Start of School Year Exams

Dentists recommend that children get check-ups and professional cleanings every six months. If yours haven’t been recently, now’s the time for it. At Dr. Dipika Shah’s office, we provide comprehensive care to prevent children from having problems with tooth aches and misalignment later on in the school year.

Children are the demographic that is most likely to suffer tooth decay in the form of caries—bacterial infections which make little cavities in the teeth. Caries are painful and can have a devastating impact on the child’s well-being. Pain may slow their speech development and cause them to be unable to sleep, making them irritable and unfocused. It may also interfere with their chewing, affecting their diet, (as can misalignment). Caries will not improve on their own; they require a dentist to clean out the decayed material and fill them in.

Fortunately, if your child is at risk for caries, it’s still early enough in the year to treat them before they take a major toll on their education. This will also give us a chance to monitor wisdom tooth eruption and plan for orthodontic treatment which may require time out of school.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Invisalign

Invisalign is the invisible alternative to traditional braces for adolescents and adults.  At the practice of Dr. Dipika Shah we provide Invisalign to correct mild to moderate spacing or crowding of the teeth.  Invisalign does the job of traditional braces without metal brackets and wires – saving patients from the dreaded ‘metal mouth’ look throughout their treatment.  Severe misalignment may require another method, so always consult your dentist. 

To straighten your teeth with Invisalign, we begin with an examination. Then, impressions or scans of your teeth are used to create a full set of aligners customized to your teeth and your treatment plan.  A typical treatment plan consists of a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth, and can be completed in less than a year. Depending on your individual treatment plan, each set of aligners should be worn at least 20 hours a day for about two weeks. The aligners should be removed to eat, and to brush and floss.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Night Guards for Bruxism

At the dental practice of Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, we treat many patients who experience some negative effects of bruxism.  Bruxism is the term for any regular grinding of the teeth or clenching of the jaw.  Chronic teeth grinders often end up needing crowns, bridges, root canals and implants. In severe cases tooth loss can occur, and partial or complete dentures may be needed.  Some teeth grinders only grind their teeth while they sleep at night and may not be aware of it.  Waking up with a stiff or sore jaw or headache could be a sign you are grinding your teeth at night and shouldn’t be ignored.  Schedule a consultation to see what damage you may be doing to your mouth and how a custom night guard can help you.

A custom night guard is the best way to protect your teeth from the dangers of teeth grinding.  When we provide patients with custom night guards, the process begins by taking an impression of the mouth.  This impression is used to fit a custom product that protects the grinding surfaces of the teeth and aligns the jaw.  Night guards are durable and last 10 years with proper care.  This is an easy precaution to take if you are a grinder, and can even help improve sleep!

To learn more about bruxism, custom night guards, and all the services we provide, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180. 

Loose Permanent Teeth

Anytime adult teeth come loose, it’s a major problem. Fortunately, Dr. Dipika Shah is experienced in several of the aspects necessary for saving patients’ teeth and restoring their bite functions, including fighting periodontal disease and placing implants.

When teeth come loose due to periodontal disease, as opposed to a violent blow, dentists call it secondary occlusal trauma. Primary occlusal trauma is the term used to refer to teeth that have been damaged by tooth grinding without an infection. Severe periodontal disease doesn’t just erode the gum ligaments which hold teeth in place; it also erodes the jaw bone, which can have devastating consequences for the other teeth and the appearance of the patient’s face.

The infection must be controlled before any restorations can be done.Weakened teeth often require treatment with a splint, although in mild cases, the splint is usually temporary. One major danger is that when patients lose the use of their back teeth, they sometimes try chewing with their incisors. This is very dangerous; the front teeth cannot withstand such strong force and are likely to be pushed out of position. Anybody experiencing problems with loose teeth should seek help immediately and not try to adapt on their own.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Halitosis in Children

Dr. Dipika Shah loves helping kids with all their oral health needs, including relief from bad breath. Generally, children suffer from halitosis for the same reason as adults: bacteria build-up. However, they may need some specific attention in order to deal with the problem.

Bacteria build up in creviced soft tissue, such as the tongue and top of the throat. The tongue is easy to clean, but fighting bacteria in the back of the throat may require a specialty mouthwash Dr. Shah can recommend. Bacteria in this region not only feed on trapped food particles, they also feed on nasal drip. Children tend to get more sinus infections than adults, increasing their risk for halitosis, and they are likelier to have undiagnosed allergies.

Dry mouth is another major contributor to bad breath. In children, the most common medications that cause it as a side-effect are those for ADHD and anxiety, but it could also be caused by mouth breathing. This may require attention from a specialist to correct, or it may be related to sleep apnea, which Dr. Shah can provide a snore guard for.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Foods That Promote a Healthy Smile

Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS is an advocate when it comes to helping patients improve their dental health and a healthy smile begins with a nutritious diet. Foods that contain sugars or acid of any kind can contribute to tooth decay, so it’s important to know what foods you should be eating and what foods should be consumed only once in a while. More than 40% of children will develop dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten and approximately 5% of adults (ages 20-64) fall victim to tooth decay, but the good news is that it’s preventable.

If you exercise rigorously but consume unhealthy foods, you likely won’t notice any positive changes. The same goes for brushing your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing keep teeth healthy by eliminating sugars and food particles that link up with bacteria to form plaque. Plaque is the leading cause of tooth decay, so to help control the amount of sugar you eat, read food labels and make choices that are low in added sugars.  To promote a healthy smile, drink plenty of water, avoid soda, juice, sports drinks and eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fat-free dairy foods.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your oral health, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180.

Orthodontics in Holmdel, NJ

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are misaligned and corrects any dental deformities. Dr. Dipika Shah offers a variety of orthodontic options to her patients but encourages assessing a child’s orthodontic needs as early as possible. Crowded teeth are difficult to clean and packs a lot more food. The benefits of receiving orthodontic treatment are endless but include a healthier mouth, and a straighter, more aesthetically pleasing smile  and face.

At her Holmdel, NJ dental practice, Dipika Shah, DDS gives patients a choice when it comes to straightening their teeth – Invisalign and traditional braces. Both appliances work by placing gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws. Depending on the individual case, one option may be preferred over another. To decide which form of orthodontics is best for you, we recommend scheduling a consultation.

If you have questions or concerns about our orthodontic options, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180.