Elmbrook Family Dental

Our Practice Can Improve Your Smile With Dental Implants

January 15, 2014

For millions of people who have reservations regarding their smile can prevent them from living the way they want to. Whether it’s the color of your teeth, the misalignment, or the obvious gaps, insecurities about your smile make you cautious to laugh with your friends, smile, or even tell someone hello. A lot of people, though, are less than confident in their smile because they have teeth missing. Though there are a couple ways to handle the issue, dental implants at Elmbrook Family Dental may be a great option!

A consultation with our very experienced doctors is the first step in dental implanting. There, they will be able to get a better look at your smile and speak with you about your long term goals. Once you are considered to be a candidate, the fun begins. A metal implant, looking nearly identical to a screw, is embedded into your jaw bone. This screw-like metal implant is able to give your new teeth security and stability. Then the abutment is added, which is essentially a support system for the metal implant as well as the crown to be placed on top. After that, the tooth-resembling crown is cemented to the abutment, completing your new look!

With a nearly perfect success rate, dental implants will give you back the security may have lost. It can even improve your speech and ability to eat. Another plus with getting dental implants is the fact they look very natural. Smoothly blending in with your natural teeth, implants are a sure way for you to look AS natural as possible. Contact our office to see if you’re a candidate for dental implants, and celebrate the New Year with a new smile!

Elmbrook Family Dental is committed to providing state-of-the art dental care for you and your family from our Brookfield, WI dental office. Call us today to learn more or schedule your next appointment.

Hand washing!

January 12, 2014

Did you know that many of you out there are not washing your hands adequately and don’t even know it? The most effective hand wash is done with warm or cold water and for a full 20 seconds. Be sure to focus on your finger tips and around your nail bed as these are great places for germs to hide. Rinse well and dry with paper towel. Use the towel to turn off the faucet in order to avoid touching a dirty handle.

Good hand washing technique is an easy and important step to avoid falling sick with the cold or flu this season. Visit the Center for Disease Control website for more information: www.cdc.gov

Your teeth are not meant to be a tool!

January 6, 2014

Since we have been in practice for so many years, we have seen and heard it all! People using their teeth for things other than biting and chewing their food. Well, we are here to clear things up. Your teeth are not meant to be used as tools. They are meant to chew and look beautiful when you smile. Many people use their teeth to open packages, tear retail tags off of clothing, and we have even heard them being used to open soda cans. Yikes! These behaviors can lead to immediate and obvious broken or chipped teeth. They can unfortunately also cause the more silent problem of micro-fractures that may not become apparent for years.

So, before you decide to chew off the tag on that new sweater you just bought, consider the risk. A scissors will do a much better job and you can keep your flawless smile!

Tooth Whitening

December 13, 2013

Did you know that our office has the ability to create custom whitening trays just for you? Most patients have stain on their teeth to some extent. Stain can come from use of coffee, tea, dark soda, red wine, tobacco or even some oral hygiene products. If you have some stain on your teeth, talk with us about it at your next visit. We can help!

Our custom whitening trays are made here in the office and it is a two-step process. We will take an impression of your teeth at your first visit. We create models and your custom trays and have you come back 1-2 weeks later to have them delivered. At this second visit, we check to make sure they fit correctly, and go over instructions and tips on how to use them at home. The rest is up to you! Your trays are worn at home until the desired whiteness is achieved. The best part? Your trays will fit for many years to come so you can ‘touch up’ your smile any time you need to!

Common Myth busted: “If you have a cavity, You’ll know it.”

December 4, 2013

The thought that “having a cavity will always cause some sensitivity or discomfort” is a very big, bad myth. Tooth decay will not generally cause symptoms until it is advanced enough to reach the nerve. Not treating decay in the early stages will lead to much more expensive procedures like root canal therapy. That’s why early detection through regular dental exams and x-rays is so important! We can detect these cavities before they advance into the nerve and repair them with more simple, less expensive treatments.

So, before you decide to wait until it hurts, think of what it may cost you in the end. Remember: once a cavity starts, it will only continue to grow

Use Your Dental Benefits Before 2014

December 2, 2013

fluoride11 Though it may not seem important, taking advantage of your dental insurance before the year ends can save you money in the long run. Because most insurance companies run off of the calendar year, whatever benefits you haven’t used before midnight December 30 is long gone.

Not comparable to your cell phone minutes, your dental insurance benefits don’t roll over to the new year if you have not used them. You work hard for your benefits, and not taking advantage of them before the year is up can possible leave you wasting hundreds of dollars. If you use your benefits before the New Year, you’ll be able to take advantage of your deductible before it resets. It’ll also give you the ability to use up your annual maximums. Another important reason is to take care of any dental woes before they get any worse! Even though it may seem like a small stain or discomfort now, along the line, it can possibly mean a more extensive procedure.

If you are unsure about what your dental benefits may be or when they expire, ask your employer, or use the company handbook as a reference. Either way, being able to use your dental benefits before the year ends is beneficial for your money, and, more importantly, your teeth.

Healthy Thanksgiving recipes

November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. We all love to enjoy the fantastic food that comes along with it. Just because it’s the holidays, doesn’t mean you have to eat unhealthy. We have decided to share some healthier versions of some great Thanksgiving recipes. Check them out and be sure to let us know what you think!

Cauliflower mashed ‘potatoes’: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RE00142

Flavorful turkey and gravy: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/turkey-gravy/RE00130

No meal is complete without dessert. Rustic apple-cranberry tart: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/NU00545

Welcoming another baby!

November 18, 2013

Another beautiful baby girl has been born to our hygiene (previously front desk) staff member, Amanda G. On October 28th, Amanda and her husband Mike welcomed Baby Evelyn into the world. 5lbs 15.5oz and 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great! Evieblog

5th Annual Food Drive

November 4, 2013

You may have received an e-mail from us last week in regards to our annual food drive, but in case you missed it, here is the info:

We are proud to be collecting non-perishable food items for the 5th year in a row! Working with the Hunger Task Force, we will be collecting food items here in our office through November 25th. All patients and non-patients are welcome to donate. Stop in any time during business hours (even if you don’t have an appointment) to donate. As a ‘Thank you’ to those who donate, each person will be entered to win an awesome gift basket which is valued at over $550.00! One entry per day, per person. So, stop in often for more than one chance to win!

It is important to our doctors and staff to reach out to those less fortunate in the community. We are thankful for patients like you who can help make it happen.

Baby Shower

October 19, 2013

Our front desk team member Tiffany is going to be welcoming her first baby into the world this December. To celebrate, the staff threw her a special baby shower on Friday. We enjoyed some time together along with some great food and adorable baby gifts. Tiffany and her husband are due with baby Owen in early December.