Tag: Dr. Tim Brooks

Smiles in the Sun Conference

Smiles for LifeOur entire team attended a conference in Long Boat Key, Florida titled “Smiles in the Sun” from April 13th to April 16th. The conference was incredible and jam packed with the newest technologies and products. We are all excited to implement some of the new products and services that improve our results and make dental visits more pleasant for you, our patients.

The Numbee

One such product is The Numbee, a needleless anesthetic that is great for people of all ages, especially children. It allows us to numb the tooth without injecting into the tissue. The anesthetic is soaked in between the tooth and the gum tissue using a plastic tip to deliver the anesthetic.

Denta Light

Another is the Denta Light oral cancer screening system. Denta Light is a handheld wand that uses a fluorescent light to detect abnormal cells in the mouth. Abnormal cells reflect a color change under this light. This will allow us to do a cancer exam at every cleaning and exam visit.

These are just a couple of the technologies we are implementing. Our entire team continues to improve our knowledge and skills to better serve you!

Bright Smile

Invisalign Braces

Do you want Straight teeth without wearing traditional braces that include brackets and wires?

If so, Invisalign may be for  you!

Since invisalign came on the market in 1997 over two million people have taken advantage of this opportunity. Due to the nature of the invisalign aligners being clear and custom form fitting to the teeth, very few people will even notice that they are being worn.

The aligners can be removed to eat and for cleaning the teeth, but ideally should be worn for 20-22 hours a day.  Very little if any difference in speech is noted and if so only temporarily.

Typically invisalign is faster than traditional orthodontics and for many can take as little as 6 to 18 months depending on the amount of movement needed.  The difference is the treatment cycles.  Invisalign aligners are replaced with new ones every two weeks while traditional braces are adjusted every 4-6 weeks.

Invisalign is an option for many people, but not for severe cases of crowded teeth.  However, if you are interested in knowing your options, complimentary consultations are typically available.

Dental Health Insurance

American Heart Health Month

February is American Heart Health Month, and we want to help build awareness of how important it is to maintain the health of your heart. We use this time to address the fact that heart disease remains the number one killer of both women and men in the United States.

There are many risk factors such as getting older or having a family history of heart disease, but it is also known that there is a direct correlation between heart health and gum disease. Leaving “gum disease” untreated can cause serious heart problems. When gums bleed or are swollen, it is a sign of gum disease and should be evaluated. Bacteria from infected gums can dislodge, enter the bloodstream, attach to blood vessels, and may also trigger clot formation. To combat your risk factors, it helps to know your numbers.

At Smiles for Life, we recommend our patients have their blood pressure taken at each dental appointment, so they know this critical number. Blood pressure is the silent killer that leads to strokes and heart attacks. Since so many people see their dentist more often than their physician, it only makes sense to provide this number at their dental appointments so they can have access to this early warning sign. It could save a life!

Our team will help you prevent and treat gingivitis and periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, by doing a complete evaluation and making a treatment plan customized to you. Contact Smiles for Life today to schedule your next appointment or a free consultation.