oral health

Improve The Health Of Your Smile With Invisalign

By on June 25, 2016

Hello and welcome back to the Really Smile blog!

Today we want to talk about the benefits of Invisalign metal-free “braces.” Generally we associate braces with young people.

The image that most readily springs to mind is of teenagers who want to improve the aesthetics of their smile. This is certainly an important role of Invisalign, but it is not our primary focus for you.

At Really Smile we utilize Invisalign to help us improve the oral health of adult patients who would prefer to enjoy their natural teeth for the rest of your life.

Maybe you can relate!

Read on to hear all about the possibilities of Invisalign, and then make sure you follow up with us to schedule your adult orthodontic consultation in our Carmel, Indiana office.

The Big Benefits Of Invisalign

Invisalign helps you achieve the same smile goals that classic metal braces would have delivered. That said, it goes about it in a much different way.

For one thing, Invisalign does away with the awkward metal brackets and wires that used to be part and parcel of the process.

Rather than subjecting you to that, this technique makes the magic happen through a series of clear plastic aligner trays.

These aligners are switched out by you every two weeks or so until treatment wraps up in only about 12 months. No painful in-office adjustments for you. And no waiting 2-3 years for your transformation to happen.

What’s more, your aligners won’t be noticed by anyone and they are way more comfortable to wear than old-school metal braces.

They aren’t permanently attached so you can pop them out whenever it makes sense. That makes meals more fun. And cleaning your equipment will be a snap. No food restrictions or weird tools will be part of the plan.

Invisalign is a pleasant and painless way to improve your smile as a grown-up. We are fond of pointing out to our adult patients that Invisalign also boosts your oral health by eliminating some serious obstacles.

A Bad Bite

If you have an overbite, that will detract from your smile. But worse than that, it can place additional stress on your teeth and lead to worn-down or cracked teeth that will need to be repaired.

Invisalign addresses your bite issues thereby doing away with the need for cosmetic treatments later.

A Crowded Smile

Crowded teeth aren’t good for your look, but they pose more than a purely cosmetic problem. This can actually increase your chances for gingivitis and full-blown periodontal disease.

That’s because teeth that are that close together are difficult to keep clean. Bacteria is better able to hide from your brush and floss.

Plus, plaque can build up and cause inflammation and infection once it slips below the gumline. Tooth loss and other health issues can follow.

Lucky for you, Invisalign can repair your crowded condition.

A Spacey Situation

If your teeth are gapped it can affect your speech. What’s more, your individual teeth will not be protected by the surrounding teeth. This increases the risk of your tooth loss and more. Close the gaps with Invisalign and save your natural smile!

You Make The Call!

To learn more about the benefits of Invisalign and to find out if you are a suitable candidate for this treatment, call our Carmel, IN office today at 317-451-4050. Or feel free to contact us online instead!

Relax, Sedation Dentistry Will Wash Away Your Fears!

By on June 19, 2016

Welcome back to the Really Smile blog!

We are your trusted source for gentle dental care in the Carmel, Indiana area.

If you live in the region and feel ill at ease about visiting the dentist, you should know that we can help make it easy for you to get the kind of care you deserve.

Without regular cleanings and exams, you won’t be able to keep up with your oral health needs, and worse yet, you will have no idea what is going on in your mouth. You could be walking around with cancer or periodontal disease and you would never know until it is too late for conservative treatments. Plus, you would probably offend most people you meet with your breath. And your smile would not look as good as it should.

But don’t feel bad. We aren’t trying to bring you down. Obviously, you aren’t the only person in the Hoosier State afflicted by this problem. Fear of the dentist (dental phobia) is quite commonplace all across the country. While from an outside perspective it can seem irrational, there are reasons enough why it takes hold. It can more often than not be the direct result of prior bad experiences at the dentist’s office, the sort that leave an indelible scar. Regardless of how these fears enter your life, the obstacles they create can be difficult to overcome. But unless you want to set yourself up for real trouble later, it is a good idea to try to work through your anxiety now.

Like we said, we aren’t like everyone else around here. For over 30 years, under the leadership of Dr. Smith, the Really Smile crew has been changing lives in this community through comprehensive dentistry services and personal care. Our genuine relationships with our patients are what set us apart from the other dentists in the area. If you give us a chance to change your life for the better, you will quickly see that our compassionate team and comfortable office environment are disarming. What’s more, we will go the extra mile to help you relax when you are here.

Sedation Dentistry Alleviates Fear

Besides treating you kindly, we have other ways of sidestepping your dental anxiety. We can actually provide you with sedation dentistry in conjunction with all of our procedures, if that would help. Oral sedation is completely safe and easy to take. You will only need to swallow a pill a little while before the scheduled procedure. With oral conscious sedation, you will be sedated but still awake and able respond as necessary. But you will have little to no memory of the treatment or why you were ever afraid in the first place.

Let Us Get The Job Done!

In addition to calming anxiety, there are other reasons why sedation dentistry might be good for you. If you have an uncontrollable gag reflex, shaky legs, or who are coming in for multiple procedures, sedation makes a lot of sense.

To schedule your gentle dental appointment in Carmel, Indiana, contact us today! We can’t wait to see your smiling face.

We’ll Keep You Smiling This Summer

By on June 2, 2016

Welcome to the Really Smile blog!

We are a full-service dental practice based in Carmel, Indiana.

Our office was designed with YOU in mind. To make sure that each patient is comfortable when they get here, we have set up a complimentary refreshment area.

You can then listen to soothing music in our tensing room while you prepare for your appointment. You’ll be pleased to know that this room also comes replete with a massage chair, Tempur-Pedic cushions, blankets and pillows.

Then we will attend to your needs, load you up with education, and then send you on your way. As part of that education, we wanted to make sure you are keeping your oral health top of mind this summer. For today’s blog post, we have compiled some suggestions that will keep you smiling all summer long.

Water Is For Winners

We all know the importance of staying hydrated in the summer heat. But did you know that drinking water can also help keep your breath from turning foul? It helps by allowing you to produce enough saliva to fight off the bad-breath-causing bacteria. Drink up!

Keep Brushing

Our friends at the ADA tell us that you will need to brush every day at least twice regardless of the season. This is your basic defense against disease and decay. Do it like you mean it. And then find the floss!

Flossing Is More Fun Than A Root Canal

You should be flossing every day in order to get food, tartar, plaque, etc. out of the spaces in-between your teeth. This will save you time, expense, and pain down the road.

Rinse Your Mouth

Fluoride mouthwashes can bring added oral health benefits. They are an easy thing to add to your hygiene habits at home. Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of all they have to offer?

Sugar Is A No-No

We understand that when you are at the pool or on the road a cold soda or sugary treat is delightful. We wouldn’t want to deprive you of life’s simple pleasures. But these choices won’t be good for your smile in the long run because all that sugar will feed the bacteria that hastens cavities and decay.

Make Us Part Of The Plan

Teeth cleanings from our team will eradicate any bacteria, tartar, or plaque that remains even after your best efforts to brush, floss, and rinse at home. What’s more, our thorough exams can alert you to any problems including cavities and oral cancer!

Don’t worry, if you are apprehensive about coming here, we can help you work through your dental anxiety. We now have NuCalm, a drug-free relaxation technology that will allow you to totally relax at the dentist and feel more refreshed at the end of your appointment than when you came in. Doesn’t that sound nice?

Our team is also certified in oral sedation. We offer nitrous oxide, and we can partner with an anesthesiologist to help us relax even the most fearful dental patients.

Learn More, Get Started!

Contact the Really Smile team today to schedule your next preventive dental appointment in Carmel, Indiana. You’ll be glad that you did!

Assess Your Risk For Common Oral Health Problems [Quiz]

By on April 29, 2016

Loading Assess Your Oral Health Risks

A Dental Check-Up Can Make All the Difference

By on March 1, 2015

We Hoosiers are tough. We know how to handle just about anything that comes our way! We are ready for any kind of weather, from dangerously hot to dangerously cold. We can drive just about any vehicle you throw our way, and we are always ready to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor.

We are tough, and that usually works to our advantage. Sometimes, however, we let our tough nature get the better of us, and we convince ourselves that we don’t need to follow recommendations set by healthcare professionals. A Hoosier is ready to “walk it off” or “tough it out.”

Today, we are talking about routine dental check-ups, and there is no better place to witness this attitude than dental exams. Patients convince themselves all the time that they don’t need to come in every six months because their teeth are just fine! And it could be true! Your teeth might feel fine, but that’s not really the point of a dental check-up!

Let’s take some time to discuss the point of check-ups and how often you REALLY need to come in. You might be surprised by what you find out!

How Often is Often Enough?

By now, you should know the rule. You need to come in for a dental cleaning and exam every six months. We base that on the average time it takes bacteria to cycle through so that we give you enough time to make your cleaning worthwhile without putting your gums or teeth at risk of prolonged exposure to harmful bacteria.

The Six Month Model Isn’t for Everyone

However, even though six months is the rule, it isn’t for everyone! There are exceptions. In some cases, we might need to see a patient every four months. Still others need to be seen every two months. These patients come in more often because they are in a situation where their body cannot fight bacteria on its own for one reason or another. We get to know these patients really, really well!

But for most, the six month model is completely on the money. As we mentioned above, we want you to have time to actually need a cleaning, but if you stay away longer than six months, you are putting your smile at risk for gum infection or tooth decay.

What to Expect During Your Appointment

Maintaining routine dental check-ups is the difference between a long-lasting, healthy smile and a smile that will never last to the end of your days. These simple, short appointments are the key to oral health! Not sure what to expect when you go? Let’s take a look at the major parts to most dental exams.

Cleaning: The first task is to clean your teeth. After six months, you have built up plaque along the gumline of your teeth. We will remove that sticky or solidified plaque from your teeth and below the gumline, which will remove harmful bacteria from your mouth. We generally end your cleaning with a nice polishing of your teeth so you leave the office feeling nice and clean!

X-rays: An important part of your check-up is the X-rays. We generally only take these every other appointment. We use these images to check the health of your tooth roots. We can see what is going on deep below the gumline to ensure that your teeth are healthy from crown to root.

Exam: Once your teeth are clean, we will do a dental exam. There are many parts to this, but in general, we are checking to make sure that your teeth are strong and capable of functioning. We will check old fillings, look for signs of decay, and check that your gums are healthy.

Oral Cancer Screening: Every patient will also receive an oral cancer screening. This is our way of looking out for you! Oral cancer is treatable if it is caught early, which is why we check each patient!

How You Will Benefit from the Appointment

Now that you know what to expect, you might be wondering how exactly YOU will benefit. We believe that every patient will have a favorite part of the dental appointment, but that depends on what is important to you. Let’s take a look at a few benefits that you might not be considering!

Feel Clean and Confident
Leaving from a dental appointment is kind of like getting out of the shower after a long day of working outside. You feel CLEAN and that gives you confidence. Having clean teeth will make you feel better than you might realize, just like that shower gives you a boost of energy that you didn’t know was possible.

Catch Problems Early
If you hate dental work, you should definitely come in for your semi-annual appointments! We know that sounds counter-intuitive, but let us explain. The best way to catch problems before they turn into serious dental work is to come to the office regularly! Even cavities can be downgraded to a piece of cake when you are coming in for routine cleanings and exams.

Reduce Risk of Disease
Gum disease is a real threat. It has links to many types of systemic health conditions, but we can help you reduce that risk considerably through routine appointments! By clearing your mouth of those harmful bacteria every six months, you are giving your smile a chance to stay free from infection, which will reduce your risk of other complications!

Make Your Appointment Today!

Routine dental appointments are the key to maintaining a healthy, confident smile. Don’t wait set up your next exam! Contact us today through phone or the website. We would love to help you find a time that is convenient for you.

Once you’re here, we will help you have a fantastic appointment! You’ll wonder why you avoided the dentist at all! We hope to see you very soon!

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