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Dental Associates Blog

Our Experts. Your Oral Health

cup of eggnog with candy canes and holly surrounding it
Nov 26
7 Oral Health Tips and Tricks for a Healthy Holiday Season

This holiday season, like any other, is a time to reconnect with family, celebrate successes, and look forward to the new year. Between holiday dinners, Friendsgivings, and family game nights, it’s important to remember to take care of your teeth. We look forward to eating great food, and we should, but we should also be conscious of the effect it has on our bodies. It can be easy to get distracted with all the celebrations but it’s important to be careful with eating and making sure to still take care of your oral health. Here are some quick things to consider this holiday season. Watch this quick video to hear a few tips from my colleague, Dr. Skibinski:

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woman holding dental instruments working on a patient in the dental chair
Nov 19
Will My Dental Procedure Be Painful?

Right now, my job consists of pulling a lot of teeth, wisdom tooth extractions, and other oral surgery procedures. The question I get most is “is this going to be painful,” and understandably so. Many patients have a fear of the unknown, coupled with dental anxiety or fear of the dentist. That’s why I always remind them that if something is painful, something is wrong. A lot of procedures are sedation extractions or have local numbing anesthetics, so patients shouldn’t really feel anything more than discomfort.

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dental x-ray image showing teeth
Nov 8
Do I Really Need X-rays Every Year?

Dental X-Rays have become a common adjunct to a routine dental exam and are a standard of care practice, helping detect early signs of tooth decay, monitor jaw and tooth formation for adolescents and observe overall oral health not visible to the naked eye. While dental X-rays normally occur yearly, there can be other factors that affect the frequency of X-rays. These include: Age If your dentist is monitoring a specific issue Your current dental health History/symptoms of oral disease A history of gum disease (gingivitis), bone disease (periodontitis), or tooth decay For quite some time, there have been debates around the safety and risks regarding dental X-rays. As technology continues to develop and become more sophisticated, exposure to radiation is lowered significantly. Today, the risk is almost nonexistent due to minor radiation exposure and the implementation of digital X-rays, effective in cutting down radiation exposure by nearly half. To assist in reducing risk, dentists still use a lead covering with a thyroid collar to protect the thyroid. For adults, dental X-rays are used to look for areas of decay that the dentist would not be able to see with the naked eye, such as areas between the teeth or underneath a filling. X-rays allow dentists to exercise preventative action, alerting to things like bone loss from periodontal disease, show problems in the root of a tooth such as infection or death of the nerve and look for other problems like cysts, cancer or changes caused by diseases of the body. Dental X-rays can also assist in helping your dentist plan, prepare and place tooth implants, braces, dentures or other dental work. For these reasons, it is incredibly important that patients receive dental X-rays as needed to assess for various oral health concerns, and at minimum have a series of X-rays completed annually.

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woman in a dental chair getting a dental procedure done
Nov 6
7 Ways to Calm Dental Anxiety and Fear of the Dentist

Learn Ways to Calm Nerves Before a Dentist Visit Many patients have a fear of the dentist and are looking for ways to calm down before coming in for an appointment. I know my colleagues and teams take pride in making our patients feel comfortable before, during, and after a routine cleaning or more involved procedure.

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white and blue electric toothbrush on a dark background
Nov 1
Are Electric Toothbrushes Better?

The way we think about purchasing goods and services is incredibly different than we did 10, even 5, years ago. With the ability to order just about everything online and the reduced need to think about it, consumerism has changed drastically. In the last few years, subscription opportunities have skyrocketed. You can have your contacts delivered to your door every month without thinking about it. And now, there are many types of toothbrushes that can be delivered to your door, as well as replacement electric heads, floss, and toothpaste.

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young woman holding her mouth in pain from teeth grinding
Jul 11
Teeth Grinding and Bruxism

Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding and/or clenching of the teeth. Over time, bruxism can wear down tooth enamel, which can make teeth sensitive to food, drink, and teeth brushing. In addition, bruxism can lead to TMJ problems, jaw muscle pain, chipping of teeth, and damage of restorative dental work. People who grind their teeth often do so at nighttime and are usually not aware that they are grinding their teeth. Most of the time, your dentist will notice signs of bruxism during your routine dental exam. If you or someone you know grinds their teeth, read on to learn the causes and symptoms of bruxism, and how to prevent it.

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dental office with a screen showing a dental x-ray
May 21
Green Bay Sedation Dentist

If the thought of going to the dentist makes you anxious or scared, you’re not alone! We see many patients who are scared or worried when coming to the dentist—whether for regular cleaning, a filling, or even an extraction. At Dental Associates, we want to better help patients who have these feelings. Some of our dentists underwent additional training to offer sedation dentistry. As a sedation dentist, your dental team will use an IV line to sedate patients and keep them calm during their dental appointment

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female dentist with loupes glasses talking to a patient in a dental chair
Apr 25
When Should I Go to the Dentist?

You’ve probably heard that regular dental checkups every six months help keep your mouth healthy and identify potential dental issues before they happen. But what happens if you think you may have to see a dentist between those regular checkups? If you have tooth sensitivity, new areas of swelling, or issues with a denture, you may be wondering “When should I go to the dentist?” Just like going to the doctor, sometimes it can be hard to know whether to schedule a dentist appointment or to wait it out. That’s why I’ve put together a list of things that you should be mindful of to help you know when to see the dentist.

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Blue background with white and yellow text that reads what to look for during open enrollment
Nov 7
Tips for Open Enrollment Season

It’s open enrollment season, which means once again you’re tasked with choosing a medical and dental plan that’s right for you. The problem is, a lot of companies make it difficult to understand what’s included in insurance, what their annual maximums are, and what care each plan covers. That’s why we wanted to share some tips for choosing a dental insurance plan that best fits your needs so this year during open enrollment, you can feel confident when choosing a plan! Watch this quick video to learn tips for open enrollment season: Tips for Choosing a Dental Insurance Plan When electing into your benefits through your employer, make sure you look out for a few aspects: Before purchasing a plan, check to make sure your dental plan covers basic services completely. For example, preventive and diagnostic care services should be covered at 100%. Some plans don’t count preventive and diagnostic work towards your maximum and this provides you extra dollars for other services. Also, be sure to choose a plan that includes coverage for both general and specialty work such as fillings, extractions, or crowns. This will help reduce your bills now and in the future. Pay attention! Unfortunately, some dental insurances may seem like a good deal, but they have a lot of fine print such as excluded care and services, waiting periods before you can use it, or payments made according to a reduced fee schedule. Pay attention to ensure your insurance offers coverage with no strings attached! Purchase a plan that's right for you. There are many different dental insurance plans out there. Be sure to choose a plan that provides coverage for your family and will also include dependents. Or, if it’s just you, don’t overpay for a plan that includes family members when you only need coverage for yourself! If you’re considering a new plan, check if your current provider is in-network. This can usually be done on the insurance company’s website or over the phone. You can also call your dentist’s office to inquire if they accept the plan you are considering. By seeing an in-network provider, you will reduce your dental expense! With those three things in mind, you’ll be good to go this open enrollment season! Stand Alone Dental Insurance If your company doesn’t offer dental insurance during open enrollment, stand alone dental insurance (or supplemental dental insurance) is a great option. There are many supplemental dental insurance options on the market for both individuals and families. In addition, our clinics are the exclusive provider or CarePlus Dental Plans, which can save you up to 25% on out-of-pocket dental expenses. Learn more about CarePlus Dental Plans.

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