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Birmingham, Alabama Teeth Whitening

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A popular question nowadays is not just which toothbrush is best, but which POWER  toothbrush is best.  Power toothbrushes are gaining popularity because of staggering advancements in technology.  These have become somewhat of the iPhone of oral hygiene.  But, which is best? – This post will compare and contrast the top 2 power toothbrushes:  Sonicare vs. Oral B.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

With so many different whitening options, how do you know what is legit and what is commercial?  Zoom is the forefront in teeth whitening advertising and has become somewhat of the brand - like Coke with soft drinks.  Zoom was one of the first to come out with the light that supposedly enhanced whitening results. 

But, does the light actually do anything?

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In the dental office, we never mention the “n” word…the one that rhymes with beedle.  If it weren’t for the “beedles,” maybe we dentist would be more popular.  Nobody likes “beedles,” but if we didn’t numb your tooth, we definitely wouldn’t remain friends. 

But what if we could numb your tooth without you even knowing it?  Or, better yet, what if we could do some procedures without the use of “beedles” altogether.

At Greystone Smile Design, we are on the cutting edge of dental technology.  Our goal is to make dentistry comfortable – we don’t just treat teeth, we treat people.  That’s why I’m excited to announce one more advancement in our pursuit of pain-free dentistry – Profound topical anesthetic.  This is one of the strongest topical anesthetics on the market. 

Do your gums hurt when you get your teeth cleaned?  Those days are over!  All we have to do is simply apply the Profound topical to the sensitive site and waaalaaa – painfree without a “beedle!”  This can also be used for deep cleanings and several pediatric procedures including simple baby tooth extractions and most baby tooth fillings.

For procedures where we do have to use a “beedle,” the vast majority of patients do not feel anything.  After applying the Profound with a Q-tip and waiting about 2 minutes, you will already begin to feel the numbness.  The top teeth are easy – you will rarely feel anything on these.  Even the dreaded “roof of the mouth” injection can be relatively painless.  For the bottom teeth, we can virtually eliminate the injection that numbs your lip and tongue.  Profound is so strong that we can place it around the tooth to be treated and inject only around that tooth – no fat lip, no fat tongue, no drooling, and no slurred speech!

In those situations where we do have to numb your whole head, our anesthetic reversal agent can reverse the numbness in about half the time so you can get on with your day. 

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It’s usually one of the first cosmetic enhancements undergone and rightfully so – as you can see, it makes a stunning difference.

To see more celebrity before and afters, click here.

There has always been some disagreement in the dental world about this question.  Some past studies showed that high-concentration hydrogen peroxide-based products can cause increased porosity leading to demineralization and calcium loss, but results have always been inconclusive. 

Researchers from the University of Trieste found that whitening does not alter enamel surface roughness, even after multiple applications of the strongest in-office solution on the market (38% hydrogen peroxide).

The study authors looked at 20 patients; all underwent an in-office 1 hour whitening procedure with 38% hydrogen peroxide once per week for 4 weeks.  The results indicate that these bleaching products have no harmful effects on enamel morphology. 

The major difference in this study compared to past studies is that actual patients were examined.  Past research was conducted in the lab on extracted teeth.  These results show the remineralization capability of the oral environment. 

Other colleagues in Ohio found the same results – no change in enamel surface roughness AND no change in enamel surface hardness after 1 hour in-office whitening.  But, they also claim that take home whitening products may cause decreased hardness in enamel because of the longer application times.  Once again, this is debatable and more research is needed. 

Visit us at Greystone Smile Design for a FREE whitening consult!

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Visit Greystone Smile Design today!  Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday 12 pm – 8 pm, Wednesday and Friday 8 am – 4 pm, and every other Saturday 9 am -  4 pm.  Call 205-981-7775 or email info@greystonesmiledesign.com

Athletes lose approximately 5 million teeth every year making mouthpieces an essential piece of equipment for any sport. Mouthpieces may not only protect teeth and prevent concussions, but recent research shows some types may actually increase athletic performance. Read on for a review of mouthpieces and the science (or myth) behind performance enhancing mouthwear.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Silent Nite Anti-Snoring Device

Is your snoring keeping the neighbors awake?  We have the answer for you!  With a success rate of over 80%, the Silent Nite Anti-Snoring device is the most popular on the market.  It can not only help with the noise, but also make you feel more refreshed in the morning.

Studies estimate that 45% of men and 30% of women snore on a regular basis.  Occasional snoring is usually not very serious and is mostly a nuisance for the bed partner of the person who snores. However, the habitual snorer not only disrupts the sleep patterns of those close to him, he also disturbs his own. Habitual snorers snore whenever they sleep and are often tired after a night of what seems like quality rest.

The Silent Nite works by moving the lower jaw forward, thus, opening the airway for unimpeded air flow.  Some patients are unable to move their lower jaw forward, at which case a Silent Nite is not suitable. 

The Silent Nite should be fully seated with finger pressure.  Never bite the Silent Nite into place as this may cause damage.  The device should stay firmly in position without causing undo pressure or discomfort.  If it’s too tight, remove it and place in warm tap water, then re-seat.  When removing the Silent Nite, carefully pull from the area where the connectors connect to the device.  Your dentist may need to make minor adjustments as needed.  The Silent Nite may be cleaned with soap and water or brushed with toothpaste.

Making the Silent Nite is easy and pain-free!  Your dentist only has to take an upper and lower impression.  If snoring persists, more adjustments may be needed by your dentist.  This device is not indicated for severe sleep apnea.

Greystone Smile Design is proud to offer the Silent Nite Anti-Snoring device!

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As dentists, we seem to always focus on the negatives.  Don’t eat candy or you’ll get a cavity; don’t brush too hard or your gums will recede; don’t eat ice or you could chip a tooth.  We could talk about the risky business of kissing, like the sharing of harmful bacteria or the transmission of different illnesses.  But not today.  We’ll only explore the positives of the “make out” and discuss ways to “kiss a little longer.”

To read the rest of this article, click here.