Our practice is committed to providing you and your family with safe, gentle, high-quality dental care. We understand that you, or your child, may feel anxious about visiting the dentist. We are sensitive to your needs, and it is our goal to make you feel comfortable visiting our practice while providing the best care possible.

During your first visit, we will review your dental and medical history forms, and take X-rays of your teeth and mouth. Then, the doctor will meet with you to discuss your X-rays, help you create your own individual treatment plan, and answer any questions that you may have. At your next visit, one of our hygienists will clean and polish your teeth, checking your teeth and gums for any cavities or early signs of tooth decay or gingivitis.

You've heard of dental fillings and crowns, but have you heard of inlays and onlays? In the past, dental crowns were always the go-to solution for restoring teeth too damaged to be repaired with fillings. But today, there are intermediary options: Inlays and Onlays.

Inlays and onlays (also known as indirect fillings) are strong, durable tooth restorations that are custom made to repair a tooth, and are great options for restoring teeth with medium to large cavities. Large fillings will actually weaken a tooths structure, which greatly increases the risk of the tooth breaking, cracking, and eventually requiring further and more complicated treatment like root canal therapy. And though dental crowns are strong and durable, they always require a significant amount of tooth structure removal in order to fit the crown over the existing tooth, even if a lot of healthy tooth structure exists.

Inlays fill the space in between a tooths cusps (the raised portions on the biting surfaces of teeth) and are used to repair teeth that have decay or damage between the cusps. If damage is too widespread or deep for a simple filling but does not affect the cusps, an inlay may be recommended.

Onlays spread over a tooths cusps and lay on the top of the tooth, molded to restore the shape and structure of the tooth. If patients have a chipped, broken, or decayed area of a tooth that includes one or more cusps, an onlay may be recommended.

During the first visit, your dentist will prepare your damaged tooth, take an impression, and place a temporary filling to protect the treated tooth. Between your two dental visits, the dental impression is sent to a dental lab to create the indirect filling, which is usually crafted from shade-matched porcelain. During the second visit, the temporary filling is removed and the custom-made indirect filling is cemented into place, resulting in a strong, beautifully natural looking restored tooth.

While inlays and onlays tend to cost slightly more than traditional fillings, they are a great investment due to their longevity, strength, stain resistance, and natural appearance. Patients who practice good oral hygiene (flossing and brushing daily) usually see their indirect filling last 10-20 years or longer.

If you have a damaged or decayed tooth and seek to be conservative in your dental care meaning that you prefer solutions that preserve the maximum amount of natural tooth structure while maintaining the form and function of your bite - inlays and onlays could be the perfect choice for you.

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National Tooth Fairy Day is February 28th! Healthy baby teeth are so important for a young childs health and development they aid young childrens digestion, speech and social development; they help the jaw and other facial features develop properly; and they guide adult teeth into the correct positions. If a childs baby teeth are decayed, or lost or pulled too early, the child may suffer from difficulties in development as well as crooked adult teeth and other dental problems later on.

That said, baby teeth are meant to be temporary, and even the healthiest baby teeth give way to permanent, adult teeth eventually. Losing their first teeth can be a big deal for young children, and it is sometimes a confusing and frightening experience. Were here to help you make it a fun, exciting and educational time instead! Lets brush up on a quick history of the tooth fairy, and how to celebrate #ToothFairyDay!

Like many figures of childrens folklore, the Tooth Fairy varies according to country and culture. In the U.S. and Canada, the Tooth Fairy is often depicted as a small fairy with a wand and wings. But in Spain, France and Belgium, the tooth fairy is a sweet mouse who collects lost baby teeth in exchange for a small gift!

The Tooth Fairy has origins as far back as 13th century England, when people paid for baby teeth because they symbolized good luck and prosperity. But the first known reference to the modern childrens folklore figure of the Tooth Fairy dates over a hundred years ago, to a 1908 Household Hints blurb in the Chicago Tribune, as follows:

Tooth Fairy. Many a refractory child will allow a loose tooth to be removed if he knows about the Tooth Fairy. If he takes his little tooth and puts it under the pillow when he goes to bed the Tooth Fairy will come in the night and take it away, and in its place will leave some little gift. It is a nice plan for mothers to visit the 5-cent counter and lay in a supply of articles to be used on such occasions.

The Tooth Fairy that we are familiar with is at least 114 years old -- quite young compared to other childrens mythological figures. For example, the Easter Bunny is believed to be over 400 years old, and Santa Claus is over 1750 years old!

#FunFact: Tooth Fairy Day is so nice its celebrated twice on February 28th and six months later, on August 22nd. This special holiday is observed twice a year in order to encourage good and consistent dental habits for children all year round!

Children typically lose baby teeth between the ages of 6 and 12, but the schedule for losing baby teeth can be unpredictable and varies according to each child. Make sure to plan ahead of time and have small bills on hand for when your child does lose a tooth and some fun, small token for your child, like a lost tooth certificate!

Losing baby teeth should be an exciting, fun time for both children and parents. It is also a great opportunity to teach young children good dental hygiene habits. Teaching your child to keep their teeth clean and healthy by brushing and flossing daily might seem like a small thing, but it is an invaluable routine that will benefit them for their entire lives! Have a very Happy Tooth Fairy Day!

#happytoothfairyday #toothfairy #babyteeth #kidsdentist #childrensdentist #familydentist #bestdentist #cosmeticdentistry #emergencydentist #dentalimplant #affordabledental #generaldentistry #auburnwa #shaunleedds