Oral Health

Oct6

Let Your Smile Show Who You Really Are

Cosmetic Dentistry Oral Health

smile makeover

Let’s talk about the power of a smile.

A smile communicates your emotions more precisely than words can ever do. The absence of a smile also sends a clear message. But what if you want to smile but the dilemmas with your teeth prevent you? This is a frustrating condition for many Phoenix people both young and old.

You may have a warm and engaging personality, but no one can notice that personality without a smile. If you are ordinarily too embarrassed about your teeth to smile, this post is for you.

Do you ever think about how your close-lipped facial expressions affect other people’s perceptions of you? Do you think it’s possible that your demeanor causes people to get the wrong impression? Perhaps they think you are shy, distant, timid, or unhappy. These adjectives are probably completely off-base – but without a smile, it’s hard to tell. Especially when people meet you for the first time.

Do you think your unappealing smile has affected your career? How about your personal relationships? If you are not happy with the way your teeth look, you have probably considered cosmetic dentistry.

This begs the question: “What has prevented you from seeking a cosmetic dental smile makeover?” Is it the cost? Fear that it’s going to be painful? Doubts about whether it will really work? Worry that you will have to take work off for several appointments? Maybe you are just too embarrassed to let anyone look in your mouth.

If you are still reading this post, I suspect you are on the fence regarding this life-changing renewal. You can’t make a wise choice unless you have the important facts, and I want to provide them to you.

Knowledge is power. I invite you to come in for a free, informational smile makeover consultation. I want to meet with you about all the concerns I mentioned previously and any others you may have. When I complete a smile transformation for someone who has been embarrased to smile for years, it changes that person’s life. Because of industry-leading procedures, instruments, lab processes, and materials, it’s a great time to be a cosmetic dentist and an even better time to get a smile makeover at Harris Dental in Phoenix.

The key to a smile makeover that transcends what is technically adequate to the type of sensational smile that is greater than the sum of its parts is the ability of the dentist. To reach the level of perfection that you deserve, a prominent smile makeover dentist must have the power to use all these things in combination with rare artistic skill.

Whew! That’s a lot of words. And, as mentioned at the beginning of this post, we know that words cannot convey what a compelling smile can. Let me show you pictures of Harris Dental smile makeover patients. Then you will understand. (After all, a picture is worth – how many words?)

I invite you to call me, Dr. Harris, today at 480-428-0040 .

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Jul14

Smile Makeovers: First Things First

Cosmetic Dentistry Oral Health Perfect smiles

smile design Phoenix

Hello, I’m Dr. Harris of Harris Dental. Thanks for visiting my blog. In today’s post, we will focus on something that happens occasionally when a patient requests cosmetic dentistry from their Phoenix dentist.

Let me set the stage. The patient comes in for a consultation about a smile makeover. We’ll call him Mr. Jones. The dentist listens carefully as he explains the esthetic problems that he wants to remedy. Mr. Jones wants to fix two chipped teeth, get a dental implant for a tooth that is missing altogether, and whiten his whole smile. He describes what he envisions for his smile after undergoing treatment.

The dentist performs an examination of his entire mouth and takes x-rays. The dentist discovers some additional dilemmas. There are three teeth with moderate decay, one tooth with acute decay, gum disease, an old crown with a crack in it, and severe bone recession at the potential dental implant site where the tooth was extracted ten years ago.

The dentist explains that these problems need to be addressed before the smile makeover is performed. Mr. Jones says that the smile makeover is his first priority and plans to deal with the other problems sometime in the future.

How does the dentist advise Mr. Jones? The dentist will probably explain that the lasting success of a cosmetic dental procedure such as porcelain veneers, dental bonding, or tooth whitening is influenced by the condition of the mouth at the time of treatment. There must be a solid, healthy foundation, so to speak, on which to build the smile makeover.

First things first. It makes no sense to attach a veneer to a decayed tooth that may need a root canal. A dental implant may not integrate with the surrounding bone structure if placed at a site where there is bone recession. Tooth whitening will probably not produce favorable results where there is gum disease and exposed tooth roots.

Can Mr. Jones ever have his dream smile? Yes! There are treatments to fix all of the problems mentioned previously. But just like many other things in life, the order of operations is critical.

If you are interested in a smile makeover or simply need a check-up, schedule an appointment by calling 480-428-0040 . I look forward to discussing both your oral health and esthetic concerns.

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Jun16

Your Mouth Sore Might Be Stomatitis

General Dentistry Gum disease Oral Health

Phoenix Mouths And Stomatitis

Ouch! The mouth is a bad place for injuries, sores, or inflammation. It seems that even the smallest irritation in the mouth can cause serious discomfort for Phoenix dental patients.

Inflammation Causes Stomatitis

These non-specific irritations in the mouth have a name. They are called stomatitis.

A good general definition for stomatitis is the inflammation of the membranes in the mouth. These usually affect a person’s ability to speak, eat, and even get to sleep at night. If you suffer from mouth sores, you know that stomatitis can really impact your quality of life.

Do You Get a Lot of Mouth Sores?

Some common causes of stomatitis can be canker sores, cold sores, , biting the inside of your mouth or your tongue, burning your mouth, and irritation caused by braces or broken teeth. Many sores in the mouth will generally clear up on their own in less than two weeks.

You May Have an Infection

However, your dentist can establish if it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, and they can also advise you on treating the symptoms of stomatitis with pain relievers and at-home remedies such as salt water rinses.

Hi. I’m Dr. Harris of Harris Dental in Phoenix. I help my patients achieve healthy and beautiful smiles. If you have any questions about mouth sores, give us a call at 480-428-0040 .

Do You Want to Improve Your Smile?

Perhaps you would like to improve your smile with cosmetic dentistry. At Harris Dental, we perform complete general dentistry. Procedures used in smile makeovers include teeth whitening, gum contouring, veneers, bonding, and dental implants. At Harris Dental, we offer:

dental implants
Invisalign clear braces
sedation dentistry
cosmetic dentistry
CEREC same-day crowns

We hope to see you in our Phoenix office soon!

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Mar10

Bad Breath Is No Fun

General Dentistry Gum disease Oral Health

Bad Breath Is No Fun For Phoenix Residents

This post from Harris Dental in Phoenix AZ takes on an unpleasant topic: bad breath.

Imagine you are starting a new job and are going to meet with your new boss for the first time. Confidence is key to your success. As you reach out to shake the extended hand your broad confident smile exposes rows of pearly white teeth, yet when you open your mouth to exchange greetings you worry about bad breath.

The technical term for bad breath is halitosis. Many behaviors and health conditions can cause or exacerbate halitosis. One of these factors is the food you eat. Onions and garlic are both known for having a potent effect on your breath.

Brushing and flossing daily is a critical step in curing bad breath. Food particles can build up in your mouth and foster bacteria which can cause bad breath. This not only includes the food particles that may get stuck between your teeth, but also the food that collects around your gums or on your tongue. Brushing and flossing daily can help reduce the number of food particles that stay in your mouth and cause bad breath.

Other factors to think about include dry mouth, tobacco use, and health concerns such as infections.

At Harris Dental in Phoenix AZ, your dental health is always our top priority. People from Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Mesa come to us for restoration and preventative care, and know they can trust us with their smiles. Schedule an appointment today!

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Feb4

5 Ways To Prevent A Cracked Tooth

General Dentistry Oral Health

cost of dental crowns Phoenix

Cracked teeth can be painful, unattractive, and costly to repair. In this post from Harris Dental in Phoenix AZ, we offer an easy-to-follow list of tips to keep your teeth whole and strong.

  • Avoid chewing on hard things. Patients should steer clear of ice, hard candies, hard nuts, popcorn, and beef jerky.
  • Avoid pitted fruits. That peach may be soft, but, if you bite hard into the stone, you could damage a tooth.
  • Protect your teeth. It is essential to care for your teeth while engaging in any physical activity where your mouth can be struck. If you enjoy pick-up basketball games, indoor soccer leagues, flag football, and any such activities, you should be using a well-fitting mouth protector.
  • Don’t use your teeth as a tool. Locate a pair of scissors to open a package or rip the price tag off a new piece of clothing with your teeth. Use a nutcracker for nuts. A quality dental crown can cost hundreds of dollars.
  • Avoid grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding not only wears teeth down, it can lead to a cracked tooth. If you know or suspect that you are a tooth grinder, talk to us so we can address the problem.
  • Get regular dental check-ups and cleanings. We can alert you to conditions that might predispose you to cracked teeth, such as having an uneven chewing surface or brittle teeth. We may also discover tiny cracks you aren’t aware of. Repair these cracks early, before more damage ensues.

At Harris Dental in Phoenix AZ, we want all our patients to enjoy good dental health. Patients in Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Mesa come to us for complete general and restorative dentistry services. Request an appointment today!

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

 

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