Nova Dental Care is eager to help patients learn more about their oral health to care for their smiles and ensure the longevity of their natural teeth. We invite you to review the following information as a guideline for your smile:
Alternative to Braces for Teens
Improve Your Smile for Senior Pictures
Multiple Teeth Replacement Options
Options for Replacing Missing Teeth
Post-Op Care for Dental Implants
What can I do to improve my smile?
What do I do if I damage my dentures?
What do I do if I chip my tooth?
When is a tooth extraction necessary?
Which is better–Invisalign® or braces?
Will I need a bone graft for dental implants?
Alternative to Braces for Teens
Dr. Neal Emad and our team understand that many young patients are less than enthusiastic about receiving metal braces, either because of their active lifestyles or their aesthetic concerns. We are pleased to offer Invisalign Teen®, a series of clear, removable aligners, as an alternative to metal braces. Invisalign Teen is easier, more convenient, more attractive, and helps your teen improve their self-confidence. For more information, schedule a consultation with your teen and our dentist at Nova Dental Care.
Dental Anxiety
We understand that many patients suffer from dental anxiety, but there is no need to fear visiting the dentist at Nova Dental Care. We offer gentle care at your comfort level and will work with you to ease your fears. We also offer sedation dentistry, if needed, to help you feel calm and relaxed. If you prefer to relax without the use of medication, you can drink calming tea ahead of time or visit our office for a meet-and-greet with our friendly dentist and team—no dental work required.
Do I have sleep apnea?
Chronic exhaustion, lack of energy, a sore throat in the morning, and frequent headaches are all signs of sleep apnea, a condition that causes obstructed breathing and snoring during sleep. When your body does not receive sufficient oxygen, it can feel drained and sluggish, and can have adverse health effects such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, mood swings, depression, and heart failure.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, come see Dr. Neal Emad for a consultation. Based on your needs, our dentist may recommend an oral appliance, a CPAP, or oral surgery to remove obstructive fatty tissue.
Do I need a root canal?
A toothache can be caused by a number of factors, from food stuck between the teeth to infection of the inner tooth. If it is the latter, you may experience severe pain and swelling around the tooth. We encourage you to visit Nova Dental Care for all dental pain. You may need a root canal to preserve the tooth from being extracted, in which case our dentist will remove the infection, clean out the tooth, and provide a dental restoration to restore your smile.
Gum Disease
Our dentist and team at Nova Dental Care strive to prevent gum disease through routine preventive care and patient education. Gum disease is most often caused by plaque or tartar that has become trapped between the teeth and under the gum line. The gums can become irritated and swollen. Other signs include bleeding, gum recession, and loose teeth.
Depending on the severity of the condition, our team may need to perform a deep cleaning procedure, gum grafting, antibiotic treatment, or a bone graft. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you notice a change in your periodontal health.
I Think My Gums Are Receding
Gum recession can be caused by aggressive brushing or periodontal disease. When brushing your teeth, use a soft or electric toothbrush and brush gently around the gum line to avoid irritating your gums. When plaque becomes trapped beneath the gum line, it can irritate the gums and cause them to pull away from the teeth, resulting in looser, longer-looking teeth.
If you are concerned about receding gums, give Dr. Neal Emad a call and schedule an appointment for an oral exam. The sooner you visit the dentist, the better you and your smile will feel.
Improve Your Smile for Senior Pictures
By the time you are a junior in high school, you should be thinking about how you want your smile to appear in your senior pictures. Our dentist and team would be happy to offer a number of treatments to help your meet your smile goals, including Invisalign®, dental veneers, and dental bonding. Dr. Neal Emad will help you select the right treatment(s) to enhance your unique smile.
Multiple Teeth Replacement Options
Nova Dental Care can replace multiple missing teeth with custom-made dental restorations, such as a dental implants, dentures, implant-supported dentures, and dental bridges. Our dentist will provide you with all of your options and help you select the restoration that best fits your dental needs and preferences.
Options for Replacing Missing Teeth
If you are missing one or more teeth, we encourage you to visit Nova Dental Care for a dental implant or dental bridge. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, dentures may be the best choice. Our team will help you decide based on your needs, preferences, and lifestyle to ensure your new smile is functional, durable, and to your liking.
Oral Cancer Screening
Dr. Neal Emad recommends routine oral cancer screenings to detect any signs of cancer in its earliest stage. Symptoms of oral cancer can often only be detected by a dental professional, and often reach an advanced stage before a patient realizes treatment is needed. At Nova Dental Care, we offer biannual oral cancer screenings and encourage you to visit our office routinely. If needed, we will direct you to an oncologist to discuss your treatment options.
Oral Hygiene Basics
Many patients visit Nova Dental Care with questions about caring for their smiles:
- Brushing: Use a soft toothbrush to avoid eroding enamel or irritating your gums. Brush in a circular pattern from the gum line to the center of the mouth, focusing on each area of your smile for at least thirty seconds and applying even pressure. Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if the bristles become frayed or the toothbrush has an odor.
- Flossing: You should floss daily to remove plaque and bacteria. If you struggle with dental floss, we recommend floss sticks to ease the process.
- Mouthwash: Choose a mouthwash that is sugar free and contains fluoride. Rinse your mouth after meals or after drinking harmful beverages such as coffee and soda.
- Diet: A tooth-friendly diet is high in leafy greens, lean protein, nuts, and dairy. We discourage too much soda, coffee, juice, acidic fruit, start, or sugar.
Please feel free to contact our office at 703-938-7615 for more information about oral hygiene.
Post-Op Care for Dental Implants
Your dental implant surgery should be fairly comfortable; however, your mouth will require sufficient recovery time and will need to adjust to the new implants. We encourage you to place soft ice packs in the freezer and have Ibuprofen on hand prior to your appointment. After the surgery, you should eat only soft foods such as yogurt, soft cheese, soup, ice cream, and fruit smoothies for several days, until your teeth and jaws are ready to chew again. Make sure what you eat is not too cold or too hot for your sensitive mouth.
Following surgery, we suggest that you take a few days off of work, request a lighter load, or work from home until you feel normal again. You may experience swelling and soreness around the gums and cheeks, but should be feeling better within the week.
After the bone and titanium implant have fused together, the crown will be attached to complete your new tooth. You may experience mild sensitivity, but no recovery process is required.
Preventive Dental Care
Preventive dental care is an important part of protecting your smile from tooth decay and oral disease. We encourage you to take an hour off work or school twice a year to visit the dentist and have your teeth cleaned and examined for any signs of a health problem. Professional cleanings and exams ensure that any plaque or bacteria that was missed during your at-home care will be removed and your smile will be polished.
What can I do to improve my smile?
If your smile is not to your liking, come visit Nova Dental Care for smile-enhancing services such as:
- Teeth cleaning to remove plaque and bacteria
- Teeth whitening to remove yellowing and stains
- At-home facial exercises to strengthen your smile muscles and tighten the skin around your mouth
You can also make your smile and surrounding skin even more attractive by moisturizing daily and drinking more water.
What do I do if I damage my dentures?
Visit Nova Dental Care as soon as possible if your dentures have become damaged or no longer fit as well as they should. If pieces have broken off, gather them together to bring to our office. You can use dental wax to create a barrier between your smile and any loose areas of the denture that are rubbing on your gums. Remove your dentures and place them in a case or a glass of water to take to the dentist—do not continue to wear broken dentures. We offer emergency walk-ins for cases like yours.
What do I do if I chip my tooth?
Contact Nova Dental Care immediately if you have chipped or broken a tooth, especially if there is pain or bleeding involved. If you cannot see the dentist right away, take the following steps at home:
- Rinse your mouth in warm saltwater.
- Apply light pressure to the damaged tooth with a piece of gauze or a cool cloth to reduce discomfort.
- Purchase dental cement to cover the damaged tooth if you cannot get to the dental office that day.
Dr. Neal Emad will restore your tooth as soon as possible and encourages you to call our office at 703-938-7615 to schedule an appointment or receive further directions.
When is a tooth extraction necessary?
Dr. Neal Emad may need to extract a tooth that is damaged, decayed, or overcrowded beyond repair. Intense discomfort is a sign that a tooth is severely injured. We recommend visiting our office at the first sign of a toothache to have the tooth treated before it reaches the point of extraction. Other reasons a tooth may need to be pulled are if the cost to repair the tooth is too great or a wisdom tooth is impacted. We offer sedation dentistry to ensure you are fully comfortable before we begin the extraction process.
Why are my gums bleeding?
Gums bleed as a result of irritation caused by poor oral hygiene, plaque or tartar buildup below the gum line, smoking, diabetes, pregnancy, and certain medications. We encourage you to regularly brush and floss your teeth, especially around the gum line, and visit our office if you notice a change in your gum health.
Which is better–Invisalign® or braces?
The best choice for orthodontic treatment depends on your personal smile needs and preferences. Both Invisalign and braces are an excellent choice for shifting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. However, you have jaw problems that affect your smile, you may need to combine jaw surgery with your clear aligners or choose traditional braces. During your orthodontic consultation, Dr. Neal Emad will provide all of your options and help you select the best choice for your smile.
Will I need a bone graft for dental implants?
Bone grafts are often performed on patients who do not have sufficient bone thickness to support a dental implant. This is often the case when prolonged tooth loss has caused the bone to reabsorb. Without the tooth root present to tell the body that the jawbone is being used, the body will begin to leach calcium from that area to use elsewhere, causing the bone to deteriorate. Our dentist will perform a thorough oral examination prior to placing your implants to determine if your jawbone is healthy and dense enough for the implants or if it requires a graft first.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about your dental health and the many treatment options available for you. Please call 703-938-7615 or visit our dentist in Vienna, Virginia, if you have further questions.