Introducing: Total Facial Esthetic Services for Our Patients!

Our never-ending thirst for knowledge and the ability to offer our patients the best possible range of treatments continues here at KL Family Dental, LLC. From the day we entered dental school 24 years ago, we learned two things in great depth:

First, how to gently use a needle to administer local anesthetic. Who knows this better than your own dentist, who performs these procedures dozens of times every week?

Second, we did a year-long, in-depth dissection and study of facial muscles, nerves, and arteries. We quickly became conversant in muscle names like frontalis, temporalis, masseter and levator labii superioris alaque nasi. (Wow, try saying that three times fast!) What we were studying and learning intimately were muscles: the ones that lifted our brows, that caused our jaw to move, and that gave our lips the ability to rise as we smiled.

Now, in our never-ending efforts to widen our services, keep up with technological changes, and perform particular procedures as well (if not better!) than any other health care provider, we at KL Family Dental, LLC  are offering therapeutic and cosmetic uses of Botox and dermal fillers.

As you’re reading this, you may wonder if we’re still focusing on being the best possible general  healthcare provider that we can be for our patients. The answer is a 100% resounding yes! We have invested considerable time and expense to offer these services at a world-class level. We’ve become members of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics and continue to study and deepen our skill set to provide these services in the best way possible.

A couple questions:

1. Who knows and understands better how a properly balanced and healthy smile should look? For instance, where does a smile end…with the teeth? With the lips? With the “smile lines” around the mouth? With the way your smile lines around your eyes look when you smile?
2. Who knows better how to offer total facial esthetics?

The answer: the same person who studied proper injection techniques as well as the  mechanisms and actions of all the facial muscles…your dentist!

What you’re witnessing now is one of the fastest-growing trends in dentistry and medicine. What we’re offering are world-class facial esthetic and therapeutic injectable services.

It makes perfect sense when you stop and think about it…if you had a crystal ball and could gaze 5 years into the future, you would realize that KL Family Dental, LLC was just way ahead of the pack.

Isn’t that the type of person you would want as your dental health care provider? One who is constantly looking to further their skill set and depth of knowledge and procedures? At KL Family Dental, LLC we’re thrilled to be able to offer these services on a daily basis in the best and most thoroughly mapped-out way.

Stay tuned for more information about specific esthetic services we'll be offering!
Dr. Lora Riccolo & Dr. Karyn Swade

How To Choose a Toothbrush

               

If you’ve ever walked down the dental hygiene aisle at the grocery store, then you know that there are many different options of toothbrushes available. Choices like electric, manual, flexible handle, narrow head and more make for a difficult decision in the toothbrush buying process, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. How do you know what the best toothbrush is for you? Are certain toothbrushes better than others? If you’re looking for a new toothbrush, keep reading for some tips on how to make the decision that is right for you.

Choosing a Toothbrush

When looking for a toothbrush, there are two main things to take into consideration: the size of the head and the hardness of the bristles. For size, it is important that the brush can easily access all surfaces of the teeth. Most adults use a head half an inch wide and 1 inch tall. Bigger toothbrushes are available, but may be harder to use and prevent the brush from effectively reaching all the teeth. If you are unsure of what brush size to get, look for an age recommendation on the package. Getting a toothbrush that is age specific will help ensure that it is the right size for you.

Toothbrushes also come with different types of bristles: hard, medium, and soft. Most people find the soft bristles to be the most comfortable. Soft bristles are also recommended by dentists as medium and hard bristles can damage the gums and enamel. In addition to using a brush with soft bristles, try to find bristles that are round-tipped as well. This will be the safest and most comfortable option.

Electric vs. Manual

A common question many people have when buying a new toothbrush is whether or not an electric toothbrush is more effective than a manual toothbrush. The truth is that both manual and electric toothbrushes are equally effective in cleaning teeth. The real difference is in the ease of use – electric toothbrushes are somewhat easier to use. Electric toothbrushes are also often preferred by children, because they are more fun to use, so you may consider going the electric route if your child needs some encouragement brushing.

Other Considerations

When buying a toothbrush, there are other factors you may want to consider as well.

Handle

• Straight: toothbrushes with straight handles are easy to control
• Angled: angled handles assist in reaching hard to clean areas
• Non-slip grip: prevents the toothbrush from slipping while brushing
• Flexible: flexible handles help reduce gum injury from over brushing 

Head Shape

• Conventional/rectangular: effectively reaches every tooth
• Tapered/diamond: narrower and easier to reach posterior teeth

Bristle Style

• Flat: all bristles are the same length
• Rippled/wavy/V-shaped: better contact with areas around the tooth
• Multilevel trim: reaches hard to clean areas
• “Polishing up”: helpful in removing surface stains

Toothbrush handles, head shapes, and bristle styles all serve different purposes, so no one is better than another. These choices should be based on personal preference.

Top Electric Toothbrushes

If you decide to go for an electric toothbrush, check out one from this list of top electric toothbrushes.

1. Phillips Sonicare Flexcare Plus Toothbrush System: With two different speeds, two types of heads, and a built in timer, many sources agree that this is the best toothbrush you can get because of its ease of use.
2. Oral-B 5000 ProfessionalCare SmartSeries Electric Toothbrush: This toothbrush also comes with a built-in timer, and has four different modes with pulsating and oscillating actions. It is also rechargeable, so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of batteries.
3. Phillips Sonicare HX9332/05 Diamonclean rechargeable Toothbrush: This toothbrush is the only dental tool you need! Healthier gums in just 2 weeks. Whitens teeth.in 1 week. Charging glass and USB travel case included.
4. Oral B Professional Healthy Clean + Sensitive Gum Care Precision 3000 Rechargeable Toothbrush: Specially designed to be gentle yet powerful, this toothbrush removes plaque in a way that increases efficiency and decreases inconvenience. Healthier gums in just 30 days.
5. Phillips Sonicare HX6733/70 Healthy White 3 mode Premium Edition Rechargeable Toothbrush:           Highly effective in removing stains in addition to plaque, this toothbrush also comes with a specially designed head that helps keep toothpaste on the brush. 2 brush heads with sanitizer and travel case included.

You may also want to look for a toothbrush with ADA Seal of Approval to ensure an effective toothbrush. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months or once they are worn out. If you have any questions about what kind of toothbrush to use, talk to your dentist. They will be able to best determine which type of toothbrush would best fit your dental needs.

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Happy Tooth Fairy Day!

Found in the Chicago Tribune this morning:

The average gift left for kids who lost a tooth was up 15 percent last year, from $2.10 in 2011 to $2.42 in 2012, according to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, sponsored by Delta Dental. The most common gift was $1, received by 51 percent of those surveyed.

The poll found that the tooth fairy visited 90 percent of homes with children who lost a tooth and that in 46 percent of homes the first tooth a child lost commanded more money than did subsequent teeth. The average amount left for a first lost tooth was $3.49, according to the poll.

(See the original article here.)

Dental Health and Sports Nutrition

Whether we are hardcore athletes, exercise fanatics, or even exercise a couple times a week, what motivates us is the health benefits we get from exercise.  As a result, the reward is a healthier body and mind.  We can maximize our performance by eating and sleeping right, however, what we eat can have a negative effect on our teeth.

The bacteria that harbor in our mouth use sugar as a readily available energy source to produce acid that eventually causes a cavity in the tooth.  The more sugar, the more bacteria will thrive and the more teeth that can be affected.  But it is important to know, during strenuous exercise, we usually breathe through our mouths, producing a dry-mouth.  Once the amount of saliva is decreased, the oral environment becomes even more susceptible to the growth of bacteria.  Since exercise can occur everyday for many people, the decay-causing event will occur day after day.

Be aware of the following things that we eat and drink that can promote tooth decay:
     -Sport drinks
     -Gummy and sticky sports candy, i.e. Bloks and Beans
     -Tablets
     -Energy bars
     -Cookies and wafers
 
Although we aren't going to forego the nutrition that we need while in pursuit of our sport or exercise goals, and no one would recommend that,  here are some suggestions and recommendations:

1.  Carry a bottle of pure water while your exercising.  Rinse with water after eating or drinking something sugary.
2.  Wait 30 minutes after the intake of sports drinks before brushing.  The acid in the drink can cause a temporary softening of the tooth surface.  The tooth is now more susceptible to abrasive wear from the toothbrush bristles and toothpaste.  Your own saliva needs some time to neutralize the acid.
3.  The use of xylitol-containing products (like gum or mints) help inhibit the growth of bacteria and can
help relieve dryness in the mouth through the increase of salivary production.
4.  And of course, get regular dental check-ups and exams.  Based on your eating habits, we at K&L Family Dental can always recommend nutritional advise, or an appropriate fluoride treatment to help preserve your teeth in the pursuit of your sport!

Please visit us at www.klfamilydental.com or call 630-653-7700 with any questions.

A Better Dental Visit

One of the things we hear over and over from our patients is that they " hate feeling numb" when they are done at the dental office.  Here at K&L Family Dental, we take great pride in staying on the leading-edge of dental technologies, materials, and techniques. That is why we use "The Wand"- a lightweight, pen-like device that eliminates injection discomfort and pain.

Studies show that 50% of people experience some anxiety when they visit the dentist and 40 million people who are classified as "dental phobics"-who avoid any kind of dental care altogether.  The Wand,also know as the STA(Single Tooth Anesthetic) , helps us deliver local anesthetic effectively, quickly, and practically painlessly.  With this revolutionary device, the flow rate is controlled by the computer to distribute the anesthetic between the ligament and the tooth.  The liquid flows around the tooth to the nerve and numbs the tooth, so that the dentist can start working right away.  No more numb lip. tongue , nose or cheek!

Many dentists don't use the technology because they don't want to take the time to learn something new and are comfortable delivering anesthetic the way they've been doing so for years.  Many dentists feel they give painless injections, and they do, but The Wand allows our patients to walk out of the office feeling just as comfortable as when he or she walked in!

Not only do our adult patients enjoy going right back to work or having a meal right after their appointment, but this technology is wonderful for our young patients.  Many young patients can have trauma from biting their lower lip or cheek while feeling numb.  Many patients are numb for hours after they leave the dental office which makes having any kind of meal or snack very difficult.  The overall dental experience is very positive for our young patients and their concerning parents.

We do have to tell our patients that for a few days after the appointment the tooth and gums around the tooth may be sore.  You may also notice that the tooth can be slightly tender to chewing for a day.  Overall, the response to the The Wand has been remarkable.  Patients love it!

One of our greatest objectives at K&L Family Dental is to ensure our patients comfort and satisfaction with every service we provide.  The Wand helps us do that. If you have any questions about the STA, or any other dental questions, please don't hesitate to call our office and visit us at www.klfamilydental.com