5 Dental Technologies to Increase Comfort

Increasing comfort with modern dental technologies

It’s not news that over half of Americans have anxiety about going to the dentist. People get nervous about potential pain, numbness coming out of the procedure, and loss of control throughout the process. The reality is that these fears aren’t about the dentist but rather about what we will be subject to during the appointment. And sometimes, this is a result of having a similar procedure completed a decade or more ago with a practice that didn’t have comfort-giving dental technologies and techniques at their disposal.

Thankfully, we use several techniques and technologies in modern dentistry to increase your comfort and lessen the chances of pain. Most patients who undergo these procedures with a new approach or tech don’t experience any pain or discomfort at all. With laser dentistry, in particular, we can provide a far more comfortable experience than ever before for patients needing cavity detection, dental fillings, and tooth sensitivity improvements. We use laser dentistry for gum reshaping, gum surgery, and muscle attachment improvements.

Suppose you are one of the millions of people who experience anxiety when it comes to the dentist. In that case, you can rest assured that today’s dental technologies offers comforts and conveniences that weren’t possible 20 or even 10 years ago.

Here are 5 ways that modern dental technologies can make your experience at the dentist more relaxing, more precise, and more likely that you’ll walk away feeling positive about your dental experience.

1. Bye-bye putty trays.

Remember those putty trays from the past? The ones that were used to take an impression of your teeth? Those trays were used to capture a negative imprint of the hard and soft tissues in your mouth. Impressions were made by placing a liquid or semi-solid impression material in the tray. You would clench your teeth down into the tray for a few minutes or however long was needed to create the impression. These trays were not comfortable—trust us, we didn’t like them either when it was our turn to make an impression.

Enter the E4DDentist solution. Created by twin brothers from South Africa, this laser digitization can scan the natural tooth surface. The technology allows dentists to scan, fabricate, and provide restorations. The process is efficient, effective, and patient-friendly. With the E4D Dental System, patients no longer need to bite down into the unpleasant-tasting solution or the uncomfortable dental putty trays of yesteryear.

2. Treat gum disease.

More formally known as periodontitis, gum disease is a common but preventable infection that damages gums and, when left untreated, can destroy the jawbone. In most cases, gum disease is caused by inadequate oral hygiene, and in extreme cases, can result in tooth loss. There is also a strong link between gum disease and heart and lung diseases.

Those with gum disease will have swollen, red, and tender gums. To treat gum disease, a dental professional will clean the teeth pockets via a scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure. In the past, this was an uncomfortable process, but now, when we combine the appropriate pain killer with an application of Arestin, our patients experience a tolerable and, dare we say, overall comfortable dental procedure.

Arestin is locally applied to the infected pocket and it administers an antibiotic through a slow-release. The antibiotic targets the bacteria so that gums can heal faster than they would with just the SRP process. Arestin also helps to ensure that the bacteria doesn’t return just a few days later.

3. No more numbness

It can be uncomfortable leaving the dentist’s office when you can’t feel the inside of your mouth or part of your face. It can also make you feel self-conscious and can be dangerous as there is an increased risk of biting your tongue or the inside of your mouth. At Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center, we use a revolutionary product called OraVerse, which works to reverse local anesthetic effects.

OraVerse is the only product proven safe and effective in accelerating the return of familiar sensation to your mouth after having experienced a local anesthetic containing a vasoconstrictor. This cuts recovery time down to about half of what it used to be. That means you’ll be smiling, talking, and drinking without spilling your beverage out the sides of your mouth in no time.

4. Denture replacement made easy.

If you’ve had your dentures replaced in the past, you know that it isn’t always the most pleasant experience. Here at Bentz, we have instituted the All-on-4 same-day teeth replacement method, which means our patients get fitted faster and without discomfort. The All-on-4 dental implants treatment method uses state-of-the-art technology to replace uncomfortable, inconvenient, and poorly fitted traditional dentures.

Rather than replacing traditional dentures, we suggest that our patients consider dental implants, which are permanent teeth replacements. Affordable dental implants have become a popular alternative to conventional dentures in recent years. Though dental implants are more expensive than dentures, they will last longer and save you money over time. The average cost of dental implants can vary. We’ll be happy to discuss pricing options with you during your assessment to discuss dental implants.

Before we drop this particular subject, we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that dental implants usually lead to fewer visits to the dentist. Though we love to see our patients, we know that there are other things that you would rather be doing than coming to visit us.

5. Speedy diagnoses for those in a hurry.

Finally, we know that our patients have other things to do than make time to come to the dentist. Even when we’re not living in the time of a pandemic, we want our patients to get in and out of our office quickly. We know that our patients need to get back to their busy lives. For this reason, we have state-of-the-art modern technology that makes dental visits more efficient and effective.

i-CAT 3D Imaging

We have invested in i-CAT 3D Imaging, which helps everyone here on the Bentz team provide you with a quick, comfortable, and practical diagnosis experience.

The i-CAT digital imaging technology provides jaw and full facial three-dimensional data so that we can assess the state of your dental implants. We can also leverage this technology to determine the need for TMJ treatment or wisdom teeth extractions. We can even look at the results to assess whether you are suffering from sleep apnea.

Intraoral camera and digital X-rays

Another next-generation dental technology that we leverage here at Bentz is the intraoral camera, Though traditional X-rays serve a purpose and provide us with valuable information, an intraoral camera allows us to see everything happening on the inside of your mouth. We can identify plaque deposits, cavities next to fillings, cracked teeth, and excessive wear. This makes for a far less invasive and cost-effective experience.

In some cases we will elect to take digital X-rays, which are far more effective than traditional X-rays. Digital X-ray technology provides us with many advanced imaging options that save you time and provide us with more detailed dental photos. Digital X-rays expose you to less radiation than traditional X-ray technology, and as such, digital X-rays are a popular solution for expectant mothers who may be nervous about harmful rays hurting their unborn babies.

CAD/CAM technology

If you’re not impressed enough with the technologies that have evolved in modern dentistry, we have more to throw at you. We now have the ability to create customized and personalized fittings of crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges, and other dental restorations. With this CAD/CAM technology, defined as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), Dr. Bentz and the team can provide you with the most precise restorations possible.

Modern dental procedures are not like you may remember them years ago, thanks to these amazing advances in dental technology. Our team at Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center stay on top of this modern tech so we can continue to offer you high-quality, comfortable, and thorough care. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, feel free to get in touch and book a time with us.

I Want a New Smile: What are my Options?

Restorative Dental Care

6 Things You Might Hate About Your Smile

Do an online search for quotes about smiles, and you won’t be disappointed. “A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear.” “Use your smile to change the world, don’t use the world to change your smile.” Or how about, “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness”? There is no shortage to the list of quotes that you can find about smiles. And it is no wonder, after all, as a smile can say a lot about a person.

A smile serves as a greeting, making others feel welcome. A smile can help stop tears, and a smile can help make that first impression. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with their smile, as you well know. Whatever the reason is that you don’t like your smile, we can help you correct it.

Your smile is essential for other reasons too. Smiling makes us feel attractive, and it elevates our mood and releases stress. Taking the time to smile every day can have long-lasting effects on our physical and emotional well-being. Often, however, some impediments can keep us from feeling confident in our smile.

1. Stained teeth? We’ll make them white again.

If you feel like your teeth are discolored, then chances are you don’t flash your smile all that often. At Bentz Dental Implants & Prosthodontics Center, one of the first things that we suggest you do if you have stained teeth is to stop or reduce eating staining foods. Developing a consistent approach to brushing and flossing is helpful, and we also advise regular dental cleanings. But sometimes, this isn’t enough. For those tough stains, we often recommend professional teeth whitening or veneers.

2. Missing teeth? We’ll replace them.

If you are missing teeth, the most common way to correct the situation is through dental implants. There are two types of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. We place endosteal implants in the jawbone and these implants are made of titanium. We place subperiosteal implants under the gum, and they are used in more extreme cases when there is not enough healthy, natural jawbone to hold the implants. Other patients might require alternative procedures such as a sinus lift, bone augmentation, or ridge expansion. At Bentz, we specialize in all of these procedures and help correct your missing teeth, bringing you the smile you deserve with affordable dental implants.

If you already have dentures but are interested in a more permanent replacement, All-on-4 dental implants might be a better option for you. Traditional dentures don’t support the regeneration of bone, which can cause the shape of your face to change significantly over time. When we use All-on-4 dental implants to attach a full dental restoration, we can provide you with the cosmetic solution you’ve been seeking. Your All-on-4 dentures can be fitted the same day that we place your implants. This means you’ll be back in front of the mirror admiring your new smile in no time.

3. Odd tooth shape? We have a crown for that.

At Bentz, we often suggest crowns to our patients who have concerns about their tooth’s shape. Crowns are a prosthodontic treatment frequently used for teeth that have broken or worn down or for teeth damaged due to tooth decay. In other cases, crowns can be used to cover teeth that have an odd shape. A crown cements over your existing tooth to fully cover the tooth above your gum line.

Crowns are made of porcelain or metal, and sometimes both. Many of our patients prefer porcelain crowns, which we craft to match the other teeth in your mouth. Further, porcelain crowns are quite strong and can withstand daily chewing and biting.

4. Experiencing gum pain? We can take your pain away.

If you are experiencing gum pain, it is no wonder that you don’t feel like smiling. If your gums ache, try rinsing your mouth with warm, salt water. Use a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush, and use an over-the-counter painkiller to treat the pain. Then schedule an appointment to get your gum pain checked out, even if it goes away.

Gum pain is sometimes caused by gum disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis. In most cases, we start with a deep cleaning. Gum pain is always something to be concerned about. The sooner you seek treatment, the better the odds that it can be treated simply.

5. Mouth pain making you frown? Let us help you turn that frown upside down.

If you are experiencing mouth pain, this can be a sign of many different health concerns. Over 90% of systemic illnesses have some sort of oral manifestation. If you are experiencing pain in your gums, we suggest you back up and read the previous section in this blog article. If, on the other hand, you are experiencing pain on the roof of your mouth, inside your cheeks, in the back of your mouth, or on your tongue, you may be experiencing canker sores, cold sores, oral thrush, or oral lichen planus. Mouth pain can also be an early indicator of Squamous papilloma or oral cancer. Mouth pain is not something that you should ignore.

If you are experiencing mouth pain and are in the Philadelphia area, contact us to schedule an appointment. If you are not in the Philadelphia area, we encourage you to reach out to a dental provider or medical practitioner near you. Early action is positively correlated with successful remedies that can help you get back to smiling sooner.

6. Jaw pain? Grinding? Teeth out of alignment? You may have TMD.

As with mouth and gum pain, jaw pain is no fun and is sure to keep you from smiling. Americans all over the country suffer from facial pain, neck pain, and headaches. In many cases, this is due to TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. Your temporomandibular joints (commonly referred to as TMJ) are what connect your skull and lower jawbone.

As we all tend to speak, chew, swallow, and yawn throughout the day, pain in your jaw can restrict movement and be altogether unpleasant. If you have TMD and seek TMJ pain relief, we will often suggest a nightguard to reduce the pressure placed on your jaw. We may also offer a variety of home techniques that can help you to be more comfortable. However, TMD is often the result of stress. As such, we encourage our patients to seek out ways to lower the stress levels in their life.

Our staff at Bentz Dental Implants & Prosthodontics Center take great pride in helping patients feel comfortable, safe, and welcome. Our goal is to help you bring out your smile. And once we treat your dental affliction, we guarantee you’ll be back in front of the mirror relishing your new smile.

Traumatic Dental Injuries, Implications, and Solutions

Emergency Dental Care

Dental injuries can happen anywhere.

No matter how careful we may be, dental injuries happen. Tooth injuries increase significantly in the summer as people are out enjoying the weather. But traumatic dental injuries can occur in the winter too. Broomball or hockey, anyone?

Most dental injuries come from sports incidents, traffic accidents, trips, falls, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, and violence. If you experience a traumatic dental injury, it is critical you seek medical attention from a dental provider right away, no matter what the cause. The sooner we can assess the situation, the more likely we can save your teeth and protect your smile. Common dental injuries include chipped or fractured teeth, dislodged teeth, knocked-out teeth, and root fractures.

Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?

A staggering number of teeth are knocked out every year in both children and adults. If your tooth has been knocked out, you may think that it is a goner. However, this isn’t necessarily the case, as proper emergency action may very well save the tooth. In many cases, the tooth can be placed back where it belongs and can last for years!

If you experience a knocked-out tooth, it is essential to take action quickly, ideally within 30 minutes. Handle the tooth carefully—avoid touching the roots—and rinse off any dirt or debris on the tooth. If possible, reposition the tooth into the empty socket in your mouth. If the tooth can’t be placed into the socket due to swelling, inflammation, or other reasons, you must keep the tooth moist. If you have milk available to you, put the tooth in a small container of milk.

If milk isn’t an option, put it in your mouth next to your teeth. No matter what you do, please don’t keep the tooth in tap water as the surface cells at the root of the tooth will not be able to tolerate it. Next, head to your closest dentist or endodontist. A dentist trained in traumatic dental injuries will identify if neighboring teeth are affected and whether or not you also have a soft tissue injury.

Treatment Options for Traumatic Dental Injuries

If you or your loved one has experienced a dental injury of some kind, it is essential to know that many treatment options are available. Though some dental injuries can’t be prevented (such as car accidents, incidents from trips and falls, and bike accidents), some can.

At Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center, we often talk to our patients about preventing dental injury. For those who play sports or work in dangerous professions, we suggest custom mouthguards to help lessen the risk of a mouth injury that can negatively impact your teeth. If this applies to you, please let us know so that we can help with a custom mouthguard fitting and so that we can partner with you to protect your teeth now and in the future.

Dental Implants

Dental implants consist of single or multiple artificial teeth that are surgically implanted into your jaw to hold replacement teeth or a bridge. Dental implants are a common choice for those who have lost a tooth due to a traumatic injury or periodontal disease. There are two common types of dental implants. Endosteal implants are typically made of titanium and are placed in the jawbone. Subperiosteal implants are used for patients who no longer have a natural healthy jawbone. These implants are placed under the gum and above the jawbone.

If you have one or more missing teeth, have adequate bone to secure the implant, and have otherwise healthy oral tissues, you will likely be a candidate for dental implants or All-on-4 dental implants. We are an expert provider of dental implants in Philadelphia and can help you with the right dental implant solution.

The cost of full mouth dental implants for extreme situations can be quite costly, with prices starting around $3,000 per tooth. Due to the excessive expense of dental implants, the Bentz team often recommends All-on-4 implants. They tend to be an affordable dental implant option that lasts longer and fits better than traditional dentures.

Bridges

Dr. Bentz is often asked about dental bridges and what they are. Bridges consist of what we call a pontic, or a fake tooth held in position by the teeth on either side of the gap. These pontics are most often made from porcelain so that they blend in with the look and feel of your remaining natural teeth.

Dental bridges are used to help restore your smile and provide you with the ability to chew properly. They can also help you restore your speech and maintain the shape of your face after a severe facial injury. Occasionally, bridges are used instead of dental implants.

Crowns

Dental crowns are a standard solution when an existing tooth has been chipped or damaged in some way. Dental crowns are designed to look like your natural tooth and are then placed over the damaged tooth to prevent further damage or decay. In some cases, we use crowns to hold a dental bridge or cover a dental implant.

Veneers

If you have experienced a traumatic dental injury and have been left with discolored or misshapen teeth, veneers might be a good option for you. Veneers can be an alternative to a crown for teeth that have been chipped or broken or if you have teeth with gaps between them.

Don’t wait if you have experienced a dental injury.

We can’t emphasize enough the need to contact a dental professional immediately if you have experienced a traumatic dental injury. The sooner we can assess the situation for you, the more likely we can provide a cost-effective solution that will get you back to your best smile. If you need emergency dental care, contact us. If you are unable to reach us during regular business hours, do not hesitate to seek emergency care at your local emergency department.

6 Smile Restoration Options That Could Benefit Your Smile

Restorative Dental Care

Smile restorations have never included more options.

Teeth are definitely one of those things that if you don’t care for them properly, you have a high risk of losing them. In fact, even if you do care for them well, problems can arise.

Much of the U.S. population is intimately aware of this. Most people have lost at least one tooth and 3.75% of the adult population between the ages of 20 and 64 have no remaining teeth.

Thankfully, restorative dentistry has made leaps and bounds in the past few years, and there are many excellent restoration options available for treatment. Whether you need to fill a small gap or replace all your teeth, it can be done! Here are just a few of the options available to restore the function and beauty of your smile.

1. All-on-4 Restoration

All-on-4 dental implants are a wonderful way to replace your whole smile. Instead of using an adhesive to put dentures in your mouth, an entire arch can be permanently mounted on implants.

Implants look, feel, and act like real teeth. You take care of them exactly the same, and they are a wonderful way for people with missing teeth to restore their smile.

Due to the unique placement of the implants, the entire arch can be mounted on just four implants, and the procedure can be performed even if you have already experienced bone loss. Furthermore, the implants will support your jaw and help prevent further bone loss, restoring your facial structure as well as your smile.

2. E4D Restoration

How about a system that can measure and produce inlays, onlays, veneers, and full crowns in one dental visit!

Say goodbye to messy powders or putty trays to take molds to create your tooth restoration. With a laser scanner, the dentist can take all the measurements they need to create and place a sturdy metal-free ceramic restoration all in one day. No need for a temporary restoration or any of that bother. Walk out with your restored smile immediately.

3. Arestin

Struggling with periodontal disease? Stop the advancement of periodontal disease with Arestin. Your dentist will first perform a deep clean with scaling and root planing to remove stubborn buildups of plaque and tartar from below the gumline. This procedure also smooths out the teeth, making it easier for your gums to reattach to the tooth and avoid further disease.

Arestin is a topical antibiotic made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny microspheres that is then placed in the tooth pockets. The powder slowly dissolves on its own over time, releasing the microspheres and allowing it to keep working long after your dental visit is over!

4. Prosthodontics

Prosthetic dentistry, or prosthodontics, is a group of techniques that can be used to treat a variety of dental conditions or replace lost teeth. Common examples of prosthodontics include:

Crowns: used to cover over or strengthen a damaged tooth, giving it the shape of a normal tooth
Bridges: used to replace several teeth by anchoring a prosthetic to the teeth on either side
Dentures: natural-looking removable teeth
Implants: can be used to replace a single tooth, a short row of teeth, or a full arch as we mentioned earlier
Fillings: decayed or worn teeth can be cleaned out and filled with a variety of materials to look natural and prevent further decay

5. TMJ Treatments

What is TMJ? When you’re stressed and grinding or clenching your teeth because of it, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can become inflamed and painful. Eventually, if this tendency is not curbed, you can suffer from damage to your teeth.

Dentists can create a special mouthguard for TMJ that will help protect your teeth, as well as relax the tension and ease the pain in your jaw.

6. Restoration for Traumatic Dental Injuries

Some people lose a tooth or two, not because of dental issues but as a result of a blow. This can happen when playing sports, being in a car accident, or any number of ways you can be struck in the mouth.

The good news is you won’t be left with a hole in your mouth. The smile restoration methods we’ve already mentioned like dental implants, bridges, or crowns can be used to hide the damage. Additionally, in children whose teeth are still growing, the bone can sometimes be stimulated to continue growing a new tooth, allowing them to still enjoy a natural tooth after their injury.

Getting the Dental Treatment You Need for a Healthy Smile

Are you asking yourself “how to find affordable dental implants near me”? Maybe you need a properly fitted TMJ mouthguard to protect your teeth from your clenching habit. Or you might be looking for a solid way to treat periodontal disease before it worsens.

You can find all this and more at Bentz Dental Implant & Prosthodontic Center in East Norriton, PA. Rest assured, with all the techniques that restorative dentistry offers, we can help you put the dazzle back in your smile. Contact us today to book an appointment!

November 2020