Putting on a Smile without the Wait by your Issaquah Dentist

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.

What’s with DNA Testing at Issaquah Dental?

Your Periodontal Health is on your DNA

Gum disease is a very common affliction and most people are bound to have it, anywhere from gingivitis to its severer form which is periodontal disease. There are reports that say 75% of Americans over 35 years of age have some degree of a periodontal problem.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacterial invasion, coming from poor oral hygiene, poor nutrition, and unhealthy habits. With its predominant symptoms of gum swelling, discoloration, gum recession and sometimes bad breath and bleeding, this advanced form can pervade other teeth and gum tissue. You may lose your teeth eventually.

However, studies show that even if widespread, different people respond to bacterial plaque differently. Certain populations are more prone to higher risks of developing severe periodontitis, while others are not. Their genetics seem to spell the difference. It becomes of clinical significance to test your DNA to find out if you are predisposed to the disease so that you are forearmed.

Test and Know at Issaquah Dental

To have your DNA tested at Meadow Creek Dental can establish a clear window to your periodontal health. Our Issaquah dentist employs this test to identify if you have a pathway to this condition, your risk is assessed and a personalized treatment may be necessary to manage it before it starts or before it worsens. Have this simple test at our Issaquah dental clinic and know how to win the battle.

Dental Clinic brings Hi-Technology to our Issaquah Dentistry

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.

Have you thought about Quitting Smoking?

From Color to Cancer

As a dental professional, our Issaquah dentist, will encourage the smoker to kick the habit. Teeth show the visible signs of this deadly addiction quite clearly. Nicotine and tar components attach themselves to tooth surfaces, become sticky and attract food debris and bacteria. They become colonized areas where underneath the decay cavities form, usually in the backs of the teeth and under the gums.

Hardened and resistant to routine brushing and flossing, they turn brownish. The decrease saliva flow of smokers is incapable of hydrating the mouth or washing away cigarette debris.

Apart from the yellowish coloring of tooth surfaces and the accompanying undesirable breath, more serious effects of smoking are predictable. Smokers have a higher risk for gingivitis and periodontal disease. Their oral healing capacities are delayed, salivary glands are blocked, and loss of bone in their jaws is hastened.

This is not to mention the risk for oral cancer – which may involve the throat, tongue, jaw bone, or floor of the mouth. Not a pretty picture.

Getting the Assistance you need to quit smoking

Our dentists at Meadow Creek Dental, are a team of caring professionals who care about not just your oral health, but the overall health of our patients. Come over for a cleaning and, possibly, a whitening to start you off fresh.

When you come in for your appointment, mentioning that you do smoke or you are a nicotine user, we may keep an eye out for other concerns related to those who smoke.

Brushing and Flossing Anew: By Your Issaquah Dentist

Hiding your Teeth is Hiding your Smile

Consider what you eat and drink every single day. Those bits of food, sugars, and carbohydrates stuck in tight spaces are a beacon for bacterial growth. In no time, they harden, and a chain of events under-neath the calculus may start the process you might not be able to reverse. Certainly you brush and floss but are you conscientious enough? Are you doing the routine properly? Is it regular and consistent? Are you using the right bristled-brush? Is your flossing style really effective? Do you even keep your dental appointments? Some form of negligence or other on your part can lead to dental problems from pin-point caries to loss of teeth.

Proper oral hygiene cannot be stressed enough and one must regard the simple daily brushing and flossing as the foundation of overall good oral health. And the fruit is the smile. It’s quite a shame to hiding that because your teeth and gums are not in top form.

Issaquah Dental Practice promotes Brushing and Flossing

Your Issaquah dentist at Meadow Creek Dental knows how one’s state of dental health correlates to self-esteem. The practice has surely thrived all these years on the trust and patronage of its clientele, delivering top-notch dental services. But then, Dr. Dipti Srivastava and her entire staff can only harp on prevention more than the cure. Brushing and flossing are still at the top of the list of good oral hygiene practices.

Protecting Your Teeth on a Meat-Free Diet

There has been a significant rise in the meat-free lifestyle in the past few decades. Many people are turning to vegetarianism or veganism, either out of concern for the environment or for their own health. Though there are, indeed, health benefits to such a diet, if you fail to plan properly, they can do more harm than good. This even extends to your oral health.

The problem with a meat-free diet is that meat is a low-carb, high-fiber food. When you eat it, it serves to naturally scrub food and plaque off of your teeth. Many fruits and vegetables are similar in their fiber content, but they also feed your oral bacteria with their plentiful sugar content.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t cut meat out of your diet. You’ll just need to take care to include more tooth-friendly dishes in your meals. Consider other high-fiber, low-sugar options, like legumes, beans, and whole grains. They will serve to clean your teeth in the same way meat does, while simultaneously giving you a good supply of vegan-friendly calcium to help you rebuild your tooth structure.

Talk to our Issaquah dentist to learn more about how to maintain good oral health.

The Modern Reality of Adult Braces

Getting braces is not a fun experience. Not only can adjusting your teeth be uncomfortable, but the wires in your mouth can make some people feel self-conscious. It is therefore that many adults make the mistake of avoiding the orthodontic work that they need and put themselves at greater risk of serious dental problems.

If you are so guilty, we have good news for you. The world of orthodontia has taken great leaps forward in recent years, such that the process of getting braces and the experience of wearing them is likely no longer as uncomfortable as you might expect. For example, many patients can benefit from highly innocuous braces made from clear or tooth-colored materials. The people around you may never even notice that you have braces, and you yourself may forget that you have them all.

If you think that you might be in need of braces, consult our Issaquah dentist. We offer a number of attractive options that will straighten your teeth and make you feel good doing it.

Why is My Tongue Red?

Normally, your tongue should have that common pink coloration. If your tongue ever turns red, it may be harmless, or it may be indicative of an unfortunate disease that requires the attention of your dentist or doctor. What follows is a list of some of the more common conditions that might make your tongue turn red:

Geographic Tongue: Also known as benign migratory glossitis, this condition gets its name from the irregular patterns that form on your tongue. These patches, which may be outlined with a white border, resemble geographic formations. It is usually nothing to worry about, but talk to our Issaquah dentist if it persists for more than a couple of weeks.
Kawasaki Syndrome: Children are generally the only people who exhibit this condition. It is paired with a very high fever, and possible swelling in the hands and feet. This is a condition that should be brought to your doctor.
Scarlet Fever: This is an infection that sometimes causes your taste buds to become inflamed, giving your tongue a strawberry-like appearance. Your doctor will need to give you an antibiotic treatment.
Vitamin Deficiency: Red tongue may simply mean that you need to get more vitamin B12 or folic acid.

The Problem with Asthma for Your Oral Health

It’s not easy to live with asthma. There are many reasons for this, one of the easier ones to overlook being the dental ramifications of the condition. Indeed, asthma makes you considerably more susceptible to suffering tooth decay.

The big problem with asthma, when it comes to your oral health, is that it encourages your mouth to dry out. Your saliva is an important defense mechanism, cleaning your teeth and gums and fighting off decay. When your mouth dries out, the bacteria can thrive, sugar lingers on your teeth longer, and you invite serious dental problems. Most people struggling with asthma get into the unfortunate habit of breathing through their mouths, which quickly dries you out. At the same time, the medication you take to manage asthma can serve to dry out your mouth all the more.

If you struggle with asthma, you should take particular care of your teeth. Always brush, always floss, and always keep your regular appointments with our Issaquah dentist. We can give you the care you need while accommodating your condition and avoiding asthma attacks during your treatments.

Most Women Practice Better Dental Care

In the battle of the sexes, it would seem that women are ahead in terms of proper dental care. This is according to a study conducted by the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. This study surveyed eight hundred participants on their dental habits, then subjected them all to a dental examination. Their findings were as follows:

Women were 26% more likely to report flossing every day.
Women were about twice as likely to report maintaining regular checkups.
44% of women surveyed stated that they were aware that their overall bodily health was influenced by periodontal visits. 33% of men reported the same.
Women were about twice as likely to take notice of a missing tooth in another person.
74% of women stated that they would feel embarrassment at being seen with a missing tooth. 57% of men said the same.

If your own dental habits could stand some improvement, contact Meadow Creek Dental. Our Issaquah dentist can give you the proper care that you deserve.