Bobby J. Carmen, DDS Blog

Busy Lifestyle? With CEREC that’s Not a Problem

March 23, 2012

Filed under: CEREC Crowns,General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 7:05 pm

People avoid the dentist for a variety of reasons. In some cases, it’s because of dental anxiety. In others, it’s because a condition that makes sitting in dental chairs for long periods uncomfortable. But for still others, the reason has more to do with a busy lifestyle than anything else.

Despite how busy you may be, though, your smile is important. And one way Dr. Carmen is making life easier for busy patients is with CEREC same-day crowns. With CEREC, it’s possible for Dr. Carmen to design, mill, and place a restoration in a single visit.

Traditional crowns, on the other hand, can take two, sometimes three visits. First, the doctor has to prep your smile and place a temporary crown. Then, you have to come back to have your new crown placed.

But what if something happens to your temporary crown in the meantime? Let’s say it cracks, or it falls apart. That can mean coming back in for an unscheduled visit.

CEREC makes it possible to do everything we need in one appointment with us.

If you’re a busy professional who’s been putting off treatment, call our Norman dental office to schedule a visit with Dr. Carmen. We serve patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Let Dr. Carmen simplify your life with CEREC same-day crowns!

What Is a Smile Makeover?

February 29, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 6:31 pm

As February turns into March, warmer weather is on the way. And with this warmer weather comes thoughts of heading outdoors and enjoying the sunshine.

There are a lot of ways you can prepare for this welcome change, and one of them is with a smile makeover from Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office.

What is a smile makeover, exactly?

It’s a combination of cosmetic dentistry services designed to help you achieve your brightest, most dazzling smile possible.

When planning a smile makeover, Dr. Carmen will take a range of factors into consideration, including aspects like tooth color, tooth length, tooth alignment, and tooth integrity.

Based on what we find from a thorough oral exam, we can then recommend which services we think will benefit you the most. For some, that may just be teeth whitening. For others, we may recommend a combination of two or more services, like teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.

Are you ready to get started on a smile makeover for this spring or summer? Call our office to schedule a consultation. Dr. Carmen serves patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and beyond.  During your visit, we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about our services and how they can help you boost your smile.

A Reminder about the Body’s Smile-Heart Connection from Dr. Carmen

February 17, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:51 pm

Valentine’s Day may be over, but it’s not too late to draw attention to the relationship between your smile and your heart (or between your smile and your overall health for that matter). The two are deeply connected, tied to one another by gum disease.

The trouble starts when bacteria and plaque irritate the gums, causing inflammation and the development of pockets between the teeth and gums. From these pockets, it’s possible for bacteria and plaque to gain access to other parts of the body, including the heart.

How gum disease contributes to heart disease is still a little bit of a mystery, but one theory explains it this way: As bacteria and plaque irritate the heart’s arterial walls, protective plaque is produced, blocking blood flow in the process and eventually causing a heart attack.

One way you can protect your smile (and your body) is with regular dental visits to Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office. Regular visits aren’t a guarantee against heart disease, but they do provide an extra layer of protection for patients who want to support their overall health.

Is it time to schedule your next visit with us? Call our office to schedule one. Dr. Carmen treats patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Stop Bruxism Before It Leads To TMJ Dysfunction

January 19, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:02 pm

Bruxism is another name for a problem you may be dealing with everyday without knowing it—teeth grinding. More specifically, bruxism can involve grinding your teeth back and forth across each other, or just clenching your jaw.

Often, what prompts this is stress. It’s almost like a natural reaction and is something you can do unconsciously without thinking about too much.

That’s especially the case when you sleep. Patients who have trouble with bruxism often have the greatest trouble at night, when it’s impossible to consciously stop the grinding or clenching.

How Can I Know If I Have Bruxism?

Only a diagnosis from a dentist like Dr. Carmen can tell you for sure, but some symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Neck, back, and shoulder pain
  • Earaches
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Insomnia

With a thorough oral exam from Dr. Carmen at our Norman dental office, we can help you identify whether or not your painful symptoms are being caused by bruxism.

Why Is It Important To Treat Bruxism?

Treating bruxism is important because, if left untreated, it can lead to TMJ dysfunction. Both have painful symptoms and can significantly damage your teeth.

If you want to save your smile from serious damage and find a way to alleviate your painful symptoms, call our Norman office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carmen. Our dental office serves patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Get the New Year Started with a Visit to Dr. Carmen’s Norman Office

January 6, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 7:46 pm

We’re about a full week into 2012, but many people are still thinking about New Year’s resolutions. If you’re one of them, consider making a New Year’s smile resolution.

What might a New Year’s smile resolution involve?

First, take a close look at your daily brushing and flossing regimen. Keeping your smile healthy means brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, and gargling with an anti-bacterial mouthwash at least once.

But beyond regular brushing and flossing, an important part of New Year’s smile resolution involves coming into Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office for regular visits. When you come in for your January visit (or any other visit), Dr. Carmen will inspect your smile for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ dysfunction, bruxism, and oral cancer.

This kind of comprehensive approach to dentistry lets Dr. Carmen provide preventive care that is more comfortable and conservative, benefiting the patient in every way.

As more and more studies are showing, a direct link exists between a patient’s overall health and the health of his or her smile. In particular, poor gum health has been shown to share a connection with diabetic complications, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, premature birth, and heart disease.

To schedule your first visit of the year with Dr. Carmen, call our Norman office today. We serve patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Merry Christmas, From All of Us at Dr. Carmen’s Norman Office

December 21, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 9:55 pm

Christmas is a time for presents, for sharing of yourself with loved ones, and for indulging in your favorite holiday treats.

It’s important, of course, not to indulge too much over the holidays, but what are celebrations for if not for indulging just a little?

So while Dr. Carmen and all the rest of us at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office hope that you’ll remember to brush and floss just like you always do, what’s more important to us is that our patients from Norman, the University of Oklahoma, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas enjoy all that Christmas and the New Year have to offer.

And if you’d like to go ahead and get a jump on your first visit for next year, we’d be happy to go ahead and set up your next appointment with Dr. Carmen. Just a quick call is all it takes.

Choose Dental Implant Dentures from Dr. Carmen Instead of Dentures

December 12, 2011

Filed under: Dental Implants — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:24 pm

Do you need to replace either your top or bottom teeth with a row of full dentures? If so, have you considered choosing implant-supported dentures over traditional dentures?

While traditional dentures can help patients improve their appearance and even enjoy improvements in functionality, there are three reasons why you should ask Dr. Carmen if implant-supported dentures are right for you.

First, implant-supported dentures can provide you stronger, more natural bite than is possible with traditional dentures. Making this possible is the natural bonding process that occurs between your implants and your jaw over time as they gradually take on the job that your natural tooth roots previously had.

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Air Abrasion from Dr. Carmen Is a Comfortable, Conservative Alternative to Drilling

November 18, 2011

Filed under: Technology — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 2:39 pm

For some patients, what’s aggravating about a trip to the dentist isn’t getting a shot or having to hold their mouths open, it’s the drill, whether the whiny sound it makes, the smoky smell it produces, or the vibrations it causes.

That’s why, in many cases, Dr. Carmen’s Norman office uses air abrasion instead of a traditional dental drill. While a traditional dental drill uses a needle to remove decay or prepare a tooth for a filling, air abrasion uses a high-pressure stream of aluminum oxide particles.

What that means for patients is a quieter, more comfortable experience that works for adults and children alike. Dr. Carmen may even be able to complete your appointment without using an anesthetic.

But there’s one more benefit of air abrasion to consider, and that is that air abrasion is a conservative approach. What that means is that air abrasion lets Dr. Carmen preserve more of your natural tooth structure. This benefits your oral health, as the more of your natural tooth structure we’re able to preserve, the longer you can enjoy your natural smile.

Want to Find Out More About Air Abrasion?

If you have questions for us about air abrasion or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carmen, call our Norman office today. We serve patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Dr. Carmen’s Office Also Mills Inlays and Onlays in One Visit with CEREC

November 4, 2011

Filed under: CEREC Crowns — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 9:03 pm

If you know anything about CEREC, you know that with a CEREC machine, Dr. Carmen can mill brand new, all-porcelain crowns in about one hour. But what you may not know is that we can do more with CEREC than just crowns. Our CEREC machine also lets us mill inlays and onlays.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Like crowns, inlays and onlays are used to restore teeth damaged by decay or other kinds of damage. But here’s the difference. While a crown restores an entire tooth, inlays and onlays are designed to specifically for situations where a crown would be overkill, but a filling wouldn’t be enough.

More specifically, inlays are used to restore the space in between a tooth’s cusps, which are tooth’s curved edges, while onlays actually fit over one or more cusp.

Because we can mill them right in our Norman office, only one visit is required to complete your procedure. And, because inlays and onlays let you retain more of your natural tooth structure than a filling would, they can actually help you prolong the life of your tooth.

Want To Know More About Inlays and Onlays from Dr. Carmen?

Call our Norman office to schedule a consultation visit with Dr. Carmen. He’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about an inlay/onlay procedure, or any of our other services.

Get in touch with us today! We serve patients from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

You Can Make Your Child’s Halloween Cavity-Free with Xylitol Candy

October 21, 2011

Filed under: General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 3:36 pm

Halloween’s just a little over a week away now, and if you have little ones, you know how much they’re looking forward to the big day. You, on the other hand, just wish there was a way you could get them through the night without ruining their teeth.

Well, there is.

With xylitol candy, you can help your child stay cavity-free without dampening their trick-or-treat spirit.

The Benefits of Xylitol

Xylitol comes from the fibers of fruits and vegetables. It’s low in calories, low in carbohydrates, and has been used as for years as a sweetener, especially in sweets for diabetics. But its biggest benefit is in the way it interacts with teeth.

Unlike traditional sugar, which gives bacteria energy to feed on by breaking down, xylitol doesn’t break down. It also promotes a healthy pH level in the mouth and makes it more difficult for bacteria to stick to teeth, meaning that it actually protects smiles from cavities.

But where can you find xylitol candy?

Some online options include xlear.com, zappgum.com, and Amazon, but with a little research you may be able to find just what you’re looking for at your nearest health foods store.

Want to know more about xylitol candy, or how you can help your child have a cavity-free Halloween? Visit xylitol.org or give Dr. Carmen’s Norman office a call today. We serve patients from the University of Oklahoma, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

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