New Smile for the New Year

As we move through December, one naturally begins to wonder about the ways to make the coming year even better.

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a straighter, more beautiful smile, 2017 is a great time to start orthodontic treatment. And with innovative Invisalign treatment at Julian S. Drew, DDS, you can attain that confident, gorgeous grin you want without sacrificing your appearance to braces in the process.

Innovative Treatment

Invisalign clear aligners have taken the orthodontic world by storm. These aligners are revolutionizing the way people think about teeth-straightening, making it so adults and teens everywhere don’t have to stress about the look and feel of different types of braces.

As you explore this orthodontic treatment option, you’ll want to know Invisalign’s main components and the benefits the treatment has over braces. Accordingly, here are three key points that your Raleigh dentist would like you to be aware of as you consider embarking on an Invisalign journey.

#1 Perfect for Adults & Teens

Invisalign was originally developed for adult treatment purposes, but there is now a line specifically for adolescent patients known as Invisalign Teen. This type of Invisalign treatment is suitable for patients that are still growing. The “teen version” of Invisalign features eruption tabs that give way to any teeth coming in. Other than that, treatment remains relatively the same for adult and adolescent patients.

#2 Inconspicuous & Comfortable

Invisalign aligners are clear, meaning they are barely visible. As a result they are perfect for people that might be self-conscious about the look of traditional braces. Each set of aligners is also customized to each patient. So all aligners fit perfectly and comfortably in the mouth, working to slowly guide the teeth into the desired position by means of switching to new aligners every couple weeks. This movement creates pressure, but the overall treatment is nearly painless when compared to some other orthodontic appliances and solutions.

#3 Removable & Hygiene-Friendly

Another benefit of Invisalign is that Invisalign aligners are removable. They can be taken out whenever a patient eats, drinks, or needs to brush his or her teeth. This makes keeping the teeth clean much simpler because there is no deviation from your regular healthy oral hygiene routine. An added benefit related to this is that patients don’t have any food restrictions because there is no worry about accidentally breaking a part of the appliance (like a bracket or wire).

A Clear Alternative

Braces are a time-tested, effective orthodontic solution, but Invisalign is a terrific alternative that might be more suitable for some qualified adult and adolescent patients.

If you’re interested investing in a new smile for the New Year, contact your Raleigh, NC dentist today to learn if Invisalign is right for you. You’ll be glad you did!

Tooth Decay Prevention

At Julian S. Drew, DDS, we work hard to provide high-quality dental care to families in Raleigh and other surrounding North Carolina communities.

Dr. Julian Drew and his highly trained staff want to make every patient feel at home in the office. We have years of experience working with people of all ages and with every kind of dental need. Our mission is to help our patients develop a beautiful, healthy smile—and that means taking an active stance on tooth decay prevention.

A Common, But Preventable Problem

Tooth decay is one of the most common human diseases, second only to the common cold! Tooth decay affects more than 25% of children between the ages of two and five in the United States, as well as 50% of children between the ages of twelve and fifteen. Thankfully, tooth decay is highly preventable.

There’s no single “magic bullet” to stop tooth decay, but using a combination of preventive techniques can keep tooth decay at bay. At the most basic level, a consistent routine of brushing and flossing your teeth at home combined with regular cleanings at our Raleigh office can help prevent decay. But that’s just the beginning of the prevention process. In addition to these basic elements, it’s important that you watch your:

• Diet: Foods that are high in sugar or acids can eat away at tooth enamel, and colored drinks like soda and coffee can stain teeth. It’s important to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet in order to ensure proper dental health.
• Brushing Technique: While brushing your teeth is important, equally is important is how you brush your teeth. Make sure you cover all areas, including uneven surfaces, and utilize our dentist’s recommended best practices for brushing and flossing your teeth.
• Supplementary Treatments: Treatments like dental sealants help prevent tooth decay.

What Causes Tooth Decay?

Your mouth is a dynamically balanced ecosystem filled with living bacteria—both the good and the bad kind. While many types of bacteria benefit your teeth and mouth, others break down the sugars and carbohydrates in food and turn them into acids that eat away at tooth enamel and cause decay. The goal of our cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice is to keep the harmful bacteria in check, allowing the beneficial bacteria and other biological factors like saliva to strengthen and clean your teeth.

Extra Steps for Prevention

In some cases regular steps for prevention are not enough. If that’s the case, dentists can use a variety of extra steps to bolster tooth health. In-office fluoride treatments and take-home pastes and rinses can help improve the structural integrity of teeth and fortify them against acids and bacteria. Your dentist may also recommend anti-bacterial treatments or nutritional counseling.

Another highly effective preventive treatment (as previously mentioned) is dental sealants. Dental sealants are thin, virtually invisible layers of resin that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the rear molars. The process of application is completely painless and provides a semi-permanent layer of protection for the back teeth, which are some of the hardest teeth to clean.

Contact Your Raleigh Dentist

If you have more questions about preventing tooth decay, we’d be happy to answer them. Feel free to call our cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice at (919) 881-0255, or reach out to us via our contact page. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you develop a beautiful, healthy smile!

Teeth Whitening

At the office of Julian S. Drew, DDS, our first mission is to help our patients maintain healthy, strong teeth. However, we also recognize that appearance is important. Beautiful, bright white teeth can improve confidence and self-esteem, and nothing beats having a smile you’re proud of.

Unfortunately, keeping teeth white can be a lot harder than it sounds. Between dark-colored, staining foods and beverages like coffee, wine, or even tomato sauce, it’s easy for teeth to take on darker hues. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution to this problem: professional teeth whitening.

Professional Teeth Whitening in Raleigh, NC

We’re proud to offer a wide variety of cosmetic dentistry services, and among them teeth whitening is one of our most popular treatments. It’s simple, can be done at home on your own time, and has been shown to whiten teeth by up to 4—8 shades, practically reinventing your smile in no time at all!

The Process:

The whitening process is simple.

• First, your trusted cosmetic dentist will take impressions of your teeth. Then we’ll use these impressions to create your own whitening trays, which are custom-designed to fit your unique bite.
• Once your trays have been created, we’ll give you a special whitening gel along with detailed instructions on how to use it. During your appointment at our Raleigh office, we’ll go over any questions you might have about the teeth whitening process.
• To whiten your teeth you’ll simply fill your trays with the gel, place them over your teeth, and leave them in for a short period of time over the course of a few days.
• The result: within days you’ll have a noticeably whiter smile—no special diets, procedures, or extra brushing necessary!

Contact Your Raleigh, NC Cosmetic Dentist

Does a brighter, whiter smile sound like something you’d be interested in? If so, our cosmetic dentist can help. If you’d like to pursue teeth whitening treatment, please call our Raleigh practice at 919-881-0255, or reach out to us via our contact page. With teeth whitening treatment, you’re only two appointments and a few days away from a beautiful, whiter smile!

Mini Dental Implants

For years, dental implants have been the gold standard in tooth replacement. They’re remarkably reliable, strong, and when combined with a dental crown they provide a realistic, long-lasting replacement for natural teeth.

In some circumstances, however, using regular dental implants just isn’t possible. When there isn’t enough space in the dental arch, regular implants are sometimes too big and bulky to be practical. In the past this might have meant you would need a dental bridge to fill the space. But thanks to mini dental implants, we can now place an implant in thinner bone areas where a traditional implant would not be possible.

Complete Tooth Restoration in Raleigh

Mini dental implants are titanium screws that replace the root of a tooth, the crown is then cemented directly to the implant. If the implant is to be used for a denture, then a housing with a rubber gasket is attached to the denture that snaps on and off the implant head. This helps to keep the denture from falling out when eating and speaking

Dentures with MDIs

In addition to crowns on mini implants, MDI’s are used to stabilize dentures and partials. MDI’s are placed quickly and easily using a microsurgical technique, typically there is no bleeding and no stitches are required. The heads of the implants protrude from the gum tissue and provide an attachment for stabilizing dentures and partials.

Contact Your Raleigh, NC Restorative Dentist

Want to learn more about MDIs and get started on treatment with our restorative dentist? We’re always happy to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our Raleigh, NC office. We look forward to helping you achieve the beautiful, healthy smile you desire!

Dental Veneers

For many busy adults, a beautiful new smile is a welcome thought, but the idea of going through a complete tooth replacement with dental implants seems like too much of a hassle.

Thankfully, advancements in dental technology have created new treatment alternatives that are easy, fast, and completely safe. One of the most convenient examples is the cosmetic dentistry treatment known as dental veneers.

Lumineers & Porcelain Veneer Treatment in Raleigh, NC

Put simply, veneers are thin, custom-made shells that fit directly onto the front of your teeth. Composed of either porcelain or a tooth-colored composite material, they provide protective covering to maintain the strength and integrity of teeth while offering an aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking smile. Veneers are perfect for treating cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged teeth. And once placed, they last for upwards of 10 to 20 years.

Dental veneers can usually be completed within just one appointment, and because the procedure is so simple and pain-free, no anesthesia is required! Overall, veneers provide a convenient, natural-looking solution for damaged or malformed teeth.

Benefits at a Glance:

• Custom-made to match your smile
• Often require only one or two visits to our Raleigh office
• Instantly straightens, whitens, and re-shapes teeth
• Restores and strengthens teeth to prevent wear and tear
• A fast, convenient treatment for a better smile

Contact Your Raleigh, NC Cosmetic Dentist

Have more questions about dental veneers, or want to find out if they’re right for you? We’re here to help. Feel free to call us at 919-881-0255 with any questions, take a look at our Smile Gallery, or reach out to us directly through our contact page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

About Our Blog

On behalf of Dr. Drew and the entire staff of Julian S. Drew, DDS, we would like to welcome you to our practice’s official dentistry blog!

From general dentistry to specialty services such as dentures and dental implants, Dr. Drew and his team offer exceptional, compassionate care to patients.

Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, our dentistry practice is proud to serve many different communities, including Midtown, NC and Cary, NC. No matter where you’re from, our general and cosmetic dentistry professionals can provide you with the smile results you desire.

Learn more about the services we offer such as dental crowns and dental fillings, cosmetic dentistry, and other oral and dental topics by checking out our latest blog posts. Or, contact us at Julian S. Drew, DDS today. Call us at: 919-881-0255. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about getting started with our dental treatment team.