Athletic Guard

An athletic guard is a type of mouth guard given to adolescents/adults who play sports in school or for fun. The reason we create these mouth guards is to protect the patient’s teeth and their smile. While there are other uses for a mouth guard, the main function is for protection of not just their teeth, but their head from concussion and brain damage.

Dr. Dipika Shah prepares custom athletic guards that fit the patient perfectly so it is comfortable and offers the best protection available. They also don’t have a weird taste or odor. They allow you to breath better and even talk to your team mate as they do not fall out when you talk/laugh/breath or even get tackled. 
There are many benefits of athletic guards, including protecting their teeth from fracture or loss, preventing expensive dental work later on, and protecting the head, neck and jaw joint from damage during a sport. They also give parents a peace of mind knowing their child is playing the sport they love without risking severe damage to your teeth or mouth. Mouth guards made here in our office fit the patients better, allowing them to breathe easier and have more comfort.

If you have a child that plays sports, whether in school or as a hobby, we encourage you to call us at 732-264-8180 to schedule an appointment for a custom athletic guard.

Bad Breath

If you are experiencing bad breath, it is likely due to bacteria in your oral cavity. Many of our patients visit our clinic complaining of bad breath, and we have found a variety of things to cause it. It may be lack of proper dental hygiene, the food or drinks they are consuming, smoking cigarettes, or having an infection or deep decay of the teeth. We diagnose the problem then provide an effective solution for reducing bad breath.

When a patient experiences bad breath, it can be damaging to their self esteem. They feel afraid to confront others and don’t feel confident being in relationships. These struggles don’t need to continue if a patient visits us to get a dental screening and deep cleaning. This removes all of the bacteria built-up and decay from their teeth, and gives them a fresh mouth. They are also urged/helped to stop habits like smoking, which can further cause bad breath.

Aside from providing a good cleaning, we also perform a check-up and x-rays to see if other dental issues are causing the bad breath. If you have bad breath, visit Dr. Dipika Shah in Holmdel, NJ to discuss your options.

Orthodontics

Orthodontics is straightening/aligning  of the teeth and the patient’s bite. Sooner we diagnose the problem and sooner we treat, better results and shorter time for treatment. Modern orthodontics, kids do not have to wait till all their baby teeth fall out, actually, that may be too late as you miss the opportunity to direct the jaw growth as kids go through growth spurts. Modern orthodontics, we avoid extracting teeth to create room, in stead, we give appliances to help jaw growth in proper direction so teeth are not crowded or patient does not get overbite/underbite.

We also provide orthodontics for teens and adults who want to correct overcrowding, spacing, overbites or underbites.

The types of orthodontic treatments we provide here in our Holmdel, NJ dental clinic, include the following:
1. Traditional braces
2. Clear braces
3. Invisalign
4. Appliance and Retainer Therapy/ phase 1 orthodontics.

With these options, patients have a choice of orthodontic treatments. Traditional braces are the most common and least expensive variety, and can work with all different levels of spacing or bite issues. Clear braces are similar, though they are made from ceramic and less visible than the metal traditional braces. The most invisible are Invisalign, which use clear plastic aligners, as opposed to brackets and wires.
If you or your child is in need of orthodontics, call Dr. Dipika Shah at 732-264-8180.

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.