The effectiveness of teeth bleaching depends partly on the types of stains. Extrinsic tooth stains are the simplest to remove. These surface stains have not yet penetrated through the enamel into the dentin. Extrinsic stains are caused by dark-colored foods and beverages like blueberries, carrots, coffee, red wine, and cola. And nicotine is no better […]
General Dentistry
Trouble Getting Numb For Dental Treatment?
Our bodies work differently. Some dental patients don’t respond to local anesthetics by getting numb. This is understandably concerning when you need dental treatment. (And the word “concerning” may be a huge understatement!) It’s important to recognize that bad experiences in the past don’t guarantee that you will never be able to become numb. At […]
The Tea And Teeth Question
What do you call a dentist who doesn’t like tea? Why, Denis, of course. Lame jokes aside, a common concern for patients is stained teeth. I’m Dr. Mark Phan of OKC Smiles. Today, let’s talk a little bit about a common cause of tooth staining: dark beverages including tea. Over time, tea can stain the […]
The Rate of Bone Loss After Extraction Can Be Slowed or Stopped With an Implant
The alveolar bone The bone surrounding the teeth is called alveolar bone. Its main job is to support the teeth and provide a heavy-duty foundation for tooth roots. Normal mouth function maintains bone health. As you chew, it stimulates bone cells to continually generate new bone. What can cause alveolar bone loss? Extraction When a […]
Avoid These 5 Smile Wreckers
We hope today’s post will alert blog visitors to some harmful oral health risks. At OKC Smiles, too often, we treat cavities and damage caused by the following: 1. Sports Injuries Many parents send their children out on the playing field with a mouthguard but fail to protect themselves when they participate in activities that […]
Don’t Let Fear Of The Dentist Compromise Your Oral Health
If you have claustrophobia, you avoid cave exploration. If you have acrophobia (fear of heights), you avoid sky diving. In either case, you can live a fulfilling life without joining in these activities. What if you have dentophobia or a fear of the dentist? (Yes, it’s a real thing with an official name.) This is […]
Don’t Like Dental Visits? Go Anyway.
It’s no secret that many Oklahoma City residents dread going to the dentist. Whether they associate dental visits with shame, pain or financial drain, they avoid it at all costs. See Your Dentist Regularly to Avoid Painful Oral Problems However, examine the fact that by seeing your dentist regularly, you can forego dental procedures like […]
Adult Dental Health for Oklahoma City Smiles
At OKC Smiles, our goal is preventing dental problems and keeping our patients’s smiles healthy and beautiful. We provide general and family dentistry at our Oklahoma City dental practice. Adult Dental Health As a general and family dental practice, we have been treating patients of all ages since 1986. An interesting (and sad) thing we […]
What are Implant-Stabilized Dentures?
Categories: Dentures, General Dentistry
What are dentures secured by implants? Dentures secured by implants are permanent dentures held in place with permanent metal screws or posts. The metal posts are also called tooth implants or dental implants. Tooth implants can be used in many different ways. In this post, we describe one application for tooth implants; the sturdy base […]
Starting Chemo? How Are Your Teeth?
If you are scheduled for cancer treatment due to a recent diagnosis or relapse, oral health is probably not your first priority. However, the team at OKC Smiles counsels you to give some attention to your teeth to prevent or minimize common cancer-related dental complications. According to the National Institutes of Health, cancer treatment often […]
