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.

Choosing the Correct Toothpaste

While strolling through the dental health aisle at the drugstore, our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center understands that the selection of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control, fluoride, sensitive, or whitening toothpaste? How do you decide? When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs. The best way to discover what those are is by scheduling an oral exam with one of our doctors here in Renton, WA. In the meantime, here are some options to consider while browsing:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste helps reduce oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exact what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions about dental hygiene, 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.

TMD/TMJ Disorder

The temporomandibular joint is the jaw joint and you have two which work together as a pair, one in front of each ear. These joints are what allow you to chew, speak, and yawn. Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) are a complex and poorly understood set of conditions characterized by pain in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues and limitation in jaw movements. Fortunately, relief is available. Here at Fairwood Dental Center, our doctors can recommend a treatment that will alleviate your TMJ symptoms. 

Some symptoms of temporomandibular disorders are experiencing pain when opening or closing your mouth, trouble chewing, jaw becoming locked, headaches or ear pain, clicking or popping sounds when opening your mouth, and teeth grinding. Many of these symptoms can be often associated with other health problems, so only a medical professional can tell you if it is due to TMD.

If you suffer from facial pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Fluoride and Tooth Decay

Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth’s crust and widely distributed in nature and is often added to water to help reduce tooth decay. Research has shown that fluoride not only reduces cavities in children and adults, but it also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay, even before the decay is visible. Here at Fairwood Dental Center, we can discuss professional fluoride treatments with you to see if you are a prime candidate.

When fluoride reaches your teeth, it is absorbed into the enamel. Fluoride helps to repair the enamel by replenishing the lost calcium and phosphorus to keep your teeth hard through a process called remineralization. When fluoride is present during this process, the minerals deposited into the tooth enamel help strengthen your teeth and prevent dissolution during the next demineralization phase. The results are stronger tooth enamel and a smile that is cavity-free.

If you think you may benefit from fluoride treatment, please give us a call if you have any questions. 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.

How Painful is the Dental Implant Procedure?

If you are receiving dental implants in the near future, our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center don’t want you to be frightened, we want you to be informed on what to expect. Pain is a common concern among individuals who are considering dental implants and we want you to know that while some discomfort is expected, it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

As with any major dental procedure, or surgery in general, some discomfort is to be expected during the recovery process since it is a surgery that typically involves removing teeth, cutting gums, drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium post. The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb your mouth. If you’re anxious about the discomfort during the procedure and being aware of drilling noises and forces being applied to your mouth, please ask us about our sedation options.

If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your restorative options, 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.