Some patients mistakenly think that they are too old to have dental treatment. The fact is that one can never be too old for dental treatment, because age by itself does not disqualify someone from benefiting from needed dental care. It is true that a person’s overall health must be taken into consideration before dental treatment begins, but relatively healthy individuals in the 80’s and beyond often take advantage of needed dental treatment. The goal of dental care is to increase the quality of a person’s life. Studies have shown that given a hypothetical choice between living to the age of 100 and having poor quality of life, or living not quite so long and having high quality of life, people overwhelmingly choose quality over number of years. At Denise Dental Studio, we like to say that if you are not too old to chew and enjoy eating, then you
Dentistry is always customized. Every crown, for example, is specifically designed to fit one particular tooth for one individual patient. When it comes to creating an entire treatment plan, there is also a need to look at the patient’s entire dental needs, and then create a treatment plan that is designed to address those particular concerns. In fact, proper treatment planning is one the “behind-the-scenes” aspects of dentistry that patients rarely see, but which provides them with great benefits. To properly access each case, Dr. Denise reviews all the records, including dental and medical history, dental x-rays, models, and all other information provided by the patient or recorded during the dental examination. Then, Dr. Denise creates a customized treatment plan that is designed to provide the best dental solution given the patient’s needs. When there are several options available for treating a patient, these options are also reviewed. Once the
Q: Is the surgery to place a dental implant painful? A: No, it is usually done under local anesthesia in your dentist’s office, in just the same way as a filling. Once the anesthesia takes effect, you shouldn’t feel anything. Q: What can I expect after the anesthesia wears off? A: Generally there are no open wounds with implant surgery so healing is quite quick and un-eventful. You can expect some minor discomfort, but that can generally be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or similar medication in prescription strength. Q: How long does it take to place dental implants? A: It depends on the number and location of the implants, but simple, uncomplicated dental implant placement usually takes less than an hour. Q: What about eating after implant surgery? A: It’s generally important to avoid exposing any recent surgical site in the mouth to food if possible.
It is natural for patients to have some anxiety when they first enter a dental office. In our practice, we believe that making patients comfortable starts prior to a procedure being preformed. Sometimes we invite patients to come to the office, meet the team, and see our facilities before any treatment starts. In this way, we take the mystery out of the dental office and we give patients the chance to get to know us and get comfortable. When patients return to the office for the procedure, they are not walking into a new and strange environment. They already know what to expect, and this familiarity with us and our office tends to help them relax. During procedures, we are always attentive to a patient’s comfort level. We not only practice modern dentistry, but we also use the latest anesthetic techniques. Our goal is always to keep you relaxed and
Many patients ask questions about the protocols we use to sterilize instruments. We believe in maintaining and surpassing infection control guidelines. Rooms are disinfected after a patient leaves. Plastic barriers are used whenever possible and all instruments are placed in an autoclave for proper sterilization. An autoclave is a device that uses steam and heat to kill germs. The autoclave itself is inspected at regular intervals to make sure that it is working properly. Our goal is to reduce or eliminate the potential for cross contamination. Think of the dental office as a health care facility that is not unlike a hospital. Over the years, hospitals have developed strict guidelines to sterilize instruments and prevent the spread of infection. These modern systems are very different from the way health care facilities were managed at the turn of the twentieth century. Back then, doctors operated in street clothes and did procedures