South Austin Dentist Office - Circle C Dental - Dental clinic in South & Southwest Austin

Fake Crooked Teeth in Japan!

2011-10-10T08:09:00.001-07:00

In Japan, they actually want fake & crooked teeth!!! LINK

Anyhow, it is that time of the year again when it is FINALLY getting cooler and we have our short Texas fall weather. It is also the time of the year when historically, we are very busy.

Your insurance benefits for the year are going to expire if left unused by the end of the year. If you have dental work that you want to have completed, please give us a call (512-301-2483 or email us). The earlier, the better because in December, we are typically fully booked.

Happy upcoming Halloween!!

Gum Disease and Heart Disease!

2011-09-13T06:30:00.001-07:00

Look what Dr. Oz says about gum disease and heart disease correlation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZxtsFTiqY8

Gum disease linked to premature babies

2011-08-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this link here:

"Expectant mothers have long been warned that gum disease can cause a baby to be born prematurely or too small. But for the first time scientists have linked bacteria from a mother’s gums to an infection in a baby that was full-term but stillborn, according to the study which was published Thursday in Obstetrics and Gynecology."

Make sure you visit the dentist during your pregnancy!!

Summer is winding down soon!

2011-07-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Every summer, especially in August, we have a huge rush of kids coming in and it then becomes very difficult to find a convenient time. So beat the rush! Give us a call for your kids' appointments before it gets too busy!

Summer is also a great time to have wisdom teeth removed! Young adults in the 17-early 20s are great candidates for wisdom teeth removal because:

1. the ability to heal and recover is much faster
2. your jaw bone is more pliable and flexible so removal of teeth are actually easier
3. you have summers off and there is plenty of time!

Dr. David Burden would love to help you out with your wisdom teeth removal!

Summer is hot and when it's hot, we might snore more. If you or your spouse notice that you snore a lot, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where you will stop breathing when you are sleeping. When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, your risk of heart attacks raise ~8x the average. Sleep apnea is highly correlated with high blood pressure, diabetes, excessive day time sleepiness, and more!

If you've fallen asleep at the wheel, are tired all the time, snore loudly, require frequent naps or are overweight, your chance of having obstructive sleep apnea is very high. Please visit this page to learn more and take our Epworth sleep test to see if you possibly have it! We can help you out with a sleep apnea device and change your life! If you've tried a CPAP and can't sleep with it, ask us how we can help.

Dr. Pham himself has sleep apnea and has been treated for it and can tell you his story of how it has changed his life!

Please call us at 512-301-2483 (BITE) or contact us for more information!

Circle C Dental now offers the Periolase and LANAP!

2011-06-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

Circle C Dental and Dr. Tuan Pham are proud offer Periolase and the only FDA approved LANAP procedure to regenerate and re-grow bone growth lost due to gum disease (periodontitis). We will be the 5th dentist in Austin to offer this revolutionary procedure. Using a laser procedure without sutures and cutting of gums or underlying bone support, we can stimulate your body to naturally re-grow your missing bone lost due to gum disease (periodontitis)! Bone grafting or bone surgery with resulting subsequent pain is no longer needed! Ask us for more information regarding this revolutionary procedure!

Excited about Dentistry!

2011-05-10T10:21:00.001-07:00

I just got back from 4 days of continuing dental education classes in Las Vegas! Learned a lot of new tips / tricks and some exciting and scientifically proven (and not just manufacturer claimed) products/procedures.

We will be introducing a new whitening system called KOR which can whiten antibiotic (tetracycline) stained teeth. If you have really stained/dark teeth or want a true Hollywood smile, we can provide it for you now. Their website is here.

We are also going to be introducing PERIOLASE which is a non surgical laser gum treatment procedure. We will be one of ONLY 5 dentists in town (including specialists!) that feature this procedure. It is the only scientifically proven technique which can stimulate bone growth and new gum growth. VERY EXCITING!!!

Before and After Braces!!

2011-04-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this case we just finished!! 8-9 months for adult braces. Call us at 512-301-2483 for a consult regarding your new smile!

Before:

After:

New Office Photos!

2011-04-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Check out our facebook page.

When to first visit the Orthodontist?

2011-03-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

A common question that I get is "when should I first bring my kid to the orthodontist?"

Great question.

First off, many parents will wonder if their child needs braces for medical reasons. Certainly there are kids with skeletal issues that have cross bites (upper teeth are positioned inside of lower teeth) or high palate (roof of mouth is really narrow often times due to prolonged thumb sucking) which are highly recommended early braces because it can prevent future issues including speech impediment or lisping. But for the most part, many kids do not have a medical need for braces. They will need braces however, if you want your child to have straight teeth for a nice smile. And as research shows, people with nicer smiles tend to eventually make more money as adults.

A good time, especially for girls, is to visit the orthodontist around age 9 or so. Girls hit puberty quicker than boys. When kids hit puberty, the bones in the jaw start becoming more dense and sutures start closing. As such, if a child needs braces and it is recognized earlier before puberty, a lot of movement can be done ahead of time and when all the permanent teeth erupt (typically around age 12), the last phase of braces can be completed with less complications. Even if the orthodontist deems that your child is not ready for braces at age 9, they can monitor them periodically until it is time to start braces.

At Circle C Dental, we do not do braces for kids, but we do adult cosmetic Six Month Smiles braces. If you are interested in Adult braces, please contact us!

It's our birthday!!!

2011-03-10T06:27:00.001-08:00

Circle C Dental is 3 years old today!!!! We opened back in 3/10/08!!!

We have the best patients in the world!!!!

Our newest patient

2011-03-01T09:38:00.001-08:00

Here's a sweet picture of one of our newest and youngest patients brushing his teeth!

Yay!

Grillz!!

2011-02-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

We don't make grills (or is it grillz) at Cirle C Dental, but evidently they are good at stopping bullets: link.

If you need a cap, crown, (same visit cerec crown/cap too!), let us know! 512-301-2483.

Check out these old dental instruments!

2011-02-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

Good thing we don't use these archaic instruments, but check them out: link.

Bad Breath!

2011-02-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

Interesting article from CNN

Smelling your own breath in cupped hands is not the best way to check for halitosis, Katz says. Instead, lick the back of your hand, let it dry for a few seconds, and then smell the surface.

Alvarez' fears of bad breath had her so self-conscious she avoided kissing her significant other. "I would brush my teeth but was still worried he'd think I was gross."

I hope you don't have bad breath, but if you do, give us a call and we can help you out: 512-301-2483

Brave Girls of Circle C Dental

2011-02-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

So the great Snow-pocalypse came to Austin and even as such, Jennifer and Quincy went to work. Here they are in the snow! Picture is courtesy of our patient who came in despite the snow!

Contact us at 512-301-2483 or visit us at www.circlecdental.com if you need anything.

Newest Yelp! Review

2011-01-17T17:42:00.000-08:00

Another great review to go with our sweet new Yelp! sticker: link

It's the beginning of the year and a great way to start off the New Year is to perhaps consider adding FLOSSING to your New Year's resolutions! It only takes a minute or 2 and saves you from having irreversible gum disease called Periodontitis and prevents cavities in between teeth! As kids get adult teeth, statistically the incidences of cavities shift from the chewing surfaces to the places in between your teeth where you floss.

Now a common question I get is, "why should I floss if I don't feel there is food stuck between my teeth?" Great question. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean you should NOT floss it. How can I prove it to you? This is a little gross, but next time you floss, just smell it. That is all the proof you will need.

So consider adding flossing as a New Year's resolution! If you ever have any questions about anything, please contact Circle C Dental, your South Austin dentist.

How to whiten your teeth!

2010-12-28T12:02:00.001-08:00

Well here is one way to do it in Photoshop! http://lifehacker.com/5718710/how-to-whiten-teeth-in-your-photos

OR

You could just call us and ask us about teeth whitening!

Happy Holidays!

Yay! Yelpers love us!!

2010-12-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

Check out our sweet new sticker that we got from YELP!!!! Our Yelp page, has a lot of good reviews. 4.5/5 stars!

Take a look at our reviews if you have not already. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Smile and possibly live longer!

2010-12-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

Interesting read right here: link

Dr. Tuan Pham's interview about Invisalign

2010-12-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

Check out Dr. Tuan Pham's interview about Invisalign here at Bizymom.com.

Call us if you need info on Invisalign or 6 Month Smiles braces!

Great Testimonial

2010-12-03T09:14:00.000-08:00

I just removed 6 Month Smiles Adult Braces on a patient - pictures will be up soon - and she sent me an email saying she had posted us a great review. Here is her true testimonial:

"I just had my adult braces removed and what a difference! My husband and I agree that this was the best money we have ever spent! Dr. Pham has a wonderful business - no detail has been overlooked. He obviously loves his profession! He has hired an incredible staff who always greet me with a smile. Everyone is professional, extremely pleasant and very helpful. The level of care that I have received has been above par. I have always had a fear of dentist and going to the dentist until now! Thank you Dr. Pham and Amanda!"

We can treat your snoring!

2010-12-01T06:05:00.000-08:00

Look at this article on CNN's front page: link.

Do you snore a lot or have sleep apnea? We can treat it for you non-surgically!

Take the Epworth Sleep test to see if you are at risk:

Interesting Teeth Facts

2010-11-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a GREAT THANKSGIVING!! I ate too much turkey & pie and watched football. Except for the Longhorns losing, it was a great Thanksgiving. Now, time to start thinking about Christmas.

Here is something interesting that I just read about teeth here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Top-Ten-Daily-Consequences-of-Having-Evolved.html?c=y&page=2

Our brains squeeze our teeth

A genetic mutation in our recent ancestors caused their descendants to have roomy skulls that accommodated larger brains. This may seem like pure success—brilliance, or its antecedent anyway. But the gene that made way for a larger brain did so by diverting bone away from our jaws, which caused them to become thinner and smaller. With smaller jaws, we could not eat tough food as easily as our thicker-jawed ancestors, but we could think our way out of that problem with the use of fire and stone tools. Yet because our teeth are roughly the same size as they have long been, our shrinking jaws don’t leave enough room for them in our mouths. Our wisdom teeth need to be pulled because our brains are too big.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Top-Ten-Daily-Consequences-of-Having-Evolved.html#ixzz16WiuU8G8

Remember end of the year is 1 month away. If you have remaining dental work and want to use your insurance benefits before the end of the year, please give us a call at 512-301-2483 (BITE) or visit our South Austin website!

Fast 6 Month Smiles Braces!

2010-11-12T07:36:00.000-08:00

Before:

After:

Here's a case we just finished. Great straight teeth in just about 6 months. Fast Braces instead of waiting 2-3 years. You too can have straight & beautiful smiles with our 6 Month Smiles Technique.

Call us at 512-301-2483 or www.circlecdental.com for more info!

Our Scheduling Coordinator Hard at Work

2010-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is Katie, your South Austin Dental scheduling coordinator. Look how hard she is at work playing video games!

Actually, she is busy taking care of kids. If you are in a bind and can't find a baby sitter, keep in mind that Circle C Dental has an area to keep kids busy and comfortable with video games and movies. And yes, sometimes we will even play video games with the kids!

Call us at 512-301-2483 if you have any questions.

Halloween pictures from Circle C Dental

2010-11-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

So if you are one of the few that don't have facebook profile, here are some pictures from Halloween from your South Austin Dentist!

Circle C Dental Halloween FUN!!!!

2010-10-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

I will figure out how to post better photos here, but your South Austin Dentist and staff dressed up for Halloween!

Here are the pics for now! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=253645&id=82802059028

Circle C Dental supports local schools in South Austin

2010-10-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Circle C Dental is proud to support both Baldwin Elementary School located in South Austin in Meridian subdivision and Patton Elementary with donations to their silent auction. We are also supporting Bowie High School and Westlake Highschool with their directories.

Happy Halloween! Brush your teeth after eating candy.

South Austin Dental Office Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

So I have not carved a pumpkin since I was a kid. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I also learned that pumpkins do not like 80+ degree Austin, TX weather and will quickly breakdown and degrade over the weekend. The goal was to bring them to our office and have everyone vote on them, but gross moldy pumpkins probably won't get many votes. At least we have pictures!

Pumpkin Carving!

2010-10-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

The staff and Dr. Tuan Pham at Circle C Dental are all going to have a pumpkin carving contest which you - our visitors - will vote on! Who will win???

Please give us a call at 301-2483 (BITE) if you have any questions.

Great Reviews for your South Austin Dentist

2010-10-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

If you're wandering around Google looking for a South Austin dentist, please check out our reviews here on Yelp! (currently 18 reviews with average of 4.5/5 stars) and also here!

If you're on Facebook -- who isn't these days?? -- then check out Circle C Dental's Facebook page.

And of course, here is our South Austin webpage.

Happy upcoming Halloween!!!!!!!!!

New Scheduling Coordinator at your South Austin Dentist

2010-10-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

We welcome new scheduling coordinator Emily who moved from Kentucky!

Emily is our account coordinator and specializes in all aspects of your insurance and coordinates appointment times that are convenient for you! Emily grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and graduated from Georgetown College in 2009. She had nothing holding her back, so she decided to move to Austin for a fresh start! She played tennis for 18 years and is hoping to get back on the court in Austin soon!

Please contact us if you have any questions!

Our TV commercial!

2010-09-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've seen Circle C Dental's TV commercial?? If not, here it is on Youtube.

Also check out your South Austin Dentist's page on Facebook! Add us and be our friend!!

Remember the end of the year rush is coming upon us, please call us at 512-301-2483 to schedule a convenient appointment time for you and use your remaining insurance benefits before they expire. Enjoy the cool TX weather!!!

School Support!

2010-09-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

Your South Austin Dental team is proud to say that we are supporting Kiker Elementary with their annual directory. Actually Circle C Dental contributed to Bowie la crosse team and Dr. Pham visited and spoke to both Mills Elementary School and Circle C Child Development Center. One of our great staff members was in Westlake choir back in the day, so we also support Westlake High Schools. Actually, speaking of which, we are less than 10 minutes from Bee Caves Road and Mopac. For all our patients from the Westlake area, you may also have seen Dr. Pham going to church at Saint John Neumann. Yes, that is him.

2010-09-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

OK I am sure you have seen this before, but if not, here is a link to the youtube video of the hilarious kid after sedation at a dentist's office: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs

In case you were wondering, at Circle C Dental we do offer sedation. Sedation varies from gas (nitrous oxide) to pills to IV sedation for wisdom teeth extraction done by Dr. David Burden. Dentistry no longer has to be scary! Our team at your South Austin dentist will take great care of you!

Call us if you have any questions!

End of the Year coming up!

2010-09-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

The end of the year is coming up! I love this time of the year. When Labor Day rolls around, summer is ending. Before you know it, Halloween is here. Then Thanksgiving and before you know it, Christmas -- my favorite holiday -- is here!

October, November and December are super busy times for South Austin Dental practice Circle C Dental. Many of you are blessed with dental insurance. One of the things about dental insurance though is that unlike cellular phone minutes, they don't roll over. Your benefits end at the calender year on December 31st. So all your benefits -- including the deductible that you've met -- are all gone! Same thing with Flex spend accounts (FSA) accounts. They typically end also.

As such EVERYONE wants an appointment at the end of the year. So consider calling us for an appointment and taking advantage of your remaining benefits before the end of the year before all the convenient times are taken.

One of the issues that sometimes arises is that people need a crown (aka a cap). Unfortunately their insurance won't pay for it until the crown is placed into the mouth. At Circle C Dental - your south Austin dentist - this is NOT an issue. With many other dental teams, you have to wear a temporary in your mouth for 1 month and then come back for the final crown. At Circle C Dental (www.circlecdental.com) using the latest CEREC technology, we can create your final tooth colored, beautiful porcelain crown in the same visit. We offer same day treatment instead of extended mont wait now!

Some of the more popular procedures that are requested at the end of the year include teeth whitening (brightening) for end of the year Christmas and holiday pictures and braces.

I have been asked many times if we do Zoom whitening. Zoom whitening is a brand name of in office whitening. You can view one of the older posts here for more information about whitening. The laser in Zoom whitening is more of a marketing gimmick than actual effectiveness. The laser in Zoom whitening was thought to better whiten teeth due to heating the whitening solution, but what has been discovered is that the laser just makes your teeth more sensitive due to the heat. So here at your South Austin Dental Team Circle C Dental, we whitening without the laser and risk of additional and unnecessary teeth sensitivity. We can get you the equivalent of about 2 week's worth of whitening in 2 hours. Call us at 512-301-2483 or visit us at www.circlecdental.com for more information.

Also people ask us braces? Why braces at the end of the year??? Honestly, I don't know why. I guess people think about what they want all year and decide at the end of the year that either they want a change or an early Christmas present for themselves. Or maybe it's a great way use remaining orthodontic and braces benefits. In any case, Circle C Dental in South Austin can move your teeth in about 6 months using the Six Month Smiles Braces technique. Please see our previous post on here for more information about braces, but instead of spending 2-3 years in all metal braces, we can often times straighten your teeth and give you a beautiful smile in a much quicker time frame!

Oh last thing is we have 1 more order of Oral B Triumph Electric toothbrushes at 65 percent off! I really believe that this is the last offer. Our Oral B rep asked us if we wanted 1 final order with the rebates and we said sure!

Please call Circle C Dental in South Austin at 512-301-2483 or visit our website at www.circlecdental.com for an appointment or for any information! Dr. Tuan Pham and the rest of the South Austin Dental Team will help you out!!

Top of the line Oral B Electric Toothbrush for how much??

2010-07-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

We typically recommend Oral B Triumph with the Smart Screen Guide that tells A that informs you how long to brush, how hard to push and where to brush for that dentist-smooth clean feeling!

For a limited time, Oral B is now offering mail in rebates (There is a 50% off rebate AND a $15 rebate) which bring it from $119.08 (our price. HEB and Target sell it for 149.99) down to ONLY $44.45!!! I have no idea why there is such a steep rebate on this -- maybe Oral B is trying to gain market share at the end of a quarter??

If you’ve wanted a top of the line electric toothbrush, now is the time to get one. Come by our office and pick one up before our supply runs out. Quantities are limited!

My Kid Fell!! Now What??

2010-06-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Ahhh it's been 2 months since a last blog post!

So I've gotten this question enough in the last 2 weeks that it's time for a post about it. What do you do when your kid falls and injures a tooth?

If a kid falls and hits his/her mouth and it's bleeding, first of all don't worry about the tooth that very second. Make sure your kid is ok, the bleeding (if any) stops and calm him/her down.

Now we can focus on the teeth. Most kids fall and injure a tooth in the front of the mouth. Here's the big thing: if the tooth falls out and it is a baby tooth, DO NOT put the tooth back in the mouth because it can damage an adult tooth. If it is an adult tooth and it comes out, then put it in some milk and come over to the dentist immediately. Now, some do recommend rinsing the tooth and sticking it back into the mouth and then going to the dentist. I would say to you, unless you absolutely cannot make it to the dentist right away, that you do not stick the tooth back in. (What if dirt remains on the tooth, etc.)

If the tooth doesn't come out, but it's loose, don't try to wiggle it or play with it. Come see the dentist. You might damage it more by wiggling it around.

In any case, if your child ever falls and injures a tooth, make it over to the dentist ASAP. Our number is 512-301-2483 if you need one!

6 Month Smiles Cosmetic Braces

2010-04-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

I love doing braces. I love seeing teeth move. It amazes me how fast I can straighten people's teeth sometimes and give them beautiful smiles that they have wanted their whole life. Not only that, but doing so in about 6 months. Anyhow, a picture says a 1000 words.

Patient #1 wanted braces her whole life. Finally decided it's time. Here is before:

Here is 4.5 months later! I wanted them on a little longer (after all I am a picky dentist), but she was thrilled with them and wanted to take an awesome vacation. Who could blame her?

Here is patient number 2 that I am seeing right now. Once again, she has wanted braces for a long time and consulted with several doctors. Here is before:

Here is a picture of treatment ONLY 2 MONTHS IN!!! Look at the dramatic movement! Also note how the brackets are clear. Not only are they fast, but they are clear!

Visit our website: www.CircleCDental.com or give us a call at 512-301-248 if you have any questions!

gingivitis

2010-04-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

So a perk of being a dentist is that I get my teeth cleaned whenever I want. Usually 4x a year. So did I have gingivitis?

Yes, I'm ashamed to say yes. Localized gingivitis in just 1 spot though! I brush 3x a day and floss at least twice a day and I still had one spot with a 4 and bleeding on probing. Like I've mentioned, gum disease (or progression of gum disease) just doesn't hurt and give you pain symptoms like a tooth ache.

So morale of the story? Getting your teeth cleaned and check up is VERY IMPORTANT. If a dentist that flosses at least 2x, brushes 3x a day and gets teeth cleaned 4x a year can get gingivitis, so can you!

Kids!

2010-03-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of questions about kids and when to bring them in etc. I made this for a school I spoke to once. Here it is:

When should I first bring my kid to the dentist?

According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the official guidelines are to first bring your child in at 6 months and no later than 1 year old. Realistically however, the typical age where we can actually clean your child’s teeth and apply cavity-fighting fluoride is around 2 years old. Certainly if you would like us to see your child earlier and provide you with oral healthcare tips, we can do that also!

Our goal at Circle C Dental is to provide your kids with a fun and enjoyable experience. I, like many of you, had unpleasant experiences with the dentist as a kid. At our office, we have video games in the waiting room, TVs above our treatment chairs, toys and prizes and even nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to make your child’s visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

How often should I bring my child in?

We recommend visits at every 6 months. Not only do we clean and polish the teeth, we also apply fluoride topically to physically strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. More importantly, the teeth are evaluated every time to make sure we catch any dental issues as early as possible.

What should I do if my kid knocks a tooth out?

Your first instinct may be to stick the tooth back in. DON’T! Give us a call at (512-301-2483) ASAP and we will figure out what is best. Especially important with baby teeth is to NOT stick them back in. If you do so, you risk injury to the permanent tooth growing below the visible gum-line.

How long should my child brush his/her teeth?

Kids – like adults – should brush their teeth for 2 minutes. Every kid that comes to our office will get a timer telling them exactly how long to brush. Until about age 8, you should consider doing a “check-up” brush to make sure that they are brushing correctly.

Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)!

2010-03-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

Teeth whitening / bleaching is one of the EASIEST and most cost-effective ways to get your smile looking great. People often ask me about whitening and the various forms of whitening. Let's break it down:

1. Over the counter stuff like Crest Whitestrips etc. Yes they work, but rather slowly and ineffectively. The strips are often messy and don't stay in place. The bleach concentration is also lower (because by the nature of being OTC) and as such, it takes longer to bleach (usually at least 3-4 weeks). So the bottom line is that they do work, but the price you pay is a much longer time of wearing them.

2. Custom bleaching trays. Custom bleaching trays are the next option. This involves taking impressions on you and having custom bleaching trays made. The bleach supplied is also a higher concentration. Custom bleach trays offer 3 main advantages: much better fit (and so much better compliance on your end in regards to wearing them), higher bleach concentrations because it comes prescribed from a dentist's office and closer adaptation of the bleaching material to your teeth and as such more effective bleaching.

3. In-Office whitening. This will give you the quickest results. Typically we can give you 2 week's worth of results in about 2 hours. We place very strong bleach on your teeth with a barrier around your gums to protect them. You sit back, turn the lights down and watch TV for about 2 hours while we put fresh new bleach on your teeth every 15 minutes or so. If you are impatient to get whiter teeth, this is definitely the way to go. If I needed my teeth bleached today, this is the route I would take; I just don't want to wear a bleach tray and want immediate gratification.

BTW, option #3 (In-Office) is typically a ~ $550 procedure, but we are having our Spring Special (until March 19th) for only $350. Get your teeth looking ready for Spring Break! For more info, call us at 512-301-2483.

Why can't you just place a filling doc?

2010-02-22T07:40:00.000-08:00

I get this question all the time. Why can't I place a filling and recommend a crown or onlay? Great question. Fillings are great. That is whenever appropriate. In fact recent studies show that composite (tooth colored fillings) actually can strengthen integrity of your crown if you have decay, broken silver filling, etc. I am not saying however, if you have fine intact tooth structure, that removal of that sound tooth structure and placing a filling would strengthen your tooth. That is false' your healthy intact tooth structure is the strongest thing.

In any case, the reason for progression of a filling to a crown or onlay involves typically the size of the cavity (or need for replacement of a filling) and extension of the issue requiring work. Your teeth have points called cusps and deeper parts called grooves. Think of a mountain: the peak is the cusp and the valley is the groove. If whatever work you require involves extension into the cusps, the typically a crown or onlay is recommended. This is the most typical reason for recommendation of a crown/onlay vs filling. Why can't I just place a filling to replace these cusps? Because placement of those is very unpredictable and likely lead to premature failure and cracking of your tooth (which may possibly involve the nerve and require additional procedures like a root canal). Those cusps are what your teeth uses to chew and break apart food. They receive a lot of pressure and force. A filling material has insufficient strength to act as a cusp, hence the need for something stronger and more durable like a crown or onlay.

Straight teeth + Adult Braces!

2010-02-16T07:45:00.001-08:00

So everyone wants straight teeth. Who doesn't?? But most people - and I don't blame them - don't want to spend 2-3 years in full metal braces as an adult! So what options are there to straighten your teeth? Let's go over them:

1. Veneers. If you absolutely want the fastest way to straight teeth, then veneers are your answer. Major downsides include 1. you are shaving down possibly perfectly healthy teeth which can increase risk of root canals and also nothing is stronger than perfectly healthy teeth and 2. any dental work doesn't last forever so your veneers will need to be replaced down the line.

2. Comprehensive Orthodontics. You would typically visit an orthodontist where you spend 2-3 years in metal braces to move your teeth as close to the ideal position. In orthodontics, there is a position of how teeth fit together that is considered "ideal." If you are considering braces for your kids, this is the way to go. In adults, this is also a great option if your goal is to get your teeth straight and as "perfect" as possible. Obvious negative is length of treatment.

3. 6 Month Smiles Braces. With adults, often times they want straight teeth and see value in braces versus veneers, but don't want to spend 2-3 years as metal-mouth. Here steps in limited orthodontics. My philosophy with adults is to treat adults realistically and kids idealistically. Kids that want braces, go to the orthodontist to have comprehensive braces done. Adults, we can straighten your teeth in typically 6 months! How is that possible? In comprehensive orthodontics, teeth are moved into "ideal" positions; this means moving large multi-rooted molars through the jaw. With 6 Month Smiles braces, if your bite is alright, you don't have jaw pain, problems chewing etc, we do not focus on movement of your back teeth. All we focus on are the movement of your front teeth into a straighter position. It gives you the look you want in a MUCH shorter time!

For more information on it, check out our special website: www.Austin6MonthSmiles.com

How can I get a crown the same day? What is CEREC?

2010-02-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

Traditionally the method for getting a crown -- now another question I get often is why don't you just place a filling doc? I'll answer that another day -- involves a messy impression (mold of your mouth). Then you have to wear a temporary for about 3-4 weeks while you wait for your permanent crown to be made by a lab. Doesn't sound fun does it? Well it isn't because during the 3 weeks, you run the risk of it falling off, breaking off, it being sensitive, etc. It's called a temporary for a reason!

The latest technology is getting a crown the same visit. How is that possible? Using a computer, I can now take a picture of your tooth before and during working on it. The brand name of the machine is typically called CEREC. So if you hear that someone got a CEREC crown, they got a crown on the same visit without a temporary!

CEREC technology is very sweet. It is all digital. An image of your tooth is captured and the computer creates your tooth digitally on the screen. From there I can edit and manipulate the tooth as I like. Think of it as 3D photoshop. Then a machine (CAD-CAM technology) will mill your tooth out of a solid piece of porcelain in about 15 minutes. When it is done, the new crown is polished, verified to fit and bonded into your mouth! Major advantages to CEREC technology include obviously no waiting, more conservative crown (b/c it is beautiful porcelain so more tooth structure can be saved to make it pretty), decreased sensitivity (because your tooth is sealed immediately with a crown) and no metal in your mouth (if you have the rare chance of allergy to metals).

So next time you need a crown, ask for CEREC crowns!

What about my Wisdom Teeth?

2010-02-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

I always get the question why wisdom teeth should be removed. Let's talk about why. Wisdom teeth if they are visible (erupted in your mouth) are the most difficult teeth to clean. As such, they hold the most bacteria that contribute to gum disease and cavities. Sometimes they are not fully visible and covered by a flap of gum tissue; in this situation, the risk for infection is high and can lead to a very painful condition called pericoronitis which is inflamation and infection of the gum tissue around it. Typically for an adult, the most likely recommendation for removal of wisdom teeth would be due to active cavities on them, pericoronitis or contribution of bacteria to progressive and irreversible bone loss called periodontitis.

Now what about wisdom teeth that you can't see and are hidden below the gumline? Well for those teeth, they maybe hidden now, but may erupt down the line. They also often times will lean against your last visible molar in the mouth -- in those situations, there is risk of eventual root decay on that molar one day and risk of loosing it also. Also hidden wisdom teeth do run a slight risk of cyst formation and of those cysts, there is a small chance of malignant transformation (cancer).

When should I remove my wisdom teeth? Ideally, a good time to remove wisdom teeth would be somewhere in late high school years or college simply b/c you are younger, recover and heal faster, have less dense bone and have plenty of time off and don't have to worry about missing out on work!

Remember we have sedation from nitrous (gas) to pills to IV sedation for your comfort!

Any questions, please visit our website at www.circlecdental.com

Gum Disease & Periodontitis

2010-01-29T14:10:00.000-08:00

I often ask people how their mouth is feeling when they are in my office. Hardly anyone ever says - wait, I've never heard anyone say - "Doc, I think I have gum disease occurring and progressing." Why's that?

Gum disease is a tricky disease. It's unlike a toothache. If you have a toothache, it will hurt and you will know something is wrong. Gum disease (be it a reversible state called gingivitis or one with irreversible and progressive bone loss called periodontitis), typically won't hurt even if it progresses from the reversible to irreversible state. It's been said that hypertension (high blood pressure) is the silent killer because you won't feel it if you have high blood pressure; high blood pressure needs to be detected and diagnosed by measuring it. Same thing with gum disease -- you need to have x-rays to evaluate bone levels and routine periodontal charting (gum level measurements) to detect gum disease. Well actually, you can detect gum disease on your own. But that's when it's much too late and your teeth are wiggly or you notice a lot of spacing between your teeth, etc. So whenever I get a patient that says that they haven't been to the dentist in many years and everything feels fine, 9/10+ times I know there is periodontitis occurring.

If you have any questions for Dr. Tuan Pham, please give us - your South Austin Dental team - a call or email us!

Sleep Apnea!

2010-01-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

So I decided to finally start blogging about dentistry...things and subjects that I find pretty exciting.

So I have sleep apnea. I didn't realize it for a very long time....I just knew I was tired all the time and naps were my favorite things in the world. I knew I snored, but I figured so what, many people snore. Then one day, I started to notice myself waking up and gasping for air. Finally one day I just decided that I'm just tired of being tired. So I made an appointment with an ENT.

ENT's suggestion was to first get a PSG (polysomnogram) to diagnose and confirm if I do have sleep apnea. But from my symptoms and Epworth sleep scale (used to give doctors an idea of how likely you have sleep disorder), it was already likely that I had it. So technicians came to my house and hooked up wires to me and off to bed I went. Sleep study w/o a doubt confirmed that I had moderate sleep apnea. BTW, sleep apnea is classified by AHI which is apnea hypopnea index. It consists of instances of not breathing greater than 10 seconds divided by hours slept. Try holding your breath for 10, 20 or more seconds. That's super hard to do. Some people with apnea, do this hundreds of times a night. Some people have oxygen saturation levels that drop to 80 percent or even lower. You can't even do that by holding your breath!

So back to the ENT I went. ENTs are very familar with 2 modalities of treatment typically: cpap and surgery. CPAP can be great for many people with apnea, particularly people with severe apnea. Biggest disadvantage is obviously a large machine and mask (although newer machines are much smaller and more comfortable now). Surgery can also be very good especially when other modalities of treatment have been tried and don't work. Down side is obviously it's an irreversible surgical procedure and healing times are often not pleasant.

I personally decided after looking at CPAP machines on line that there is absolutely no way I could sleep with one. I'm single and I don't want anyone seeing that machine in my bedroom. I also decided that while surgical options are always an option, I do not want to try something irreversible at this point and I just couldn't take off time from work for 2+ weeks to recover. So time to research 3rd option which are Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD) aka Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT).

The premise of these devices are that if you advance your jaw forward, your airway opens and you breathe much better. MRI studies confirm this. The main advantage, besides being non-surgical, is that it is a very conservative approach. Nothing is done to the tooth structure. These devices consist of taking an impression of your jaw, recording a position of advancement, delivering it and titrating it until you don't snore and feel better. Down sides include possible bite changes and TMJ pain. I've had mine for months now and do not notice any of these side effects.

After doing research on this, I visited Dr. Kent Smith in Dallas and had a device made myself. He's one of the top instructors on sleep apnea for dentists. I eventually had a sleep study done again to confirm the effectiveness and indeed my AHI index has dropped to mild/no-apnea state. I sleep better and no longer snore (previoulsy it was up to 60-70 dB which is REALLY LOUD). Since I realized how well it works, I decided that I must offer this great service to patients especially since I realized a couple things:

1. sleep apnea increases risk of cardiac infarction (heart attack) by 22.3x. obesity is 7x, hypertension is 7.8x and smoking is 11x.
2. apnea is also highly correlated with behavioral issues in kids like ADHD.
3. apnea is more prevalent than diabetes!!

In any case, my office is now starting to treat sleep apnea. If you are CPAP intolerant or are interested in trying a different treatment option, consider dental oral devices. We would need to diagnose and evaluate your condition, but they may work great for you!

If you need more information, please visit our website: www.circlecdental.com or email us at contact at circlecdental.com