Cosmetic Dentistry in Norman, OK

November 30, 2014

porcelain veneersIf your smile doesn’t make you happy, then perhaps you should consider cosmetic dentistry. Unlike traditional dentistry that focuses on the health of your mouth, teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry addresses the appearance of your smile. Under the overall heading of cosmetic dentistry, there are a number of treatment options for you to consider. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Bobby J. Carmen and his staff in Norman, OK, will be happy to consult with you to find the cosmetic dental treatment that will give a smile guaranteed to make you happy.

Your Cosmetic Dentistry Choices

The first step toward your new and improved smile is a smile makeover consultation with Dr. Carmen. Our office takes a comprehensive approach to smile makeovers, making sure your teeth and mouth are healthy before beginning any cosmetic treatments. Once your best oral health is confirmed, Dr. Carmen will recommend the cosmetic treatment best suited to your unique situation. These may include:

Teeth Whitening—to remove surface stains and reveal a whiter smile, we offer the KOR™ Whitening at-home teeth whitening system. You’ll simply wear the custom-fitted trays and professional grade whitening gel for the time Dr. Carmen specifies, and you’ll see a whiter smile in a few days.

Cosmetic Bonding—for a tooth with a slight imperfection, such as a chip or minor misalignment, Dr. Carmen may recommend one-appointment bonding. A tooth-colored composite resin is applied to the tooth and hardened with a curing light. Once hardened, Dr. Carmen will sculpt and polish the restoration.

Porcelain Veneers—for more seriously stained, chipped or misaligned teeth, there are porcelain veneers, which are thin layers of dental porcelain that Dr. Carmen adheres to your teeth. Porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental lab to specifications designed to best enhance your unique smile and face.

Cosmetic Gum Lift—if your smile shows too much gum and not enough teeth, then a gum lift can uncover the tooth structure that is hidden beneath that overgrown soft tissue. Excess gum tissue is precisely removed and after a short recovery, you’ll have a happy smile to show the world!

Schedule an Appointment Today

To learn more about the possibilities of cosmetic dentistry, call the office of Dr. Bobby J. Carmen in Norman, OK. We also conveniently serve patients in Del City, Moore, the University of Oklahoma and throughout central Oklahoma.

Dr. Bobby Carmen: Your General Dentist in Norman, OK

November 15, 2014

shutterstock_94075012Whether you need a routine teeth cleaning or a more specialized treatment, Dr. Bobby J. Carmen is the general dentist in Norman, OK, with the training and experience to handle your dental needs. As a general dentist, Dr. Carmen treats children, teens, adults and seniors. You’ll be pleased to know that since graduating from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, Dr. Carmen has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education in order to stay up-to-date with the latest dental skills and techniques.

General Dentistry Services

The old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure was probably never more applicable than it is with general dentistry. As a general dentist, Dr. Carmen can, of course, treat any dental or oral health problems that may arise. More importantly, however, he works to prevent those problems from ever happening. For example, everyone over the age of three should have a professional teeth cleaning at least twice per year. At these appointments, our gentle hygienists will not only clean and polish your teeth, they’ll carefully examine your gums for any signs of periodontal disease. If necessary, x-rays of your teeth will be taken to see any tooth decay that is invisible to the naked eye.

Beyond this basic general dentistry service, our office also provides periodontal (gum disease) therapy, athletic mouthguards, snore guards for sleep apnea and TMJ therapy. If we do find signs of gum disease at a check-up, then there are methods of treatment we can use in-office to improve the condition of your gums, teeth and supporting bone tissue. Athletic mouthguards are a must if you or anyone in your family participates in sports. A mouthguard fits over your teeth and helps protect your smile as well as your lips, tongue, face and jaw.

A snore guard is a custom oral appliance that keeps airways open to eliminate lapses in breathing due to sleep apnea and stop snoring. Likewise, Dr. Carmen can treat TMJ dysfunction with a custom fitted oral appliance that will alleviate the painful symptoms associated with TMJ.

Call Our Office Today

If you need an appointment with a Norman, OK, general dentist, call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen. We also serve patients in Moore, Del City, the University of Oklahoma and throughout central Oklahoma.

The Role of Fluoride in Your Dental Health with Dr. Bobby J. Carmen

May 18, 2014

shutterstock_146473019Fluoride plays an essential role in the health of our teeth, strengthening our enamel and preventing tooth decay. Understanding the way that fluoride benefits you is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. At the Norman, OK office of Dr. Bobby J. Carmen, our team helps patients keep their teeth strong and healthy with a variety of general dentistry services, including fluoride treatments when needed.

How Does Fluoride Affect Oral Health?

Fluoride can be found in a variety of ways, both naturally in the foods that you eat and in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwashes. Your dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in order to further strengthen them. Fluoride diminishes plaque’s ability to form on the teeth, thereby reducing the patient’s risk of developing gum disease. Additionally, it actually promotes remineralization of the enamel, effectively reversing the earliest stages of tooth decay before cavities form.

While it is certainly most critical that patients between the ages of six months and 16 years receive a sufficient amount of fluoride to prevent serious decay, adults can definitely benefit from it as well. If your diet doesn’t include a lot of fluoride-rich foods, talk to Dr. Carmen about fluoride treatments.

Lifelong Dental Health

Whether you are the parent looking for the best ways to keep your child’s smile healthy and strong, or you’re an adult patient with questions about how fluoride may help protect your teeth, our team is here to help. Contact our office in Norman, OK today and schedule your appointment with Dr. Carmen and our caring, experienced staff. Our family-friendly dental practice happily welcomes patients from throughout the surrounding areas of Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, Del City, and beyond. We look forward to partnering with you on your journey toward lifelong oral health and wellness!

Air Abrasion: A Safe Alternative Without a Drill!

November 21, 2012

Has the sound or sight of a drill kept you away from visiting your dentist? You’re not alone. It’s hard not to forget the piercing sounds, smelling the burning and seeing the smoke. Even worse, the pain of lying helpless in a chair during the procedure. Ease those fears and forget those horror stories with the wonderful option of air abrasion!

Dr. Carmen and his excellent staff have the means and the technology to give you a relatively painless experience with air abrasion. As a popular option in children’s dentistry, the option works just as well for adults. There’s no shame or embarrassment here. It’s completely normal to have anxiety about a procedure of this magnitude, but you shouldn’t let important dental work fall to the wayside.

Here’s how it works:

  • Your tooth (or teeth) is sprayed with a steady stream of aluminum oxide particles
  • By going this route, the chances of chipping or fracturing are very small.
  • Your teeth are not subjected to vibrations, heat, or sound like what you find with a drill.
  • There is little or no need for anesthetic.
  • The procedure is brief, so multiple or all your spots can be taken care in one visit.

Your oral health is important, and air abrasion can also help with the following:

  • Removal of old composite restorations
  • Preparation for a sealant
  • Removal of stains

Imagine the power of dental work in only a few minutes without the pain, and especially without the fear of a drill. Dr. Carmen and his team are happy to answer any questions you have about air abrasion. Call our office to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.