Dental Fear? Rest with Sedation Dentistry in Oklahoma City

November 28, 2016

Fear of the dentist is common, but you need your dental care. Get it comfortably with sedation dentistry at Dental Expressions in Oklahoma City. Does the thought of going to the dentist make your palms sweat and your heart race? Dental phobia affects approximately 30 million individuals in the United States. For some, dental anxiety is so bad that they neglect seeing their sedation dentist in Oklahoma City when they should, or they stop going completely, seriously harming their oral health.

Teeth fracture, loosen and even fall out as small dental problems worsen into devastating issues. Facial aesthetics are impacted when oral health deteriorates, leading to gum infections, tooth loss, and jaw bone recession. Studies show a link between poor oral health and systemic health issues such as diabetes, stroke and osteoporosis.

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Lifelike Dentures for a Beautifully Restored Smile in Oklahoma City, OK

February 16, 2015

494375087Replacing missing teeth is of great importance for a variety of reasons, including improving your ability to eat and speak properly. At Dental Expressions in Oklahoma City, OK, Dr. Colin Holman and Dr. Natalie Frazier offer a wide range of restorative dentistry options to help reconstruct your dentition, including conventional dentures and implant-supported dentures.

Are Dentures Right for Me?

When most people think of dentures, the image of a full set of false teeth is typically the first thing that comes to mind. These are called complete dentures, and they effectively take the place of an entire arch of missing teeth. At Dental Expressions, we will ensure that your complete dentures look natural and feel comfortable so that you can once again fully enjoy eating, speaking, and smiling with a full set of teeth.

Partial dentures also replace missing teeth, though they differ from conventional dentures in that they replace only a few teeth rather than an entire arch. The custom-crafted prosthetic teeth are color-matched to your existing dentition for the most natural look possible. Partial dentures not only replace missing teeth for improved function and aesthetics; they also help prevent other teeth from shifting.

A consultation with the team at Dental Expressions will aid in determining which type of dentures are right for you. We’ll take the time to sit down with you and discuss all available options to ensure that we find the ideal solution for your unique situation. If you are interested in implant-retained dentures, we’ll explain the dental implant process and develop a treatment plan that best suits your individual needs.

Start Rebuilding Your Smile Today

Whether you currently wear dentures and you are interested in the possibilities afforded by implant-supported prosthetics or you are planning to undergo an extraction and you’d like to learn more about your restorative dental options, we are here to help. From our conveniently located office in Oklahoma City, OK, our doctors proudly serve patients from throughout the surrounding areas, including Midwest City, Moore, Norman, and beyond. Contact our office today; we can’t wait to show you what a difference our commitment to quality dentistry and your satisfaction can make for you!

Digital X-Rays at Dental Expressions: Only the Best for Our Patients in OKC

May 16, 2014

465217799X-rays are a vital diagnostic tool used to inspect and assess the health of your teeth and jaws at each of your routine dental visits. Though traditional film x-rays have been trusted for decades to provide dentists with an inside perspective of your oral health, modern technology has allowed us to go even further with digital radiography, or digital x-rays. At Dental Expressions in Oklahoma City, OK, Dr. Colin Holman and Dr. Natalie Frazier offer a wide variety of highly advanced technological advantages to our patients, including digital x-rays.

Benefits of Digital X-Rays at Your Dentist’s Office

There are many benefits of digital x-rays as compared to conventional film x-rays. Whereas typical film x-rays required the use of developing materials and a considerable length of time (during which the patient had to wait for results), digital x-rays are immediately available for viewing on a convenient chairside monitor. You and your dentist can go over the x-rays together, allowing you to gain a better understanding of your oral health as well as your treatment plan.

In addition, digital x-rays are better for the environment and emit up to 90 percent less radiation than regular film methods. This means that you and your family enjoy enhanced convenience, less time spent at the dentist’s office, and better health overall.

Schedule Your Visit Today

Has it been more than six months since you last visited the dentist for a routine checkup and cleaning? If so, it’s time to schedule your appointment and see the difference that our unique approach can make for you! Contact our office in Oklahoma City, OK today and speak to Dr. Holman, Dr. Frazier, or any member of our caring, experienced staff. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have, whether they are about our office’s technology, our menu of services, or your oral health in general. Our conveniently located practice happily welcomes patients from throughout the OKC area, including Norman, Moore, Midwest City, Del City, and beyond.

 

Keep Your Teeth in Tip-Top Shape with Advanced Dental Technology in Oklahoma City

June 13, 2013

454389001In order to provide the most effective, thorough care possible, it’s important for dentists to keep up and implement the latest dental technologies in their offices. After all, modern equipment and techniques have several advantages – it makes it easier for dental teams to share and relay information with patients, comfort is noticeably enhanced, and dentists are able to ensure that care is more detailed and precise than ever before. Drs. Colin Holman and Natalie Frazier believe strongly in sharing these benefits with their patients; that’s why their Oklahoma City office houses a variety of dental technologies designed to make oral health easier and safer for smiles of all ages. Come in to Dental Expressions to see for yourself!

Here are just a few of the tools our team uses to help your teeth become happier and healthier:

  • We use digital X-rays instead the traditional system, resulting in faster, more thorough pictures of your mouth as well as 90% less radiation.
  • Intraoral photography gives our team an up close and personal look at your teeth and gums, allowing us to show you any suspicious areas and more precisely pinpoint treatment plans.
  • Our cutting-edge sterilization system includes a heated autoclave with an LED lighting system that separates sterilized and non-sterilized equipment, ensuring that you never have to worry about cleanliness when undergoing our care!
  • Our fully digital recordkeeping system makes it easy to pull up information, edit addresses, and review records in seconds!

Are you ready to experience comprehensive, personalized care that puts patient comfort first! Contact our Oklahoma City office today to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, or if you have any questions about our technologies. We’re happy to see patients from all over the OKC area, Moore, Norman, Midwest City, and beyond!

Be Fear-Free in the Dentist’s Chair with Oral Conscious Sedation

January 8, 2013

stk85221corIf the mere thought of going to the dentist fills you with hesitation or anxiety, you’re definitely not alone – nearly 75% of the population reports some level of fear when faced with the idea. These feelings can even make you delay dental care indefinitely, which can lead to more serious oral health issues.

Here at Dental Expressions in Oklahoma City, we want to make sure you get the dental treatment you need as quickly and effectively as possible. At the same time, your safety and comfort are a top priority for us, which is why Dr. Holman and Dr. Frazier are happy to be able to offer you oral conscious sedation as an option during your procedure. With oral conscious sedation, you’ll be able to feel relaxed and happy while our team does all the heavy lifting, providing you with beautiful, healthy teeth you’ll be thrilled to share with the world.

Is sedation right for you? Take a look at these characteristics:

  • Do you respond poorly to anesthesia?
  • Do you experience a lot of stress, anxiety, or discomfort when faced with that familiar big chair?
  • Do you have a sensitive gag reflex?
  • Do you need to undergo several lengthy procedures?

If one or more of these seem familiar, then oral conscious sedation may be the right choice for you. Oral conscious sedation is a small sedative that comes to you in pill form. You simply take it the night before your procedure and bring another with you. The next day, you will feel groggy, so you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Under oral conscious sedation, you’ll still be able to respond to commands from Dr. Holman or Dr. Frazier, but you’ll feel much more relaxed, so much so that many patients don’t even remember much of their procedure once it’s finished.

While oral conscious sedation can be provided by dentists who’ve had no training in the area, both Dr. Holman and Dr. Frazier have taken the time to attend a specialized training program for the treatment. That way, you know that you’re receiving the most educated and safe service possible when you come to Dental Expressions. Let us put a smile on your face! Call our office today to schedule a consultation.  We proudly serve patients from the OKC area, Moore, Norman, Midwest City, and surrounding communities.

Dental X-rays in the News: What you need to know

April 11, 2012

469156185You may have recently read news stories about dental x-rays being linked to benign brain tumors.  We want to clarify a few points and assure you that every reasonable precaution is being taken to ensure your safety and minimize potential risks.  For years, the recommendations concerning radiographic frequencies/techniques have been governed by a concept called ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Allowable).  This means that you take x-rays at the lowest possible settings to obtain diagnostic radiographs, as well as taking them only when necessary.  When are they necessary?  According to the American Dental Association/FDA Guidelines there are many differences based on age, previous cavity experience and risk factors.

For new patients to our practice, baseline radiographs are necessary to determine current dental health and risks.  If you have recent DIAGNOSTIC radiographs from your previous dentist, this may not be necessary.  In this instance these x-rays are used to determine if there is decay between your teeth (which cannot usually be seen during a routine exam) and to check bone levels for signs of periodontal disease.  Also radiographs are necessary to diagnose abscesses in patients having toothaches.

For recall patients with visible decay or increased risk of decay there are two different recommendations for children/teens and adults.  In children and teens x-rays are indicated every 6-12 months.  In adults this increases to every 6-18 months.  This range means that it is on a case-by-case basis depending on risk factors.

For recall patients with no visible decay and not at an increased risk for decay there are three groups.  For children the interval is 12-24 months.  For teens the interval is 18-36 months and adults are 24-36 months.

The news story reported that most patients only needed x-rays every 3 years.  As you can see, this frequency only applies to adults with little to no risk factors.  According to Dr. Donald O’Rourke, an associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania , it is also important to note that there is around a 20-25 year delay in radiation induced meningioma formation.  The 1433 study participants mean age was 57, meaning that they were x-rayed using older technology.  Digital radiographs have drastically cut radiation exposures.  The study also relied on patient’s memories of whether they had received regular x-rays during the decades preceding the study, including during their childhood.  Self-reporting of this frequency also leaves great room for error.

The amount of radiation that we are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to our daily exposure from things like, cosmic radiation and naturally-occurring radioactive elements (for example, those producing radon).

The table below compares our estimated exposure to radiation from dental X-ray with other various sources. As indicated below, a millisievert (mSv) is a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (such as X-rays).

 

Source Estimated Exposure (mSv)
Man MadeDental X-rays

Bitewing radiographs
Full-mouth series

 

0.038
0.150

Medical X-raysLower gastrointestinal tract radiography
Upper gastrointestinal tract radiography
Chest radiograph
4.060
2.440
0.080
NaturalCosmic (Outer Space) Radiation

Average radiation from outer space In Denver, CO (per year)

 

0.510

Earth and Atmospheric RadiationAverage radiation in the U.S. from Natural sources (per year) 3.000

Source: Adapted from Frederiksen NL. X-Rays: What is the Risk? Texas Dental Journal. 1995;112(2):68-72.

As always, please let us know of any concerns you may have so that together we can work to make a customized dental health plan that we can both agree on.

 

Sources:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/10/brain-tumors-linked-to-dental-x-rays/

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1156552-overview#showall

http://www.ada.org/en

http://www.ada.org/enmember-center/oral-health-topics/x-rays