Lumineers vs. Veneers

You have probably heard a lot about veneers, but do you know about Lumineers? If not, you should know that they can transform your smile in less time and more comfort than you ever imagined. Similar to veneers, Lumineers are hard, porcelain shells that can be applied seamlessly over your teeth. They are digitally designed to be ultra-thin and give you a beautiful and natural-looking smile.

 

Because traditional veneers tend to be thicker, they require more aggressive removal of healthy tooth enamel. On the other hand, Lumineers are about as thin as a contact, so they require a less-invasive procedure than traditional veneers, and it only takes two visits to our office to get them. Since very little enamel has to be removed from the teeth to make room, the procedure does not typically require shots or temporary veneers as you wait for your custom-made Lumineers to be crafted.

 

While Lumineers offer many benefits, Dr. Geetika Chawla recommends that they only be used for minor cosmetic adjustments and not for a major makeover. If you want to extend the size of small teeth, fix minor chips, make teeth appear straighter or change the color of your smile, Lumineers are an exceptional option.

 

To get a smile that you will love showing off, schedule an appointment with our office in Camas, WA by calling (360) 369-6420. For more information about our practice and our services, visit www.radiancedentalnw.com.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a frustrating condition for many sufferers.  In addition to nightly snoring, sleep apnea can also increase your risk of developing other serious health problems.  High blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, daily fatigue, drowsiness, and liver problems can all develop or worsen as a result of sleep apnea.

 

Fortunately, there are ways to treat sleep apnea at our practice.  While CPAP is commonly used as an effective sleep apnea treatment, many find the device to be uncomfortable.  We offer custom oral appliances as an alternative treatment, preventing respiratory obstruction and ensuring oxygen flow throughout the night.  Many of our patients have found oral appliances to be a more comfortable and convenient sleep apnea treatment.

 

If you or someone you know may be suffering from sleep apnea, contact our Vancouver, WA practice for more information on how to protect your health and request a free consultation today.

Dental Crowns

Dental Crowns

Crowns are used to protect and strengthen teeth that are badly decayed or fractured. By covering your tooth and restoring it to its original shape and size, crowns (or caps) reduce your pain, save your tooth from needing to be removed and keep your smile functional and attractive. At Radiance Dental, we can see if a crown is necessary to save your smile.

 

Crowns are usually only necessary if decay has reached the point where your tooth structure is compromised. When a crown is installed, the decay is removed from your tooth and a core build-up is applied to insulate the nerve and create a surface for bonding the crown to. An impression is taken of the remaining tooth, and a crown is fabricated. Once the crown has been created, it is cemented to your tooth.

 

Made incredibly strong for protecting the remaining tooth, the crown is custom fitted to ensure that the seam between the tooth and crown is miniscule to protect it from further decay.

 

If you’re experiencing decay and pain in one of your teeth, stop by our office to see if a crown can save your smile. Schedule an appointment with Radiance Dental in Camas, WA by calling (360) 369-6420. For more information, visitwww.RadianceDentalNW.com. 

Night Guards

If you or your sleep partner is suffering from teeth grinding, you know how it can interfere with getting a good night’s rest. At Radiance Dental Snore and Sleep Center, we offer solutions for teeth grinding.

 

Teeth grinding involves clenching the jaw and gnashing the teeth unconsciously during sleep. The exact cause of teeth grinding is not known, but it is very common and occurs in both children and adults. It some instances, grinding the teeth can lead to damaged teeth, jaw pain and headaches.

We offer custom fit night guards in order to treat teeth grinding. The night guard acts as a barrier between your top and bottom teeth, which prevents grinding and gnashing of your teeth.

 

The process of making a night guard is easy. We start by taking an impression of your teeth, and the guard is then made in a dental lab. Since your night guard is made specifically for you, it fits comfortably and allows you to breathe normally.

 

In addition to night guards, we offer a variety of services including periodontal treatment, bonding, extractions, TMJ treatment and other services. For more information on teeth grinding treatment or in order to have a night guard made, please call Radiance Dental Snore and Sleep Center, at 360-369-6420.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and Onlays

If you have heard someone use the term partial crown, they are talking about inlays and onlays, which our dentist Dr. Geetika Chawla provides. Inlays and onlays are a dental procedure performed to strengthen a tooth and prevent damage if it is weakened and at risk of breaking. It is a less invasive procedure than covering a tooth with a crown completely. An inlay is used when there is a damage and it must be placed partially inside the tooth, while an onlay goes right on top of a tooth that doesn’t have as much damage to the cusps of the tooth.

 

Before placing inlays and onlays, we must first remove any decayed portions of the tooth. Then, an impression is made and sent to a lab where the inlay or onlay is made. In approximately 2-3 weeks, the restoration is complete and can be bonded to the tooth. We do this with a very strong cement for a stable hold. Inlays and onlays last about the same time as crowns, which is approximately 10-15 years. The better a patient takes care of their teeth, the longer it lasts.

 

To learn more about getting inlays and onlays from Radiance Dental, call us at 360-369-6420.

Waterlase

Although going to the dentist, may not rate as one of your favorite activities, it is essential in order to maintain good health. At Radiance Dental, we want to make a trip to the dentist as easy as possible. That’s why we utilize the latest technologies, including Waterlase.

 

Waterlase is a laser that combines laser energy and water. It is used to perform a variety of dental treatments and procedures easier and more comfortably than a conventional dental drill. Both the gums and the tooth can be cut using the Waterlase. Procedures that once required drilling and anesthesia may now be performed using this new laser technology.

 

In the past, when you had a dental procedure performed using a dental drill, pain due to the drill’s vibration, heat and pressure may have occurred. The Waterlase does not produce heat, vibration or pressure. Less anesthesia is often needed, which means you won’t have to worry about numb lips when you leave our office.

 

The Waterlase is also more accurate than using a convention dental drill. It can remove bone and enamel more precisely than a drill and without trauma to healthy tissue. There is also often less bleeding and swelling to the mouth.

 

Our team at Radiance Dental prides themselves with providing you with the most modern advances in dentistry and personal attention. We provide exceptional customer service in a state of the art facility.

 

For more information on the Waterlase or in order to schedule an appointment, please call Radiance Dental at 360-369-6420.

Digital X-Ray

In many instances, x-rays are needed to confirm a diagnosis. X-rays may also be a standard part of an annual dental exam to determine if any problem exists. At Radiance Dental, we offer the latest technology to make the x-ray process safer, easier and more efficient. We are happy to offer our patients digital x-rays.

 

Pictures of the gums, teeth and jaw, can be taken using digital x-rays. The images are taken by using an electrical sensor, which is placed in the mouth. The procedure is fast and comfortable. The pictures are then processed through an imaging computer program, and can be displayed on a screen for you to view.

 

Digital x-rays are considered advantageous over using traditional dental x-rays for many reasons. The digital x-rays can be enlarged in order to get detailed images of a problem area. They also often provide clearer and more accurate images of a person’s mouth than conventional x-rays. This helps us identify problem areas sooner and prevent complications from developing.

 

An added benefit of using digital x-rays instead of conventional x-rays is less radiation exposure. Digital x-rays are believed to reduce your exposure to radiation by about 80 percent compared with conventional dental x-rays.

 

Our team at Radiance Dental is committed to providing you with excellent customer service and the latest technology. We offer a variety of dental services including periodontics, endodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

 

For more information on digital x-rays or in order to schedule an appointment, please call Radiance Dental at 360-369-6420.

Dental Hygiene & Periodontal Health

Periodontal disease can lead to a variety of problems including tooth loss. Maintaining a healthy mouth is beneficial not only for dental health, but for your overall wellbeing. Research indicates that having gum disease increases your risk of other health problems, such as heart disease, premature birth and diabetes. The good news is with proper dental hygiene gum disease is preventable. If you already have periodontal disease, treatment is also available.

 

Dr. Geetika Chawla BDS and her staff at Radiance Dental provide dental hygiene services in order to help you maintain your periodontal health. Regular dental hygiene, such as professional cleanings, play a key role in preventing gum disease. Regardless of how diligent you are, plaque and tartar cannot be entirely removed through flossing and brushing alone.

 

Professional dental hygiene services include evaluating your dental health and determining the best treatment plan in order to prevent or treat periodontal disease. We utilize a variety of methods and procedures based on your individual situation. For example, we offer Arestin, scaling, root planing and gum grafting.

 

Having regular dental checkups and professional dental hygiene services is critical for your overall health. For more information on dental hygiene services or in order to schedule an appointment, please call Radiance Dental at 360-369-6420.

White Fillings

Getting dental fillings is a necessary treatment provided here at Radiance Dental when patients are found to have a cavity. By getting a filling right when the cavity is found, it allows us to treat it and prevent more involved treatments later on, such as root canals or crowns.

Traditional metal fillings are visible to others when the patient is laughing, talking or smiling, so we use white fillings made to match the color of the patient’s teeth when possible. This allows them to get the fillings they need without worrying about others seeing it.

White fillings, also called composite fillings, are not always white. Our dentist, Dr. Geetika Chawla, blends shades using composites to match the shade of the patient’s tooth. They are completed in layers using a light that warms and hardens each layer as it is placed in the cavity of the tooth. Polishing is done after this is complete to protects the filling and prevent staining of the tooth.

Aside from being the same shade as the tooth, composite white fillings also protect the tooth from breakage and insulate it from harsh hot and cold temperatures. Call Dr. Geetika Chawla at 360-369-6420 to schedule a consultation for your white fillings appointment.

Bonding

Bonding is a technique used here at Radiance Dental to provide patients with better appearance of their teeth. It is used for a variety of purposes, including filling a cavity, correcting gaps and cracks, and coloring stains. The bonding procedure is simple and straightforward, taking around 30 minutes per tooth. Here is an outline of how it is done:

1. A shade guide is used by our dentist, Dr. Geetika Chawla, to match the color of the patient’s tooth with the composite resin colors available.

2. He then roughens the edge of the tooth by gently abrading it and coating it with liquid to help the bonding material stick better.

3. The resin is applied to the mouth and molded to the proper shape. It is hardened with an ultraviolet light.

4. After being hardened, the material is then shaped and trimmed, followed by being polished.

Dr. Geetika Chawla recommends avoiding cigarettes, coffee, tea, and wine for at least a few days after the procedure to avoid staining of the white filling. Visit our dental clinic in Camas, WA to find out how bonding can help you with your dental issues.

Intraoral Camera

The intraoral camera used in our Radiance Dental practice is one of the most important diagnostic tools we have. As opposed to other X-rays that require large machinery, the intraoral camera is a handheld tool that lets us view various angles of the mouth. We can view every angle and area of the mouth by moving it around inside the patient’s mouth. Because it is small and handheld, it is an easy and comfortable experience for our patients.

Not only does the intraoral camera provide more images of the mouth, our dentist and patient can view the images from a computer screen right in the exam room. It works great for educational purposes, because our dentist, Dr. Geetika Chawla, can show the patient exactly what he is seeing, whether that is an infection spreading, wisdom tooth growing in, or other dental issue that needs treatment. Other issues we see with the intraoral camera include broken fillings, broken teeth, dental lesions, tartar and plaque, teeth arrangement, worn fillings and cavities.

To learn more about the intraoral camera and other state-of-the-art technology used here in Camas, WA, visit our office and speak to Dr. Geetika Chawla.

Extractions

Extractions are needed for multiple reasons: to avoid getting a root canal, to remove wisdom teeth that are pushing against other teeth, or to remove an impacted and infected tooth. Here at Radiance Dental, we provide extractions for patients that need to get a tooth removed. It is not a difficult process and is done under anesthesia, so no pain is experienced. We do ask that patients have a ride home following the anesthesia, as it is not safe for them to drive.

After the extractions are completed by Dr. Sanjev Sharma, it is important that patients follow these tips:

1. Only eat soft foods for the first few days following the surgery, such as yogurt, pudding and mashed potatoes.

2. Don’t use a straw when drinking liquids.

3. Avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the tooth was extracted.

4. Avoid smoking cigarettes, as the sucking motion can pull the blood clot.

5. Call our office if excessive pain or bleeding is experienced.

You may notice some minor bleeding at the extraction site, which is temporary. An ice pack works wonders for any lingering pain.

If you want to find out more about getting extractions done in our Camas, WA office, visit our website or call us today at (360) 369-6420.

Dentures

Having multiple missing teeth can make it difficult to eat properly, not to mention cause someone to lack confidence in smiling. Dentures are available here at Radiance Dental for patients missing some or all of their teeth. Multiple missing teeth are often well-suited by full or partial dentures. Dentures performed in our office are custom made for the patient, either before or after having their teeth removed.

Conventional dentures are a type of denture that is fabricated following the removal of the natural teeth and when healing has taken place. The other option for dentures is the immediate full dentures, which are made before the teeth are removed and using impressions of the patient’s natural teeth. These are for patients that need to get their teeth removed for medical reasons, and have enough in their mouth for the impressions.

Dr. Sanjev Sharma also provides partial dentures, which are similar to a bridge in that they are replacing multiple teeth in a row, as opposed to an entire upper or lower set. All dentures should be cared for like regular teeth, with daily brushing and cleaning. Find out more about dentures and partials by calling our Camas, WA dental office.

Dental Implants

Patients in Camas, WA often come to Radiance Dental to replace their missing teeth with dental implants. Having a missing tooth can be embarrassing for many individuals, especially when it is near the front of their mouth and obvious every time they smile. It also makes it difficult to eat when it is a missing molar. Whatever the reason, Dr. Sanjev Sharma will provide a permanent solution to missing teeth with dental implants.

As a root replacement, the dental implant procedure takes a few months to complete, because the gum must be healed completely before placing the crown. It starts with having a titanium metal post implanted into the jaw bone of the missing tooth. This has a screw on the top where the crown will go. It takes about 3-6 months for the healing to be complete, after which the permanent crown is placed over the post. During this time, the jaw bone forms around the implant, making it a permanent option for our patients. The crown is also called an abutment, which looks and feels like a natural tooth.

Implants are favored by many patients because they are permanent and incredibly stable. If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants, contact us today.

Bridges

Dental bridges are one of many procedures Dr. Sanjev Sharma offers his patients for missing teeth. A bridge is made with abutment teeth to replace the missing teeth, and tailored to natural teeth on either end. These natural teeth will be covered with crowns to make them more stable, and must be contoured and reshaped slightly to make room for the crowns. Here at Radiance Dental, patients choose this option as a quick and easy way to replace their missing teeth, allowing them to eat as normal.

The following are some facts patients should know about dental bridges:

• Bridges help prevent other teeth from shifting as a result of the missing tooth.


•  They require a natural tooth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth.


•  The bridge can be done for one or multiple missing teeth in a row.


• A bridge is like a partial denture, though it cannot be removed.

The bridge is not obvious to anyone other than the patient, so they have more confidence when smiling, talking and eating. They must be taken care of the same way as their other teeth, including regular brushing.

Call us at (360) 369-6420 or visit our website at www.radiancedentalnw.com to learn more about bridges.

Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Roughly 22 million people suffer from sleep apnea, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. Its symptoms include snoring, feeling tired during the day, waking up choking or gasping, and waking up with a sore throat. Untreated sleep apnea can up the risk of many health-related conditions, including diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke, to name just a few.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or think you might have the disorder, we here at Radiance Dental can help. For many people, particularly those with mild sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance is highly effective for snoring and sleep apnea. In some cases, it can be an alternative to using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.

Oral sleep appliances, such as dental mouthpieces for sleep apnea and snoring, work by pushing the jaw and tongue forward and repositioning the tongue to keep your airway open during sleep. This can help to:

• ·         reduce or eliminate snoring


• ·         improve sleep quality


• ·         increase daytime energy

Contact us today for a FREE Consultation to see if you are a candidate for the sleep apnea & snoring CPAP alternative.

Teeth Whitening

If you drink coffee, tea, or wine, or smoke, you may notice that your teeth aren’t as white and bright as they once were.  Even with proper brushing habits, your teeth can still develop unaesthetic stains.  Fortunately, there are several teeth whitening solutions we offer at Radiance Dental to meet the needs of our existing and new patients.

Tray Whitening System - This teeth whitening option is performed in two steps: Step one involves making an impression of your teeth to create a custom-made whitening tray. Step two includes using a whitening gel in a tray to brighten your smile up to 8 shades. This is a take-home whitening options, which our patients love for the convenience it offers.

BriteSmile - A chairside procedure, BriteSmile uses a low intensity light that activates a safe whitening gel right in our Camas, WA office. In about one hour, your teeth can be brightened up to 10 shades. Our patients love how fast the whiteness of their teeth is improved.

ZOOM! - Another chairside teeth whitening procedure, the ZOOM! teeth whitening procedure uses a whitening gel and lamp to whiten your teeth up to 10 shades. Like BriteSmile, the procedure takes under one hour.

Take the first step to a whiter, brighter, more radiant smile, by calling us today at (360) 369-6420 to learn more about our quick and convenient teeth whitening options.

TMJ/TMD Disorders

Most people have never heard of the temporomandibular joint, but they have heard of TMJ.  This acronym is associated with the hinge joint that connects the temporal bone of the skull to the lower jaw.  Some people have a condition known as TMD, or temporamandibular disorder, which relates to problems of the jaw, jaw joint, and/or surrounding muscles of the face.

If you hear a clicking or popping sound upon opening your mouth, grind your teeth at night, have headaches, experience ear pain, have chewing difficulties, or have a jaw that gets stuck shut or open, there's a good chance that you may be experiencing TMD. Some of these symptoms, like teeth grinding, for example, can be especially problematic because they can lead to tooth enamel erosion and exposed dentin. This means that your teeth will be sensitive to hot or cold foods and beverages.

Luckily, here at Radiance Dental, we have treatment options for TMD. For instance, we can customize a night guard for you to use to prevent or reduce the detrimental effects of your teeth grinding at night. TMD treatment solutions include:

• Night guards


• Physical therapy and jaw exercises


• Lifestyle and behavior counseling


• Corticosteroid injections


• Pain relievers and other medications


• Arthrocentesis


• Surgery to repair or replace a joint

If you think that you may be suffering from TMD, visit our Camas, WA office for an evaluation.