BC/BS
Delta Dental
NCAS - NEP
Guardian
Prudential
Cigna

Dental veneers fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry because they create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth. The translucent ceramic quality of today’s veneers provides a more natural look than what’s been available in the past.

Regardless of what causes unattractive teeth, dental veneers may solve most or even all of your cosmetic dental issues, including:

• Worn enamel: Over time, the thin, hard white substance covering your teeth (enamel) may become worn, dulled, and discolored. Such wear and discoloration may be natural or the result of a genetic predisposition; however, it is often a result of your habits (soft drink, tea, or coffee consumption, smoking, medication use, etc.)
• Wear and tear: Teeth naturally wear down as people age. Aged teeth are more likely to have chips, cracks or a generally uneven appearance.
• Genetics: Certain people may be born with abnormal spacing between the teeth that grows wider as they age.
• Uneven teeth: Uneven teeth can result from tooth grinding or general wear and tear.

Teeth whitening may provide a white smile for mildly discolored teeth. Some people who are interested in veneers will find the simpler alternative of whitening, perhaps combined with some simple orthodontic alignment. The placement of dental veneers permanently alters the teeth that are treated and is therefore not recommended if your natural teeth are functionally and esthetically adequate.

If you have a severe case of dull or discolored teeth, you may have to opt for dental veneers. Veneers do have the added benefits of longevity and a proven ability to enhance the appearance of your smile.  Although veneers require a much larger commitment than teeth whitening, the results are typically well worth it.

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TMJ disorder can develop when one or both of the temporomandibular joints stop functioning properly. This may happen due to any number of causes and may result in chronic ear pain, jaw stiffness and soreness, difficulty opening the mouth, jaw popping or clicking, and headaches. Sufferers of TMJ disorder may experience either sharp pain or a dull, constant ache. Because the causes and symptoms of TMJ disorder are so varied, the condition is typically classified into three main sub-categories:

• Myofacial pain
• Internal derangement of the joint
• Inflammatory joint disease

These classifications help doctors develop more effective treatment options for sufferers of TMJ disorder, based on each patient’s unique symptoms and needs. For proper diagnosis and treatment of TMJ conditions, a patient may require evaluations from multiple medical specialists. In addition to general dentists, dentists trained in neuromuscular dentistry are typically sought for TMJ diagnosis and care.

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With a tongue thrust, during the act of swallowing, an incorrect positioning of the tongue may contribute to misaligned facial development and the resultant malalignment of teeth.

With thumb (digit) sucking, the same type of misalignment can occur. What many do not realize is that this behavior can continue far into adulthood, so the social implications can also be pronounced.

An orofacial variation that relates to the lips is an open mouth, lips apart resting posture. Seen first in young children with compromised airways, this is often referred to lip incompetence and can distract from a pleasing facial appearance.

What Can Lead to an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

In most cases it is the result of a combination of factors, and may result from any of the following:

• Improper oral habits, such as thumb or finger sucking, cheek/nail biting, and grinding of teeth.
• Restricted airway, which can be due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a narrow or vaulted palate, a large tongue, an oversized uvula and/or allergies.
• Structural or physiological abnormalities such as a restrictive lingual frenum (tongue-tie).
• Neurological or developmental abnormalities.
• Hereditary predisposition to some of the above factors.

Therapy

Myofunctional therapy for tongue thrusting and lip incompetence may be recommended for a variety of functional or cosmetic reasons:

• Correcting or improving resting tongue or lip relationships can be instrumental in aiding the development of normal patterns of dental eruption and alignment.
• If the patient already has orthodontic appliances, correcting the disorder can help stabilize the orthodontic result by creating a more desirable and a healthier oral environment.

Usually the therapy programs are designed to retrain patterns of muscle function and to aid in the creation and maintenance of a healthy, adaptive orofacial environment. Therapy can help in the retention of the dental and/or orthodontic treatment, can help enhance one’s appearance and can help maintain optimum dental health for a lifetime of benefits.

At What Age Should Therapy Begin?

Children as young as four years old (five is the best age) can benefit from an evaluation session to determine if any preventative steps may be prescribed. For thumb and finger sucking, this is a good age to begin, but not much success can be found starting earlier than 4. With tongue thrust habits, children of seven or eight years of age are often mature enough to receive complete training. Adults of all ages are capable of success in treatment for any orofacial myofuncional disorder.

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In many situations, this compromise is minor and the body continues to get adequate amounts of oxygen to cause little or no harm. However, this is a red flag as it could also be one of the early signs or a part of sleep apnea. Most all sleep apnea sufferers snore in between bouts of apnea, or oxygen interruption. A sleep study should be done to determine the seriousness of one’s condition.

Sleep apnea patients have a rough night and don’t even know it is happening. In a given night, these apneic events (when a patient stops breathing) can occur anywhere from 30 – 50 times, and in some people as many as 60 - 100 times per hour! Obviously, these individuals awake exhausted and spent each morning, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night. Sleep should be a replenishing award for each of us.

Should you be worried? Well, to answer that, first analyze some signs and symptoms of sleep apnea sufferers. Common side effects of sleep apnea patients are:

* heart attacks or irregular heart beats
* impotence
* high blood pressure
* stroke
* heartburn
* morning headaches
* dry mouth
* gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
* impaired concentration
* depression
* decreased libido
* irritability

… and the obvious one, chronic sleepiness. A simple test can be taken that will grade this last symptom called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Additionally, a Sleep Observers Questionnaire should be filled out by anyone who regularly observes the potential sleep apneic. Not all apneics will score high, but if you do, it is a very good sign of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea).

It can also cause learning or memory disabilities, as well as periods of nodding off while on the phone or at work. Obviously, sleep apnea patients are at a much greater risk of having auto accidents.

People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those we’ve mentioned already who snore, or who are also overweight, or have high blood pressure. Another concern would be people who have some physical abnormality in the nose (deviated septums), throat, or other parts of the upper airway.

Lehigh Valley Dentist

A changing caries model: due to floridation, decay has gone “underground”. While helping to improve the oral health of many Americans, fluoridation has resulted in harder tooth enamel. Incipient decay lesions that once began on the tooth’s surface have now migrated below the surface.

Proven clinical results: Treatment decisions require a higher degree of certainty. The DIAGNOdent laser caries detection aid removes the doubt from treatment decisions regarding hidden caries ore questionable stained grooves. The device’s ability to see into occlusal pits and fissures enables dentists to treat sub-surface decay lesions with confidence.

Lehigh Valley Dentist

The VELscope® System Handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, which excites the tissue from the surface of the epithelium through to the basement membrane and into the stroma beneath, causing it to fluoresce. The clinician is then able to immediately view the different fluorescence responses to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue. In fact, the VELscope® System is the only adjunctive device cleared by the FDA to help discover oral mucosal lesions that might not be apparent or visible to the naked eye and to help surgeons determine the appropriate surgical margin for tumor excision.

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The technique offers tremendous advantages over traditional metal braces.

* Unlike the traditional braces people must wear for two to four years, this procedure straightens teeth in an average of just six months and uses low force to move teeth more comfortably.
* Six-month braces employ clear braces and tooth-colored, nickel-titanium wires – making them virtually invisible.
* The procedure requires fewer dentist visits and is typically less expensive than traditional braces.

Lehigh Valley Dentist

Lehigh Valley Dentist

If you have any of the following:

• Fear of dental treatment
• History of traumatic dental experiences
• Difficulty getting numb
• Very sensitive gag reflex or difficulty opening
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Limited time to get your dental care completed
• Complex dental problems; or a need for surgery
• Above average disdain for “getting numb”
• Embarrassment about your teeth
• In denial of a dental problem until the pain is unbearable
• Have not received professional dental care in many years, perhaps decades
• Go from dentist to dentist, or doctors, to renew painkiller prescriptions for dental  problems
• Often make and then cancel dental appointments
• Make numerous, lengthy phone calls to the dentist’s office
• Experience sweaty palms or find yourself gripping the armrests

…then yes, you are a candidate!

If you hate the noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care and offices and you can’t block them out, then you may want to experience sedation while we do the work.

Recent research has indicated that the number one reason adults postpone needed dental care was fear! Dental decay and periodontal disease do not take exceptions!

Sedation dentistry has several forms:

• Conscious sedation involves the use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.
• Oral sedation involves taking a pill to help control anxiety.
• Intravenous Sedation.

IV Sedation

We work closely with an excellent dentist anesthesiologist with 20+ years of professional experience.  He makes sure that you have a pleasant experience!

How Sedation Works
With safe and proven techniques, patients receive sedative drugs which work rapidly to create a relaxed state that is maintained and monitored throughout treatment. Beyond creating an optimal environment for you, the patient, dentistry with IV Sedation also allows us to complete multiple procedures in one appointment..

An IV is started by the anesthesiologist allowing all medications for relaxation to enter your body.  You will not remember or be aware of any procedures or especially “getting numb.”  You breathe on your own.  This is not like the hospital anesthesia where a machine breathes for you.

Sedation Facts:

• It Really Works! You really can relax through your dental appointment.
• You will have little or no memory of the experience.
• You won’t remember any sounds or smells.
• You can relax for up to five to six hours after the IV sedation (or the anti-anxiety pill if you choose). The time you are relaxing will vary depending on your needed treatment and type of anesthesia delivered.
• Complex dental treatments that often require multiple appointments can often be done in as little as one or two!  All while you relax.
• People who have difficulty getting numb will have no problem when relaxed.
• Sadation dentistry is a safe way to reduce the fatigue of extended dental treatment requiring long visits.

Well, what do you think?

FAQ’s:
Will I feel any pain?
You will feel almost nothing!  We even numb the back of your hand prior to starting the IV.

How long will I be relaxing?
Depending on your needs, from two to six hours.  You will rest for 3-4 hours when you get home also, most likely.

Will someone need to accompany me?
Yes, due to the sedative effects of the medication, you will need someone to drive you to our office and home again.

Will I be monitored?
Yes, one of our team is always with you and your vital signs are constantly monitored during the entire visit. You are never alone.

Is IV Sedation safe?
In our office, the dentist anesthesiologist is ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certified and all of their assisting staff are basic life support certified.  We have ACLS certification, so you won’t have to worry about who is around you while you are relaxing.

Lehigh Valley Dentist