Three Great Reasons to Floss Your Teeth

Three Great Reasons to Floss Your Teeth by Arbor Lakes Dental - Jamie L. Sledd, DDS

Flossing can be a chore. It comes after brushing your teeth in things a lot of us intentionally forget to do. But it’s an essential part of any dental health regimen, which is why those of us at Arbor Lakes Dental in Maple Grove are constantly reminding our patients to brush and floss … brush and floss!

Here are three really good reasons why you should never overlook flossing your teeth:

1. Bad Breath

Bad breath is something we all worry about. It’s part of our appearance, and we are all aware of how that can affect our relationships.

When we meet new people, speak with others in close quarters, or greet a partner, bad breath is on our mind. We worry about how bad breath affects first impressions.

It makes sense, then, that bad breath would be one of the things you might worry about.

Flossing is a great way to help you avoid bad breath.

Flossing your teeth helps reduce plaque buildup between your teeth. It also helps flush out pockets of bacteria. Together, plaque and bacteria can create bad breath.

To reduce your chances of being caught with bad breath, floss every day.

2. Cavities

When bacteria is allowed to concentrate on your teeth, cavities can occur. Plaque buildup is a concentration of bacteria. When plaque is allowed to remain between your teeth it gives bacteria a chance to destroy enamel and damage your teeth. Cavities are damage to your teeth caused by bacteria.

Flossing gets between your teeth where your brush can’t get and helps remove plaque buildup. It also loosens pockets of bacteria that can be removed with a quick rinse.

3. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the softening of your tooth enamel by acids. Acids are created by bacteria when they feast on leftover carbohydrates in your teeth.

Flossing can help you in two ways. First, you will remove leftover food particles so bacteria have less to work with. Food between your teeth can be microscopic, and that’s why it isn’t good enough to do a quick tongue slide to check your teeth. The particles are too small to see or feel.

Second, flossing will help remove the bacteria from between your teeth, so there aren’t enough left to create destructive acids.

To maintain excellent dental health, the team at Arbor Lakes Dental in Maple Grove recommends flossing every time you brush your teeth. We also recommend seeing us for a cleaning and checkup every six months. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment with us today!

Contact Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS:

763-494-4443

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

12000 Elm Creek Blvd N Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota
55369

 

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Signs of Gum Disease in Maple Grove

bleeding gums Plymouth MN

Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are important for good dental health. However, some of our Maple Grove dental patients worry because their gums tend to bleed after a thorough cleaning. Is it a sign of gum disease?

If your gums bleed for a day or two after your cleaning, it isn’t really a problem. But,if the bleeding and tenderness lasts longer, you really need to return to your dentist to see if something might be going on.

Gum disease occurs when plaque builds up along the gum line. You might also experience bad breath, painful chewing, and loose teeth. The mildest form of gum disease is called gingivitis. If it isn’t treated promptly, it can develop into periodontitis, which is even more serious. Both have been shown to raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. If you have any concerns at all about possible gum disease, call us at Arbor Lakes Dental right away.

Avoiding gum disease is just one of the many vital goals we have for our Maple Grove patients. Taking proper care of your teeth is one of the most important preventative steps you can take.

Along with ideal dental health, we also seek to give our patients the beautiful smiles they desire through cosmetic dentistry. Our top services here at Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS include:

cosmetic dentistry
porcelain veneers
teeth whitening

Our patients appreciate our comfortable office and fun staff. If you are looking for a local dentist with competence in preventative, general, and cosmetic dentistry, we invite you to schedule an informative consultation.

Contact Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS:

763-494-4443

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

12000 Elm Creek Blvd N Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota
55369

 

The Unsung Heroes Of Dentistry

forensic dentistry Maple Grove

In today’s post, we will veer a bit off the beaten path, so to speak, and explore a distinguished dental specialty; forensic dentistry. The official term for the use of dentistry in criminal cases and post mortem identification is forensic odontology. These specialists are rarely recognized but play an integral role in crime and disaster investigations.

Dental X-rays, dentures, and bite marks are all used to provide clues about the victim’s identity and/or the manner of death. A person’s teeth are as singular as fingerprints and can often survive forces such as fire, explosions, submersion in water, and natural decay without being destroyed.

Identifying One Victim
Identifying a victim through dental records is aided immensely when authorities have narrowed down a group of suspected victims to just a few people (or, ideally, just one) and can consult the dentists who had treated them. When the identity is completely unknown, a forensic dentist scours other databases such as those maintained by the armed forces and prisons.3

“Dental identifications are so much quicker and so much less expensive than DNA.” -Dr. Mark Bernstein, dentist and forensic dental consultant1

Identifying Hundreds of Victims
While identifying one victim of a homicide or accident can be relatively simple, natural disasters, plane crashes, and other large-scale tragedies are exponentially more complicated.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Burkes, chief forensic dental consultant for the 9/11 attacks, over 140 dentists labored to identify the fragments of remains that were recovered from the scene of the terrorist attacks. The identification effort was an extremely painstaking and complicated operation. First, the dentists were divided into four teams. The Go Team gathered evidence from the scene, the Antemortem Team analyzed existing dental records of suspected victims, the Postmortem Team X-rayed the retrieved dental evidence, and the Comparison Team compared the X-rays of the remains of anonymous corpses to the records of missing people thought to have been at the scene.2

“Dentistry fulfills one of its most important social, moral, and professional obligations by applying its unique knowledge and expertise to the task of identifying countless persons who are tragic victims of fires, catastrophes, disasters, and homicides.”3

1Ashley Hayes, “How authorities identify a burned body,” CNN, February 13, 2013, http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/13/health/burned-body-id/, accessed February 20, 2017
2James Berry, Clayton Luz, Arlene Furlong, Craig Palmer, “Forensic Dentistry: Identifying the Victims of 9/11” Dental Practice Management, December 1, 2001,http://www.oralhealthgroup.com/features/forensic-dentistry-identifying-the-victims-of-9-11/, accessed February 20, 2017
3Dr. Vincent Funaro, “Charts, Radiographs, Study Models: A Forensic Trilogy, January 1, 2006, Dentistry Today, http://www.dentistrytoday.com/forensic-dentistry/1159-, accessed February 20, 2017

 

Contact Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS: 763-494-4443

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

12000 Elm Creek Blvd N Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota
55369

 

Dental Breakthroughs On The Horizon

dental breakthroughs Maple Grove

At Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS, we use the latest proven dental technology to provide our patients with quality general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. In addition, we keep tabs on the most recent dental research that is driving the industry forward.

Here are some of the exciting dental technologies currently being evaluated and tested:

Fill and Heal: Bioactive Glass
A new type of filling created from ‘bioactive glass’ has been shown to prolong the life of fillings by restricting secondary decay and replacing lost minerals.

“Bioactive glass, which is a type of crushed glass that is able to interact with the body, has been used in some types of bone healing for decades. This type of glass is only beginning to see use in dentistry, and our research shows it may be very promising for tooth fillings.”1 Jamie Kruzic, professor of advanced structural and biomaterials at the Oregon State University College of Engineering

Stem Cells
Stem cell regenerative medicine is poised to furnish a myriad of exciting breakthroughs in dentistry.

A research team from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University is applying stem cell technology to dentistry with the development of stem-cell based biomaterials that regenerate tooth dentin.2 The purpose is to use them in fillings and root canals to save and regenerate tooth structure. The research is in its early stages, but this technology could one day help preserve millions of smiles for individuals worldwide.

3D Printing
3D printing is already being used in some dental offices to construct aligners, retainers, drilling guides for implant placement, and extremely accurate models for restorations. As the printers become faster and less costly, you will be seeing them in more Minnesota  dental offices.

Technology has its place, but experience, competence, and a warm and attentive chairside manner are just as crucial. The fun team at Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS invites you to enjoy the difference at our comfortable dental office. Call today to make an appointment.

Note: The image to the right is a CAD-CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing) machine used for the production of dental restorations.

1“Tooth fillings of the future may incorporate bioactive glass,” Oregon State University December 22, 2015, http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2015/dec/tooth-fillings-future-may-incorporate-bioactive-glass, accessed on October 24, 2016
2Liz Cass, “Fillings that heal your teeth – how regenerative medicine could change your visit to the dentist,” University of Nottingham, July 1, 2016, https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2016/july/fillings-that-heal-your-teeth.aspx, accessed on October 24, 2016

Contact Arbor Lakes Dental – Jamie L. Sledd, DDS:

763-494-4443

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

12000 Elm Creek Blvd N Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota
55369

At Arbor Lakes Dental We Treat You Like Family

At Arbor Lakes Dental You

At Arbor Lakes Dental, our Maple Grove patients are treated like family. I am Dr. Jamie Sledd and my relationship with my patients is paramount.

You know what puts a smile on my face? When I use advanced cosmetic dentistry to create a dazzling smile makeover for one of my patients.

My staff and I at Arbor Lakes Dental can guarantee you quality preventative, restorative, general, and cosmetic dental care.

In today’s Arbor Lakes Dental blog I would like to discuss laser dentistry. It may sound scary, but laser dentistry provides an excellent alternative to drills. Many procedures performed with lasers don’t require Maple Grove patients to be medicated, allowing for quicker healing times.

Many Maple Grove patients become very anxious waiting for a shot of painkiller before a dental procedure. Laser dentistry allows for a more relaxed, less stressful dental visit. My patients also appreciate not going home with a numb mouth and drool dripping down their chin.

Maple Grove residents in need of oral surgery will experience less bleeding thanks to laser dentistry. Some of the procedures that are performed with lasers are: infected root canal treatment, gum and bone reshaping, uncovering erupted wisdom teeth, and teeth whitening.

At Arbor Lakes Dental we offer restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental bridges, and gum disease treatment.

Maple Grove patients who want to experience a comfortable, relaxing dental visit and receive compassionate and professional dental care, contact Arbor Lakes Dental today.

At Arbor Lakes Dental we treat you like family.

The following article was used in the preparation of this post:
“What is Laser Dentistry?,” Know Your Teeth, February 2011, http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=L&iid=780&aid=3803, accessed July 10, 2012

5 Ways To Floss Daily In Maple Grove

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Hello Champlin! If you want to floss regularly but are too tired at night, this post is for you. In our Arbor Lakes Dental blog, we want to give you a few ideas for unique times to floss and keep your teeth and gums healthy.

1. If you’re an early riser, try flossing in the morning right after you brush.

2. Try just after lunch, but before you go back to work.

3. Before or after you exercise. Your oral health is just as important as your physical fitness. Keep some floss in your gym bag and give your teeth and gums some attention along with the rest of your body.

4. During the nightly news.

5. While taking a bath. Any task is more enjoyable if it can be done while relaxing in a warm tub. Light some scented candles, play some soothing music and turn off your cell phone for an at-home spa experience.

Flossing is critical for anyone in Maple Grove or Minneapolis who wants to have a healthy smile. I hope this gives you some ideas to help you make flossing part of your daily routine. Just before bedtime, however, is still the best choice. Food particles left on teeth can turn to plaque while you sleep. The bacteria in plaque erodes enamel, creates cavities, and adversely affects gum tissue.

If you want to improve your smile, look into cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening, invisible braces or porcelain veneers.

My name is Dr. Jamie Sledd. My practice is located in Maple Grove. Helping my dental patients establish good habits is important to me, as well as helping them achieve the smile they want with cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, porcelain crowns, and complete smile makeovers.

We are currently accepting new patients, so give us a call at 763-494-4443 to make an appointment!

Dr. Jamie Sledd
Arbor Lakes Dental
12000 Elm Creek Blvd, Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota
763-494-4443
https://www.arborlakesdental.com/about-arbor-lakes-dental

Lasering In On Precision Dentistry For Impeccable Results

top dentist Maple Grove

The powerful, precise, highly-concentrated beam of light originally known as Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is so ubiquitous that the acronym has now been relegated to lower case.

Lasers are used in everything from weapons to barcode scanners. They have increased efficiency and advanced technology in numerous industries such as communications, manufacturing, and essentially every branch of science. Today’s post focuses on how lasers have changed dentistry.

Lasers are now used in many technologically-advanced Minnesota dental practices for a broad range of care. Lasers allow dentists to be extremely precise when working on both tooth and gum tissue.

Dentists use lasers to:

  • Remove decay while preserving more intact tooth material
  • Firmly attach bonding material to a tooth
  • Remove oral lesions or obtain tissue for biopsies
  • Reshape receded gums
  • Eliminate bacteria while performing root canals
  • Increase the effectiveness of tooth whitening agents

Dental patients benefit with:

  • Fewer stitches – some surgical procedures require no sutures when a laser is used
  • Faster healing
  • Lower risk of infection
  • Decreased damage to surrounding tissue/bone
  • Less pain – eliminates the need for anesthesia in many procedures

Jamie Sledd, DDS,  employs advanced dental technology with seasoned expertise to serve our valued patients. At Arbor Lakes Dental, we believe that every man, woman, and child deserves a beautiful smile and a lifetime of oral health.

For questions about laser dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental bridges or gum disease, call 763-494-4443 today to schedule a consultation at Arbor Lakes Dental in Maple Grove. We are located at 12000 Elm Creek Blvd, Ste 230.

6 Ways To Prepare For Your Dental Procedure

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Scared of dental visits or even gum disease treatment? Let Arbor Lakes Dental offer 6 ways to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically before your big dental day.

1. Remember Dr. Jamie Sledd is trained to provide the best care and comfort possible.

2. Take some time to relax and consider what you are anxious about. Take deep breaths in and slowly let them out as you weigh the reasons for and against taking these steps to a better smile. Remember that many Maple Grove folks have been in your shoes and passed with flying colors. Especially all of our visitors who came in for family dentistry, our most popular service.

3. Know your medical history. You may be asked to fill out a medical history and medications form, so be sure you know what medications and supplements you are currently taking and review past hospitalizations and illnesses.

4. Have a dental plan. Come in for a thorough consultation. If we are aware of your dental goals, then we’ll know if combining any of it can save you time and money. We offer cosmetic dentistry, dental bridges, gum disease treatment, porcelain veneers, and teeth whitening to name just a few.

5. Trust the outstanding staff at Arbor Lakes Dental to guide you through the before, during and after process. We’ve been doing this since 1992.

6. Our final and most important suggestion! Ask all the questions that you actually want answered before you have dental tools and gloved hands in your mouth!

Jamie Sledd
Arbor Lakes Dental
12000 Elm Creek Blvd, Ste 230
Maple Grove, Minnesota 55369
763-494-4443

Help Me – I’m Afraid Of The Dentist!

Minneapolis Sleep Dentistry If you are afraid of your Maple Grove cosmetic dentist, you are not alone. At Arbor Lakes Dental, we encounter many nervous first-time Minneapolis dental patients. How do we calm their fears, provide a comfortable dental environment and earn lifelong patients?

1) We carefully explain the findings of the initial dental examination and thoroughly outline any recommended procedures. The consultation also includes a discussion about pain control including oral conscious sedation medications. This allows our Osseo dentistry patients to make informed decisions about their oral health and necessary dental procedures.

2) Dr. Jamie Sledd practices gentle, pain-free dentistry. Plymouth MN cosmetic dentistry treatment will not begin until you are numb. Keep in mind, however, that every dentistry patient reacts to numbing agents and sedation medications differently.

Speak up quickly if you start to feel discomfort. We will pause treatment, administer additional analgesic and wait until it takes effect. At Arbor Lakes Dental, we never rush cosmetic dental or restorative procedures.

We will do our best to make you comfortable, whether you are receiving dental veneers, undergoing crown-lengthening treatment, having your teeth whitened, or replacing your old silver fillings.

3) We provide many in-office amenities at Arbor Lakes Dental which help our dental patients focus on something pleasant during cosmetic dental treatment. Not every Champlin dental patient chooses sleep dentistry. Sometimes chemical-free diversions such as listening to your favorite music provide a distraction while letting you remain clear-headed.

At Arbor Lakes Dental, we understand dental anxiety and will help you overcome it. We are located at 12000 Elm Creek Blvd, Ste 230 in Maple Grove, 55369.

To schedule a friendly consultation, call 763-494-4443 or visit https://www.arborlakesdental.com/.

The Arbor Lakes Dental Guide To Dental X-Rays

The Arbor Lakes Dental Guide To Dental X-Rays

Don’t know a periapical from a bitewing? Today’s Maple Grove dental blog takes a look at dental x-rays.

Panoramic
If you have ever stood in a huge camera apparatus and struggled to stay motionless while an automated camera made one slow pass around your head, then you have had a panoramic x-ray taken of your mouth. These pictures help dentists see everything in one image: the complete upper and lower jaw. These are often taken during a patient’s first visit to Arbor Lakes Dental. They are also very helpful for evaluating jaw injuries and seeing emerging teeth in children.

Bitewing
Bitewing x-rays help Dr. Sledd see what’s going on between teeth – something that is always required but impossible with a visual exam. They also help your dentist evaluate the jaw bone.

Periapical
These are similar to bitewings but they can get a clearer picture of the tooth roots and bone. These are ordinarily used to help diagnose an abscess in the root of a tooth.

Full-Mouth Series
This is a combination of periapical and bitewing x-rays that gives a comprehensive picture of all the teeth and surrounding bone structure.

If you are a patient of Arbor Lakes Dental and are worried about the safety of dental x-rays, we invite you to communicate with our fun staff. We can explain all the precautions that we take to reduce radiation exposure and answer any questions you may have.

If you are pregnant and need a dental x-ray at Arbor Lakes Dental, it is important to let Jamie Sledd know this before x-rays are taken. X-rays are not necessarily dangerous for pregnant women, but they are often postponed until after delivery as a precaution. If you are pregnant but have a dental issue, call our office right away. We can be reached at 763-494-4443.

We hope you have learned a little bit about dental x-rays, one of Jamie Sledd’s indispensable tools in providing unsurpassed dental care in Maple Grove. Check back often for more specifics about dentistry at Arbor Lakes Dental.