Tag: gum treatment

Improving your Smile
Jul 06, 2017

Improving your Smile

The Smile Checklist is courtesy of Family Dental Care™ in Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, IL. This is endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA).

Look in the mirror.

  • Do you like the way your teeth look?
  • Do you dislike the color of any of your teeth?
  • Are there spaces between your teeth?
  • Do you have any chips or cracks on your teeth?
  • Are you missing any teeth?
  • Do you have any crooked teeth?
  • Do you feel your teeth are too long or too short?
  • Are you pleased with the shapes and position of your teeth?

If your answers show that you might want a change in your smile, talk to your dentist about Improving Your Smile. You can request an appointment on-line at Family Dental Care™ by visiting their website at www.FamilyDentalCare.com and choosing a dental office nearest you.

A great smile can be the most attractive feature of your face. A smile helps you express health, success, youth and sincerity. It is a great asset in your personal, business and social contacts. So it’s important that you are happy with how your smile looks. But if you are like many people, you may not be.

Your dentist has many different techniques to shape, sculpt, and make your smile more beautiful. With a few simple steps, you can have a smile you feel great about. And treatment may be more affordable than you think.

Example of an Improved Smile

Example of an Improved Smile

Options for improving your smile include:

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Your dentist can use natural-colored materials to restore teeth that have cavities. Options include composite materials, such as resin, as well as lab-made porcelain inlays, inlays and crowns.

Tooth Whitening

Teeth become stained for many reasons – drinking coffee, tea or wine; smoking; and even aging can discolor teeth. Tooth whitening is a process that makes discolored teeth whiter. The bleach used for in-office (chair side) whitening is stronger than the bleach found in at-home whitening kits. Keep in mind that not everyone’s teeth can become movie-star white. Your dentist can recommend the whitening treatment that is right for you.

Veneers

Veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that are bonded, or cemented, to the front of your teeth. They are custom-made of ceramic or composite resin, and look like natural teeth. Veneers can be used to fill spaces between teeth and to cover teeth that are stained, poorly shaped, or a bit crooked.

Braces

Braces can help correct crowded or crooked teeth or an uneven bite. Braces have become much smaller and less noticeable over the years. Brackets, the part of the braces that attach to each tooth, can sometimes be attached to the back of the tooth to make them less noticeable. Some brackets are clear or tooth coloured-which help braces blend in.

In some cases, treatment may be done without using braces at all. A series of clear, removable aligners are used to move your teeth over time. These aligners are more discreet than traditional braces.

Enamel Shaping

Your dentist can “reshape” your teeth by contouring tooth enamel, the outer layer of the tooth. When teeth are a little crowded or uneven, or when teeth appear too long, your dentist can use enamel shaping to improve how the teeth look.

Crowns

If a tooth needs more a dramatic change than veneers or enamel shaping can provide, crowns are an option. The outer part of the tooth is removed and a crown is placed over it. The crown can be made to fit in with your other teeth. It’s like a fresh start for your tooth.

First Steps to a New Smile

Once you decide to improve your smile, the first step is to visit your dentist. At this visit, you will talk about the best plan for you. If you have any signs of dental disease, your dentist may recommend treatment for this. It’s important to have a healthy mouth before starting cosmetic treatment.

These treatments and others can help you have more natural-looking and attractive teeth. What are you waiting for? Call Family Dental Care™ today about how to make your smile the best it can be. For Evergreen Park residents call (708) 425-1134 and for Oak Lawn residents call (708) 425-9101.

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All of us strive to have the perfect smile. A fresh smile instantly boots our self-confidence and makes us feel on top of the world. Maybe we are diligent about brushing and flossing twice daily, avoiding soda, wine, and other things that ruin our teeth. Unfortunately, healthy dental care habits may not be enough. In…

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Jul 06, 2017

Family Dental Care™ Offers Minimally-invasive Laser Treatment For Gum Disease

Chicago, IL – August 31, 2015 – The condition you may refer to as “gum disease” is also called periodontal disease. The American Dental Association defines periodontal disease as the inflammation of the gums that if severe, can led to the loss of the tissue that hold your teeth in place. Periodontal disease if the number one cause of tooth loss. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, this condition affects eighty-five percent of American adults age 18 and older.

Family Dental Care™ is excited to announce the offering of a safe, effective and comfortable in office treatment for periodontal disease, LANAP or laser assisted new attachment procedure.

LANAP is an FDA-approved full mouth protocol used to treat periodontal disease. Under local anesthesia in the office, a tiny laser fiber is inserted between the tooth and gum to remove diseased tissue. The tooth roots are then thoroughly cleaned of tartar and plaque. A fibrin clot is then created by the laser to seal the pocket. This allows for the regeneration of the tissues destroyed by periodontal disease.

Laser Treatment Near You

Before LANAP, patients with periodontal disease typically underwent scalpel and suture periodontal surgery, an invasive tissue-removing procedure, which causes sensitivity, root exposure, and an increase risk of root caries. In addition, recovery can take weeks.

LANAP does not cut or remove tissue. No sutures are placed. Therefore, the procedure is less painful, less invasive, and a much shorter recovery period. Most importantly, LANAP provides regeneration of lost tooth support which traditional gum surgery cannot.

“By reducing post-operative pain and recovery time, LANAP eliminates many of the reasons that so many patients hesitate to seek treatment for periodontal disease and helps me ensure that they get the best possible dental care,” said Dr. Alexander Alemis, D.D.S., FAGD.

There are many different types of lasers used in dentistry today, and NOT all lasers are created equal. LANAP is a strict protocol with very beneficial outcomes.

All dentists who perform LANAP are required to complete a comprehensive three-day, clinical, hands-on, dentist-to-dentist training at the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD). Additional training sessions at six and twelve months helps dentists hone and refine their techniques. Dr. Nicole Lambert, D.D.S., is a LANAP Gum Treatment Protocol Certified Dentist at the Family Dental Care™, 313 E. River Oaks Drive, Calumet City, IL 60409 – for more information and to schedule your next appointment, call (708) 862-2328.

Periodontal disease treatment is covered by most insurance carriers.

For more information visit: https://www.familydentalcare.com

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Family Dental Care’s Dr. Alexander Alemis Receives AGD Fellowship Award

(South Chicago, IL) The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) honored Alexander G. Alemis, DDS, FAGD with this prestigious honor during the AGD 2015 annual meeting in San Francisco, CA. The AGD Fellowship Award is presented to dentists who complete more than 500 hours of dental continuing education and pass a comprehensive written exam. Approximately only…

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Orthodontic Emergencies
Jun 23, 2017

Orthodontic Emergencies

At first, having orthodontic treatment may take a little getting used to. It isn’t uncommon to experience a bit of soreness when appliances are first put on, or some minor aches as teeth begin moving into new positions. Yet it’s comforting to know that genuine orthodontic emergencies are rare.

If you think you may have an emergency, however, the first step is to determine the severity of the problem: Is it an urgent situation that requires immediate attention, or a minor problem that you can take care of yourself, temporarily, until you can come into the office?

A Major Emergency

There are only a few true orthodontic (or dental) emergencies. They include:

  • Trauma or injury to the teeth, face or mouth
  • Infection or swelling of the gums, mouth or face
  • Severe, unmanageable discomfort or pain in these areas

In any of these situations, you should seek help as soon as possible — go to an emergency room, if that’s your best option. Generally, however, the place to start is at the dental office. If, for example, you have a fractured tooth, that immediate problem requires diagnosis and treatment. Afterwards your orthodontic treatment plan can be adjusted as needed. Likewise, severe pain or swelling could be a sign of infection or disease, which also needs immediate treatment.

Some Minor Troubles

Fortunately, the vast majority of orthodontic problems are minor compared to these situations — but they may still cause discomfort or irritation. In general, it’s best to try and soothe the immediate cause of the discomfort and then call for an appointment. Here are a few of the more common orthodontic problems, along with some tips on what you can do to relieve them at home:

Loose or broken brackets, bands or wires
This problem is often caused by eating hard or sticky candy or food, or playing with the braces. If the band or bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it as is — but don’t connect any elastics to it! You can cover it with orthodontic wax if it’s irritating the inside of your mouth. If it has come off, save it. In either case, call our office to let us know what happened, and we will recommend the next step.

Misplaced or poking archwire, bracket or tie
As the teeth start to move, the wire that connects them (archwire) may begin poking near the back of the mouth or irritating the cheeks. You can try moving the wire into a better position with a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip. If the wire won’t move, you may be able to cut the end off with a nail clipper sterilized in alcohol — but before doing so, please call for guidance or instructions. Often, you can also use tweezers to gently move a misplaced wire or a tie that’s causing problems.

When wires or brackets cause irritation, covering the metal parts with wax will often help ease the discomfort. As with any of these types of problems, it’s best to make an appointment so it can be taken care of.

General tooth pain or loosening
It’s normal for teeth to become slightly loosened during orthodontic treatment — that shows they’re moving! Sometimes, this movement may be accompanied by tenderness, especially after braces are placed or adjusted. For minor soreness, you can use your regular over-the-counter pain reliever. A twice-a-day salt-water rinse may also help: Mix one teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water, and rinse for 30 seconds. A warm washcloth or heating pad placed on the outside of the jaw can also offer some relief.

While actual emergencies are rare, the goal is to make orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible.

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