At Advanced DDS, staying up to date with the latest technology and dental procedures is essential.

As important as it is to us, every now and then, a patient will inquire about just how technology plays a part in their treatment and experience in our dental office.  With that being said, we thought we’d outline a few of the ways in which technology enhances dentistry and leads to a better result for the patient.

Treatment Time

Much of the technology that we offer at our office is beneficial for the patient’s total treatment time.  Our CEREC machine, for instance, allows the patient to have a cap or crown custom made for them AND cemented in on the same day.  Without a CEREC machine, it would take our office up to two weeks to have crowns fabricated by a dental lab.  Dental labs are very busy because most dentists rely on them to fabricate appliances, caps, crowns, etc.  By having the CEREC machine in our office, we can offer single appointment treatment for most cases that require caps, crowns, and onlays.

Another good example is Teeth Whitening.  Come to Advanced DDS to get your teeth whitened and you will see noticeable results within a couple of hours.  But if you try using at-home methods that you can purchase over the counter, it could take weeks, even months for you to really see a difference in the shade of your teeth.  ZOOM! Teeth Whitening is great because it is fast, effective, and easy!  We have seen patients for ZOOM! Teeth Whitening at our office a day or two before a big event that they had to go to, such as a wedding or family reunion who wanted to brighten their smile for all of the pictures they would be taking — and after one or two hours of ZOOM!, the results are easy to see.  At-home methods do help to brighten your smile, but they take much longer.  This is because the dosage of active whitening ingredients has to be limited in order for these products to sell over the counter.  When you have your teeth whitened by professionals however, a much stronger and more effective whitening gel is used to brighten your smile.

Treatment Methods

For those who hate the feeling, sound, and smell of the dental drill, Laser technology has come to the rescue!  We have the ability to use Lasers for treatment in situations that used to require more invasive techniques like drills.  In fact, if your cavity can be treated with a Laser instead of a drill, that also means that most of the time you won’t even need an injection to help you cope with the pain — it’s that easy!  Additionally, Lasers can be used to reduce and kill harmful bacteria living in the mouth, removing/contouring bone or tissue, or the removal of cold sores with minimal discomfort.

Another “advanced” treatment method that we offer at Advanced DDS is Sedation Dentistry.  Sedation Dentistry involves the placement of an IV in the patient’s hand or arm which allows for the flow of medicine which effectively relaxes the patient.  The patient remains conscious, in what we call a twilight sleep — just conscious enough to respond to directions and communicate with the doctor if necessary.  Otherwise, the patient does not feel the treatment that is being done and has little to no memory of the entire appointment by the time they leave.  Sedation Dentistry is great for patients who are fearful, nervous, or those who have some invasive procedures that have to be done, such as implants, extractions, or bone grafts.

Advances in technology at dental labs has also led to some great benefits for our patients.  Hybridge, our full mouth restoration process is a great example.  Hybridge essentially includes between 5 and 6 dental implants on the arch of your mouth which work together to stabilize a custom made denture that is fabricated by the Hybridge Dental Lab in Rochester, New York.  The Hybridge appliance is very advanced because it is essentially a denture that is made to be permanent. This means that the teeth, gums, and structure of the appliance are far more durable and realistic looking than your average denture.  Advances like the Hybridge Full Mouth Restoration are only made possible by the evolution of technology in the dental field in the past decade or so.

Technology’s Impact on Dentistry

The quality and relative ease of dental treatment from the patient’s perspective is only getting better.  Current technology at Advanced DDS allows you, the patient, to have significantly less discomfort during procedures, less wait time, and higher quality results.  Perhaps most importantly, technological advances in the dental field give you options. Newer treatment methods are available to you as a patient to give you the best options possible.  At Advanced DDS, you will always be presented with current technology and treatment options, but you will never be restricted to accept a treatment method you are not comfortable with.  Technology, for both the provider and the patient, presents a multitude of options — and you can never have too many options.

This past week was a challenging ones for Americans, particularly those living in the Northeast.

The bombing that took place at the Boston Marathon last Monday, April 15th was a shock for us all.  In the hours and days after the bombs went off, millions of Americans were left wondering what would happen next.

Why did this happen?  Would the perpetrators ever be caught?  Are more attacks planned?

For 5 days straight we all asked these questions to ourselves until Friday, April 19th, when the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing was taken into custody.

The reason the attacks were carried out is still unclear.  It is still unknown if the two bombers were acting as part of a larger group of terrorists.  Everyone is trying to figure out how attacks like this could be prevented in the future.

With all of this uncertainty, a few things have become clear in the wake of this tragic attack:

We banded together as a nation, as a community, and as human beings.

• When faced with unspeakable danger at a public event, hundreds of Americans who were not injured by the explosions ran towards the site of the attack to help those who were seriously injured.  The selfless acts of those who ran towards the scene of the crime makes it evident that our sense of community in Boston and as a country was heightened by these tragic events, not diminished.

Take a look at this great video we just posted that goes over the details and benefits of Invisalign!

Invisalign at Advanced DDS

Invisalign is well known for being a clear alternative to metal braces, but Invisalign is great for many reasons:

1) Invisalign allows you to see results DURING your course of treatment.

2) Eat as you please!  Just take your aligners out and chomp away.

3) Straighten your teeth without worrying about your looks — the aligners are clear and almost invisible to the eye

…and much more

Advanced DDS always offers a complimentary consultation for patients interested in Invisalign.  If you have any questions about Invisalign, feel free to call us at (516) 825-1100 during office hours or email us at frontdesk@advanceddds.com any time.

When you take a stroll down the aisle of your local convenience store or supermarket to pick up a new mouthwash, it can be a very daunting task to select the one that best suits your needs given the array of options, colors, and brand names.

One characteristic that goes across the board for each and every mouthwash on the market is that it will work to freshen your breath.

Here is a summary of the different types of rinses, and the benefits of each:

Antiseptic Mouthwash

We recommend these most often for general use to our patients. Antiseptic mouthwashes are intense and will often cause a tingling or burning sensation in the mouth that many people dislike – but their ability to kill germs and bacteria throughout your mouth, teeth, and gums makes the intensity worthwhile if you can bear it. It is important to note that antiseptic rinses contain alcohol, which acts as an anesthetic and disinfectant.

Fluoride Mouthwash

These are great at preventing cavities. We most often recommend fluoride mouthwash for young children and adults who are prone to cavities, having had a history of them in the past. Even if you haven’t had a lot of cavities, using fluoride is a great way to prevent them in the future and strengthen your enamel.

Whitening Mouthwash

Containing the same ingredients commonly found in whitening toothpaste, a whitening mouthwash will work to remove surface stains on your teeth. Recently, some whitening rinses have added restorative and preventative ingredients, such as fluoride, to serve multiple functions at once.

Alcohol Free Mouthwash

These rinses are preferred by people who don’t like to wash their mouths with alcohol. Their best quality is that they don’t burn your mouth when you rinse – alcohol is the ingredient that causes the burn. But remember, alcohol is found in many mouthwashes because it acts as a disinfectant and activates essential oils that kill germs – so the absence of alcohol may mean fewer germs and bacteria are killed when you rinse.

Prescription Mouthwash

These are medical-grade rinses to be used for specific reasons as determined by your doctor. It is common for these to be prescribed for patients who have or may be developing gum disease and those who have chronic dry mouth. If you are experiencing issues that require a prescription rinse and come to see your dentist for a regular checkup, the doctor will most likely recommend one for you.

When you take a trip to the dentist’s office, how do you feel? It’s normal to feel a bit nervous or anxious about your oral health – but how do you feel about your doctor?  The office?  The staff?  The atmosphere?

It is all too easy for medical practitioners to neglect how their patients feel and just do the work that is required – nothing more, nothing less.  Some doctors feel that their job is simply to see the patient and resolve their medical issues appropirately – and then it’s on to the next one.

At Advanced DDS, however. it is our mission to serve our patients.  We want to know our patients as well as we can so that we can treat them appropriately, both medically and personally.  For instance, knowing what is important to a patient (looks, functionality, durability, time, etc.)  can only come from taking the time to engage in conversation with each and every patient.  Many doctors do not take the time to get to know their patients – for us, this is essential.

As we get to know a patient better, we are able to determine the best possible treatment for that specific case.  Maybe you work late hours and need to be seen by the doctor at a specific time when you come in.  Maybe you are very afraid of the dentist and being in the dentist’s office.  Maybe you don’t trust the doctor because of negative experiences with other doctors in the past.  Maybe you just want your teeth to look new again.

Whatever the case may be, we feel that getting to know our patients allows us to offer the highest quality of care imaginable.  At Advanced DDS, our doctors and staff treat each and every patient to suit their needs and priorities.  So be honest with us!  It will allow you to be comfortable as you get your work done, and it will allow us to make the best decision for your specific case.

Our CEREC Machine is one piece of equipment that provides a major convenience both for the patient and doctor.  Using the CEREC machine, you dentist can make crowns and onlays for you within an hour or two while you are in the office.  Forget about those 1-2 week wait times that you will get from other dentists.  Most dentists need to have a dental lab create crowns for them.  At Advanced DDS, we do not need to use a dental lab for most cases.  We understand that our patients often need to resolve their dental problems in a hurry - and we are here to cater to the needs of our patients.

Check out this brief video below that explains just how useful the CEREC machine can be:

CEREC Technology at Advanced DDS

The theme for this month in our office is Love Your Teeth! Valentine’s Day is this month and we want to spread the love, so we felt this would be an appropriate time to encourage you to love and take care of your teeth.

Loving your teeth isn’t just about making them look good, it’s about supporting and maintaining them.  It takes a little more work, but putting some more thought into cleaning and caring for your teeth will save you time, potential discomfort, and money at the dentist’s office.

The key to taking care of your oral health is to make it a part of your daily routine.  When you are not consistent,  a simple task like brushing your teeth could seem like a chore.  As a routine, it doesn’t seem like extra work, it’s just what you do.

To give you a head start on taking better care of your teeth, we have some amazing special offers for the entire month of February!

50% Off Zoom! Teeth Whitening ($250 Value!)

$25 Off White Teeth For Life Program (Custom Whitening Trays, Free Whitening Gel at Each Check-Up and Cleaning)

$50 For an Oral B Electric Toothbrush ($75 Value!)

So give it a shot.  Love Your Teeth!

Every day in our office, we hear first-hand just how life changing dentistry can be from our patients.  It may not seem like a life changer to some, but a nice healthy smile can really change the way one looks at his/herself.  Regardless of what others think about your appearance, it all starts with how you feel inside.  When you are not confident in your appearance, it shows in how you present yourself and how you communicate with others.  It’s hard to define what makes someone look “good,” so each person must find the things in life that help them to FEEL good.  A recent study conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation showed the act of smiling to dramatically improve one’s mood.

Dentistry is great because it helps individuals to look AND feel good simultaneously.  Taking care of your teeth and gums eliminates a lot of self-doubt and boosts your confidence.  At the same time, a healthy smile is great for one’s physical appearance.  Appearance is by no means the most important feature that a human being has to offer, but many of us might not realize how our confidence, or lack thereof in our smile affects our physical appearance.

Smiling helps humans engage with one another and helps to make all parties comfortable in a conversation.  When someone is not smiling, it might lead to an assumption that the person is upset, disappointed, or bored.  This can be a real hindrance, especially in the business world where face to face meetings can make or break a deal.  When someone is comfortable enough to smile in public, however, it makes them more approachable.  No matter what your teeth look like, the confidence you exude when you smile really changes the way people look and feel about you.

At some point before, during, or after an appointment at our office, you have probably had a staff member ask you if you would like to refer any patients to us.  We look at referrals as one of the best compliments a current patient could give us.  Referrals are a direct indicator that we are providing a quality service to our patients and we appreciate them very much.

We appreciate referrals so much, in fact, that we designed a program to reward our patients who refer their friends and loved ones to our practice.  Here’s how it works.

· When you refer someone to our office, we give you a $50 American Express Gift Card for EACH new patient you bring to us.

· If you refer 3 patients to us within a year, you become a member of our VIP Program.

Our VIP Program:

o $100 American Express Gift Cards for each referral after 3

o 1 Free Take Home Whitening Kit

o 1 Free Oral Cancer Screening

o 1 Birthday Gift

o Priority Scheduling

So what do you think?  Can you refer 3 patients to our office this year?  We’ll be keeping track and will have an extra-special reward for the patient who refers the most in 2013.

Januaries bring with them a new beginning. It’s a time where the triumphs of yesteryear are immortalized, and mistakes are soon forgotten. Most importantly, It’s when we put to practical use the lessons we have learned over the past twelve months. New Year’s resolutions are a time honored tradition where people feel the need to better themselves  within the time constraints of the next 365 days. Whether it’s taking another morning to go to the gym, quitting smoking, spending more time with the family, or just being a better person; there is no resolution too small or not significant enough. The purpose of a resolution is noticing that there needs to be a change, and that’s something that few people have a chance to recognize (let alone try to fix). However, be mindful, any resolution worth accomplishing needs your full attention. Half-effort jobs only hurt yourself. The guy behind the counter at your favorite pizza place isn’t going to care that you need to lose 10 pounds for your son’s wedding. Philip Morris executives aren’t going to hold your hand and beg for your business while you suck down your “last” cigarette. You have to want to be better, for you.

This is the driving factor for Dr. Raskin and Advanced DDS. In the end, you have to take the first step. It’s your decision to want better dental health or a better life in general. It’s a lot easier than you would think. With just two visits per year, you’re already ahead of the game. Making sure your teeth are healthy shouldn’t get in the way of what really deserves your attention this year.