Tips for Brushing Your Teeth

Most people have been brushing their teeth since they were very small. But do you know if you are brushing them effectively? Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD of Lehigh Valley Smiles here in Easton, PA wants to offer tips and tricks for getting a healthy, clean brushing.

The first thing you need to know is the type of toothbrush that is best. A soft bristled brush is good for removing plaque and a small brush head makes it easier to access those hard-to-reach places. As for electric or manual, in most cases, the outcome is the same. But electric brushes make it a little easier for those who cannot use their hands well. A toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months or sooner if it starts to fray. It also should be replaced after recovering from sickness.

Brushing your teeth twice a day is recommended. Two minutes each time will be a good amount of time to really do a good job. A good way to break up the time is to space four sections of teeth at thirty seconds each. Make sure to brush the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces of the teeth. Use short strokes.

Regular visits to your dentist are part of good oral hygiene, as well! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dilsaver, call us at Lehigh Valley Smiles at (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Apicoectomy for When Root Canals Do Not Work

Infected teeth are irritating and painful. Having a root canal often can solve the problem, but when it doesn’t, it can be even more frustrating. When root canals and retreatment fails, this is when Dr. Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD decides to perform an apicoectomy. This surgical procedure is successful in relieving the pain of an infected tooth, restoring health, and often save a tooth from being extracted.

An apicoectomy involves removing the tip of the tooth root, cleaning, and sealing the area. First, Dr. Dilsaver will make incisions to reveal the tooth root. The infected tissue is removed, along with a few millimeters of the tooth’s root. Dr. Dilsaver will clean the area and seal the end of the tooth root. The gums are stitched together. Within a few months, the bone will heal around the end of the root. This procedure has a high success rate.

If you have had one or more root canal therapy treatments, and still experience pain and sensitivity to a tooth, it may be time to think about an apicoectomy. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD of Lehigh Valley Smiles in our Easton, PA location, call (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. 

Sleep Apnea Solutions at Lehigh Valley Smiles

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes more than loud snoring and interrupted sleep. It is a serious condition that should be accurately treated. Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD, of Lehigh Valley Smiles, our Easton, PA dental practice has experience helping his patients who suffer from sleep apnea and offer several procedures to correct the condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft palate collapses, creating a blockage to the airway. This can cause a person to stop breathing hundreds of times per night. If a sleeping partner has been telling you that you stop breathing while sleeping, or if you feel a sore throat and excessive tiredness in the mornings, it is time to see the doctor.

Sleep apnea not only causes fatigue to you and a sleeping partner, but it increases the risk of hypertension, stroke, liver problems, and heart failure. It can also cause complications with medications and surgery, being especially dangerous when undiagnosed.

Dr. Dilsaver has success performing oral surgeries to unblock the airway. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty removes excess tissue from the upper mouth and throat. Maxillomandibular advancement moves the jaw forward to allow more room behind the soft palate. These are two solutions that are generally used first. A tracheostomy is a procedure for when others have failed. In this procedure, a tube is inserted into your throat that opens at night. These procedures are all safe and Dr. Dilsaver is experienced in performing them all.

If you have been suffering with sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, DDS, FAGD, of Lehigh Valley Smiles here at our Easton, PA location. To schedule, call (610) 252-7414 or visit our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.

Ridge Augmentation

When you are considering dental implants, your dentist is going to test to see if you are a legitimate candidate. At Lehigh Valley Smiles, Dr. Alan Dilsaver uses dental implants for patients who have gum disease or problem teeth, currently wear dentures or have bone loss. One issue that comes up quite often is patients not have enough bone in their jaw to support an implant.  A certain amount of bone is required to support the implant and if you do not have the required amount, we will expose the bony defect and fill the area with bone or bone substitute through a procedure called ridge augmentation.

Deformities in the jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place a dental implant. The bone defect can be caused by injury, trauma or periodontal disease. Ridge augmentation procedures can improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implant placement.  In this procedure, the bony ridge of the jaw is literally expanded by mechanical means. Bone graft material can be placed and matured for a few months before placing the implant. We have many options for bone grafting materials including bone from your own body, a cadaver, cow bone or synthetic material.

Ridge Augmentation is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. If you are missing teeth and do not have the bone to support a dental implant, please consider this procedure. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver by visiting our website, www.lehighvalleysmiles.net or by calling (610) 252-7414.

Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal disease (gum disease) is an infection of the gums that starts out as plaque. There are different stages of this disease and it is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Treatment for this disease varies. Dr. Alan Dilsaver of Lehigh Valley Smiles in Easton, PA gives his patients options when it comes to the treatment of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, making it critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens into tartar and creates a suitable environment for bacteria to collect and attack the surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is called gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontitis. Periodontitis can destroy your gum and bone tissue, leads to tooth loss and even can result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone. Heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into a more serious periodontal disease. The procedure allows the periodontist to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar and plaque that is causing your inflammation.

This procedure is an incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you have red, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information about the dentist or his services, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.  

Mini Implants

Dental implants offer patients the ability to replace their missing teeth with a permanent solution. There are two main types of dental implants, and patients interested in dental implants should know the differences between mini implants vs. regular implants.

While many patients visiting Dr. Alan Dilsaver in Easton, PA opt for regular implants and the many benefits they serve, Dr. Dilsaver also offers FDA-approved mini implants as an alternative. Patients seeking a less time consuming and less invasive procedure, and a more affordable dental implant option can choose mini implants vs. regular implants. Mini implants are similar to traditional, though they use a metal post that is half the size, therefore not requiring as much dental work. Mini implants take less time and have a faster recovery time than regular implants. In addition, mini implants are ideal for patients with a small jaw bone.

Mini dental implants in Easton, PA use a small metal post, typically made of titanium. Dr. Alan Dilsaver applies local anesthesia first, so the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure. Then, a small hole is drilled in the portion of the bone where the implant will go, and the post is secured into the hole. Because they are half the size, less bone is required for securing mini implants. This allows them to be completed in one visit to Lehigh Valley Smiles. After the post is in place, a tooth that resembles a natural tooth is secured over the post.

To learn more about mini implants vs. regular implants offered at Lehigh Valley Smiles with Dr. Alan Dilsaver, visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net. You can also schedule a consultation with Dr. Alan Dilsaver in Easton, PA by calling (610) 252-7414.

Dental Bridges

If you’ve had one tooth or multiple teeth extracted due to damage, decay or disease, it is important to have the resulting gap filled or your remaining teeth can shift out of position and become more susceptible to decay. One way to replace your missing tooth or teeth and prevent this shifting is with a dental bridge, and in Easton, PA, Dr. Alan Dilsaver can provide you with a bridge in order to keep your smile beautiful and healthy.

Called a bridge because a prosthetic tooth is suspended between two crowns to fill in the space left by a missing tooth, this natural-looking tooth restoration is usually made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain. These materials help to ensure a strong and durable smile that can last years.

The process of creating a bridge usually takes two visits to the dentists’ offices. During the first, Dr. Dilsaver will create abutments out of the existing teeth on both sides of your gap. Once the abutments have been created, a mold will be taken of your mouth for fabricating the bridge. At other dental practices, the process of creating the bridge may take weeks but thanks to our CEREC machine, your dental bridges is completed in just minutes. Dr. Dilsaver will start by preparing the tooth and he will then take an optical impression of the teeth using a special 3D camera. The image is transferred to the computer, where the restoration is fashioned using computer aided design (CAD). This technology takes every clinical detail of the patient’s case into consideration, creating the most precise restoration. Next, these exact specifications are sent to Dr. Buntyn’s in-office milling machine. In less than an hour, this state-of-the-art device fabricates the custom, color-matched restoration.

If you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, a dental bridge can restore both your smile’s beauty and health. To see which option is best for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Alan Dilsaver of Easton, PA by calling (610) 252-7414. To learn more about the dentist and his services, please visit www.lehighvalleysmiles.net.