Finance Your Dental Treatment Through CareCredit

CareCredit is an excellent way to pay for expected and unexpected dental treatments that are not covered by insurance.  Whether you are in need of cosmetic or routine dental care, CareCredit is available to handle out-of-pocket costs.  You can receive dental care now rather than wait.  CareCredit is perfect for your dental treatments.

CareCredit is a great way to finance your dental treatment

Who is CareCredit?

CareCredit is a company owned by GE that allows you to have your dental procedures taken care of immediately.  They eliminate the financial barrier and optimal treatment without delay.  Additionally, another benefit to using CareCredit is that it can be used for other medical procedures, not just dental.  The company has over 100,000 providers who accept CareCredit and has helped over 7 million customers.  They are also endorsed by the American Dental Association.

What makes CareCredit Different from a Credit Card?

CareCredit is exclusive to health care needs.  Applying is free and easy and you find out instantly if you’re approved.  You are eligible for their no interest promotion every time you use it.  Their no interest option can be implemented for 6, 12, 18 and 24 months depending on what promotion your dentist offers.  Interest is charged retroactive to the purchase date if you have not paid the balance in full at the end of the 6, 12, 18 and 24 month period.  Minimum payments are required.  If you are unable to pay off the full balance at the end of the period there are extended payment plans with low fixed monthly payments and a low interest rate.  Best of all there are no teaser or introductory rates, no prepayment penalties and it never expires.

CareCredit is the perfect option for your dental treatments.  Whether you want lumineers, clear braces or needing to pay for critical dental care you now have the option to have no interest financing.  CareCredit brings peace of mind that your dental care needs can be met without delay.

If you or any family members have further questions, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss any concerns.  Why wait.......call today (512) 992-2822 or visit our website Rigby Advanced Dental.

Fluoride? What's The Big Deal

Once upon a time, it was not uncommon to drink from the pure, clean water of a stream.  Today, you are unlikely to see anyone drinking water from a natural source without running it through a Brita pitcher first.  As sad as it is to admit, society is taking a hard toll on Mother Nature.  Things that were once safe and abundant are now unsafe, limited, and treated with chemicals.  All of these treatments for something as common as water might have you wondering exactly what is coming out of your kitchen sink.

Super Water Right From The Tap

One of the most common additives to water is fluoride.  For those that are adamant against any additives in their water, this is actually a favorable additive.  Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.  While fluoride is found naturally in water, the fluoridation process only boosts the natural fluoride levels to the best level for the highest amount of protection.  In other words, water already contains the cavity fighter – society is simply making it stronger.

The addition of fluoride to water has been a common practice for over 65 years.  The process reduces tooth decay by up to 40%.  Even though fluoride is available in other products, like toothpaste and mouthwash, the “super” water is still providing essential protection.  In this age of excess, particularly sugar, the added fluoride can mean the difference between a cavity and a healthy tooth.

If you worry about the treatment process of your water, mark fluoride off the list.  This helpful additive has kept millions of people in better oral health. It will continue to serve millions more in the future.  The next time you drink a glass of tap water, think of it as part of your daily dental routine.  Dr. Rigby and your teeth will thank you every six months.

Today's Implant Placement!

Check out this dental implant placement Dr. Rigby just completed for one of our outstanding patients!  The procedure took approximately an hour and the results are "FANTASTIC"!  Both the patient and Dr. Rigby were pleased with the outcome and look forward to completing the treatment soon.

Before Panorex

 

 

 

After Implant Placement Panorex

After Implant Placement Close Up

At Rigby Advanced Dental a set clinical protocol is followed for all of our dental implant patients, doing this ensures our best possible effort has been made to achieve success.  Through his extensive training as a Prosthodontist, Dr Brent Rigby has been able to master the many aspects of dental implant therapy.  Rigby Advanced Dental not only offers complete implant care, but also offers a variety of other dental services.  Please visit our website Rigby Advanced Dental for details.  We enjoy being able to provide top notch dental care to the people of Bee Cave, Lakeway and other surrounding Lake Travis areas!

Tips to Beat Bad Breath!

There’s no way around it - bad breath is embarrassing. Chronic bad breath can seem like a nemesis, constantly foiling your plans and preventing you from engaging in social activities. We know what to avoid food-wise: anchovies, onions, garlic, etc., but what else can you do? Consider these helpful tips to help you overcome bad breath and start smiling again!

1. Visit Dr Rigby's Bee Cave dental office regularly! Only a professional can remove hardened tartar (a source of bad breath) from below the gumline. We can also diagnose the source of the problem, recommend hygiene products, and devise a plan of action.

2. Brush and floss daily. This seems like a no-brainer, but let’s be honest. How often do you really floss? If you’re like most people, then it’s about as often as you flip your mattress. Debris builds up between teeth, decays, and emits a foul odor. Flossing removes the debris, and it’s absolutely essential for fresh breath.

3. Scrape your tongue. Bacteria hides beneath your taste buds, but a gentle, cost-effective tongue scraper can effectively remove a good percentage of this bacteria. Tongue scrapers last for years, and it might just be the most important thing you do to eliminate odor-causing bacteria.

4. Replace your toothbrush. Your toothbrush’s damp bristles can become a host for bacteria over time. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months for a fresh approach to fighting bad breath.

5. Use alcohol-free mouthwash. Buyers beware! Many popular mouthwashes contain alcohol, which can mask odors, but ultimately exacerbates the problem by contributing to dry mouth. Consider using an alcohol-free rinse or a baking-soda solution to actually rid your mouth of bacteria.

6. Drink water. Sipping water throughout the day can wash away debris and prevent dehydration, a common cause of bad breath.

7. Go green. Certain herbs and spices act as natural breath fresheners that kill odiferous bacteria. Try adding fresh mint, parsley, coriander, tarragon, rosemary, or cardamom to your diet. Steep these herbs in hot water for a few minutes and enjoy a breath-freshening after-dinner elixir.

8. Introduce vitamin-rich foods. Studies show that foods rich in vitamin D (yogurt, cheese, milk) and Vitamin C (citrus fruits, berries, melons) can counter bad breath and create an environment inhospitable to bacteria.

9. Avoid liquid offenders. Minimize your intake of notorious bad-breath allies like coffee, wine, and whiskey.

10. Chew sugar-free gum. While this isn’t a permanent solution, sugar-free gum can stimulate the saliva glands and provide temporary relief. And because it’s sugar-free, it won’t contribute to decay, which can heighten the problem.

Don’t be embarrassed to talk to Dr. Rigby about bad breath (known in dentistry as halitosis). It’s very common, and we’re here to help you feel good about your oral health. We can recommend products and treatments that will restore your health and your self-confidence. Call (512) 992-2822 for a complimentary consultation. Our Bee Cave dental office serves the Lake Travis and other surrounding areas.

Oral Cancer Screening

Three to five minutes that may save your life

It’s a fact that oral cancer is most frequently discovered in its later stages, when the survival rate is only 20-30%. This is largely because in its early stages it may be painless, and may not present symptoms that you might notice.  Rigby Advanced Dental recognizes the importance of early oral cancer detection and includes a visual and tactile screening for oral cancer during all exams.

Early detection through opportunistic screenings

Rigby Advanced Dental is working to increase the number of cases caught in the earliest, highly survivable stages of the cancer.  All family members over 18 should be screened at least yearly.  We recommend more frequent screenings when patients engage in known risk factors such as tobacco use.  The screening is a simple, painless, 3-5 minute exam.

Important --- These simple screenings are for EVERYONE.......not just people with teeth.  With increased age comes increased risk and as individuals loose their teeth or transition into dentures there is a misunderstanding that the dentist does not need to be seen.  It more important for these individuals to be seen on a regularly basis not only to check their prostheses but also to assess their general cancer risk and oral health.  

In addition to twice yearly routine dental exams and cleanings, please contact us promptly if you or your family members experience any of the following possible signs of oral cancer:

• A sore that does not heal within 14 days
• An unusual lump or discoloration of the tissues inside the mouth
• Any unusual pain or difficulty in chewing, speaking, or swallowing
• Wart like masses in the mouth
• Prolonged hoarseness
• Numbness in the mouth or facial region

The good news is that a simple routine head and neck exam can catch things early.  Precancerous lesions are removed easily and healing time is usually quick.  Get in today to have an exam if it has been awhile!

 

6 Steps to a Thorough Oral Cancer Screening

The dentist or dental hygienist will:

 

Step 1: Tongue ‘n Gauze

Extend your tongue as far as it can go, examining the sides and underside for white and red patches, and feels your tongue for lumps. NOTE: This is the most common site of oral cancers in non-smokers.

 

Step 2: Lip & Cheek Roll

Feel for lumps or bumps, looking for white or red areas that should not be there.

 

Step 3: Double-Digit Probe

Examine the floor of your mouth from the top and bottom simultaneously for lumps, looking for white and red patches.

 

Step 4: Palate Tickle

Check the roof of your mouth for lumps and area’s of softness on the hard palate, looking for white and red patch.

 

Step 5: Neck Caress

Palpate your neck for enlarged lymph nodes a possible sign of infection or something more serious.

 

Step 6: Tonsil Ahhhhhhh

Depress your tongue with a dental mirror, examining your tonsils for symmetry, enlargement, redness, or unusual bumps.

If your dental provider does a thorough oral cancer screening at every visit, recommend them for a Dental Lifesaver Award.

Tooth Extraction

Unfortunately for some, tooth extraction is an inevitable adventure!  Teeth often have to be removed to ensure adequate infection control and to improve the overall health of a patient, but before it "needs" to be done understanding the why or why not is important.  

Webster's dictionary states, "tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone".  If a tooth has been damaged by decay or a fracture, dentists try to repair it and restore it with a filling, crown or other treatment. Sometimes, though, the damage is too extensive for the tooth to be repaired and the only logical solution is to remove it, and this is the most common reason for extracting a tooth.

Here are some other common reasons for tooth removal:

• Extra Teeth --- these often can block other teeth from erupting into the mouth.
• Orthodontic Work --- teeth may need to be extracted to create room for the teeth that are being moved into place.
• Head and Neck Radiation Therapy --- these people may need to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.
• Chemotherapy Patients--- individuals undergoing this treatment may develop infected teeth.  Chemotherapy weakens the immune system and increasing the risk of infection.
• Organ Transplant Patients--- teeth that are at risk of being potential sources of infection after the transplant when immuno-suppressive medications are given may need to be removed.
• Wisdom Teeth --- are often extracted for preventative reason.  They can be removed before or after they come in and are most often extracted in the late teens or early twenties.  Wisdom teeth may be impacted (partially or completely covered by bone or soft tissue) or have dental decay present causing pain requiring their removal.  Similarly, a wisdom tooth that has emerged partially may be blocked by other teeth or may not have enough room to come in completely and this can irritate the gums, causing pain and swelling, requiring the tooth/teeth to be removed.

 

Extracted Wisdom Teeth (Third Molars)

Preparation For The Appointment

Through medical and dental histories will be collected, this helps to determine if any medical/dental condition will increase the risk for tooth removal.  A radiograph (x-ray) of the area will be taken, this helps in seeing and planning the best way to remove a tooth.  If you are having all of your wisdom teeth removed, you may have a panoramic x-ray, which takes a picture of all of your teeth at once.  This type of x-ray shows the relationship of your wisdom teeth to your other teeth, as well as the upper teeth’s relationship to your sinuses and the lower teeth’s relationship to the inferior alveolar nerve, which provides sensation to your lower jaw, lower teeth, lower lip and chin.

Some health care professionals prescribe antibiotics to be taken before and after surgery, but this varies by practitioner. Antibiotics are more likely to be given to people with infection at the time of surgery or with weakened immune systems, those who will be undergoing longer surgeries, or very young or elderly people.

If you’re going to have conscious sedation or deeper anesthesia, wear clothing that has short sleeves or will allow you to roll the sleeves up easily so that an intravenous (IV) line can be placed in a vein. You will be told not to eat or drink anything for six hours before the procedure. You should also make sure you have someone available to drive you home.

How It’s Done

• Simple extraction --- is performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth.  Most can be done under a local anesthetic, with or without anti-anxiety drugs.  In a simple extraction, the tooth will be grasped with forceps and move the forceps back and forth to loosen the tooth before removing it.  Sometimes, an instrument called a luxator or elevator, which fits between the tooth and the gum, is used to help loosen the tooth.
• Surgical extraction --- involves teeth that cannot be seen easily in the mouth, either because they have broken off at the gum line or because they have not come in yet.  Another reason for a surgical extraction is that the tooth to be removed requires a flap be cut in the gum for access to remove bone or a section of the tooth.  They can be done with local anesthesia or conscious sedation.  Patients with special medical conditions and young children may be given general anesthesia.  In a surgical extraction, the dentist will need to make an incision in your gum to reach the tooth.  In some cases, the tooth will need to be broken into sections to be removed.

 

Removal of An Upper Tooth

If you are having teeth extracted and are receiving conscious sedation, you may be given steroids in your IV line to help reduce postoperative swelling.

If you need all four wisdom teeth removed, they usually are taken out at the same time. Or if you wish and depending on the practitioner, they can be removed in halves, left at one appointment and the right at another.......there are pros and cons to each method, which Dr Rigby is happy to expound upon.  The top teeth usually are easier to remove than the lower ones.

Here are the types of wisdom teeth in order from easiest to remove to most difficult to remove:

• Erupted (already in the mouth)
• Soft-tissue impacted (just under the gum)
• Partial-bony impacted (partially stuck in the jaw)
• Full-bony impacted (completely stuck in the jaw) 

Also, if your wisdom teeth are tilted sideways, they can be harder to remove than if they are vertical.

Follow-Up After Extraction
 

Most simple extractions do not cause much discomfort after the procedure.  You may take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brand names) for several days, or you may not need any pain medication at all.......everyone is different when it comes to healing.

Because surgical extractions are more complicated, they generally cause more pain after the procedure.  The level of discomfort and how long you have discomfort depend on the difficulty of the extraction.  You may be prescribed a pain medication for a few days and then suggest switch to an NSAID.  Most postsurgical pain disappears after a couple of days.  It is possible you will be tender over the area for a few weeks, but there should not be any major discomfort long term.

A cut in the mouth tends to bleed more than a cut on the skin because the incision cannot dry out and form a scab.  So after an extraction, you’ll be asked to bite on a piece of gauze for about 20 to 30 minutes to put pressure on the area and allow the blood to clot.  The area may still bleed minimally for the next 24 hours or so and taper off after that.  Don’t disturb the clot that forms on the wound.

You can put ice packs on your face to reduce postoperative swelling.  If your jaw is sore and stiff after the swelling dissipates, try warm compresses.  Eat soft foods for a few days then try other food as you feel comfortable.  Rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) for the first few days to help keep the area clean.  Most swelling and bleeding ends within one or two days of the surgery.  Overall healing takes between one and two weeks.

If the extraction needs to be closed with stitches, the stitches are usually dissolvable and should disappear in one to two weeks.  Rinsing with warm salt water will help the stitches to dissolve.

You should not smoke, use a straw or spit after surgery.  These actions can pull the blood clot out of the hole where the tooth was.  That causes more bleeding and can lead to a dry socket, which occurs in about 5% of all extractions.  It is most common when lower back teeth are removed and happens more often in smokers and women who take birth control pills.

Risks To Be Aware Of

Infection can set in after an extraction, although you probably won’t get an infection if you have a healthy immune system.

A common complication called a dry socket occurs when a blood clot doesn’t form in the hole or the blood clot prematurely breaks off or breaks down.  In a dry socket, the underlying bone is exposed to air and food.  This can be very painful and can cause a bad odor or taste.  A dry socket needs to be treated with a medicated dressing to stop the pain and encourage the area to heal.

Please contact us if pain is a persistent problem!

Other potential risks and complications include:

• Accidental damage to adjacent teeth --- such as fracture.
• An incomplete extraction --- a tooth remnant remains.  Most often the remnant is removed to prevent infection, but occasionally it is less risky to leave a small root tip in place, if needed.
• A fractured jaw --- caused by the pressure applied during the extraction.  This is a risk most often encountered in older people with osteoporosis of the jaw.
• A hole in the sinus during removal of an upper molar.  A small hole will usually close up by itself in a few weeks but may require additional surgery if it doesn’t heal spontaneously.
• Sustained numbness in the lower lip and chin, caused by trauma to the inferior alveolar nerve (during removal of the lower wisdom teeth). Complete healing of the nerve may take three to six months. In rare cases, the numbness, although not disfiguring, may be permanent. 

When To Call a Professional
 
If a swelling gets worse instead of better, or you experience fever, chills or redness in an area, please give us a call.  If you have an infection, antibiotics will usually be prescribed.  Also please call, if after 3-4 days post surgery an extraction site becomes very painful or prolonged, this may be a sign that you may have a dry socket.  Similarly, If the area continues to bleed after the first 24 hours please give us a call.