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(515) 412-4200
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 412-4200
Urbandale, IA 50323
We understand proper oral health is not only about looking your best. It’s about maintaining a healthy smile. Did you know that the cause of most tooth loss is gum disease? Recent medical studies have established a link between gum disease and your overall health. The good news is that gum disease is treatable, often without surgery. We want all of our patients to have excellent oral health.
No matter what the toothpaste commercials tell you, there is no way their products can remove hardened plague (called tartar). Tartar builds up on the tooth surface and also extends to above the gum line. This puts your teeth and gums at risk.
Only a dental hygienist can safely remove it completely. We recommend twice yearly visits (more often if you have severe gum disease). Recent studies have shown a link between gum disease and heart disease as well as other ailments. Make dental cleanings a regular part of a healthy lifestyle!
Teeth with damaged or infected roots used to require extraction, which can cause problems and should be avoided
when possible. The good news is that we are experienced in advanced dental root canal treatment.
A root canal is a technique to repair a tooth by removing the pulp chamber in a tooth and replacing it with a
filling material. This is often needed when dental decay reaches the nerve of the tooth (or the tooth has become
infected), and a regular filling won’t be suitable. Not too long ago, this situation would have needed an extraction.
When dentists began performing root canals, they were dreaded by patients, and the root canal has gotten a reputation
as something to avoid. However, with modern anesthetics and technology, root canals are generally manageable.
Are you aware there is a link between your dental health and the ability to successfully control blood sugar levels? Did you know that not all dentists are equally prepared to help diabetics maintain their dental health? Untreated gum disease makes diabetes worse, and diabetes worsens gum disease. It’s a vicious cycle. You’ll be happy to know we have received specialized training on dental care for diabetics. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation. We will never criticize you for having put off dental care. You can be certain of compassionate and completely non-judgmental care. Please let us help.
For over 125 years the silver-mercury amalgam has been the traditional filling material used by dentists to repair decayed teeth. It’s a long lasting solution. However, many people don’t like having a mouth full of dark metal in their smiles. Our white dental fillings dentist provides tooth-colored fillings that contain no metal or mercury. Metal doesn’t bond well to tooth structure, so it’s susceptible to decay leaking in under the amalgam. Tooth colored fillings DO bond well to teeth so decay is much less likely to occur. But the best part is they look like natural teeth!
Neuromuscular
dentistry is built around specific treatment procedures that deal with your jaw joints and how your teeth
mesh together. If your teeth don’t come together properly due to a jaw joint disorder, they can wear down and you may
not be able to correctly chew food. This can also lead to a variety of head and neck pain. Many people with jaw joint
problems clench their teeth during sleep, which can damage teeth or dental work. It does no good to give a patient a
beautiful new smile that can be messed up by a bad bite. We want your teeth to last a lifetime!
We are one of the few dental offices in the area trained extensively in neuromuscular dentistry. We’ve successfully
provide migraine headache treatment to many patients who sought pain relief from physicians, chiropractors, and neurologists and have been told they
have a difficult case. If you have pain in your temples or jaw muscles, or perhaps suffer from earaches, headaches, or
problems with your jaw locking up or making popping sounds, you may be able to benefit from neuromuscular dentistry.
Heavy snoring at night can be caused by Sleep Apnea. This occurs when the airway gets closed down at night. Sleep can be interrupted as many as several hundred times per night. This can prevent a person from getting the recuperative sleep the body needs. The most common treatment for this condition is a CPAP machine. However, many people find the CPAP to be difficult and even claustrophobic so they quit using it.
We offer an alternative to the CPAP. A dental appliance worn at night can keep the airway open and allow a full, restful night’s sleep. Call us today for a complimentary sleep apnea dental treatment.
Most people know that sugar isn’t good for teeth. However, artificial sweeteners as an alternative can have their problems as well. That’s why we offer and encourage our patients to use Xylitol products. Xylitol is a natural substance that is found in fruits, mushrooms and vegetables. It’s even produced by our own bodies.
If you want fewer cavities and better overall dental health, talk to us about Xylitol.
Third
molars, also known as wisdom teeth, develop later than other adult teeth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. These
teeth are located in the very back of the mouth, often becoming impacted if they don’t fit in the arch of the upper or lower
jaw. Impaction causes the tooth to become enclosed in the jaw bone. This can create a range of problems, as they crowd other
teeth, causing improper growth. Cavities may develop as they are difficult to clean. Infection may even occur in the jaw bone.
A good solution is to have them removed as soon as they develop, before these issues and the jaw bone density increases, making
it more difficult for extraction. Our dental extractions dentist can perform these here in our office, without having to refer you elsewhere for most cases.
If it’s time for your next cleaning, or if you’re ready to schedule a no-cost/no-obligation consultation, call us now at (515) 412-4200 for general and adult dentistry in Urbandale, IA.