Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Whiter, Brighter Smiles Help You Look Younger

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Are your teeth as bright and white as they used to be? As we age our teeth naturally stain and yellow. Smoking and drinking cola, coffee, tea, and red wine also lead to tooth discoloration.

That stained smile make us look older - but whitening your smile is a great way to look younger and more vibrant. There are so many teeth whitening options on the market today, how do you pick the one that is right for you?

I really like two different options. The Zoom! whitening system is used widely throughout the country and gives you a whiter smile in about an hour. Another option which takes a little more time but offers better control over your whitening are whitening trays.

Bleaching trays allow the patient complete control over the whitening process. We begin by taking impressions of your teeth and creating custom bleaching trays. Prescription strength bleaching gel is placed in the trays and they are worn by the patient for up to an hour per day until the desired level of bleaching has been achieved. As an added plus, you can always "touch up" your bleaching by using the trays when you start to feel your smile fading.

Before you can begin any whitening treatment we need to look at your teeth. This examination will help us determine which whitening treatment is best for you. A small number of patients have a type of tooth discoloration that cannot be bleached away and will require dental veneers to achieve a bright, white smile. Also, if you have any dental work like veneers or crowns in the front of your mouth you need to know that these restorations WILL NOT bleach.

You also need very clean teeth to begin bleaching so a dental hygiene visit should be scheduled before your whitening appointment. We'll be happy to arrange both when you contact Boca Raton cosmetic dentist Dr. Kenneth Mogell at 561-394-9000.

Labels: whitening, Zoom

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Back To School - Don't Forget Your Dental Appointment

Friday, August 24, 2012

Students are back to school already - wow that summer went fast! Did you remember to get your teens and college age kids in for their dental appointments?

Don't panic if you didn't. The schedules for kids in these age groups are complicated because of school, extra-curricular activities and sports teams once the school year gets in full swing. We really have to remember to plan in advance for our out-of-town college students because their time back home is limited.

Contact the office as soon as possible at 561-394-9000 to schedule your appointments. We can try to schedule using the Palm Beach County school system calendar to check for days your child might have a full-day or half-day off of class. Find out when your child will be home on college break to get them on the schedule.

Toothaches and dental problems are a common cause for students missing school and a recent study showed that children who experience dental pain have lower grade point averages. Prevention in the form of good home care (brushing and flossing) and regular dental hygiene visits can make sure your child doesn't have to experience this.

Please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your visit.

Labels: dental hygiene, toothache

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Is There a Pill for Sleep Apnea?

Saturday, August 18, 2012

For most medical conditions we are used to the doctor handing us a prescription for a pill. Treating obstructive sleep apnea doesn't work that way. U.S. Pharmacist recently published a review of drugs that have been used in conjunction with sleep apnea treatment -- not surprisingly they showed that obstructive sleep apnea requires a physical intervention, not a pharmacological one.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects millions of people and is especially common in overweight patients. Some estimates say that almost 80% of severely obese patients suffer from sleep apnea. Losing weight is a good option in the long term for these folks but in the meantime they need treatment.

CPAP machines are a wonderful treatment for sleep apnea. The problem is many people cannot tolerate the masks and hoses.

A highly effective treatment for those who can't or don't want to use CPAP is an oral appliance. These small devices have been shown to be much more popular with patients than CPAP. There are many, many different types and a dentist who has had extensive training and experience in the field of dental sleep medicine can choose the device that will be best for you.

To find out more about treating your obstructive sleep apnea please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at Dental Sleep Disorders of Florida. Our Boca office can be reached at 561-394-9000 or contact our new Vero Beach location at 772-882-6800.

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Why Do I Need A Panoramic Dental X-Ray?

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Panoramic dental x-rays give us a 2 dimensional x-ray examination of your entire mouth in a single image. The image includes your teeth, upper and lower jaws and the surrounding tissues and structures.

Why would we want a panoramic x-ray rather than regular dental x-rays? We like using the panoramic x-ray because it reveals information that standard x-rays can't always show us including: advanced periodontal disease, oral cysts, oral tumors, impacted teeth, sinusitis and TMJ problems. Because this imaging system covers a wider area we get a more complete picture of your teeth and other oral structures.

Patients usually like the panoramic x-ray because unlike normal dental x-rays where the digital x-ray sensor is placed inside the mouth -- the panoramic sensor is outside your body inside the machine. This is a wonderful technology for patients who hate getting their x-rays taken.

No special preparation is needed. You will wear a lead apron as you do for all radiographs. Female patients should always inform their doctors if there is a possibility of pregnancy before undergoing any x-ray procedure.

A panoramic x-ray is quick and easy and allows your Boca Raton cosmetic dentist to better plan your treatment. Of course our equipment is digital which allows us to instantly view your images and minimizes radiation exposure.

If you have any questions about your panoramic dental x-ray please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell in Boca Raton, FL at 561-394-9000 today.

Labels: Boca Raton cosmetic dentist, panoramic x-ray

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Stressing Your Smile

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Stress does lots of nasty things to our bodies including our smiles. Excess stress can cause mouth sores, teeth grinding and gum disease. Since it is hard to completely remove stress from your life let's look at what we can do to protect your smile when you are stressed out.

Mouth sores such as canker sores or cold sores can be triggered by emotional upset or stress. These sores usually heal on their own in a week or two. Avoid spicy foods and highly acid foods such as citrus fruits to protect against irritation.

Teeth grinding is common and is called bruxism. Bruxism usually occurs at night and the person grinding their teeth doesn't even know they are doing it. Some people may clench or grind during the day as well. Grinding your teeth can lead to broken teeth, destroyed dental work, worn down teeth and problems with the jaw joint. Jaw joint problems (TMJ) can be very painful - symptoms include headache, facial pain, neck pain, ear aches and tinnitus. Your neuromuscular dentist can create an appliance that will protect your teeth while you sleep and keep your jaw and facial muscles comfortable.

Stress can cause an increase in dental plaque which can lead to gum disease. Add to this the fact that people who are very stressed may affect normal habits including oral hygiene care. Try to remember to brush and floss every day and keep eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Comfort food may sound good when we are stressed but proper nutrition will help you more in the long run.

To schedule your next appointment please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at 561-394-9000 today.

Labels: canker sores, gum disease, teeth grinding, TMJ

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