Inflammation, Stress, and Oral Health
June 14, 2013
Life moves faster than it ever has. As a result, many of us are more stressed now than ever before. For some, that stress comes from the pressure to always stay connected. For others, it may come from finances. Regardless of where it comes from, though, it can affect your wellbeing, including your oral health.
That’s because when you become stressed, it becomes more difficult for the body to regular inflammation. In and of itself, inflammation isn’t a bad thing—in fact, it is part of the immune response. When it works as it should, it can be beneficial. But when it gets out of control, it can become a weapon the body uses against itself. And one of the targets it uses it against just so happens to be your smile, as the ADG reported last year.
What this means for patients of Dr. Martin is that managing stress is important. Just as important are regular visits and a great at-home routine. We recommended seeing us every six month, plus a routine that includes brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, and rinsing with a fluoride or antibacterial mouthwash.
Ready to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Martin and his Scottsdale team? Call us today. We provide care for patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and beyond.
Hormones and Your Oral Health
June 1, 2013
It may seem like your oral and overall health occupy different spheres, but they don’t. In fact, one aspect of your health impacts your oral health in a way you might never had considered—we’re talking about the body’s hormone levels.
Changes in the body’s hormone levels can increase a patient’s vulnerability to gum disease, which is one of the most common oral health conditions out there. Women are especially at risk due to the changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
But those aren’t the only times in life when a woman is more vulnerable. There’s also an increased risk for women taking birth control or who are about to begin their next period.
So what does this mean Dr. Martin’s Scottsdale patients?
It means that regular dental appointments and a good brushing and flossing routine are essential. So is sticking to a balanced diet low in sugar and starchy foods. What’s more, if you’re pregnant or taking birth control, it’s a good idea to let Dr. Martin and his Scottsdale dental team know.
Is it time for you to schedule your next regular checkup and professional cleaning? Call our Scottsdale dental office today to reserve your appointment with Dr. Martin. We serve patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.
Porcelain Veneers: A Whiter, Straighter Smile with One Service
May 8, 2013
In our last post, we talked about teeth whitening, one of the most popular cosmetic services currently available. With teeth whitening, it’s easy to radically transform the appearance of your teeth and improve your confidence. But what if you want a smile that’s both whiter and straighter. For that Dr. Alex Martin offers porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers are made from thin but high-quality pieces of dental porcelain. They’re applied to the front of teeth to hide flaws like cracks, chips, misalignment, and more. On top of this, they’re customizable. During the planning stage of your treatment, Dr. Martin will design veneers that will match the shape and color of your existing smile. The only difference will be that your teeth will look straight and beautiful.
With your finished veneers in place, you can look forward to enjoying the same boost in confidence you would feel with a naturally beautiful smile. And because porcelain resembles the appearance of real teeth so closely, no one but you and Dr. Martin will ever have to know about the work you’ve had done.
Do you want to know more about porcelain veneers? Call Dr. Martin today to reserve a consultation appointment. During your consultation, we can talk to you about all of your treatment options, including porcelain veneers. We can also answer any questions you might have. We’re proud to serve patients from Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and beyond.
The Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
April 25, 2013
A white smile can help you face the world with a strong sense of confidence. But keeping teeth white isn’t easy. Everyday drinks like coffee, tea, soda, or red wine contribute to staining. Other things, like tobacco products, aging, and even some medications, also contribute. All of which is why Dr. Alex Martin offers teeth whitening at his Scottsdale dental office.
With professional teeth whitening, patients can dramatically whiten their teeth in just a single appointment. What’s more, with in-office and take-home options, patients can see their white smile last well beyond their initial treatment. Imagine living with a smile close to 10 shades brighter than the one you have now.
How would that change the way you live? Would you share your smile more instead of hiding it? Would you feel more confident around strangers or co-workers? Any of these are possible. And depending on the changes you make to your life, others may see you differently as well. They may see you as more confident, more attractive, or more intelligent.
Do you want to know how your life might be different with a whiter smile? Finding out starts with a call to Dr. Martin’s Scottsdale dental office. During a visit, we can talk to you about the teeth whitening process and answer any questions you might have. We can also talk to you about our other cosmetic services and help you decide which is most right for you.
We serve patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and beyond.
Will Bioengineered Teeth Become a Possibility Someday?
March 26, 2013
Right now, one of the best restorative dentistry solutions available for dentists and patients is dental implants. With dental implants, patients of Dr. Martin who are missing one or more teeth can replace what they’ve lost, improving their appearance and their smile’s functionality.
Part of what makes dental implants so effective is that they’re structured like natural teeth, with a crown on top and a prosthetic root underneath. This prosthetic root can help patients preserve their jaw and prevent future bone loss—something traditional bridges, partials, and dentures can’t do.
But as effective as dental implants from Dr. Martin and our Scottsdale team can be, they can’t fully compete with natural teeth. That’s why doctors and researchers are looking into the possibility of helping patients grow new teeth from their own stem cells.
Science World Report has revealed that, in a study put out by the Journal of Dental Research, selecting certain cells from a patient’s gum tissue may enable him or her to grow a new tooth where one has gone missing. This is good news for patients and doctors alike.
But a future with bioengineered teeth is still a ways off. Until then, dental implants are still the best way for patients to enjoy natural appearance and functionality.
To find out if you’re a candidate for dental implants, call Dr. Martin’s Scottsdale dental office. We serve patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and beyond.
What Is Periodontal Therapy and How Does It Help?
February 15, 2013
In our last post, we talked about how research on gum disease and heart disease is continually evolving. Today we’d like to put our focus on periodontal therapy itself.
The goal of periodontal therapy is to remove built-up bacteria and plaque from around the gum line. In more advanced cases, pockets may develop between teeth and gums. Advanced periodontal therapy concentrates on cleaning these pockets out to prevent further loss of gum tissue and bone. What’s more, it’s through these pockets that bacteria and plaque can enter the bloodstream.
Different doctors rely on different tools to perform periodontal therapy. Regardless, scaling and root planing are two of the common and most effective. Scaling and root planing uses traditional dental tools to thoroughly clean around teeth and in pockets.
Some dentists use lasers to clean even more effectively, while others will also prescribe a helpful antibiotic to more thoroughly eliminate bacteria.
To find out what Dr. Alex Martin offers, and to find out how he can help you, give his Scottsdale office a call. Our team would be happy to help you restore your gum health. Through a consultation, we can determine the extent of your needs and develop a treatment plan to help you.
Dr. Martin’s Scottsdale office serves patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.
February is Heart Health Month
February 6, 2013
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, hearts are on a lot minds right now. But for doctors, there’s another reason for all the talk about hearts—February is Heart Health Month.
Now, you might not immediately connect dentistry with the health of your heart, but a connection may exist. Some research has indicated that gum disease contributes to heart disease, while others have indicated that no link exists at all.
What that means is that our understanding of gum disease and overall health is continuing to evolve. Gum disease may not be directly responsible for heart attacks, but it does give bacteria and plaque access to the rest of the body—and that doesn’t do your overall health any favors.
So, how can you help you protect your smile and your overall health?
One of the best ways is with regular brushing and flossing at home. Adding a trusted antibacterial mouthwash to your regimen can also help. Beyond this, remember to schedule a regular checkup and cleaning with Dr. Alex Martin in Scottsdale every six months. Regular visits make it possible for him to monitor your smile for any signs of change.
If extra care is needed, we can provide effective help through periodontal therapy. In our next post, we’ll spend some time talking about the aims of periodontal therapy and how it can help.
For now, call Dr. Martin if you need to schedule a visit and cleaning with our Scottsdale team. We’re proud to serve patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.
Have You Scheduled Your First 2013 Visit Yet?
January 31, 2013
Six month checkups are important. Not only do they make it possible for your dentist to catch small but important changes in the health of your smile, they can also support your overall health. This second aspect is something we’ll go over in greater detail next month. For now, we’d just like to focus on that first reason and explain what you can expect from your regular checkup.
It takes time for cavities and gum disease to develop. In both cases, the symptoms may be too small for you to notice. But a trained eye knows what to look for. Following a thorough oral exam, Dr. Alex Martin can help you diagnose common conditions early, before they have a chance to develop. That means you can look forward to a less invasive, more comfortable treatment that helps you support your smile. What’s more, with a professional cleaning, our Scottsdale team can help you eliminate bacteria and plaque, which promote these common conditions.
To give your smile extra protection, we can also provide you with fluoride treatments. Fluoride strengthens teeth by attracting important minerals and nutrients. With just a quick rinse, we can give your smile an added boost as you prepare to leave our office.
Call Dr. Martin’s office in Scottsdale if you’re ready to come in for your next regular checkup. We serve patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and beyond.
A Cosmetic Makeover in Time for Valentines
January 28, 2013
With Valentine’s Day just weeks away, now is a great time to talk to Dr. Alex Martin about a smile transformation. Using one of our convenient cosmetic dentistry services, our Scottsdale team can help you improve your smile in time for the big day.
A comprehensive smile makeover with a service like Invisalign takes months to complete, but we offer several services that take just one to two visits to complete. Those services include:
Depending on what kind of care you’re looking for, Dr. Martin can help you enhance your smile in just a short amount of time—a single visit with Zoom! and dental bonding, and as few as two with porcelain veneers.
In a preliminary consultation, Dr. Martin will advise you of your options before creating a treatment plan that meets your needs and matches your goals. At our Scottsdale dental office, we’re committed to delivering personalized care to patients from Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.
Ready to get started on a Valentine’s makeover? Call us today for an appointment. We want to help you make this Valentine’s Day one that you and your loved one will cherish long after it’s over.
Have You Scheduled Your Fall Checkup?
September 17, 2012
Fall will officially begin this coming Saturday on September 22, just days away. That means we can finally look forward to cooler weather, the end of summer, and the coming of the holiday season. Accompanying this change is an important question we hope all our Scottsdale patients will take seriously: how long ago was your last checkup?
There’s a reason we’re connecting the change from one season to another with routine checkups. A seasonal change is like a fresh start, much like a checkup can be. When you firmly understand how your smile is doing and our VIP Dentistry team has performed a professional cleaning, you can leave our Scottsdale office feeling like your smile has been given a fresh start too. What a great feeling that is!
But coming in for a fall checkup is about more than just boosting your confidence—it’s about getting the most out of your dental benefits. If you already know you’ll need more extensive care before the year’s end, having that work done now will benefit both your smile and your pocketbook. Our comprehensive services include:
To see all the services that VIP Dentistry offers, take a moment to explore our website. You can also give our Scottsdale office a call to ask a question or reserve your fall checkup and cleaning with Dr. Martin.
Call us today. Dr. Martin serves patients from Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.