This Year, Make a New Year’s Resolution to Smile About!

Let’s face it- when was the last time you managed to keep a New Year’s resolution? Our team at Gentle Dental believes the key to sticking to a goal is picking one that is both reasonable and attainable. If you haven’t yet picked a New Year’s resolution, consider setting one that will improve your oral health!

For example, resolve to brush twice and floss once a day. Good oral hygiene only takes a few minutes a day, and can make a big difference in your oral health and overall health too!

We would love to see what you come up with, share with us by commenting on this post or on our Facebook page. Whatever your New Year’s Resolution, we wish you the very best for 2012!

Happy New Year!!

Gentle Dental wishes you happy holidays

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as our team at Gentle Dental reflects on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? A clean slate for 2012? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Gentle Dental Associates' Summer Music Video Contest!

Our entire team at Gentle Dental Associates is extremely excited to announce our Summer Music Video Contest!

Here's how you can participate:

Create a music video about why you love your teeth
Submit a link to your video to michelle@gentledent.com

The winner will receive $1000.00 in dental treatment, and have their video shared on our Facebook page! Entries must be submitted by Saturday August 8th, 2011. Limit one entry per person.

We can't wait to see what you come up with! Give our office a call if you have any questions.

Your Teeth Whitening Questions, Answered.

At Gentle Dental Associates, we are always trying to help our patients build a brighter future for their smiles. One way we do this is by offering several teeth whitening treatments at our office. To help you investigate all of the teeth whitening options, we have decided to answer some of the most common questions we receive about teeth whitening.

Q: What is the difference between in-office whitening, take-home whitening kits, and over-the-counter products?

A: In office whitening whitens your teeth instantly with significant results about 98% of the time. Take-home whitening will give you the same results, but takes about two weeks to start to see the results, and you are in control of your results; the more aggressive (how often you choose to do it) you are with it the better results. The over-the-counter products seem to give you a result but not as significant as the professional product due to the strength of the whitening gel and the fit of the tray is not custom like the professional tray.

Q: Do whitening toothpastes really make a difference?

A: Whitening tooth pastes tend to lift stains, but don’t really whiten your teeth.

Q: How do I get my teeth whiter without them looking unnatural?

A: To get your teeth whiter without looking unnatural we would recommend the take-home whitening kit because you can control your results (you can stop when desired shade is reached).

Q: Can I use whitening products on my teeth while receiving orthodontic treatment?

A: No you cannot use whitening gels while being treated for orthodontics because the gel will not whiten and cannot reach under brackets, custom trays will not fit either, unless you are using Invisalign aligner trays.

Q: Can I use whitening products on my dentures?

A: Dentures are made of acrylic which will not whiten. In order to have a whiter shade of denture, you will have to have the denture reset with new teeth.

Q: What is the best over-the-counter whitening product?

A: The best over-the-counter whitening product tends to be crest white strips; we have seen a lot of our patients get results from them, yet not as good results as the professional kind.

Q: After I’ve received in-office teeth bleaching, what’s the best way to maintain my bright smile?

A: After you have received in-office whitening the best way to maintain your bright smile is to try to avoid staining substances in your diet (i.e. coffee, tea, pop, red wine, and smoking) and use your touch-up kit at home to whiten some more when you see your teeth start to fade back.

Q: What foods and beverages will discolor my teeth? Which foods and beverages taste good but won’t discolor my teeth?

A: Pretty much any food and beverage that has color or dye will stain your teeth (anything that stains your white shirt will stain your teeth.) Coffee, tea, pop, red wine, and smoking tend to stain the worst. Any food or beverage that is clear will not stain your teeth.

Q: Is tooth discoloration genetic?

A: Tooth discoloration is very minimally genetic. If your mother took antibiotics while pregnant with you, it could discolor your teeth or if you took antibiotics at a very young age you could have tooth discoloration. Most tooth discoloration comes from your diet and oral hygiene.

For more information about teeth whitening treatment at Gentle Dental Associates, visit our website or give our office a call.

Burning Invisalign® Questions

Are you wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities? Will it slur your speech? Will people know you're in treatment? You're not alone in your concerns! Our team thought we’d share this list of questions and answers for anyone pondering Invisalign treatment at Gentle Dental Associates.

How exactly does Invisalign work?

Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Will I experience pain during treatment?
Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.

Can other people see that I'm in treatment?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.

Are there any foods I shouldn’t eat while in treatment?

You can eat normally during the entire course of treatment. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. Simply take the aligners out before each meal, brush when you're finished eating, then reinsert the aligners afterward.

What about chewing gum?

We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, as gum and other chewy substances can stick to the aligners.

How often must I wear my aligners?

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing, and flossing.

Will my speech be affected by the aligners?

As with any orthodontic treatment, aligners may temporarily affect your speech. If this does happen, your tongue will adjust within a day or two and your speech should return to normal.

How do I clean my aligners?

The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

How often must I visit the office during treatment?

For most patients, visits every 4-6 weeks are frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly. We will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.

If you have additional questions about the Invisalign treatment, please give our office a call.

What do you love about summer?

Summer is finally here, and the team at Gentle Dental Associates thought we’d ask: What’s your favorite part about summer? Is it the warm weather? The free time you get? Spending quality time with friends and family? Grilling barbecue in the backyard?

Our team would like to know what makes your summer truly special. Let us know by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

June is National Smile Month!

According to the American Dental Association, a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature, which is why it's important for our team at Gentle Dental Associates to support National Smile Month this June.

Show off your pearly whites by posting your favorite smile photos on the wall of our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing what you share!

What do you LOVE about Ann Arbor?

Gentle Dental Associates, your Ann Arbor dentists, are situated around some pretty unique neighborhoods. Each is special with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our amazing patients) living within.

Today, our team thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about Ann Arbor? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Perhaps a favorite getaway in Michigan?

Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in Ann Arbor, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods” in Michigan.

If you need to schedule your next appointment, give us a call! Have a great week!

What, exactly, are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are a type of molar that is found in the very back of your mouth and are the last molars to develop. There are four wisdom teeth: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. These teeth usually appear in late teens or early twenties but may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry. The removal of wisdom teeth has become so commonplace that it is almost a rite of passage for young adults.

Our doctors will tell you that when a tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. If it is not removed, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and yes, even gum disease.

Our friends at WebMD have developed a helpful explanation about wisdom teeth and how they impact your health. Also, feel free to give us a call with any questions you have or ask us on Facebook!

What oral issues should I be aware of during pregnancy?

Maintaining your oral health is an important part of keeping your entire body well, and never more so than when you’re expecting. If you’re pregnant or considering pregnancy, schedule an appointment with us, and remember to raise the issue of your oral health at prenatal appointments with Gentle Dental Associates.

If pregnant, we want you to be aware of the following oral health issues:

• Tooth Decay
Excessive morning sickness can also contribute to tooth decay, as the acids in your stomach introduced to the mouth during vomiting wear away the protective enamel coating on your teeth.

• Gingivitis & Gum Disease
This is a major issue. The precursor to gum disease is gingivitis, a condition in which plaque buildup on teeth irritates the gums, making them red, swollen and sensitive. The high levels of hormones in the bloodstream brought on by pregnancy exaggerate your gums’ reaction to irritation from plaque.

• Loose Teeth
Another risk faced during pregnancy is loosening teeth. The large amounts of hormones in your bloodstream can have an unfavorable affect on the bones and ligaments that create the foundation of your teeth, weakening them to the point that teeth may loosen.

The ideal time to schedule an appointment at Gentle Dental Associates is before becoming pregnant. We will perform a check-up to determine the state of your oral health and how pregnancy might affect you. We will discuss completing any necessary treatments prior to your pregnancy. Give us a call today!

Getting Social with Gentle Dental Associates

At Gentle Dental Associates, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our social media. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas through Twitter, or on our Facebook page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While we take a time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog?

Please post your thoughts below, send us a tweet @GentleDentalA2, leave a comment on our Facebook page, or give us a call!

See you on the web!

What’s on your reading list?

With the school year close to winding down for a lot of our patients at Gentle Dental Associates, we wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading is a vital step in brain development and literacy. And if you needed any more reason to read, May marks “Get Caught Reading Month.”

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our team would be happy to provide a few. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas on what to read next!

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your book picks or your all-time favorite novels or literature on our Facebook page!

Overcoming Dental Anxiety with Gentle Dental Associates

Do you feel nervous or stressed about your upcoming dental treatment? Well you’re not alone; in fact, almost 30 percent of the population experiences "dental phobia" when faced with visiting the dentist! This fear can prevent patients from getting the treatment they need. But it's also important to remember that postponing your dental visit can result in more treatment, which will just reinforce your fear of the dentist.

To help you relax at Gentle Dental Associates, we offer Nitrous Oxide Gas and are also able to prescribe medication prior to your appointment that will lessen your anxiety. There is no shame in being afraid, we are here to help you get the treatment you need. For more information about how you can overcome your fear of the dentist, please visit the DENTAL ANXIETY page on our website or give our office a call.

Below is a video of our patient, Brandon Osborn, discussing how he overcomes his dental anxiety when he comes in for an appointment.

Thanks to Invisalign®, Mom and Dad can have a perfect smile, too! From Gentle Dental Associates

Hey parents! Focusing on your kids' teeth and oral health so much that you're neglecting your own? If you've been thinking wistfully about having your own set of perfect teeth, our staff at Gentle Dental Associates can help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth called Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you!

Please give us a call to set up a consultation, so we can discuss the specifics of your treatment.

Gentle Dental Associates, Taking Steps to Reduce Our Impact on the Environment

Earth Day is this Friday, April 22nd, and we thought this would a great time to discuss the things that Gentle Dental Associates does to conserve our natural resources and the environment.

Currently our office is working on a three year plan to become completely paperless. Some of the ways we work towards this goal is through our Patient Login system powered by Sesame, which gives us the ability to offer our patients 24/7 online account access. It also lets us contact our patients through email rather than standard mail thus eliminating the use of the paper resources necessary to mail appointment reminders, statements, birthday greetings, newsletters, and other announcements. This service also saves our patient’s resources by allowing them to pay online. We also use software that records our patient’s periodontal health and progression and saves this information electronically which eliminates the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials. Gentle Dental Associates was the first office in Ann Arbor MI to offer digital radiography which eliminates the need for a toxic dark room and also allows us to send x-rays electronically to insurance companies and other doctors. We also encourage our patients to use white fillings that do not contain mercury and other metals. Our office has participated in the Ann Arbor Recycling program for five years. We continue to make sure and recycle our paper, plastic, glass, and metal.

We’d love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or you can also visit our Facebook page and post something on our wall.

Happy Earth Day!

$1.50 for a Cavity!

Vending machines are a quick way to satisfy hunger. You put in $1.50 and you get back a candy bar, bag of chips or even a soda…but that’s not all! Gentle Dental Associates would like to remind you that vending machines not only dispense sweet treats and caffeine bursts, but they also dispense cavities!

Every time you chow down on that chocolate bar the bacteria in your mouth have a party feasting on the sugar. The sugar quickly turns into acid; that’s right, ACID!!! The acid sits on your teeth and eats away at the tooth’s natural enamel (the stuff that protects your tooth from decay). When this enamel is eaten away by the acid on your tooth, you get a cavity! Brushing your teeth after eating a sugary treat can help prevent cavities; but before you indulge remind yourself: “can’t brush? Hold the sugar!”

When choosing a snack, consider these nutritional options that will not only satisfy your hunger and that “sweet tooth,” but won’t cause acid build up resulting in cavities:

• Fresh Fruits (berries, oranges, melon, pears, etc)
• Raw Vegetables (broccoli, celery, carrots, etc)
• Bread
• Pretzels (low salt)
• Milk (low or non-fat)
• Cheese (low or non-fat)
• Nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc)
• Sliced meat

If you want more advice on how you can prevent cavities, ask your dentist during your next appointment at Gentle Dental Associates.

April is National Facial Protection Month!

With spring here, many children, teens and adults in Ann Arbor will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, The dedicated Gentle Dental Associates team urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Gentle Dental Associates. Stay safe and have fun!

Dental Implants for Patients with Diabetes

We understands dry mouth, gum disease, delayed healing and other health issues are all special concerns for our patients with diabetes. But what are your options when infection has weakened teeth beyond repair? In many cases, dental implants are recommended as permanent replacements for damaged teeth.

Recent studies of dental implants with diabetic patients show success rates of higher than 90 percent. In the rare case that the implant does not blend properly to the bone, it can be removed and the procedure at Gentle Dental Associates can be repeated. While the process of implantation takes longer than conventional treatments like bridges, the strength and durability of implants make them an excellent long-term solution for your tooth replacement. If you have diabetes and have lost one or more teeth (and your diabetes is under control), you may consider implants. However, if your blood sugar is not controlled, we recommend putting off any non-emergency dental care, including implants, bridgework and dentures – until you’ve worked with your primary care physician to control it.

Otherwise, feel free to give us a call and our staff will try to answer any diabetes-related questions we can.

Should I replace my toothbrush?

Great question! It's very important to replace your toothbrush because germs are known to linger on the bristles, and if you have been sick you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!
• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster


We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us at Gentle Dental Associates if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Flossing with Gentle Dental Associates

We hope you are not a part of the 51 percent of Americans who don’t floss every day. And we definitely hope you're not part of the 10 percent who never floss at all. At Gentle Dental Associates, we will always tell you that proper flossing is just as important for your dental health as brushing regularly. Flossing, you see, cleans food and plaque that build up between teeth and below the gumline, key areas that brushing simply cannot reach.

Flossing 3-to-5 minutes each day is recommended, but even 60 seconds of flossing has a great benefit over not flossing at all. Also, make sure to always brush your teeth after you floss, and to rinse with water or mouthwash. When you begin flossing you may experience gum pain or bleeding, but with daily flossing and brushing this should stop within a week or so.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last checkup with Gentle Dental Associates? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to schedule an appointment!