Invisalign® tips, from Gentle Dental Associates

Many people know that Invisalign is a great and discrete way to straighten your teeth and improve your smile. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, we want you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.

2. Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.

3. Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also simple: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. If you have any questions about Invisalign or your treatment here at Gentle Dental Associates, give us a call!

The importance of oral cancer screenings, from Gentle Dental Associates

In our continuing efforts to provide the most advanced technology and highest quality care available to our patients, Gentle Dental Associates screens our patients for oral cancer. The fact is, every hour of every day in the U.S., someone dies of oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved.

Early detection of pre-cancerous tissue can minimize or eliminate the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life. On your next visit, ask us about a free screening at your next appointment in July! The screenings will include an examination of the head, neck, throat, and the entire mouth.

Regular Checkups for Adults are in Maintaining Good Oral Health

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s great; but, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit Gentle Dental Associates every six months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health.

Our doctors and team can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam we can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, give us a call at 1-866-921-5294 to schedule an appointment! Don't forget, June is National Smile Month!

Smile! June is National Smile Month

Now that we’re in June, our staff at Gentle Dental Associates thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to see us.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
* Visit us regularly (every 6 months)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, toll free, at 1-866-921-5294. We hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend!

What do you love about Gentle Dental Associates?

From your very first visit to Gentle Dental Associates our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by one of the doctors or staff members? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for your first appointment your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Thank you,
-The Gentle Dental Associates of Ann Arbor, MI

Brandon Describes His Sessions with Dr. Peele at Gentle Dental Associates

Do you suffer from dental anxiety? Take a look at this video of one of our patients, Brandon, who shares his struggle with dental anxiety, and how Dr. Peele has worked to help overcome these fears. Brandon has had dental fears since he was a child, and Dr. Peele has worked to help him release these fears through conversation, hypnosis, and other mental exercises. Brandon has been kind enough to share his journey at Gentle Dental Associates in this video, and we are excited to share it with you.

Gentle Dental Associates are Going Green!

At Gentle Dental Associates, we care about making the world a better, happier place, and we know that you do too. We want to take this opportunity to share the many approaches we take to ensure that we have a healthy and safe environment both in our practice and outside in the world.

Our office recycles all paper, plastic and glass. We have done this for three years because Ann Arbor offers curbside recycling so it requires just a little more organizing. We are careful to make sure that all HIPPA protected information is shredded before it is recycled. All of our radiographs are digital and this change was implemented two years ago. We are currently in the process of becoming paperless. This plan is being implemented in phases and is expected to be complete within a year.

Finally, we offer our patients the option to pay their bill online to further reduce the need for paper and postage delivery of their payments. Besides causing less impact on the environment, Being green also makes financial sense, and has resulted in better and safer services for our patients.

What efforts have you taken in your own life to be greener and more sustainable? We'd love to hear about them!