It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but you may already be thinking ahead to the even busier holiday season next month. You’ll want your smile to look its absolute best! Our team is happy to help with that. While not all of our cosmetic and restorative treatments can be completed in time for Christmas, several of them can – especially with our extended hours, including Saturday appointments. We can make your smile shine by:

• Hiding Dental Flaws – You have several options for concealing imperfections, and we’ll help you identify the one that best suits your smile. Our dentists can apply composite resin, the same material used for fillings, to your teeth during a bonding treatment. For a more versatile fix, you can cover issues with custom-made dental veneers. For the most serious problems, we may recommend a dental crown. 
• Straightening Crooked Teeth – Since we offer both traditional braces and Invisalign, we can correct virtually any orthodontic issue. Two of our dentists have earned prestigious VIP Diamond status with Invisalign, meaning they are among the top 1 percent of providers in the U.S. 
• Brightening Dingy Teeth – Teeth whitening is one of our simplest and most affordable cosmetic services. You won’t hesitate to show off your pearly whites if they look beautifully bright. We offer both in-office and at-home whitening options. With their professional formulations, they both provide better results than drugstore products. 
• Filling Smile Gaps – Nothing affects your smile’s appearance quite like missing teeth. They affect your smile’s performance too, often making it difficult to chew many kinds of food. You can choose from several teeth replacement options, including dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures. 
• Completely Transforming Your Appearance – If you have several things about your smile you’d like to change, our dentists can work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan that combines several services. We’ll make sure the plan makes the best use of your time and money. 

The best way to determine which services are right for you is to visit our Charlotte, NC office for a consultation. To schedule one, call us today at 704-285-0846. Orthodontics consultations and dental veneers consultations are free! 

If you’re like most folks, you’ve noticed the toothpaste aisle at your local drugstore just keeps getting more crowded. You’ve got more flavors and types of toothpaste than ever before to choose from. You may even find it a little confusing. Don’t worry! The toothpaste basics are to choose a toothpaste with fluoride and the ADA seal of approval. 

Watch this video from the American Dental Association for a little more information. 

Would you benefit from a paste formulated with special needs in mind? It’s possible. This is a great topic to discuss during your regular dental exam! Our team wants to help keep your teeth in their best shape possible. So we’re happy to address any questions you have about toothpaste or other aspects of oral hygiene. 

Need to schedule an exam? Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to make your appointment in Charlotte, NC.

Perhaps no holiday is more centered around food than Thanksgiving. This is great for your taste buds – but maybe not so good for your teeth, depending on the choices you make. Fortunately, you don’t have to skip all of the special treats. It’s pretty easy to have a smile-friendly Thanksgiving, with our six tips:

• Skip the Soda – You know sugary drinks aren’t great for your teeth, but soda is one of the worst choices you can make. That’s because most sodas also contain a lot of acid that can eat away at your tooth enamel, making it especially susceptible to decay. Water is the best beverage for your teeth – especially when consumed with a meal, as it helps wash away food debris. Unsweetened iced tea is also a good option. 
• Eat as Much Turkey as You Want – There’s no need to skimp on the turkey! It should have no ill effect on your teeth. It’s good for the rest of you too, as it contains lots of protein. Take it easy on the gravy. And if you get any meat stuck in between your teeth, try to remove it as soon as you can. 
• Be Aware of Starches – You may load up on potatoes, mac and cheese, rolls, and similar dishes in an effort avoid eating too much sugar. Be careful, though. Those popular sides contain a lot of starches, which turn into sugars in your mouth. Your best choices for sides are vegetables like peas and green beans, especially if they aren’t served with sugary sauces. Raw veggies from an appetizer tray, like carrots and celery sticks, contains lots of fiber and water – so they can clean your teeth almost like a natural “toothbrush.”
• No Need to Pass on the Pie – We’re dentists, but we’re not heartless! We don’t expect you to skip dessert. If there are several different kinds of pie, we recommend picking pumpkin. It usually contains less sugar than other choices, plus it contains smile-friendly vitamin A. If you can resist temptation, skip the whipped cream topping. 
• Remember to Brush & Floss – After your meal, you probably can’t wait to get to the couch to watch a football game and/or nap. You can feel better about your smile if you brush and floss first. If that’s not possible, rinse your mouth with water. 
• Schedule an Exam – To keep your teeth and gums healthy, we recommend seeing us at least once every six months for a dental exam and cleaning. We’ll find and remove any plaque from your teeth you’ve missed during home oral hygiene. We’ll also look out for issues like cavities and gum disease, so we can address them in their earliest stages when treatment is easy and inexpensive. If you or family members need to schedule exams, do so now before the holiday season really gets under way.

Have a smile-friendly Thanksgiving, then call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 today to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC.

As you count your many blessings, you want good health to be among them.

But that’s hard to achieve when you’re struggling with dental problems, especially tooth loss.

At Thanksgiving, it can be really tough to feel gratitude when you’re constantly reminded of the limitations that missing teeth or slippery dentures can put on your life. That’s why we want you to know about the blessings of dental implants!

When your restorations are anchored to implants, you can enjoy full oral function and a rich diet without having to worry about your smile’s appearance or staying away from all the foods you love this time of year. 

Check out this infographic for more specific ways that dental implants can bless your life! Then call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule a consultation for new teeth in Charlotte, NC.

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Who has time or money to waste on ineffective products that promise to whiten your teeth?

This time of year, most of us don’t.

But with professional teeth whitening at Charlotte Dentistry, you can always bet on the results.

We can give you a sparkling smile in time for the holidays without putting your teeth or gums at risk.

The Benefits Of A Bright Smile

Even straight, healthy teeth can sometimes use a little help looking more attractive. In fact, most people who visit a dentist for cosmetic dentistry will list tooth color as one of the top reasons they’re unhappy with their smile’s appearance.

With teeth whitening treatment, you can:

• Feel more confident
• Look years younger
• Make great first impressions
• Attract positive attention

But can you achieve a noticeably brighter smile by trusting a whitening product you found at a drugstore? That’s pretty unlikely.

The Problems With Store-Bought Whitening Products

Here are a few of the most common problems you face with store-bought products and kits to whiten your teeth.

*Weak Whitening Agents*

The whitening agents found in consumer-brand products have to be diluted in order for them to pass safety guidelines. It takes special training to use the kind of bleaching agents that will make any real difference in the color of your teeth, so what you buy from a store will be too weak to deliver noticeable results.

*Risks To Your Gums & Teeth*

Even with weak whitening chemicals, you can still risk irritating your gums or increasing your tooth sensitivity. Abrasive gels and poorly-fitting strips can be messy and harsh when applying them too often or incorrectly.

*Uneven Results*

Instructions that come with many of these products can be confusing, vague, or just hard to read. That can lead to uneven results, if you see any results at all.

Why Professional Whitening Is Always Better!

Our teeth whitening treatments are administered by properly trained professionals who have access to prescription-strength gels and the technology to ensure the safest, most effective application. When you’re going to put your smile’s appearance on the line, there are certain things you can count on when you trust a pro, such as: 

*Powerful Gel*

Whether you choose in-office or take-home treatment, you’ll be given powerful whitening gel only available to dentists. That allows you to see more dramatic results every single time.

*Customization* 

If you choose one of our take-home kits, you can enjoy the benefits of customization that store-brand strips and trays can’t offer. Those are mass produced to fit everyone, which basically means they don’t fit anyone! We, on the other hand, design mouth trays that fit over your teeth perfectly for safer coverage and more even results.

*Reliable Results*

Since a professional is administering your care, you can count on the results of our work. We use professional whitening systems that can remove even the most stubborn teeth stains with advanced tech and custom trays that deliver even, reliable results that always outperform store-bought kits.

Call To Get A More Radiant Smile!

Skip the store and head to your Charlotte, NC dentist’s office for pro teeth whitening that will make your smile sparkle this holiday season! Give us a call at 704-285-0846 to schedule your treatment at Charlotte Dentistry.

Black Friday will be here before you know it.

But why would your Charlotte, NC dentist want to remind you about that?

Because it’s also National Flossing Day! It’s our job to make sure our patients know how to take excellent care of their teeth between their routine dental checkups.

If you don’t floss your teeth at least once a day, it’s the perfect time to start.

And we’ll even give you a quick brush up on the proper technique!

Watch our flossing tutorial to make sure you’re getting the most out of your daily efforts to keep your teeth clean. 

For more oral hygiene tips, call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule an appointment in Charlotte, NC.

We’re starting TMJ Awareness Month with some insight about an incredibly small but important joint that can become a big pain and a big risk to your health and quality of life.

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is what helps you open and close your mouth, so naturally, it can interfere with your daily life if it’s thrown out of alignment. 

It can make chewing difficult, it can make certain muscles feel tense and sore, and it can also damage your tooth enamel.

Because they may not seem connected, it’s possible to have some kind of TMJ disorder without realizing it, so we’re sharing this infographic so you can see a few of the most common signs you should visit us for TMJ treatment.

You’ll be grateful you did because we can relieve the pain and pressure being put on your jaw so you can stop suffering from the unpleasant symptoms of TMJ problems and teeth grinding.

Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC.

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Let’s be honest.

Just because you don’t have kids in the house doesn’t mean it’s easy to resist all that delicious Halloween candy!

Whether you have small trick-or-treaters in the family, or you plan on giving out candy to all the little ghosts and goblins in the neighborhood, your teeth could suffer the consequences of all the additional sugar you’ll probably be consuming this time of year.

Moderation is important in preventing tooth decay and cavities, but it’s also helpful to know which types of sweets can damage your teeth in other ways.

Are you able to have a teeth-friendly Halloween? Take our quiz to find out!

Regardless, your best defense is visiting us for routine dental checkups to keep your smile healthy all year long. Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule your next appointment in Charlotte, NC.

It’s the most terrifying of all dental treatments.

Root canals are dreaded by patients more than almost any other dental procedure there is, but so much of that fear is based on widely believed myths that give this treatment a bad name.

Because a root canal can mean the difference between keeping your natural tooth or needing a restoration, your friends at Charlotte Dentistry want to set the record straight about this essential tooth-saving restorative procedure!

Why Do You Need A Root Canal?

We perform root canals to save infected teeth. When bacteria enter a tooth, it can infect the dental pulp, which is the soft inner area of the tooth, or the nerves that live under the pulp.

After we numb the area, we remove the infected tissue to keep it from spreading or returning. Then we gently clean and sanitize the area, pack it with a material to seal it, and then cover the tooth with a dental crown to protect it from future damage.

In many cases, you might need a root canal if you’re experiencing:

• Increased tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
• An intense, throbbing toothache that can extend into your jaw
• Tooth discoloration or swelling of the gums around a tooth

Myth #1: Root Canals Are Excruciating

Maybe this was true long ago, but thanks to modern technology and techniques, it’s simply not the case anymore.

In fact, the kind of toothache that often precedes a root canal will be far more painful than any dental procedure! These days, because of our numbing technique and dental sedation options, a root canal is as comfortable and simple as filling a cavity. 

Myth #2: Root Canals Create Health Problems

This myth mainly stems from research nearly a century ago that’s long since been debunked. There is no scientific evidence that root canals cause health problems or diseases. In fact, without getting a root canal, the infection inside a tooth can spread to your bloodstream and put you at serious risk of widespread health complications.

This procedure doesn’t create health problems, but rather, it helps prevent them.

Myth #3: Removing A Tooth Is A Better Option

An extraction is always a last resort because we want you to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. So no, removing an infected tooth is not always the best option, especially when we’re able to save it with a root canal procedure.

Pulling the tooth would only create a longer, more complicated and costly treatment plan because you’d need to have it replaced with some type of restoration or implant.

Myth #4: Root Canals Are Only Needed If You’re In Pain

While a throbbing toothache is a common sign of infection, it’s not true in every single case. That’s because you won’t feel any pain if a tooth is already dead. But if you visit us for routine checkups, we can examine your mouth carefully and spot this kind of problem, recommending a root canal if it’s needed.

Myth #5: Root Canals Require Multiple Appointments

The most common reason you would need to return after a root canal is to have a permanent dental crown placed, so in most cases, your treatment is complete after only two appointments. You’d need to return for multiple appointments, on the other hand, if you didn’t get a root canal to treat an infected tooth because lack of care gives the infection time to spread and to create other complications with your oral health. 

If you’re experiencing pain in your mouth or are having a hard time chewing, don’t put off the treatment you need to protect your oral and overall health. Call Charlotte Dentistry right away at 704-285-0846 to schedule your appointment in Charlotte, NC. We can perform a comfortable root canal to save your tooth!