid is likely to leak out into your mouth since the trays were not customized for you.  We can create trays that fit your mouth if you want to try this procedure at home.  It does work by will not produce as significant a result as our procedure will, plus there is the discomfort of having to wear the trays.

If you are busy, want to improve your appearance, and like things that produce results, our in-office teeth whitening procedure is exactly what you need.  Making your smile bright will automatically improve your appearance.  It will give you a youthful and healthy glow, removing the aging look that yellow teeth can cause. 

Before you consider fixing your appearance through plastic surgery or a cosmetic procedure, start by giving yourself a bright smile. We can remove the damage done to your smile by years of smoking.  It is completely non-invasive so there is no risk to your health, and there is no pain.  This is an excellent complement to anything else you are doing for your appearance.  Everyone notices your smile so make sure it’s a great one. 

Benefits of a Spanish Speaking Dentist

Patients that don’t speak English may find a Spanish speaking dentist easier to visit. It can be intimidating to see a dentist that doesn’t speak the same language as you.  It is important to be able to communicate and tell your dentist what pain you are feeling, when you started to experience it and the type of concerns that you have.  We make it easier for patients to relax and be comfortable during their visit.

This can be especially helpful for families that immigrated to the United States and have now brought older parents to live with them. While the younger generations may speak English, it is difficult for older parents and grandparents to learn a new language.  Instead of having the young ones stand by the patient, translating, they can speak directly with our family dentist.

Our practice provides general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, emergency dentistry, and family dentistry from an English and Spanish speaking dentist.  Our services include:

·         Teeth cleaning and dental checkups.  It is important to have your teeth examined and cleaned at least once per year.  Patients that are at high risk should have them cleaned twice per year.  This includes those with diabetes.

·         Crowns and bridges.  If you are experiencing tooth decay, we can help to correct the problem and use crowns as necessary.

·         Root canals.  When your dental pulp becomes infected a root canal is necessary to correct the problem.

·         Emergency dentist.  This becomes important when someone is injured in a car accident or playing sports.  We can assist with your emergency dental needs so you can get back to living life.

·         Teeth whitening.  A bright white smile will take years off of your appearance, helping you to look youthful and refreshed.  This in office procedure is simple and can be done in under an hour.  Teeth will get up to eight shades whiter.

·         Veneers.  If your teeth are cracked, uneven, chipped, or stained veneers can transform your appearance by giving you uniform bright white teeth.  This cosmetic dentistry procedure is highly recommended.

·         Dental implants.  If you are missing teeth or want to permanently correct the appearance of your teeth, dental implants are an ideal solution for creating the smile you have been looking for.  This procedure is more intensive than veneers and can take months to a year to complete.  The result is a natural looking, perfect smile.  As a Spanish speaking dentist, we can explain this option and its complexity in a way that a native Spanish speaker can understand. 

·         Treating gum disease.  Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and we look for signs of it at every dental visit.  Gum disease can become a serious problem and even cause your teeth to fall out.  By treating it early, we can preserve your oral health.

·         And more!

Our dental practice treats patients of all ages and will help you to stay in good oral health.  Oral health and hygiene can impact all areas of the body and by working with a Spanish speaking dentist, all members of your family can feel comfortable and relaxed during their visit.