Are you one of the many Anchorage men and women who has had a tooth extracted? If the tooth had been bothering you, it may have been a relief. Unless, of course, the tooth was in the front of your mouth and now the gaping hole shows every time you smile. Ignoring it is impossible because your tongue can’t leave it alone.
Once the tooth has been pulled, you have many decisions to make. Can I afford a dental bridge? Do I want to damage two healthy teeth to anchor the bridge? Should I go with partial dentures? What about bone loss?
What if you could have a fresh start? What if you could have a permanent, natural looking tooth replacement that would restore your smile and retain the healthy bone and gum tissue around the tooth root?
With a dental implant from Excellence In Dentistry, you can. A dental implant is a permanent replacement for all parts of the tooth. A dental implant consists of three parts: the titanium post, the abutment, and the restoration.
The Titanium Post
—Inserted directly into the jaw bone
—Extremely strong
—Titanium is unique in that it bonds with living bone tissue (also used in knee and hip replacement surgery)
The Abutment
—Can be made of gold, porcelain or titanium
—Permanently attached to the post (it will not slip and slide like dentures)
The Restoration (Dental Crown)
—Usually made of porcelain fused to a metal alloy (PFM)
—Is made to match the color of surrounding teeth
—Will look as good or better than the tooth it replaced
Dental implant surgery is not an experimental treatment. The materials and techniques have been tested and refined for several decades. It has been performed by Anchorage cosmetic dentists and prosthodontists for over twenty years. To schedule a dental implant consultation, call 907-349-0022.
Excellence In Dentistry
907-349-0022
1000 Omalley Rd, Ste 101
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
http://www.AnchorageSmiles.com
Posted Feb 3, 2012 in Dental Implants | Comments Off
Everyday aggravators cause many Anchorage people to respond by clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth. For example, daily commuting in Anchorage can take a physical toll. All the traffic, noise, and perpetual road construction causes some people to grind their teeth as they navigate the sea of cars.
Some Anchorage folks who hate waiting in long lines channel their frustration to their jaw as they try, by the sheer force of will, to cause the line to move faster.
Teeth grinding and jaw clenching can cause a painful condition called TMD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. In Anchorage, TMD is often mistakenly called ‘TMJ‘: the acronym for Temporomandibular Joint.
Your jaw is able to open and close thanks to many jaw muscles and the intricate temporomandibular joints. These joints allow for fluid mobility as you chew, speak, and yawn.
Damage to these joints can lead to chronic pain in the jaw, head, face and neck. Pain may be experienced on one or both sides of the jaw.
TMD is an often misdiagnosed condition in Anchorage because facial pain can result from a variety of things, not just damage to the temporomandibular joints. Sinus infections, tooth decay, and facial inuries can cause jaw pain. A correct diagnosis is necessary for treating TMD.
At Excellence In Dentistry we have been diagnosing and treating TMD since 1987. If you are experiencing clicking, popping, or discomfort in your jaw, call Excellence In Dentistry today for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
I am Dr. Kirk Johnson and I enjoy providing high quality dentistry to the residents of Anchorage and the surrounding areas.
Excellence In Dentistry not only treats TMD, but we redesign smiles with state-of-the-art cosmetic dental treatments. We offer sedation dentistry, teeth whitening, dental implants, porcelain crowns and veneers, and Invisalign invisible braces.
Your smile is contagious! Make sure it is healthy and beautiful. Call Excellence In Dentistry today to schedule a consultation or examination. 907-349-0022
Posted Jan 27, 2012 in TMJ Treatment | Comments Off
Hello, I’m Dr. Kirk Johnson of Excellence In Dentistry. At Excellence In Dentistry, we expertly provide all of the advanced general and cosmetic dental procedures available including teeth whitening, clear braces, dental crowns, and porcelain veneers. We also offer root canals, gum disease treatment and TMJ treatment.
In addition to these services, our hygienists perform the most thorough deep cleanings in Anchorage for our clients whose healthy smiles need nothing else.
If your smile needs a lot more than a deep cleaning, let’s talk about cosmetic dentistry. There have never been so many ways to create the smile you deserve.
Having a drop-dead gorgeous smile is not just about attractiveness. It’s about oral health and its connection to overall physical health. It’s about self-esteem and self-respect. It’s about being comfortable with your age and stage of life. It’s about presenting yourself polished and professionally in your Anchorage career, among your family members, and with your friends and colleagues.
A smile makeover brings out your very best!
What could a smile makeover do for you? Let’s talk about it. Call 907-349-0022 today to book a friendly and informative consultation at our beautiful and comfortable Anchorage cosmetic dental office- Excellence In Dentistry .
Posted Jan 20, 2012 in Cosmetic Dentistry | Comments Off
If you are a regular visitor to our blog here at Excellence In Dentistry, you have probably read many articles on cosmetic dentistry procedures. Dr. Kirk Johnson is a master of smile makeovers.
Dental bonding, crowns, and porcelain veneers can take care of teeth that are chipped, broken, or misshapen.
Our Anchorage area clients with stained or dull teeth can have a sparkly white smile with teeth whitening. For ordinary cavities, there are tooth-colored fillings, inlays, and onlays.
Dental implants are gaining popularity in Anchorage among dental patients who want to restore missing teeth. If your teeth are misaligned, there are a number of orthodontic options here at Excellence In Dentistry in Anchorage, including Invisalign clear braces.
What if your cosmetic dental problem has to do with your gums? Are you one of the many Anchorage area folks who suffer from gum disease? At Excellence In Dentistry, we have a solution for gum problems as well.
If the gums have receded to a point where the tooth root is susceptible to decay, gum surgery can restore the natural, healthy gumline and protect tooth root and bone.
For more information about gum disease and solutions, call us at 907-349-0022.
Dr. Kirk Johnson
Excellence In Dentistry
1000 Omalley Rd, Ste 101
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
907-349-0022
http://www.anchoragesmiles.com/about-us/
Posted Jan 13, 2012 in Dental Health | Comments Off
At Excellence In Dentistry, we are all about success. Dr. Kirk Johnson’s experience, ability, and commitment to dental excellence result in successful outcomes daily for our cosmetic dentistry clients. Each team member at Excellence In Dentistry shares Dr. Johnson’s passion for success.
For many Anchorage dental patients, success is a routine check-up that reveals healthy teeth and no cavities. For our cosmetic dental clients, success is a stunning smile makeover using veneers, teeth whitening and clear braces. For our Anchorage patients with a missing tooth, dental implants are used to successfully restore their smile. It is exciting to see implant recipients smile for the first time after receiving their new tooth implant.
We also enjoy completing successful tooth-straightening procedures for youth and adults. Though these transformations take longer than one-visit smile re-designs, the results are no less incredible. In fact, our Anchorage clear braces patients probably appreciate their straight teeth and beautiful smile more than any of our other patients.
Success sometimes means removing tetracycline stains for a teeth bleaching patient who has been hiding his/her smile for years. Sometimes, success is as simple as helping a nervous patient feel relaxed and comfortable during their visit to our Anchorage sedation dentistry office.
What do you desire for your smile? At Excellence In Dentistry, our success depends on your complete smile satisfaction.
To meet our team and discuss your smile specifics, call Excellence In Dentistry at 907-349-0022.
Posted Jan 6, 2012 in Cosmetic Dentistry | Comments Off
Most Alaska folks don’t often think of a tooth as a body part that fluctuates in strength. Our teeth seem to have a steady hardness and dependably grind food whenever we need them. However, teeth are dynamic organisms with chemical processes that occur continually.
The protective enamel that covers the softer interior is made of minerals. Enamel demineralizes (loses some of its density) when coming in contact with acids. Saliva can dilute and neutralize acid so the tooth can remineralize (re-harden). This process isn’t instantaneous, however. While the enamel is soft, the tooth is vulnerable to losing a microscopic outer layer of enamel. If the erosion continues, the much softer dentin is exposed. Eventually, the tooth may need to be extracted.
At Excellence In Dentistry, we are noticing an increase in cases of serious acid erosion. It is apparent that the typical Alaska diet is becoming more acidic.
The list of acidic foods may surprise you. They include eggs, gravy, asparagus, chicken, cottage cheese, honey, fish, ham, butter, sour cream, aged cheese, and yogurt with active cultures. Generally, food with a high sugar or artificial sweetener content are highly acidic.
Now let’s talk about drinks. You probably already know that soda pop and wine are not good for your teeth. Alaska teens that sip soda all day can have acid erosion while their young teeth should be at their strongest. In addition to soda, energy drinks are very popular in Alaska and cosmetic dentists are noticing the effects on their dental patients’ tooth enamel.
If you drink soda or energy drinks often, you may want to drink water or chew sugarless gum after downing a can. Stimulating saliva production can speed up the remineralization process.
If your teeth have become more sensitive in general, or in response to hot or cold foods or beverages, you may have acid erosion. To schedule an examination with Dr. Kirk Johnson at Excellence In Dentistry, call 907-349-0022 today. We can use digital x-rays to assess the condition of your teeth and recommend treatment that will keep your enamel healthy and strong.
We are a full-service cosmetic dental office with hundreds of satisfied clients in Alaska. We offer a variety of dental procedures including dental implants, clear braces, sedation dentistry and tooth whitening. We are located at 1000 Omalley Rd, Ste 101 in Anchorage. We are working to raise awareness of the oral health dangers of acid erosion. We hope you have benefited from this Excellence In Dentistry blog article and look forward to your visit.
Posted Dec 30, 2011 in Dental Health | Comments Off
Hello friends of Excellence In Dentistry!
Close your eyes. Picture the most beautiful smile you have ever seen. Perhaps it is the smile of your significant other. Perhaps it is your favorite actor, actress, or singer. What makes this smile memorable? The brilliant color? The beautiful translucency? The pleasing shape? The alignment of the teeth? All of the above?
Would you like a smile as memorable as the image in your mind? It’s possible with cosmetic dentistry at Excellence In Dentistry in Anchorage.
Dr. Kirk Johnson skillfully redesigns smiles to correct alignment, dull color, damage, and stains.
Cosmetic dental procedures include the ever-popular porcelain veneers (gives teeth a brand new face), crown restorations, teeth whitening, and clear braces (quicker and easier than ever!).
You can have a billboard-perfect smile right here in Anchorage.
The very same cosmetic dental procedures used on famous smiles is available at Excellence In Dentistry. A celebrity salary and jet-setting lifestyle may be out of reach, but not a red carpet-worthy smile.
If you are nervous about seeing the dentist, we also offer sedation dentistry. Call 907-349-0022 to book your restorative dentistry appointment today. Come in for a smile design consultation to learn what cosmetic dentistry can do for your world class smile!
Dr. Kirk Johnson
Excellence In Dentistry
907-349-0022
http://www.anchoragesmiles.com/about-us/
Posted Dec 23, 2011 in Cosmetic Dentistry | Comments Off
Hello. I’m sedation dentist Dr. Kirk Johnson.
Welcome to my Alaska cosmetic dental blog. Today’s topic is energy drinks and the damage they can cause to your teeth. I am seeing more and more Alaska teens and adults with tooth enamel erosion caused by frequent consumption of sport drinks.
Most of these Alaska dentistry patients take good care of their teeth, brush and flush, and come into Excellence In Dentistry for a twice-yearly exam and deep cleaning. But guess what? If you drink energy drinks regularly, your enamel can erode even if you practice immaculate oral hygiene.
Energy drinks like Red Bull, Rock Star, and Monster are a cocktail of powerful acids and other enamel-eroding substances. Most of them contain citric acid, fruit juices, loads of sugar, and a potent chemical that gives them their bright fluorescent color.
Perhaps, like myself, you have often noticed young people walking out of Alaska convenience stores swigging 32-ounce energy drinks. I am concerned that local teens do not understand the serious dental consequences of frequent acid baths.
The following is from ABC Sports:
“Sports drinks are increasingly damaging the teeth of professional and recreational athletes, one of Australia’s top sports dentists has warned. Dr. Brett Dorney says he has witnessed a huge increase in dental erosion since the Sidney Olympics, when he was the event’s deputy director of dental services.”
Here is an excerpt from a recent CNN Story:
“Researchers at the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry found the energy drinks and sports drinks eroded the enamel more than soda and fruit juices.”
I need to add the caveat that soda and fruit juices also contain acids that can damage teeth.
If your teeth have enamel erosion, whatever the cause, we can restore your smile with advanced cosmetic dentistry. Crowns, porcelain veneers, inlays and onlays can correct both structural and cosmetic problems.
Our phone number is 907-349-0022. If you are interested in re-designing your smile, come in for an exam and consultation. With cutting-edge restorative dentistry, we can repair acid-damaged teeth and dramatically increase your face value.
Posted Dec 16, 2011 in Dental Health | Comments Off
Hello Anchorage! Do you want brighter, whiter teeth? Most Anchorage folks notice their teeth dulling as the years go by, but some foods, drinks, and even mouthwashes can stain teeth at any age.
Over-the-counter tooth whitening products like kits, strips, or toothpastes may slightly lighten stains, but for a truly brilliant smile, Dr. Kirk Johnson can help!
If you have dental veneers, bonding, or bridges, teeth whitening bleach will not lighten the stains and your whitened natural teeth will make your dental work look even duller in comparison. At Excellence In Dentistry, we can recommend new cosmetic dental work, including veneers or bondings, if these have aged and discolored.
Remember, anything that can stain a white tee shirt can stain teeth.
Fortunately, brushing after meals can keep stains at bay, however with acidic foods or drinks, just rinse your mouth with water. Brushing right away can erode enamel, causing thinner teeth as we age.
Anchorage in-office teeth whitening takes about an hour and bleaches teeth to a whiter-than-ever brilliance. Take-home professional teeth whitening kits are also available at Excellence In Dentistry and can produce the best results over time.
For more information on getting a younger and brighter smile, contact our caring staff for a smile brightening consultation today!
Dr. Kirk Johnson
Excellence In Dentistry
907-349-0022
http://www.AnchorageSmiles.com
Posted Dec 9, 2011 in Teeth Whitening | Comments Off
Don’t know a periapical from a bitewing? Today’s Anchorage cosmetic dental blog takes a look at dental x-rays.
Panoramic
If you have ever stood in a huge camera apparatus and struggled to stay motionless while an automated camera made one slow pass around your head, then you have had a panoramic x-ray taken of your mouth. These pictures help dentists see everything in one image: the complete upper and lower jaw. These are often taken during a patient’s first visit to Excellence In Dentistry. They are also very helpful for evaluating jaw injuries and seeing emerging teeth in children.
Bitewing
Bitewing x-rays help Dr. Kirk Johnson see what’s going on between teeth–something that is impossible with a visual exam. They also help your dentist evaluate the jaw bone.
Periapical
These are similar to bite wings but they can get a clearer picture of the tooth root canals and bone. These are often used to help diagnose absences in the root of a tooth.
Full-Mouth Series
This is a combination of periapical and bitewing x-rays that gives a comprehensive picture of all the teeth and surrounding bone structure.
If you are a patient of Excellence In Dentistry and are worried about the safety of dental x-rays, we invite you to discuss your concerns with our caring staff. We can explain all the precautions that we take to reduce radiation exposure and answer any questions you may have. Our Anchorage office is proud to use digital x-rays, which has 90% less x-ray than the old technology.
If you are pregnant and need a dental x-ray at Excellence In Dentistry, it is important to let Dr. Johnson know this before x-rays are taken. X-rays are not necessarily dangerous for pregnant women, but they are often postponed until after delivery as a precaution. If you are pregnant but have a severe dental problem, call our office right away. We can be reached at 907-349-0022.
We hope you have learned a little bit about dental x-rays, one of Dr. Johnson’s indispensable tools in providing unsurpassed dental care in Anchorage. Check back often for more information about cosmetic, sedation and restorative dentistry at Excellence In Dentistry.
Posted Dec 2, 2011 in Cosmetic Dentistry | Comments Off
