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Managing Your Dental Fears to Keep Your Smile Looking Great

August 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Going to the dentist is often a dreaded event, but because your smile tells the world who you are, it’s important to keep it looking great. Dentists always say it because it’s true: if you maintain good dental health, which includes going to the dentist for a cleaning every six months, you are less likely to have dental problems. Plus, regular cleanings also mean that you’ll be more “used to” going to the dentist, which can help lessen your dental fear, especially since you don’t need to be concerned about those big dental problems (fillings, crowns, and root canals).

A great way to help control your dental fear is to discuss it with your dental office, dental hygienist and dentist. When you set your dental appointment ask the office what you can expect to happen at the appointment. Knowing what to expect can really help lessen your dental fear.

Something your dentist may suggest is dental sedation. There are multiple types of dental sedation, from administering nitrous oxide (laughing gas), to oral sedation, where you would take a type of anti-anxiety pill, to IV sedation. The type of dental sedation your dentist suggests depends on what types of sedation dentistry his office offers and his certification, the type of dental work you need done, the length of the procedure, and the level of your fear.

If you’re looking for a dentist that understands dental fear and dental phobia, give the caring and gentle dentists at Tempe Dental Care a call at 480.730.5000. Be sure to discuss your dental fear with the office staff when you set your appointment so they help you set the appropriate expectations.

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Has It Been A Long Time Since Your Last Dental Visit? Don’t Worry!

August 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while and think you may have some serious dental problems, don’t worry! At Tempe Dental Care, we have gentle and caring dentists that are just happy that you are going to come in to see them! The dentists, hygienists, and office staff at Tempe Dental Care don’t care if it’s been just one year or twenty years since your last appointment: we want you to come in so we can help you take care of your beautiful smile and keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

The dentists at Tempe Dental Care are very well known for their gentle touch and caring demeanor. Plus, they offer a variety of dental health options ranging from family dental care to cosmetic dentistry, and dental sedation for patients who have a dental phobia. We even have a denture lab on site for our patients who have dentures or dental implants so we can make changes quickly.

Our goal is to help you get a beautiful, healthy smile that you love and all the services we offer are to help you achieve that. If you’re ready to make an appointment with one of our gentle and caring dentists, please call our office at 480.730.5000. You can also check out some of our patient reviews on Google or Yelp.

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Benefits of Sedation Dentistry

May 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sedation dentistry is extremely beneficial to anyone who has a fear of going to the dentist. Whether you haven’t been to the dentist in years or are delaying dental treatment because of your fear, sedation dentistry can help you receive the dental care you need without stress.

Sedation dentistry comes in various forms. Typically, your dentist will suggest oral sedation, which can come in the form of a tranquilizer, anti-anxiety pill, or nitrous oxide gas. Oral sedation will help you relax but stay conscious. Oral sedation is beneficial for routine dental procedures as well as lengthy procedures since it can make the dental procedure seem like only minutes instead of hours.

IV sedation dentistry can be beneficial if you have a significant fear of the dentist and need to have a lengthy or drastic dental procedure completed. Since you are using IV sedation, there are more risks than with oral sedation dentistry.  You should discuss all of the benefits and risks with your dentist to determine if IV sedation dentistry is right for you.

Prior to getting sedation dentistry, you want to be sure that you ask your dentist all of your questions. Since you will be “out of it” for the procedure, you want to make sure you have all of the information you need before starting the procedure. Plus, you need to make sure you have someone with you to drive you and take care of you after your treatment. Whether you choose oral or IV sedation dentistry, you will be very relaxed and unable to drive for up to 4 hours after your procedure.

Overall, whether you choose oral sedation dentistry or IV sedation dentistry, it can help you relax and receive the dental care you need.

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2 Root Canal Myths Debunked

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Working at a dental office, we hear many things. A huge misconception lies around root canals, and in my experience, most people have a fear of the dentist that stems from a friend’s improperly completed root canal. [Read more...]

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Dentistry Because We Care Recap

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Our Dentistry Because We Care charity dental event was fantastic! We’ll continue to add updates for a while since there is so much great information to get out.

If you didn’t hear about it before, Tempe Dental Care opened it’s office doors on 4/9/10 to 200 people who could not afford dental care. The entire office donated their time to help these people get free top of the line dental care. While care was given on a first come, first served basis, we worked hard to help as many people as we could between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone who attended had an option to choose a free dental cleaning, filling, or extraction.

People started lining up at 5:30 in the morning on Friday: we even had someone drive all the way from Globe, Arizona. The goal of this event was to provide dental care to those who weren’t able to get it otherwise: our Tempe dentists and everyone in the office is very happy we were able to make this possible for people all over Phoenix!

Plus, we were very excited to have ABC 15 out at our offices on Thursday to help us get the word out about our event and their follow up on Friday.

We have many stories, pictures, and even videos we want to share from this event, so we’ll make sure to post them as they get uploaded.

A big thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about our Dentistry Because We Care Event. This is an annual event and this year’s was our most successful so far. Thank you for helping us spread the word!

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What is Dental Bonding?

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you have chipped or stained teeth, or have some imperfections in your smile that you want to fix, dental bonding may be the perfect solution for you. Dental bonding is a procedure where the dentist will bond a tooth colored resin to your tooth with an ultraviolet light. Dental bonding is used to make small cosmetic improvements to your teeth and may be the perfect solution to fix your chipped or stained teeth. Dental bonding is usually faster than other cosmetic procedures, like crowns or veneers, and is less expensive. It typically takes less than an hour per tooth to get a great result.

The use of dental bonding is a decision that is between you and your Phoenix dentist. Some of the reasons you may choose dental bonding are:

  • To repair chipped or cracked teeth.
  • To improve the appearance of stained or discolored teeth.
  • To change the shape of teeth or make the teeth look longer.

Dental bonding is a simple procedure. Your Phoenix dentist will select a shade of resin matches the color of your tooth, will then roughen the surface of your tooth and apply a conditioning liquid to help the bonding material stick to your tooth. The resin in the shade of your tooth is applied, shaped, and smoothed to the perfect shape for your smile and cured with an ultra violet light. This light makes the resin hard and durable. Once the resin has hardened, your dentist will continue to shape and polish it so the tooth with the dental bonding looks perfectly natural in your mouth.

While dental bondings have many advantages, there are also some disadvantages to dental bonding. Some Phoenix dentists find them to be better suited for smaller cosmetic changes and for fixing front teeth, since they are less stain resistant as crowns or veneers. They also don’t last as long or are as strong as crowns and veneers, which can lead to chipping or breaking off after a few years. Typically, dental bondings last between 3 and 10 years before needing to be retouched or replaced.

The decision to use a dental bonding instead of a different cosmetic dental procedure is a decision that is between you and your Phoenix dentist. If you have any questions or concerns, please make sure to ask your dentist or his office staff.

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Dental Bridges: What’s the Difference Between a Bridge & a Crown?

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A dental bridge is a device that is used to replace missing teeth. The dental bridge attaches a false tooth (a pontic) to the adjacent teeth to replace the missing tooth and restore your smile and bite. While dental crowns may be used on the adjacent teeth to help support the dental bridge, dental crowns are not used to replace a missing tooth. Learn more about dental crowns here.

Dental bridges may be permanently cemented to your natural teeth, these are called fixed bridges, or they may be removable bridges.

Dental bridges typically take between 2 and 3 visits to be completed. The adjacent teeth will need to be prepared for the dental bridge and impressions will need to be taken so the false tooth fits perfectly. Then the dental bridge will be fabricated to fit your mouth perfectly. A temporary dental bridge may be temporarily cemented into place until your permanent dental bridge has been created and can replace it.

Your Phoenix dentist will determine exactly what your dental bridge needs are and the appropriate treatment plan. If you have any questions, make sure you ask your Phoenix dentist. You should always be comfortable with your treatment plan and know what is happening with your smile.

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Dental Crowns: What are they & why do I need one?

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

First of all, let’s discuss what a dental crown is. Basically, a dental crown is a tooth restoration that covers your old tooth. Dental crowns help strengthen and improve the appearance of your tooth.

We can’t tell you exactly why your Phoenix dentist is choosing to give you a crown versus a different type of dental treatment. However, some of the reasons your dentist may choose to put a dental crown on your tooth are:

  • Dental crowns can be used to restore teeth that have been damaged by injury or decay to the normal shape and size.
  • Dental crowns can be used when just a filling won’t solve the problem or to support a large filling.
  • Dental crowns can also be used to attach a bridge to the surrounding teeth or to fix the appearance of a poorly shaped or discolored tooth.
  • Dental crowns also can help protect weak teeth from cracking or help restore a fractured tooth.

Dental crowns are usually completed in 2 to 3 visits to your Phoenix dentist and look completely natural. That’s why it can take up to 3 visits. Your dentist will take the time to make sure your dental work looks completely natural and like your other teeth.

Be sure to discuss any and all concerns with your Phoenix dentist. He or she should be able to explain exactly why a specific treatment plan is recommended and what it consists of.

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Dental Fillings: What are they & How do they work?

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

What are dental fillings? Fillings can be used to fill in areas of your tooth that were harmed by tooth decay as well as for chipped or cracked teeth. You may even be able to use them for teeth that are discolored or misarranged.

How do dental fillings work? Well, dental fillings can be made from many different materials. The typical materials are either a silver amalgam, porcelain, or a composite resin. Silver fillings may be more noticeable while composite fillings are the color of your tooth and much more natural looking.

When getting a filling, you need to discuss your needs and desires with your Tempe family dentist. If you have dental insurance, they may only cover a certain type of dental filling: which may leave you paying out of pocket if you choose a different type.

What about the cost of dental fillings? If you think you need a filling, don’t use the cost of the filling as a reason to avoid the dentist. Getting a filling now, while the problem is still small, can save you from a much more expensive procedure, for example, a bridge, crown, root canal or tooth extraction. Many Tempe family dentists work with various financial companies to offer payment plans. The most important thing you can do is to take care of your teeth, brushing and flossing regularly and seeing your Tempe family dentist every six months.

Your Tempe family dentist should be your partner in keeping your smile looking great. Discuss any and all concerns with him or his office staff. Most Tempe dental offices will work with you.

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Tooth Decay is the 2nd Most Common Health Problem

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tooth decay is one of the biggest health problems in the United States. Known medically as dental caries, and commonly as dental cavities, tooth decay is second only to the common cold. The CDC has estimated that 90% of the people in the US have had at least one cavity. While tooth decay is almost as common as a cold, there are groups that are more prone to getting it:

  • Senior citizens and children.
  • People who have already had many fillings and crowns, since their teeth are already vulnerable.
  • People who have a diet high in starchy or sugary foods since these help grow the bacteria that destroy tooth enamel.
  • People who live in an area that does not have fluoridated water; fluoridated water helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening the tooth enamel.

Tooth decay can develop at any rate: your Phoenix dentist may be able to catch it before you even know there’s a problem. It occurs because bacteria turn sugars into lactic acid that builds up on the tooth surface. This can dissolve the enamel creating the tooth decay.

Once you have tooth decay, you need to see your Phoenix dentist. If caught early enough, it can be treated by your Phoenix dentist easily by removing all of the decayed surface and then filling it in with either silver amalgam or a composite resin (these are the most common choices). If tooth decay is left untreated for too long, you may need a root canal or another solution.

The best thing to do is to prevent tooth decay. Good dental care is about prevention, not treatment. Take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly, using fluoride and sealants, maintaining a good diet, and seeing your Phoenix dentist every six months.

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