At Advanced Dental, we understand that dental insurance can be a tricky thing to navigate. Evaluating dental plans and considering deductibles, benefits, which treatments are covered, and the mountain of other information insurance companies provide can be a headache in and of itself. Dr. Cox wants every Lebanon resident to have the power to control their own health, so here’s a simplified guide to the basics of dental health insurance. As always, if you have a question, don’t be afraid to give us a call! Read more ›
Dental Insurance FAQ: The Basics
Posted in Dental Services, Patient Care
Dental Implants – A Security System for Your Smile
Your mouth is an intelligent system made to work with every piece doing its part. When you’re missing a tooth, the empty spaces are more than unsightly; they can be dangerous. Your other teeth, your gums, and even the bones in your face rely on you having a full smile.
Enter: dental implants. Thanks to improved technology, you can replace a single tooth or a whole row of teeth quickly and effectively. Dental implants can improve your overall oral health and are now considered the gold standard in tooth replacement technology.
Dr. Jerry Cox at Advanced Dental in Lebanon offers professional placement and restoration of dental implants, so let us tell you more about them and how they can help protect your greatest asset and secure your smile!
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Teeth have even more going on under the surface of your gums than above. What you see when you look at your teeth is the hard, white crown. (See, you knew you must be royalty!) Then – like a plant – each tooth has a long root extending down into the jawbone.
Nearly 98% of implant treatments are successful, and healthy implants can last a lifetime when properly cared for. Dental implants are highly successful because they closely imitate your natural tooth in every way. Implant teeth have a top crown and a permanent root fixed into your jawbone—unlike traditional dental restorations that only replace the visible crown.
The Security of Dental Implants
Posted in Dental Health, Dental Services
Fluoride: Good or Bad?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fluoridation of drinking water is ranked among the ten greatest public health achievements of 20th century America. However, a quick search of the internet tells us that fluoride is actually toxic if ingested in large enough quantities.
So which is it? Do the health benefits outweigh the negatives of fluoride in toothpaste and drinking water? We at Advanced Dental know that Lebanon folks care a great deal about their health, so we’ve put this article together to examine the facts and help you come to your own decision. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you might have, so feel free to give us a call!
Why Use Fluoride in the First Place?
Posted in Dental Health, Dental News
A Guide to Cavity Prevention
Imagine this- you have come to see Dr. Cox for a cleaning and routine check-up. The cleaning goes well, but then Dr. Cox tells you that you have a cavity. You’ve been dreading the possibility of this news and now you fear that something must be wrong, since you have been brushing and flossing regularly.
We at Advanced Dental see this happen every day and we want to put your mind at ease. Cavities are very common and usually a simple fix for Dr. Cox. Use this guide to learn about what cavities are and how you can prevent them.
Cavities: The Basics
Cavities are caused by tooth decay, which is a byproduct of too much plaque.
Here’s how it works. Every day, our saliva breaks down the food we eat into bacteria and then into acid, which mixes with the saliva and forms the nuisance commonly referred to as plaque. Remarkably, it only takes 20 minutes for plaque to form on your teeth after eating. Plaque is corrosive to the outer layer of your teeth (enamel). If plaque is left to its own devices, it will likely result in tooth decay, which literally causes decay in the structure of your teeth. Both enamel and dentin (the layer beneath enamel) may be damaged during this process, and a cavity can often form as a result. Read more ›
4 Facts about Dental Implants
Most Lebanon residents will lose a tooth at some point in their lives, but that doesn’t mean your smile has to suffer. There are numerous ways to fix a lost tooth, but today, Dr. Cox would like to educate you about the best option for a healthy smile that will last a lifetime: dental implants. Here are some facts about dental implants. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to give us at Advanced Dental a call.
1. Implants function just like real teeth
If you are looking for a solution that will preserve and improve the health of your mouth, implants are the way to go. Although dentures and bridges can help simulate the function of real teeth, they do not stimulate the jawbone. Implants are placed directly in the jawbone, just like the root of a tooth. As a result, they can put a stop to painful, damaging reabsorption, so that you never have to deal with that “sunken in” look. On top of that, implants are sturdier than any other form of dental appliance. Read more ›
To Be or Not To Be Sugar-Free: The Facts About Common Sweeteners
Originally created for people that can’t consume regular sugars, alternative and artificial sweeteners have become extremely popular in Lebanon in all kinds of different products. From chewing gum to diet soda, Dr. Cox wants you to know which of these options are best for your dental and general health, so here are the facts about a few of the most common sweeteners. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Advanced Dental.
The Big Five Sugar Substitutes
The benefits of natural and artificial sugar-free sweeteners were first recognized as a safe option for diabetics, but have since exploded in popularity because food, beverage, candy, and snack companies have discovered that it is easier to sell fewer calories. In addition, Lebanon residents with a sweet tooth know that artificial sweeteners are notorious for their ability to ruin your portion control. All of the following substances are considered sugar-free and inhibit tooth decay because bacteria cannot ferment them into enamel-destroying acids. Despite ongoing controversy about health concerns of sugar substitutes, the FDA considers all of the following substances to be safe for regular consumption. Read more ›
Professional Dental Cleanings Make a Big Difference
You’ve been hearing it for years – “make sure to visit Dr. Cox twice a year for your regular cleanings.” Just in case you’ve ever wondered why regular dental cleanings are so important, we at Advanced Dental would like to take this opportunity to let Lebanon residents in on some information you don’t often hear. Let this article serve as your personal guide to the benefits of getting your teeth cleaned.
If you have any questions or find that you are suddenly inspired to visit Dr. Cox for a cleaning, feel free to give us a call!
Why You Should Get Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned
Unfortunately, some folks in Lebanon believe that visiting the dentist is unnecessary if you brush and floss regularly. That just isn’t the case. In addition to keeping your teeth clean and healthy, regular visits to our expert hygienists at Advanced Dental ensure that we can have a good look at your pearly whites and make sure nothing is wrong. If you don’t come in for cleanings, you’ll only need more expensive work later in life. Read more ›
How Dental Sealants Keep Cavities at Bay!
If you are a parent, you probably know how difficult it is to get Lebanon children to brush and floss regularly. On top of that, young children often lack the necessary motor skills to properly care for their teeth. At Advanced Dental, we want your whole family to have excellent dental health, so here’s some information on how Dr. Cox can help protect your kids from tooth decay. If you have any questions or would like schedule a consultation, please give us a call.
Kids and Cavities
In the back teeth, there are numerous nooks and crannies that toothbrushes can’t quite get to. Referred to as pits and fissures, these areas on the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars are particularly susceptible to tooth decay in children between the ages of 6 and 14. Food can easily get stuck in the tiny grooves and remain for long periods of time, which, combined with bacteria, creates the perfect environment for tooth decay and cavities. Read more ›
Updating your Health History May Help Save Your Teeth
Although you might think of your general health and your dental health as two separate categories, they are much more connected than the average Lebanon resident would suspect. Just like the information you provide to your doctor helps him/her keep your health in good shape, Dr. Cox depends on your input for optimum dental health. We at Advanced Dental like to go above and beyond for our Lebanon patients, but we need your help to make sure you get the quality dental care you deserve. Here are a few reasons why:
The average Lebanon resident might not think to mention to their dentist what’s going on with their physical health, but you’d be surprised how much that information can make a difference in your oral care. Dr. Cox needs to be able to see the whole picture so that we can keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.
Diabetes and Dental Health
750,000 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. However, few diabetes sufferers know the full extent of the disorder’s effect on your teeth. If you have diabetes, you are much more likely to develop: Read more ›
Chocolate is Good for Oral Health – True or False?
Most of us were taught when we were kids that sweets like chocolate will rot your teeth. While this may remain true for some types of our favorite sweet snack, that doesn’t mean we have to take it off the menu all together. In fact, recent studies have found that dark chocolate, containing high percentages of cocoa, may actually be beneficial to your dental health. Dr. Cox at Advanced Dental wants Lebanon residents to know the facts so they can satisfy their sweet-tooth safely.
How does it work?
Dark chocolate is known to contain high levels of antioxidants, which work with our bodies to fight bacteria and disease. Dark chocolate can contain up to four times the amount of antioxidants found in green tea! High levels of antioxidants found in saliva have been proven to help fight periodontal, or gum disease, and slow tooth decay. Read more ›
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