How have you been feeling about your smile? It’s always a good idea to check in with yourself. If you’re noticing yourself feeling unconfident or shy in social or professional settings, changing your teeth could make a big difference. Our grins are a bigger part of our interactions that we realize. With just a quick smile, you’re communicating who you are, how you feel about that person, and the level of care you give yourself.

Cosmetic dentistry has become more and more patient-friendly – there’s an option for everyone, no matter their budget or personal preferences. If you’re interested in making changes like the ones above, just schedule a consultation to learn more about the treatment options that might be involved. Before your appointment, scroll down to learn more about what you stand to gain from the process.

 Why Cosmetic Dental Patients Love Their New Smiles

1. Heightened confidence – Of course, appearance isn’t everything, but it’s always going to be important. A good deal of your self esteem is related to your exterior, and when you have a winning smile, you feel like your true self is on display.
2. Improved work performance – Can a beautiful smile really give you a leg up in the office? Absolutely. Your teeth will not only win people over, helping you through interactions with superiors and coworkers, but also help you feel comfortable smiling freely (which makes you appear friendly and interested).
3. Better first impressions – No matter what we say, we tend to judge a book by its cover. When you first meet someone, they’re going to attempt to get as much information as possible about you, and that means drawing from your appearance. Damaged, yellow, or worn teeth make you look older, more tired, and even less capable. Boosting your smile will help you come away from new acquaintances having put your best self forward!

If you’re ever curious about cosmetic dentistry, get in touch for answers to your questions. Our staff is here to help!

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Does a disease-free smile mean a healthy brain? New research is suggesting that boosting your oral health could lower mental health risks as you age. While we’re not yet certain as to the cause of the connection, and more studies need to be carried out, this kind of evidence makes your dental care more important than ever. Your teeth and gums don’t exist in a vacuum – when they suffer, other areas of your body respond.

Learn more about the potential mouth-mind association below, and pick up some tips on proper oral hygiene and preventive care for aging adults. Getting older is inevitable, but a decline in your health doesn’t have to be.

Does Oral Health Influence Brain Function?

An evaluation of studies from the last 25 years showed patterns popping up when comparing seniors’ oral health and mental health. Dental problems were associated with more frequent incidences of dementia. There are a few different reasons that this correlation might exist, and more research is needed to discover exactly what the underlying reasons might be. Some researchers think it’s due to the poor nutrition and systemic diseases that are associated with gum disease and significant decay. But no matter the cause, the results are making patients sit up and take notice. If better brushing and flossing could keep your brain sharp as you age, wouldn’t you take the extra effort?

 Building Great Oral Health as a Senior

• Schedule routine exams – There are certain signs of dental disease that you won’t be able to notice at home, or recognize as problems. Be sure to schedule an exam every six months (or more often, if you’ve had gum disease before) – we’ll take a look at your teeth and gums and proclaim everything healthy, or offer treatment to get you to that happy place.
• Use the right dental products – It’s common to experience issues with hand mobility as you age, especially if you have arthritis. But this doesn’t have to mean that your oral health will suffer as a result. Find the dental aid that will help you brush and floss comfortably – you might benefit from an electric toothbrush, floss holder, water flosser, or another product entirely. Just ask for recommendations.
• Treat dry mouth – Many common medications cause dry mouth, a lack of adequate saliva in the mouth. This leads to an unhealthy oral pH, with acids eroding enamel and stimulating decay and gingivitis. If you notice your mouth feeling regularly dry, we’ll recommend a medication mouthwash that helps protect your teeth and gums. You can also make sure to drink plenty of water.
• Be proactive – If you notice something changing, take action. Your instincts are to be respected!

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Happy smiles in the dental chair? It’s easier than you think!

Don’t feel trapped by dental anxiety. There’s a way forward – and it all starts with a trip to your sedation dentist. It might seem counterintuitive to spend more time at the office when it’s the place that makes you feel anxious, but more exposure to your dental practice will help you feel at home.

Sedation dentistry involves more than just medication – it’s the entire process, from the moment you step through our door. Feeling calm and stress-free during treatment requires a multi-pronged approach, and we’ll help you find it for yourself. Keep reading for tips on some steps that have helped patients embrace their dental care, and see if any sound like they might be a good fit for you. If you ever have questions, just get in touch!

Feeling Great about Visiting Your Dentist

• Research your procedure – It always helps to learn a little more before your first time undergoing a new treatment. For example, if you’ve never had a root canal, look up the steps on an official dental site (don’t use personal sites, as these won’t necessarily be accurate or unbiased) to learn more. Your imagination is usually much worse than reality, especially if you’re nervous about the prospect of treatment.
• Voice your concerns – We understand dental anxiety, and we want to know if you’re feeling anxious. The more we know about your feelings, the more we’ll be able to help. You won’t offend us by letting us know that you’re uncomfortable; we’ve helped many anxious patients in the past, and we know how to proceed. We’ll make sure your treatment process is gentle, communicative, and will help alleviate your nerves.
• Find the right dental practice – You need to find a dentist you really love. This will help you schedule regular appointments, and stay on top of your health. The more often you have exams, the easier it is to avoid cavities and gum disease, and thereby prevent the need for invasive restorative treatment.
• Ask about sedation – Dental sedation helps patients feel better, even when they’re typically highly anxious in the dental chair. Various sedatives help control your anxiety levels and prevent them from rising. We’ll find the option that’s right for you!

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You bit into an apple, only to find that something was missing from your teeth. Or you were playing baseball with your kids and an errant ball connected with your jaw. Or maybe you noticed while brushing your teeth that a filling wasn’t in place. No matter the cause, you have a dental emergency on your hands.

While this kind of emergency tends to feel incredibly stressful, it doesn’t have to ruin your day. Learning more about the steps to take when disaster strikes will help you be proactive, and keep the panicking to a minimum. The first step? Call your King George dentist. We’ll give you guidance and make sure you get the care you need ASAP.

 Types of Dental Emergencies

Considering the cause of your pain or damage will help you understand how to move forward. Remember: if something is impacting your daily life and preventing you from getting things done, it’s an emergency. Don’t hold back or put up with discomfort; get help today.

• Toothache – Tooth pain can signify many different problems. Only a dentist will be able to examine your mouth and tell you the cause of your discomfort. While the source could be serious or minor, you won’t know until an exam, so schedule it when the you first notice the pain. While waiting for your appointment, take over the counter pain medication and use a cold compress against your cheek. You can also use a salt water rinse to help control swelling.
• Broken filling, crown, or veneer – Dental work doesn’t last forever, unfortunately. Whether due to it living out its full lifespan or encountering damage, your dental work may chip, break, or fall out (in the case of a filling). Save the pieces if you have them on hand, and if you swallowed them, don’t worry – you’ll be fine. Protect the area to help prevent yourself from snagging your tongue or cheeks on any sharp edges; use gauze or wax to help.
• Chipped or cracked tooth – If a natural tooth has chipped or cracked, seek dental care right away. Save pieces of the tooth if possible, and apply gauze to control any bleeding. Rinse your mouth with warm water, and apply a cold compress if you have any swelling.
• Lost permanent tooth – If you have received a blow to the mouth and a tooth has been forcibly knocked out, contact us immediately. If you can’t reach your dentist, visit the ER. If it’s possible to put the tooth back in place without force, do so. Otherwise, put it in glass of milk or salt water and bring it with you to receive medical care.
• Cheek or gum injury – We often accidentally bite the insides of our cheeks, or our tongue. More often than not, these injuries aren’t serious and will heal on their own. Use gauze or a wet tea bag to stem bleeding. Try a salt water rinse to help with swelling, and reduce infection. If you’re bleeding excessively or have bit through your tongue, seek medical attention.
• Jaw pain or injury – A blow to the jaw can be extremely dangerous and problematic. If your jaw isn’t working properly, visit the emergency room immediately. If you’re experiencing jaw pain but your lower jaw is functioning normally, schedule an appointment – you may be clenching, or may have a TMJ disorder.

Oral pain shouldn’t be a part of your life. Find help today!

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If you experience extreme sensitivity to hot or cold, a root canal could be necessary – or there could be an entirely different problem. Only way to know for sure is to see your dentist!

Your tooth enamel is the strongest material in the human body, and it does a great job protecting the more sensitive areas within teeth. But it isn’t impenetrable – damage, decay, or physical trauma can still impact a tooth’s pulp. If the sensitive inner pulp becomes inflamed or infected, that could mean serious pain and a potential abscess, which impacts both tooth and bone.

A root canal helps you reset. This restorative procedure removes problematic pulp, cleans the tooth, and fills it with a stabilizing material. Once a crown or filling is placed, the tooth is protected against further harm, and will remain a working part of your smile.

Root canal therapy is an important tool, and an alternative to extraction. But how do you know when it’s necessary? Symptoms can be conflicting, misleading, or not even present – which is one reason why regular exams are so crucial. Get better-acquainted with some common symptoms of inflamed/infected pulp, and be proactive if you notice something changing about your teeth.

Time for a Root Canal? What to Watch Out For

Only a dental professional can identify the need for endodontic treatment, using diagnostic tools like x-rays as well as their expertise. But you can watch for these signs and schedule an appointment if you notice them arising. Waiting too long for a root canal can lead to bone loss and the need for the tooth to be removed, so it’s ideal to react quickly. Plus, if you’re in pain, you deserve relief as soon as possible.

These symptoms aren’t universal, but are often associated with the need for a root canal.

• Tooth pain – Inflamed or infected pulp will trigger the nerves within your tooth, sometimes randomly and sometimes consistently. It may flare up when you bite down on the tooth, or be present throughout the day. The pain can vary from a mild twinge to severe, debilitating discomfort. If you’re uncomfortable, schedule an appointment right away. You can also apply an ice pack to your cheek or jaw to soothe the area.
• Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold – After biting into a popsicle, or drinking hot tea, you may notice intense sensitivity deep within your tooth. This can linger for some time after the hot/cold stimulus has left your mouth.
• Tender, swollen gums or a raised area below the gum line – Swelling within the tooth can lead to periodontal swelling in turn. There may also be a bump on your gums.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s wise to seek some help. Get in touch with our King George root canal team today, and get your smile back to normal.

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Put together a travel-sized oral hygiene kit so that you can clean your teeth on the go!

Invisalign treatment can be super simple. But it’s also a little different than anything you’ve tried before, so the process is going to take some getting used to. How do you avoid confusion and treatment hiccups? By educating yourself before taking on treatment. Our Callao Invisalign providers offer some tips to help you prepare and see smooth sailing toward a straighter smile.

 Discover Simple Invisalign Treatment

• Wear your aligners long enough each day – There’s specific treatment plan that outlines your progress, and dictates when you should switch to new aligners. You’ll need to wear your aligners long enough each day in order to see yourself stay on track. This means having them in for 20-22 hours per day, which requires that you clean your teeth and replace the aligners as soon as possible after eating.
• Practice speaking – When you first start Invisalign, there’s added material in your mouth that feels unfamiliar. You’ll experience some minor lisping until you grow accustomed to speaking with the aligners in. If you spend some time practicing speaking on your own, you’ll find yourself sounding normal in no time.
• Put together a travel oral hygiene kit – You need to be able to clean your teeth on the go, anytime you eat or drink something other than water. This removes bacteria and acids so that they don’t get stuck between your teeth and the aligners, causing decay. The last thing we want is for your smile to have cavities as a result of straightening.
• Cut down on your snacking – Since you need to clean your teeth every time you eat, you might find yourself struggling to snack. Try to eat fuller meals and eat healthy to avoid as many acids arising in the mouth.
• Follow instructions – Switch to new aligners when your Invisalign provider advises so that you stay on track. There will be some minor soreness after switching, but this will fade shortly (and it’s not as uncomfortable as the pain associated with braces).
• Wear your retainers post-treatment – You need to make sure that your results stick, and this means wearing your retainers. Cement your straightening for a lifelong beautiful smile!

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Valentine’s Day isn’t the only thing worth celebrating this February! There’s a much more tooth-friendly occasion on the calendar. The entire month marks a time for awareness of children’s dental health. Of course, you’re already doing everything you can to care for your kids, but it never hurts to take a second look at their oral hygiene.

Kids can need a lot of coddling to take care of their teeth. While we see them in the office every six months, their daily cleaning, diet, and habits are what really impact their oral health. Make sure those day-to-day moments are building strong teeth, rather than tearing them down. This month, try some of the following to see healthy smiles in the future.

Helping Your Kids Embrace Healthy Teeth

1. Brush and floss as a family – Cleaning your teeth together gives you a chance to keep an eye on your kids’ oral hygiene. Are they actually brushing? Are they doing it for long enough? Are they being careful to brush every surface of their teeth? Hop in front of the sink with them and you’ll get some answers, plus a little extra bonding time (and cleaner teeth).
2. Find some brushing music – Proper brushing takes at least two minutes. This is enough time to clean all your tooth surfaces and your tongue. Most of us don’t brush for long enough, and kids benefit from some timing aids. Find a song your kids enjoy that’s about 2 minutes long so that they can keep track of their brushing time.
3. Get your kids new toothbrushes – Toothbrushes and electronic brush heads should be swapped out for new ones every three months, or after significant colds/flus. Make this an opportunity to get some new dental products for your family.
4. Rethink your grocery list – Try to cut down on sugary snack foods and prioritize fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and unsweetened dairy.
5. Schedule your next family dental exams – It’s never too early to get exams on the calendar! Contact us today.

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We’re trying to make dental anxiety a thing of the past. And sedation dentistry is one way this goal can come to life. Sedation isn’t just a medication – it’s your entire experience at the office. At Cottrell & Associates, we strive to provide the kind of gentle, communicative care that leaves patients feeling better than ever about dentistry.

If you’ve never tried dental sedation before, learn more about the medications that might be involved before your appointment. You’ll know exactly what to expect, and help reduce anxiety before getting into the dental chair. Your dentist will meet with you and discuss your medical history, current medications, and personal preferences before recommending a form of sedation, but a general guide never hurts. Keep reading for more.

Pro tip: When you receive any form of sedation, you will need to arrange for a ride home from the office (and also to the office, if you take the medication at home prior to your appointment). Set this up with a friend or family member before the treatment date.

 Nitrous Oxide aka Laughing Gas

Nitrous is the most popular and longest-available form of dental sedation. It was actually discovered centuries ago, in 1772. The chemist Humphrey Davy tested its effects while attempting to find relief from a toothache and gum infection. He found that inhaling it helped reduce pain and “uneasiness,” and instead brought on a pleasurable feeling.

This still stands today. Nitrous is administered with a mixture of oxygen (usually 70% oxygen to 30% nitrous oxide), which is increased or decreased depending on how the patient is feeling. Patients have a small hood placed over their nose, and are instructed to breathe through it. This is comfortable and easy to do. After 5 minutes or so of breathing in the gas, you will feel a general euphoria (which is why this medication has been dubbed laughing gas). Many patients feel a little silly or start giggling, which is infinitely preferable to feeling terrified and clutching the sides of the dental chair! When your treatment is over, the gas is reduced and the effects wear off shortly afterwards.

 Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral conscious sedation works a little differently than nitrous, and has a more intense calming effect. Patients are prescribed a medication that usually belongs to the benzodiazepine family (some examples are Valium, Ativan, and Xanax). These medications help reduce brain activity related to fear/anxiety. Some also induce drowsiness and even memory loss, which is helpful for extremely anxious patients.

Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants. This means that the reduce your blood pressure and calm your breathing, placing the body in a safe state of relaxation. There is a longer onset than with nitrous oxide, which is why patients typically take the medication at home before coming to the office. The effects will wear off within a few hours of the appointment.

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Eating right doesn’t have to mean bowls of raw spinach and mysteriously green, lumpy smoothies. With a little research and planning, your daily diet can be healthy and satisfying. And we can help. The right choices are not only beneficial to your overall health, but also good for your teeth. Here’s how much (or how little) sugar you should be getting, how to find tasty substitutes for your favorite snacks, and which options are best for both body and teeth.

Eating Patterns in the United States

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion just released their healthy eating guidelines for 2015-2020. Data within shows exactly how the American population has been eating, and where there’s room for improvement. As you might expect, standard eating patterns don’t align with their recommendations. Some of our biggest problems include:

• 3/4 of Americans’ diets are low in vegetables, fruits, dairy, and healthy oils
• More than 1/2 of Americans’ diets meet or exceed grain and protein recommendations, but aren’t getting the nuanced grains and proteins they need.
• Most Americans consume excessive added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.

So How Do I Eat Better?

Identifying areas where your diet might be lacking is the first step. If, like most Americans, you’re consuming too much added sugar, that will have a negative impact on your body and on your smile. Sugars feed bad bacteria in the mouth, which then give rise to acids that erode enamel and stimulate tooth decay. By cutting down, you’ll not only help your waistline and energy level, but also protect your grin.

Try picking up the following foods during your next grocery trip to get started –

• Plain yogurt (sweeten with fresh fruit for a delicious breakfast)
• Nuts and seeds
• Fresh fruits and vegetables (try to limit your citrus intake, as the high acidity can be bad for teeth)
• Cheese and milk (they contain enamel-boosting nutrients and can help neutralize the mouth’s pH)
• Whole grain bread
• Lean protein like chicken and fish

Looking for more ideas? View the ODPHP’s illustrations of recommended eating shifts to see specific swaps for popular problem foods. If you ever have questions about a tooth-healthy diet, we’re here to help – just get in touch.

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If you’re in pain, you deserve to find relief. But how do you know when the discomfort is going to be fleeting, and when it’s a sign of more significant problems. Discomfort in the jaw can come and go, show up just every once in a while, or be a chronic concern. No matter what your jaw pain is like, help is ahead – the first step is identifying what the pain means.

Do I Have a TMJ Disorder?

The temporomandibular joint and muscles allow your jaw to function. They provide the means to open and close your lower jaw, to chew and speak, and enjoy the full range of motion available. The TMJ joint is responsible for so much, and it’s not uncommon for it to malfunction. When the joint develops a pattern of problematic habits, TMJ disorders take hold. An estimated 10 million+ Americans have TMJ disorders, and they’re more likely to develop for men than men.

That said, your jaw pain might not be TMD. Most people experiencing discomfort in the jaw area will see it fade after the underlying cause (stress, overactive jaw, swelling) stops acting up. This usually doesn’t require treatment. You’re likely to experience jaw pain if you are highly anxious, or if you have an issue with clenching or grinding your teeth.

But if those temporary problems persist, the pain could become more serious. It’s issues like grinding that can develop fleeting issues into long-term concerns. These typically fall into one of three categories:

• Myofascial pain – Discomfort that stems from the jaw muscles
• Internal joint damage – A displaced disc or other injury to the jaw joint
• Arthritis – Inflammatory joint disorders affecting the jaw

You may have one or several of these conditions, or experience other health problems that impact your jaw pain. We will need to take a look at your jaw to know more about the right path forward. But if you’ve been experiencing ongoing pain, having difficulty moving your jaw, or finding that the pain is affecting your daily life, that means you should get in touch to seek treatment.

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