Top Dentist...8th year in a row!

Congratulations Dr. Aebli for being chosen as a Top Dentist for the 8th year in a row!

Another succesful bonding case...another beautiful smile!

 Easily done in one appointment.  Call us today!  407-323-5340

Cosmetic Bonding (Before/After photos)

Mind the gap!  We closed the spaces on the front teeth using cosmetic bonding.  This procedure can be easily done in one appointment with no anesthesia necessary and no drilling on teeth.

After cosmetic bonding

Before

Here's what some crowns and porcelain veneers can do for your smile!

After Treatment

Before Treatment

Call us today to discuss how we can help you smile brighter!  407-323-5340

The importance of regular cleanings

Professional dental cleaning and brushing your teeth are not exactly the same things. Although brushing your teeth twice a day (one of them is before bedtime) will clean most plague that contributes to tooth decay and gum disease, overall dental care requires more than just brushing. Regular dental visits are necessary as it gives the dentist the chance to monitor everything inside the mouth including gum, tongue, palate, the inside of your cheeks, and of course your teeth.  Regular dental cleanings help the dentist recognize early signs of disease and treat them accordingly before they get worse.

The general consensus is that you need to visit a dentist regularly at least once every 3 to 6 months. Your dentist, in accordance to the suggestion from American Dental Association (ADA), may determine different intervals depending on your dental health condition. Based on a current examination of your oral health condition, the dentist will suggest a personalized visit interval to treat your condition accordingly.

Regular dental cleaning has two main purposes: it treats early signs of dental problems and prevents potential risks of diseases. During a regular visit to the dentist you will receive the following treatments:

1.      Pre-Examination

Before the actual oral examination and dental cleaning begin, a dentist will check for anything out of the ordinary in head and neck area including face, lower jaw joints, and lymph nodes. Many indications of oral diseases may appear in the aforementioned areas. In case a problem exists, pre-examination helps a dentist to determine proper treatment before performing further procedures.

2.      Dental Examination

During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will:

• Evaluate your overall health and oral hygiene
• Evaluate your risk of tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease
• Evaluate your need for tooth restoration or tooth replacement
• Check your bite and jaw for problems
• Remove any stains or deposits on your teeth
• Demonstrate proper cleaning techniques for your teeth or dentures
• Assess your need for fluoride
• Take dental X-rays or, if necessary, do other diagnostic procedures

The dentist or hygienist will also ask about any health problems you have or medications you're taking and discuss how they might affect your oral health. If you have diabetes, for example, you're at increased risk of gum disease. If arthritis interferes with your ability to effectively brush your teeth, your dentist or hygienist might show you how to insert the handle of your toothbrush into a rubber ball for easier use — or recommend a powered or electric toothbrush.

3.      Dental Cleaning

Once the examinations have been performed, the actual cleaning can start. The hygienist will help remove plague and tartar, floss between your teeth, polish the teeth, and clean the gums too. At the end of the routines, the dentist will review any dental appliances you have/use and make recommendations concerning your dental hygiene. All in all, regular dental cleanings are not merely about cleaning the teeth from plague and tartar but also oral disease prevention and treatments.

Novosmile magic

While we worked with this patient to improve the health of her teeth, she used Novosmile as a quick easy way to a beautiful smile.  Call us today to get your beautiful smile!

With Novosmile

Before Treatment

Flossing Myths

The struggle is real when it comes to flossing. Many people are reluctant to floss, for one reason or another but unfortunately, for the flossing haters, flossing is extremely important.

Flossing is Vital

Although it can be tempting to believe that flossing does absolutely nothing for our teeth, this isn’t the case. Brushing your teeth is simply not going to cut it! A study was conducted to see the relationship between flossing and transient bacteria. The results showed that the patients who flossed daily developed no bacteria but that patients who delayed flossing from 1 to 4 days developed bacteria 86% of the time.

In terms of preventing periodontal disease, flossing is actually more important than brushing. Unfortunately, dentists in Sanford routinely hear a variety of excuses from their patients looking to justify their poor flossing habits. The following is a breakdown of common myths dental patients cite to excuse not flossing every day.

Busting Flossing Myths with Dental Facts

 1. If My Gums Bleed I Should Stop Flossing

This is a big myth that can keep many people from flossing every day. They think that they are hurting themselves by flossing, causing their gums to bleed. In fact, it’s the opposite. Your gums bleed because the bacteria growing between your teeth have inflamed your gums. If you floss daily and visit a dentist for cleanings, your gums will bleed less and less until the bacteria are cleared and they stop bleeding altogether.

2. Flossing Will Loosen Fillings

Flossing is necessary with any kind of dental work, including fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and more. Dental work becomes necessary when one doesn’t floss enough. Any kind of dental work needs extra care. Flossing every day is absolutely necessary.

3. I Cannot Floss With Braces

Though it may be harder to floss with braces, it is necessary. With braces, gums are more likely to become inflamed and infected.

4. I Cannot Floss Because My Teeth are Too Close Together

At Oakport Dental, we can attest that we have never had a patient that has had teeth too close together to floss. Of course some teeth are closer than others and it can be difficult to floss. There is specific thinner floss that one can purchase to solve this issue, but from our experience, this is an excuse more than an actual problem. Your dentist in Sanford can help advise you on different types of floss to use on teeth that are very close together. Usually, waxed floss or floss made of slippery polytetrafluoroethylene can help you reach in between these tight spaces.

5. Flossing Takes Too Much Time

Though some people may have busier mornings than others, there is always time to floss. You can floss in the morning, afternoon, or night—any time of the day. Proper flossing should take no more than two to three minutes. If someone doesn’t have two to three minutes to spare in their day, they may have bigger problems to deal with, though we doubt anyone is that busy!

6. A Waterpik Does the Same Job

Many think that a waterpik can take the place of flossing. Though a waterpik is a very useful tool, it cannot do as good of a job as floss. A waterpik should be used in conjunction with flossing, not as a replacement.

7. I Use Mouthwash Instead of Floss

Just like a waterpik, while mouthwash definitely helps, it is adjunct to floss. Mouthwash is better for loosening plaque, killing bacteria, and freshening breath, but it cannot take the place of floss.

8. There’s No Food in My Teeth, So I Don’t Need to Floss

First, food can be hard to detect in the far reaches of your teeth. Unless you have advanced mirror and lighting technologies to see far into the back reaches of your teeth, it is impossible to say if there’s food between your teeth. The purpose of flossing isn’t just to remove food debris from in between your teeth. It is actually the most effective way to remove dental plaque that accumulates between teeth. If the plaque remains, it can trigger gum inflammation, periodontal disease, and tooth decay. Eventually, failing to floss can even lead to tooth loss.

9. Flossing Is Not Fun

Though you may not find it fun at first, flossing will become a rewarding and pleasurable experience the more you do it. You will become more used to the process, and it will feel good to make the space between your teeth clean and smooth.

10. Flossing takes coordination

If you have difficulty with the mechanics of flossing, there are many tooth-cleaning options to help. Floss holders are Y-shaped devices that can hold a piece of floss between the two prongs. This allows you to floss your teeth using only one hand. Using a floss holder can also help you ensure you floss the backs of your last molars, which are more difficult to reach.

11. Flossing hurts

If flossing is painful or leads to bleeding, then you likely have gingivitis, which is an early stage of gum disease. Even though it may initially be uncomfortable to floss, continuing to floss each day can help prevent advanced stages of gum disease. If you are still bleeding within a week or two, then you should consult your dentist.

Take care of your teeth and your lovely smile by continuing to floss. If you have any questions about flossing or want to book a check-up to see how well you’ve been incorporating flossing into your routine, contact Oakport Dental today!

At Oakport Dental, we are dedicated to our patients having the best and most comfortable dental experience. Knowing that you have a choice in Sanford dental care providers, we do our best to treat everyone who walks through our doors like a member of our own family.

We are available for you Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm, and you can call us on 407-323-5340, fax us at 407- 322-9136, or email us at sanford@oakportdental.com.