Night guards are popular treatments for sleep bruxism. Night guards cushion your teeth from the force of clenching and prevent the teeth from grinding together, preventing headaches, damaged teeth, and inflamed gums. A night guard should fit snug against your teeth but not so tight that you are worried about tooth movement. It is not unusual for a little tenderness immediately after use but this should be relieved throughout the day and not be prolonged pain. If you do have pain while wearing your night guard stop using the night guard and schedule a visit with your dentist as it’s not unusual and most likely needs adjustments to relieve those pressure spots. You should keep your night guard in for the full duration of your sleep. You’re also only able to drink water with your night guard. Your night guard is clear and resembles an Invisalign tray so you must ensure not to get any foods or drinks besides water on it. Do not eat any other food or beverages with your night guard as it can cause staining and discoloration. Your night guard should not be easily removed by you at night while sleeping. If your night guard is not in your mouth then it’s not helping you so always remember at night to keep it in! 

Contact your local dentist if you are suffering from sleep bruxism. 

The cost of teeth whitening varies based on the type of product use and its strength. There are many different products including whitening gels placed in a custom-made tray or laser teeth whitening. The cost of professional whitening can range anywhere from $200-1000. Over time your natural color of your teeth will become darker due to staining from different foods and food colorings. Some of those foods include coffee, smoking actively, wine, and many other food products. The stains won’t go away unless you remove them. The teeth whitening gel works by absorbing into your teeth and gently pushing stains out through the pores. Teeth whitening does not damage your teeth. Sensitivity from teeth whitening is completely normal. During the session, the teeth become temporarily dehydrated which causes changes in temperature. Normally, the sensitivity disappears within 12 hours. Veneers and other cosmetics are unable to be whitened. Crowns or veneers are unable to stain or whiten.

According to fairhealthconsumerg.org the cost of whitening per arch in Park Slope on average costs $500.

Please talk to your dentist first about whitening as a cleaning or dental work is needed in order to get the desired color of your teeth. Please also take note that only natural teeth can be whitened. Fillings, crowns and hardened plaque cannot be whitened.

Contact us to schedule your complimentary video consult for whitening.

Your length of treatment depends on several factors such as the complexity of your case or compliance. If you don’t wear it, it won’t work and treatment will take longer as the time is needed to move the teeth and not wearing your trays can result in your teeth constantly moving back and forth. Invisalign can take anywhere from 6 months to 24 months or more. Clear aligners are orthodontic devices that are a transparent, plastic form of dental braces used to adjust teeth. They are known for being less noticeable than lingual braces as they are clear and unable to be seen. They allow you to enjoy all of your favorite foods and make you able to floss your teeth properly which prevents gingivitis, cavities and other gum diseases. Lingual braces make it much easier for you to get cavities as you are unable to fully get under the wires that are put on your teeth. With clear aligners, you can take it in and out of your mouth as you would like to enjoy your meal. Invisalign should be done with a general dentist or an orthodontist to be properly moving your teeth. If not done with a dentist or orthodontist, damages can happen where your teeth can become loose and cause you to lose your teeth. You must wear your Invisalign 22 hours a day for one or two weeks and only take it out to eat in order for it to be effective and move your teeth in a timely manner. The national average is 11 months, but we routinely have patients finishing in as little as 6 months. Clear aligner treatment can be done for kids to adults as long as they understand the responsibility it will take to get your teeth to move.

Contact your certified Invisalign dentist for a free video consult to see if you are a candidate

A frenectomy can cost anywhere from $250-1800 depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the cost. Another factor that determines the cost of the frenectomy is if sedation is being used for the procedure and if the procedure can be done in one visit. Often a child frenectomy is a different cost than adult frenectomy.  A frenuloplasty is a frenectomy that involves wound closure usually by stitches and generally has a higher cost. There are two different types of frenectomies which are a lingual frenectomy and a labial frenectomy. One type is deemed as a medical necessity whereas the other is more of a cosmetic change for a more pleasing smile. If left untreated, both types of frenectomies can cause food to get stuck in between your teeth and cause gingivitis and other medical concerns. In some cases, children frenectomies left untreated can cause speech impediments from a young age. 

Speak with your frenectomy-trained dentist to see if you are a candidate for a frenectomy.

A frenectomy sometimes called frenulectomy is oral surgery that treats lip tie or tongue tie. During the procedure, the physician modifies a frenum which is connective tissues that joins two areas. The professionals who perform frenectomies are dentists, ENTs, other physicians and some nurse practitioners perform frenectomies. It does not matter who performs the procedure as long as a complete release is performed. An incomplete release can lead to unnecessary scar tissue resulting in more limited mobility. Finding a qualified frenectomy provider involves asking the provider about their training and diagnostic technique. Properly diagnosing tongue-tie involves assessing the tie in relation to the palate. Sticking out your tongue is longer an adequate means of assessing a tongue-tie.

If the person is over the age of 3 a myofunctional therapist should be involved to ensure proper use of the tongue pre and post release. A laser is often preferred over a scissors because it promotes less bleeding and better wound healing. Our office utilizes Light Scalpel a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) to perform our frenectomies.

Call us now to schedule your free frenectomy consultation.