Name: Somos Dental
Address: Phoenix, United States
Telephone: 623-869-1091

June 7, 2019July 20, 2019

What to know before getting braces? The patient’s perspective.

Don’t risk your health, come with the experts.

On our last dental blog article, we talked about the medical point of view on what to expect when getting dental braces. Now that we talked about from the professional and ethical position, we will talk about some tales, advices, and information that we have gathered that come from our patients that is not taught in dental-health school.

What to know before getting braces? The patient’s perspective.

Once that you get braces you will feel “weird” for some time.

We are sure that this is the best-known piece of information that people know about going through this type of dental procedure. The fun thing about this point is that every patient describes the feeling completely different from the other ones. Some say that “the mouth, lips and teeth feel so big in the mouth”, others say that they feel like having coins in their teeth, and even some say that even though they feel different, they do not mind or pay close attention to it.

That is why we cannot tell you exactly how and what you are going to feel once that you started this procedure. Because you surely may feel an original perception once you get your braces. That is why even though it is important to get to talk with people who already undergone an orthodontics’ treatment, you will have to wait until your appointment to know what everyone describes in a different way, yet somehow uses the adjective “weird” to specify.

After one or two weeks you will no longer notice your braces, you will get used to them

This is another well-known fact which is popular between former and even actual orthodontics patients. Once that you get your initial appointment and get your braces placed, you will feel the “weird” sensation for the first couple of days, then you will start to get used to your braces up to the point that you do not even still feel them in your mouth, they will be a normal part of your life.

Even though you do not feel “weird” anymore, you will feel different every time you get your braces tightened.

Some people describe the feeling when tightening the teeth as uncomfortable. Most of our patients always feel different when getting their braces tightened, yet the feeling of discomfort disappears after just a couple of hours of your appointment. Yet, you need to be aware that these routine meetings are worth the discomfort that they produce.

Okay, now I know some information on what to expect, now; how can I start this procedure? Where can I get more information?

As stated above, if you are reading this piece of article you must be looking for some educational information on what to expect on this dental procedure since you want to undergo through one and change your smile and your overall health. You are in the appropriate place. In Somos Dental we are known for our practical, affordable, and professional dental procedures being carried by our team of up-to-date certified dental health professionals.

If you are looking to go through this life-changing process, you can give us a call. In Somos dental we are health care experts, we are located in 4 different places, Downtown, Desert Sky, Mesa, and Camelback. Schedule an appointment at 623-869-1091.

Don’t risk your health, come with the experts.

June 6, 2019July 20, 2019

What to know before getting braces?

If you are reading this dental health article, you must be wondering what you should totally have in mind before getting dental braces. You may have already asked some friends or relatives who went through this process and may already have some ideas on what to expect. However, there are some other aspects which you need to have in consideration when opting to get into a life changing experience such as finally getting dental braces to change both your aesthetically smile and to improve your overall health and self-esteem. In this article we are going to talk about what to expect from both the medical and the personal point of view and experiences that we have gathered through our years of dental health practice.

Do not expect immediate results

Even when braces are not a life-long treatment, they surely are a medium-term commitment. This may seem as a bad marketing decision to tell you that changes are not immediate and that you need to be responsible while being under this type of proceedings, however, we need to make sure that our potential clients, and even future competence clients are totally aware of the nature of getting involved in this kind of orthodontics treatment.

So, how much time until I start to see visible changes?

Once that you have started your treatment, you will see noticeable results as soon as between three or four weeks, and 7 weeks to 2 months. This may not seem as a lot of time, and to be honest, it is not. However, some orthodontics clinics promise immediate results, but every single type of treatment will start to show results under this specified time frame.

Why does it take this time to start showing out results?

Starting an orthodontics process is a technical, complex, and carefully medical mediated procedure. The time it takes is the needed time to get you under a safe, and yet practical treatment so everything finishes up in the conveyed time frame while following strict medical guidelines. If the movement is slow it can result in the shortening of your denture’s roots, too quick and it can result in uncomfortable, unbearable pain, and bone and dental damage. That is why this procedure must be carried by trained and certified dental health professionals.

Okay, now I know some information on what to expect, now; how can I start this procedure? Where can I get more information?

Don’t risk your health, come with the experts.

April 17, 2019July 20, 2019

Are braces worth the time, pain and money?

Even though we know the aesthetic and health benefits that wearing braces can bring, most people tend to ask the same question: Are braces worth the time, pain, and money? Well, the answer is pretty straight forward… yes! You’ll be able to put your mind at ease once you understand the benefits of having this procedure done.

Why do people get braces?

There are a lot of reasons to get braces and while most may be aesthetically motivated, there are also some incredibly important health benefits to consider. Not only can they straighten your teeth, which will give you a big boost of confidence, braces can also help to fix over/under bites which will greatly reduce the wear and tear on a persons teeth.

Some people ask if the time, pain, and money will be worth it in the end and many others have a great deal of irrational fear related to having braces due to what they’ve heard from others or what they have seen on TV. So, whichever group you find yourself in today, keep reading. We are going to break down the top three areas of concern that people have regarding getting braces.

Time

This is one of the main reasons people postpone or even opt-out of getting dental treatment. You may have heard it said “out of sight, out of mind”, however, even though the overall process of wearing braces can require a significant amount of time, dental health is not something that gets better through procrastination. Whether you have an over/under bite, crooked teeth, or teeth that are spacing out due to the loss of a tooth, the best time to get the work done is now! As soon as you can! Waiting to get treatment will only serve to worsen dental issues; time will not “heal all wounds”, getting treatment will.

Pain

There’s no doubt that apart from time, pain is the biggest fear that people develop when considering getting braces, but like the old adage goes… “no pain, no gain”. It has been said that braces usually generate outstanding pain. Honestly, there can be a great deal of discomfort when you first start wearing them, but after you get through those first days, you will get used to having them on your teeth. Apart from the initial discomfort of having them put on, getting them tightened will also make you feel uncomfortable, but that usually goes away after a couple of hours. It’s important to note that the tools and technology used by orthodontists have come a long way and because of these advances, any pain and discomfort associated with getting braces has been significantly reduced!

Money

Lastly, lets talk about the money. The cost of dental work can be daunting to some people that are considering getting braces. Don’t look at it is a “cost”, but, rather, see it for what it truly is: an investment. There are a lot of things that we spend money on in this life that yields little to no return, but your teeth have a great impact on your health, work, and social life. It is an investment that yields a great personal return that is long lasting. At Somos, we understand the reality of these concerns and as a result are willing to work with you to make sure you get the care you need. At Somos Dental, you will receive top level care and an affordable rate, so give us a call or email us today with how we can help you have a happy, healthy smile!

November 27, 2018July 20, 2019

Orthodontics without braces?

Are orthodontics possible without brackets? Imagine the following situation, you are getting married in 6 months and you want to have…

White teeth;
Straight teeth;
And without braces.

Several methods have to be followed so your teeth look white and well aligned, which teeth whitening and orthodontics can solve. The problem consists that if you want to attend your wedding without braces and within 6 months, we have the next options.

Lingual braces.
Lingual braces are an excellent treatment option for when you want to have braces, but you do not want them to be visible each time you smile. Even though they are an excellent option, this treatment presents some limitations. For example, if the patient has a deep bite in which inferior teeth get close to the palate when biting, it will be impossible to use this kind of braces, since it is exactly there where they have to be placed.
Dental veneers
Lately, dental veneers have become more popular. There is even a lot of information on the internet about this treatment, where is assured that it is no necessity to wear down the tooth. However, this is complicated, since if you do not want to wear down your tooth when getting as veneer, the adhesive at the union between the veneer and the tooth will chance the pigment of the veneer to a darker one, that is why when choosing a veneer it is necessary to slightly wear down the tooth.
Invisible Orthodontics
Thanks to rapid advancement in technology, it is possible to choose this option. The process is the following: your dentist takes a model from the patient’s dentures, then these plaster models are scanned and sent to a computer to generate a 3D model. Through a software, teeth are moved in 10 stages, for which 10 teeth models are already taken which are printed by stereolithography (3D printing) with, which transparent dental guards are made for the patients.

Patient’s procedure is the following:

The patient must use the guards 23 hours each day; this means that they can only be removed for eating and brushing. They can be removed; however, this can result in a significant delay in the treatment.
These procedures are possible to achieve, the best option should be always the one that adapts to the patient needs and the one that reduces dental wear. So, in conclusion, it is possible to start an invisible orthodontics treatment, by a good cooperation between the patient and the dentist you will only get the best results. That is why you must only choose dental health care experts. In Somos Dental we only have the best dentists, our patients and their health are our priority.

Patients usually come with us looking for the best option for their specific case, and with confidence that they will only get the best treatment. This is both a big responsibility and honor for us since we are talking about something as important as dental health. This is why we only offer the best and most appropriate treatment that requires less wear for our patients.

If you have doubts concerning the most appropriate treatment for your situation, do not hesitate to visit us, we are in Downtown, Desert Sky, Mesa, and Camelback. You can schedule an appointment on the following phone number 623-869-1091.

Do not leave your dental health care with anyone, in Somos Dental we are committed with your health. See our Invisalign service HERE.

November 21, 2018July 20, 2019

Overcoming fear of the dentist

In America 7 out of every 10 people fear the dentist, but what causes this fear? We will list some reasons on why most people fear to go to the dentist.

Pain Fear
One of the biggest (if not the biggest!) problems that we associate when thinking about the dentist, or even hearing the word “dentist” is without a doubt; pain. However, this is far from a real perception, since as technology has advanced we now make use of better and less invasive tools that do not cause pain, not even discomfort at all. If you suffer from pain is because your dentist is not doing an appropriate job. Sure, there always are some little stings and gentle lip pulls, but such things are inevitable and not painful. So, if you suffer from uncomfortable pains it means that you are getting your teeth damaged, that is why you should always come with the experts.
Needles fear
Fear of needles or trypanophobia can be caused by bad experiences on past dental works, which predispose patients with fear and pain. This is a common psychological issue since modern dentistry now works with thinner and painless needles and tools. Furthermore, we use alternative methods of anesthesia, mainly based on topical medicine. Good dentists (Our dentists) are also trained with modern methodology on how to assess patients so they do not develop or suffer fear during the procedure or from the tools that are being used.
Fear of being lied by your dentist
A common doubt in patients is wondering if the dentist is giving you the correct treatment. For example, in the case of a dental implant the patient thinks; Is this treatment (piece) really necessary?, or, does my dentist just want to get more money from the procedure?, this kind of questions create justified doubts on patients, since sometimes they have had bad experiences with some dental health practitioners. In order to avoid this problem you need to find a dentist which you can trust, this can be achieved by looking at the dentist’s credentials, some dentists even have a web page in which you can look at testimonies and recommendations. It is important to get treatment with honest and professional dentists since there are several ones that will try to take advantage of the patient.
In addition, if you still in doubt, you can always schedule an appointment to know your potential dentist, a routine cleaning can be a good opportunity to get to know and ask questions about his or her experience.
Fear of your dentist not being good at his job
It is important to acknowledge that there are a lot of specialties as a dentist because there is an important difference between a routine cleaning, an implant, a dental crown, or an endodontic treatment; that is why it is important to ask your dentist, what is your field of specialty?. Also, even if your dentist practices as a general dentist you can ask him or her something like, what do you think is the field in which you are more specialized?. What you will find is that if you are going to need a specific treatment or dental work, it is important to search for a professional that has credentials in that area, by this way you will feel confident in the hands of your preferred professional.
Fear of having other untreated conditions.
Generally, people have fear of getting another mouth or dental problem discovered, but this is not an issue at all, since if your dentist discovers non-identified problems this could not only save you big sums of money –since you would be treating a problem before the only possible solutions are expensive— , but you could also save your life by getting the adequate treatment in time.

At Somos Dental we are health care experts and professionals that will only take the best care of your mouth, that is why we will always be available to answer any doubts and questions that you may have.

November 13, 2018July 20, 2019

Why do I have a black tooth?

A black tooth is a clear signal that the tooth is devitalized, this means that the tooth pulp and nerve are dead.

A tooth turns black when it loses blood flow. Therefore, a black tooth is weaker than a healthy tooth, so as time passes the tooth starts darkening until hitting a near-black color. That is the reason for the name!

Children are especially prone to suffer several accidents through their childhood, this causes that some of the fracture or damage their dentures, this happens when children hit their denture directly, which causes permanent damage to their dental pieces.

According to statistics data, it is estimated that between 8% to 30% of children under the age of 7 have suffered some kind of denture accident which mainly damage their frontal tooth pieces. Every time they suffer dental trauma, the tooth can turn to a different color pigment, such as pink, gray, blue, black, and more commonly: black.

Some causes for a black tooth can be the following:

Traumatism
A hit in the denture can cause dental pieces to change their color to any of the specified above. A hard hit can cause fracture, chips, and dents, which can subsequently cause nerve damage and weakening the tooth.
Pulp necrosis
Sometimes a darkened tooth may be a symptom of pulp necrosis, although it can also be related to other motives such as calcifications or internal bleeding. Pulp necrosis is the total or partial dead of the tooth’s soft tissue which is also known as the pulp. It is also the main cause of bacterial infections since dead tissues get easily infected. The most common cause of pulp necrosis is due to an accident that caused a tooth traumatism. The accident causes blood vessels to bleed inside the tooth, significantly weakening them and causing uncomfortable or even intense pain. As time passes bacteria starts building up in the dead tissues, causing the dental piece to start darkening. Tissues infected by bacteria are toxic and cause gum inflammation.
Deep dental cavities
It is important to visit your dentist every six months. You also ought to have an annual dental cleaning so you can prevent any mouth/dental problems, such as cavities. Dental cavities can permanently damage your teeth if they are not controlled, they can not only turn them black, you can also end losing your dental pieces!
Black teeth treatment
There are some options for treating a black tooth. When a black tooth is caused by a traumatism an endodontic followed by a whitening treatment is needed. Furthermore, there are more details to have in considerations, such as if there is a fracture. If the piece is severely damaged sometimes it will be needed to extract and replace the tooth. When there is a deep-rooted cavity, the infection first needs to be controlled by an endodontic treatment as long as the tooth root is intact and the bone has not to be damaged; once there is no more infection, the piece is restored with a porcelain crown.

Where can I be attended?

In Somos dental we are health care experts, we are located in 4 different places, Downtown, Desert Sky, Mesa, and Camelback. Schedule an appointment at 623-869-1091.

Don’t risk your health, come with the experts.

October 30, 2018July 20, 2019

8 reasons for not chewing gum

Chewing gums comes from ancient civilizations, people used to make several cuts through tree trunks and they used to get tree sap which they let dry and used to chew so they could clean their mouth, their teeth or even for calming down hunger. However, it differs from those days, nowadays we have several chewing gum brands which have let people create chewing habits to the point in which they never stop chewing.

Muscle over-stimulation from chewing
If you chew gum regularly, jaw muscles start to grow and get stronger. The problem is that when chewing we over-use force which. Therefore, in few words, chewing gum for several hours is the equal of training in a mouth gym.
Headaches.
This one is straightly related to the first point since jaw muscles get stronger, they get tense enough to develop headaches. This is because these muscles are really close to the ear canal temporomandibular joint, it gets inflamed, and produce strong headaches; several times these headaches are caused by excessive gum chewing, so we ought to have precautions with this.
Neck pain
When this joint is overstimulated, you will develop neck pain. This is because all those muscles are connected, and that can be directly caused by excessive gum chewing. Therefore, if you suffer from neck pain, and you chew gum, you ought to be careful since this could be what is developing the pain.
Heartburn
This symptom is straightly related to chewing gum. For example, if you have not eaten, and you start to chew gum, your stomach will think that you are actually eating, therefore, it will star producing stomach acids so it can receive the ´food´, making you suffer from heartburns. You will also get some throat irritation and all the acidity symptoms. This is why it is not recommended to chew gum while on an empty stomach.
Dental works damage
If you have dental works, such as amalgams, dental resins, dental crowns, dental braces, or any other kind of dental work, gum should be your worst enemy. These works are made to support loads, but not to be pulled by the gum. This will sooner or later some damage to your dental investment.
Diarrhea
Most sugar-free gums have sweeteners, which are a good option to avoid sugar intake for those with medical illnesses such as diabetes. The problem comes when there is a sweetener abuse which leads to diarrhea. Therefore, if you chew gum regularly, it is more than probable that you also have to visit the toilet regularly.
Tongue growth
When the tongue gets overstimulate from chewing gum, it tends to grow, which can cause different sleep problems such as snoring.
Tooth wear
Each time the chewing gum is chewed the teeth are indirectly crashing, so they wear out.

October 22, 2018July 20, 2019

6 foods that stain and damage your teeth the most

Teeth originally come out white and healthy, it is us who stain and damage them by our bad eating and hygienic habits that we have not changed.

There are several foods and products which stain and weaken our teeth, such as tobacco, mouthwashes, black tea, BBQ sauce, and dark beer. But, there are some others that damage them even more. Such is the case with the next list.

Coffee
Coffee’s acidity and color are staining your teeth considerably. We all know that coffee is the equivalent to fuel for a lot of people, it gives us the energy to work and do several other activities. If this is your case, we recommend you that whenever you finish your coffee, you carefully wash your mouth to prevent stains. As good as coffee can be, it is something that you should not have in your mouth all day long.
Red wine.
One of men’s most important invention, which have led us to uncountable pleasures, can also have negative effects on our teeth. Red wine has tannins that stain teeth; its’ acidity level is enough to weaken and stain our teeth enamel. Our suggestion is that once that you finish a glass of wine, you rinse and carefully, wash your mouth, and brush your teeth since this will prevent your teeth to get stained.
Orange juice.
Orange juice is an important energy and vitamin C source, that is why a lot of families usually consume it in the morning, but the problem lays in that, since it is pretty sweet, we are not conscious of its’ acidity, this beverage causes teeth’s enamel to weaken and when we consume other foods, the pigments will stain our teeth, In order to prevent this we recommend you the use of a straw; but a reusable one. In this way, you pollute neither your teeth nor the world, since you will get orange juice straight up to your throat.
Vinegar
There are lots of foods we consume daily that have heavy vinegar doses. We cannot avoid it in some foods such as Ketchup, dressings, mayonnaise, etc… its’ acidity level is enough to weaken and stain your teeth´s enamel; that is why we encourage you to wash your mouth every time you consume a vinegar-based food.
Soda
Soda has been heavily criticized, we can just keep talking about the problems and virtually non-existing benefits it carries. We can summarize this by just telling you that this is one of the worst beverages available in the market; therefore, try to avoid its consumption as much as you can, limit it to low quantities in certain occasions.
Lemon
Lemon and limes are so acid that they considerably weaken your enamel, damage, and stain your teeth. That is why we advise you that if you consume a product with considerable amounts of lemon in it (e.i. Lemonade, lemon ice cream, lemon pays, etc.) you brush your teeth 30 minutes after consuming it, so you do not do extra damage to your already sensitive teeth. Oh, and an important recommendation, never go to bed without brushing your teeth after consuming lemon-based foods and/or beverages.

October 16, 2018July 20, 2019

Do you floss? We give you 7 reasons why you should floss daily

Dental flossing is an activity that should be realized daily since it represents an important part of our oral hygiene. We do know that brushing is essential, however, we also have other parts of the mouth which we ought to take care of too, such as the tongue, and our the inside part of our cheeks, which helps us to remove food from our teeth in a process which is called autocleaning. This brings the next question, Which is the only place we do not adequately reach with our tongue nor our cheeks? The answer is simple; It is between our teeth. That is why we encourage you to imagine how it would be like to let those places without an appropriate cleaning routine for several days, weeks or even months. Our body´s temperature and humidity will surely cause undesirable odors. That is why we list several reasons on why you should use dental floss daily.

Cavities
Teeth´s enamel in extremely rough and resistant. As seen on the picture, the separation between the nerve and the chewing surface is considerable, but it is not the same for the interdental one; it has much less enamel, approximately 2.5 mm. That is why cavities usually appear in these places, they develop faster and are more aggressive. This type of cavities is called interproximal.
Expensive treatments
Most interproximal cavities are caused due to lack of cleaning between teeth, additional to these cavities being harder to detect, they require more invasive and more expensive treatments. This is why they are the main cause of dental endodontics (root canals).
Gum bleeding.
Gun bleeding is almost always caused by one reason, inflammation, and this is because of the presence of bacteria, in which the only way to remove it is by flossing. However, if these bacteria already built up into dental tartar, you have to go with a dental professional so you can have an adequate deep cleaning to remove the tartar. Once this is done, you ought to use dental floss daily so tartar does not build up again.In “Somos dental” we take care of your dental health and we are at your disposal at any of our four locations in Downtown, Desert Sky, Mesa, and Camelback.
I have tight interdental spaces and dental floss will not enter
The problem here is the type of dental floss. There are thinner and more flexible dental flosses, for a more detailed information in which type of dental floss is the most appropriate for your mouth, you can have a dentist appointment. He will assist you on this topic.
I do not have enough time
This excuse is not only not valid, but it is also neither credible, we are not telling you to use dental floss three times a day, we are telling you to use it at least when you are going to bed, which will only take you 3 minutes at much. We are sure that your teeth’s health is worth the time.
I am too lazy to floss
If this is one reason on why you do not floss, you have a big problem, since by not flossing you can develop an interdental cavity. At that moment you will have to invest much time to solve the problem. That is why it is advisable to prevent unnecessary dental works even if this means taking 5 minutes of your time.
Flossing separates my teeth
This is a misconception, dental floss does not only not separate teeth, but it also prevents teeth from separating since there will no longer be food between your teeth and gums will not get inflamed.

October 8, 2018July 20, 2019

Adult Orthodontics Treatments

Most Young-adults and adults have several misconceptions about investing in an orthodontic treatment. They tend to think that it does not make much sense, or they only ask about these services for aesthetic reasons, they tend to leave aside more important factors such as health and wellness. Certainly, we are wrong when we go to the dentist only for aesthetic reasons, and not because discomfort or pains caused by a poor denture or dental malocclusion, it will never be late to try to keep our dentures healthy and well adjusted.

Furthermore, there are lots of adults who live with constant pain in their dentures. They have got used to live with it, and that discomfort simply becomes an additional part of their lives. Some example are; dental wear or erosion, jaw problems, bite styles which cause pain, and more problems.

It is a fact that orthodontic processes in adults are more complicated than the ones in children, this is because orthodontists usually face working with previous or unfinished treatments, lack of or bad condition of dental pieces, analyzing badly done previous treatments such as dental implants, crowns, and so on. It is evident that bone and dental pieces growth and development is impossible in comparison with other patients such as children and teenagers; people with which planning and carrying on treatments is considerably easier and successful due to their fast and natural regeneration they biologically have.

How to know If I require an orthodontic treatment?

It is important to visit your dentist frequently, since he is going to be the professional who is responsible to realize a previous exploration to determine in it is necessary to canalize you with an orthodontist, this last one is the dental health professional who is in charge to diagnose and propose treatments on any kind of dental deformity.

Before starting an orthodontics process, we must be sure that our gums are healthy, otherwise, the dentist will have to realize a periodontal treatment. Only when we conclude this, an orthodontics treatment will be possible.

We should be conscious that by ignoring or adopting dental problems as a normal part of our daily and communal life, the only thing get will get is to complicate the situation, and consequently create additional problems (in some cases unfixable) that require different orthodontic treatments to correct them, no longer having the option of going through optional treatments, but being necessary to go through, painful, uncomfortable, and expensive ones that would not be necessary if a preventive approach was employed.

Available orthodontic treatments for adults

Just as mentioned earlier, when an adult comes looking for an orthodontic process, it normally is for aesthetic reasons; this is why there are new orthodontic options available for adult patients. These are more discrete treatments in comparison to traditional metal braces which are used mostly by children and teenagers.

All these treatments are realized at Somos Dental by our professional team of specialists; every one of our orthodontists have all the required certifications from the manufacturers in order to carry the best treatments with high-quality, in base of the patient needs.

Here we can show you these orthodontics treatments, from the most traditional to the newest ones, we invite you to read our next post, in which we will detail you about each one of them.

Metalic Braces