The first thing an implant dentist will do is determine if a Scottsdale patient is even a good candidate to receive dental implants. In order to be a good candidate, the patient must be in good overall health, especially regarding his or her teeth and gums. If there is a health concern, or the gums and surrounding teeth are in need of attention, they must be addressed before moving forward with the procedure. Additionally, if there is not sufficient jaw bone to support an implanted root, the Scottsdale implant dentist will recommend that the patient receive a bone graft before continuing. This will supplement the existing bone, providing a strong foundation for the restoration.

Next, the surgery will be performed to install one or more titanium “roots” which will support the final restoration(s). Titanium is used not only for its strength and durability, but because of its unique ability to fuse with bone. These roots will act like the roots of your natural teeth, anchoring an artificial tooth to the jaw and making it a permanent part of your smile.

Once the roots are in place and sufficient healing has taken place, the restorations can be placed. These are carefully crafted to match your existing teeth in both color and shape, which ensures that they look as natural as possible. Whether you receive an individual restoration or a bridge (several artificial teeth attached to one another), your Scottsdale implant dentist will ensure that it is a flawless fit and that you are completely satisfied with the results.

The two systems—traditional metal braces and Invisalign invisible braces—work in approximately the same way. Pressure is applied at strategic points on your teeth, forcing them to shift into alignment. The difference is in how that pressure is applied. Metal braces resort to brackets and connecting wires which have to be tightened and adjusted frequently by an orthodontist. With Invisalign, a series of clear plastic aligners is created specifically for your mouth, with each successive aligner being designed to apply the correct amount of pressure in the right places to ensure that the next aligner will fit and can do its job. The aligners are customized, so all Dr. Harris has to do to “adjust” your braces is give you the next aligner in the series. It’s simple, it’s effective, and best of all, your smile will become straighter without anyone knowing how it happened! Call us at Harris Dental to learn more about Invisalign. It will be our little secret!

The most obvious advantage to using Invisalign is that you end up with straighter teeth, which helps your smile look its best. But straighter teeth do more for you than just look great. Having well-aligned teeth makes brushing and flossing easier and more effective, which in turn reduces your risk of getting cavities. Each new Invisalign aligner tends to apply less pressure than having your metal wires adjusted would, which means less discomfort all around for you. But the biggest reason people in Paradise Valley choose Invisalign is that it’s discreet. The system allows you to straighten your teeth while maintaining the clean, mature, professional appearance that traditional braces might undermine. So ask yourself: Am I committed to getting straighter teeth? If you are, give us a call at Harris Dental and find out what Invisalign can do for you.

Dentures are removable, and that poses a couple potential problems. They can easily get lost, which can be frustrating and costly if they need to be replaces. They can come loose and slip around (or out!) at inopportune moments, which can be embarrassing. Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanent oral fixtures. They won’t come out, so the chance of misplacing them or accidentally spitting them out mid-sentence is extremely small.

Because dentures have the capacity to shift around if they are not perfectly fitted and effectively adhered to the gums, chewing ability is diminished. Biting down on your favorite foods can force dentures to slide around, making chewing difficult if not downright impossible. Dental implants, on the other hand, do not have this problem. They are attached firmly to your jaw bone, just like natural teeth are. With strongly anchored restorations that can chew just as well as your original teeth, you are not limited to eating only liquids and soft foods.

One problem with dentures that people in Phoenix aren’t always aware of is that they can contribute to bone loss in the jaw. The roots of your natural teeth require a stable foundation. Once these are gone, your body senses that there is no longer a need for that foundation, and your jaw may begin to atrophy. Having dental implants secured to the bone like the roots of natural teeth signals to your body that the bone mass is still necessary.

So why deal with the hassle of dentures? Contact Harris Dental in Phoenix to schedule an appointment to begin the dental implant process.

The first thing an implant dentist will do is determine if a Scottsdale patient is even a good candidate to receive dental implants. In order to be a good candidate, the patient must be in good overall health, especially regarding his or her teeth and gums. If there is a health concern, or the gums and surrounding teeth are in need of attention, they must be addressed before moving forward with the procedure. Additionally, if there is not sufficient jaw bone to support an implanted root, the Scottsdale implant dentist will recommend that the patient receive a bone graft before continuing. This will supplement the existing bone, providing a strong foundation for the restoration.

Next, the surgery will be performed to install one or more titanium “roots” which will support the final restoration(s). Titanium is used not only for its strength and durability, but because of its unique ability to fuse with bone. These roots will act like the roots of your natural teeth, anchoring an artificial tooth to the jaw and making it a permanent part of your smile.

Once the roots are in place and sufficient healing has taken place, the restorations can be placed. These are carefully crafted to match your existing teeth in both color and shape, which ensures that they look as natural as possible. Whether you receive an individual restoration or a bridge (several artificial teeth attached to one another), Harris Dental, your Scottsdale implant dentist will ensure that it is a flawless fit and that you are completely satisfied with the results.

When a Phoenix patient gets veneers, there is no need for a change in dental hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing, along with scheduled cleanings, is sufficient maintenance. Your teeth might be more sensitive to heat and cold, though, because part of the tooth enamel must be removed before traditional porcelain restorations can be placed. This is, of course, not a concern with DURAThin veneers, which can be adhered to the teeth without previously removing any enamel. However, with both traditional porcelain and DURAThin, the color of the restoration is permanent. If you wish to whiten your teeth at a later date, the veneer will retain its original color while the rest of your teeth become brighter. You have two options in this situation. First, you can have your teeth whitened before your restoration is made. That way you know it will match your smile. Second, you can wait until you want to have your teeth whitened and replace your current restoration with a new one that matches better. This is a more costly option in the long run, since you are paying for two veneers instead of just one; receiving whitening treatments first might be a wise investment.

Schedule a consultation at Harris Dental in Phoenix to learn more about veneers and how they will work for you.

You probably already know that Invisalign is great for cosmetic reasons. Because the aligners used to straighten your teeth are transparent, they are not nearly as noticeable as traditional metal braces. Invisalign allows you to correct the alignment of your teeth discreetly. The aligners are also smooth, making them much gentler on your mouth than traditional braces, which can rub and even cut your lips and tongue. They put less pressure on your teeth, usually causing fewer headaches and sore jaws than fixed appliances do.

Because you can take the aligners out, you don’t have to avoid sticky foods like wearers of traditional braces do, which is nice. However, the aligners must be removed every time you eat, and you should brush your teeth and clean your aligner before replacing it after a meal. This can become inconvenient, especially if you like to eat out. If you aren’t careful, you may even misplace your aligner. And the longer you leave your aligner out, the less chance it has to do its job. Metal brackets and wires continually act on your teeth to correct their alignment; every time you take out your aligner, the correction process stops and can even be reversed. This could cause your treatment to go off schedule, and new aligners may be needed to compensate for the change. If you choose Invisalign, you must be one hundred percent committed to wearing your aligner as often as possible.

If you think Invisalign is right for you, call Harris Dental in Phoenix to schedule a consultation.

Starting this month and continuing through June, Harris Dental will be participating in the Smiles for Life Campaign. Our team of experienced cosmetic dentists is offering professional teeth whitening services at a greatly reduced cost to you. During the campaign, 100 percent of the funds raised at Harris Dental will be donated to children’s charities. Half will be presented to a local charity here in Phoenix; the rest will be given to the Smiles for Life Foundation to distribute to other worthy causes.

The Smiles for Life Foundation is a charitable program created and run by the Crown Council, an association of some of the top dentists in North America. The campaign spans a four month time period each year. When it is over, all of the proceeds are donated to children’s charities across the United States and Canada. Since the first campaign in 1998, the Smiles for Life Foundation has been able to raise over $27 million, benefitting nearly 500 charitable organizations, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, Smiles for Hope, the Kids Cancer Care Foundation, and more.

How does it work? The entire Harris Dental team is donating all of our services during this campaign. Additionally, all the products that will be used to whiten your teeth have been graciously provided by Discus Dental. That means every penny earned will go toward helping seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children here in Phoenix and across the globe.

If you would like to participate, all you need to do is contact us to schedule a free teeth whitening consultation. At that time, we will take a few minutes to determine if you are a good candidate for a whitening procedure. Then we can get started on brightening your smile right away.

Not only are the professional teeth whitening services offered here at Harris Dental in Phoenix fast, easy, and comfortable, but now you get the added benefit of knowing you are helping a child in need. Whitening your teeth has never felt better!

Even if you’ve already had your teeth whitened, you can still contribute by giving someone else the gift of a brighter smile. Either call our office to arrange for a friend or family member to receive a professional teeth whitening as a gift from you, or simply pass the word along to everyone you know. The more awareness we create about Smiles for Life, the more money we can raise to help the children.

Call us today at 602-955-8600 to schedule your appointment and make a difference in the life of a child.

Drs. Joseph, Brian, Eric, and