Tag: tooth decay

Tips for a Lifelong Smile

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Did you know that beyond basic dental hygiene, there are things that you should be doing to preserve the health of your smile? Drs. Paul Stanovick, Brant Stanovick, and our team are happy to offer advice on things you can do for your smile.

Lifestyle Habits
If you want to have your smile for more than just a while, avoid bad oral habits. Chewing on pens and your nails can wear down your teeth, or even crack, chip, or break them. Chewing on ice can also cause issues like chipped teeth or injured gums. Another oral habit that can damage the teeth is opening things with your teeth.

Visit Our Dentist
For the health of your smile, visit Paul R. Stanovick, DDS at least twice a year for your regular dental cleaning and exam. During this appointment, our hygienist will remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums. During this appointment, our dentist will examine all of your teeth and your gums for any problems and potential problems. This exam allows for any dental problems to be treated early on.

Complete Your Dental Treatment
You should not leave dental treatment unfinished. Any procrastinated dental work could mean a worse dental issue developing.

We encourage you to contact our office at 804-781-1919 today if you would like to learn more about keeping your smile for life and to schedule a visit with our dentist in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

A Tooth with an Untreated Cavity Might Need to Be Restored with a Dental Crown

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Your routine dental checkup with Drs. Paul and Brant Stanovick are designed to detect any signs of gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer. If he finds an area of concern, he will recommend the most appropriate treatment method.

Sometimes a cavity can go undetected between your dental checkups. If the area of tooth decay is large or the tooth was previously repaired with a dental filling, Drs. Paul and Brant Stanovick might recommend treating the problem with a dental crown.

This will effectively treat the tooth decay by replacing the entire tooth enamel layer with an alternative material such as gold, porcelain, or a basic metallic alloy.

At your first appointment, Drs. Paul and Brant Stanovick will use a special dental drill to remove the tooth enamel layer and create an abutment. This a healthy pillar of dentin will eventually anchor the dental crown in your mouth.

Once this is done Drs. Paul and Brant Stanovick will prepare an impression of the area. It will be sent to a dental lab to serve as a guide for the technicians as they create your dental crown.

A member of Paul R. Stanovick, DDS staff will call you to schedule a short follow up appointment when the new dental crown is ready. Once it has been cemented onto the abutment the fully restored tooth will last for many years.

If you live in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and you suspect a cavity has formed on one of your teeth, you should call 804-781-1919 to seek treatment at Paul R. Stanovick, DDS.

An Amalgam Filling Might Be Needed to Repair a Chip on a Back Tooth

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The molars and premolars in the back of your mouth do a significant amount of work chewing and grinding the foods you eat. When a chip forms on one of these teeth, it can pose future problems. As time goes by, stray food material and bacterial residue could become trapped in the minute textures of the damaged tooth enamel. This could cause a new cavity on an already altered tooth.

In some cases where the chip or dental fracture is small, Drs. Paul and Brant Stanovick might be able to repair the tooth with a dental filling.

The specific material he advocates for your filling will depend on the tooth’s primary function and visibility in your smile. Amalgam fillings are made from a blend of inert metals. They are durable, making them a good choice for repairing a small cavity on a molar or premolar.

Once it is cured and hardened by a dental-grade ultraviolet light, the filling should effectively repair the tooth for many years.

If you live in the Mechanicsville, Virginia, area and you have suffered a chip or other dental fracture on one of your teeth, you should not delay in calling 804-781-1919 to seek treatment at Paul R. Stanovick, DDS.

Men’s Oral Health: The Smile-Harming Risks You Might Face Each Day

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As a man, there are certain things you need to worry about each day to keep your life in tip-top shape. However, you might not know that your smile should be one of those things. Sadly, there are a few smile-harming risks that can put your teeth and gums in grave danger. To help you prevent and fight these things, our Paul R. Stanovick, DDS dental team has some tips and information for you.

Unfortunately, medications have side effects that can cause dry mouth, which is a common dental issue that can cause severe dental problems, like tooth decay. If you don’t produce enough saliva on a regular basis, the bacteria in your mouth will not be washed away and it can attack your teeth and gums. So, if you suffer from dry mouth, please remember to chew sugar-free gum regularly, avoid drinking alcohol, use alcohol-free mouthwash, avoid smoking, and sip on water throughout the day.

Tobacco is another substance that can destroy your oral health. This is because it can promote and cause oral cancer and gum disease. If you do happen to use tobacco products and you can’t find a way to quit the habit, the best thing you can do for your smile and oral health is to visit your dentist every six months so you can keep your teeth and oral tissues as healthy as possible.

The last thing that can harm your smile is playing sports without the protection of a mouthguard. No matter which sport you play, there is a chance that the ball, a player, or a hard object can hit your mouth and result in oral injury, such as chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth. So, the best way you can protect your smile is by wearing a mouthguard while you are active.

Call our office today at [phone] if you have any questions about how to maintain a top-notch smile and oral health in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Drs. Paul and Brant Stanovick are always happy to help you with all of your oral health needs!

Laser Dentistry: Facts

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Did you know that lasers have been used in dentistry for decades? However, recently laser dentistry has become more and more common. One of the main reasons for this is simply that patients tend to feel less anxious with a laser than they are with other dental tools. Laser dentistry also offers a number of other benefits.

Lasers have been used broadly since the mid 1990’s. Laser dentistry is a popular choice because patients tend to feel more relaxed and comfortable when a laser is used instead of a drill. Lasers also allow dentists to be more precise. This means dentists can reduce damage done to nearby areas during treatments. Patients can also expect to heal more quickly and should experience less bleeding during and after a procedure.

Laser dentistry can also be used in a number of treatments. For example, tooth decay can actually be removed with a laser. Lasers can also be used to prepare your enamel, or the protective outer layer of your teeth, for having a filling placed. Lasers can also be used during the setting and curing of fillings. Gum disease and root canal therapy can also be done with lasers.

Do you have any more questions about the care you could receive from our team? Are you interested in learning more about whether you’re a good candidate for laser dentistry? Would you simply like to set up an appointment with our dentist, Drs. Stanovick and Stanovick? If so, we invite you to give Paul R. Stanovick, DDS a call at 804-781-1919. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Dental Veneers Can Enrich Your Smile

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Dental veneers can enrich your smile. Even if you have been unable to enjoy your smile for a very long time, in just a few short visits, you can find yourself basking in the glow of a brand-new smile and a brand-new outlook on life. Whatever form of treatment or cosmetic dentistry you are looking for, our office wants to give you the exact wish that you desire.

Dental veneers can work wonders on even the worst of oral profiles. Here is a list of some common benefits they can provide:

– When done by the dentists at our office they are near-impossible to differentiate from natural real teeth.
– With the proper care, dental veneers can last over a decade.
– Dental veneers are extremely thin yet extremely durable.
– Since veneers can be custom designed and crafted for each individual tooth, they can correct a variety of flaws including misalignments, stains, discolorations, cracks, chips, breaks, faults, and other damage that may have occurred.
– Veneers require less enamel to be removed than with dental crowns or caps.
– Dental veneers can blend seamlessly with your mouth as they can be custom-designed for nearly any shade of tooth.

With our cosmetic dentistry and dental veneers, we want to make your smile as amazing as we can. If you would like to set up an appointment with Drs. Stanovick and Stanovick, please call us at 804-781-1919, or stop by our office in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Come see what veneers can do for you!

Fluoride Treatments and Supplements Can Help Prevent Cavities

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Your tooth enamel is composed of microscopic mineral structures. The density of these minerals is what gives your teeth the strength to bite and chew food. However, it is possible for the acidic foods and beverages you consume throughout the day to erode the mineral density of your tooth enamel. This creates microscopic pores and textures that can harbor bacteria and tooth decay.

If your teeth show signs of tooth decay, or if you’ve struggled with multiple cavities in the past, your dentist, Dr. Stanovick and Stanovick, might recommend a standard fluoride treatment. You see, fluoride counteracts the effects of demineralization by restoring the microscopic mineral crystals that make up your tooth enamel.

Your dentist will usually administer the fluoride treatment immediately following your regular dental checkup. This is done by pouring concentrated fluoride gel into a special tray that is inserted into your mouth and held there for a few minutes. You will need to avoid eating and drinking for up to an hour to maximize the fluoride saturation of your teeth.

If your tooth enamel has been significantly compromised, we might also prescribe daily fluoride supplements. This often comes in the form of a concentrated fluoride toothpaste or mouthrinse that you use right before going to bed.

If you are concerned about the health and integrity of your tooth enamel, you should call [practice_name] at [phone] to understand your fluoride options in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Don’t Forget to Add These Smile Friendly Thanksgiving Foods to the Menu

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While you are cooking up a storm this Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Paul R. Stanovick, Brant Stanovick, and our team in Mechanicsville, Virginia, hope you include some smile-friendly fare on your menu. Most people are familiar with heart-healthy food choices, but smile-friendly food choices are not as well-known, yet both are vital to good health. Following are some smile-friendly choices we hope you include in your family’s bounteous spread.

— Chewing cheddar cheese lowers acid levels in the mouth and stimulates saliva production, both of which promote good oral health. Cheese also has calcium and protein which aids tooth enamel.

— Crunchy foods like apples, raw carrots, and celery can help clean plaque off of your pearly whites. They also contain fiber, which stimulates both the gums and saliva production which help wash away plaque.

— If you want to build tooth enamel, in addition to cheese, eat plenty of leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and almonds, which contain calcium. And meat, eggs, and fish supply the body with phosphorous, which also helps tooth enamel.

— If you have eaten and can’t brush your teeth, chewing sugarless gum helps remove bacteria in the mouth, which prevents plaque from building up on your teeth.

— Drinking milk after consuming sugary foods can help neutralize the acid created by bacteria which forms into plaque.

— Polyphenols, which are compounds found in both black and green teas, slow down bacterial growth that can cause cavities and gum disease. Drinking these teas are also good for fighting bad breath.

As you can see, you can help your family enjoy the holidays while protecting those hard-earned smiles. Remember to brush and floss no matter how busy you are, and keep those twice a year dental cleanings and checkups. To schedule a visit for you or a family member, please call 804-781-1919 today. Dr. Paul R. Stanovick, Brant Stanovick and the rest of our team at Paul R. Stanovick, DDS wish you and yours a healthy Thanksgiving!

Keeping Ahead of COVID-19

Providing a safe environment for treatment and control for infectious disease is always a priority at Paul Stanovick DDS. Our expansive reception area and large outdoor deck provides space to easily support regulations surrounding social distancing. The treatment rooms provide an extra layer of protection as they are sanitized between each patient and provide clean air through air purifiers located in each room. You will see some changes during your next appointment as we have added precautions to protect patients and staff. You will be asked to enter the building with use of facial protection and asked to wear it until you are in the treatment room. Hand sanitizer is also available throughout the whole building for your use. You may notice that our magazine and children’s books have been removed from the reception area as they are harder to disinfect. We have installed plexiglass around our front reception area for added distancing between front staff and patients waiting for appointments. Air purifiers have been placed in every operatory with two larger purifiers in the front and back of the office. We have provided face shields, lab jackets and barrier gowns for all clinical staff. Our hours of operation will still remain Monday -Friday 8am-5pm. We are looking forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about treatment and the safety precautions we are taking here at the practice. If you would like to make an appointment you can give us a call or text 804.781.1919. Thank you for your patience during these changing times and for your trust in us with taking care of your dental needs. Sincerely, Dr. Paul Stanovick, Dr. Brant Stanovick, and Staff.