Rejuvenate Your Smile with Full Mouth Reconstruction from Dr. Papageorgiou

February 28, 2013

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 6:21 pm

When you’re embarrassed by the state of your teeth, seeking out dental treatment can be difficult – especially if you know you’re in need of multiple treatments. You already interact every day with people who are judging you solely by what your smile looks like; you don’t need a dentist to get an up close and personal look too! Whether damage happens because of age, trauma, or simply a lack of brushing and flossing, we’re not here to judge at Papageorgiou Dental Associates. We all make mistakes – that’s how we know we’re human, after all! No matter the case, you deserve a healthy, five-star smile that you’ll be proud to share with the world. That’s why our team in Natick, MA is happy to offer full-mouth reconstruction as a rehabilitative option. With the help of full-mouth reconstruction, we can follow a personalized treatment plan that will revitalize your teeth and get you back to optimal oral health, all judgment-free!

What exactly is full-mouth reconstruction?

Full-mouth reconstruction isn’t just one dental treatment – in fact, it’s several.  The service consists of a combination of restorative and cosmetic treatments that’s individualized for each specific patient. First, you’ll come in for a comprehensive oral exam, where we’ll determine the true extent of your problems by inspecting your teeth, gums, and bite. Then, we can share with you our recommendations for treatments while also taking into account your needs and concerns. By undergoing full-mouth reconstruction, we’ll be able to restore your smile more efficiently and effectively by combining multiple treatments into single appointments, saving you valuable time.

Some of the treatments used in full-mouth reconstruction include:

Don’t let embarrassment or fear keep you from smiling one moment longer – our team is ready to provide you with the expert, comfortable care you deserve. Call Papageorgiou Dental Associates today with any questions you have about about full-mouth reconstruction, or if you’re ready to schedule a consultation. Our team serves patients from Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

Give Your Teeth a Break with TMJ Treatment in Natick, MA

February 21, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 6:21 pm

In the dentist’s office, you’re probably used to hearing all about the common oral health problems that can affect your teeth, from cavities to gum disease to misalignments. But did you know that one of the most painful and frustrating oral conditions you can experience actually affects an area of the mouth you may have never even heard of before?

We’re talking about the temporomandibular joints, commonly referred to as TMJ. These joints connect your lower jaw to your skull, and they contain crucial elements such as blood vessels, nerves, and bone. However, whenever they’re even slightly misaligned, it can cause debilitating symptoms. Worse, TMJ disorder can often even negatively impact both your dental health and your overall wellbeing. Here at Papageorgiou Dental Associates, we’re committed to providing you with expert, personalized care that serves every part of your mouth, not just your pearly whites. That’s why we’re happy to provide various choices for TMJ therapy at our Natick, MA office.

How do I know if I’m suffering from TMJ disorder?

Here are some common symptoms that often indicate TMJ disorder:

  • Persistent pain in the face, neck, head, shoulders, or back
  • Constant, excessive headaches
  • Jaw joints that pop or click
  • Stiffness in the jaw
  • Constant problems with opening and closing the mouth when chewing
  • Ringing or pressure in the ears

If these sound familiar, please don’t hesitate to come in and see us so that we can inspect your jaw for signs of TMJ disorder. Dr. Christina Papageorgiou and her excellent team can provide you with a complete oral examination, a precise, thorough bite assessment, and then an in-depth discussion about the various kinds of TMJ therapy we can offer you. Your comfort is a top priority for us, so we want to make sure we agree with you on a solution that bests fits your individual needs and desires.

Don’t keep living in constant pain – let us relieve your joints with TMJ therapy and get you back to smiling sooner! Call Papageorgiou Dental Associates today to schedule your consultation visit. Our team serves patients from Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

Rebuild Cracked or Damaged Teeth with the Help of Crowns

February 11, 2013

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 10:46 pm

crownsNo matter how well we care for our teeth over time, many of us will still suffer crucial damage to our teeth at some point.  Maybe it happens because of a sudden, shocking injury to the face that leaves you with an ugly crack, or perhaps your age has simply caught up with your smile. Even if you have neglected dental care and your tooth breaks down due to decay, that doesn’t mean you aren’t deserving of effective, precise treatment that will rectify the damage. Crowns are one of the restorative treatments that you may need in order to rebuild your damaged teeth and restore their functionality and beauty.

What exactly is a crown?

Crowns are essentially small “caps” that are snugly fit over the affected tooth or teeth in one’s mouth. Crowns help to repair the tooth, as well as keep it safe from new bacteria that could sneak in and cause further damage. Crowns are made from several materials, including stainless steel, traditional metal amalgam, composite resin, and dental porcelain. The type of material used will come down to a choice made by the patient, based on a professional recommendation from their dentist. While the availability of this treatment varies from practice to practice, your local dentists in Natick, MA are proud to provide crowns as an effective restorative treatment.

Crown procedures usually take around two appointments to complete. Your dentist first takes a detailed impression of the affected tooth. This impression is then used to construct a brand-new, custom-made crown that will fit your unique look perfectly. Once they’ve been completed, all that’s left to do is for your dentist to fit them in place and make any necessary adjustments.

What’s the difference between the materials used for crowns?

There are benefits and disadvantages to each.  Metal is a stronger material and is often recommended for crowns needed on the back teeth; however, it doesn’t blend in it at all to the natural color of the teeth, leading to potentially embarrassing situations. Porcelain crowns can be matched to your smile’s natural shade and allow you to keep more of your natural tooth structure, but they tend to be weaker and more expensive. Today, most dentists recommend porcelain crowns as the optimal choice for restorative treatment; however, the choice will ultimately come down the patient.

Our dentists in Natick, MA provide precise, personalized care, and they are here to help with all your restorative dentistry needs, including crowns. We also serve the areas of Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

Rest Easier With Sleep Apnea Treatments in Natick, MA

February 1, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 6:31 pm

Sometimes, it can take years before you find out you have a snoring problem. Someone might let you know at a sleepover when you’re still young, or maybe a significant other elbows you in the middle of the night because you’re keeping them up. You might even wake yourself up once in a while! Most of the time, snoring is just a harmless, if annoying habit – but did you know that it can indicate a deeper problem? Sleep apnea is a condition that results in abnormal pauses in one’s breathing during unconsciousness that can result in gasping, choking, and yes, snoring. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be a dangerous condition to have, which is why, here in our Natick office, Papageorgiou Dental Associates offers diagnoses, tests, and various treatments to combat sleep apnea. After all, you need your rest!

Could you have sleep apnea? Here are some of the symptoms:

  • You wake up often in the middle of the night
  • You feel exhausted during the day, no matter how long you slept the night before
  • You’re often in a bad mood, for reasons you don’t understand
  • You find it hard to concentrate, or you often forget things
  • You gasp, choke, or cough – sometimes so badly that it wakes you up

If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms above, it’s a definite possibility you could be suffering from sleep apnea. Our team here at Papgeorgiou Dental Associates will be happy to give you a definite diagnosis, as well as provide you with various ways to combat your sleep apnea. Let us help you sleep better so you’ll feel more like showing the world your smile! Call us today to schedule an appointment. Our team serves patients from Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

Protect Your Mouth by Knowing the Signs of Gum Disease

January 25, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 6:31 pm

In a previous blog post, we discussed the effects gum disease can have on your health, as well as what our team here at Papageorgiou Dental Associates could do for you in regards to periodontal therapy. But all of your questions might not have been answered. For instance, maybe you’re been wondering if you have gum disease, and if you do, how severe it is. After all, pain isn’t the only indicator that there could be a problem, as some would believe. Here at our Natick office, we offer you personalized and effective care that always puts your needs first – but first, you have to take that first step through the door. Here are some of the indicators of gum disease:

  • If your gums bleed during or after you brush your teeth
  • If you have bad breath that persists even after using mouthwash and other treatments
  • Tenderness, swelling, or discoloration
  • A bite that feels strange, or teeth that start to feel loose, like they’re shifting around
  • Pockets of pus that ooze around your teeth
  • If chewing is painful
  • Receding gums or teeth that are no longer appearing

In addition, there are also a number of factors that indicate a much higher risk of gum disease than normal. These are:

  • If you use tobacco
  • If you have diabetes
  • If you’ve undergone therapy for cancer of any kind
  • If you’ve taken steroids at any point in time

If any of these categories or symptoms seem to fit you, don’t panic – using either traditional tools or our soft-tissue laser, our team at Papageorgiou Dental Associates will help ease your gum disease symptoms and improve your overall health through periodontal therapies, giving you a reason to smile.

Gum disease can worsen if not treated, so don’t hesitate! Call Papageorgiou Dental Associates today to schedule your consultation visit. Dr. Christina Papageorgiou would be happy to assess your oral health and recommend a treatment plan. Our team serves patients from Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

Transform Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening from Papageorgiou Dental Associates

November 29, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 7:37 am

What’s the number one thing keeping you from smiling with confidence? For many patients, embarrassing teeth stains are the answer to that question. Teeth stains are commonly caused by foods, beverages, aging, tobacco use, and even some medications. But you don’t just have to live with teeth stains; you can overcome them with professional teeth whitening from Papageorgiou Dental Associates.

Dr. Christina Papageorgiou’s Natick dental office offers two great options for you to take advantage of. With each one, we can help you come closer to your goal of a bright, dazzling smile. Our options include:

Kör Whitening

As one of the most effective in-office teeth whitening systems available, Kör can help you achieve safe, beautiful results in about an hour. What’s more, because of the unique way Kör whitens teeth, patients who’ve experienced sensitivity in the past can look forward to experiencing little to no sensitivity at all with this revolutionary method. To learn more, visit Kör Whitening’s homepage for videos and a helpful FAQ.

NiteWhite and DayWhite

If you’d prefer to whiten your smile in the comfort of your own home, or if you just need a way to touch-up your in-office results, one of these take-home teeth whitening systems may be right for you. Both use custom-made trays and professional-grade bleaching gels to help you achieve beautiful results in about two weeks or less.

Are you ready to find out more about teeth whitening? Call Papageorgiou Dental Associates in Natick to schedule your consultation. We serve patients from Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

 

How Can Cosmetic Dentistry Help Me?

November 16, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 9:50 pm

The benefits of cosmetic dentistry can be life-changing. Studies and research of one kind or another have all shown that, by smiling more and having a smile you feel proud of, you can enjoy a better sense of wellbeing. For instance, smiling increases the body’s levels of endorphins and serotonin, reducing stress and creating a pleasing sense of calm. What’s more, people with a beautiful smile are perceived as being more intelligent, successful, and friendly.

Effective Services for a Transformed Smile

Two of the most effective and most common cosmetic dentistry services out there are teeth whitening and Invisalign.

Many dental offices that offer teeth whitening offer two different versions—in-office and take-home whitening. Both promise professional results, but in different ways. In-office whitening with a system like Kör Whitening can help you achieve stunning results in just one office appointment. Patients who might be sensitive to in-office treatments, on the other hand, may want to consider a take-home system. With take-home whitening, you can achieve the same results as with in-office whitening, but on your own schedule.

Invisalign is a version of clear braces used most often by adults who have put off orthodontic care. Instead of using metal brackets and wires to straighten teeth, the way traditional braces do, Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners. With Invisalign, you can enjoy greater convenience than with other options. That’s because Invisalign can be taken out to eat, brush, and floss. That’s a level of convenience that traditional braces just can’t touch.

To find out which cosmetic dentistry service is right for you, call Papageorgiou Dental Associates. A professional cosmetic dentist like Dr. Papageorgiou can help you understand your needs, your options, and propose an effective solution to help you meet your goals.

 

Enjoy Relief for Gum Disease with Periodontal Therapy from Dr. Papageorgiou

November 15, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 9:37 pm

As important as cavity-free teeth are, your teeth aren’t the only important aspect of your smile.  Healthy gums are just as essential. Recent medical studies have linked poor gum health to a wide range of other health problems in the rest of the body, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Pneumonia

Thankfully, with the periodontal therapies you’ll find at Papageorgiou Dental Associates, patients from Natick and beyond have somewhere to turn when faced with such a common condition like gum disease.

It’s been estimated that gum disease affects 75% of American adults. But not every one of those cases is the same. For some, treating gum disease may only mean spending more time brushing and flossing every day. In other cases, a more advanced procedure, like scaling and root planing, may be necessary. Using either traditional dental tools or a soft-tissue laser, our team at Papageorgiou Dental Associates will help you remove bacteria and calculus from your smile, easing your gum disease symptoms and improving your oral health.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Do your gums routinely bleed during or after brushing? Do you struggle with frequent bad breath? Are your gums extremely red, discolored, or sensitive? All of these are a sign that you might have gum disease.

Call Papageorgiou Dental Associates today to schedule your consultation visit. Dr. Christina Papageorgiou would be happy to assess your oral health and recommend a treatment plan. Our team serves patients from Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston, Ashland, Sherborn, and beyond.

Busy Professionals Can Enjoy a Straighter Smile with Invisalign

September 7, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 7:00 am

In our last post we highlighted our Natick office’s commitment to restoring smiles with restorative dentistry. Today we’d like to focus on another service that can help, one that has more to do with cosmetic dentistry but still has a restorative function. It’s called Invisalign.

If you’ve never heard of it before, Invisalign is an orthodontic solution that uses clear, custom-made aligners to straighten teeth instead of metal brackets and wires. That means patients who have avoided orthodontic care in the past over fears of wearing braces can finally get the treatment they deserve with Invisalign.

But not only is Invisalign clear, making orthodontic treatment more discreet than ever before, the length of time it takes to complete treatment is shorter, too. Patients may have to spend years behind traditional braces, while Natick patients who choose Invisalign may only need Invisalign for 6-12 months.

What’s more, because Invisalign’s aligners are removable, straightening your smile with Invisalign is incredibly convenient. You never have to give up your favorite foods because you can just take your aligners out when you eat. And because you can take your aligners out, you can brush and floss more thoroughly than you can with bracket-and-wire braces.

Want to Learn More?

Do you wish you had a straighter smile but had nearly given up on having one? Call Papageorgiou Dental Associates today if you’d like to learn more about Invisalign. Dr. Christina Papageorgiou would be happy to explain how treatment with Invisalign works, in addition to recommending a treatment plan that fits your specific needs.

Restore Your Smile’s Confidence and Functionality with Restorative Dentistry

August 24, 2012

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , — drpapageorgiou @ 12:38 pm

No smile stays perfect forever. Whether because of simple aging, neglect, or an accident or injury, most patients will eventually find that they need restorative help. And when that day comes, we hope you’ll turn to Papageorgiou Dental Associates.

At our Natick dental office, you’ll find an experienced, compassionate team eager to help. We understand how crippling it can be to lose your smile’s appearance, functionality, or both, but we can help you turn all that around with restorative dentistry.

Our restorative dentistry services include:

Crowns and fillings
Root canals
Tooth replacements
Full-mouth reconstruction

    With each of these effective restorative dentistry services, we can help patients recover what they’ve lost to enjoy improved oral health and overall wellbeing.

    But what if you’re not sure which service you need?

    That’s not a problem. In fact, that’s why we’re here! Dr. Papageorgiou and her Natick team are always ready to help patients choose a personalized treatment plan that’s right for them.

    Call our office today to schedule your restorative dentistry consultation appointment. With our convenient late evening, early morning, and Saturday hours, we’re able to provide great service to patients from Natick and all surrounding areas.

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