General & Family Dentistry in El Reno

DIAGNOdent: Laser Cavity Detection

January 7, 2013

Cavities are one of the most prevalent dental health conditions. No matter how well we brush and floss, they can still occur. The best treatment for cavities is early treatment. At Grand Dental El Reno, we use DIAGNOdent technology to help detect cavities in their infancy.

DIAGNOdent is a small, portable device that lets us detect cavities early, before any other detection method can catch them. This is a tremendous benefit because the earlier a cavity is found, the smaller it is and the easier it is to fill.

Here’s how it works. First, the DIAGNOdent laser will scan your teeth, using laser reflection to find imperfections. If there’s anything there, DIAGNOdent will alert us with an audible signal. Then, it will generate a numerical readout to give us an indication of the size of the cavity.

This tool is a great asset in our ongoing quest to provide our patients with the best dental care possible. We can’t wait to use it on your teeth!

Interested in learning more about DIAGNOdent technology, or wanting your teeth analyzed for cavities? Call us today at Grand Dental El Reno! Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from Minco, Calument, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.

Take Advantage of Your Dental Benefits While There’s Still Time

November 9, 2012

As 2012 comes to a close, so will the remaining dental benefits for many patients. So with the time you have left, why not use them while you have them?

One of the best ways to put your dental benefits to work for you is with a regular checkup and professional cleaning. Our doctors at Grand Dental in El Reno recommend having visits like these twice a year, or about every six months. Why so often? So we can keep an eye out for even small changes in how your smile is doing.

What kinds of changes?

Changes like tooth decay or gum disease. These are two of the most common oral health conditions patients may face, and when treatment is delayed, they can have a very negative impact on your oral and overall health. Regular checkups and professional cleanings are meant to provide you with preventive care and to alert you to conditions that need attention.

Another reason for using your benefits now is that caring for your smile may require multiple visits. To make sure you can fit those visits in between now and the end of the year, we need to see you as soon as possible.

Call our El Reno dental office to schedule your next visit. During your next visit, your doctor can answer your treatment questions, while our office team would be happy to address any insurance-related questions you might have. Our office is located in El Reno and serves patients from Minco, Calument, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.

How Sugar Affects Your Smile

October 17, 2012

Halloween is almost here. That means another night of trick-or-treating is almost here too. Typically, we think of Halloween and trick-or-treating as just a kid’s thing, but we shouldn’t lie—we adults like to sneak a piece (or two or three) of candy when we can.

And of course, our team doesn’t want to discourage that. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a piece of candy from time to time. But too much is bad for your health and your smile.

So instead of preaching against candy, we just want to spend some time briefly describing how sugar affects your smile. That way you can make informed decision this Halloween that are right for you and your children.

How Does Sugar Cause Cavities?

Despite what you might think, sugar itself doesn’t cause cavities. What it does, though, is create just the right environment for them to flourish.

When you eat or drink something high in sugar, a special type of bacteria in our mouths breaks down that sugar, converting it to acid. It’s this acid that’s responsible for damaging sensitive tooth enamel and causing what we know of as tooth decay and cavities.

Not all sweeteners are bad for your teeth, though. Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables. It has far fewer calories than traditional sugar, and instead of creating an acidic environment when broken down, it promotes a healthy pH that benefits teeth and gums. That’s why xylitol is often used in natural toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Enjoy Your Halloween

With all that said, we hope you and your family have a safe, fun-filled Halloween. Don’t worry about enjoying your favorite candy, but don’t overindulge either. Brush and floss after enjoying your treats, and give your smile extra support with a fluoride mouthwash. You can also substitute your standard Halloween treats with ones sweetened with xylitol.

And if it’s been more than six month since your last visit, call Grand Dental in El Reno. Regular exams and cleanings from our team are an important part of building a strong, healthy smile.

Conquer the Daily Grind with a Nightguard

September 20, 2012

As we said in our last post, a new school year is here, which brings to mind a familiar saying—back to the daily grind. That’s what the shift from summer vacation to the new fall semester can feel like for teachers, students, and parents.

But there’s another kind of daily grind we’d like to talk about today. This kind doesn’t have anything to do busy schedules, but it does share a connection with stress.

Bruxism is a serious condition involving the unconscious grinding of teeth. It’s often triggered by stress, with many patients who struggle with bruxism doing most of their grinding and clenching while they’re asleep rather than when they’re awake.

So why is this something to be concerned about? Because all that pressure and motion can, over time, cause your teeth and the muscles and tissues around your jaw to become injured.

There’s good news, though. You don’t have to just live with bruxism; you can treat it with a nightguard! Using a nightguard from Grand Dental in El Reno, you can sleep through the night without grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. As a result, your oral health will be preserved and your symptoms will disappear.

Symptoms of bruxism include:

Sore jaw
Headaches
Earaches
TMJ dysfunction

If you think you might be struggling with bruxism, our doctors in El Reno would love to help. Call Grand Dental in El Reno today to reserve a visit. With a nightguard, we can help you eliminate uncomfortable systems to enjoy healthier teeth and gums.

Don’t Forget to Schedule a Back-to-School Visit for Your Child

August 22, 2012

With school starting over the next few weeks across both Oklahoma and the rest of the country, now is when parents will be scrambling to buy new clothes, school supplies, backpacks, and more for their child. Something very important can get lost in all that activity, though—a back-to-school dental visit, complete with a professional cleaning.

But right now is actually the best time to schedule such a visit with Grand Dental in El Reno.

Why?

Because it can be much harder to find the time when school finally ramps up. Later on, homework, school projects, and extracurricular activities like sports or theater will all be competing for your and your child’s time. By scheduling your child or teenager’s back-to-school dental visit now, it’s easier for you to give him or her essential care.

What dental visit and professional cleanings do is give our doctors a chance to get to know your child’s smile all over again. During a checkup, we’ll check for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and other common oral health conditions, any one of which should be treated as soon as possible. If not treated soon enough, your child’s oral health could worse, requiring more extensive treatment later and potentially affecting overall health.

Call Grand Dental El Reno to schedule your child’s back-to-school visit. We’re proud to serve patients from all across Canadian County.

Achieve a Healthier Smile with Sedation Dentistry from Grand Dental El Reno

July 11, 2012

You know a health smile is important, whether you’re talking about your teeth and gums or your overall health. As important as regular dental visits are, though, anxiety keeps some patients from even coming in for a regular checkup and cleaning.

What’s the cause of this anxiety?

For some, it could be related to a past visit, while for others it could be related to a sensitive gag reflex or a neuromuscular condition that makes sitting uncomfortable.

No matter which of these it might be, our doctors at Grand Dental El Reno can help you achieve the healthier smile you deserve with sedation dentistry.

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

Using safe and effective means, sedation dentistry helps us create a relaxed sense of calm in El Reno-area patients who struggle with anxiety.

There are three types of sedation dentistry—nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation. As effective as each one is, not every type is right for every patient. For patients with mild to moderate anxiety, nitrous oxide and oral sedation may be the best choice. For patients with moderate to severe anxiety, though, IV sedation may be what you’re looking for. Working with trained anesthesiologists, we can help our El Reno patients achieve a deep sense of calm to help you receive the dental care you need. Every anesthesiologist we work with is certified and will with you during your procedure to monitor your vital signs and ensure your safety as your doctor helps you.

Want To Learn More?

Have you put off essential care and want to learn more? Call our El Reno office today to schedule a consultation appointment. During a consultation appointment we can help you choose the technique that is most right for you. We serve patients from El Reno, Minco, Calumet, Hinton, and other communities in the Canadian County.

Give Your Smile Extra Protection with Dental Sealants from Grand Dental

June 4, 2012

You may have heard of dentists using dental sealants to help young patients protect their teeth, but did you know that adult patients can benefit from them too? After all, it’s not just children who get cavities in the pits and grooves of their teeth—it can happen to anyone. But with dental sealants, it’s possible to keep teeth healthy and cavity-free.

What Are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are a thin plastic film that we apply daily to the smiles of our El Reno patients. More specifically, sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of molars in a two-step process.

In the first stage of this process, your teeth will be prepared with a special cleaning and etching solution. Then, after about 15 seconds, we’ll rinse that off, dry your teeth, coat them with our sealant, and then use our curing light to turn that liquid into a hardened plastic that provides a physical barrier for teeth, protecting them from cavity-causing bacteria.

When Should Dental Sealants Be Placed?

Dental sealants can be used to protect molar and premolar chewing surfaces, meaning they can be placed at almost any age. First permanent molars erupt at about age 6. By placing sealants on them shortly after they erupt we can protect them from developing cavities where food and bacteria collect. Second permanent molars erupt later on at about 12 years. As with the first case, the grooves of these teeth are also susceptible to cavities and can benefit from the protection dental sealants can offer.

Want To Learn More?

Do you want to learn more about how you can safeguard your teeth with dental sealants? Call Grand Dental El Reno today with your questions or to schedule an appointment with us. The doctors at our El Reno office serve patients from El Reno and surrounding areas.

Transform Your Smile with Teeth Whitening from Grand Dental El Reno

May 31, 2012

In our last post, we touched on all the different cosmetic and cosmetic-restorative services that Grand Dental El Reno. Today, we’d like to zero in on one service in particular—teeth whitening.

As one of the popular and effective cosmetic dentistry services available, teeth whitening has the power to transform your smile, your confidence, and your life. And best of all, with laser teeth whitening from our El Reno office, you can achieve stunning results in just about an hour.

But maybe in-office laser teeth whitening won’t work with your schedule? If so, Grand Dental also offers at-home teeth whitening for El Reno patients to take advantage of. With at-home teeth whitening you can use custom-made whitening trays and a professional-grade bleaching gel to achieve dazzling, professional results right in your own home.

But perhaps you’re wondering, why not just rely on over-the-counter teeth whitening products you can buy from your local grocery story or drug store?

For some, these products may provide just the kind of boost that’s needed. For many others, though, over-the-counter teeth whitening toothpastes, strips, and more just can’t provide the level of whitening power that’s needed.

Give Your Smile the Dazzling Transformation It Deserve

If you’ve put off whitening your smile, don’t wait any longer. Call Grand Dental El Reno today to schedule an appointment with us. Our doctors are happy to treat patients from all around the Canadian Valley area.