Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is one of many areas of dentistry that Dr. Dipika Shah enjoys treating. She recommends parents bring their children in to her practice in Holmdel, NJ as soon as their first tooth comes in, or when they reach one year old. The earlier children visit the dentist with parents, it helps prevent dental problems in future. 

This first visit is an easy one and the child is actually sitting in the parent’s lap while being examined. This allows them to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible while our dentist examines the child’s teeth and gums.

Pediatric dentistry includes a variety of procedures for children. This includes check-ups and gentle cleanings, and fluride. We offer orthodontic treatments for school-aged children and older adolescents who want to start straightening their teeth and correcting their bite early. Additionally, we favor sealants and mouth guards for children to prevent decay and damage during sports. With early pediatric care, your child can have a healthy mouth and teeth from the beginning.

Call Dr. Dipika Shah's office at 732-264-8180 for your child’s first pediatric appointment. When you call ask us about our sealant special!

Laser Surgery (Picasso)

Here at Dr. Dipika Shah's office, we utilize modern technology for more effective dental procedures and treatments, including laser surgery. Laser surgery is performed by Dr. Dipika Shah using the Picasso AMD dental lasers. With this type of laser, she is able to shoot a beam of light for precision in help with a variety of treatments and dental issues. It is more effective, faster, heals fast, no bleeding and much more comfortable for patients, as opposed to using scalpels and other dental techniques.

Soft tissue procedures that we can use the Picasso dental laser for include crown lengthening, biopsies, removing pulp during a root canal procedure, gingivectomy, coagulation during different dental surgeries,and even the treatment of canker sores.

Laser surgery using the dental laser is not only effective, but a safe treatment option as well. It has been approved for use by the FDA, and an excellent alternative to using scalpels, with the longer recovery time associated with scalpel types of surgery techniques. No cuts, no bleeding and faster healing. The Picasso laser is a handheld device that is easy to use, very versatile and not expensive for patients.

Please call our office at 732-264-8180 to learn more about procedures that use laser surgery.

Extractions

We believe in saving the natural tooth whenever possible, but this isn’t always an option. After diagnosing the dental problem, Dr. Dipika Shah decides if extraction is necessary. Teeth often need to be extracted because of severe tooth decay that has caused a tooth to become cracked or fractured, severely infected or because there is not enough stability in the tooth for a crown to be placed over it.

Our patients know they are getting the best care possible when they visit our Holmdel, NJ clinic for extractions. We provide an anesthetic so that our patients don’t experience any pain or discomfort. We remove the tooth as quickly as possible, providing in-depth aftercare instructions. Most extractions heal quickly and without problem. However, wisdom teeth extractions may have a slightly longer healing process.

After getting the tooth extracted, patients are asked to keep gauze on the tooth for any bleeding that may occur. They must not use a straw as the sucking motion can dislodge the blood clot that is protecting the opening. Within 1-2 weeks, our dentist asks to see the patient for a follow-up appointment. If you have a problem with a tooth and are in need of an extraction, visit our clinic or give us a call at 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment. If you are a new patient, we offer special discounts.

Emergency Care

Scheduling an appointment to visit the dentist during normal business hours is ideal, but it isn’t always a viable option. Sometimes, severe infections, post-operative emergencies and other emergencies happen in the middle of the night or the weekend, requiring a dental visit as soon as possible. We provide emergency care 24 hours a day, by always having someone answer the phone.

We encourage our patients to call us any time they are having a dental problem, even if it is just to ask a question or have a prescription sent to a local pharmacy. Other times, Dr. Dipika Shah meets patients in our Holmdel, NJ office to provide emergency dental procedures, like extractions or putting on a temporary crown if a fractured tooth is putting them at risk for infection. These situations sometimes happen at night when the office is closed, which is why we answer emergency calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are having an emergency dental issue, call us at 732-264-8180 any time day or night.

Are you about to lose your unused dental benefits? Call 732-264-8180.

 Did you know that each year insurance companies make millions of dollars off patients who forego necessary and preventive dental care? Many individuals are not scheduling necessary dental treatment that they have insurance to cover. Thus, the insurance revenues allocated to pay dental claims are never used, and unfortunately, those dollars cannot be carried over year-to-year. The bottom line: What the patient does not use they lose.We are here to help you secure the insurance coverage available to you on every dental procedure you schedule. Give us a call today, and together let's make sure you are in excellent dental health using your benefits.Call Dr. Shah today 732-264-8180 as very few appointements are available before end of the year. 

"Oral Bacteria Create a 'Fingerprint' in Your Mouth"

Scientists identified a total of almost 400 different species of microbes in the mouths of 100 study participants belonging to four ethnic affiliations: non-Hispanic blacks, whites, Chinese and Latinos. Only 2 percent of bacterial species were present in all individuals -- but in different concentrations according to ethnicity -- and 8 percent were detected in 90 percent of the participants. Beyond that, researchers found that each ethnic group in the study was represented by a "signature" of shared microbial communities. "This is the first time it has been shown that ethnicity is a huge component in determining what you carry in your mouth. We know that our food and oral hygiene habits determine what bacteria can survive and thrive in our mouths, which is why your dentist stresses brushing and flossing. Can your genetic makeup play a similar role? The answer seems to be yes, it can," said Purnima Kumar, associate professor of periodontology at The Ohio State University and senior author of the study. "No two people were exactly alike. That's truly a fingerprint." Kumar used a DNA deep sequencing methodology to obtain an unprecedented in-depth view of these microbial communities in their natural setting. Read More>>

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Benefits of Air Abrasion

If you have been getting tooth fillings the old-fashioned way, you know that it is sometimes uncomfortable, due to the strange and sometimes unpleasant, touch, sounds and smells. Fortunately, there’s a more appealing hi-tech alternative.

We are now using a new technique at our dental office to remove tooth decay, called air abrasion. Air abrasion uses no drills (or shots), and instead relies on puffs of air through a small instrument to remove the decayed part of your tooth. It removes the small particles of decay and suctions through a tube.

There are many benefits to getting air abrasion done, including the following:

•  Treating multiple teeth in one visit


• No sounds, pressure, vibrations or heat


• Lack of anesthesia in most cases


• Maintaining as much of the tooth as possible


• Improving the success of composite fillings by having a dry working area


• Less risk of fracturing or chipping the tooth


• Safe and quick procedure

Our dental office uses air abrasion to give you a quick, easy and safe way of treating decayed teeth for a healthy, better looking smile. Contact our Holmdel, NJ office today to get started on your treatment using air abrasion.

Crowns

Dental crowns offer you the ability to cover any cracked, fractured or damaged teeth. They are commonly used to cover a tooth that has recently had a root canal, in order to protect it, as well as replacing older crowns. Here at Gentle Dental, we believe in providing you with excellent crowns, made of the highest quality materials.

When to Consider a Crown:

1) After having a root canal.

2) To protect a tooth that has been weakened.

3) After having a large filling that weakens the tooth.

4) To help hold in a bridge.

5) To restore a decayed or broken tooth.

6) To cover a misshapen tooth.

7) To place over an implant.

The crown process starts with making a mold and sending it to a lab for the permanent crown. Then, we will place a temporary crown for up to two weeks until your permanent crown is ready. We provide different types of crowns, all of which are stable enough to eat with the tooth and not worry about cracking it. The types of crowns include stainless steel, metal like gold or other alloys, ceramic and resin.

Visit our website today at DentistNJ.com to find out more about how a crown can create a dramatic improvement in your smile.

Kodak 3D Digital X-Rays

At our dental office, Dr. Dipika Shah and the rest of our team are dedicated to providing you with the best hi-tech dental care possible. That includes using the latest technology, such as the Kodak 3D Digital X-ray machine. Its benefits far outweigh what traditional x-ray machines offer, including a more comfortable x-ray process. It uses a three-in-one process for quality x-rays and offers a multitude of advantages.

The Kodak x-ray machine has a 3D imaging mode that provides us with anatomically correct, high resolution images of your teeth all at low radiation exposure.  This helps us provide you with the best care, while you get the advantage of face-to-face positioning -- without the use of uncomfortable slides.

The panoramic imaging system offered by this machine makes the x-ray process quick and easy, with higher quality images. It makes it easier to diagnose any jaw problems, find impacted teeth, and see the exact position of wisdom teeth to determine if they are close to any nerves.

Whether it is your first time in our office or you are a repeat patient, call us today to get your X-rays done by this fantastic Kodak 3D Digital X-ray machine.

Bridges

Having a missing tooth or several missing teeth together not only makes it difficult to chew properly, but it can also be embarrassing. Dr. Dipika Shah believes in giving you a smile that makes you feel confident. Dental bridges allow us to do that by filling in the gaps with an artificial tooth that looks natural with the rest of your teeth.

The dental bridge lets you fill in missing spaces in your mouth with artificial teeth, as an alternative to getting an implant. The bridge created a crown for the two adjacent teeth and has an artificial tooth where you are missing one. It creates a bridge that doesn’t look obvious to anyone else and offers you a beautiful smile.

Types of Bridges:

• Traditional bridge – The most common type of bridge includes an artificial tooth in between two adjacent teeth, covered in crowns.

• Cantilever bridge – This type of bridge has an artificial tooth next to the adjacent teeth on only one side of the missing tooth.

There are many benefits to getting bridges, including being able to speak and chew properly, improving the shape of your face, preventing your teeth from shifting as a result of the missing tooth or teeth, and filling in gaps.

Call us today at 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment for your new bridge.

Smart Tooth Tracks Smoking, Drinking: Innovation Could Help Dentists And Dietitians Provide Better Care

A new invention stands to revolutionize the work of dentists and dietitians. The so-called “smart tooth” monitors an individual’s oral habits by recording gross and minute movement of the jaw. Developed by researchers from the National University of Taiwan, the innovation will allow doctors to track chewing, drinking, eating, coughing, and even smoking. Given that all oral activity is accompanied by a signature jaw movement, the “smart tooth” could benefit virtually all areas of healthcare. According to the researchers, a doctor treating a patient with breathing difficulties could use the data to derive a respiratory profile. In addition, physicians and dietitians could use the sensor to determine whether a patient is deviating from the treatment, lying about smoking, or eating a particular food. “The human mouth is one part of the human body that is always in constant use. We use our mouth to perform some of the most important daily functions, such as eating, drinking, speaking, coughing, breathing and smoking,” the researchers explain in an accompanying study. “Because the mouth is an opening into human health, this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance existing healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary tracking.”

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Getting Your Gums Healthy Can Be a Life Saving Procedure

Do you know that getting your gums healthy can be a life saving procedure ? Our artery walls which are if inflamed, release an enzyme called Lp-PLA2. High levels of this enzyme LP-PLA2 tell us clearly that you have an increased chance of heart disease or stroke. The only known factor that changes this enzyme level is gum disease. In other words, the presence of gum disease increases this enzyme level, and absence decreases it, nothing else does! This is the most powerful fact to relate gum disease to heart disease. Just the way you exercise and diet for healthy heart, make sure you visit your dentist at least every 6 months and do your best home care by brushing and flossing at least after your breakfast and after dinner. Electric tooth brushes and waterpik can aid in your home oral care significantly and thereby health of your heart.

Implants

Implants are specialized dental prosthetics that effectively replace a lost or damaged tooth from the surface crown down to the roots. They can even be used to replace multiple teeth at once and provide an alternative to other full prosthetics like bridges or partial dentures.  They can also serve as permanent support for full dentures and ensure they remain exceptionally stable.  Our patients who have chosen dental implants to replace one or more teeth are most frequently impressed with their real feel, as well as their discreet, cohesive appearance among the rest of the smile. The process to place dental implants is fairly straightforward, and well worth the time, but it may not be for everyone.  If you are searching for a permanent dental prosthetic and you’d like to learn more about our implant services, please call us to arrange a consultation.

Braces

Braces continue to be one of the most efficient, reliable and economical means of aligning the teeth for better smile health and beauty.  Our practice provides complete orthodontic services, including modern braces that not only address misalignment, but can be used to correct and prevent a number of maxillofacial issues.  We offer braces for children, teens and adults and work with you to determine which treatment method will be most effective for your needs and lifestyle.

If you need braces or an orthodontic evaluation for your child, call us and arrange a consultation for braces and our other orthodontic solutions.

Invisalign

As part of our comprehensive orthodontic services, we provide the popular and discreet smile alignment solution known as Invisalign. The Invisalign treatment can be used by teens and adults who are seeking a convenient and flexible alternative to cosmetic braces.  Invisalign works by applying clear plastic aligners to the teeth, which are custom fabricated to gradually and incrementally move the teeth into a more desirable position. When you wear Invisalign, you can remove the aligners to eat, clean your teeth, undergo dental exams and for special occasions.  Many of our patients find this freedom especially favorable, in addition to the smile improvement results that Invisalign provides.

To find out if this or any of our other orthodontic treatments are right for you, call us and schedule a consultation: 732-264-8180

TMJ

If you’re frequently stressed, you experience regular headaches, gum and jaw soreness, or you notice your teeth are gradually becoming more and more worn and discolored, you could be affected by TMJ disorder or a condition known as bruxism. TMJ disorder (TMD) and bruxism can occur when an excess of tension and stress are stored in the temporomandibular joint.  When the stress builds, it will result in unconscious teeth grinding and clenching that can amount to pain and wear on your tooth enamel.  TMJ disorder should be addressed to prevent issues of tooth chipping and cracking, jaw misalignment, and chronic headaches and migraines.  We can help you get TMJ disorder under control through the use of a custom night guard which absorbs temporomandibular joint stress during the night, when bruxism or teeth grinding is most likely to occur.  

If you are affected by TMJ disorder, or you experience any of the issues discussed above, give us a call at 732-264-8180.

Veneers

One of the most popular, effective and long lasting methods of obtaining a movie star smile is the placement of porcelain veneers. This cosmetic solution allows us to reshape and refinish each tooth, one-by-one. As a result, we can help you gain a more idealized, virtually flawless smile that perfectly suits your unique features.

Veneers are comprised of a thin porcelain shell that is custom crafted to fit of your tooth structure and correct cracks, chips, stubborn stains, gaps and slight misalignment issues. The veneers process provides dramatic results that last a lifetime, and yet they typically require only two to three visits to complete.

If veneers sound like the cosmetic smile makeover solution you’ve been seeking, call us at 732-264-8180 and we’ll help you determine if they can suit your individual needs.

Tooth Colored Fillings

Tooth colored fillings are an excellent way to update old fillings and protect your teeth from damage and decay with an esthetically pleasing solution. While metal amalgam was once the primary choice when filing a cavity or correcting decay, the result was unsightly and did create uncomfortable issues for some patients with regard to temperature sensitivity. Tooth colored fillings eliminate these issues.  Not only are they mercury free, they are quite indistinguishable from natural tooth enamel.  They can be used in the most visible part of the mouth and do not increase tooth sensitivity.

If you are in need of a filling, or if you currently have metal amalgam fillings in your teeth, consider tooth colored fillings as a safe, modern and comfortable solution. Please call us directly at 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment or learn more on our website.

Teeth Whitening

What compliments a healthy summer glow? A bright, white smile. You may have excellent periodontal health and thorough dental hygiene habits, but maintaining stain-free tooth enamel can still be difficult. Here at our practice, we provide a solution that so many of our patients have come to enjoy: professional teeth whitening.

As many of our patients can tell you, teeth whitening provides a number of benefits that change the way you think about your smile. The results of this simple procedure can help you feel more confident about your smile and encourage you to show it off, inspiring positive impressions everywhere you go.  We are especially happy to offer teeth whitening as it prompts our patients to take even better care of their teeth to maintain their results.

To learn more about the teeth whitening process at our practice and to find out if it’s right for you, please visit our website or call 732-264-8180 to arrange a consultation.     

Snoring

For someone of us, snoring is more than just a nightly frustration for our sleep partners; it could indicate a serious health condition that impacts your wellbeing and longevity.  Snoring is one of the primary signs of sleep apnea, which is a respiratory obstruction that occurs throughout an individual’s sleep. As the airway is periodically blocked by tissues of the throat and/or oral cavity, the body is unable to get sufficient oxygen, which, if unaddressed, affects both immediate and long term health.

There are several ways to control and treat snoring and sleep apnea, but one of the most comfortable and effective is through the use of a sleep apneal dental appliance—sometimes called a snore guard. The sleep apnea appliance gently ensures that the airway remain free of obstruction throughout the night, thereby allowing you to breathe comfortably.

Many of our patients prefer the snore guard as practical and less invasive alterative to CPAP therapy. To find out if the sleep apneal dental appliance can eliminate your snoring and help you maintain your health,  contact us directly by calling 732-264-8180  or read more about this and other services on our website.