Why Water is Your Teeth’s Best Friend

If you’re one of those people who don’t drink enough water, then you should know that the clear, tasteless liquid is actually essential for achieving good health. This is because your body is between 60 to 65 percent water, and the liquid is used for a variety of bodily functions. Your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste and lubricate your joints, and staying hydrated helps it function better as a whole. In addition to these benefits, water is also an important player in your oral health. Many dentists even consider water to be teeth’s best friend.

One of the many benefits that drinking water can provide our mouths is that it can help prevent bad breath. In fact, one of the most common causes of bad breath is dehydration. When there is not enough saliva in your mouth, bacteria is provided a suitable environment in which to thrive, and this can cause bad odors. By drinking water, you can cut down on these smelly bacteria. 

However, bacteria in the mouth do more than smell. The bacteria that cause bad breath are also the cause of cavities and gum disease, so drinking water can help keep your mouth healthy in addition to less smelly. Water provides a great way to keep your teeth clean between brushings since it is able to wash away foods and liquids that can damage your teeth. While it is not a replacement for brushing and flossing altogether, drinking water with your meal or afterward can help wash away the acid and particles that erode your enamel and attract bacteria.

Seeing a dentist is also a vital part of a good oral hygiene routine, and in Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah has the skill and experience to provide the care you need for optimal oral health. Call 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Metal-free Fillings in Holmdel, NJ

At our practice in Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah offers metal-free fillings to restore teeth to normal function without taking away the beauty of the patient’s smile. Unlike amalgam fillings, metal-free fillings match the color of the patient’s teeth and contain no mercury, making them a safe and attractive way to achieve optimum oral health.

The majority of patients and dentists prefer these fillings to mercury amalgam fillings, for both their look and function. Not only are metal fillings dark and noticeable, they crack at the margins or tooth cracks as it can not flex under pressures that will let bacteria into the tooth and eventually require further dental work down the line. Tooth-colored, composite fillings, on the other hand, both look natural and feel natural. You won’t even be able to tell that you have a filling!

Metal-free fillings are made of a strong resin composite material that the dentist bonds directly to the surface of the tooth, allowing Dr. Shah to increase its durability and stability. At our practice, we strive to keep as much of the natural tooth structure as possible to prevent fracture, and metal-free, composite fillings help us do that.

To achieve the healthy and natural smile you desire, contact our office by calling 732-264-8180. For more information about the practice, please visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Pediatric Dentistry from Dr. Dipika Shah

If you want your child to form lifelong habits that will help them maintain good oral health and beautiful smiles, you must begin developing good habits in their infanc. It is important for their first dental experiences to be positive ones. At our office in Holmdel, NJ, children can receive the care they need to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth, healthy gums and a beautiful smile.

The first step to setting your child on the right path toward lifelong oral health is a fearless introduction to the dentist. Our dentist Dr. Dipika Shah strives to establish a personal bond with every family and child to create a pleasant experience for all parties. You can help him provide an anxiety-free appointment to your child by only using positive language about the dentist and avoiding negative language. Phrases like “the dentist isn’t going to hurt you” or “you won’t feel pain” end up being counterproductive since it probably never occurred to the child to be scared of the dentist in the first place.

You should also establish a dental routine that will keep your child’s teeth healthy and white between dental appointments. Before your child turns two, you can clean their teeth and gums by wiping them with a clean, soft washcloth. When they are older and have grown most of their baby teeth, you can begin brushing with a toothbrush. As your child becomes used to regular brushing, you can let them do the brushing, but it is important for you to check that their teeth are getting cleaned. Supervise their brushing until they are five years old, and make sure they do not swallow their toothpaste.

To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.  

Enamel Erosion and Fluoride

Tooth enamel is the semi-translucent, hard, outer layer of the teeth, and although it is the strongest substance in the human body, it is not impervious to everyday wear and tear or acid erosion. Tasked with protecting our teeth from the daily damage of biting and chewing, as well as from the temperature extremes of hot and cold foods, tooth enamel is important for keeping our teeth free of decay and pain. But if the enamel begins to erode, intervention is necessary for protecting your oral health.

Tooth enamel erosion can be caused by a number of factors, from drinking too many soft drinks or fruity juices to not cleaning your teeth often enough. Other contributing factors include eating lots of sour foods or candy, dry mouth, acid reflux disease, bulimia, teeth grinding, heaving drinking and even brushing teeth immediately after consuming acidic food or beverages. When the tooth enamel erodes, you may experience sensitive teeth, irregular or rough tooth edges, yellowed teeth and cupping or dents.

At our practice in Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah recommends fluoride treatment to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in our water and many of our foods and can help remineralize tooth enamel that has eroded and protect it from acid in the future. Especially important to children between the ages of 6 and 16, fluoride treatment is a common part of dentistry. The mineral can be applied as a foam, gel or varnish and is a much stronger dose than found in toothpastes and mouthwashes.

To see if fluoride can help you, schedule an appointment at our practice by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Air Abrasion in Holmdel, NJ: No Shots, No Drills

From using top-of-the-line technology for detecting tooth decay to performing dental procedures with tools that reduce pain, Dr. Dipika Shah consistently puts her patients’ dental experience and oral health first.

One way the dentist is able to enhance our patients’ dental care is with air abrasion  which can be used without the discomfort of drills or shots. With no vibrations, friction or heat, there is no jarring of sensitive nerves or anxiety, making procedures with air abrasion instruments virtually pain free.  The tool works by delivering a gentle stream of particles with forced air to remove decay quickly and gently.

Because it is quicker and does not require sedation, air abrasion allows more teeth to be worked on in one visit and with little to no side effects. This is much more convenient for both the dentist and the patient than traditional drills, and it allows you to have necessary dental work without cutting too much into your busy schedule. Additionally, air abrasion allows for more of the healthier tooth structure to be conserved when removing decay.

Dr. Shah consistently offers high-quality dental care to her patients in Holmdel, NJ, and air abrasion tools are one of the ways she provides it.  To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions with Dr. Dipika Shah

While many patients do not experience problems with their wisdom teeth when they begin to emerge between the ages of 17 and 25, many others find that theirs must be removed. Wisdom teeth are usually removed because they become impacted, which means that the tooth does not have enough room to come in straight through the gums and instead emerges at an angle. This can cause pain, damage to the jaw and a more crooked smile due to crowding. Additionally, the site of impaction can become a bacterial hotspot since impacted wisdom teeth are hard to clean.

If your mouth does not have enough room for your wisdom teeth to come in, a wisdom tooth extraction is necessary, and at our office in Homdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah can determine whether a wisdom tooth extraction is the best course of action for you.

Wisdom teeth extractions can range from removing a single tooth to removing all four teeth at once. Dr. Shah will let you know what she thinks is best for you. For the procedure, she will use either a local anesthetic to numb the area or a general anesthetic to sedate you while the teeth are extracted. The tooth will then be accessed through an incision in the gums and wiggled until it is loose enough to be lifted out. If the tooth is too deeply embedded to be removed this way, it will be broken up into pieces before being removed.

Whether you are already feeling pain due to impacted wisdom teeth or have not yet felt them come in, we can determine if your wisdom teeth will cause problems for you. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

Dental Bonding in Holmdel, NJ

Dental bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable dental procedures used for repairing teeth and enhancing the aesthetics of your smile. By bonding a tooth-colored resin to the patient’s teeth, Dr. Dipika Shah can correct smiles with unevenly-shaped, chipped or discolored teeth, prevent further enamel erosion and even fill cavities seamlessly and without the need for amalgam. If you’re looking to improve the health and look of your smile in Holmdel, NJ, come to our office!

Unlike other cosmetic dental procedures, bonding can usually be accomplished in a single visit to our office and doesn’t require enamel to be removed as veneers do. Bonding usually only requires light abrasion and an application of adhesive gel, which helps the resin adhere to the teeth. If being used as an alternative to amalgam fillings, tooth decay will also be removed in preparation for the filling.
 

Once your teeth are prepared, Dr. Shah will select the right color resin for your smile and apply the putty-like substance to your tooth or teeth. The resin is then molded and smoothed until it is in the desired shape and then hardened with an LED light. After it has been hardened, the dentist will trim and shape it even further, polishing the resin until it shines like a natural tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for each tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your smile but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your teeth effectively, quickly and affordably. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.      

Cold Sore Treatment with a Diode Laser

Cold sores can be painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing, but at our office Holmdel, NJ, we can help you get rid of the herpetic lesion with a diode laser. Treatment with a diode laser is quick and does not require an anesthetic, allowing you to easily treat cold sore symptoms.

If you are treated with a diode laser during the tingling stage that occurs before a breakout, you can reduce or even eliminate cold sore symptoms before they start. If you are already experiencing a breakout, the diode laser can still effectively treat your cold sore, offering pain relief and accelerated healing.

The diode laser treats cold sores by killing the viral particles of a cold sore, which not only helps heal a the lesion but can also decrease the frequency at which they reoccur in that area. Several treatments can decrease the frequency of cold sores and lessen symptoms during the breakouts that do occur. We have had great results with the diode laser, with many patients and non-patients experiencing great relief.

If you would like to receive treatment, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah by calling 732-264-8180. For more information about the procedure or our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Night Guards in Holmdel, NJ

At our practice in Holmdel, NJ, we see many patients who suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding. While many people who grind their teeth do so consciously throughout the day, even more grind their teeth at night while sleeping. Bruxism can cause damage to your enamel, as well as cause jaw pain, headaches and gum irritation, so it is important to treat it. Night guards are usually the best way to prevent grinding’s negative effects.

Similar to mouth guards worn by athletes during sports, night guards provide a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. By reducing wear to your teeth and making it harder for you to grind, your teeth will be healthier and you will feel better overall. Dr. Dipika Shah provides night guards that are custom made in our lab to provide a fit that is as comfortable as possible. All we require is an impression of your teeth. These guards are very durable and can last for up to 10 years.

If you find yourself frequently waking up with headaches or pain in your jaw, it is very possible that you grind in your sleep. Often those who do not treat their bruxism end up with TMD, which can lead to a change in the appearance of your face. To diagnose and treat your night grinding, call 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment. For more information, please visitwww.dentistnj.com.

Dental Crowns

From the acid errosion caused by the food you eat to the constant biting, crunching and grinding you do when eating or stressed, daily activities weaken your teeth and make them more susceptible to decay, cracks, discoloration and more. If any of your teeth reach a point where they become so weak or decayed that the tooth structure becomes compromised, a crown can be used to protect and reinforce it. By covering a weak or broken tooth and restoring it to its original size and shape, a crown reduces pain and saves the tooth from needing to be extracted, and in Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah can determine if a crown is needed to save your smile.

Made from porcelain, gold or porcelain fused to metal, crowns are used to repair teeth when fillings or bonding are not enough. When you have a crown placed, Dr. Shah will first prepare your tooth by removing any existing decay and insulating the tooth nerve with core buildup. Besides providing insulation, the core buildup also serves as a surface for the crown to bond to. Once the tooth is prepared, an impression is taken so that the crown can be created to fit perfectly. Then at your next appointment, the custom crown is cemented onto the current tooth to prevent further decay and fracture.

Schedule an appointment with our office by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile with Dr. Dipika Shah

Regular checkups and dental cleanings are a part of any good oral hygiene routine, and at our office in Holmdel, NJ, we provide dental care services of the highest quality to ensure that our patients’ smiles stay healthy year after year.

Plaque is a soft and sticky film of bacteria that can build up on your teeth despite regular brushing and flossing. Because teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, which contains calcium and other substances to strengthen and protect teeth, tartar or calcium deposits can also build up over time. Dental cleanings work to remove both plaque and tartar from the teeth. If it is not removed and is allowed to accumulate, bacteria will be provided a perfect environment and thrive on the gums and teeth, which can cause cavities, infection and gum disease.

While good for maintaining oral health between dentist visits, at-home brushing and cleaning are not enough to make sure teeth stay clean; regular dental cleanings are required. We will clean and polish your teeth, leaving the surface clean and smooth. The smoother the teeth, the more difficult it is for bacteria to stick to them and the more effective at-home brushing will be.

We recommend checkups and dental cleanings every six months for optimum oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, call 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

Does Your Tooth Still Hurt After a Root Canal?

If you’re still experiencing pain after a root canal, you may be wondering why. Aren’t root canals meant to take your pain away? There are many reasons why your tooth may still be hurting. It is possible that the base of your tooth root (periapical) is still slightly tender or that your pain is caused by a temporary filling that is a bit too high. In these cases, taking OTC painkillers, preferably ibuprofen, may be all you need to alleviate your pain while your root canal heals.

However, if you’ve had a root canal at our practice in Holmdel, NJ and are still experiencing pain that is severe or persistent, you should call our office immediately. The dentist may need to prescribe you an antibiotic to make sure the infection does not remain, or she may need to perform retreatment.

At your follow-up appointment, Dr. Dipika Shah will want to know what type of pain you are experiencing. Is your tooth sensitive to hot and cold? Is it the tooth root that is sensitive or the gums that are over the tooth? Is it a constant ache, or does it only hurt when biting? Is there any swelling, drainage or pus? The answers to these questions will give Dr. Shah the information she needs to diagnose your pain.

Root canals don’t always work, and there are many reasons for this, including fractures of the root, convoluted or twisted root structures and failure to protect the root canal after the procedure. If this occurs, you may need further treatment. If the root canal was successful, it should feel normal most of the time.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shah in Holmdel, NJ, call 732-264-8180. For more information about the dentist and her services, please visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Dr. Dipika Shah Tips for a Healthier Smile

Regular exams and cleanings with Dr. Dipika Shah are only a small part of a good oral hygiene routine. Everyday oral care habits also play a vital role in a healthy smile, and if you want to improve your oral health, here are some simple changes you can make.

1.            Brush better. Good technique and proper duration are essential for effective brushing. To maximize your brushing, hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and make sweeping circular motions away from the gums. You should brush for at least two minutes or for the length of a song. Electric brush that spins 360 degree or oscilates is better than hand brush as it can produce lot more vibration to detach the sticky plaque. 

2.            Floss. Dr. Shah has probably already told you how important this is. This is because flossing can actually do a better job of removing harmful plaque than brushing, and it only needs to be done once a day. So why aren’t you doing it already? It’s the key to healthier teeth and fresher breath.

3.           Use waterpik. It not only removes food from your teeth and gum, it also removes harmful bacterial byproducts and keeps your gums healthy. 

4.            Replace your toothbrush. How long have you been brushing with your toothbrush? As your toothbrush ages, the bristles will fray and lose their cleaning ability. Extremely frayed bristles can even hurt your gums. Bacteria can also build up in the bristles of toothbrushes, so make sure you are replacing yours ever three to four months.

5.            Switch to tap water. Tap water is treated with fluoride, which is a safe and effective technique for lowering tooth decay across the nation. Plus, it’s basically free.

For more ways to keep your smile healthy, turn to Dr. Dipika Shah in Holmdel, NJ. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.

Bridges in Holmdel, NJ

If you’ve had one tooth or multiple teeth extracted due to damage, decay or disease, it is important to have the resulting gap filled or your remaining teeth can shift out of position and become susceptible to further decay. One way to replace your missing tooth or teeth and prevent this shifting is with a dental bridge.

Called a bridge because a prosthetic tooth is suspended between two crowns to fill in the missing space, this natural-looking tooth structure is usually made from gold, metal, alloys or porcelain to ensure a strong and durable smile that can last for many years.

The process of creating a bridge usually takes two visits to our office in Holmdel, NJ. During your first visit, Dr. Dipika Shah will create abutments out of the existing teeth on both sides of your gap. This is where the bridge’s crowns will be attached. After the abutments are in place, a mold is made of your mouth for creating the bridge, which will fit and feel as close to your natural teeth as possible. 

While you wait for the bridge to be fabricated in the lab, you will receive a temporary device for your convenience. Then, once the permanent device is completed, you will return to our office to have the crowns fixed to the abutments with an adhesive. The pontic between the crowns forms the bridge and replaces your missing tooth or teeth.

To schedule an appointment at, call 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.       

Veneers with Dr. Dipika Shah

If you’re unhappy with the way your smile looks, you don’t have to live with it. Veneers are an effective method for reshaping and redesigning your smile in Holmdel, NJ. Whether your teeth have gaps, persistent stains, cracks, chips or other issues, these thin, porcelain or ceramic shells can cover the existing tooth structure in your mouth to give you a smile you will be proud to show off.

Having veneers placed usually only takes two to three visits to our office. During the first visit, you will discuss the shape and look of the smile you want to accomplish with Dr. Dipika Shah. Then the dentist will prepare your teeth for the upcoming veneers.

Once the enamel has been prepared, an impression will be taken of your mouth so that the veneers can be fabricated to fit over your existing teeth. Once they are completed, the veneers are bonded to your teeth to create an attractive smile that both looks good and feels natural. With proper home care and the help of Dr. Shah, you can enjoy your new smile for 5 to 10 years before the veneers should be replaced. 

To schedule an appointment at our Holmdel practice, call 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com. 

Dental Implants in Holmdel, NJ

If you’ve lost one tooth or multiple teeth due to extensive decay, gum disease or facial trauma, we can provide you with the solution you need to restore your oral health in Holmdel, NJ. Since teeth can shift out of place after a tooth has been removed, and since teeth that shift are more susceptible to disease and decay, our office offers dental implants to both restore the beauty of your smile and improve your oral health. While bridges or dentures can also be used to replace missing teeth, these options either require work to healthy teeth or are not permanent fixtures in the mouth. Dental implants, on the other hand, look and feel natural.

The first step of the implant process is to implant a titanium screw in the jawbone. This screw serves as your replacement tooth root and keeps your jaw from deteriorating or changing shape. Once the screw is in place, your jaw is left to heal around the implant in a process called osseointegration—a process that can take three to six months to complete. During this healing, you will receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

When the implant has healed, Dr. Dipika Shah will install the abutment, which acts as the foundation upon which your permanent crown is placed. An impression is then taken of the area, and the permanent crown is custom made and adhered to the abutment to give you a new smile that looks and functions like your natural teeth.

With our help, you can achieve an attractive and complete smile with dental implants. Schedule a consultation by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.

Scaling and Root Planing with Dr. Dipika Shah

In Holmdel, NJ, we actively strive to help our patients maintain optimal oral health and retain all their original teeth if possible. By offering scaling and root planing to treat early gum disease, Dr. Dipika Shah can restore the health of your gums and save your smile.

Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar are allowed to buildup on your teeth, creating a suitable environment for bacteria to thrive. As bacteria collect in your mouth, they will attack your teeth and surrounding gums. In its earliest stages, gum disease is called gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes a much more serious periodontal disease that destroys your gum tissue and leads to tooth loss. If it is not treated, the disease can even cause a loss of bone mass in your jaw.

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into a more serious disease. The procedure allows Dr. Shah to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar that is causing your inflammation. The procedure is incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth.

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you have red, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with our office in by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

Computed Cone Beam 3D X-ray in Holmdel, NJ,

The dental industry has been greatly impacted by advancements in technology, allowing dentists to improve the way they serve their patients. One such advancement that has revolutionized the way that dentists view their patients’ mouths is the Computed Cone Beam 3D Scanner. With this technology, Dr. Dipika Shah is able to access 3D, high-resolution images that help her provide superior dental care to patients in Holmdel, NJ.

Cone Beam technology provides 3D, high-resolution images that allow Dr. Shah to accurately assess your mouth and customize your procedures for the highest quality of care. Offering a clear view of teeth, facial nerves, bone structures and even sinus issues in 3D, the scanner captures parts of the anatomy that cannot be diagnosed externally or with only two-dimensional images. A typical scan only takes 20 seconds, and images are ready for viewing in less than three minutes.

Because we value the health and safety of our patients, we also choose to use this type of imaging for its low radiation emission. Able to capture a superior image while exposing patients to minimal radiation means that 3D Cone Beam imaging is one of the best diagnostic tools on the market. 

Computed Cone Beam 3D imaging is just one of the ways that we put our patients first. You can schedule an appointment by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, visit www.dentistnj.com.

BOTOX with Dr. Dipika Shah

In Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah does more than take care of her patients’ teeth. She helps her patients feel truly confident with their smiles by providing facial rejuvenation procedures. With BOTOX®, our office is able to help you look as young as you feel.

 As you age and your skin loses its elasticity, the repeated contractions of these muscles cause wrinklelines. BOTOX® is a medication used in facial aesthetics to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe wrinkle lines by reducing the activity in the muscles that can cause wrinkles overtime.

The active ingredient in BOTOX® is botulinum toxin type A, which acts on nerve endings in muscles to prevent muscle fibers from contracting. If the muscles’ contractions are minimized, then frown lines can be temporarily reduced. The FDA-approved treatment can be used on patients between 18 and 65 years old and has effects that last for several months. It is most commonly used to treat crow’s feet and wrinkles on the nose, between the eyes, on the forehead and on the chin.

If you want to regain youthful confidence in your skin and in your smile, Dr. Shah is a professional with years of experience. To schedule an appointment with our office, call 732-264-8180. For more information, please visitwww.dentistnj.com.

Sleep Apnea in Holmdel, NJ

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects 6 to 8 percent of the population, causing those with the disorder to suffer from inhibited breathing during sleep. By causing their breath to become interrupted for 10 to 20 seconds at a time, the disorder can jolt patients out of their natural sleep rhythm multiple times a night. As a result, their energy, mental acuity and productivity can suffer. This can then lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and weight gain, which makes treatment absolutely necessary. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Holmdel, NJ, Dr. Dipika Shah can provide the treatment you need to improve your sleep and overall quality of life.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may have been recommended the CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) device by your doctor. This device provides positive pressure airflow to keep your airway from collapsing during sleep and is proven to be very effective. However, some people cannot tolerate this device. In this case, Dr. Shah recommends dental appliances work to reposition the lower jaw to maximize your airway while you sleep. By increasing airflow and preventing snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea, the appliance promotes deeper and more restful sleep. Because it doesn’t interfere with breathing through your mouth, you can still use the appliance safely with congested nasal passages.

If you believe you have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment at our office by calling 732-264-8180. For more information, please visit www.dentistnj.com.