Hampton Roads Center For Cosmetic Dentistry

Did you see the recent episode of Dr. Oz discussing the mercury toxicity of amalgam (silver) fillings? The show discussed that people are being “poisoned” by their amalgam fillings and that the mercury allegedly being released from such fillings is responsible for a whole host of chronic health issues and diseases. The American Board of Dentistry’s official position is that amalgam fillings are not harmful. We do not pass judgment on the allegations on Dr. Oz’s show or the position of the ADA, however, our office chooses not to place amalgam fillings. In fact, we remove a whole lot of amalgam fillings and replace them with beautiful tooth colored (white) composite fillings. Additionally, our office uses only materials made in the USA.

Many times dental insurance companies will only pay to have amalgam fillings placed instead of the slightly more expensive tooth colored composite fillings. We take our patients health very seriously and do not allow any insurance company to dictate what material is best for your tooth.

Dr. Carol F. Morgan, DDS is a Virginia Beach Dentist. I you have questions about fillings feel free to call us at 757-412-1400.

We saw a patient recently who did not like the shape or the color of her teeth. I discussed with her teeth whitening, teeth recontouring, gum recontouring, cosmetic porcelain veneers and the concept of a comprehensive smile design. We spent over 20 minutes in a consultation explaining her options and discussing smile design. She learned that smile design is incredibly complex and takes into consideration many factors such as skin tone, eye color, facial geometry, lip shape and position (at rest, smiling and while talking) and the patient’s teeth among other factors. We were trying to determine what smile design would best fit her face and meet her esthetic desires. Based on this patient’s specific needs, we decided porcelain veneers would be her best treatment plan.
Porcelain veneers are hand-made wafer thin veneers of porcelain that are bonded to the existing teeth modifying them to the desired color, shape and position based on the smile design. Veneers allow patients an opportunity to design a smile of their dreams which may not have been possible with their natural teeth.

After the patient and I decided on a design and plan, I explained that I will have the case designed in wax and let the patient come for a second consultation to evaluate the wax smile design before we proceed with preparing her teeth for beautiful porcelain veneers. The patient is extremely excited about her new personalized smile.

Dr. Carol F. Morgan, DDS is a Virginia Beach Dentist and had been designing smiles for cosmetic needs for over 17 years. She completes a significant amount of extra hours of continuing learning education to stay at the top of the latest products and procedures.

A patient came in and had a large gap between his front teeth. He indicated the gap had been getting bigger over the years and he thought it appeared unsightly. He also had some crowding (crooked and turned) of his lower teeth. He came in to see what we could do about the gaps and crowding.

These conditions can be corrected with traditional orthodontics (wire and bracket) or Invisalign, a clear plastic alternative. Invisalign is a series of clear trays that you wear to move your teeth. The patient changes to a new tray every two weeks. We will have all the trays made to complete the entire treatment plan. Invisalign is nice because a patient will take them out to eat, brush and floss. Another nice point is that most people will not even know the patient has them on their teeth.

The patient did not want to have wire and brackets on his teeth as he was a professional and did not want to look like a teenager. Invisalign was a great alternative and determined that it would take about 6 months to close the gap and about 9 months to correct the crowding. The patient liked the ease and versatility of Invisalign and began the process that day.

Invisalign cannot fix all occlusal irregularities, however, it may be a great alternative for you compared to traditional wire and bracket orthodontics.

Dr. Carol F. Morgan, DDS is a Virginia Beach Dentist and is a Certified Invisalign dentist providing all levels of Invisalign products.

We have always been told that soda is bad for your teeth. You may be wondering why exactly is it so bad. Well, a dental cavity is caused by 3 things. Tooth structure, bacteria (primarily strep mutans) and carbohydrate/ sugar. The sugar in the soda feeds the bacteria, which produce an acid, which in turn breaks down the tooth structure, and a cavity is formed.  This process continues for 20 minutes after the exposure (sip of soda) until saliva can buffer your mouth back to neutral.  Logically, one would think that diet soda would be safe since it does not have sugar. While this thinking is partially correct, diet soda is still bad for the teeth because the “fizz” of soda contains carbonic acid, thus even diet soda is bathing the teeth in acid, which weakens the enamel allowing for the bacteria to penetrate the tooth structure and create a cavity.

Many of today’s popular energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster etc. have not only sugar but also are very acidic (low pH) and thus bath the teeth in an even stronger “acid bath” than soda. Even many of the most popular Gatorade flavors such as lemon lime and orange are acidic. The stronger the acid, the more rapid the tooth structure is weakened. I am not suggesting that you avoid soda, energy drinks or Gatorade, but ALWAYS rinse your mouth with water afterwards. If the drinks get the best of your teeth, you can always make a dental appointment to get those cavities filled in the most painless environment.

You may be suffering from TMD (temporomandibular disorder). I am a Virginia Beach dentist, and I help TMD/TMJ patients in the Hampton Roads area. The average TMD/TMJ patient that I treat has seen at least 5 health care providers prior to seeking treatment in my office.  Usually they have seen their PCP (primary care physician), a neurologist, an ENT, a chiropractor and their general dentist.  Unfortunately, TMD/TMJ is a complex problem, which involves not only the teeth but also the jaw joint and the muscles of the face. My non-surgical approach to treating patients with TMD strives to balance the muscles, the joint and the teeth. Just like a wheel out of balance won’t roll smoothly, if your jaw and the associated structures are not balanced it will result in a breakdown of the system. Many times this breakdown is facial and head pain. It is well documented in the literature that most pain is derived from muscles.  With this in mind I work to balance my patients jaw “system” to allow all aspects to be balanced. If you continue to suffer from headaches and facial pain, you owe it to yourself to call my office. 757-412-1400.

Virginia Beach Dentist, Dr. Carol F. Morgan, DDS, supports the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. On Saturday, October 13, 2012, the Virginia Beach dentist participated in the Race for the Cure 5k. Dr. Morgan is an avid runner and supporter of Susan G. Komen. Dr. Morgan’s grandmother has twice survived breast cancer and turned 90 years old this year. The race is very personal to her.

Whether it is dental health or general physical health, Dr. Morgan is always at the cutting edge. Dr. Morgan believes you must always strive to better yourself. The beach dentist completes several extra hours of dental continuing education each year. There are always new products and procedures that are developed each year that can greatly improve her patient’s dental health. The beach dentist also trains with a personal trainer twice a week to stay in top physical condition. She is currently training for a full marathon to take place in November.

I thought that would catch your attention. Let’s just say you no longer need to floss with dental floss.

Generally, you should floss your teeth at least once a day. You need to floss in between your teeth to remove food debris and plaque your tooth brush just cannot reach. Unremoved plaque can cause decay and contribute to gum disease.

Many people just don’t floss their teeth because they find it too difficult or they claim it takes too long. Well, there is a new product that actually is a game changer in dental flossing.

Phillips, the same company that brought you the Sonicare tooth brush, has developed the Sonicare Airfloss. The Airfloss is an oral irrigation device that looks similar to a Sonicare tooth brush that shoots a burst of air and water in between your teeth removing food particles and plaque. Studies show that using the Airfloss is just as effective as using dental floss. You can also fill the Airfloss with water or your favorite mouth wash or hydrogen peroxide.

In our Virginia Beach dental office, we are having a hard time keeping the Airfloss in stock. Patients love the ease and effectiveness of using the Airfloss. It is especially effective for people who have bridges, braces and dental implants. The Airfloss can reach those hard to reach areas where it is too difficult to get regular dental floss. Your teeth feel really clean too!

Ask your Virginia Beach dentist, Dr. Carol F. Morgan, DDS about how using the Airfloss can improve your dental health.

Snoring can be a sign that a person has obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is a physical condition caused by decreased or stopped airflow to the lungs while you are asleep. In the United States, it is estimated that over 38,000 people die each year from the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.

Some of the contributing factors of being diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea are:

–       A Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30

–       A neck size of 17 inches or greater

–       Obesity

–       History of snoring

Some of the signs that you may have obstructive sleep apnea are:

–       You snore during sleep

–       When you wake up you do not feel refreshed

–       You feel sleepy or fatigued during the day

–       You wake up with a headache

–       Your bed partner reporting that you stop breathing or gasp for air

The gold standard to treat obstructive sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP machine. CPAP is a device applied on top of the nose or in the nostrils that provides Continuous Positive Airway Pressure while breathing. Surgery may also be used to remove some soft tissues in the back of the mouth and throat.

However, if you have a mild obstructive sleep apnea, a dentist may be able to fit you with a dental appliance that can address your sleep apnea and may stop your snoring. There are many types of devices which generally advance your lower jaw forward keeping the airway in your throat open.

Virginia Beach dentist, Dr. Carol F. Morgan, DDS, had specific training in obstructive sleep apnea. She also has extensive education, training and experience in the different types of dental appliances available to treat mild obstructive sleep apnea. Your bed partner will be will be happy you got your snoring checked out.