CEREC Technology

One of the latest dental technology tools to appear on the dentistry scene is CEREC. The CEREC machine is a special computer that acts as a dental restoration tool, allowing Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD to restore decayed teeth, place dental crowns, remove defective amalgam dental fillings, or place porcelain dental veneers in just one appointment. A CEREC procedure requires less time, less drilling, and fewer injections too.

A typical CEREC procedure goes something like this. First, there will be an exam and preparation before your dental service. Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD will examine your teeth, decide on the preparation method and start removing your tooth decay. Then, an optical impression of the prepared tooth is taken. Finally, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD will use the CEREC machine to design and create your tooth filling, dental crown, or veneers, right in the office! CEREC is the unique CAD/CAM system for patient individual all-ceramic restorations in one single appointment.

To learn about the services and technology 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.

Banish Bad Breath

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be embarrassing and in some cases may even cause anxiety. It’s no wonder you may stock up on mints, gum, and other products designed to fight bad breath. But many of these products are only a temporary solution to the problem. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. However, it’s important to schedule professional cleanings and regular dental checkups at Lehigh Valley Smiles twice a year.

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. Bad breath odors vary, depending on the source or the underlying cause. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease. If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits. If your bad breath persists after making changes, visit us as soon as possible.

If you are embarrassed by bad breath, 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.

Soft Food Diet for TMJ Relief

If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, you may notice a clicking or a popping in your jaw when you try to eat your favorite foods. This is because symptoms of TMJ disorder can include jaw discomfort and tenderness or pain when opening or closing the mouth. At Lehigh Valley Smiles, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD doesn’t want you to live on a soft diet, but incorporating soft foods into your diet may alleviate your discomfort.

Soft foods give your jaw and temporomandibular joints the opportunity to rest and heal. Some excellent (and healthy) foods to eat include cooked vegetables and fruits, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies, soup, and yogurt. If you must eat food that requires a heavy amount of chewing, we recommended chopping it up into small pieces. If you have a sweet tooth, soft cakes, cobblers and cheesecake are good things to choose from.

If you are experiencing jaw pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Cleaning Your Dental Implant

Dental implants are a very common procedure to replace missing teeth. Implants are replacement tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, cleaning your dental implant is critical to avoid infection. Here at Lehigh Valley Smiles, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD will discuss implant maintenance care once the implants are placed.

Cleaning implant-supported tooth replacements are just as important as cleaning natural teeth, as both depend on healthy surrounding tissues for support. To ensure that the implant lasts as long as they should, some special techniques and efforts are required to keep the implant clean and free of dental plaque. Dental plaque has the ability to cause infection in the tissues around the implant which will lead to its ultimate failure. Dental implants require the same care as real teeth, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups.

During your professional cleaning, our dental hygienists play an important role in keeping your dental implant infection free. 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.

Basics of Bruxism

Grinding of your teeth, also known as bruxism can have a variety of causes. Some experts view bruxism as nothing more than a habit. It can also be a result of the body’s reaction when the teeth do not line up or come together properly (malocclusion). If you experience signs and symptoms of bruxism, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD at Lehigh Valley Smiles can provide you with an individualized treatment plan.

When diagnosing bruxism, Dr. Dilsaver may ask about your general dental health, what sources of stress you have in your life, and what medicines you take. Second, he will examine you, paying special attention to the muscles in and around your jaw. Finally, Dr. Dilsaver will look at your teeth for evidence of grinding. During this examination, he may also check for tenderness in your jaw muscles and joint.

If you notice yourself grinding or clenching your teeth, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Hidden Health Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea literally means, “Without breath during sleep.” Clinically, this means that patients are actually stopping their breathing pattern periodically through the night. These episodes are brief, but can take a toll on a person’s overall physical health. No one wants to stop breathing and no one wants to lose sleep. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD will recommend non-surgical therapies to give you an improved quality of life.

Not only do breathing disruptions interfere with sleep, leaving you unusually tired the next day, they also promote poor health and chronic disease by reducing the amount of oxygen in your blood. This can impair the function of internal organs and/or exacerbate other health conditions you may have. Additionally, sleep apnea can dramatically weaken your immune systems, impair your mental and physical performance, as well as promote diabetes, gout, and heart disease.

If you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Invisalign vs Braces

Straight teeth are something so many of us desire; however, many patients will decide not to go through with it because of the thought of braces. Fortunately, here at Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA, you do not have to wear traditional metal braces. We offer Invisalign as a convenient and nearly invisible alternative.

Invisalign works well for many of our patients and it has several possible advantages over braces:

 

Eating What You Like

With braces, you need to watch what you eat so that you do not damage or pop off the brackets. With Invisalign, you take the aligners out to eat so you can continue to eat whatever you like!

 

Easier Hygiene

With braces, you will have to buy an interdental cleaner brush and floss threaders. With Invisalign, you can brush and floss normally because you take out your aligners to do so!

 

Invisibility

Probably the biggest benefit to choosing Invisalign over metal braces is that there is no “metal mouth” look. The aligners are nearly invisible, so no one can even tell you are straightening your teeth!

 

Straightening your teeth gives you a beautifully straightened smile in the end, so why sacrifice your smile for years with metal braces? To set up your Invisalign consultation, call Lehigh Valley Smiles of Easton, PA at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.