Generations Dental Care Blog

Relieve Painful Symptoms with TMJ Therapy in Concord, NH

March 10, 2015

Filed under: General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Loudon, Manchester, TMJ disorder, TMJ therapy — generations @ 10:27 pm

We know what you’re thinking… thank goodness for my temporomandibular joints. Where would I be without them? No, you’re not thinking that? Well then, perhaps now you’re wonder what are and where are my temporomandibular joints. These joints are positioned on either side of your face just in front of your ears. They allow you to open your mouth so you can speak, eat, yawn and laugh. Unfortunately but like other bodily joints, your temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, can malfunction. Fortunately, however, there is TMJ therapy from Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, to help relieve what can often be painful symptoms.

When your TMJs malfunction, the condition is called TMJ disorder or dysfunction. Although symptoms can vary from patient to patient, the most common is pain in the jaw joint. Other symptoms include:

A clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth
The feeling of an earache in the absence of infection
Sensitive teeth
Swelling on the side of your face
Headaches or pain around the ears, neck and shoulders
Changes in you bite or the alignment of your teeth
Stiffness or a locked feeling in your jaw

TMJ Therapy from Generations Dental Care

The most frequent cause of TMJ disorder is stress, which leads to teeth clenching and grinding, especially at night. If you are diagnosed with TMJ disorder, then Generations Dental Care can prescribe a custom-designed nightguard to reduce teeth clenching and grinding. This helps to alleviate muscle tension and pain. Most TMJ therapy patients have relief from their symptoms almost immediately, with the best results occurring after a few weeks of continued use.

Call Our Office Today

If you are experiencing any of the painful symptoms of TMJ disorder listed above, then schedule an appointment at Generations Dental Care. Our TMJ therapy in Concord, NH, will provide relief. We also serve patients from Penacook, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Pembroke, Manchester, Hooksett, Boscawen, Epsom, Hopkinton and Loudon.

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Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants from Generations Dental Care

February 25, 2015

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, dental implants, Epsom, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke, Penacook — generations @ 5:35 pm

Even if you’ve been “managing” with one or more missing teeth for some time, you should consider tooth replacement. Just one missing tooth can lead to a number of concerns, including shifting teeth and consequently an improper bite; difficulty chewing and speaking; and of course the appearance of your smile. While there are a number of tooth replacement options, perhaps the best is a dental implant. With dental implants from Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, you can complete your smile and avoid long-term problems.

Other tooth replacement options, such as bridgework or dentures, only replace the crown of your missing teeth. Dental implants, on the other hand, replace the crown and the root. By replacing the root as well, a dental implant offers greater stability. Furthermore, the “root” of the implant stimulates the jaw bone, thereby averting bone deterioration and the associated facial sagging. And in fact, dental implants can be used to tightly secure bridgework and dentures, so they don’t slip.

Dental Implants in Concord, NH

The first step in your procedure requires the dentist to perform a minor surgery to implant a titanium post in the bone beneath the open socket of your missing tooth. This post serves as the “root” of your new tooth. Over a few months of healing, the post and surrounding bone tissue fuse together to create a solid foundation. Most patients wear a temporary crown while they heal. In the meantime, your permanent crown will be fabricated in a dental lab. Once healed, you’ll return to Generations Dental Care for your custom-designed crown to be cemented into place.

Call Our Office Today

If you’re ready to replace your missing teeth with the most lifelike tooth replacement, then call Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, and ask about dental implants. We also serve patients in Penacook, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Pembroke, Manchester, Hooksett, Boscawen, Epsom, Hopkinton and Loudon.

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Enjoy a New Smile with Porcelain Veneers in Concord, NH

February 10, 2015

Filed under: Cosmetic dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Epsom, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke, Penacook, porcelain veneers — generations @ 5:29 pm

You know the feeling you have when you put on a new outfit? It’s a feeling of confidence, happiness and satisfaction. Now, imagine the intensity of that feeling when you’re wearing a new smile. With porcelain veneers from Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, you can repair the smile you have with the designer smile want.

Porcelain veneers are modern dental wonders that essentially cover up the minor flaws in your smile. If you have teeth that are permanently stained, chipped, slightly cracked, somewhat misaligned, misshaped or irregularly spaced because of gaps, then porcelain veneers may be the solution you need in order to have a beautiful smile. And in most cases, you can have your new smile is just two appointments at Generations Dental Care.

Porcelain Veneers for You

The first step toward having a new smile is a consultation with one of the dentists at Generations Dental Care to discuss your smile goals and evaluate your oral health in order to address any concerns before your veneers are placed. Once you and the dentist determine that porcelain veneers are the best option for you, a customized plan is devised, including the shape, size, and color of your veneers.

At your first appointment, we’ll prep your teeth, which requires removing a very thin layer of your front teeth’s enamel, so the veneers will adhere better and lay flush with your other teeth. While your custom-designed, permanent veneers are fabricated in a cosmetic dental lab, you’ll wear temporaries. Once your own porcelain veneers are ready, you’ll return to Generations Dental Care for the dentist to bond the veneers to your teeth. With precision and care, we’ll trim and polish your veneers so they look completely natural and beautiful. Congratulations—that new smile looks great on you!

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you want to learn more about porcelain veneers, then call Generations Dental Care and schedule an appointment for a consultation. We serve patients in Concord, NH, as well as the surrounding communities of Penacook, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Pembroke, Manchester, Hooksett, Boscawen, Epsom, Hopkinton and Loudon.

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Let Preventive Dentistry from Generations Dental Care Help You and Your Family Avoid Oral Health Problems

January 25, 2015

Filed under: General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: Bow, Canterbury, Concord, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke, preventive dentist, preventive dentist Concord, preventive dentistry — generations @ 11:03 pm

Ever wonder why your dentist wants to see you every six months? Yes, yes—of course he or she likes seeing you. The actual reason, however, is because with regular checkups you and your dentist can work together to help you avoid oral health problems. In fact, the primary goal of dentistry is to prevent problems before they become painful or expensive. With this in mind, the dentists at Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, place an emphasis on preventive dentistry for their patients, young and old.

Preventive Dentistry at Home

There are several components to preventive dentistry, but believe it or not the process begins with you. When you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, every day, you are taking an important step in preventing oral health problems. When you brush, you remove plaque, which can become dental tartar—the sticky substance with acid-producing bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing, of course, is critical to removing food particles and plaque from between teeth.

Preventive Dentistry in the Office

At your regularly scheduled checkups with Generations Dental Care, our dentists and their staff supplement your at-home regimen. We will clean your teeth, remove plaque, take x-rays when necessary to expose hidden areas of decay, and examine all of the soft tissue in your mouth to spot any abnormalities that may be a warning sign of oral cancer. Furthermore, we may recommend fluoride treatments to strengthen your teeth’s enamel, or dental sealants, which create a barrier between your deeply grooved molars and decay-causing bacteria.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If it’s time for you or a family member to see the dentist for a checkup, then call the office of Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, today. With preventive dentistry, you can avoid a host of dental problems. We also conveniently serve patients in Pembroke, Hooksett, Canterbury, Loudon, Bow, and Manchester and the surrounding communities.

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Relax…. Generations Dental Care has Sedation Dentistry

January 10, 2015

Filed under: General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: Bow, Canterbury, Concord, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke, sedation dentistry, sedation dentistry concord — generations @ 10:56 pm

“… the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” said President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first inaugural address in 1932. One has to wonder if there were any dental-phobes listening to those famous words and thinking to themselves, “and dentists.” Although there might not have been much that could be done back then to quell those fears, today there is. If you have been avoiding the dentist out of fear, then now is the time to relax and come to Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, for sedation dentistry.

According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, some 30 percent of the population avoid seeing the dentist because of fear. Not only does this fear prevent people from receiving the dental care they need, it may also be indirectly having a negative effect on their overall health, because many systemic conditions have been linked to oral health. Thus, the need to defeat that fear becomes all the more important.

Sedation Dentistry to the Rescue

At Generations Dental Care, our dentists and their staff are trained to use oral conscious sedation to help relieve a patient’s fear and anxiety. Your dentist will prescribe a commonly used sedative or anti-anxiety medication for you to take about one hour before your appointment. A word of caution: with oral conscious sedation, you will need a family member or friend to drive you to and from your appointment. Once in the office, you’ll be able to sit back and relax while we take care of your dental needs. In fact, you may not even remember the appointment.

With sedation dentistry you can overcome your fear of the dentist and receive the dental care you need.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Don’t let your fear of the dentist prevent you from receiving proper dental health care. Call Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, and ask about sedation dentistry. We also conveniently serve patients in Pembroke, Hooksett, Canterbury, Loudon, Bow, and Manchester and the surrounding communities.

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Protect Your Long Term Health with Routine Oral Cancer Screenings in Concord, NH

December 24, 2014

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Epsom, family dentistry, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Loudon, Manchester, oral cancer screenings, Pembroke, Penacook — admin @ 8:12 pm

Has it been more than six months since your last dental visit? If it has, and you’re over 40, you could be putting more than just your dental health at risk. You could be skipping out on the oral cancer screening that could one day save your life. Oral cancer is a deadly form of the disease, but it can often be spotted in its earliest stages during a routine dental examination. If oral cancer is caught early, the chances of a positive treatment outcome are dramatically increased. Unfortunately, many patients have wait too long to see a dentist, jeopardizing their ability to fight the disease. Don’t take chances with your good health; make an oral cancer screening appointment with Generations Dental Care today. Generations Dental Care can help you protect your long term oral and overall health. The experienced dentists of Generations Dental Care proudly serve patients of all ages daily throughout Concord, NH, Manchester, Epsom, Loudon, Canterbury, Hooksett, Bow, Pembroke, Boscawen, Penacook, Hopkinton, and surrounding communities.

Who Needs Regular Oral Cancer Screenings?

The risk for developing oral cancer is higher for men, but increases for both men and women with age. However, research shows that oral cancer is becoming more common among younger patients and women. Behavioral risk factors include:

Tobacco Use: The majority of oral cancer cases are a direct result of smoking and tobacco use.
Alcohol Use: Drinking alcohol in excess is another major risk factor for oral cancer. While an occasional glass of wine is safe, drinking an entire bottle in a single evening would put you at higher risk.
HPV: Many experts believe the Human papillomavirus (HPV) will soon overtake tobacco use as the number one cause of oral cancer.
Poor Nutrition: Up to half of all oral cancer cases can be due in part to poor nutrition. A diet rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants will keep your body fit and help reduce the risk of developing oral cancer.

What Are the Warning Signs of Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer can become evident in many places including: the lips, tongue, gums, cheek, and throat. It’s critically important to make an immediate appointment for an oral cancer screening if you experience any of the following:

Mouth ulcers which do not heal after a few weeks
Red or white spots or bleeding anywhere in the mouth
Lumps or swellings in the mouth, head, or neck area
Persistent sore throat or earaches
Sudden unexplained weightloss

Concord Oral Cancer Screenings

While it’s always important to visit a dentist regularly to maintain healthy teeth and gums, it could also be a vital step in protecting your long term health from serious conditions like oral cancer. Make your appointment for an oral cancer screening with Generations Dental Care today. Generations Dental Care is a trusted Concord family dentistry. Generations Dental Care supports the health of patients daily throughout Concord, NH, Manchester, Epsom, Loudon, Canterbury, Hooksett, Bow, Pembroke, Boscawen, Penacook, Hopkinton, and nearby areas.

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Enjoy Faster Smile Fixes with Six Month Smiles Clear Braces in Concord, NH

December 22, 2014

Filed under: Orthodontics — Tags: Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, clear braces, Concord, Epsom, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Hopkinton, invisible braces, Loudon, Manchester, orthodontics, Pembroke, Penacook, six month smiles — admin @ 7:38 pm

Do you need orthodontic treatment? Studies show that most adult patients are actually unwilling to undergo the orthodontic therapy they need. This is due to the perceived costs of treatment including the potential embarrassment of having to wear bulky metal bracket and wire braces for two years or more. Adults who need orthodontic treatment want a fast and convenient orthodontic solution that won’t interfere with their busy lifestyle or broadcast their dental problems to the world. To address these concerns, Generations Dental Care now offers the Six Month Smiles orthodontics solution. Six Month Smiles is a discrete clear braces system that focuses on quickly correcting cosmetic orthodontic problems, such as misaligned front teeth. In less than a year, you could finally have the straight, perfectly aligned smile you’ve always wanted. To get started, make your Six Month Smiles consultation appointment with Generations Dental Care today. Generations Dental Care proudly restores smiles daily throughout Concord, NH, Manchester, Epsom, Loudon, Canterbury, Hooksett, Bow, Pembroke, Boscawen, Penacook, Hopkinton, and surrounding communities.

What Is Six Month Smiles?

Six Month Smiles braces are made with clear (invisible) brackets and wires designed specifically to address short term orthodontic treatment goals. These unique brackets and wires are engineered with a specific prescription, and the average course of treatment is generally completed in 4-9 months. These short term orthodontic treatment goals are different than those of conventional orthodontics. The most time consuming orthodontic changes are left out of Six Month Smiles treatment plans. The goal of Six Month Smiles is to create a new smile by tackling the most noticeable orthodontic issues.

Is Six Month Smiles Right For You?

Traditional orthodontics, when performed properly, can look fantastic. However, traditional orthodontic treatment typically takes more than two years to complete. The Six Month Smiles orthodontics system is faster because it only deals with your chief orthodontic complaints, such as: crowded, crooked, and spaced teeth. These problems can easily be corrected in about six months. In addition to the speed of treatment, Six Month Smiles is also discrete and hardly noticeable. The clear brackets blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth, and the tooth-colored shape memory wires actively provide consistent forces to gently straighten and realign your teeth.

Why Choose Six Month Smiles?

Six Month Smiles is the cosmetically-driven, short-term orthodontics solution for busy adults. Other clear aligners are made out of clear plastic that can be easily removed; however, Six Month Smiles utilizes clear bonded brackets and tooth-colored wires. Because other clear aligners can be removed, interruptions in treatment can occur, ultimately slowing or disrupting tooth movement. Therefore Six Month Smiles works 2-3 times faster than other clear aligners to successfully treat the same issues. Other clear aligners can also be inefficient in achieving some desired tooth movements. With Six Month Smiles, a wider range of treatment types can be administered, as well as greater flexibility in addressing unexpected tooth movements. Six Month Smiles gives Generations Dental Care greater control over the outcome of your treatment. Additionally, Six Month Smiles is typically more affordable than other clear aligner options.

Concord Six Month Smiles Consultations

Don’t put off the orthodontic treatment you need another day. Make an appointment with Generations Dental Care for your Six Month Smiles consultation. Generations Dental Care proudly serves families daily throughout Concord, NH, Manchester, Epsom, Loudon, Canterbury, Hooksett, Bow, Pembroke, Boscawen, Penacook, Hopkinton, and nearby areas.

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Root Canal Therapy: Save a Tooth and Save a Smile

November 24, 2014

Filed under: General Dentistry,Root Canal Therapy,Uncategorized — Tags: Bow, Canterbury, Concord, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke, root canal therapy — admin @ 9:13 pm

When you have a cavity, you know the drill. No pun intended. But what happens if the bacteria that causes decay on the outer surface of your tooth penetrates deeper? Well, that you could begin to feel if the soft tissue inside the tooth is affected. Then, repairing the tooth may require more than a filling. The dentists at Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, can restore teeth to their proper function and appearance with root canal therapy.

Although decay is the most common reason why a tooth would need a root canal, it’s not the only one. If a tooth suffers a deep crack due to injury, has had repeated dental procedures or a large filling, then a root canal may be necessary. And although many people think that root canal therapy is painful (with modern anesthetics, the procedure is usually painless), it’s actually not having a root canal that is painful. The toothache that ensues when a tooth’s pulp, or soft tissue, becomes infected by decay causing bacteria can be extreme. Other signs that a root can may be necessary include:

Swollen gums around the tooth
Severe pain with chewing or any kind of pressure
Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures on the tooth
Discoloration of the tooth

During a root canal, Dr. Tevyah Dines, the endodontist at Generations Dental Care, will remove the tooth’s infected pulp and nerve tissue along with any bacteria and debris. Once the root is meticulously cleaned, the doctor will fill the space with a biocompatible material and seal the root chamber. Then, the tooth is covered with a temporary crown to protect it. When your permanent crown is ready in a few weeks, you’ll return to the office for it to be cemented into place. With that, your tooth will be functional and your smile will be preserved.

Call Our Office Today

If you are experiencing a toothache, then don’t wait. Schedule an appointment at Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, to determine if root canal therapy is required. We also serve patients in Pembroke, Hooksett, Canterbury, Loudon, Bow, and Manchester and the surrounding communities.

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Children’s Dentistry is a Priority at Generations Dental Care

November 10, 2014

Filed under: Children's Dentistry,General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Chichester, children's dentistry, Concord, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke — admin @ 9:07 pm

Your children are your priority and your children’s teeth are our priority at Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, where children’s dentistry is practiced with gentle care. Just like adults, children should see the dentist twice a year, too. At Generations Dental Care, we recommend that you begin bringing your child to the dentist around the age of three. At that age, they are likely capable of sitting in the dentist’s chair for the brief time we’ll need to conduct an exam. Of course, if there is something that concerns you, then please bring them earlier.

Children’s Dentistry: The Foundation of Good Oral Health

Actually, your child’s dental health begins at home with you. Did you know that you can help your child avoid cavities as they grow? First, if your child uses a pacifier, never “clean” that pacifier in your mouth. Likewise, don’t share eating utensils with your children. When you do, you may be transferring decay-causing bacteria from your mouth directly to theirs.

Around the age of four to six months of age, your baby’s teeth will begin to appear. When they do, cleaning is simple. Take a soft cloth or gauze dipped in warm water and gently wipe their teeth clean. Don’t neglect those baby teeth that allow your child to chew, talk and smile.

When you bring your child to Generations Dental Care, we will count their teeth at their first appointment, and at all of their ensuing visits, we’ll clean their teeth, check for proper development, and examine for signs of tooth decay. We may also recommend dental sealants—a thin plastic coating that is “painted” on molars to seal them against decay causing bacteria—or fluoride treatments to strengthen their teeth’s enamel, the first line of defense against decay.

Call Our Office Today

If the time has come for your child to visit the dentist, then schedule an appointment today with Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH. We also serve children (and adults) from Manchester, Bow, Loudon, and Canterbury, Hooksett, Pembroke and the surrounding areas.

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Crowns and Bridges from Generations Dental Care

October 27, 2014

Filed under: General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: Bow, Canterbury, Concord, crowns and bridges, general dentistry, Generations Dental Care, Hooksett, Loudon, Manchester, Pembroke, restorative dentistry — admin @ 3:44 pm

When a tooth is missing, whether because of extraction for severe decay or traumatic injury, the space vacated must be filled in order to maintain proper alignment of the remaining teeth. If teeth become misaligned, this can lead to a bad bite, gum disease or temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. To avoid all of this, there are crowns and bridges. At Generations Dental Care in Concord, NH, our dentists create functional and natural-looking crowns and bridges to complete your smile and keep your mouth healthy.

Crowns, also known as caps, are most commonly used to completely cover a damaged tooth. In the case of crowns and bridges, however, a crown is placed over the teeth that are on either side of the missing teeth. These crowned teeth anchor the bridge that spans the space where teeth are missing. Attached to the bridge is the replacement tooth, or pontic, that fills the space of the missing tooth.

How are Crowns and Bridges Made?

Your dentist at Generations Dental Care will first need to slightly reduce the size of the anchor teeth in order to prepare them for crowns. Then, an impression is taken to make an exact mold for the crown and bridge. While your custom-fitted crown and bridge is fabricated in the dental lab, you will have a temporary replacement to cover the prepared teeth and open space. Then, when the permanent crowns and bridge are ready, the temporary is removed and the permanent crown and bridge is cemented into place. To ensure the longevity of your crowns and bridge, proper daily brushing and flossing is imperative. Also, see your dentist at Generations Dental Care for regular check-ups at least twice per year.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you have a missing tooth, then don’t wait for the consequences before deciding to take action. Call our office today for an appointment with one of our qualified dentists. Generations Dental Care serves patients in Concord, NH, as well as the surrounding areas of Canterbury, Hooksett, Pembroke, Loudon, Bow and Manchester.

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