Continued Education

Drs. Emery recently attended a continued education course called “Restorative Planning and Treatment Delivery with Guided Implant Placement for All-on-4 Treatment of the Edentulous Arch.”  Other dentists in attendance included Dr. Art Gage, an endodontist, (shown with Dr. Alyson), and Dr. Mike Marshall, (an oral surgeon shown with Dr. Doug).  This course taught the doctors a reliable technique for providing edentulous patients with permanent teeth.

Drs. Emery also recently attended a continuing education class titled “A New Approach to Bulk Posterior Composite Restorations.”  This new technique uses sonic activation to bulk fill restorations in approximately three minutes.  The new material developed by Kerr Dental has superior adaptation and ease in handling.  (Shown in the photo below are Drs. Doug and Alyson along with Geoff Rouch their Schein representative.)

Teagan’s First Visit to EmeryDDS

Thank you Dr. Alyson for showing Teagan what a positive experience the dentist can be! The night before our appointment, Teagan told me she was scared to go to the dentist. Even after I talked about it with her, she was still very nervous. I was honestly expecting her to cry and need to sit on my lap, but the way you approached it with her made her feel safe. When I asked her to sit on my lap she responded, “No mommy, it’s my turn! I do it all myself!” She had so much fun playing with the big toothbrush and teeth, counting her teeth with you, and getting them polished! Top all that off with choosing a toy from the toy chest and we had one happy toddler! “Look at my shiny teeth,” was what we heard Teagan say the rest of the day. Teagan will turn 3 at the end of October and already loves the dentist because of the positive environment you and your office created for her. I cannot thank you enough!

Written by Teagan’s mother Amber Nichols

Candy Tips for Parents and Patients

Check the labels on candies and chewable vitamins. If they contain the following ingredients, they should probably be avoided: ascorbic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, and fumaric acid. These acid exposures cause enamel erosion, decay, and tooth sensitivity. They are often found in “sour” candies or tarts. Oral rinses with water immediately after consumption are a must, especially before brushing. Always check the labels! ~Drs. Emery

Bleaching Systems

We are often asked about the different types of teeth whitening or bleaching.  Most bleaching involves keeping a dilute form of carbamide-peroxide in close contact with the tooth surface for an extended period of time. Below are a sample of each form and a little about each.

Whitening toothpastes: These are over the counter preparations with low concentrations of carbamide-peroxide. These products work on a limited basis as they are not in contact with the teeth long enough. They are valuable in maintaining the color of your teeth after bleaching by more effective means.  Most retail between $3 and $5.

Bleach releasing disposable strips (Crest Whitestrips): These are strips of plastic designed to adhere to teeth for several hours. They contain low levels of carbamide-peroxide typically under 10% and therefore require extended use to obtain desired results. We find these helpful for patients who only require one or two shade changes, or for maintaining professional bleaching. Most retail between $35 and $60.

Professionally made bleaching take home trays: Custom impressions of the patient’s teeth are taken to make exact fitting whitening trays. They are designed to keep a solution of between 10% to 20% of carbamide-peroxide in contact with the teeth for six hours. They are typically worn at night and results of six to eight shade changes occur over two to three weeks. These trays also are useful in maintaining professional bleaching. Our office price is $250 with refills costing $35.

Lumacool in office bleaching: The patient is first protected with a barrier around the lips and gums. Then a solution of 35% hydrogen-peroxide is light activated to provide six to eight shade changes in one hour. This supervised procedure is effective for most patients; however some patient’s teeth sensitivity becomes a deterrent. This power bleaching can be maintained with any of the above systems. Our office price is $395 or $495 with a pair of trays to maintain the results.