Have you ever experienced a dental emergency? If so, you know quick action means the difference between painful consequences and long-term health. At Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake, your emergency dentists, Dr. Daniel Isaacson and Dr. Mike Weisbrod, encourage patients to be prepared for the most pressing of dental problems. Read on to learn more about these instances of dental crisis!

What is a dental emergency?

There are many situations which constitute dental emergencies, and they may involve bleeding, loss of tooth structure, fracture of a restoration/tooth replacement, bone fracture, or adverse change in personal appearance and pain. Whatever the case, you should know how to stabilize the condition, and then immediately get help from your emergency dentist in White Bear Lake.

Examples of emergencies and what to do:

• Avulsed Tooth: Children aren't the only ones to lose teeth. It happens to adults, too, most commonly from a fall or sports mishap. Luckily, chances are the tooth can be saved if you act quickly and replant the tooth, roots down, into the empty socket. First, rinse the tooth with plain water, then, hold the tooth in place while you travel to Isaacson Gentle Dentistry. In many cases, we can reattach the tooth if you act quick enough!
• Oral Laceration: Apply direct pressure with a sterile 4x4 or clean cloth if you suffer a deep cut to the tongue, lips, or gums. If bleeding continues beyond 15 minutes, go to the nearest hospital ER.
• Chipped or Displaced Tooth: Save the pieces and bring them to the dental office. Dr. Issacson or Dr. Weisbrod may use composite resin to bond them back in place, or in the case of substantial fracture, use a veneer or crown to restore the tooth. A tooth displaced to one side due to oral trauma may be stabilized by splinting it to an adjacent tooth.
• Dental Abscess: A raging toothache, jaw swelling, drainage, and tooth discoloration often signal a deep infection. In these cases, the team at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry may advise ice to the jaw and ibuprofen for pain until you can be seen in the office for examination.

Expect kind and accurate care

At Isaacson Gentle Dentistry, your dentist and his staff will treat your emergency quickly so that you can feel better and return to full oral health. Call our office in White Bear Lake immediately if you or a loved one have an urgent dental matter—we'll advise you on what to do next. Phone us today at (651) 762-7677.

Crooked smile? Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your smile. Millions of people from around the world are turning to Invisalign as a hassle-free way to straighten their teeth. Our dentists at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake, MN, Dr. Dan Isaacson and Dr. Mike Weisbrod offer orthodontic treatment with Invisalign to their patients. Read on to find out Invisalign works to straighten your smile.

What are the aligners made of?

Over the course of treatment, you will be given a set of virtually invisible, custom-made aligners. The aligners are made of a flexible, thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the Invisalign treatment plan. You will need to wear the aligners for about two weeks. Then you switch to a new set of aligners. 

How does Invisalign straighten teeth?

The Invisalign aligners will move your teeth in the sequence determined by your doctor. The aligners straighten teeth through the placement of controlled force on the teeth. They gently and continuously move your teeth in small increments. You will need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day. 

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

Invisalign aligners are comfortable to wear. Unlike conventional braces, there are no metal wires and brackets with Invisalign that could irritate your gums. People may not even notice that you're wearing Invisalign aligners. Invisalign aligners are clear and practically undetectable. The aligners are also removable. Unlike conventional braces, you will be able to drink and eat whatever you want during treatment by removing the Invisalign aligners. 

How long does treatment take?

The average length of your treatment depends on the severity of your condition and can only be determined by your Invisalign provider. However, the average case takes about one year. Before you start treatment, you will know exactly how long your treatment will take and what your teeth will look like at the end. 

How do I get Invisalign in White Bear Lake?

You can get started with Invisalign treatment by locating an Invisalign-trained dentist near you and scheduling a consultation. For the best results, choosing an experienced doctor can make all the difference. At the initial consultation, your dentist will discuss your needs, evaluate whether Invisalign treatment is right for you, and answer any questions you may have about the process.

Millions of people have straightened their teeth with Invisalign. Perhaps it's time you joined them? Call Isaacson Gentle Dentistry at 651-762-7677 today to schedule your Invisalign consultation in White Bear Lake, MN. Invisalign won't just enhance your smile; it will also improve the quality of your life.

When your White Bear Lake, MN, dentist says a decayed or fractured tooth can be restored, believe him. Dr. Dan Isaacson and Dr. Mike Weisbrod at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry often recommend dental crowns to support, protect, and beautify failing teeth. These lifelike, tooth-shaped restorations add years of life to teeth which otherwise would be extracted.

Your dental crown treatment

It begins with a complete oral examination and X-rays with your dentist. Teeth which qualify for all-porcelain crowns (or caps as they sometimes are called), often have damage due to:

• Fracture from a blow to the mouth
• Deep decay
• A dental abscess, or infection
• Multiple fillings
• Poor congenital shape (a peg-shaped incisor, for instance)
• Bruxism, or habitual teeth clenching and grinding
• Deep discoloration from excessive fluoride exposure, pharmaceutical staining, or oral injury

Dr. Isaacson or Dr. Weisbrod place crowns when they determine sufficient healthy tooth structure remains above and below the gum line. If the interior pulp is inflamed or damaged, they may perform root canal therapy before protecting the tooth with a porcelain crown.

And yes, today's most popular and durable crown material is porcelain. After your dentist in White Bear Lake reshapes your tooth and takes oral impressions, the dental lab fashions your crown from ceramic that is realistic in appearance, color, and function. Once bonded in place with a permanent adhesive, the crown is strong and long-lasting, too.

Other uses for crowns

Conventional fixed bridgework consists of one or more artificial teeth in a row. These pontics are supported by dental crowns affixed to neighboring teeth on opposite sides of the appliance. Also, Dr. Isaacson and Dr. Weisbrod use porcelain crowns to restore, or finish single-tooth dental implants.

Caring for crowns

The American College of Prosthodontists says that diligent at-home and in-office care of crowns and other restorations prolongs their usefulness and the lifespan of the teeth themselves. So be sure to brush twice a day, and floss daily, too. See the professional team at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry every six months for a thorough cleaning and oral exam during which your dentist will check the condition of your crowns and any other restorative work you have in place.

The vast majority of dental crowns, whether placed on back or front teeth, last ten years and beyond. So consider dental crowns as a great investment in your oral health, smile function and personal appearance.

Find out more

When you come to Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake, MN, for your new dental crown, your dentist will explain the process to you start to finish. Expect a comfortable treatment and a beautifully renewed smile. Call today for your appointment: (651) 762-7677.

How dental implants from your dentists in White Bear Lake can complete your smile

Are you embarrassed by your smile? Do you have gaps in your smile where you’ve lost teeth? If you are ready for a new, complete smile, it’s time for you to investigate dental implants! Instead of dental bridgework, partials or dentures check out the many advantages of dental implants to complete your smile. Dr. Daniel Isaacson and Dr. Mike Weisbrod at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake, MN want to help you discover how dental implants can help you and your smile.

Dental implants are the go-to treatment to restore the beauty and function of your smile. They offer advantages that can’t be matched by other tooth replacement methods. When you choose dental implants you will experience:

Tooth replacement that is completely stable and will never move around, unlike partials or dentures; dental implants are firmly embedded in the bone so they become a permanent part of your smile.

Tooth replacement that looks natural and is virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth; dental implant crowns are made of high-grade dental ceramic that reflects light, just like natural teeth do.

Tooth replacement that is easy to clean because you brush and floss implants just like your natural teeth; you don’t have to remove the dental implants like you do with partials and dentures.

Dental implants are a conservative way to replace teeth. Dental bridgework requires crowning the teeth next to the space so that the bridge can be attached; with dental implants, only the implant area is treated, leaving the adjacent teeth intact.

Dental implants are a safe, highly successful method to replace a single or multiple missing teeth. They can also provide a strong framework for a dental appliance. They boast a success rate of over 95 percent, making them the most successful surgical implant.

Dental implants also help to restore your facial contours and give you a firm jawline, which can make you look younger. That’s because after dental implant placement, your body will create more bone to fuse with the implants, locking them in place. More bone means a younger-looking face!

Your smile deserves dental implants so call Dr. Isaacson and Dr. Weisbrod at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake, MN. Find out more about closing the gaps with dental implants by calling today!

Oh, no, what can you do if your tooth is irreparably damaged? See your dentist at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake. Dr. Daniel Isaacson and Dr. Michael Weisbrod are experts in the gentlest of restorative procedures, including dental extractions. Learn why a tooth must be pulled and how it's done. The hows and the whys are simpler than you may think.

Try to save a tooth

The first rule of dentistry is spare as much natural tooth structure as possible. That's why fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, veneers and more exist and why your White Bear Lake Dentist insists you be consistent about at-home and in-office hygiene. Your own teeth simply are your best teeth.

Unfortunately, however, some circumstances require dental extraction. An obvious one is extensive decay that extends into the tooth roots and underlying bone. Others are deep fracture from trauma to the mouth or failed root canal therapy.

In addition, an all-too-common cause for tooth loss and extraction is advanced periodontal disease. When plaque and tartar accumulate, gum tissue becomes infected, swells, and bleeds. Eventually, even the underlying bone degrades, and teeth loosen--often irretrievably. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research states that gum disease is the biggest reason why American adults lose teeth.

Other reasons for dental extraction

Dr. Isaacson and Dr. Westbrod may recommend extraction when:

• Baby teeth impede eruption of adult teeth
• Baby or adult teeth impede orthodontic correction
• Adult teeth are too large for a small jaw, and teeth are crowded and crooked as a result
• Wisdom teeth are impacted in gum tissue and/or bone

Impacted wisdom teeth (also called third molars) frequently plague adolescents with pain, infection, decay on neighboring teeth and more, says the American Dental Association (ADA). In these cases, extraction really is a must-do procedure.

The procedure and the after-care

Most extractions are what dentists call simple extractions. The dentist numbs the tooth, rocks it with an instrument called an elevator and then grasps it with a forceps to remove it. Then he sutures the site closed. In the case of an impacted tooth, more complex oral surgery may be necessary.

In any case, at-home care afterward is important. After a simple extraction, the patient:

• Should bite on a sterile 4x4 to quell bleeding
• Rinse with salt water a few times daily for a few days
• Avoid drinking with a straw and smoking as the suction may dislodge the forming clot
• Start a soft diet the day after the extraction (macaroni and cheese, soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt)
• Take over the counter ibuprofen for pain
• Reduce jaw swelling with ice as needed

Do you have a problem tooth?

Your White Bear Lake Dentists at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry Dr. Daniel Isaacson and Dr. Michael Weisbrod will examine it to determine your treatment options. If extraction is the only clear path to oral health, rest assured you'll get the finest and gentlest care. Call today for a consultation: (651) 762-7677.