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.

Invisalign Dentist Can Straighten Your Teeth the Easy Way

If you want to straighten your teeth, an Invisalign Dentist can transform your smile without pesky wires and brackets.  Traditional braces are extremely effective, but they can be uncomfortable, and an eye soar.  This is especially inconvenient for professionals that don’t want to change their image or appearance.  Invisalign is the modern alternative that can create the perfect smile you have been looking for.

Before deciding the best way to straighten your smile, it is important to schedule a teeth cleaning and examination with our Alexandria dentist office.  We need to first determine if you have any oral health issues that should be fixed.  Things like cavities should be repaired prior to starting any cosmetic dentistry procedures.  If you are missing any teeth, implant dentistry should also be considered as a treatment option.

Once your teeth are determined to be in good health, our dentist will evaluate your teeth to determine the viability of using Invisalign to straighten your smile.  While this is a fantastic option for many patients, it is not the solution for everyone and if that is the case we can suggest other cosmetic dentistry procedures like implants or veneers.

Molds are made of your teeth, and aligners are created for your specific treatment plan.  These aligners are clear and surround your teeth.  You can comfortably wear them all day without looking like you are wearing braces or a retainer.  We suggest that you only take them out for eating and cleaning.  Typically, every six weeks you put on a new aligner until your treatment is complete.  This is done at home, without a trip to the office, making Invisalign a less time consuming treatment than braces.  You will have routine visits to inspect your progress but these are fairly quick and can be scheduled around your busy lifestyle. 

Most of our patients find this procedure to be a lifesaver because they can improve their smile without the embarrassment of braces.  It is also an ideal option for adults that had braces as a child and have had their teeth move over time.  Braces do not set teeth permanently so getting braces more than once is extremely common.  With Invisalign, those small adjustments can be made without disrupting your life of appearance.

Not every dentist offers this procedure, so it is important to work with a local Alexandria dentist office that is experienced.  Our team is friendly, welcoming, and understands the importance a beautiful smile plays in increasing self-confidence and brightening your world.  We will work with you to develop treatment plans that help you to achieve your goals.

You may also want to undergo teeth whitening prior to starting your treatment.  Your bright white smile will shine through your aligners and give you increased confidence to flash those pearly whites. We also recommend a teeth whitening when you are done with your Invisalign treatment so you can unveil the bright new you with gusto. To learn more about our cosmetic dentistry procedures call our Alexandria dentist office at 703-683-0800.

Your Dentist Can Treat TMJ Disorders

If you are suffering from TMJ our family dentist can help.  TMJ can be extremely painful and even in patients with mild symptoms it is at best uncomfortable.  There is no need to live with the pain when you can receive treatment from our highly qualified team.

Temporomandibular joint disorders, commonly known as TMJ, occurs when there is poor function or mobility in the jaw joint or muscles. Light TMJ will cause sharp, stabbing pains through your jaw joint when you bite down hard or are eating crunchy foods.  This is a nuisance that can make it difficult to eat even you favorite foods. Eventually with exercise and changing your eating habits the pain could subside but this is not a guarantee.

More severe TMJ requires medical treatment from an experienced dentist.  It can make even talking painful and eating is especially hard to do.  People with severe TMJ find that it negatively impacts almost all areas of life. 

Do I have TMJ?

There are signs you can watch for to determine if you have the disorder.  These include:

• ·         Jaw locking
• ·         Popping noise in your jaw
• ·         Headache
• ·         Neck ache
• ·         Pain in the jaw or face
• ·         Stiff jaw muscles
• ·         Pain when you chew
• ·         Change in your bite between your upper and lower teeth

The National Institute of Health estimates that TMJ affects over 10 million Americans so if you are experiencing these symptoms, you are not alone. 

There are several ways to treat TMJ.  These include:

• ·         Gently stretching your jaw muscles.
• ·         Apply moist heat or a cold cloth to the painful area.
• ·         Don’t chew gum, yawn, or sing loudly.
• ·         Use pain medication in moderation.
• ·         Muscle relaxers can assist with helping you to not tighten the jaw.

These treatment options will help you to manage the pain but they don’t do enough to prevent TMJ or to reverse the problem in the first place.  That is why you need to seek treatment from a dentist.  A traditional doctor can prescribe muscle relaxers but they won’t be able to treat the root of the problem, which is necessary for a long term solution.  As a family dentist we routinely recommend having a custom mouth guard created.  A large cause of TMJ is the jaw locking or teeth grinding at night.  This can even cause the jaw to slip out of place.  A customized mouth guard will prevent jaw lock and the top and bottom teeth from touching each other.  This simple treatment can make the difference between waking up in agony or being able to go through your day with minimal pain.

Patients may also benefit from teeth straightening like Invisalign but extreme measures like surgery must be weighed with caution and explored as a last result only.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms your first stop needs to be our family dentist office.  We will give you a thorough examination, determine the root cause, and provide treatment solutions.  Contact us today to schedule your dental examination and step onto the road of recovery.

How Our Dentist Treats Hyperdontia

Hyperdontia is a condition that needs to be treated by a dentist.  It is when people have too many teeth, or supernumerary teeth, in addition to the teeth they, actually need.  There are cases where an extra tooth or two appear, and others where an entire extra set of teeth come in.  Both can cause extreme discomfort and require treatment by your family dentist.

A child is supposed to have twenty primary (baby) teeth.  As those fall out they should be replaced with thirty-two permanent teeth.  If you end up with additional teeth forming, you should contact your family dentist and schedule an appointment.

What causes Hyperdontia?

It may be hereditary so if you suffered from it, your children may, as well. Other studies have found that environmental reasons can contribute to the formation of supernumerary teeth.  In other words, scientist don’t know the exact cause of hyperdontia.  When these additional teeth develop they are believed to form from the tooth bud either splitting or a second tooth bud forming near the original one. These cases occur more often with permanent teeth than with baby teeth, yet it is still important to look for any additional formations during your dental exam.  It is also unlikely for additional molars to form, though this does happen in rare cases.

How many people suffer from this?

Approximately four percent of the population will end up with too many teeth.  Most often, it will be one or two extra teeth that can easily be removed.

What are the risks of having too many teeth?

Sometimes, the additional teeth won’t break through the gums but continue to prevent other permanent teeth from coming in.  There interference with the development of a patients normal set of teeth can cause discomfort and an inconvenience as your teeth are needed for eating and speaking clearly.

How is hyperdontia treated?

If the extra teeth break through the surface, they can be pulled.  If they are under the surface and causing other teeth not to break through, they may need to be removed surgically.  Not every case requires treatment.  If the extra tooth is not interfering with anything or causing any pain, you may elect to leave it in place.

As a family dentist, we treat patients of all ages and recommend that children start having dentist checkups a young as one years of age.  This lets us monitor their teeth and identify any potential problems like hyperdontia.  By identifying issues early, we can create a treatment plan that involves parents and prevents any unnecessary pain or discomfort.

Those that suffer from any dental abnormalities or conditions need to make sure that they take the time to properly care for their teeth.  By brushing at least twice a day, flossing regularly, drinking plenty of water, and having fluoride treatments you can keep your teeth strong and avoid tooth decay. 

Our general dentist office treats patients of all ages and works to prevent oral health problems through ongoing treatment and patient education.  Contact us today to schedule your appointment and stay on the path to good oral health