Desert Smiles Blog

Cosmetic & Sedation Dentistry

Archive for June, 2010

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Extreme anxiety and fear of the dentist is more common than you might think. Many people delay or avoid dental treatment for years due to anxiety. Reasons for dental fear vary: family stories about bad experiences, a painful procedure in the past, a fear of getting numb, or a claustrophobic feeling in the dental chair. Whatever the reason for your anxiety, Scottsdale sedation dentist Dr. Donald Wilcox can help.

Putting off dental treatment only leads to higher expense and additional treatment requirements because the existing problems only get worse over time. Fortunately, sedation dentistry enables you to enter a semi-conscious state so that you can make it through your appointment without anxiety or fear.

Dr. Wilcox is a member of D.O.C.S., the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. He also completed a hospital program following dental school which included training in various types of anesthesia. The vast majority of dental sedation patients seen by Dr. Wilcox use an oral sedative that allows them to completely relax. While a form of IV anesthesia is available, most patients find that the oral sedation method works perfectly for them. While sedated, years of dental neglect can be repaired during just one visit.

Please contact our Scottsdale sedation dentist today to schedule your appointment with Desert Smiles, serving patients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale, Arizona.

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Bad Breath Treatment

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Everyone has experienced bad breath at one time or another. Temporary bad breath is usually caused by food that you have recently eaten, or most commonly by bacteria in your mouth and on your tongue. Chronic bad breath can be caused by bacterial colonies in the mouth and throat, sinus drainage, tonsil stones and often periodontal disease. Other causes of bad breath include low carb diets and certain underlying medical conditions such as liver and kidney problems, chronic infections in the respiratory tract, or gastrointestinal problems.

Other than avoiding garlic, you can help prevent bad breath by brushing your teeth after eating, flossing every day, and most importantly, cleaning your tongue. Tongue brushing or scraping is not usually on our to-do list for daily oral care, but it is important for reducing or eliminating bad breath.

The tongue is full of cracks and crevices that are a perfect home for oral bacteria. The bacteria live in the cracks and feed on the food you have eaten, ultimately giving off compounds that we detect as bad breath.

A simple plastic tongue scraper is inexpensive and easily obtained at your corner drugstore. Scrape the instrument gently from the base of your tongue forward. Take several strokes to cover the entire tongue – you’ll be surprised at what you see. Rub a small dab of toothpaste on your tongue and hold it there while you brush your teeth, rinse, and spit. Do not swallow the toothpaste. Your teeth and tongue are clean and ready to face the day.

Mouth rinses and mouthwash usually are not very effective at treating bad breath. They merely cover up the problem for a short time and the sugar in the product then adds more food for the bacteria, making the problem worse.

Remember that professional dental hygiene appointments are important to remove bacteria and plaque from under the gum line.

If you feel you suffer from bad breath and are unable to manage the problem on your own, please contact our Scottsdale cosmetic dentist today to schedule an appointment. Desert Smiles serves patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona areas.

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Nightguards

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Many people grind their teeth at night and don’t even realize they do it. Unless a spouse complains about the grinding noise or a dentist notices the wearing down of the teeth, a diagnosis may not be made until the habitual grinding causes symptoms in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Bruxism is the term for this involuntary teeth grinding, and it is usually caused by some type of stress or anxiety. Because the grinding occurs mainly at night, it is impossible to voluntarily stop. Symptoms of bruxism include jaw pain, morning headaches, clicking noises in the jaw, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

When seeking treatment for bruxism, it is important to find an experienced neuromuscular dentist who possesses the necessary training to correct the condition. The treatment for bruxism will usually include a custom made orthotic appliance, also called a nightguard. This oral appliance fits over your teeth and is usually worn while you sleep, but severe cases may require daytime wear as well. When Phoenix neuromuscular dentist Dr. Donald Wilcox fits you with a nightguard, it will accomplish several goals:

Prevent wear on the teeth
Place the jaw in an optimal position to avoid muscle pain
Protect the temporomandibular joint by making sure it is positioned properly

If you have been told that you grind your teeth while sleeping or if you have symptoms of bruxism, please contact our Phoenix neuromuscular dentist today. Desert Smiles serves patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale, Arizona areas.

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Regular Dental Checkups

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Opening your mouth during a dental checkup reveals a great deal about your general health and well-being as well as the status of your pearly whites. Your teeth and gums can tell the story of your overall health to a trained eye. For example, loose teeth may point to osteoporosis, while cavities and gum disease may signal underlying heart disease or diabetes. A high percentage of systemic conditions such as heart disease are linked to symptoms in the mouth, and since most people only see their physician for a checkup once a year, your dentist may be the one to pick up on new health concerns.

Beyond detecting existing conditions that may affect you, regular dental checkups and dental hygiene appointments can help prevent many of these problems. Oral bacteria from gum infections have been shown to travel to many parts of the body such as the heart. For pregnant women, dental checkups and cleanings should be paramount. The oral bacteria have been found to affect birth weight and pre-term birth.

Diabetes patients are at risk on several levels. Blood sugar levels and sugar levels in your mouth are linked. Oral bacteria thrive on sugar, and high levels lead to rampant tooth decay and periodontal disease. Unfortunately, diabetes lowers your resistance to infection; as a result, treating gum disease in diabetic patients is more difficult but necessary. Blood sugar levels are more easily maintained in patients who do not suffer from active periodontal disease.

While Glendale cosmetic dentist Dr. Donald Wilcox is screening you for new cavities and possible gum problems, he will also be looking for mouth sores, loss of the bone that supports the teeth, and possible oral cancer signs.

Your regular dental checkup and hygiene appointment is an important part of your overall health routine. By preventing problems before they start through patient education and early detection of underlying health issues, regular visits with Dr. Wilcox can safeguard your health and prevent costly treatments down the road.

If regular dental checkups are not already part of your healthcare routine, please contact our Glendale cosmetic dentist today to schedule your appointment. Desert Smiles welcomes new patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona areas.

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Dental Sealants

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Preventative dentistry for children is especially important. Keeping decay from starting in new permanent teeth can significantly reduce the need for more expensive dental care down the road. The most commonly used preventative measure is fluoride, but another simple procedure is equally important – dental sealants.

Dental sealants are extremely thin coatings of a special plastic that are painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. These back teeth are treated with sealants because they have very deep anatomy (fissures and grooves) that collect food even with proper brushing. As debris collects in these fissures and grooves, tooth decay begins, but when properly sealed, these teeth can remain healthy and cavity free for years.

The procedure is completely painless and non-invasive. The tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned and etched with a mild solution. A special tooth-colored resin is bonded to the chewing surface of the tooth using a laser light. This curing technique creates an extremely hard, durable surface that will remain in place for years.

While dental sealants are normally used in children who have just gotten their permanent teeth, they can also prove useful in some older patients. Teenagers or adults with poor oral hygiene habits and a diet of sugary foods are also candidates for this preventative dentistry treatment.

Once dental sealants have been placed, it is still very important to continue good brushing and flossing. The sealant only protects the biting surface of the tooth, and decay can easily start between teeth without proper cleaning. Regular visits to the dental hygienist for cleanings and fluoride treatment help prevent future problems.

If you are interested in preventative dental services such as dental sealants, please contact our Glendale cosmetic dentist today. Dr. Wilcox serves patients in the Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, and Scottsdale, Arizona areas.

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Dental Cleaning and Hygiene

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Visiting your dental hygienist on a regular basis, flossing, and brushing your teeth are not only important for keeping your smile healthy, they can add years to your life. Good oral hygiene, including regular visits to get your teeth professionally cleaned, ensure that oral bacteria don’t get a chance to grow and cause gum disease. An increasing body of research is proving that oral bacteria travels through the body and is linked to health problems including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even pre-term births.

The best way to guard against periodontal disease begins with brushing your teeth following each meal. It has been documented that late night snacking has a direct bearing on tooth loss, so nothing but water should be consumed in the hour before bed. Flossing each day is necessary to remove food particles from between teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. Remember to brush or scrape your tongue as well. The bacteria living on the tongue is responsible for a great deal of “bad breath” complaints.

Even if you follow all of these practices, you will still require a professional cleaning on a regular basis. Dental plaque and calculus may still form and need to be removed. While most dental hygiene recall schedules will have you visiting the dental hygienist every six months, some patients require more frequent recalls.

Laboratory testing has shown that oral bacteria re-colonize an area after approximately 90 days. For individuals with a history of gum disease, these recall appointments will be made at three month intervals.

If you are unsure about the effectiveness of your home care and want tips on better brushing and flossing techniques, please contact our Glendale cosmetic dentist today. Dr. Wilcox serves patients in Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Cosmetic Gum Lift

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Many times, issues with your gums may mar an otherwise beautiful smile. Most people refer to it as a “horsey” smile – the smile where all you see is the gums. You don’t really notice the teeth, no matter how beautiful they may be. On other occasions, a smile may seem uneven because the gums on one side don’t match the other. These problems are easily corrected. Gum tissue can be re-contoured to create a more beautiful, natural smile.

Scottsdale cosmetic dentist Dr. Donald Wilcox has received extensive training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. His experience creating new, designer smiles for patients includes a deep understanding that a beautiful smile does not just include the teeth, but also the surrounding gum tissue.

A cosmetic gum lift is a reshaping of the gum tissue. Dr. Wilcox uses a diode laser to achieve beautiful results with minimal discomfort and very quick healing. For many patients, the change in their smile is life altering – the freedom to laugh and smile without hiding their “gummy” smile behind a hand can be a liberating feeling.

In very severe cases, treatment in the office with the diode laser gum lift is not enough, and Dr. Wilcox will work with a periodontist using other procedures to achieve a beautiful smile.

Please contact our Scottsdale cosmetic dentist today to discuss your perfect smile and to see whether treatment options such as the cosmetic gum lift can help you achieve your goal. Desert Smiles serves patients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona.

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Cosmetic Tooth Contouring and Reshaping

Monday, June 21st, 2010

One of the easiest ways to make minor changes in the appearance of your teeth is using cosmetic tooth contouring or tooth reshaping. This is a procedure that removes very small amounts of tooth structure to make your teeth more attractive.

One common use of tooth contouring is to repair a chipped tooth. While a large chip may require dental bonding, a porcelain crown, or a porcelain veneer to repair, a small chip can easily be smoothed. Without the offending chip, your smile will look renewed. The procedure will also help keep the chip from getting worse.

This procedure can also help reduce small overlaps in teeth or reshape teeth that are not esthetically pleasing. Pointy teeth can appear more rounded and unflattering angles can be smoothed out. Scottsdale cosmetic dentist Dr. Donald Wilcox can also use this procedure to correct small problems with your bite.

It is important to remember that cosmetic tooth contouring and reshaping is a conservative approach to achieving a more attractive smile. Only small amounts of tooth enamel can be removed in order to avoid sensitivity and maintain the structure and strength of the tooth. This limits the procedure to minor changes only.

For more extensive cosmetic improvement, Dr. Wilcox offers a full range of cosmetic dentistry options including bleaching, porcelain veneers, Lumineers, cosmetic bonding, and dental crowns.

Please contact our Scottsdale cosmetic dentist today to discuss tooth contouring. Desert Smiles serves patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Gendale, Arizona areas.

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Porcelain Crowns

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

Porcelain crowns are used to restore teeth that have extensive decay. Repairing large areas of decay with a regular “filling” would cause the tooth to become weak and probably break. A crown allows for a strong and esthetically pleasing restoration of a damaged tooth.

Porcelain crowns are created in a high quality dental laboratory. Scottsdale cosmetic dentist Dr. Donald Wilcox works closely with the artisans at the dental lab to create dental crowns that are perfectly color-matched, vibrant, and lifelike in appearance.

Empress Porcelain is the material of choice because of its translucent appearance and its ability to reflect light. These qualities make it a perfect cosmetic match next to natural teeth, and the strength and durability of porcelain ensure that the restoration will remain beautiful for many years.

The procedure to place a porcelain crown usually involves two visits to Dr. Wilcox’s office. During the first appointment, your tooth will be numbed and decay will be removed. The tooth is prepared to receive the final crown, impressions are taken, and models are created to send to the dental lab.

A temporary crown will be constructed that will enable you to smile and chew with confidence until your permanent porcelain dental crown has returned from the lab. While wearing the temporary crown, it is important to treat it gently. Floss very carefully and avoid sticky candy. If the temporary crown does fall off, call us immediately so that it can be re-cemented.

At your second appointment, the temporary crown is removed and the new porcelain crown is permanently cemented in place. During the second appointment, your bite will also be checked to ensure complete comfort and optimal jaw health. You will also be checked to make sure that the contacts between your teeth and your new crown are correct.

Remember that your comfort is important to us. If you are anxious about receiving your porcelain dental crown, please let us know. Dr. Wilcox offers many options to make your visit relaxing and comfortable, including nitrous oxide and sedation dentistry.

Please contact our Scottsdale cosmetic dentist today for more information about achieving a beautiful, healthy smile using porcelain crowns. Desert Smiles serves patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona areas.

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Dental Appliances for Sleep Apnea

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Normally, most people would not think to turn to their dentist for treatment of a serious medical condition such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a potentially fatal disease where during the night, you experience brief stoppages in breathing. Often, these periods last 10 to 20 seconds or longer and may occur dozens to hundreds of times a night.

The most common treatment for Sleep Apnea involves using a machine called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). A mask is worn which pushes air to forcibly keep your airway open and allow you to breathe unobstructed.

Many people aren’t able to tolerate CPAP for various reasons. As a result, oral appliances are now recommended by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. They also recommend oral appliance therapy for severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea when patients refuse to use CPAP or are CPAP intolerant. Depending on the nature of your condition, there are several types of oral appliances which can effectively treat your sleep apnea:

The Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP) is a mandibular advancement device that fits over the top and bottom teeth. The TAP has a mechanism that allows unlimited advancement of the lower jaw. It is the only appliance that allows adjustments to be made while you are sleeping.
Herbst Telescopic Appliances are effective on chronic snoring and mild-to-moderate sleep apnea. Patients are able to move their jaws from side-to-side and open-and-close without compromising the appliance.
The SAUD Appliance is similar, but made to withstand the pressures exerted by patients that grind their teeth at night (bruxism).
SomnoMed MAS is a custom made appliance that fits over top and bottom teeth. It allows normal mouth opening and closing, and the adjustability feature provides an effective and comfortable level of treatment.
Tongue Retaining Device (TRD) is an appliance option that does not depend on the teeth for retention and forward movement of the jaw. Instead, the tongue is held forward by negative pressure created by the appliance.

Dr. Donald Wilcox is your Scottsdale, Arizona sleep apnea dentist. Dr. Wilcox has extensive experience treating patients with snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea using oral appliance therapy. His in-depth training in neuromuscular dentistry ensures effective and comfortable treatment using the most appropriate oral appliance for your individual needs.

Please contact our Scottsdale sleep apnea dentist today to discuss your treatment options for snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Desert Smiles serves patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Glendale, Arizona areas.

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