Gum Disease: Causes and Treatments

Gum disease can be painful, irritating, and frustrating. It can also affect your overall health and wellness. Here at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA we are dedicated to helping patients understand how gum disease happens so they can prevent it.

Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar build-up irritates gums. The infected gums will begin to recede, if not treated. The receded gums expose the tooth’s root and create a deep gum pocket. This pocket collects bacteria and allows it to reach down deep by the roots of teeth.  This is a problem because it can cause decay of the tooth below the gum line and it perpetuates the gum disease. In order to remove the bacteria, a scaling and planing procedure is needed. We use a tool to remove plaque, tartar, and rough spots on the tooth where bacteria can hide. After gum disease is cleared up, a surgical process is often needed to repair the receded gums and deep pockets.

To keep plaque and tartar from irritating the gums, brush your teeth two to three times per day. Flossing every day is also important to remove plaque from between teeth. Make sure to brush in circular motions to hit the gum line well. To schedule your professional cleaning with Lehigh Valley Smiles of Easton, PA, call our office at   (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Implants for Permanent Tooth Replacement

Missing teeth means you bite differently, chew differently, and maybe even talk differently. There are several replacement options out there but only dental implants have the ability to last a lifetime. This is why we offer dental implants here at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA.

Implants are permanently placed in your mouth. The titanium implant post is placed into the bone socket, where it will bond with the jawbone. The bonding process will take a few months, so you will wear a temporary crown during this time. When the customized crown is ready, an abutment is attached to the implant post. The permanent crown is then cemented into place for a lifetime.

Dental implants are a great option because they don’t require healthy teeth to be reduced to place them. Being a single tooth replacement, brushing and flossing are made easier, so oral health is easier to maintain. With a good oral hygiene routine, implants can last a lifetime.

To find out about implants, a permanent tooth replacement solution, contact Lehigh Valley Smiles. Our Easton, PA office can be contacted by calling us at  (610) 252-7414 or by visiting our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Teeth Care for Seniors

As we age, our bodies grow weaker, and the same applies to our teeth. Fortunately, our staff at Lehigh Valley Smiles can assist you in keeping them healthy. Your teeth are some of the strongest units in your body. However, they can still be worn down. No matter what your age, your permanent teeth can last a lifetime with proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may face certain issues in your senior years when it comes to your oral health. This is because seniors are more prone to oral health conditions such as darkened teeth, gum disease, sensitive and tooth decay. In reference to our bodies growing weaker, the same applies to our hands. Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hands and fingers, may make brushing or flossing teeth difficult or impossible to perform.

If you are a senior struggling with your oral health routine, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD in Easton, PA, call 610-252-7414.

TMJ Pain and What We Can Do

TMJ pain can affect how you eat, what you eat, and it can affect many of your daily activities. At Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, we have recognized many of our patients’ TMJ issues and work with them to relieve the symptoms and pain.

TMJ pain is often referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction). A cause of TMD is not exactly pinpointed; however, there are certain things that can trigger pain. Common symptoms of TMD include a swollen and painful jaw joint, sore jaw and facial muscles, clicking in the jaw, difficulty chewing, ear pain, headaches, and the locking of your jaw. The jaw is responsible for so much including eating, talking, smiling, laughing, and showing emotion. This is part of why TMD is such a frustrating condition to live with.

Fortunately, here in our Easton, PA dental practice we are trained in recognizing TMD and can offer our patients relief. Through guidance, pain relief tips, and possibly a night guard, we can make sure TMD isn’t a daily interrupter.

If you are suffering with jaw pain, make sure to schedule an appointment with us. To schedule at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, call us at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Traditional Braces for a Healthy, Beautiful Smile

A straight smile is not only beautiful, but it’s also healthier! At Lehigh Valley Smiles, we want to be sure we offer several options for straightening teeth so all of our patients can find a solution that works best for them. One of the orthodontic options we offer here in our Easton, PA dental office is traditional braces.

Traditional braces have been around for a long time and it is because of their effectiveness. Today’s braces are strong and sleek, offering faster moving of teeth than before. They also stay durable and effective for years. For those who would like to add a bit of flair to their braces, we are able to use different colored bands!

Straight teeth contribute to a healthier mouth. This is because when teeth are in their proper positions, they can function optimally, they are able to be cleaned easier, and they do not pose as a risk for injury to other teeth.

Traditional braces work by attaching brackets to each tooth with a wire that connects them all together. Through a carefully directed plan, the wires will shift the teeth until they are in their correct positions. The average length of time braces are worn for teens is about two years. For adults, it is about one year. Every patient is different, so each patient will need a different length of time.

Whether you want to straighten your teeth for cosmetic reasons or health reasons, traditional braces are a long-standing option we offer. To schedule your consultation with Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, call our office at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Dental Sealants for Extra Protection

Prevention is the best protection, right? When it comes to oral health, nothing could be truer! That is why here at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA we offer dental sealants. Sealants are extra protection for molars meant especially for kids in those cavity-prone years!

During the ages of six and fourteen, kids go through what is called the cavity-prone years. Molars have pits and grooves in them which can trap debris and create bacteria. These pits and grooves can be hard to clean out with a toothbrush, which is why cavities can become common in that location.

Dental sealants are plastic coatings that seal out bacteria and debris from the pits in the molars. They are great for children but can also be effective protection for adults who have never had a cavity or filling in their molars. Once applied, a sealant is able to last up to ten years or more!

To apply a sealant, you dentist will first clean the teeth that will be sealed. Then teeth with then be dried and an acid solution is painted onto them to roughen up the surface of the teeth. This creates a strong bond for the sealants. The teeth are rinsed and dried afterwards. The tooth-colored plastic solution is then painted onto the teeth and allowed to dry. The patient can use the teeth normally soon afterward.

If you are looking to take an extra step in protecting your teeth or your children’s teeth, dental sealants are a great choice! To schedule an appointment at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, call our office at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Making Dental Care Fun for Kids

Dental care is essential for kids as it sets them up with good hygiene practices for the rest of their life. If you are struggling with getting your child to take an interest in their dental care, take some of these tips. At Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, we want to be sure all of our patients are getting the most out of their dental care.

The first thing that can get kids interested in their dental health is letting them pick out their own dental supplies. Let them pick a toothpaste flavor that they enjoy. There are plenty of kid-friendly flavors out on the market for both toothpaste and floss! Then let them pick a toothbrush that they will be excited to use. Bright colors and cartoon characters are all over the kids’ toothbrush section! They may even enjoy a toothbrush that has a singing timer. This is also great because it gets them brushing for a full two minutes!

Another way to entice kids into taking good dental care is to brush your own teeth with them. For little kids, this helps them see what they should do. Make sure to floss in front of them, as well! Chore charts help for those who need a little extra nudge in the right direction. These can be simple; such as brushing twice per day and flossing once per day for so many days in a row gets your child a trip to the park or their favorite dinner cooked.

Kids’ dental care is important because they will grow up to take excellent care of their teeth. In addition, baby teeth are the place markers for their future adult teeth! To schedule your child’s cleaning and examination, call Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.