Dental Anxiety

It is one thing for anxiety to affect your daily relationships, but when it starts to impact your overall health then it becomes a problem. Dental anxiety, or dental phobia, is much more serious than just getting sweating palms and sleepless nights before an appointment – it’s a paralyzing fear of dentists or dental treatment. Luckily our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center have the tools, techniques, and gentle touch to help make regular dental visits as comfortable as possible for you.

The key to coping with dental anxiety is to discuss your fears with your dentist. Once your dentist knows what your fears are, he or she will better be able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more relaxed. In addition, ask your dentist what’s happening at every stage of the procedure. This way you can mentally prepare for what’s to come.

If you suffer from dental anxiety, give us a call so we ease your fear. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Banish Bad Breath

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be embarrassing and in some cases may even cause anxiety. It’s no wonder you may stock up on mints, gum, and other products designed to fight bad breath. But many of these products are only a temporary solution to the problem. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. However, it’s important to schedule professional cleanings and regular dental checkups at Fairwood Dental Center twice a year to get the situation under control.

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease. If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits. If your bad breath persists after making changes, visit us as soon as possible.

If you are embarrassed by bad breath and would like to discuss your treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Invisalign vs Braces

With all of the health and aesthetic benefits of straight teeth, it is a common dental treatment. Here at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we offer several different types of orthodontics including braces and Invisalign. Keep reading to learn about the differences between the two major options.

The Invisalign trays are to be worn for twenty to twenty-two hours per day. You can take them out to eat, brush, and floss, unlike with braces. While this is a definite convenience factor, it means you will have to be strict with yourself to make sure you wear the Invisalign for the recommended amount of time. Otherwise, treatment will be delayed.

This also means that there are no restrictions on what you can eat with Invisalign, so you do not have to avoid crunchy, hard, sticky, or chewy foods. Since you can brush and floss normally, there are no special supplies you need to purchase like interdental cleaners and floss threaders.

The smooth plastic trays are also more comfortable than metal braces, so the calluses and irritated spots that braces cause are less likely. In addition, the trays are clear. This means you can straighten your teeth discreetly and will not have the metal look to your smile.  

Whether you desire braces or Invisalign for your straightening treatment will depend on your preferences. To learn more, give our Renton, WA office a call at (425) 271-7725 or visit our Fairwood Dental Center website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Implant-Retained Dentures

Dentures can get a bad reputation for being uncomfortable and loose. However, with implant-retained dentures, those days are gone. At Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we offer implant-retained dentures so that patients can get the most out of their smiles and actually enjoy wearing them!

In order to place implant-retained dentures, first, mini dental implants are placed along the upper and/or lower jaw lines. Usually, between four and six are used per jaw line. The dentures are then modified so that they clip right into the mini implants.

The dentures are easy to clip in for patients, so they can be clipped in and out just like normal dentures. The implants give the dentures a stable base so that they fit perfectly. No more moving around while smiling, talking, laughing, or eating. You can now have conversations with people with confidence! Implant-retained dentures also help keep the jawbone from degenerating as quickly! So your dentures will fit better for longer.

Mini dental implants are about half the size of full-size implants, so no surgery is required to place them and they heal quickly. Often, the patient’s dentures are able to be clipped in the same day.

Implant-retained dentures allow comfortability and confidence. To set up an appointment with Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call our office at (425) 271-7725 or visit our website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Braces Removal

It’s official. You have undergone months, or perhaps years, of orthodontic treatment in the form of dental braces and now the glorious moment has come to finally have them removed. Understanding the process that our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will follow to remove your braces will help you better know what to expect when the time comes.

The removal of braces is a relatively quick and painless procedure and they must be removed in the reverse order from how they were applied. Therefore, the small elastic bands that are placed around each bracket to hold the wiring system in place must be taken off first. To do this, one of our doctors will use a small dental instrument with a hook to carefully remove each band.

After the elastic bands are removed, one of our doctors will use small pliers to gently detach the wire from the groove on top of each bracket and from the anchor bands that may be located on the back molars. He or she will then use special pliers to squeeze and remove each bracket individually. Because the separation of the bracket and tooth occurs at the point where the bracket met the adhesive keeping it in place, residue will remain on the tooth until it is polished and cleaned.

After the removal of your braces, our doctors will discuss the need for you to continue orthodontic treatment in the form of permanent or temporary retainers. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Anxiolysis (IV) Sedation

For patients who suffer from dental fear or anxiety, local anesthesia is not enough to treat the psychological factors of their condition and a sedative is often needed to put them at ease during oral surgery. At Fairwood Dental Center, one of the sedation options we utilize is called anxiolysis (IV) sedation.

Anxiolysis refers to a drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands. The definition for anxiolysis is simply, “a reduction in anxiety.” Although cognitive function and coordination may be impaired, ventilator and cardiovascular functions are unaffected. Anxiolysis is a form of oral sedation using a light sedative, such as valium. It is not as strong as oral conscious sedation, so it is recommended for those with mild to moderate anxiety. After one of our doctors administers anxiolysis sedation, you will remain conscious, but the edge will be taken off and the anxiety will fade away.  You will be able to talk and breathe on your own during the procedure as well.

If you have been delaying dental work due to anxiety, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Do I Need a Night Guard?

Bruxism is a condition in which you grind, gnash, or clench your teeth and although some people do this unconsciously during the day, most tend to grind their teeth at night.  If you frequently wake up with a sore jaw, a dull headache or tooth pain, you may want to ask our staff at Fairwood Dental Center if you are suffering from a condition called sleep bruxism. If you are, one of our doctors may suggest a night guard.

Grinding your teeth can damage enamel, wear down teeth, cause jaw pain, and/or irritate your gums. The noise from teeth grinding can also disturb your spouse’s sleep if loud enough. Here at Fairwood Dental Center all of our night guards are custom-fitted for comfort and allow for proper breathing. The purpose of the night guard itself is to provide a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. If you suspect you might be grinding your teeth at night, set up an appointment with us today.

If you think you may benefit from a night guard, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.