To many of us regular people, our little to no understanding of dental emergencies can cause us to panic and for a while be disoriented. Sometimes a little show of blood, a sharp pain in the mouth, or a beloved tooth about to fall off , will do just that.

Actually, if you’re a regular at this Issaquah dental clinic, the Meadow Creek Dental, you’ll have none of the panic. Dr. Dipti Srivastava, the Emergency Dentist in Issaquah, stresses more on prevention. She would have given you pointers to handle unexpected situations without fear. But when emergencies do arise, Dr. Dipti, is an expert, someone to rely on.

Most Common Dental Emergencies

Dr. Srivastava has seen them all. She advises calls to the clinic to let her know , or you can drop by in any of the 23 to 24 days she is open for same day treatments. Otherwise, a call even after clinic hours would assuage your situation.

Severe toothaches that won’t go away are most common. This may be due to pulp involvement, presence of abscess in or around the tooth, or swollen gums. Pericoronitis is a painful gum swelling that needs immediate attention. Other emergencies are tooth fracture and tooth luxation, a condition of loosening tooth that has to be addressed right away.

End Snoring and be Safe

When snoring during sleep occurs too frequently or last longer than it used to, it’s one of the signs of sleep apnea. It is a condition where the upper muscles of the throat relax or collapse and block the passage of air through the esophagus. Sometimes it can be obstructive where totally no air gets through and causes the sleeper to gasp, waking him with a start. The more episodes you have during a sleeping hour, the more severe is the condition.

Remember that this can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood, and can be harmful to the heart and the brain. It needs to be professionally examined.

The use of mouth guards is a dental sleep solution for mild to moderate sleep apnea. They come in many brands and styles as fits-all types or multiple sizes. The customized oral appliance, that fits a patient’s oral measurements, is another type and is designed to enlarge the airway and prevent those upper muscles and tissues from collapsing. On the other hand, for the severer types of apnea, a device called a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP), is intended to deliver continuous supply of compressed air via a mask.

Seek the Experts Only

Since any misdiagnosis of sleep apnea and of the patient’s suitability for the appliance can lead to potential problems, only personnel who are trained and qualified and have extensive knowledge of sleep disorders should employ and fit such devices. When you visit Meadow Creek Dental, you will consult only with the best qualified practitioners in this regard.

Our Issaquah dentist will determine the cause of your sleep apnea, such as an anatomical condition like large tongue, excess throat tissues, or enlarged uvula and tonsils. Dr. Dipti may encourage some lifestyle changes, like smoking cessation, stricter alcohol intake and dieting that can aggravate your condition. Our clinic makes available to you these choices and a simple consultation can determine your suitability.

Natural-looking and Other Benefits

Composite resins are those fillings that are identical to the natural color of teeth. The tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture is used to restore decayed teeth, change the color of the teeth or reshape disfigured teeth. Composites are incredibly strong and durable and are able to withstand daily stresses. Dentists using them find that they are easy to manipulate. Best of all, they mimic the color of your teeth and no one will guess that you’ve had a restoration.

These tooth-colored fillings have been compared to silver-mercury amalgam, still being used though sparingly, but whose strength and durability are well-established. As far as aesthetics go, the stark contrast between the silver coloring and the rest of the teeth are often noticed. Composites are far superior to amalgam, coming in various shade models to match existing teeth color.

Dental preparation on composites, unlike amalgam, spares the tooth from further drilling and removal of normal tooth structure. Composites bond excellently with tooth material, helping to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes. On top of all these, composites do not contain mercury at all, an added safety value.

How durable are tooth-colored fillings? Do they last as long as amalgam fillings? Composite restoration’s longevity is comparable to amalgam’s depending on dentist’s skills and techniques, type and location of tooth concerned and certain patient characteristics. Composites may be costlier than silver fillings, though, because of the time requirement and technique in preparation and application.

Improving Smiles Naturally in Issaquah

Issaquah dentistry goes for natural, same-colored tooth fillings, as more and more patients opt for that natural look. While we offer a range of options for restoring damaged teeth, If you prefer that seamless look in your front or back teeth, composites are the way to go.

Benefits of Sealants

Are your kids fond of snacks, juices and shakes? Did you know that frequent exposure to starchy and sugary foods make kids prone to early cavity formations and tooth decay? Sealants applied to their teeth give needed protection. School-age children who do not have sealants applied to their teeth have three times more cavities than children with sealants? That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which said in 2016 that only 43% of children 6 to 11 years of age have sealants.

Brushing and flossing are still the best ways to prevent cavities, but often their benefits do not reach the back teeth as often and as properly as they should. Your child’s molars and premolars are not always easy to clean. These teeth’s uneven top surfaces provide attractive places for food debris to lodge and get colonized by bacteria. You might even be applying fluoridated toothpaste and have your child drink fluoridated water; both ways give added protection. But are they accomplished regularly and faithfully?

A convenient and consistent safety net can be provided by sealants. They are painted as liquid on the surfaces of molars. the thin and translucent coating made from plastic sticks to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and then quickly hardens via light curing. In effect, you have provided a physical barrier against food debris and bacterial attack.

Sealants are long-lasting and save time and money in the long run by avoiding fillings, crowns, or caps used to fix decayed teeth. Children from ages 6 to 12 and adults can benefit from sealants. Both primary and permanent molars benefit. Adult teeth can have sealants too, provided their back teeth are still carries-free and without fillings
Are sealants safe for children? Yes, of course. Unless your child has an allergic reaction to it, sealants have no known other ill-effects.

Starting Early with Sealants in Issaquah

Where dental health is concerned, it is better to start early. Have your child’s teeth protected from tooth decay by way of sealants. It’s safe, painless and affordable, a preventive measure in oral care by your Issaquah dentist.

What Makes and Doesn’t Make You an Ideal Candidate for Implants?

While fixed bridges and removable dentures used to be the norm for missing teeth, these days, many dentists and patients are going for dental implants. And why not? This mode of treatment gives a natural look and feel in the mouth, protects healthy bone and keeps your natural teeth in place. They are built to last a lifetime with their predictable outcomes.

Most people are good candidates for dental implants. As long as you have healthy gums, sufficient bone in your jaw and of good quality, and a commitment to proper oral hygiene, you are a fine candidate for implants. Some may not be ideal candidates, but that depends on your dentist’s judgment and the severity of the patient’s condition. They have to do with the health of your gums and jaw bone.

There are young people whose bones are still growing, hence, the jaw bone lacks maturity. Heavy smoking, excessive alcohol use, high-dose radiation to the head and neck, and severely depressed immune system all slow down healing significantly after implant surgery and can contribute to dental implant failure. Pregnancy also alters the state of the gums and consistency of bone. Those who grind their teeth are another less-than-ideal candidates. Then, persons with chronic diseases or systemic problems like uncontrolled diabetes, connective-tissue disease, and hemophilia have issues with bleeding gums, brittleness of bone, and frequent infections.

However, these patients may still be candidates for dental implants, depending on the dentist’s discretion and after proper evaluation. If the situation is not too far gone, meaning there is still sufficient quantity and quality of jaw bone, and the dentist finds adequately healthy gum tissue to work on, implants can still be an option. You, as the patient, should also commit to proper oral hygiene and regular follow-ups to ensure implant success.

Ensuring Dental Implant Success in Issaquah

Are you ready for implants? Know from your Issaquah dentist if you are a candidate for this popular and reliable restoration procedure everyone is talking about.

What is Biomimetic Dentistry?

Translated to BIO, meaning ‘lifelike’, and MIMETIC, meaning ‘copy’, Biomimetic dentistry simply means to copy what is lifelike. This discipline works on the premise that since nothing is as good as your natural tooth structure, and if a part of it is decayed or broken, only the damaged section is taken out and replaced by a restoration that bonds tightly and keeps bacteria and other debris out. The outcome should be as natural-looking as the original part, as strong, and as durable.

Biomimetic Dentistry is, hence, restorative and cosmetic in purpose. The dental materials used, such as composite resins and ceramic materials, mimic natural tooth structure in appearance and function as to not be obvious that a restoration was done. A hard tissue bond is the preferred material as it withstands stress better, while biomimetic applications ensure the tightness, allow no shrinkage or gaps that give access to bacterial invasion.

This practice conserves as much tooth structure as possible, doesn’t use materials (like amalgam) that require extensive tooth grinding or drilling, avoids crowns and implants because more grinding is needed to fit them, and reduces the need for root canal treatments for it preserves more tooth structure that protects the pulp.

Biomimetics in Issaquah

Dr. Dipti Srivastava is a qualified Biomimetic dentist who brings this science to Issaquah. She transfers the philosophy of conservation and return to function in indicated cases in a way only a trained and experience practitioner can. Our patients find this type of dentistry less stressful to them and not as expensive compared to traditional dental procedures.

Your Pick: Lumineers or Snap-ons?

Traditional porcelain veneers are still popular, custom-designed casings that fit frontal teeth to change their look and appeal. Though strong and natural-looking, veneers are permanent solutions and require that your natural teeth undergo some adjustments before they are fitted. Adequate enamel reduction and reshaping is necessary so that when veneers are bonded, they align perfectly with the rest of your dentition.

Lumineers are an alternative to porcelain veneers. They are ultra-thin, slimmer than traditional veneers, require little to no enamel reduction of natural teeth or extensive preps, or multiple visits. Your Lumineers are sturdy, long-lasting solutions of up to 20 years, and are incredibly quick to produce. You must also know that, since not all dentists have training to apply this system, we assure you that your Issaquah dentist is Lumineers-certified.

Snap-On Smile is your other option if you want that ready smile as you leave our clinic, or if you are not a candidate for implants or bridges. They are great for crooked teeth, stained teeth or gaps. These removable appliances require no permanent preparations, are reversible and are easily produced. You can just snap it on, no need for adhesives. Wash and clean your snap-ons as necessary.

Whatever Suits You

Though we offer traditional porcelain veneers, you might just want to park that for a while and instead go for the equally natural-looking Lumineers or Snap-on Smiles. At our Issaquah clinic, Meadow Creek Dental, we have both options waiting for you. If you are ready to dazzle with that smile, and you can’t wait, come on in for a consultation.

Expertise and Technology hand-in-hand

Our Issaquah dental practice stands in its solid reputation of professional expertise and the strong bonds formed between our staff and our patients. Our instrumentation and apparatus guarantee our commitment to time-saving procedures, accurate outcomes, and enhancement of patient experience.

Some of the tools that are worth mention have set our Issaquah clinic apart from others. Take our Diagnadent laser system which makes reliable and accurate detection of dental cavities. Even very small or beginning caries are spotted for monitoring or early arrest and treatment. We also use Biomimetic dentistry at Issaquah. It’s a conservative approach to restorative dentistry, building only on the damaged, broken or decayed tooth surfaces and restores them to their most natural-looking form and function. It uses advance bonding techniques meant to be final and lasting.

Only in the Hands of Experts

Our Issaquah dentist is also a proponent of E4D CAD/CAM technology; what we like to call ‘same day dentistry’. It’s a complete chair side digital system for pin-point accurate impressions and fabrications of same-day crowns, veneers or inlays. It is resource-saving for patients – eliminating multiple visits, trials and errors.
Dr. Dipti is a premiere provider of Invisalign, our answer to traditional, metal orthodontic braces. We also use the Perioprotect system for periodontal cases. Used at home and in-between visits, the patient benefits from a sealed medication supply via a mouth tray. Velscope is another tool we use. It’s an oral cancer screening device, and aids in oral examination.

These technologies work optimally in trained and experienced hands. Dr. Dipti and her staff are dedicated to continuing education that improves and updates their practice and professionalism. We’ve got fine recommendations of happy and satisfied clientele to prove it.