Is Invisalign For You?

Do you have teeth that need straightening or have a gap that may need closing? If you answered yes to these questions, then orthodontics may be in your future. If this is something that you have thought about and know that it would make you have the perfect smile, but the thought of having the metal braces is holding you back, we have the answer for you. Invisalign. What exactly is invisalign? It is a form of orthodontic treatment. Instead of wearing the traditional metal braces, you would wear something that is like a clear retainer. Every few weeks, based on your personalized treatment, you would come in and have your retainers or invisalign trays switched out for a new pair. At the end of your treatment you will have the smile you have always wanted without the monthes of having metal braces. This procedure is very appealing to adults. Make an appointment with your dentist to see if you would be a good candidate for invisalign.

Laser Treatment for Your Gums

In the past, gum surgery has been used to treat periodontal disease. Now, there are is a new technique offered to help fight against the disease. Just like lasik surgery is now being performed on eyes, laser treatment is being performed on the gums. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the gums and bone around the teeth that can lead to the loss of teeth. The laser procedure can reverse the process of periodontal disease. The procedure is alot less painful than the traditional gum surgery. Instead of cutting into the gum to get to the infection, the thin laser gets between the tooth and the gum and cleans away the infection. There are no stiches and a shorter recovery time associated with the laser treatment. This treatment is not practiced at all dental offices because it is a new procedure. Suwanee Dental Care, being up to date with the latest procedures for their patients, does use the laser treatment technique to treat periodontal disease. We would love to help get your gums healthy again.

The Truth About Root Canals

Root canal. Just hearing those two words make most people have an awful feeling. People tend to for some reason associate bad things with root canals even if they have never experienced having one themselves. Understanding the need and process of a root canal can help relieve some of the anxiety that go along with hearing the words. The number one thing that most people are afraid of is that the procedure will hurt. The truth is that the most pain you will feel is getting the anesthetic in the beginning of the procedure. You shouldn't feel anything else because the anesthetic will make you numb in the area. Most root canal procedures can be completed in one to two visits. After having a root canal, it is very important to schedule to have your tooth permanently restored. Having the crown will help protect your tooth from fracturing in the future. I hope knowing a little about the process will make you feel more at ease if you are ever told that you need a root canal.

Halitosis

Are you afraid of your breath? Bad breath or Halitosis is caused by bacteria. This bacteria can be contributing to tooth decay or periodontal disease. The gaseous bacteria can accumulate under poor fitting dentures or partials, in between your natural teeth or on your tongue. Talk to your dentist or hygienist. They can demonstrate proper brushing and flossing and suggest oral rinses or sprays that can eliminate "VSC" or Volatile Sulfur Compounds.
Certain health conditions and medications can contribute to dry mouth which can also cause halitosis. Stay hydrated by drinking water which will also help wash away any bacteria.

Dental Implants Save Face

Reproducing the natural look, normal feel and function of your lost teeth may seem difficult to achieve. At Suwanee Dental Care, many people have come to us because they sensed from their own dentists that this was the case. What they were pleased to find out was that there are good alternatives for almost every type of situation that can be successful.

Photo: Dr. Bill Williams visits with Dr. Matt Milner, one of the Kenya Mission Alumni and also a resident of the LSU Implant Prosthodontic Program in New Orleans at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry annual session in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dental implants are ideal for replacing missing teeth that have been lost due to dental caries or to periodontal disease. In many cases, the bone can be regenerated and an implant placed in its ideal location to maintain the health and beauty of the mouth. The problem with missing teeth is that it can be detrimental to your body’s overall general health as well as to the structures inside your mouth. It’s a well known fact that tooth loss leads to being a dental cripple with one tenth the biting power and ten times the facial wrinkles compared to people who have their own teeth….or dental implants.

Just as atrophy occurs with muscle disuse, so atrophy occurs in the jaw bones as teeth are lost. Excessive atrophy leads to excessive aging and weakness of the jaw and facial muscles. One of our goals at Suwanee Dental Care is to educate the patients we have to not lose teeth, to not allow missing teeth to remain in that detrimental state for long and to replace those that are missing with the best available option, bone-saving and bone-stimulating dental implants (as opposed to dental bridges, partial or full dentures). While those options are better than nothing (toothlessness), they pale in comparison to dental implants for longevity, function, and, most of all, the ability to preserve bone. For those who are missing teeth, dental implants are the absolute superior way to replace them. There is no bridge that is as good as a good dental implant for restoring a single tooth. The successful dental implant, over a lifetime, will be much less expensive to place and maintain than the average dental bridge or partial denture, too. Many people will look at the initially higher cost of a dental implant, abutment and crown on that implant and consider it too expensive compared to a dental bridge or partial denture. This is actually shortsighted because the complications and remakes of traditional bridges and partials are much higher over time. And, when bridges and partial dentures have to be remade every ten years or so, and when the implant is still functional after the same time span, the cost of the implant begins to look like a total bargain.

Dental implants have been around for over 50 years as a common part of the dental list of options for patients. While not too many dentists placed them in the early days and many implant systems have been come and gone, what is now used in dental implants by the highly trained dentists such as those at Suwanee Dental Care, are extremely reliable and have a highly favorable track record. Because of this fact, dental implants as an option for our patients, have risen from the bottom of the list in 1975 to the top of the list of options in 2011. We place them confidently and often and can say that they are well tolerated and enjoyed by hundreds of our patients. In fact you have probably met several of our team who have dental implants in their own mouths…Angie our treatment coordinator and myself! I had a dental implant placed to replace a missing permanent tooth in 1986 and it’s as good today as it was back then…perfect in form, function and comfort to this very day.

Yes: A Two Minute Exam Can Save Your Life

A Velscope cancer screen can save your life! It takes 1-2 minutes and is completely non-invasive. April is Oral Cancer awareness month and Suwanee Dental Care is offering the exam for $22. Come see us and save your life!

Dental Lasers

Dental Lasers are Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser technology has been used in many medical procedures for years. An increasing number of dental offices are using dental lasers as technology increases and improves. We have used dental lasers at Suwanee Dental Care for years. The doctors here are firm believers in advanced technology to provide our patients with the best and most comfortable dental care. We have lasers for hard tissue decay removal and crown procedures, soft tissue pocket sterilization, bleaching and laser cavity detection. Let us enlighten you with the most advanced and comfortable dental treatment.