Chris

Waking up restless and sore? It could be Bruxism.

Do you wake up with a headache? Do you ever experience soreness or tenderness in your jaw muscles? Does your jaw click when you eat?  Do you ever have an earache? Neck pain? Ringing in your ears? If you are answering yes to one or more of these issues, that could mean that you have Bruxism. How do I know if what I’m experiencing is Bruxism? The majority of patients have no idea that they are grinding and/or clenching in their sleep. It is difficult to know if you have Bruxism, especially because you don’t necessarily wake up while clenching/grinding. Below are … Read more

Cosmetic Dentistry Explained

Cosmetic dentistry is getting more popular than ever.  A beautiful smile is recognized as an asset to health and success and is important to most people.  Please know that while the American Dental Association does not classify cosmetic dentistry as a specialty of training, cosmetic dentists spend thousands of hours training in the art and through education and experience become extremely skilled and well regarded in this field of dentistry. The difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry is that the procedures done are entirely elected for and approved by the patient. Patients must be well informed and ask questions such … Read more

Fixing a Gummy Smile – What are my options?

Patients often ask if veneers or braces are the right option for them to correct a “gummy smile.” When you come into our office for an free initial consultation, Dr. Ken Cirka and Dr. Jessica Meier will evaluate your smile and see how to best achieve perfection.  “Actually there are several options and considerations that we dentists have to take into consideration to fix this problem,” Dr. Cirka says. Many times when we evaluate patients a main concern is their “gummy smile.” They may feel that their teeth appear small or their gums show too much when they laugh. There is … Read more

10 Ways to Prevent Tooth Sensitivity

 There are many different causes for tooth sensitivity. Teeth are considered sensitive when you have something hot, cold, sour or sweet and it causes sensitivity, discomfort or even pain, ranging from a quick zing to a lasting throbbing feeling. Unfortunately this is quite a common problem that people suffer from. We’ve listed the different causes below to help you prevent tooth sensitivity in the future or help you narrow down the reason for sensitivity you may be experiencing today.   1. Over using mouthwash. When used properly, mouthwash is a great tool for helping to keep the oral cavity healthy. … Read more

5 Ways to Keep Healthy – Starting with your teeth!

The gums and the teeth are frequently overlooked important areas of our health. Not only will healthy teeth give you a beautiful smile, they will increase your quality of life.  Protect Your Teeth If you are an active athlete then it is highly recommended you protect your teeth with a mouth guard. This can prevent major damage to the teeth. Additionally if you are clenching or grinding your teeth then you need protection while you sleep.  Clenching and grinding can also cause major headaches and jaw pain.  The dentist will make you a night guard that will protect the teeth from significant … Read more

12 Signs of Oral Cancer – When to be concerned?

Patients ask us dentists about oral cancer, mouth cancer, and oral cancer symptoms and how alcohol, tobacco and smoking contributes to forming cancers. This information will be helpful to you. Oral cancer presents itself in many different ways. Below are some of the most common ways that they appear: – Red and white patches in the mouth or lips – Lumps or swelling on the gums, lips, cheeks, and at the back of the throat – Non-healing of a sore in the mouth or lips – Unexplained weight loss – Difficulty in speaking, chewing, or swallowing – Swollen lymph nodes in … Read more

How Important Is Flossing, Really?

Patients often ask, “Is flossing really that important? I do brush two times a day!” Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste is an extremely important way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If you are doing this now, that is wonderful news to hear! Even though brushing is an important step in proper hygiene maintenance, just doing this twice a day may not stop you from getting cavities.     Brushing the plaque from the tooth is helpful, but it is nearly impossible to get all of it this way.   Even patients with the best toothbrush techniques may … Read more

8 Tips for Keeping Your Smile Bright

Patients often come into the office looking for the best way to whiten their teeth. Surprisingly, the solution to whiten is not always the same for each patient! There are several different methods for whitening the teeth. Detailed below are 8 different options that may be the right solution for you to achieve a brighter, whiter smile 1) Dental Cleaning The first place to start is at your dentist’s office. A dental cleaning is a great way to remove surface stains and the polishing that is performed by the dental hygienist will brighten up the enamel as well as make … Read more

Getting Your Dream Smile Through Veneers

Veneers can give you the beautiful smile that you’ve always wanted!  Veneers are tooth-colored shells, contact lines thin, dreamsmileplaced on top of your natural teeth and produce a gorgeous, bright smile that will light up any room.

They can correct a majority of cosmetic flaws from crooked teeth to a discolored smile.  Also advances in dentistry over the years have made veneers look even more natural!

“The porcelain we’re using now is so strong that it allows us to fabricate ultra thin veneers.  This eradicates the chance of the veneers looking bulky or fake.  We are now able to create very natural looking, long-lasting smiles.” – Dr. Jessica Meier, Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist

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