Author: Amped-Marketing

An aversion to dental treatment is more common than you may think. Almost half of adults put off going to the dentist and approximately 22% avoid going altogether due to their dental anxiety. The good news is that modern technology has made pain-free dentistry a reality. At Smith Dentalworks, we use our innovative tools and compassionate approach to ensure that you feel comfortable getting the care you need.

Here are some of the ways we provide pain-free dental care:

The Solea Laser

We have the state-of-the-art Solea Laser, which uses carbon dioxide to generate a laser beam that can be used to precisely and accurately work on both hard and soft tissues. There’s no need for the drill and no need for anesthesia for most patients. The laser feels a bit like eating a snow cone. It’s slightly cold, but not painful at all. We can use the Solea Laser for treating cavities, gum-related procedures, and more. This tool sets our office apart and we are proud to use it to make your dentist visits more comfortable.

Digital Impressions

Getting impressions taken for cosmetic or restorative dental procedures can be uncomfortable and is one of the parts of visiting the dentist that many people dread. At our office, we use digital impressions instead of the traditional method. This is more comfortable for patients and still allows us to get an accurate impression of your smile.

Informative & Individualized Care

In addition to using the most advanced technology available, we also take a human approach to dentistry. Our state-of-the-art tools allow us to make dental care pain-free while our interactions with patients help reduce anxiety. We want you to feel like an active participant in your own care and know how important it is to understand the options available to you. We are never judgmental, and we give you all the information you need to make decisions about what is best for you.

Friendly Team

We know that little touches can make a big difference. Every member of our team works to provide a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. This helps you feel at ease from the moment you arrive at our office.

Read Our Testimonials

You don’t just have to take our word for it when we say we provide comfortable, pain-free dentistry. Many of our patients have shared their positive experiences with Smith Dentalworks. You can check out our testimonials to hear what they have to say.

Book Your Appointment

We provide a wide variety of dental care including preventative, cosmetic, and restorative procedures. Our office treats both adults and children and we can help every member of your family achieve and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.

Experience pain-free dentistry for yourself and book your appointment today.

Craze lines are small, hairline cracks that develop in the outer enamel of your teeth. These vertical lines often appear on the surface and don’t penetrate into the tooth’s inner layers, including the pulp. Typically, craze lines are a natural part of aging and do not signal any serious dental health issues. However, for some, they can affect the appearance of their smile. If these cosmetic imperfections bother you, there are several aesthetic dental treatments available to help improve the look of your teeth.

How Can You Prevent Craze Lines?

Although craze lines are often unavoidable due to age and normal wear, there are steps you can take to reduce their occurrence:

• Avoid putting stress on your teeth by eliminating habits like nail biting, chewing ice, or using your teeth to open objects.
• Protect your teeth during contact sports by wearing a mouthguard, which can prevent trauma and cracks in your enamel.
• Address bruxism (teeth grinding) by managing stress and using a night guard if necessary. Bruxism is a common cause of these lines in your teeth, and untreated grinding can lead to more severe damage over time.
• Correct an uneven bite with treatments like Invisalign®. When your teeth don’t align properly, the uneven pressure can lead to the development of craze lines.

Are Craze Lines a Cause for Concern?

While craze lines are typically harmless, they can become stained by foods and drinks like coffee, red wine, and dark sodas, or by habits like smoking. These stains often don’t respond to regular brushing, but professional teeth whitening can help. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, treatments like porcelain veneers can cover surface cracks and improve the overall appearance of your teeth.

In rare cases, if these lines are accompanied by pain, sensitivity, or swollen gums, this may indicate a deeper crack that extends into the tooth’s interior. It’s essential to consult your dentist to prevent further damage to your tooth’s structure.

Treatment Options for Lines In Your teeth

At Smith Dentalworks, we offer a range of cosmetic treatments to address craze lines and improve the appearance of your smile. From professional whitening to porcelain veneers, we can help you regain your confidence with customized treatment options. Correcting your bite or addressing bruxism can also have long-term benefits for both your smile and your overall oral health.

If craze lines or other cosmetic imperfections are affecting your confidence, schedule an appointment with our Oro Valley dental office today. Let us help you explore the best treatment options for your needs and restore the beauty and strength of your smile.

If you have damaged or discolored teeth, dental bonding can help repair and create a natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing, brighter smile. Bonding is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses composite resin material to repair minor issues and to restore and improve your natural look. This procedure can fill in and eliminate small cracks, chips, fractures, and reduce gaps between teeth. It can also help hide discoloration, help fix excessive wear and tear on your teeth, and can reshape teeth to remove inconsistencies and make them appear more uniform. Additionally, bonding is one of the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental options.

Dental Bonding Procedure

At Smith Dentalworks, we use the same composite material for our fillings as we use for our dental bonding treatment. After examining and cleaning the tooth or teeth, we will roughen up the tooth enamel slightly. We will then apply a mild conditioning liquid that will help the material adhere. This bonding material is applied in several coats and shaped to match the tooth size. Next, it is hardened with a specially designed light. Once the tooth has been built up enough, the bond is then sculpted to the desired shape and texture to match the surrounding natural teeth.

Advantages of Dental Bonding

Dental bonding can help repair your teeth and unlike veneers or crowns, this procedure removes little or none of the original tooth. It’s quick, non-invasive, and painless. The tooth remains intact so most people do not need anesthesia or pain medication for the bonding procedure. It is typically less expensive than dental crowns or porcelain veneers. This is because all work is done in the office without the need for a dental lab.

Caring for Your Bonded Teeth

While restorative bonding is a long-lasting solution, you should always follow the same good oral health practices that you do for your regular teeth. You should floss daily and brush your teeth twice a day with a soft brush. Practicing good oral hygiene and getting regular dental care can help ensure that your bonded teeth last.

The composite material can be more prone to stain than other types of restorations. As a result, it is best to avoid food and drinks like wine, coffee, tea, berries, brightly colored candies, and colored drinks like sports drinks as much as possible. (This helps keep your natural teeth bright as well.) Porcelain veneers may be a better option if you are concerned about staining.

This material can also be more fragile than a veneer or crown and can chip. For the best and longest-lasting results, avoid biting your nails, or chewing on ice or other hard food objects. In general, these are good tips even if you have not had any dental bonding done. If you do notice that it feels odd biting down or if you develop a sharp edge on your bonded tooth, it is important to call us.

Quick, Non-Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental bonding is an excellent procedure for fixing minor damage and cosmetic problems with your teeth. At Smith Dentalworks, we will take the time to get to know your needs and help you choose the treatment that best fits you. We can meet with you, examine your teeth, and discuss how dental bonding or another cosmetic procedure can help improve your smile.

Contact our Oro Valley dentist office today to schedule an appointment to learn more about dental bonding and other dental procedures.

An overly-large space between two teeth is known as diastema or gap teeth. This can occur between any two teeth and a person can have multiple gaps. The type that is most noticeable and therefore usually presents the biggest concern for patients is a gap between the upper front teeth. There are some situations where this can cause other oral health issues but in most cases it is just a cosmetic concern. While some individuals like the appearance of this space, others are bothered by it. Luckily, there are many options for fixing gap teeth.

These include:

Invisalign Clear Aligners

Orthodontic treatment can close the gap between teeth in addition to fixing other types of misalignment. Invisalign is a great solution for many patients. The clear aligners are discreet and you remove them while eating so you can still enjoy all of the foods you love. The timeline varies depending on your unique situation, but the average time for treatment is approximately 12 months. Clear aligners may be the right option for you if your gap teeth are severe or if you have other orthodontic issues you would like to address at the same time. Dr. Atty Smith is a preferred Invisalign dentist and can evaluate whether this course of action is best for you.

Veneers

Veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover your teeth and can address a wide variety of cosmetic dental concerns, including gap teeth. One of the major benefits of porcelain veneers is that they can give you a new smile in as little as two appointments. They are also durable and stain resistant. However, enamel does need to be removed during the preparation process, so this is something to consider before getting veneers. Additionally, this may not be the best option if you have a very wide gap or if your gap is related to other oral health issues, such as gum disease.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is the process of using tooth-colored resin to make repairs or adjustments to your smile. This can be a good option for a small gap. Our cosmetic dentist is highly skilled and will ensure the bonding looks natural and that you are completely satisfied with the results. This is the quickest option for fixing gap teeth and is typically done in one appointment. This is also a more affordable option. However, bonding will need to be replaced or redone sooner than veneers and is typically less durable. The resin is also less resistant to stains than porcelain.

A Gap From a Missing Tooth

Instead of a gap between two teeth, you may have a gap in your smile caused by a missing tooth. In this case, we would discuss either a dental implant with a crown or a dental bridge. An implant prevents bone loss and will typically last longer. However, a bridge may be more affordable and could be a good solution if the teeth on either side of the gap need crowns due to tooth decay or another concern.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Oro Valley, AZ

At Smith Dentalworks, we can evaluate your tooth gap and can recommend a solution that would be best for you. We take your aesthetic goals, financial considerations, and other oral health concerns into account to develop a customized treatment plan.

To discuss solutions for gap teeth, contact us today.

Imagine visiting a dental office that doesn’t use drills for many procedures, where most treatment is pain-free without the need for dental anesthetics and that frustrating numb feeling? Welcome to Smith Dentalworks, located in Oro Valley, AZ!

How can it be possible to do dental procedures without drills or numbing anesthetics? With the Solea laser dentistry! Laser dentistry has been in practice in the dental world for over 50 years; however, the Solea Laser takes things to the next level.

Benefits of Solea Laser Dentistry in Oro Valley, AZ.

Quicker Healing Time

Because a dental laser uses concentrated light and heat, it also seals and sterilizes the treated area. This allows for a more efficient and easier healing period than surgical procedures used in the past that required stitches.

Treatment for Both Hard and Soft Tissues

Dentists use most dental lasers for treating soft tissues like your gums. The Solea Laser is capable of performing procedures on both soft and hard tissues like:

• Gum contouring
• Dental fillings
• Oral surgery
• Periodontal treatment

This allows us to use the dental laser for many more types of procedures giving our patients the many benefits the laser provides.

A More Streamlined Process

The Solea Laser can replace the drill in many types of procedures, which means we also don’t have to use numbing dental anesthetics. Because of its precision and accuracy, the dental laser can also complete many procedures faster.

Overall, using the Solea Laser for dental treatment provides our patients with a more comfortable and efficient process.

The Cure for Dental Anxiety

If you’ve spent time away from the dentist due to fear or anxiety, we encourage you to contact Smith Dentalworks in Oro Valley at (520) 505-4422 to learn more about how the Solea Laser can help you have a more comfortable experience.