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Dental Blog for Santa Rosa Cosmetic Dentist

We're excited to announce the official launch of the LehmanWaggener Dental blog. We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.

We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients

Here's to your best oral health ever!

How to Care for a Dental Emergency

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call the dentist right away so they can get you into the office quickly. However, if swelling, bleeding pain is severe, or if you are having difficulty breathing, go to the closest emergency room.

Before arriving at a dental office, the following measures can be taken to reduce pain, preserve the tooth, and reduce your risk of complications.

Dislodged out Tooth or Crown

If a tooth is completely knocked out, gently rinse the tooth and try to carefully place it back into the socket. If this isn’t possible or if the patient is a child, place the tooth in a glass of milk or some lightly salted water.

Crowns can also become loose or dislodged. If this happens, clean the area, apply some petroleum jelly, and replace the crown.

Broken Tooth

The case of a chipped or cracked tooth can vary in urgency. Rinse with salt water and apply gauze if there is any bleeding. Do not apply a topical pain reliever as it can burn. If pain, swelling or bleeding persists or becomes unmanageable before an appointment can be made, consider visiting the emergency room.

Toothaches and Abscesses

When suffering a toothache, pain relief is the goal until seeing the dentist. Rinsing with water, using a topical pain reliever, and applying a cold compress if swelling occurs can reduce symptoms.

Abscesses are serious and should be treated by a dental or medical professional quickly. Until then, rinse with salt water. Consider the emergency room if you can’t be seen immediately.

Ways to prevent and help with dental emergencies

Lehman Waggener recommends including dental emergency items with your first-aid kit. You can find many products at the drug store such as temporary filling and crown repair kits, dental pain relievers, and tooth preserving solutions that can improve the chances of replanting a dislodged tooth.

In addition to preparation, for reducing the risk of dental injuries, many dentists recommend wearing a mouth guard during physical activities and to avoid chewing on non-edible items or using your teeth as a tool.

If you are experiencing a dental emergency in Santa Rosa, call Lehman Waggener Dental today.

We are here to help!

Zoom Professional Teeth Whitening

When your teeth are bright and white, it's much easier to feel confident about smiling. While there are many tooth-whitening products available over-the-counter at your pharmacy, professional treatments such as Zoom! whitening provide you with a superior result, much more quickly. How does Zoom! compare to over-the-counter products?

Ease of Use

To use over-the-counter whitening products, you’ll apply whitening solution to plastic mouth trays, and then wear the trays for a short period of time, once or twice a day. Often this means mixing products to get a solution of the right strength, which can be tricky depending on the product. It can be difficult, and messy, and unpleasant.

This isn’t an issue with Zoom! whitening, as your dentist will perform the treatment in their office. There’s no need to worry about whether you’re using the product correctly, and no mess to clean up afterward.

Comfort and Safety

If you have sensitive teeth, using over-the-counter whitening products can be uncomfortable and even downright painful. Zoom! whitening as provided by your dentist is definitely a big improvement, as most people who have this whitening treatment don’t experience any pain or discomfort at all, even if their teeth are sensitive.

Zoom! whitening is safer, too. With over-the-counter products, there’s the risk of gum damage if they come into contact with the bleaching solution, and even tooth damage if over-bleaching occurs.

Treatment Time

Over-the-counter products typically require several weeks of use to get the best results. Zoom! professional whitening doesn’t just provide a superior result with less discomfort, it does it amazingly quickly, too. Zoom! treatment takes less than an hour to complete, from start to finish.

Effectiveness

There’s absolutely no question that professional Zoom! teeth-whitening from your dentist is more effective than any over-the-counter product you can buy. Zoom! uses UV light to accelerate and enhance the whitening process, making it possible to lighten your teeth up to 8 shades in just 45 minutes.

Contact Us To Learn More About Tooth Whitening Today

If you're interested in having your teeth professionally whitened or are interested in learning more about the procedure, call us to schedule an appointment with Kelly Waggener, D.M.D.

Oral Hygiene Tips

Oral hygiene can be a reflection of a person’s overall health. While many products on the market mask common symptoms that could indicate poor health, such as bad breath, maintaining good dental hygiene can improve general health. Improve your daily oral hygiene habits with the following tips. Read More

Fluoride and Teeth

Recent debate over the use of fluoride has sparked several studies that show fluoride’s effect on teeth and reveal whether it’s safe to use or not. While many individuals fail to see the benefits of fluoride, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), scientific evidence proves that small doses of fluoride can improve dental health. Read More

Effects of Sleep Apnea

Sleep occupies one-third of a person’s life, making a good night’s sleep important to an individual’s overall health. Sleep apnea prevents quality sleep, resulting in health complications such as increased fatigue and difficulty focusing. Understanding the different types of sleep apnea, as well as the methods for treating them, helps patients to overcome their sleep disorder and finally get a good night’s rest. Read More

Clear Aligners vs Metal Braces

Teeth alignment is a common dental treatment many individuals will need in their lifetime. There are two predominant options for aligning teeth: traditional metal braces and clear aligners. While both methods achieve similar results, each has its disadvantages and benefits. Read More

All-on-Four Dental Implants

Missing teeth can affect your quality of life, hindering the way you speak and eat. Many people completely missing all their teeth, find it difficult to perform many daily tasks a full set of teeth would otherwise easily handle. This implant procedure provides a solution for patients seeking a full restoration or smile makeover. Read More

Scaling and Root Planing

When bacteria in the mouth develops into tartar, the damage to gums can have severe effects on your health. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, develops pockets between teeth and gums where bacteria can enter the blood stream, increasing an individual’s chances for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Getting treated for gum disease through a procedure known as scaling and root planing can prevent future problems.