Broadway Family Dentistry

Studies show that people with bright white, “perfect” smiles are perceived more favorably when another person first meets them. We’d all love to have this “perfect” smile, but rarely do people have them…naturally. Dr. Hirst and Dr. Jensen can give you a beautiful smile with cosmetic dentistry. Through various available treatments, we can help cover the existing flaws with your teeth and give you a smile to show off to the world. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COSMETIC DENTISTRY AND GENERAL DENTISTRY? Aesthetics versus function. That’s basically the difference between cosmetic dentistry and general dentistry. Most people associate the dentist with placing fillings and bridges, maybe replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant. Those kinds of dental treatments are all about keeping your oral health in good shape: they’re addressing functional problems. Cosmetic dentistry is concerned with the aesthetic appearance of your teeth and overall smile. Cosmetic treatments may seek to whiten stained teeth or use composite resin bonding to mask a chipped tooth. Goals can overlap, for instance a crown can save a tooth with heavy decay, but a crown can also completely change the aesthetic shape of a misshapen tooth. Cosmetic dentistry has the goal of giving you a dazzling smile without addressing overall oral health and function problems such as gum disease or decay. At Broadway, we use cosmetic dentistry within general dentistry to improve patients’ tooth shape, whiteness, alignment, and overall appearance in addition to improving the functional problems and patients’ oral health. WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO HAVE COSMETIC DENTISTRY DONE? Those flaws we mentioned above, we all have them. It could be a slight gap between your two front teeth, or you could have a chipped tooth. You could even be missing a tooth that you knocked out in a Minot pond hockey game and never bothered replacing. That’s where Dr. Hirst and Dr. Jensen can use various cosmetic treatments to camouflage flaws. These are some common flaws that cosmetic dentistry would improve: Fixing a chipped tooth Whitening a badly stained tooth/teeth Applying veneers to make the teeth more uniform Fixing a gummy smile Closing a gap between teeth Changing the shape of a tooth Lengthening the crown of an overly short tooth Covering badly pitted teeth WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR COSMETIC DENTISTRY TREATMENT? To be eligible to have our Broadway Family Dentistry team give you a perfect smile with cosmetic treatments, you need to start with healthy teeth. Remember, these are only cosmetic improvements. If you have problems such as gum disease or you have a tooth or teeth with decay, those issues would need to be addressed before you could even consider cosmetic treatments. But if you have cosmetic issues such as stains from tetracycline you were given as a kid, cosmetic dentistry is the way to overcome them. If only a tooth or two is stained, we could use composite resin bonding or even maybe a single veneer. If your staining is widespread, a full set of porcelain veneers may cover it and give you a brilliant whiter smile. Cosmetic dentistry can give you a beautiful smile, and who wouldn’t like that? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TOOLS USED FOR COSMETIC DENTISTRY? At Broadway Family Dentistry, we use a variety of different procedures to give our patients the brightest, most beautiful smiles. Composite Fillings — We place only composite resin fillings, which are the color of your natural teeth and camouflage once in your tooth. Porcelain restorations — Porcelain veneers or crowns are placed over the teeth. They can change the color or shape of the teeth. They can correct unevenly spaced, crooked, chipped, oddly shaped, or badly discolored teeth. Gum contouring — We can use our dental laser to reduce gummy smiles without the pain or recovery necessary with typical incisions and sutures. Bonding — Composite resin can be used to fix a flaw on a tooth, such as a chip. Or it can change the shape of a single tooth. Bonding is less expensive than a porcelain veneer, but it doesn’t last as long. Whitening — At Broadway, we use our Er:YAG laser to activate professional whitening gel for our one-hour, in-office whitening treatments. We also offer at-home teeth whitening custom-fit trays and professional gel. Dental implants — While you could really categorize a dental implant as a general dentistry procedure, it also improves the appearance of your smile. You can use an implant to replace a missing tooth or a tooth that is so badly damaged it will need to be extracted.

DENTAL IMPLANTS IN MINOT, ND Your teeth affect your body’s health. When they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. Unfortunately, when a tooth is lost, it can affect your bite, speech, and ability to digest properly. As more teeth are lost, the remaining teeth take on more force and can cause them to wear out prematurely or be damaged or lost. One solution to this problem is dental implants. Broadway Family Dentistry provides dental implants for patients at our Minot, ND location. To schedule a consultation, give us a call at (701) 839-1299. What is a dental implant? Dental implants get their name from the titanium implant, a screw-shaped anchor that screws down into the hole in the jawbone formerly occupied by the natural tooth root. Once the implant is placed, the jawbone accepts and grows around the threads of the titanium prosthetic, making it a part of the jawbone. A post or abutment is then attached to the implant and an artificial porcelain tooth is attached to the post. To the patient, the new implant feels very similar to a natural tooth because it is anchored in the jaw. Patients are able to eat any food with the implant attached and often find it improves their chewing ability. Why Dental Implants? Generally, patients lose 25% of their jawbone support within the first year after a tooth is lost. Thankfully, dental implants are a great way to avoid this problem. Dental implants preserve the bone and help you retain your ability to eat and speak normally. What Are My Options for Dental Implants? Whether replacing a single tooth or multiple teeth, dental implants are a great way to improve your aesthetics and function. Titanium dental implants can either have crowns placed onto them if replacing one or a few teeth, or they can be used to support other removable appliances like dentures to greatly improve chewing function. Our dentists at Broadway Family Dentistry can help you decide if dental implants are right for you. What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants? Dental implants fit securely and allow patients to chew normally. They are cosmetically similar to natural teeth, so patients can smile without being self-conscious. Another important benefit is that implants also prevent decay in the jawbone that can accompany tooth loss. What are the risks involved with dental implants? TThis is an extremely low-risk procedure. Implants have been used for about half a century and have proven to be very effective. The biggest risk involved is of the implant not anchoring sufficiently in the jawbone and the implant failing. Patients that have active gum disease, called periodontitis, are also at higher risk of failure due to bacteria that can cause bone loss around implants. Smokers have increased risk of failure than nonsmokers. Will The New Teeth Feel Natural? Yes, dental implants look and feel much like natural teeth. They are constructed to feel like real teeth and are fused to the jawbone so they always feel secure. Implants are often more comfortable and fit better than other options. How long do dental implants last? Dental implants are incredibly durable; they are far and away the longest lasting dental prosthetic. As long as the patient doesn’t have jawbone deterioration due to gum disease, the implant will often last for decades. If bone heals well around the threads, the implant itself can even last the rest of a patient’s life. How do I care and maintain a dental implant? Caring for a dental implant is no different than caring for your natural teeth — brush for two minutes twice daily, flossing, and preventative maintenance at the dental office. Some patients also benefit from use of a water flosser or mouth-rinse to keep their bone around the implant healthy. What are the alternatives to having a dental implant? Dental implants are the superior method for replacing a missing tooth because they function most similar to a natural tooth and can last for decades. The only other non-removable option to replace a missing tooth or two is a dental bridge. Bridges have crowns on the natural teeth on both sides of the missing tooth. The crowns are attached to an underlying metal structure with a porcelain artificial tooth fused to the metal. If you’re missing multiple teeth, bridges are a more affordable option compared with a series of dental implants. Bridges do not have the same durability as implants. When multiple teeth and both sides of a patient’s dental arch are missing, they may choose to have a removable partial denture or partial. In this option, metal clasps hold on to the patient’s teeth. The artificial teeth are made of white, tooth-colored plastic and are held in place by pink resin. These can be a cost effective option, but will often catch food and need to be taken out to cleaned.

WHAT IS A TONGUE TIE? When tethered oral tissue (frenum or lip tie/tongue tie) inhibit adequate range of motion of either the upper lip or tongue, it can create both immediate and long-term problems in infants, children, and adults. Why is Frenectomy Important? In infants, a severely tethered lip or tongue can impede nursing efforts, can cause a shallow or painful latch, increases the risk of plugged ducts or mastitis, and can lead to swallowing of more air when breastfeeding. These babies are often gassy, may spit up more often and may be diagnosed with reflux. Besides causing problems with nursing or bottle feeding, if left untreated, severely “tied” lips can increase the risk of cavities on front teeth, and in some cases can cause spacing between the top front two teeth. A severely “tied” tongue may lead to speech problems, and also leads to increased mouth breathing due to incorrect tongue posture and in some cases sleep apnea. Dr. Jensen’s Solution In children and adults, high attachments of tissue can pull on the gums, leading to recession and may require surgical gum grafts as being the only option to repair the damage. Our doctors evaluate lip ties and tongue ties, tethered oral tissue, for severity and function problems and can revise this tissue quickly in the office without the need for general anesthesia using our lasers. Dr. Jensen has been providing this service for infants in the area since 2013. She is also currently a member of the International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals.

WHY IS SNORING A PROBLEM? Anyone who has tried to sleep near someone who snores understands how snoring can strain relationships. What many people don’t realize is that snoring does not just affect the bed partner, but can cause physical problems like hypertension, sleepiness or fatigue, morning headaches, impotence, depression, stroke and heart attacks. Call Today to Schedule Your Appointment WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP REDUCE SNORING? Besides losing weight (if overweight), it is important to avoid alcohol or heavy large meals before bedtime. Energy drinks or highly caffeinated beverages can also contribute to snoring problems and should be avoided. For some people with nasal snoring, OTC items like breath-rite strips can be helpful also. NIGHTLASE™ SNORING TREATMENT Nightlase™ is a fast, non-invasive technique for the treatment of snoring. It reduces the intensity of snoring with gentle pulses of light energy without any needles, anesthesia or chemicals. The technique can also be used as an adjunctive treatment with either the CPAP machine or oral devices for the treatment of sleep apnea. It offers a great alternative to those that cannot tolerate the CPAP or other common treatments. This technique has been utilized with great success in Europe for many years, and it is now being offered in the United States. What is Nightlase™ treatment? Nightlase™ is a fast, non-invasive way to increase patient’s quality of sleep by decreasing the frequency and intensity of snoring with superficial Er: YAG laser light. How Can Nightlase™ prevent snoring? Nightlase™ works as the laser light energy gently heat the tissue, causing tightening and toning of the soft tissues. This tightening and toningreduce the intensity of snoring and opens the airway allowing easier breathing. The procedures is performed in three separate sessions over 9 weeks with the results lasting up to a year. When loved ones notice the tissue relaxing again and snoring becoming more frequent, another session of treatment can usually be performed to continue the restful sleep. Does it hurt? Nightlase™ is virtually painless during and after the procedure. During the procedure, patients usually experience the feeling of heat on the area. This heat is desirable because it means the laser energy is working. There is no downtime after the procedure and normal activities resume immediate without restrictions. Patients’ families often noticed a difference right away in their snoring, though best results are evident after all three sessions. We are very excited to be the first dentist in North Dakota that is qualified to provide Nightlase™ in its office. Please contact our office at (701) 839-1299 for a consultation to find out whether you might be a good candidate for this snoring treatment in Minot, ND serving patients from Williston, Garrison, New Town, Rugby, Bismark and Devils Lake, ND.

WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL? Probably the least understood dental procedure (and surely surrounded by the most misconceptions), root canals are the only way to save an infected tooth. Once decay and infection penetrate the tooth’s outer enamel layer and the hard dentin layer beneath, it has entered the pulp of the tooth. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots. Where these roots run are called the root canals. When infection enters the pulp, the infected tissues must be removed and the tooth thoroughly cleaned and then filled. This is a root canal. Since permanent teeth no longer need the nourishment provided by the connective tissues and blood vessels in the tooth root (they are only necessary when the tooth is developing), removing these soft tissues doesn’t endanger the health of the tooth. By halting the spread of the infection, a root canal can allow the patient to keep the tooth, potentially for the remainder of his or her life. When is a Root Canal Needed? When infection penetrates the enamel and the dentin, the soft tissues of the pulp are defenseless. The infection will spread throughout the tooth and can eventually lead to abscesses and possible spreading of infection to other parts of the body. When the pulp, where the tooth nerves are found, becomes infected the tooth may become very sensitive. The patient will have pain, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, tenderness to the touch and when chewing, discoloration of the tooth, swelling and tenderness of the surrounding gum tissue, and persistent pimples on the gums. The only way to address the infection and pain is to either extract the tooth or to perform a root canal. What To Expect During A Root Canal Some root canals can be done in one visit, however, in some cases, a root canal requires two appointments with the Broadway Family Dentistry team in Minot, ND. During the first appointment, we first numb the tooth and the surrounding area. We drill a small hole in the crown of the tooth to gain access to the interior. Working through the hole, we use small files to remove all of the infected nerves, blood vessels, and other debris in the pulp cavity and down into the root canals. The now-empty tooth cavity is then flushed with water and sodium hypochlorite to remove any remaining debris and to thoroughly disinfect the interior of the tooth. Next, we seal the empty tooth with biocompatible sealer and a rubber based material. We then seal the tooth with adhesive cement, and we close the hole with a traditional dental composite filling. In some teeth, this is sufficient and the procedure is finished. When your crown is finished, you return and we place it with a hard set resin cement. Your tooth is good to go to keep you chewing. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Do Root Canals Hurt Root canal procedures are surrounded by undeserved fear. People think the procedure is painful but often it doesn’t involve any more discomfort than a typical filling. People tie the pain of their infected tooth to the root canal procedure, but the root canal is the solution to remove the pain. You need to remember that a root canal removes all of the nerves from the infected tooth, so it no longer has any sensation. Afterward, there will be some residual soreness as the surrounding tissues calm down from their former infected state, but this lasts only a day or two and is easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication. How Long Will it Take to Recover from a Root Canal? There isn’t really any recovery necessary. As mentioned, the tooth no longer has any nerve feelings in it. You can bite and chew with the tooth immediately with confidence. There may be some soreness for a day or so, but that’s about it. Will I Need to Replace My Teeth After a Root Canal? As mentioned above, a tooth only needs the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues when it is growing. Adult teeth maintain their health from a process known as mineralization, not from the interior of the tooth. So, once the infected interior of the tooth is cleaned out and filled, the tooth can remain in place for decades. Even after protecting the tooth with a crown, root canal teeth can also get cavities on them. It is important to keep the area around and between these teeth clean to prevent premature loss of these teeth.

DENTURES MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA Missing teeth has negative effects on one’s dental health, but it can also be a huge burden on everyday life. Chewing and speaking can be strenuous or impossible, and overall appearance and self esteem is compromised. Broadway Family Dentistry makes custom dentures at our Minot, ND location for patients whose teeth cannot be restored, and require extraction. Do I Need Dentures? Anyone can lose teeth for a variety of reasons. Getting older often entails the gradual loss of teeth, and of course, accidents happen. Missing teeth can cause strain on the ones that remain, resulting in pain and difficulty functioning. When teeth are missing or no longer restorable, dentures are an effective option. What are the Different Types of Dentures? Dentures are always customized to the patient’s needs. They may be complete and replace all of the patient’s teeth, or they can be partial, replacing one or several teeth. Both partial and complete options are an alternative to having nothing to replace the teeth. TYPES OF DENTURES There are three types : Complete Dentures Complete or full dentures are only required for people who have lost all or most of the teeth on either of the two arches of the mouth. Fixed Partial Dentures Most patients missing only a few teeth opt for “fixed partial,” also known as “crown and bridge.” These must be precisely installed, especially when in between healthy teeth. Removable Partial Dentures Removable partial dentures are different from fixed partial dentures in that they are normally only used by people who have lost too many teeth for fixed dentures, but too few for a full fix. How to Adjust to Dentures Most people find that it takes some time to adjust to dentures. Adapting to dentures is not only possible, it is rewarding. With time, things like chewing and speaking can be comfortable and easy. Our Doctors will work with you to make your transition is as smooth as possible.

RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY Broadway Family Dentistry offers restorative dentistry procedures such as dental fillings and dental crowns to help restore teeth for patients in Minot, Williston, Garrison, New Town, Rugby, Bismark and Devils Lake, ND. Call Today to Schedule Your Appointment Dental Fillings When cavities are addressed at their earliest point, the doctors at Broadway Family Dentistry can often use their laser to fix them. The advantage of using the laser for these earlier stage cavities is that patients typically don’t need to be numb; therefore, cavities in several areas of the mouth can be treated comfortably in one visit. Decay (cavities) and fractures in teeth if left untreated can lead to difficulty in chewing as well as pain and temperature sensitivity. At Broadway Family Dentistry we use composite resin (tooth colored) filling material as well as porcelain crowns (or “caps”) to restore teeth to their original shape. Dental Crowns When more than 75% of the tooth structure is missing or replaced by filling material, often the best option is treatment with a porcelain crown (or “cap”). Crowns are also an important treatment investment when teeth have visible cracks or have undergone root canal therapy, as these teeth are at much higher risk for breakage. Once cracks have spread to the roots, the only choice is often removal of the tooth. For more information about restorative dentistry such as dental fillings and dental crowns in Minot, ND serving patients in Williston, Garrison, New Town, Rugby, Bismark and Devils Lake, ND, give Broadway Family Dentistry a call at (701) 839-1299 or fill out a Contact Form here.

TEETH WHITENING OPTIONS Whether it’s a glass of red wine with dinner, a handful of blueberries for a snack, or that cup of morning coffee — all of these favorites of our collective diets tend to stain our teeth. Plus, our teeth naturally become a little more dingy with the passing years. But at Broadway Family Dentistry we can brighten your smile with our in-office or at-home teeth whitening treatments. They’ll take away the stains and leave your teeth up to eight shades whiter. Our office has three great teeth whitening options in Minot, North Dakota. Laser Teeth Whitening The first option is great for people that do not have a lot of time but want that jump start to lighter/brighter teeth in just one visit. Dr. Jensen uses professional strength whitening gel and our laser to safely speed up the whitening process. Unlike other whitening lights, the use of our Er: YAG laser does not heat the nerve of the tooth the way some intense lights or lasers can. This significantly reduces any risk of nerve damage and sensitivity caused by many of the other whitenings. Professional Teeth Whitening The second option is perfect if you want the initial boost of an in-office treatment, but the ability to touch up your brightness of the teeth at home, our custom whitening trays are your best choice. In just two short appointments, custom fit trays are fabricated and delivered. Professional grade whitening material is sent home with you to whiten teeth faster and more predictably than any product available for purchase OTC. Within a few days, you will already notice a difference in color. It doesn’t take long to brighten your smile. Glo Whitening Glo whitening is the only teeth whitening technology to combine gentle warming heat and safe LED light in a closed system mouthpiece to accelerate the results with optimal patient comfort. The benefits of Glo Professional In-Office whitening are faster, brighter results with less sensitivity than traditional in office methods. The At-Home Glo professional whitening allows patients to use the same technology with the highest strength of whitening that is allowed to be dispensed for home use. Glo whitening is perfect for patients that want to whitening quickly. The in-office professional whitening allows patients to have lighter, brighter teeth in an hour and is great for those that are busy at home or need their teeth lighter right away. The at-home whitening is perfect for patients that already have bright teeth and want to maintain a lighter shade or those that find it more convenient to whiten at home due to work/family schedule. Ideally, cavities have been fixed first to prevent discomfort. Crowns and existing fillings do not whiten with any at home or professional whitening product. If patients have an existing filling/crown that they do not like the shade of, whiten first and then a new filling or crown could get placed to match the new brighter/whiter teeth. Learn More From Our Blog! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why Do Teeth Stain? Our tooth enamel, like our fingerprints, is unique. No two people have exactly the same color and porosity. There are many reasons our enamel becomes stained and more yellow. Some you can control; others not so much. Most stains are on the enamel, the outer protective covering on the teeth. Some, especially the result of medications, can be on the dentin (the bulk of the tooth beneath the enamel) and are harder to address. These factors can impact the whiteness of your teeth: What you eat — Foods such as blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries have natural pigments in them that stain the teeth. What you drink — Coffee, tea, red wine, some juices, and colas also stain your teeth. Smoking — Nicotine leaves yellow stains on the teeth. Drugs — Tetracycline is the main culprit in stained dentin. This antibiotic used heavily in the 60s and 70s left the teeth of many children who had taken it stained. Sometimes this staining is so deep and pervasive that the only way to address it is with bonding or porcelain veneers. Fluorosis — If a child has too much fluoride, it leads to fluorosis, which stains the teeth. This is very rare. Your genes — Each of us has a different shade of the enamel on our teeth. Some is more yellow than others. What is Teeth Whitening? At Broadway Family Dental, we offer two teeth whitening procedures for our patients to remove the stains and return your teeth to their natural whiteness. Our in-office treatment uses a laser to activate our professional whitening gel. Our at-home whitening trays accomplish the same degree of whitening, but at a slower pace at home.