In the last two decades, Invisalign clear aligners have risen to become one of the most popular orthodontic solutions to address bite problems, misalignment, crowding, and gaps between teeth. The treatment is custom-tailored to fit each individual patients’ needs, which is why it’s not uncommon for patients to ask whether they can receive aligners for just their top row of teeth. Read on to learn the situations in which straightening one arch of teeth may be appropriate, and why many providers may not recommend this.
So, let’s say you need to straighten out the situation with your teeth, literally. In that case, you may want to consider Invisalign from your local dental practice. The treatment is well-known for producing straight smiles that are truly beautiful! However, you probably have Invisalign questions you want to have answered first. After all, it pays to know what you’re getting into before committing. Luckily, your local dentist is here to help. Here are the answers to four critical questions about Invisalign.
Needless to say,
we are thrilled to be back serving our wonderful patients. But like everyone, we are faced with numerous
challenges.
Our
highest priority is the safety of our patients and staff. Derby Dental has always taken universal
precautions for infection control, and we are now practicing protocols with
heightened awareness of safety. We
know that everyone is worried about exposure, but a dentist office, with its
strict protocols, is actually extremely safe.
And, of course no one enjoys wearing masks. It’s a pain, but it’s a necessity.
Like many small
businesses, we have been faced with a loss in revenue, revenue that pays our
rent and pays our employees. Dr.
Whitehouse has continued to take care of her employees during this time of
quarantine and everyone is excited about resuming their normal schedule.
Finally, we ask
everyone’s patience as we restart our scheduling process. We are finding ways to manage the two months’
worth of appointments that have to fit in to an already full hygiene
schedule. Both staff and patients have
to juggle work and child care responsibilities.
For those of you returning to work, we know that you don’t want to take
off any more time than is necessary. This juggling makes scheduling a
challenge. Please bear with us.
We look forwarding to
seeing all of you back in our dentist office and back in the swing of things in
Austin, TX.
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When You Can’t Get to the Dentist for Your Regular Cleaning, It Is More Important Than Ever to Practice Great Oral Hygiene.
Take These Steps to Ensure Your Oral Health
Brush twice a day, brush two minutes with an electric toothbrush.
Floss before you brush
Use a Water Pik if you have trouble flossing
Floss before you go to bed
We recommend CoCo Floss, it’s thicker and helps dislodge debris
Limit intake of sugary drinks and snacks
Chew sugar free gum; it helps generate saliva
If you take the above steps, you will be ahead of the game when you return to the office for your regular checkup and cleaning. Here at Derby Dental, your Austin TX dentist, We really care about your well being
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If it’s not one thing it’s another when it comes to aging. At Derby Dental we take pride in understanding our the dental care needs of our senior patients and the issues that they face. As we age, unfortunately, our mouth and teeth age as well. Many of our patients are taking one or more medications.
Dry Mouth
The number one side effect of most medications is dry mouth. But dry mouth can also result from the aging process or just daily stress. This dry mouth leads to greater risks of cavities, gum disease and mouth infections. We all know that saliva in your mouth starts the process of digestion, but it also helps wash bacteria and food off your teeth. This defense is essential to your oral health. As we age, the soft root surfaces become exposed with recession, brushing techniques, clenching/grinding and bite changes over time. To offset the effects of dry mouth, our dentists recommend sipping water throughout the day, chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugar free candy. Besides avoiding caffeine, dry and salty foods, alcohol and cigarettes, we may also recommend using an artificial saliva product.
Oral Cancer
One of the other dental care risks for our senior patients is the increased risk for oral cancer. The average age for the diagnosis of oral cancer is now 62 years. At Derby Dental we have the most advanced techniques for the screening of oral cancer, Oral ID. Our senior dental patients should be vigilant in their semi-annual cleanings and screenings. Maintenance and prevention are the best options to optimize care and to minimize costs.
Financial Challenges
Another factor that is important to our senior dental patients is insurance. Many of our patients are entering retirement and may no longer have dental insurance. This transition affects the patients’ ability to afford and seek essential dental care. That’s why Derby Dental offers an in-house financial plan (Derby Care Plan) that mimics some of the same insurance benefits once seen with dental insurance. The Derby Care Plan offers patients a way to have normal preventive procedures covered and discounted rates on recommended treatments by our dentists.
At Derby Dental, we care about providing our senior patients the best and most affordable dental care in Austin, TX. Don’t put off your regular screenings and hygiene.
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been taught that not brushing your teeth can have major consequences. Not just like having stanky no-one-will-ever-kiss-you breath, but real problems–like increased risk of heart disease and stroke associated with gingivitis and periodontal disease. If that wasn’t motivation enough to diligently floss and brush every day, now there’s new science to suggest a very real correlation (not just causation!) between poor oral hygiene and Alzheimer’s Disease.
There are jokes about folks with Alzheimer’s being able to hide their own Easter eggs but the truth is, there’s nothing to laugh about here. If you’re not familiar with Alzheimer’s, it’s a form of dementia that leads to extreme memory loss as well as a decline in cognitive abilities. A person suffering from Alzheimer’s could be standing across the street from the home they’ve lived in for forty years and not know where they are. It’s a terrifying predicament for the sufferer and also challenging for the family and loved ones.
So you know that gunky plaque stuff that builds up on our teeth? That’s actually a biofilm made up of a mass of bacteria and other microbes that produce toxins. If you let that biofilm get out of control, your gums will start to get red and inflamed. This is known as the mildest stage of gum disease, gingivitis. If left to progress even further, little pockets will develop around the teeth and you’ll develop full blown periodontal disease. The bacteria in plaque can now get deep under the gumline, causing the pockets to deepen. If left untreated, you could be looking at bone and tissue loss and your teeth will eventually become loose.
One of the key pathogens in biofilm that leads to periodontal disease is called Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. ging). This jerk of a pathogen secretes another friend in crime called gingipains. It’s these two infectious agents that have been found in 96% of those with Alzheimer’s. They are able to enter the body through diseased gum tissue as well as during invasive dental work, like extractions and periodontal surgery. In the study linked above, mice were infected with P. ging and it showed “brain colonization” as well as increased production of components that are found in amyloid plaques, which destroy connections between nerve cells that eventually leads to dementia. It’s also worth mentioning that P. gingivalis was found in 100% of patients with cardiovascular disease.
Some people have naturally white teeth. Years ago, I was a member of a fitness boot camp that had the audacity to hire trainers who were distractingly good-looking. One of them had a smile so pure and white that I couldn’t help but be nosy and ask him how I, too, could achieve such a blinding smile. He just laughed, ran a hand through his short brown hair, and said, “I don’t do anything. My teeth are naturally this white. I mean, I used bleach strips once like ten years ago.” And with that, he shed his tank top and did a slo-mo Baywatch run around the track. Or at least that’s the scenario my brain created.
Not all of us are fortunate enough to have naturally white teeth–and that’s okay! That’s why the populace has created a million and one options for whitening. We discussed a few at-home treatments in our last blog post, but today we’re going to talk about KöR, one of the best whitening systems on the market, and why we think it’s THE way to go for a long-lasting white smile.
Why KöR?
Derby Dental is a provider of the KöR Whitening System because it doesn’t rely on anything super high-tech or gimmicky, like lights or lasers, or big plastic cheek retractors–it’s just really solid science and chemical engineering that delivers great results. The process also doesn’t cause as much sensitivity as other whitening methods and the results are practically permanent!
What makes KöR different?
Like many other whitening systems, KöR involves a peroxide gel that is applied to the teeth. The big difference is that KöR whitening gels are under constant refrigeration from the time they are manufactured. This is a big deal because bleaching gels can degrade in room temperature environments (not to mention in a warehouse where the temperatures can get very warm). This means that by the time you bring home your whitening gel, it may be way less effective. Bleaching syringes and whitening strips don’t come cheap, so why waste money on something that only kind of works? KöR’s refrigeration ensures that your gel is 100% effective.
What’s the process like?
KöR is both an in-office and at-home process and can be altered depending on the difficulty of your case. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:
In-office: Take impressions for your custom trays
In-office: Jumpstart conditioning with 13% Dual-Activated, Tri-Barrel Hydremide Peroxide gel in your fancy new trays
At-home: Nighttime whitening for 3-4 weeks (more severe cases may need to bleach for up to 8 weeks)
In-office: Whitening session with 34% Dual-Activated, Tri-Barrel Hydremide Peroxide gel
Always get your teeth professionally cleaned before starting a whitening regimen! It will be way more effective if you have a nice shiny slate to work with.
If you have dental work like crowns and fillings, they do not change color and will not bleach with the rest of your teeth. For example, if you have a crown on your front tooth and want to do a whitening regimen, you would need to replace your crown (after whitening is completed) to match the new bleach shade.
Sensitivity is also completely normal. The KöR system has a fantastic desensitizer that helps combat sensitivity
KöR produces incredible results for achieving the smile you’ve always wanted to steal from your ex-fitness trainer. Call the office to learn more or to set up an appointment to achieve those #WhiteningGoals.
I watched a documentary on getting skinny by “juicing” and “eating less”–so I bought a juicer. I had heard that green juice, made with kale and spinach, was supposed to be really good for you (it’s also the grossest kind you can make, go figure). It wasn’t long before I noticed dark staining behind my bottom front teeth. Pulverized greens actually release more pigment that can cause staining. It was a great reason to quit juicing and go back to my burger diet.
Coffee & Tea
I can’t fathom a day where I don’t drink at least two cups of coffee in the morning. According to the Crest website, it’s actually the tannins in coffee and tea that are responsible for staining. Tannins are a naturally occurring chemical compound found mostly in plants, barks, leaves, and fruit skins. Unfortunately, adding milk to your coffee or tea does not minimize the staining as it doesn’t change the amount of tannins.
Tomato Sauces
This one is kind of a double whammy. Tomato sauce is pretty pigmented which can give your teeth a yellowish hue. They are also very acidic which means that they can erode your enamel and expose pores. Acid can also “roughen” up your enamel which makes it easier for more colorful gunk to stick to your teeth.
Red Wine
Same as with the tannins in coffee and tea. Opt for the occasional white wine or do it like my old Aunt Cassie: drink your red wine from a box with a straw.
Berries
There’s nothing I like better than a mixed berry pie. Or mixed berry anything, really. Berries are like tomatoes in that you have to watch out for the acidity as well as the pigment.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a delightful and delicious root spice used in a lot of eastern cuisines. It’s also bright yellow and known for staining everything. Countertops, fingers, plates, clothes, etc. I once had a temporary crown that was stained canary yellow after eating dinner at an Indian restaurant!
Soy Sauce & Sriracha
Both are pigmented and delicious. I lumped these together because I add them to almost all of my meals. They’re like two peas and a pod or a wink and a nod.
Dark Balsamic Vinegar
Dark balsamic will throw their heavy pigment on your teeth without thinking twice. When cooked on low to make a syrup, the vinegar, which is of course acidic, becomes like a sticky magnet to your teeth.
Colas/Sodas/Pops
Compounds in dark colas can do a number on your white teeth but the acidity also plays a part. It doesn’t matter if you’re drinking RC Cola or Sprite, the acidity will still fizzle away your enamel and leave it susceptible to staining. Fun fact: Did you know that the recipe for Coca Cola was never patented? If they patented it, they would have make their recipe public.
Tobacco Use
I know, I know, not a food. But I think it’s so important to continue mentioning that smoking or chewing tobacco are so detrimental to your oral health. Smoking has long been known to deposit a sticky, tar-like gunk on the surface of your teeth and requires some diligent scrubbing on your hygienist’s part to get it removed. Who wants to kiss that?!
Think of your teeth as a white t-shirt when it comes to staining or discoloration: anything that will stain a white shirt will likely also stain those chompers.
Already done some damage and can’t cut out the coke-a-cola. No worries! We got you 🙂 Check out our blog about at home whitening options or ask us about our KOR whitening treatment! :)
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There are a million reasons to smile once the weather gets warmer and all of them will be recorded on your insta-feed. Whether you find yourself pool-side at Deep Eddy, at local swimming hole, on a patio for happy hour, or at Zilker for a picnic in the park, one thing is for certain, someone will be snappin a pic.
Now you may be thinking to yourself, am I ready for this? Is my smile this camera ready? Can I handle all this extra exposure? Am I about to get insta-famous this summer?
While we can’t necessarily promise you fame and fortune, we can advise you on a few tips and tricks to get your smile celebrity status ready.
You may be tempted to look into at-home whitening options before jumping into the dentist’s chair–and there’s nothing wrong with that! There are tons of whitening strips, toothpaste, and lights available almost everywhere you shop. There’s also a lot of recipes for teeth whitening home remedies online.
Let’s break down some of these options:
Crest Whitestrips:
Crest Whitestrips are available in most grocery stores and are one of the few over-the-counter bleaching products that are ADA approved. They consist of an upper and lower plastic strip that have tiny peroxide-filled bubbles on them that “pop” when pressed against your teeth. They are usually worn for 30 minutes at a time. If they feel too slippery, try drying your teeth off before putting on the strips.
TIP ALERT! Definitely make sure to wipe any peroxide gel off your gums immediately after applying the strips. It can burn!
LED Whitening Kits:
LED-Light Whitening kits are the new kid on the block. They consist of a fancy mouth light and trays with either carbamide peroxide gel or hydrogen peroxide gel. The idea is that once you have the gel trays in your mouth, the blue light just helps speed up the whitening process. There seem to be a lot of options for these lights and at many price points. Make sure to do plenty of research before going towards the light.
Whitening Toothpaste:
Almost every brand of toothpaste has a version that claims to whiten your teeth to match Bob Ross’s Titanium White paint. Some of these can really help curb staining between teeth cleanings. Just watch out for abrasiveness. A lot of whitening toothpaste rely on a pumice-effect to scrub stains. The bad part is, they sometimes remove some of your enamel as well. This can either lead to more staining or even yellower looking teeth as the naturally yellow dentin (the layer of the tooth under your enamel) begins to show.
Homeopathic/Pinterest Methods
I’m going to stop you right here and redirect you to an older blog we did that talked about the harm in using Pinterest-approved whitening techniques, including charcoal and acidic foods. As we mentioned with the toothpaste, abrasives like charcoal and baking soda may help you achieve a whiter smile but it’s actually doing more damage in the long run as it removes your enamel. Acids, like those found in lemons and strawberries (which are two of Pinterest’s favorite whitening ingredients), will also cause irreversible damage to the enamel.
It works by utilizing a combination of in-office and at-home treatments with fully potent peroxide bleaching gels. As with most bleaching systems, some sensitivity is normal. Fluoride is the best remedy for senspost-whitening sensitivity, which you can find in lower doses in your toothpastes or extra strength at our office.
Luckily, the KoR whitening system includes an anti-sensitivity agent included in the whitening kit that can be used at home, and REALLY works!!
Happy Summer, ya’ll. Smile bright!
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No matter if you work at a cool new startup downtown, live in Rosedale or Pflugerville, or have been working for years at Dell, one thing is certain: your dentist is in a great location at the corner of Far West and Mopac.
The Northwest Hills area is pretty easy to get to from almost anywhere in Austin (barring traffic) and we have tons of delicious lunch spots nearby if you’re trying to grab a bite and get your teeth cleaned on your lunch break. (Seriously, the Boulevard Bar & Grill, Biderman’s Deli, Saffron–I could go on and on about food!) But we’re not here to talk about food or our great location…
we’re going to discuss your most burning question, the question 85% of our patients ask us:
Where the heck can I park?!
Y’all, I hear you. On the days we don’t start until 10a.m. we’re practically parking over at Wendy’s and taking a shuttle. There seem to be a large number of spots on the lot but most of them are reserved or say “Contract Parking Only”. Where does that leave you?
You’re a responsible person who left work with just enough time to get to the office for your mid-morning appointment but now you feel like a dolt because you just spent five minutes circling and now you’re late for your appointment and you’re frustrated and probably mumbling such profanities under your breath that even George Carlin would tell you to tone it down.
I know it may be tempting to park anywhere and take your chances, but please be aware that property management seems to have a whole fleet of grackles watching over the parking lot just waiting to nark on you. Management is cracking down on reserved, 30-minute, and 2-hour visitor parking and will not hesitate to tow. They’ve already had two cars towed so far!
We definitely know the frustration of not being able to find a place to park and want to find a solution. We’re in talks with the building property managers to get some designated parking spots for our patients. Until then, here are some tips for finding a spot and keeping your cool:
Snag an early morning appointment. The parking lots usually don’t fill up until about 9 a.m.
Wind your way up to the 5th floor of the garage
Add a buffer to your travel time in case you find yourself waiting for a spot
Location is so important, especially in Austin where traffic rules our lives. We’re glad we’re in a central location, close to the major roadways, an HEB and tons of food… and we’re glad we can provide a 5-star dental experience no matter where you’re coming from. We hope to get our parking up to 5 star standards soon!
