3D printing for digital dentistry

Dentist in Mentor OH Discusses Digital Dentistry

What is 3D printing?

3D printing is a revolutionary approach that aims to improve dental procedures through accurate scans and models of teeth. This offers an exclusive speed and print resolution. This type of printing can be used to produce dental restorations, as well as numerous other products to the benefit of countless businesses. Our dentist in Mentor OH breaks down the advantages for our patients by utilizing 3D printing.

Advantages of 3D Printing in Dentistry

• Tooth Replacement

Dentists typically use a digital wand to scan the patient’s mouth. This is usually done prior to the procedure wherein a missing tooth will be replaced. The 3D printing technology will help us examine the entirety of the area where an artificial tooth will be placed.  It also helps digitally design the artificial tooth so that it fits perfectly to the intended area.

• Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most critical dental procedure to restore a patient’s smile. It needs accurate mastery and skills to perform the operation successfully. With help of 3D printing, we clearly scan the area where the implant is needed. Since implants are usually done near the jawbone, it is vital that the treatment is accurate; this include precise size, material, and process.

• Tooth Modelling

Tooth modelling is a process that dentists do for patients who need new crowns, caps, and dentures. Before molding the crowns, caps, and dentures, a model has to be provided first. This is where 3D printing comes in handy. It helps our team get the exact size and shape. The same process is also done for patients who wish to have braces or Invisalign.

Due to the advent of technology, getting precise and accurate treatment is no longer impossible. With this 3D printing, digital dentistry has already escalated to a different level, giving patients security and peace of mind while undergoing any dental procedure.

Call Erieview Dental at (440) 357-1222 to schedule your appointment with one of our dentists in Mentor OH and begin your new smile journey today!

Choose Wisely with Smart Moves

Make the Right Decision with the Help of Your Cosmetic Dentist in Mentor OH and See What Smart Moves can Do for You

Are you interested in transforming the way your smile looks, but don’t believe you have the time or resources to do so? Many people become extremely discouraged with their smile and get stuck on the idea that they won’t be able to change the way their teeth look. If they’re crooked or gapped, people may feel embarrassed to smile around their friends and family. But with the help of our cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH, we have a solution – Smart Moves!

What are Smart Moves?
Smart Moves are custom-made aligners that shift your teeth into the appropriate position so your smile is straight, just the way you want it to be! It’s designed to treat minor malalignment cases on your anterior teeth (the visible ones). You’ll receive two sets of aligners – one to begin the dramatic tooth movement, controlling the position the teeth go into, and another to complete the final movements and set your teeth into their right spot.

How Do I Know if Smart Moves is Right for Me?
There are a number of cases that Smart Moves has the ability to recreate and improve, but this service isn’t for everyone who wants dramatic dental shifting. Sometimes, your teeth may only improve with the help of traditional metal braces.

Like we mentioned, these aligners are designed for anterior teeth movement – these are the teeth that are in the front of your mouth and the most visible when you smile, laugh, or talk. Smart Moves aren’t suitable for your posterior teeth and we’ll suggest another treatment if you’re looking to correct that area. Also, if there are too many teeth that need to be moved, both in the front and the back of your mouth, Smart Moves may not be the right choice.

Depending on your particular dental case, you could be wearing Smart Moves for a number of months, perhaps even a year. Everyone’s smile is different, so there’s no telling how long your treatment can take until you visit for a consultation!

To learn more about Smart Moves and what they can do for your smile, call your cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH today at (440) 357-1222 and schedule your appointment. Your brand new smile awaits!

Fight Bacteria with Prevention!

Our Mentor OH Dentist Explains the Importance of Preventative Dentistry

Drs. Thomas and Greenfield know how important it is to have a dentist in Mentor OH who cares about your smile. This team of professionals believes that with preventative care, many patients can avoid developing problems such as gum disease and dental caries. It all starts with being proactive about keeping the smile healthy and clean.

Our dentists recommend that patients pay close attention to their teeth each and every day. This means brushing after every meal and flossing at least twice a day. This greatly reduces sugars and acids on the teeth, as well as prevents plaque and tartar from forming around the gum line. Removing food particles can greatly reduce the risk of cavities and disease.

Additionally, our team encourages patients to maintain their regular dental appointments every six months. At these visits, patients can undergo an evaluation with the dentists to check for any signs of problems. This may include not only a physical examination but x-rays. X-rays can be used to check for cavities or disease that are not visible to the naked eye. X-rays also help in checking the bone of the jaw for any abnormalities. Problems detected early on can be easier to treat as well as less invasive.

Patients unsure about how to monitor their oral health are encouraged to book an appointment at Erieview Dental and speak with our team of professionals about how to maintain a beautiful, healthy smile. We can teach adults the best ways to brush and floss at home, as well as signs and symptoms to watch out for which may signify an issue that needs to be addressed by a professional.

At Erieview Dental, Drs. Thomas and Greenfield assist patients in achieving better oral health and wellness through preventative means. When patients maintain their smile with regular dental visits and proper oral health care at home, our Mentor OH dentists reduce their chances of developing cavities or periodontal disease. Contact their practice today at (440) 357-1222 or by visiting personally at 9510 Diamond Centre Drive. They are always welcoming new and existing patients into their state-of-the-art dental facility for comprehensive dental care solutions.

Chipped or Broken Tooth?

Cosmetic Dentist in Painesville OH Shows how a Dental Crown Protects and Improves Your Smile

A tooth may chip or break for any number of reasons. It could be that you love chewing on ice, or that the bowl of popcorn you enjoyed during movie night was a little tough on your teeth. Sometimes, a break or chip is the result of a minor incident to a tooth that has been compromised due to erosion or decay. Whatever the cause of a chip or break, you want to know your comfort and functionality can be restored as quickly as possible and our cosmetic dentist in Painesville OH is here for your smile.

What to do if you chip or break a tooth:

• Call Erieview Dental right away to schedule your visit. If you put off making an appointment, the tooth in question could sustain more damage or even become infected. Prompt care for a chip or break might just save you from needing a root canal or extraction.

• Prior to your dental visit, you may manage comfort with an over-the-counter pain relieving medication. Rinsing the mouth with warm, salty water can also reduce bacteria and swelling. You can always ask us about any other short-term remedies to use from the pharmacy.

• If you must eat before you can receive professional care, choose softer foods that will be unlikely to cause further damage.

Dental Crowns to the Rescue!

Patients who visit Erieview Dental may discover that the best way to repair a chip or break is with a dental crown, not a filling. This is because a filling typically fits inside of the tooth, and may not provide the full amount of protection necessary for long-term success. A crown will encapsulate the entire visible part of the tooth, and will absorb the force of the opposing tooth when you chew.

To repair a tooth with a dental crown, we schedule two visits. The initial visit will focus on removal of damaged enamel. We will take an impression and cover the tooth with a temporary crown. The final restoration is typically ready for placement in about 10 days, at which point it will replace the temporary, and you will be on your way!

We are here to support you in long-lasting oral health. To schedule your visit with our cosmetic dentist in Painesville OH, call Erieview Dental at (440) 357-1222. 

Treat Your Brush Right, Or Someone Else Will

At-Home Maintenance Tips

As the top Mentor OH dentist, you would expect our office to be equipped with the absolute best in modern equipment and tools. Well, it is. We don’t deny that. We make sure to keep all of our techniques and tools up to date and sterilized in the best ways that we can- there is no denying that. One of the things that most patients seem to dismiss, however, is that they actually have one of the most powerful tools in all of oral health at their homes right now too: the toothbrush.

In the following blog, we will teach you how to take care of your toothbrush so that it can, in turn, take care of your teeth in the best way possible.

In order to remove any lingering bacteria on your brush following your regimen, a few steps are important to take. First, make sure you wash the head of the brush off under hot water whilst rubbing a finger through it. This combination of heat, water flow, and motion should help remove and dislodge any stuck particles still left on the brush.

Following that, proper storage is key. Make sure to store your brush upright in a container that allows for plenty of airflow to dry it. Do not allow the brush to make contact with any other surfaces or brushes. Also, do not allow any other person, friend or loved one, to borrow your brush.

Lastly, after 3-4 months, you brush will not only be very susceptible to bacterial take-over…but the bristles will be frailer than when you first started. Make sure to throw this brush out and go buy a new one to replace it.

By following these at-home regimen rules, and keeping regular appointments with your dentists in Mentor OH at Erieview Dental, you could be seeing your teeth in their best condition ever. Call us today to schedule an appointment at 440-357-1222.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

Teeth are necessary for us to efficiently chew. While we don't give much thought to our teeth beyond this, and beyond the appearance of the smile, these structures are also important to functional speech, and to the contouring of the face. Teeth hold the lips in a plump, youthful position. Without them, the area between the nose and the chin would collapse inward. To have a lovely smile is not a luxury; it is something we all deserve. Tooth loss can stand in the way of this, but it doesn't have to. Our cosmetic dentists in Mentor OH often create lifelike dental bridges to help Erieview Dental patients regain confidence in their smile.

Prompt attention is needed for the person who has lost a permanent tooth. Replacement is necessary not only for aesthetics, but also for oral health and for overall oral function, too. The dental bridge is a proven method of restoring necessary oral integrity, providing a number of benefits, including:

• Optimal chewing, without creating stress for the joints of the jaw.

• Aesthetic value.

• Speaking remains clear, as the tongue hits teeth in the right places to create various sounds.

• Bite force is evenly distributed amongst all teeth, rather than just a few.

• Proper support is restored to facial structure.

Treatment with Dental Bridges

There are a few different types of dental bridge. Most patients opt for the fixed bridge due to the stability it provides. This structure includes two dental crowns and a pontic, or artificial tooth. A bridge can hold more than one pontic between two crowns. To begin the restorative process, the teeth outside the gap are reduced in order to accommodate their crowns. Impressions are taken and a model is sent to the dental lab. Temporary crowns will be affixed to these teeth. When the final restoration is complete, the temporary crowns are removed and the bridge is put into place. Before we bond the bridge, we evaluate bite and fit to ensure long-term results. Secured onto the anchor teeth, the bridge should last for several years.

Tooth loss can have steep consequences, but we can help you avoid them! Call our cosmetic dentists in Mentor OH at Erieview Dental to consult with us about dental bridge treatment.

Save Your Tooth with Root Canal Treatments

Dentist in Mentor OH Discusses Why Root Canal Treatments May be Necessary to Protect Your Smile

There are a number of treatments available that are made to repair and restore your smile. Dentistry has come quite far and has the ability to give patients a completely new and transformed look just by improving the way your teeth look and feel. Your dentist in Mentor OH can perform a root canal, saving your infected tooth from a potential extraction. Learn more about this procedure and why it’s highly recommended and successful.

Millions of teeth are treated and saved every year with the popular endodontic treatment. The pulp of your tooth can become infected or inflamed, causing a great amount of discomfort for the patient. There are a number of reasons that a tooth can become damaged: severe tooth decay, chips or cracks in the tooth, repeated treatment on one tooth, faulty crowns or other procedure all have the ability to infect and injure your smile.

Inside your tooth and under the protective surface of the enamel and dentin, there’s soft tissue called pulp. This contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue which helps grow the root of your tooth during its development. While this area can become infected and damaged, a fully developed tooth has the ability to survive without the pulp since its protected and nourished by the surrounding tissue. A root canal treatment is the process of removing the infected/inflamed pulp so it doesn’t continue to spread and damage the rest of the teeth.

Without a root canal treatment, patients will suffer from difficulty eating and drinking, intense and sharp pain, dull aches and pressure to the tooth and surrounding area, and tenderness of the nearby gums. The pain can appear in short bursts or can last throughout your entire day.

After the pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is carefully and efficiently cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with protective mineral so there’s no way bacteria can return to that area again. After being further protected with a crown or filling, there will be a restoration period before your tooth goes back to functioning like the rest of them!

If you think you need a root canal, don’t hesitate to call your dentist in Mentor OH at (440) 357-1222 and schedule an appointment today.

Preventing Gum Disease

Fight Back Against Gum Disease with Our Mentor OH Dentist

At Erieview Dental, our Mentor OH dentists work together with countless patients utilizing a selection of dental treatments. In fact, our team, lead by Drs. Greenfield and Thomas, is dedicated to helping patients achieve better oral health and wellness. Using the latest technologies and most advanced techniques, our team helps patients with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease.

When we advise patients to brush and floss their teeth after every meal and visit our office at least twice a year, this is because we care for our patients’ smiles. We know that with proper attention, patients can avoid the development of conditions such as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, which is referred to by some patients as gum disease, is a preventable condition that often develops due to poor oral health habits. By taking care of the smile, patients keep this from developing and maintain better health and wellness overall.

If periodontal disease does occur, it needs to be properly diagnosed before a treatment plan can be developed. Diagnosis is done right at our dental office and may be performed with a simple physical examination. Periodontal disease has several visible elements that may indicate a problem such as pockets between the gum tissue and the teeth, loose teeth, or red and swollen gums. Diagnosis also determines the stage at which the disease has reached.

Treatment varies depending on how severe the disease has become. The earlier stages may be resolved with a simple cleaning and antibiotic treatment, while more severe cases may require scaling and root planing and a long-term treatment plan with more regular check-ups and examinations.

It is important for patients to understand that periodontal disease cannot be reversed, only controlled. With the attention of our quality Mentor OH dentists, patients will achieve better oral health even after this condition has been diagnosed. Drs. Seth Greenfield and George Thomas of Erieview Dental are here to help! Contact us today at (440) 357-1222 and make an appointment to discuss prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease.

Let's Get this Straight

Having straight teeth means having better oral health; that is, if you brush and floss on a regular basis. Straight teeth also mean having a more attractive smile. When you have a more attractive smile, you feel more comfortable in your own skin. The level of confidence that stems from this subsequently affects your social and professional wellbeing. This is the nature of the smile. It is not a little thing that sits front and center on your face; it is vital to your quality of life.

So what do you do if your teeth are not as straight as you'd like? You call our cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH to talk about the value of Invisalign treatment. We are no longer tied to metal braces if we want a healthier, more attractive smile. Now, we can achieve the desired outcome from care with a whole new approach.

Why Patients Love Invisalign

What's not to love about Invisalign, really? Here are just a few of the key elements to this teeth-straightening method:

• Comfortable. Most people appreciate the choice of trading in metal brackets and wires for smooth aligner trays that mold around the teeth. Nothing to irritate lips or cheeks!

• Discreet. Thermoplastic aligners are made in such a way to deliver necessary force without being bulky and obvious in appearance. Most people never notice aligners on someone else. In the event of a photo op or important meeting, just remove aligners for a short time if you prefer.

• Less care. Teeth are moved through the continual wear of precision aligners. Every two weeks, a new set replaces the one that came before. This system requires very little from your dentist, which decreases the number of times you need to see us. The primary purpose of follow-up visit throughout the treatment plan is to check progress. That's it!

• Easy peasy. Who doesn't like a little more convenience placed into their life? With Invisalign, you can straighten your teeth without having to develop new habits that revolve around brushing and flossing or eating. Removable aligners allow you to continue your normal routine with ease.

We enjoy helping our patients achieve the results they want through personal dental care. To schedule your visit with our cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH, call (440) 357-1222.

Why Get a Dental Cleaning

Why to Schedule Your Mentor OH Dental Cleaning Today!

One of the most common appointments made at Erieview Dental’s Mentor OH office is for a preventative dental cleaning and exam. These appointments, if scheduled and follow-through on every six months can greatly benefit your oral and whole body health for years to come. Unfortunately, we often see that patients will overlook the importance of these visits, and skip them for months, even years. In order to help show how important these visits can be, we have compiled a few reasons below that you should schedule your next cleaning today!

 -Cleanings bright your smile: our diets are one of the biggest contributing factors to the discoloration of our teeth. Over time, tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco and more can stain the teeth- resulting in a shade less desirable than the pearly white we love. Dental cleanings can remove built-up stains and polish your teeth, resulting in a brighter, better smile.

-Prevent decay: even if you brush and floss on a daily basis, there are still some hard places to reach with the “standard equipment” that might be impacted by tartar and plaque. Regular cleanings can help remove these from the pockets of your gums, between the teeth and other places that may not be as easy to clean- but can decay and cause cavities, disease or worse if not handled.

-Beat bad breath: could you imagine smelling a 5-month-old piece of meat? Probably not very desirable, right? Well now imagine that stuck between your teeth, never being removed. Safe to say, this can result in bad breath. Cleanings can help remove any lingering, rotting particles or other issues that result in bad breath- leaving your next exhale much more pleasant than it was before.

Besides the above, cleanings and exams can also save you big money and time spent in the long run. Avoid costlier, more time consuming dental treatments by addressing the issue when it is still “young” with an exam and taking care of it right away.

To schedule your next Mentor OH dental cleaning at Erieview Dental, call our office today at (440) 357-1222.

Guard Your Smile with Oral Appliances

Dentist in Mentor OH Shares the Different Mouth Guards Available to Protect Your Teeth

Here at Erieview Dental, we do everything that we can to ensure our patients have the best smile around! There are a number of ways that we do so—with prevention, general and cosmetic dentistry, your dentist in Mentor OH wants each and every patient to leave our office with a bright and healthy smile. Another way of doing so is offering appliances in order to protect your teeth when you’re sleeping or when you’re playing sports. Learn more about these appliances below!

Night Guards

Many people don’t realize that they may need to wear a night guard until they visit the dentist. A majority of people who grind their teeth are doing it when they sleep, so they’re unaware of their bruxism-tendencies until they’re told by a professional. The only way they notice that something’s wrong is when they wake up with a sore jaw and sensitive teeth.

A solution that we offer is occlusal night guards, mouth pieces that can be worn at night when a person is sleeping. When you wear this, you’re less likely to grind down your teeth and cause any damage on the enamel or cause sensitivity.

Sports Guards

These are a popular option that many athletes wear when they play sports, whether it’s professionally or just for fun! These are to prevent any injuries to your teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw. While most of these can be bought at a sports store, they’re not always the most comfortable to wear. Here at our office, we offer customized sports guards that are created to fit your smile!

One-third of all dental injuries are sports related, which is why athletes wear these mouth guards. Most of the incidents are due to trauma, so wearing these mouth guards while you play is going to protect your teeth from severe impact.

To learn more about these appliances, contact your dentist in Mentor OH by calling our office today at (440) 357-1222.

Restore a New Smile with Crowns

Why CEREC Dental Crowns are a Great Choice for our Mentor, OH Patients

Dentistry has evolved so significantly in the past several decades that it can be hard to keep up with all the wonderful changes. Patients of Erieview Dental receive care that considers not only the immediate need for comfort, but also the long-term need for function and aesthetic beauty. It is in the achievement of lasting, life-like results that we create value for our patients. One of the methods that makes this possible is to craft dental crowns and other restorations with our CEREC milling machine. If you are not yet familiar with this service from our Mentor, OH practice, read on for more information.

The aspect of CEREC care that is most often recognized is the fact that treatment takes place in just one visit, as opposed to 2 or more. The process is very simple: we remove damaged tooth structure as needed to prevent further problems. We then capture an image using a small intraoral camera and send that to special software, where it is processed into a 3D model of the tooth. The CEREC milling machine reads this model and carves the necessary restoration from beautiful ceramic material.

It's not Just about Convenience

There are additional benefits to CEREC treatment that must be mentioned:

• CEREC restorations are fabricated from ceramic that closely resembles natural enamel. They are not only color-matched to your teeth, but they also appear translucent. Your new restorations not only strengthen teeth but they compliment natural beauty.

• Restorations are bonded to teeth, which means there is only minimal reduction necessary. The preservation of natural tooth structure is important to your dentist, and to your long-term oral health.

• The all-ceramic crowns and other restorations made in our CEREC machine are gentler to teeth than metal fillings. This is because ceramic and enamel are similar in the way that they expand and contract in response to temperature changes.

• The fit of CEREC restorations sets the stage for longevity. Many of these restorations continue to function at optimal levels decades after initial placement.

Your comfort, appearance, and full satisfaction with dental care are important to us. Learn more about your options for general and cosmetic dental care at 440-357-1222.

Why Consider Teeth Whitening?

Why Patients Choose to Have Their Teeth Whitened by a Professional Like Our Mentor OH Dentist

What makes a beautiful smile? Is it straight, aligned teeth? A clean and perfect gum line? Or is it bright, brilliant enamel? For most patients, the number one priority in achieving a more beautiful smile is whitening the teeth. Our teeth are exposed to a lot of elements that can negatively detract from its natural brightness. The food we eat and the beverages we drink can dull the enamel and cause it to look dull and yellow. Some of us are genetically predisposed to having darker teeth than others. Even medications such as tetracycline can cause unwanted staining on the teeth and impact the overall look. When patients visit Erieview Dental and talk to our Mentor OH dentist about cosmetic procedures, the most recommended treatment is that of professional teeth whitening.

Whitening the teeth is completely safe. It is done with FDA-approved bleaching gels that provide amazing results in a short period of time. While there are many drugstores that offer over-the-counter whitening products, many of these fall short of providing noticeable results. In fact, many of our patients come into our practice having already tried these methods and feel as though they have been throwing their money away. These strips, toothpastes, trays, and other methodologies of brightening the smile are often low-cost but poor improvements.

This is when many patients in the community turn to a dental professional for thorough, effective alternatives. Our practice offers two methods of whitening including our in-office power bleaching and our professional-grade, custom-made whitening trays. Patients seeking same day results may benefit from our in-office services while the take-home trays often provide gradual improvements over the course of several weeks.

Whether you live in Mentor, OH or one of the surrounding areas, our team of professionals can help you brighten your smile quickly and easily with professional-grade whitening solutions. Contact our Mentor OH dentist today by calling (440) 357-1222 and making an appointment with our staff. Our front office team is friendly and can help in scheduling a visit that is convenient for you and your busy schedule.

Eat Right & Address Stress

Cosmetic Dentist in Mentor OH Shares the Importance of Dealing with Stress to Protect Your Smile

We want to make sure that your smile is a top priority of your day, but we understand if it’s not on the top of your list, especially when you’re having a stressful day. But we want to share with our patients that stress can be a major factor towards an unhealthy or unstable smile. That’s why your cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH wants to discuss what stress can do to your teeth and how to protect them.

One of the most common occurrences that people experience is poor cleaning habits. When you’re stressed, your oral and dental health isn’t always the first thing that you think of. If you’ve had a long day, sometimes you just want to fall in bed and go to sleep to get as much rest and relaxation as you can, so it’s easy to skip out on brushing and flossing. But when you keep up with this notion, your teeth are going to suffer.

Another instance of poor cleaning habits when you’re stressed is unhealthy eating. It’s easy to indulge in the foods that aren’t always good for you, like chips, cookies, fast food, and other harmful items filled with sugars. While it can seem difficult to correct your dental issues, it’s much easier to get cavities and suffer from tooth decay. This bad habit can even result in gum disease without any dental care done by a professional.

You want your smile to last a lifetime, even when stress is trying to bring you down. Let your cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH improve your smile in more ways than one—call our office today at (440) 357-1222 to schedule an appointment or consultation.

Save Your Smile with Simple Steps

By Scheduling an Appointment for Dental Cleanings in Mentor OH, Your Smile can Last that Much Longer!

It can be easy to get caught in the whirlwind that is your everyday routine. Distractions are everywhere and they’re common; whether you’re at school, at work, or even at home where you want to relax. This can cause people to easily forget or skip certain short parts of their day in order to potentially save time in order to get the necessary steps completed first. Below, we’ll explain why it’s important to keep up with your oral hygiene routine and how it can benefit more than just a pretty smile in the future.

Visiting our office in Mentor OH for dental cleanings twice a year can dramatically improve your oral and dental health more than you may think! During your visit, we will work to not only improve your teeth and gums, but we can also tell if a patient is at risk for any serious chronical diseases. Having poor oral and dental health can lead to severe issues if they’re not properly addressed and taken care of as soon as possible. With good oral health, it will lessen the chances of any diseases even occurring or erupting!

A patient having poor oral health can easily lead to periodontitis (also known as gum disease) at an alarming pace. There are known relationships between gum disease and overall health issues like heart disease and a high risk for strokes. Other diseases can have side effects that occur in the mouth, like swollen gums, dry mouth, and more. Diabetes, oral cancer, and kidney disease are only a few, but they can still have a negative effect to your teeth and gums.

There are only a few simple steps to avoid serious dental disasters! Keeping up with your daily dental routine of brushing and flossing your teeth for at least two minutes and twice a day is the most important step to improving your smile. Avoiding harmful foods, drinks, and habits like smoking and chewing tobacco are also ways to improve your oral and dental health. And, last but not least, visiting our practice in Mentor OH for dental cleanings for your bi-annual check-up will let us help you!

To schedule an appointment with your Mentor OH dentist, call our office at (440) 357-1222 today!

Beat Bad Breath

Cosmetic Dentist in Mentor OH Explains how Bad Breath May Stick Around for Too Long

One of the most common issues that many people face in the morning is bad breath. Even if you brush your teeth before you go to bed, there can still be a lingering scent that offends your nose the moment you first yawn while waking up. Bad breath can also stick around for a while once you’ve eaten something pungent. But what happens if you’re suffering from bad breath throughout your entire day? Below, your cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH breaks down how halitosis can harm your smile.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there are up to 80 million people who suffer from halitosis. No matter how often or how well you brush and floss your teeth or use mouthwash, sometimes bad breath still sticks around for the long run. This can negatively affect your daily routine if you’re embarrassed to talk near anyone in fear of sharing your bad breath and may result in personal isolation.

We want to help patients tackle the root of their bad breath and what they can do to protect their smile. Of course, we know that there are a lot of foods that can cause bad breath (garlic and onions), but sometimes that smell can linger even as the food is being digested. Other major contributors to bad breath are habits like smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco, poor dental and oral health, dry mouth, and certain medications. While some of these can be out of your control (mostly medications), it’s still important to address these issues in order to save your smile!

Some solutions that you can look into while you’re at home or on the go are:
• Mouthwash specified for bad breath: there are mouthwashes tailored to different oral issues, like dry mouth and bad breath. Check out the ones that you think can help!
• Scrape your tongue: a lot of the smelly bacteria tends to linger at the back of your tongue, to look into buying a specialized tongue cleaner and going back to front to remove harmful particles

If you’re interested in learning about more solutions for bad breath, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with your cosmetic dentist in Mentor OH by calling our office at (440) 357-1222 today.

Abscessed Tooth Truth

Your top cosmetic dentists in Mentor OH at Erieview Dental want you to know that an abscessed tooth is no laughing matter. Abscesses usually can be caused by infection, leading to the tooth being surrounding by a pocket of pus. They can occur both at the gum level, and at the root of the tooth. Each of these will have their own symptoms and complications- which we cover below:

Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth:

Pain and swelling that progressively gets worse.

A swollen and tender mass around/next to the tooth.

Bleeding gums.

Cold and hot sensitivity.

Fever and/or taking in less food and drink.

Complications of an abscessed tooth:

Infection of surrounding tissue or bone.

Sinus or facial infections

Ludwig angina- swelling of the neck or tongue that can block airways and even result in death.

Most cases of tooth abscess can start because of tooth decay, plaque, cavities and even dental work or surgery- but can obviously progress into a much more serious issue. If you feel you are suffering from an abscess in your mouth, call your dentists in Mentor OH for us to assess and treat you right away. However, if you are suffering from the more advanced swelling complications, seek emergency care right away.

Manage Dental Anxiety with Music

Dental anxiety can be an absolutely devastating issue to try and tackle. Patients who suffer with this condition can be lose sleep before appointments, have panic attacks, get sick or have trouble breathing. This can cause some patients to skip coming to their appointments for years on end in some cases, resulting in higher risks of gum disease, cavities, tooth loss and more.

While your Mentor Ohio dentists at Erieview Dental have done all they can to not only accommodate patients with dental anxiety, but to prevent it, sometimes a great atmosphere, relaxing staff and pain-free methods aren’t even enough. Sometimes when a patient is in their own head, only they can break themselves free of their anxiety.

One thing that is proving to help reduce anxiety and pain more and more is the usage of music in the office. Studies have shown that music can help reduce pain, influence mood, reduce anxiety and even lower blood pressure or heart rate. Relaxing classical and piano based music has proven to be the best for these results- but any music can help distract a patient- especially with anxiety.

You should always be comfortable when seeking care, or even when thinking about seeking care. If you are a bit apprehensive about making an appointment with your Mentor Ohio dentists at Erieview Dental, maybe think about bringing along an iPod next time with your favorite tunes! We will work with you to ensure your treatment is always as pain and anxiety free as possible!

For more information or to schedule your next visit- call us today at (440) 357-1222.

Decoding Dental Terms

Mentor OH Dentist Clears Up the Conversation

Patient education is a crucial pillar of the work performed by your Mentor OH dentists at Erieview Dental. We make sure to spend enough time with every patient discussing their treatment and why it is being done that way, as well as what can be done to keep them healthy outside of our office walls.

Unfortunately, sometimes specific technical medical terms may be used in these conversations…as they are just common place to dental professionals. We will never use terms you do not know to confuse you or keep you in the dark…it is just a phenomenon of practicing a specialty so long. For example, you may be a professional musician and use the terms “crescendo” and “staccato” on a daily basis…where we may use terms like “prophylaxis” in our office instead. The result of both conversations can be confusion- which is never desired.

If we ever happen to use a term you are unfamiliar with directly, or it is overheard in office, please feel free to ask us about it! We know that not every patient may not be completely comfortable with inquiring about these types of situations though. For that very reason, we have provided the following website for you to catch up on your dental terminology at your own leisure: Click Here for More.

Whether you know the difference between “occlusal” and “occlusion” may not matter much in your day to day. Knowing that you should keep regularly schedule appointments with your Mentor OH dentists, however, THAT is something to know and hold onto! Call our office today to schedule an appointment at (440) 357-1222.