Of course, invisible braces are invisible but only to other people. They are primarily like your classic metal braces but are placed behind your teeth, so it impossible for people to see it unless they look purposely inside your mouth. They also work like metal braces in aligning your teeth.

Except from the invisibility factor, here are more advantages of lingual braces:

• Promotes confidence. Because of its invisibility, it is best for professionals and older teens who are highly concerned with their appearance.
• They are custom-fit.  Your invisible braces are made especially for you. This means that it fits you just right and is more comfortable.
• Convenience. Invisible braces are more convenient for people playing with wind instruments and contact sports.

To get invisible braces, you need to go to a trained specialist. Indeed, placement of invisible braces needs a dentist who is specialized in this treatment. If you are qualified, meaning, you don’t have any contraindications for the treatment like some serious periodontal disease that needs to be treated first or deep vertical overbite which makes you a poor candidate for the treatment, your dentist can start the process of aligning your teeth. Images of the insides of your teeth are taken, scanned and sent to the lab. Modern lingual braces are designed with the help of modern computer technology. As said, this type of braces are custom designed especially for you putting in consideration the orthodontic movement your dentist has in mind to fix your dental problem. Once your invisible braces are done, your dentist will now apply it behind your teeth and secure it. After these important steps, you need regular visits to the dental clinic for the braces to be adjusted. Depending on the severity of your problem, your specialist will decide when to remove your braces.

Like metal braces, you will feel some level of discomfort during the first few weeks of treatment and you might need to eat soft foods for a while. After a few weeks, you will get used to it and feel more comfortable. Braces make it a challenge to clean your teeth properly so you may also need a special toothbrush for your oral hygiene.Without any concern for outside appearance you can now be confident knowing that your problem is being treated and it’s your big secret. With invisible braces you can keep smiling through the treatment and look forward to a better looking smile after.

A brighter smile and improved level of health will show you that you chose wisely when you chose Dr. Flood for your Grand Rapids dentist. Services include: holistic dental services in amalgam removal, mercury free dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, invisible braces, teeth whitening services, crowns, tooth extraction, emergency dental service and much more! Contact us at 616.974.4990!

• Filling a decayed tooth
• repairing cracked or chipped teeth
• improving discolored teeth
• fill spaces between teeth

After thorough assessment of your dental problem, your dentist will decide whether you need a direct or indirect bonding. Direct bonding is what we commonly call “dental bonding” indirect bonding is your “porcelain veneers” or ceramic coverings. Dental bonding differs from porcelain veneers in:

• Materials used- in dental bonding a composite material, mainly plastic or resin is used. In porcelain veneers as the name suggests it uses porcelain or ceramic.
• Cost- dental bonding is way much cheaper than porcelain veneers
• Length of procedure- with dental implants, the fillings are prepared in the dental clinic on the day of the procedure, whereas with porcelain veneers a waiting period is required for the veneers to be finished in a dental laboratory before fitting can be done.
• Requires a single dental visit to finish. Porcelain veneers need two or more visits to complete.

Dental bonding process is relatively short depending on the extent of the problem. Local anesthesia may not be used unless filling of a decayed tooth is needed. First your dentist will assess your problem and prepare the resin filling for your tooth. They will match the color of the composite material to the shade of your teeth to make it look like your original teeth. To make the bonding material stick better to the tooth, the surface of the tooth is etched and an adhesive material is applied. After proper color-matching and preparation of the tooth to be bonded, the resin is placed, hardened by a special light, shaped and polished. The whole process usually lasts 30-60 minutes for each tooth. After that, the patient is good to go and can even go back to work right away.

With dental bonding you can easily solve your minor dental problem without spending a fortune. It can improve you pearly whites and doesn’t need much maintenance. Proper oral hygiene like brushing your teeth two times daily and flossing are enough to make your dental fillings last for 3 to 10 years.

A brighter smile and improved level of health will show you that you chose wisely when you chose Dr. Flood for your Grand Rapids dentist. Services include: holistic dental services in amalgam removal, mercury free dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, invisible braces, teeth whitening services, crowns, tooth extraction, emergency dental service and much more! Contact us at 616.974.4990!

1. Choose the right toothbrush. Your toothbrush plays a chief role in the purpose of cleaning your oral cavity. Pick a toothbrush with head size that feels comfortable with your mouth. This should fit the size and shape of your mouth and help you reach the back of your teeth. The bristles shouldn’t be too stiff or too soft. It must be tough enough to get rid of plaque but not damage the gums. The anatomic grip of your toothbrush will help you do the right tooth brushing moves.
2. Using Fluoride toothpaste, brush your teeth two to three times daily. Brushing the teeth more often than this can cause damage to the gums and enamel.
3.  Rest your toothbrush on the gum line and form a 45 degrees angle beside the teeth and the gums.
4. Move the plaque away from the gum line by moving the toothbrush from the gums to the edge of teeth.
5. Making short strokes gently move the toothbrush back and forth.
6. Brush each tooth on the outer surface and do the same on the inner surface of the teeth. Give each tooth a “quality time” with the tooth brush. Pay special attention to the molars and gum line. Bacteria can easily hide in the molar and gum diseases usually start at the gum line.
7. With horizontal moves, brush the chewing surface of the teeth.
8. Finally, spit out the toothpaste and rinse with mouthwash or water.
9. Proper tooth brushing should last for two minutes. Using a timer while brushing will be helpful.
10. Lastly, take care of your toothbrush. Rinse it thoroughly and allow to air dry. Replace it every 3-4 months.

The simple task of brushing your teeth when done correctly will be very helpful in preventing tooth and gum disease. Taking two minutes out of your time, twice a day is more than enough to maintain those healthy white teeth and help you save on dental expenses of teeth repair. Remember, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. So how do you brush your teeth? You brush it the right way.

A brighter smile and improved level of health will show you that you chose wisely when you chose Dr. Flood for your Grand Rapids dentist. Services include: holistic dental services in amalgam removal, mercury free dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, invisible braces, teeth whitening services, crowns, tooth extraction, emergency dental service and much more! Contact us at 616.974.4990!

Dental implants comprise one or more strategically set post — which function as synthetic tooth roots for a permanent bridge of fixed, stable, natural looking replacement teeth. Implants are very durable and need the same oral care as with your real teeth. They also make chewing and talking easier because they don’t slide off or fall down. Aside from restoring your broken smile, dental implants work like your real teeth do.

Not everyone can have a dental implants but if you have good overall oral health (except of course for that missing tooth or teeth) then you are most likely to pass the criteria. Before getting an implant, patients undergo screening like taking an X-ray of the mouth to make sure that the jaw bone are sufficient to hold the posts. When your dental team decides that you’re good to go you can already schedule your surgery.

Pain shouldn’t be a concern in having dental implants because an anesthetic will be used during the entire procedure. With an experienced team of dental surgeons post-operative pain is minimal and pain medications will be prescribed. Chronic pain is not expected in d ental implants. Severe persistent pain long after the operation should be reported to your dentist.

During surgery, the periodontist (the one who puts the titanium post into your mouth) usually use local anesthetic to numb the gums. This anesthetic only makes your gums numb, you will not feel drowsy or fall asleep.  In some instances they use local anesthetic and sedation, especially for very anxious client or for multiple implants. The type of anesthetic used is usually based on the individual’s need and the periodontist’s discretion.

Now-a-days implants only need a single surgical procedure. However, there are still instances that it necessitates two surgical procedures. Your dentist will decide what’s best for you. For the two-step procedure, the first would be the placement of implants into your jaw. After two to six months the next procedure is performed, which is the attachment of the extension. Then the gums are left to heal for a couple of weeks. Finally the replacement tooth will be attached and you can now enjoy your natural looking implants. Chewing and talking will feel normal again.

Now you have a choice between sliding dentures and permanent fix. Affordable dental implants are your best option to gain back that confidence and share that beautiful smile once again.

• Lightening teeth
• Filling gaps in teeth
• Fixing sticking out teeth
• Lessen crowding in the
• Restoration of superficial appearance of teeth

Placement of porcelain crowns is simple and usually requires two or three clinic visits, depending on your condition and dentist’s preference. The process would include the preparation of the tooth or teeth, the making of the crown in a dental lab and the actual placement of your very own porcelain crowns. These crowns are durable. They are made of strong porcelain composites and mimic not only the color but the strength of your natural tooth. Just to be sure, be extra careful when eating hard food.

Even though bleaching doesn’t work on porcelain crowns this shouldn’t be a problem. This is because staining is not a concern when you have porcelain crowns because these types of crowns are stain resistant. If you are not confident with the color of your teeth, it is best to have your teeth whitened before getting a porcelain crown. Your dentist will then simply match the color of the crowns to your newly whitened teeth. In case your teeth don’t match your porcelains anymore after a few years because of staining of the surrounding teeth, you can simply have your teeth whitened to gain back the color that matches your crowns. Tooth whitening doesn’t have a major effect on porcelain crowns and is not likely to damage it. But if whitening doesn’t work on gaining your teeth’s previous color, you have to get a new porcelain crown that matches the present color of your teeth.

As previously mentioned discoloration is not a problem with porcelain crowns. This is because they are matched with the color of your natural teeth and they also perform just like your teeth would. When you have a porcelain crown in place it is expected to last five to fifteen years. With appropriate oral care like proper tooth brushing, flossing, regular visits to your dentists and refraining from chewing on hard food you can preserve the service life of your crowns to its maximum. Take care of your porcelain crowns like you do with your natural teeth and you will enjoy that radiant, perfect smile for years.

The examination ( check-up ) portion of the visit includes a review and update of your health history. We need to know what medications you are taking so that in the event we need to perscribe medications we can prevent the possibility of a dangerous interaction between drugs. Your blood pressure will be measued; recent studies  in the peer reviewed literature have show that many cases of high blood pressure are first diagnosed at the dental office.

We will examine your bite and your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. A jaw joint that is misaligned may cause headaches or cause tooth aches that mimic a tooth that requires a root canal, when in reality it is referred pain from your jaw joint We will examine your entire mouth and look for any signs of disease particularly caries and periodontal disease ( gum disease ). Eighty percent of all adult teeth are lost as a result of periodontal disease. We will also do a thorough cancer examination.

If you’re in search for dentists in Grand Rapids, choose Dr. Kevin Flood’s Dental and Wellness Center. Our staff continually takes continuing education classes in order  to identify early dental patterns in developing dentitions that may eventually lead to jaw joint problems and postural problems.

Dental amalgams, also known as silver dental fillings, are usually composed of 50% mercury, 15% tin and 35% silver and some other metals. Dental amalgams created from mercury are often used in posterior teeth fillings due to its high compressive strength as well as lesser marginal leakage in comparison to their resin composite counterparts. The usage of mercury in dental amalgams is typically well-known since its emergence some 150 years ago as it was pliable and also relatively inexpensive.

Regardless of the clear advantages in the usage of mercury, many people have issues with its safety. What good will low-cost dental amalgams bring if you’re risking your health? There have been studies that have been conducted to find out how safe mercury is to man’s health. As expected, certain studies have confirmed adverse effects on workers that are constantly exposed to low concentrations of the said metal. Most of these workers were proven to possess tremors, sleep disorder as well as weak cognitive skills. Other effects of chronic exposure to lower levels of mercury include exhaustion, uneasiness, forgetfulness, vivid dreams and depression. People who have gone through short-term exposure (approximately four to eight hours) to mercury experienced sudden chest pain, cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea and also pneumonitis. Intense exposure is also proven to cause serious side effects on the body’s neurotransmitters which can induce delirium, suicidal tendencies and also hallucinations.

Just recently, the FDA stated that using mercury as dental fillings do not have associated risks whatsoever since its levels in dental amalgams are way too low to cause harm. However, that claim sings a different tune, which may be pinpointed for the huge increase of mercury free dentistry advocates.

Experts say, the use of mercury as dental fillings could cause the metal to ooze out of the filling and directly into brain, kidneys and also bones causing serious diseases. Leaked mercury into various tissues could cause Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease as well as some autoimmune diseases. These negative effects directly associated with the usage of mercury paved the way for most people to support and avail from mercury free dentistry.

Aging can cause grown up teeth to become darker because of changes in the tooth’s mineral structure. In addition, teeth are stained due to food, tobacco, coffee and most of all, bacteria.

As we are most aware, there are numerous products available in the market that offers DIY (Do-It- Yourself) teeth whitening such as toothpaste with whiteners, whitening gel as well as home teeth whitening kits. Furthermore, various techniques are available such as teeth whitening trays and lasers. Even though the majority of teeth whiteners are just slightly helpful, there are several which do an excellent job of making teeth several shades whiter for longer durations than what commercial methods will deliver.

Teeth whitening enhances the appearance of teeth by getting rid of stains and enhancing brightness. DIY teeth whiteners normally consist of bleaching agents. For example: Hydrogen Peroxide, along with other chemicals, which usually oxidize stains and remove organic residues. Moreover, teeth whitening products are available in toothpaste form or specialized liquids used on the teeth.

A do-it-yourself teeth whitener cost less than getting a dental treatment. But, it doesn’t work as fast and doesn’t last as long. These DIY teeth whiteners are appropriate in cases where your teeth are just slightly off color since you’re only able to make them a few shades lighter. On the other hand, teeth whitening kits for home usually come with a solution or gel that you just put in a tray. The tray containing the particular whitening solution is put into your mouth for a specified period of time. Your teeth color is going to be several shades whiter but this isn’t considered the most effective method to whiten teeth.

For teeth which are badly stained or discolored, you might need a dental treatment. Various treatments are available, with different results. Your choice of treatment that will best serve your needs should be determined by your dentist. The number of treatments might depend upon how many shades whiter you wish to achieve.

Ideal results may be accomplished with laser treatments. This treatment should be done by a professional dentist. Professional teeth whitening requires a variety of chemicals and lasers to lighten your teeth immediately. Several sessions might be needed for ideal results.

One of the most popular solutions to make teeth whiter is bleaching. This method must be done by your dentist. It uses the same active agents as a home kit, however in a more concentrated form. Hydrogen peroxide is usually used as the bleaching agent. You can get results immediately. However, you might need a couple of sessions to get the best results.  For more information on teeth whitening solutions or to schedule your teeth whitening appointment, contact Dr. Kevin Flood’s Dental Health and Wellness Center today!

A toothache may be due to an infected gum surrounding the tooth that hurts, or it can be a due to a decayed tooth, it may also be a symptom of a sinus or muscle problem. Only after you pay your dentist a visit, you will you know for sure the real cause of the pain. If a dental visit is not possible at the moment, here are some tips for temporary relief from tooth ache.

1. Rinse your toothache away. Take a mouthful of lukewarm water and rinse your teeth briskly. If the pain is caused by trapped food in between your teeth, you may get it out by thorough rinsing. If this doesn’t work, try flossing. But be gentle because your gums are likely to be sore.

2. Gargle with salt water. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into a glass of lukewarm water. Hold each mouthful; gargle it around your mouth and then spit out.

3. Try an ice massage. A massage around the painful part can ease the pain. Try rubbing an ice cube into the V-shaped area where the bones of thumb and forefinger meet. Tenderly push the ice cube over the area for at least 5 minutes. In a recent study done by Ronald Melzack, a Canadian researcher and a former president of the International Association for the Study of Pain found that an ice massage eased toothaches in 60-90% of those who tried it. his research illustrates how ice massage works by sending rubbing impulses along the nerve pathways that the toothache pain would normally travel on. Since the pathway can carry only one signal at a time, rubbing compensate the pain.

4. Drop a little clove oil directly on the tooth. People have been using this over-the-counter remedy for years now. Clove oil is found in drug stores and health food stores. Drop a little clove oil on the affected tooth or dab a little on a cotton ball and massage the tooth and gum with the oil.

5. Don’t bite the affected area. If the pain is caused by a blow to the tooth, do not use the affected area. if the tooth has encountered trauma, biting it down may make things worse.  If nothing is damaged, have a rest for the tooth as it may help restore its vitality.

6. Relax your mouth. Keep your mouth closed. If cold air increases pain, just shut off the flow.

7. Take aspirin. For pain relief, take an aspirin every 4 to 6 hours as required.

If the pain suddenly disappears, it may also return much more painful than before, at any time. Give your dentist a call. If a simple toothache is given attention, it may steer clear of the need for an expensive dental procedure.