Bobby J. Carmen, DDS Blog

Complete Dental Implant Procedures from Dr. Carmen

May 11, 2012

Filed under: Dental Implants — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:05 pm

As a dentist for the Norman area, Dr. Carmen is committed to providing comprehensive dental care. Whether you’re looking for general, cosmetic, or restorative care, Dr. Carmen wants to see that you’re taken care of in exactly the way you need to be. That’s why we offer complete dental implant procedures at our Norman office.

Throughout his career, Dr. Carmen has completed extensive continuing education in implant dentistry to ensure that he can provide his patients with the excellent care. As a result, he’s able to place and restore dental implants, all in one location: his Norman dental office.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

As a popular restorative option for more than 30 years, dental implants work by mimicking a tooth’s natural structure, replacing both your tooth and your tooth root.

Here’s what you can expect from your procedure.

During the first phase of your procedure, Dr. Carmen will place your implant(s) right in his Norman dental office. Then, after your implant has had time to bond with your jaw, you’ll return to our office to have your crown, bridge, or denture restored, resulting in a restored smile that feels strong and natural.

Want To Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about dental implants, call our office to schedule a consultation visit. Our office is conveniently located near The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, and Central Oklahoma.

Is Bruxism Keeping You From Smiling?

April 30, 2012

Filed under: Bruxism — Tags: , , , — admin @ 4:08 pm

Do you struggle with frequent headaches, earaches, or jaw pain? Do you sometimes catch yourself clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth after a stressful day?

Teeth grinding or clenching is known as bruxism and is a natural reaction to stress. But as natural as it might be, the constant pressure and motion of bruxism can seriously harm your smile, causing surface wear and eventually serious dental trouble. What’s more, untreated bruxism can also lead to TMJ dysfunction, insomnia, eating disorders, and depression. Which is why, at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office, we can help you treat bruxism with a nightguard.

What Is a Nightguard?

A nightguard is an oral appliance you wear while you sleep, when unconscious teeth grinding is most common. They are designed to stop teeth from grinding and clenching, and can be custom-made to fit your exact needs. There is more than one type of nightguard, and if one doesn’t work, we can help you find another that might.

In addition to creating a custom-made nightguard for you, Dr. Carmen can also recommend relaxation techniques that will help you manage and alleviate stress, although, for many patients, a nightguard is all it takes to erase symptoms of bruxism.

Let Dr. Carmen Help You Smile Again

If you live in Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, or near The University of Oklahoma, Dr. Carmen can help you treat bruxism. Give us a call today if you’d like to schedule an appointment with us. We look forward to seeing you!

Tooth-Colored Fillings—A Cosmetic Twist on Restorative Dentistry

March 30, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:15 am

When you hear your dentist mention fillings, do you immediately think of grayish-black amalgam fillings?

Some offices may still use amalgam fillings to treat decay, but not Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office. Here, we use tooth-colored fillings to restore smiles and change lives. You might think of them as a cosmetic twist on an important restorative dentistry service.

The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings, also known as composite fillings, aren’t made of metals, the way that amalgams are. That means that, unlike amalgams, they won’t change shape over time or become brittle and crack, allowing for bacterial reinvasion. Instead, they’ll remain strong and supportive for years to come, preserving your natural tooth structure in the process.

And what’s more, tooth-colored fillings can be shaded to exactly match the color of your teeth. Instead of standing out and causing you to feel self-conscious about your smile, they’ll blend right now. No one but you and Dr. Carmen will ever have to know you have them.

Do you need fillings? Don’t put off treatment any longer. Call Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office today to schedule an appointment with us. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about tooth-colored fillings 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.

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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