Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne: Your Smile Care Team

When is the last time you had a comprehensive oral exam with X-rays? For many people, the first suspicion that they may have dental issues is based on pain. This often also means that the problem has reached a critical stage because it wasn’t detected early. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a thorough dental exam, you should schedule a check-up at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne, one of the top dental practices in Charlotte. Dr. Robert Harrell and his devoted team utilize the latest technology to create and maintain gorgeous smiles.

Who needs more frequent or regular X-rays?

• Children and teenagers — Children and teens who have a history of many cavities may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. So may those who have a high risk of decay for other reasons. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development

• Adults with many fillings, crowns, bridges or other restorations — X-rays help the dentist find decay beneath your fillings and crowns or in new places

• People with periodontal (gum) disease — X-rays can reveal signs of bone loss. If this has happened, then you may need periodontal (gum) surgery

• People with dry mouth, also called xerostomia —Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by regulating the acid levels (pH) in the mouth. In a dry mouth, the pH decreases. This causes the minerals in the teeth to break down, resulting in more cavities. Many medicines can cause dry mouth. It also can be a result of cancer treatment or a long-term disease.

• Smokers — Smoking increases the risk of bone loss around the teeth and periodontal disease.

• Users of chewing tobacco — Chewing tobacco is sweetened with sugars and can lead to more cavities. See more from Colgate

Potential Health Concerns

Many don’t realize how intricately connected their mouth is with the rest of their bodies. For example, cardiovascular health, respiratory health and being pregnant directly correlate to how healthy your mouth is.

Brushing your teeth, flossing and visiting the dentist keep your teeth and gums healthy, but maintaining good oral hygiene is also important for your overall health, research suggests.

In some cases, oral problems can be a symptom of other diseases, such as diabetes. Research has also linked gum disease to heart disease, premature birth and even knee arthritis.

“The mouth is a portal into the rest of the body,” said Dr. Donald Ratcliffe, chairman of the department of dental medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. Growing research shows “there’s a relationship between the bacteria — and the inflammation that bacteria cause in the mouth — [and] a lot of other diseases,” More details at Livescience

Don’t live with pain because of fear

If your you are continually putting off your dental appointments due to anxiety and fear, we understand. This is a common issue, and one that we can address. Advise our office of your feelings and we will be able to relieve your concerns with sedation dentistry. Keeping our patients comfortable and relaxed throughout their procedures is a priority for us. We have a variety of sedation options available, from deep relaxation to full unconsciousness.

Schedule Your Check-up Today

Don’t put off caring for your smile any longer. Schedule a comprehensive dental exam with Dr. Harrell. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to set your appointment. We look forward to seeing you.

The post Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne: Your Smile Care Team appeared first on Dentist Charlotte NC 28277 | Cosmetic | Sedation | Dental Implants | Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne.

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We Treat You Like Family at Adult Dentistry of Ballatyne

Dr. Robert Harrell and his outstanding team at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne take the time to get to know each patient at their bustling practice. Feeling comfortable and relaxed is a vital component of ensuring success for any dental visit. Dr. Harrell has been voted a top Charlotte Dentist year after year, in part, because he takes his time and treats each patient as if he or she was a member of his extended family.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Is it time for you to address some dental imperfections once and for all? Cosmetic veneers, teeth whitening, dental implants and Invisalign are just some of the cosmetic dentistry procedures offered at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne. We have multiple options to restore the overall health and vitality of your smile.

Dental veneers (sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length.

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Resin veneers are thinner and require removal of less of the tooth surface before placement. You will need to discuss the best choice of veneer material for you with your dentist. Read more at WebMD

If you don’t suffer from huge underlying issues, cosmetic procedures are a simple option for restoring your smile. Dr. Robert Harrell and his talented team look forward to discussing the potential of your smile with you during your consultation.

Since veneers are individually sculpted for each patient, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a veneer and a natural tooth. Unlike natural teeth, custom-made veneers resist coffee and tea stains, and cigarette smoke because they are made of high-tech materials.

With veneers—as opposed to crowns—your natural teeth remain largely intact with only a minimal amount being altered to fit the veneer.

For teeth that resist whitening, veneers can make even the darkest teeth appear bright white.

Dentists may also recommend veneers to quickly fix minor twists, overlaps, and small gaps. Learn more at Your Smile Becomes You

Lost or Missing Teeth

Sometimes, aesthetics isn’t the main reason for booking an appointment. Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne conducts single and full arch dental implant procedures efficiently and seamlessly. We have the technology to transform your smile fast and effectively. Don’t be embarrassed to smile ever again.

Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne has every smile service available to help you make the most out of your gorgeous grin. We offer a full selection of solutions including: Invisalign clear braces, ZOOM! teeth whitening, sedation dentistry, dental implants and much more. We take pride in helping each one of our patients realize the full potential of their smile.

We look forward to including you in our extended Adult Dentistry family and discussing your individual needs in detail. Our staff is happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to reach the office today. We hope to hear from you soon.

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Bright white teeth with ZOOM! treatment

Do you want your teeth to experience a color improvement from 4 to 7 shades lighter after a single treatment? Well, you’re in luck because Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne can help you achieve the brilliant smile you want with a simple in-office ZOOM! teeth whitening appointment.

Teeth Discoloration

Your teeth can give you away if you enjoy coffee, tea or red wine on a regular basis or smoke tobacco products. Sometimes, old dental restorations can dramatically age your appearance due to the discoloration of materials utilized. A healthy, radiant smile does give your face a definitive, youthful glow. If your smile doesn’t make you want to beam, it’s time to book your appointment with the best Charlotte dentist, Dr. Robert Harrell of Adult Dentistry.

Am I a ZOOM! Whitening Candidate?

It is understandable to see why ZOOM! Teeth Whitening is one of the most popular aesthetic dental treatments. There are not many other cosmetic procedures that work as instantaneously to transform your face so immediately. The following common reasons may be at the root of your decision.

Advancing age. As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away, revealing the natural yellow color of dentin.

Genetics. Some people have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.

Environment. Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources (naturally high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements taken by mouth) can cause teeth discoloration. Read more at WebMD

Quick and Easy

Make the most of your precious time and choose to receive the best visible results in the fastest timeframe. You will need to book a consultation exam to ensure that your mouth is healthy and ready to undergo treatment. Individuals with sensitivity issues may wish to explore other whitening procedures as there is a higher probability that patients with prior sensitivity may experience discomfort after receiving ZOOM! whitening treatment.

The ZOOM! in-office tooth whitening procedure uses the ZOOM! Advanced Power Chairside Lamp – to accelerate the bleaching process – to activate the 25 percent hydrogen peroxide whitening. As the hydrogen peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin to bleach the stained substances, leaving the structure of the tooth unchanged. Read more at Your Dentistry Guide

 

Your Anti-Aging Secret

Friends and family members will notice your brighter grin. Co-workers will see your new radiance and wonder what is different. Treat yourself to the healthy and gorgeous smile that deserves to greet the world and everyone you adore. Your smile is the gateway to your voice, vocal expressions and the backbone of your facial body language. Shave years off your appearance simply by brightening your smile numerous shades in one treatment.

Dr. Harrell and his outstanding staff will discuss your individual treatment protocol. Some patients spread their ZOOM! Whitening treatment over two or three appointments. Your special whitening product will be used together with the cairside lamp to enhance and speed up your whitening treatment. Easy and relaxing, you won’t believe the results you will see within one appointment. Initial appointments average one hour.

Patients receive take-home treatment trays to maintain their glow between appointments. Learn to love your smile and be proud to show it off once and for all. It’s time to unleash your healthy and radiant white smile. We look forward to booking your appointment today.

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More Needs To Be Done To End Migraine Stigma

About 38 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraines, and more than 4 million experience chronic migraine on a daily migraines. Unfortunately, even with these shocking numbers, there’s still a lot of stigma associated with the condition.

What a lot of people still can’t seem to understand is that migraines are much more than just headaches. They affect every aspect of a person’s life, whether personal or professional. According to the World Health Organization, migraines are among the top 10 disabling lifetime conditions.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

However, because of the stigma surrounding migraines, a lot of patients feel guilty or even ashamed to admit they even have the condition. This only serves to worsen the situation. As a result, a lot of migraine sufferers suffer depression, and some even go to the extent of suicide. Jaime Sander shares her story:

 

Migraine and Suicide: Clearly, It’s Not Just a Headache

On the two occasions when I attempted suicide, I remember feeling: everyone else would be better off without me in their life.

I was traumatized, exhausted and depressed from unrelenting emotional and physical pain.  I just wanted it to end.  Those were very difficult times and Migraine was a big part of them.  The guilt tore at my conscience every minute of the day.  It took a lot of counseling and being on an antidepressant to help get me back on track. Read full post at Migraine Again…

Image Courtesy of Flickr

A person’s ability to keep a job and have a career may be severely hampered by this condition. Unfortunately, because of the negative view with which migraine sufferers are held, they cannot get the time of day when in need of support from their employers or colleagues. Tammy Rome asks a valid question:

Why isn’t migraine a legitimate reason to miss work?

I’d love to ask this question of every employer I can find. Too many of us have been treated as though we are lying about, faking, or exaggerating our symptoms in order to avoid work or other obligations. Unless you experience the stroke-like symptoms of hemiplegic migraine, no one else can actually confirm that your symptoms are real. I’ve even heard of health care providers who accuse hemiplegic migraineurs of faking it!

What is up with this complete lack of empathy for the 8th leading cause of disability in the world? What did we ever do to deserve this kind of treatment? Part of the problem is the societal view of migraine as “just a headache”. No one thinks of head pain as a serious problem unless there is proof of a tumor, stroke, aneurysm, or concussion. In the absence of these, the typical response is, “Oh, you’re just fine.”

You and I both know that we are anything but fine. Read full post at Migraine.com…

It’s also worth nothing that while migraine disproportionately affects women, this does not mean that men who suffer from migraines suffer less than women. The number of men that suffer from migraines as adults is about a third of the number of women. As a result, the condition is generally considered a woman’s disease, leaving a lot of men without the support they desperately need.

Image Courtesy of Flickr

Migraine Stigma May Prevent Proper Diagnosis and Treatment in Men

SAN DIEGO, CA (June 9, 2016) – While migraine is the most common neurological disorder in both men and women, the view that migraine is a women’s disease can cause men to be under diagnosed and under treated, according to a new study presented this week at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society.

The Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study longitudinally explored migraine epidemiology and associated comorbidities. To extend previous data on gender differences in migraine, this study focused on the determinants and burden of migraine in men and considered whether disease presentation, including sociodemographics, headache symptomology, disability, diagnosis, and treatment, differs in men and women. Read full article at American Headache Society

When it comes to diagnosis and treatment, more than half of all migraine sufferers are never diagnosed, and most of them do not even seek medical attention. This suggests that migraine awareness has a long way to go before it can be claimed that migraine sufferers are receiving the much needed help they deserve.

 

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