What if your mouth is diseased? Directly or indirectly, your mouth has an effect on your entire body and ultimately your longevity. Because of its continued use, the wear and tear on your mouth is a constant reality of life.

Our Role

Your mouth requires upkeep and it is only through timely dental care that your mouth and its related structures can be kept disease free, comfortable, working well and looking great.

Passion

We are celebrating our 20th year at our current location and although our practice continues to grow, it still remains very personal, and dedicated to the overall wellness and oral health of every one of our patients.

Technology

We have been, and continue to be, on the leading edge of technology…not just for the sake of it, but always with an eye towards providing convenient, cost effective, and painless dental care.

Service

From our totally digital patient record, appointment, and office management system to state-of-the-art materials and equipment, our entire staff is highly educated, knowledgeable and skilled regarding the procedures and treatments we offer.

Consequences of Tooth Loss

Most people do not realize the devastating consequences of tooth loss. Besides losing function and creating unsightly gaps, silently, the remaining jaw bone continues to lose its shape and density over time! Additionally, the pink soft tissue gums covering the bone shrinks and jaw muscle attachments become more prominent. This makes the fit, comfort, function and appearance of any conventional fixed or removable bridge or denture increasingly problematic.

Dental Implants: Tooth Replacement Solutions

Dental implants can actually prevent typical bone loss that comes when teeth are removed. Implants replace the valuable root foundation necessary to maintain bone health. With implants, support for replacement teeth that feel and look natural can be reestablished. Facts: Implants do not decay and statistics show that implants are less prone to gum disease! Naturally looking and feeling teeth with dental implant support beneath may be exactly what will give you a “second chance”, recapturing the natural state as close as dentistry is able to provide today.

Planning Essential for Dental Implants

Your goals and the facts of your condition need to be carefully considered before dental implants are placed. Clinical examination, x-ray images and 3D modeling help visualize the location of your replacement tooth or teeth before treatment starts. Then, size and number of implants can be selected and oriented to support long term health. Mouth conditions should be made optimal to insure the greatest probability of implant success, or other treatment alternatives should be entertained.

Dental Implants to Recapture Oral Health

Dental implants require the body’s natural healing to strengthen and securely fuse within the jaw bone before the they can be fully activated to support normal chewing and function. Suitable time is needed. Teamwork with our dental laboratory technicians helps us finalize a long term result that looks feels and functions as close to what “Mother Nature” originally gave you. When dental implants offer the best, and sometimes the only viable solution for complex dental issues, implant patients say the time and economics are well worth the life changing improvements received!

Implant and General Dentistry of Vermont has provided planning strategies, surgical and prosthetic treatment phases and implant hygiene services for over 20 years! Explore how implant dentistry can help you recapture your oral health. Give us a buzz!

• Improve Your Comfort When You Are With Us
• Maximize Your Time When You Are With Us
• To Deal Positively With Issues of Safety

Comfortable and Inviting

New and existing patients love the non clinical appearance of our dental practice. Our Renovation in 2009 upgraded and enhanced “being in a private residence rather than a dental office”. Besides flooring, rugs, wall and window treatments, we’ve added new oil paintings, photographs and personal items of our team members and their families. These additional touches, welcome you and help you to know us better. We really enjoy seeing you. And, we hope you feel “at home” and at ease with us.

Simplicity and Efficiency Saves Your Time

Renovation 2009 maximized our use of digital “records” throughout the office for greater privacy. Communications inside the office and out of the office, to medical and dental colleagues, and insurance companies have never been easier or more immediate than today. Clinical areas have been appointed with new furniture and cabinetry, tested and unanimously chosen to meet the standards of our entire dental team. State of the art, less cluttered technology, positioned for convenient access, helps us manage your treatment visits effectively and efficiently.

New Sterilization Center Clean and Safe

In addition to the pleasing color schemes and creature comforts that visually and physically tend to your needs; our new Sterilization Center for processing of instruments insures the cleanliness and safety you have come to expect. Our scrutiny of “behind the scenes” support details for your visits, compliment our desire to achieve our best clinical and esthetic results for you!

Thanks for Making Renovation 2009 a Success!

• Patterson Dental- Kevin McGonigle- Design and Planning, Everett Lewis, Wayne Lancaster, Rick Diaz- Equipment Installation and Computers
• Ron Buonocore- A-Dec Equipment Installation and Training
• Lenny Burke- Construction
• Pat Cioffi- Plumbing
• Steve Benson- Electrical

A special note of appreciation to Cindi Nasveschuk, Christie Bentz and Rachel Bartlett, our office team, for their total commitment to Renovation 2009 and excellent care and service they continue to provide our patients!

Original post by Toronto Sun

Are lasers used in dentistry?
Yes, lasers have been used in dentistry since 1990. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that lasers can be used as a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of dental procedures. Lasers are often used in conjunction with other dental instruments.

How are lasers used in dentistry?
Dental lasers can be used to:
•    correct speech problems caused by a tongue-tie, which prevents normal tongue movement.
•    uncover partially erupted wisdom teeth.
•    remove decay from a cavity and prepare the tooth for a new filling.
•    remove muscle pulls, as seen in orthodontic patients.
•    manage gum tissue during impressions for crowns.
•    remove swollen tissues caused by medications.
•    perform biopsy procedures.
•    remove inflamed gum tissues and reduce the amount of bacteria within a periodontal pocket.
•    remove or reshape excess gum and bone tissues during crown lengthening procedures.
•    treat abscessed gums and infections in root canals.
•    reduce the discomfort of canker and cold sores.
•    activate whitening chemicals that are used to lighten teeth.
What are the benefits of using dental lasers?
There are several advantages. Dentists may not need to use a drill or administer anesthesia,  allowing the patient to enjoy a more relaxed dental experience. Laser procedures can be more precise. Also, lasers can reduce symptoms and healing times associated with traditional therapies; reduce the amount of bacteria in both diseased gum tissue and in tooth cavities; and control bleeding during surgery.

Are dental lasers safe?
If the dental laser is used according to accepted practices by a trained practitioner, then it is at least as safe as other dental instruments. However, just as you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from prolonged exposure to the sun, when your dentist performs a laser procedure, youwill be asked to wear special eyeglasses to protect your eyes from the laser.

How can I be sure my dentist is properly trained to use a laser?
Ask your dentist questions about the extent of his or her laser education and training. Make sure that your dentist has participated in educational courses and received training by the manufacturer. Many dental schools, dental associations, and the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) offer dental laser education. The ALD is the profession’s independent source for current dental laser education and credentialing.

How will I know if treatment with a dental laser is an option for me?
Ask your dentist. Although the laser is a very useful dental instrument, it is not appropriate for every dental procedure.

What are the different types of sleep apnea?

There are two major types of sleep apnea, both of which can severely disrupt the regular sleep cycle:

•    Obstructive apnea: A s you sleep the muscles in the walls of your throat relax to the point where the airway collapses and prevents air from flowing into your nose and mouth, but efforts to breathe continue. This is the most common type of apnea.
•    Central apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep are caused by problems with the brain mechanisms that control breathing.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

People with sleep apnea usually do not remember waking up during the night. Indications of the problem may include the following:

•    Morning headaches
•    Excessive daytime sleepiness
•    Irritability and impaired mental or emotional functioning
•    Excessive snoring, choking or gasping during sleep
•    Insomnia
•    Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
What is the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?

Unlike mild snoring, individuals with sleep apnea stop breathing completely for 10 seconds or more, typically between 10 and 60 times in a single night. A person with severe sleep apnea may have more than 100 waking episodes. If your partner hears loud snoring, punctuated by silences and then a snort or choking sound as you resume breathing, this pattern could signal sleep apnea. While snoring and sleep apnea are related disorders, not all snorers will develop sleep apnea, and not all sleep apnea patients snore.

Why is sleep apnea a concern?

Studies have shown that patients with this potentially life-threatening disorder are so fatigued during the day that when driving, their performance is similar to that of a drunk driver. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to impaired daytime functioning, high blood pressure, heart attack and possibly stroke. If you already have a weakened heart, apnea can aggravate your condition by placing stress on your heart during sleep.

Who is at risk for developing sleep apnea?

It is estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. It is more common in men, although it may be underdiagnosed in women and young African-Americans. Sleep apnea tends to run in some families, although no genetic link has been proven. Risk factors associated with sleep apnea include the following:

•    Physical abnormality in the nose, throat or other parts of the upper airway
•    Obesity
•    High blood pressure
•    Smoking, which can cause inflammation, swelling and narrowing of the upper airway
•    Use of alcohol or sedatives and sleep medications
How can my dentist help?

If your dentist suspects you suffer from sleep apnea, he or she may refer you to a physician or a sleep specialist. For a proper diagnosis, you may have to undergo an overnight sleep study, called a polysomnography, which measures heart rate and how many times breathing is interrupted. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your dentist can work closely with your physician to implement and manage the prescribed therapy.

What are my treatment options?

Treatment is based on your medical history, physical examination and the results of polysomnography. If you have mild obstructive sleep apnea, initial treatment may include avoiding sleeping on your back, losing weight or cessation of smoking. Dental appliances that reposition the lower jaw and the tongue have been helpful to some patients with mild sleep apnea or those who snore but do not have apnea.

If you have severe sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems – resembling something a jet pilot might wear –is a commonly prescribed therapy. CPAP delivers air through a small mask that covers the nose, and the constant pressure keeps the airway open, which prevents both snoring and episodes of apnea. If a patient has trouble tolerating CPAP, surgery also can eliminate sleep apnea symptoms; but medications are generally ineffective.

Exposed areas of the tooth can cause pain and even affect or change your eating, drinking, and breathing habits. Taking a spoonful of ice cream, for example, can be a painful experience for people with sensitive teeth. The excessive consumption of acid-containing foods and beverages, such as citrus juices and fruits and soft drinks, can also put you at risk for tooth sensitivity. Bulimia and acid reflux can also result in erosion of the hard enamel and sensitivity due to acid in the mouth.

Is tooth sensitivity a common condition?

Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common complaints among dental patients. At least 40 million adults in the United States suffer at some time from sensitive teeth.

How can I avoid sensitivity?

Some toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that may be too harsh for people who have sensitive teeth. Ingredients found in some whitening toothpastes that lighten and/or remove certain stains from enamel and sodium pyrophosphate, the key ingredient in tartar-control toothpaste, may increase tooth sensitivity.

What can I do about sensitive teeth?

Tooth sensitivity can be reduced by using a desensitizing toothpaste; having your dentist apply sealants and other desensitizing and filling materials, including fluoride; and decreasing the intake of acid-containing foods. Using tartar-control toothpaste will sometimes cause teeth to be sensitive as well as drinking soft drinks throughout the day, so these habits should be avoided.

Avoid using hard-bristled toothbrushes and brushing your teeth too hard, which can wear down the tooth’s surface and expose sensitive spots. The way to find out if you’re brushing your teeth too hard is to take a good look at your toothbrush. If the bristles are pointing in multiple directions, you’re brushing too hard.

How do I know when it’s time to see a dentist?

If a tooth is highly sensitive for more than three or four days and reacts to hot and cold temperatures, it’s best to get a diagnostic evaluation from your dentist to determine the extent of the problem. Before taking the situation into your own hands, an accurate diagnosis of tooth sensitivity is essential for effective treatment to eliminate pain. Because pain symptoms can be similar, some people might think that a tooth is sensitive, when instead, they actually have a cavity or abscess that’s not yet visible.

How do I describe my symptoms to my dentist?

Sensitivity may be defined as a short, sharp pain that is usually initiated by eating hot or cold foods or exposure to cold air. Aching often follows. Because sensitivity may mean different things to a patient and dental professional, be sure to clarify exactly what you feel when you discuss the condition with your dentist. Be sure to tell the dentist when the pain started and if there is anything, such as the application of a warm compress, that helps eliminate the pain.

Do some products help decrease sensitivity?

Toothpaste for sensitive teeth usually contains a desensitizing agent that protects the exposed dentin by blocking the tubes in the teeth that are connected to nerves. In most cases, these products must be used on a regular basis for at least a month before any therapeutic benefits may be noticed.

What can the dentist do for my sensitive teeth?

Dentists have a variety of regimens to manage tooth hypersensitivity, including both in-office treatments and patient-applied products for home use. If you are diagnosed with dentin hypersensitivity, your dentist may apply a desensitizing agent or a protective coating. You may be prescribed a stannous fluoride gel or an over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste containing fluoride and either potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These ingredients help block the transmission of sensation from the tooth to the nerve. It also might help to massage the special paste onto your gums with your finger after brushing.

What should I do after the dentist has applied a desensitizing agent?

Listen closely to your dentist’s instructions. He or she may advise you not to eat or drink for a short period of time to eliminate all sources of irritation, such as acidic foods, medication, or flavored toothpastes. You may also be instructed to change oral hygiene habits that are likely to cause abrasion or use a daily fluoride application (a rinse or brush-on gel).