....Joan H.

" I tell people who comment on my "smile" how wonderful it was to have the sedation dentistry to restore my teeth!!!!  It was so easy, and painless......I just took a "nap" for a few hours, woke up feeling great, and had received hours of dental work without feeling any discomfort at all!!!!   It was awesome!!!!   Dental work that would have taken a year to complete, one tooth at a time, was done in just a few sessions.....The sedation worked very well, I slept during procedures, woke up feeling good, and had absolutely no discomfort...and no after-effects......"

"I was very fearful of dental work and had delayed necessary care due to my intense anxiety about having fillings and crowns....so I needed extensive dental procedures.  Dr. Berard did an exam, took x-rays and then presented his recommendations for the necessary and desired dental restoration.  He was very informative, we discussed essential procedures, recommended procedures and cosmetic procedures to restore a more attractive appearance.  The financial investment I made was significant in my budget, but when I took into consideration the cost of each filling, root canal, crown, office visit and x-ray, it was less costly than it would have been to make individual appointments for the work, and I got to "sleep through it"!!!    Win~Win.  "

"The results are incredible!!!!  No pain, no problems, the dental work is precise and the teeth are lovely!!!  I would recommend the sedation dentistry to anyone anxious about having dental procedures!!!"

Cold Sore Help...

     This time of year the rush of the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Years can cause a bit of extra stress and sometimes our bodies react by producing a lovely red sore with lots of little blisters in the middle...usually right on your lips.  This is a phenomena known as a COLD SORE, or fever blister. 
     Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type I, also known as herpes labialis.  This strain of herpes usually leads to infection from the waist up, while type II infections are usually located below the waist, also known as genital herpes.  The most common areas for type I breakouts are the mouth, lips, nose and chin.  The virus is highly contagious and can be passed from kissing and other exposure to the sore.  That means hand washing is essential BEFORE you use the bathroom as well as after.  Children are highly susceptible, so be sure to avoid kissing and sharing drinks if you have a breakout.
     Once a person is exposed to the virus it may lie dormant in the body for years and be triggered at a later time.  The virus attaches deep in the nerve roots near the area that was exposed and remains there. Breakouts may be triggered from one of several different things including stress, excessive sun exposure, colds and other infections or monthly periods.  Some people will experience frequent breakouts while others may only have them one or two times a year. 
     The blisters associated with the cold sore usually dry up in a few days and are replaced with scabs that disappear in about 7-10 days.  While there is no cure for this virus there are several ways to treat the burning and pain from the sores.  Envision Dental offers a topical germicidal antiseptic, available only to medical professionals,that helps relieve pain and burning caused by the cold sore.  After multiple breakouts most people are able to "feel" when they are about to get a cold sore.  This feeling is often described as a tingly, itchy sensation and when this feeling occurs it is very important to start treatment right away to shorten the severity and longevity of the breakout.
     Contact our Team at Envision Dental for more information or to purchase this helpful product.

Smiles, Holly

Mouth Protection and Sports

          Protection for chest, knees, shins, elbows and heads is a requirement for many different high-school and college sports, however, we often neglect to protect one very valuable area of our youth...the mouth.  It is only in boxing and football that a mouth guard is generally required even though the mouth is the most injured body part from sports like Little League baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey and volleyball.  Even bike and scooter riding accidents can be damaging to the mouth and teeth.  A mouth guard not only helps protect the teeth from a blow to the mouth, but it also helps to absorb shock in the chin. This is why we highly encourage the use of a mouth guard for any child involved with these types of activities.  

          There are basically three different types of mouth guards available to you and generally cost from $10-$60 depending on the quality of the mouth guard.

     Basic * a generic pre-made guard that comes in one size.  These are often ill-fitting and can make it difficult to speak and breath.  These are usually found in the sports section of your sporting goods store.

     Boil-and-Bite   * this is a plastic material that is boiled and then bitten into by your child.  The hot water makes the plastic pliable and it then roughly forms to the shape of the child's teeth when bitten into.  This offers a somewhat better fit than the basic but can be troublesome to make.  These are also available in the sporting goods stores.

     Custom-Fitted Mouth Guard   *   This type of guard offers the best fit, resulting in easier breathing and speech as well as better protection.  The guard is made in-office by your dental professional and is perfectly fitted to your child's mouth and palate.  With a quick visit to our office you can ensure a season of sports and dental safety.

Mouth guard maintenance is simple.  Rinse with cool water after each use and for a better clean use liquid dish soap and cool water.  Avoid hot water, as that may warp the mouth guard and ruin the fit.  A mouth guard will wear out and should be replaced every season or so...depending on how many activities your son or daughter is involved with.

We look forward to helping you protect your child!

Smiles, Holly  

Time for the Tooth Fairy?

Many Mom's and Dad's start to worry if their child hasn't lost a tooth by age six.  It's okay.  Children usually lose their first tooth sometime between age six and seven years old.  Every child will grow and develop at their own pace, some may lose their first tooth a little earlier, others a bit later.  One of the big influences seems to be the timing of when he/she started to get baby teeth and when the last baby tooth came in.

The average child gets the first baby tooth at age six months and then gets three to four new teeth every three to four months.  This continues until the second molars erupt at about age 2 to 2 1/2 years, at which time your child should have all twenty baby teeth.

If your child got his first tooth early or finished getting all of his baby teeth early, then he might start losing the baby teeth early too.  On the other hand, if he didn't get the first baby tooth until age twelve to fifteen months, then he might be a little later than average in losing his first tooth.

Once your child starts losing his teeth, the pattern will seem like a reverse of how the baby teeth came in.  He should first lose the bottom two middle teeth, which are called the mandibular central incisors.  Next, the top two middle teeth will loosen and fall out, followed by the canines, first molars and then the second molars.

By age eleven to thirteen, the process should be complete and all of the baby teeth will be gone.  In some instances the dentist may have to help "wiggle" out a baby tooth.  For instance sometimes a permanent tooth may push through the gums behind or in front of a baby tooth and the baby tooth would need to be removed.    There are also occasions when it may be necessary to remove a baby tooth due to orthodontic needs or because the child refuses to wiggle the tooth out themselves.

The secondary or permanent teeth soon begin to erupt as your child looses the baby teeth.  This process isn't complete until your child gets his third molars or wisdom teeth, usually between seventeen to twenty-two years of age.

If you have questions or concerns about the development and or loss of your child's teeth please feel free to discuss this with us.  We want to make this process of development a fun time and not something that causes undue stress.

A Message from Kayla!

A Message from Kayla!

I love animals, and am enjoying my work here at Envision Dental  immensely.  So to combine these two interests, you may find the following animal dental facts of interest to you and the family pet (including a few other critters)!

Keep in mind the average adult has 32 teeth...

- Dogs have 42 teeth

-  Cats have 30 teeth

-  Guinea Pigs have 20 teeth

-  Hamsters have 16 teeth (some of which will continue to grow throughout its lifetime)

-  Pigs have 44 teeth

-  An elephant will grind down and re-grow SIX sets of teeth in an average life span.

and,

-  An Armadillo can have over a hundred teeth!  (Aren't you glad you don't have to floss that many?)

A message from Lynne...

Is your breath as fresh as it should be?

Bad breath is an embarrassing problem.  Using mouthwash and or sucking on mints is only going to temporarily cover up the odor.  Getting to the root of the problem will be a refreshing way to a healthier and happier you.

The causes of bad breath are numerous and could include certain foods, alcohol, cigarettes, poor or infrequent tooth brushing/flossing habits, periodontal disease, diabetes, dry mouth, sinus infections and reflux issues.  Here are some tips to keeping mouth odor under control:

- Brush teeth twice a day

-  Floss daily to clean debris from between the teeth, under the gums

-  Get regular dental cleanings

-  Clean your tongue on a regular basis

-  Eat a healthy diet

-  Treat underlying health issues


Call me at ENVISION Dental,  Lynne

Is Your Smile Helping You or Holding You Back?

Your smile has a bigger effect on your business and personal relationships than any other part of your appearance.  It's one of the first things people will notice about you when meeting you for the first time.

For hundreds of years, from the Mona Lisa to today's cover girls, a smile has always carried great significance.  Your smile might say that your are shy and scared or it may say I am proud and confident.

It is a reliable indication of a person's sense of well-being and has an enormous impact on your health, self-esteem and your personal and business relationships.

In short...a beautiful smile makes peoples more attracted to you; more disposed to like you, more eager to do business with you and more eager to help you with any kind of favor you need.

Here are three questions that you might consider when thinking about your smile and changes that you would like to make with it...

1.  When you see someone with a gorgeous smile does it make you envious?

2.  Are you ever embarrassed to smile with your teeth showing?

3.  Is there anything you would do to change your smile?

4.  Do you frequently smile "behind your hand"?

We believe that everyone should have the smile they want.  A beautiful smile has the ability to boost your confidence and dramatically change your daily life.

Call us today and we can make your dreams come true

by helping you wear the smile of a lifetime!