flemingdentalcare.com

Tooth and Nail

Admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:53:45 +0000

Nail biting is common both among children as well as adults. While it is often discouraged by parents while children are a young age, many parents may not know some of the potential impact on overall and oral health. In addition to nails that do not look properly groomed and broken cuticles on the finger nails, some health issues include transference of bacteria which can be under the surface of the finger nails. Nail biting can also result in damage to the gingival (soft tissue lining of the mouth), damage to the tooth itself, and malocclusion (mis-alignment) of the teeth.

There are several methods which can be utilized in order to modify this nail biting behavior, including special nail polishes, mouthpieces, and behavioral therapy. If you are, or have a child with a nail biting habit, please bring it up on your dental visit and we can discuss methods which may work best for your particular situation.

A Glass of Milk Can Save Your Tooth

Admin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:51:11 +0000

If a permanent tooth gets knocked out of its socket there are a few tips to remember which may allow the dentist to replace it and save the tooth. First you should avoid holding the tooth or touching the root as much as possible. It should also be rinsed immediately, preferably not with tap water as the chlorine in it can damage the root. If available use saline solution or milk. Avoid letting the tooth dry out. While the tooth socket it came out of is the best place to preserve it, this may not always be possible depending on how the tooth came out, therefore you can place it under your tongue or between the cheek and gums (being careful that it does not get swallowed). The tooth may also be preserved in milk while on the way to the dentist or emergency room.

Getting a Crown at the Dentist’s Office in Columbus Ohio

Admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:46:00 +0000

There are several materials utilized to make crowns, and the overall process of having a tooth crowned is highly dependent upon the type of material. A PFM (porcelain fused to metal) crown has long been the standard in the dental industry. This type of crown is typically sent out to a dental laboratory to be built based on impression taken by the dentist after the initial preparation of the tooth. The patient is then fitted with a “temporary” tooth while waiting for the lab to finish the permanent crown. “Gold Crowns” can also be utilized, similar to the PFM these are also created by a dental lab, however the exterior is gold rather than the having porcelain matched to your teeth. The High Noble materials utilized in Gold Crowns are also very well tolerated by the underlying tooth and mouth. As technology has advanced, All-Porcelain (Ceramic) crowns are now available which offer biocompatibility which is also very well tolerated by the underlying tooth structure, in addition to typically offering a more aesthetically appealing and natural look. This is due to a higher level of translucency since metal is not required under the outer layer of porcelain, thus creating an “All-Porcelain” crown. The All-Porcelain crown can be created by the dental lab, however in many cases we are able to create the crown using our in-house CEREC Tooth Restoration system in a single visit. This can provide you a cosmetically superior crown, with no need to wear a temporary while waiting.

While every situation is different, at our Columbus, Ohio dental office in Clintonville we are happy to help you to choose the crown or any dental procedure which is right for you.

Digital X-Ray in the Dental Office

Admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:31:29 +0000

At your Columbus Ohio Dentist’s Office, Fleming Dental Care, we put our patients’ health first. Rather than the traditional X-Rays which require the standard X-Ray Film, we utilize digital dental X-Rays (digital radiography). There are some distinct advantages to the digital technology over the traditional film processing of Dental X-Rays.

Some of the advantages include:

Time Savings – The image is available to be viewed almost immediately since there is no need for film development
More Accurate Processing – The digital dental X-Ray system reduces the likelihood of over or under exposure of the image during developing, thus we are less likely to have to re-take the X-Ray
Less Radiation – The efficiency of the Digital Dental X-Ray allows for a lower amount of radiation to be used in production of a comparable X-Ray to that of the traditional film type
Better Records – Since the Digital Dental X-Rays are processed immediately into our computer system it is a much more efficient process in maintaining your dental records, if fact we can quickly access them on the hi resolution screens right in front of the dental chair
More Accuracy – The dentist is able to enlarge sections of the X-Ray in order to view more specific detail

At your Columbus Ohio Dentist’s office, Fleming Dental Care in Clintonville, we care about our patients. We will strive to make your visit as comfortable, convenient, and painless as possible. We want to make you smile!

Check yourself for Oral Cancer

Admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:31:23 +0000

While smoking and use of dip, or chew significantly increase the risk of oral cancers, it is a good idea for even non-tobacco users to be aware of symptoms of this dangerous disease.

Some of the symptoms to look for include:

Tenderness in your neck
Lumps, bumps, or changes in texture in your lips
Red, White or dark patches inside your cheek
Lumps or unusual coloration of roof of your mouth
Lumps, swelling, or discoloration of the underside or surface of your tongue.
Facial color or size changes, or sores, moles or growths
Hoarse, or frog in your throat the throat
Ear pain
Numbness (does it feel like an area of your mouth falls asleep)

If you notice any of these symptoms, other unexplained lesions, sores, lumps or bumps in or around your mouth or anything else that causes concern (especially those that don’t seem to be healing within a reasonable time frame), it is a good idea to visit the dentist for an oral cancer screening.

At the Columbus Ohio Dental Office of Courtney Fleming DDS we are currently accepting new patients for all of your oral health issues from routine dental checkups to full mouth makeovers, or oral cancer screening. Our office is conveniently located at 3701 North High Street in the Clintonville area of Columbus, Ohio. Call (614) 263-4040 today for an appointment.

Spring Sports are Starting, Protect Your Teeth

Admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:23:12 +0000

While protecting teeth applies year round, with spring bringing early warm weather in Columbus, Ohio this year many adults and children alike are beginning to become more active in sports leagues or pick-up games both on a recreational and competitive level. A good way to help prevent oral related injuries is with a mouth guard. The absorbing effects of a properly fitted mouth guard can prevent a tooth being damaged or knocked out, and additionally may prevent more severe injuries such as concussions with the shock absorbing affects of the device. It is important that the mouth guard and all equipment be properly fitted to the individual athlete in order to gain the full injury preventative effects and protection. It is also important to check the fit to ensure that the mouth guard does not mal-adjust the bite or mis-align the jaw.

Most sporting goods store offer mouth guards which can be fitted to mouth. As your Columbus Ohio dentist, here at Fleming Dental Group in Clintonville we can also create a custom fitted mouth guard for your sporting protection.

Green Teeth for the Holiday

Admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:49:59 +0000

In the celebration of St Patrick’s Day many will find themselves being served green beverages. We are often asked about the effects of this on your teeth. The effects of green beer and other beverages that are modified to be green for the holiday celebration can vary from person to person, and often depend on how the drink is turned green in color.

Drinks are typically turned green through the addition of food coloring. At many bars, kegs are bought from the distributor with the green coloring already in them. In others, the bartender adds the food coloring to the beer, or other drink. In soft drinks, food coloring can be added to the syrup used in the dispenser or added after it is poured and then stirred in.

The fact is that while in most cases there are no lasting effects of consuming beverages that are colored green, there are some hazards to be aware of. In drinks where the color is mixed in after the drink is poured, the consistency of the mixture is determined by the person making the drink. That means that it is very easy and common for too much of the food coloring to be put into a drink, which often results in very green teeth, and even lips, tongue, and mouth for those drinking these beverages.

If you have recently had your teeth whitened, or have any type of braces, you should take extra care to avoid these green beverages. After a whitening or use of whitening products, the teeth are usually more sensitive to the dyeing agents in food coloring, so your bright white teeth may very quickly turn an interesting shade of green or blue. The dye can settle between braces, other devises or dental prosthetics that are pressed to teeth, thus causing even greater concern as it remains soaking into the tooth enamel for extended periods of time.

On a lighter note, the food coloring added to beverages can also expose any areas where you are missing brushing or have plaque buildup, as it sticks to the bacteria in plaque. If after a few sips of the your green beverage of choice you notice your teeth turning quickly green, that may be an indicator that it is time for your next visit to the dentist. While this is generally a very temporary and usually harmless effect, before consuming that green beer or other beverage you should consider that your teeth may be a little green.

The Columbus Ohio Dental Office of Courtney Fleming DDS wishes you a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day and as always, wear your smile proud!

Smile and Like us :)

Admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:03:56 +0000

Have you been to our page on facebook yet?

Like us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/flemingdentalcare

We are happy to be your dentist of choice, Columbus! If you have not yet been to our office, call us at (614) 263-4040 to schedule an appointment, or fill out our contact the dentist form here.

Celebrate National Wear Red Day® Friday, February 3, 2012

Admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:22:03 +0000

On National Wear Red Day® Americans nationwide will wear red to
show support for women’s heart disease awareness. The Heart Truth® is:
“Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear—It’s the #1 Killer of Women.®”

Join the national awareness movement by wearing red on February 3rd
and encourage your family, friends, and coworkers to do the same. For
more information on The Heart Truth campaign, National Wear Red Day,
and The Red Dress®—the national symbol of women and heart disease
awareness—visit www.hearttruth.gov.
The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. ® The Heart Truth, its logo, The Red Dress, and Heart Disease Doesn’t
Care What You Wear—It’s the #1 Killer of Women, are trademarks of HHS. ® National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.

Cosmetics of Dentistry in Columbus Ohio

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:05:06 +0000

Smile! Your smile is often one of the first noticed features when meeting someone. A beautiful smile can often be said to light up a room. With advancing dental techniques and materials over the past several years, it is now much easier and less expensive to get and maintain a great smile.

It is also becoming more common to apply some of these techniques in a single visit to the dental office. A good example is the same day dental crown, tooth colored fillings, or veneers, through use of special equipment such as the Cerec Tooth Restoration system our Columbus Ohio dental office has invested in. Not only are Cerec restorations highly durable, these ceramic restorations are some of the most beautiful available. All this in a single visit too.

Another technique utilized in cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening. Our Columbus Ohio dentist’s office uses the Zoom 2 teeth whitening system, as well as offering home bleaching kits.

Straightening of teeth is now in much closer reach and less expensive than ever before. Often traditional unsightly metal braces can be foregone thanks to Smart Moves. The Smart Moves system uses clear and nearly invisible removable trays in order to achieve a straight and beautiful smile, and is available at our office.

Have stains, chips, gaps or missing teeth?
Snap On Smile is another alternative that fits right over your own teeth to give you a beautiful, natural looking smile.

These are just some of the techniques we utilize at the Columbus Ohio Cosmetic Dentistry office of Fleming Dental Group in Clintonville, Ohio in order to help our patients to achieve the beautiful smiles and excellent oral health they deserve and want! Schedule an appointment today to find out the best option for you.