Blog | Optima Dental Spa

When Do I Need a Dental Crown?

November 30, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Brunette young woman with dental crowns smiles while wearing a white tanktop

Do you have a damaged or decayed tooth? Fortunately, it doesn’t have to negatively affect your smile any longer with our same-day dental crowns. CEREC^® dental crowns are a natural-looking, versatile cosmetic dental solution that can be used for a variety of applications. In this blog post, we’ll give an overview of dental crowns and situations when this treatment would be the right solution for you.

What Are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown is a cap that goes right over a damaged, decayed, or cosmetically imperfect tooth but looks like a healthy natural tooth. Its purpose is multifold: to restore your smile to full-functionality and aesthetic while also protecting the underlying tooth and jawbone from damage.

Do I Need a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a fantastic solution if you need to fix a tooth that is chipped, cracked, or severely damaged by decay. While some cavities can be cleaned out and repaired with a simple filling, advanced decay can leave your tooth too weak to support a filling. In these cases, a crown will be necessary to restore strength and function after root canal therapy. Or if you want to rejuvenate your smile for cosmetic reasons, crowns can cover teeth that are severely discolored, misshapen, inconsistently sized, or unevenly worn. Additionally, crowns can top off dental implants and replace a row of missing teeth with a dental bridge.

What Are Dental Crowns Made of?

At Optima Dental Spa, we offer crowns made of porcelain, zirconia, or lithium disilicate. Each material can deliver a beautiful, natural-looking smile. At your consultation, we can help you determine which material will work best for your smile, budget, and lifestyle!

Can I Afford a Dental Crown?

We strive to make dental care accessible and affordable for our patients. Our three offices accept many dental insurance plans, all major credit cards, cash, personal checks, and CareCredit^®. Moreover, our Optima Dental Savings Plan covers 100% of your preventive treatments and provides discounts on other services, including 20% savings on dental crowns! Reach out to our team today to enroll.

Restore Your Smile with Us!

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of a perfect smile! Our expert team can assist you with your all your smile restoration needs, whether you need dental crowns or are interested in our other cosmetic treatments. Contact us today to schedule an appointment so you can enjoy your smile again!

How Can I Overcome Dental Anxiety?

November 23, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Dark-haired man and woman embrace and smile because they have overcome their dental anxiety together

Dental anxiety can develop for a variety of reasons, such as: infrequent dental visits as a child; a bad experience at the dentist in the past; dislike of not being able to talk due to having instruments in your mouth; or a fear of pain. Depending on the severity of one’s dental anxiety, this emotional distress can manifest itself through sweaty palms, an elevated heartbeat, panic attacks, trouble breathing, and even fainting spells.

Is your dental anxiety preventing you from enjoying a healthy smile? Fortunately, there are ways to overcome your dental anxiety so you can receive the oral healthcare you need. Read on for a few ways you can begin to overcome your dental anxiety and make visiting the dentist a less stressful and more enjoyable experience!

Ways to Overcome Dental Anxiety

There are a few different things that you can try to overcome your dental anxiety:

Talk to Your Dentist Beforehand

If you’re visiting a new dentist, set up a consultation before your appointment to tour the office and chat with the team. If you’ve established some familiarity prior to any dental treatment, you won’t feel quite so nervous since you’re not walking into a completely new situation. Additionally, opening up early about your anxiety will allow your smile team to better tailor their care to your unique needs!

Breathe

Deep breathing can help your body feel a sense of calm and realize that it isn’t in danger. Before you enter your dentist’s office, focus on taking slow inhales through your nose and then slow exhales through pursed lips.

Bring a Friend or Family Member

A trusted friend or family member can help you feel calm and supported during your treatment.

Opt for Sedation

There are various sedation options that can help you feel at ease during your appointment, including nitrous oxide, numbing solutions, and more. At Optima Dental Spa, we offer several sedation dentistry options that can help you remain calm during your visit.

Enjoy Our Relaxing Amenities

Choose a dental office that is patient-centered and modern, such as Optima Dental Spa. To enhance your comfort, we provide premium patient amenities, such as aromatherapy, neck warmers, blankets, movie glasses, noise-cancelling headphones, paraffin wax treatment for your hands, and massaging dental chairs.

Stress Less at Optima Dental Spa

Don’t let dental anxiety hold you back from having a beautiful and healthy smile! Our team at Optima Dental Spa is here to help make your visit with us as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.

Are CEREC Crowns Better Than Traditional Dental Crowns?

November 16, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Brunette couple with CEREC crowns smiles while drinking from mugs on a couch

At Optima Dental Spa, we’re excited to offer our patients CEREC^® same-day dental crowns as an alternative option to traditional dental crowns. If you’re not familiar with the treatment, you may be wondering what makes them so exciting! Are they that much better than the normal crowns? Here are some reasons we love CEREC and why we think you will too:

Time-Saving Convenience

Convenience is one of the key benefits when it comes to CEREC crowns. If you were to get a traditional dental crown, it would require coming into the dental office for multiple visits to complete the whole procedure. After impressions are taken of your mouth, you then have to wait a couple of weeks for an off-site dental laboratory to make your permanent crown. On the other hand, to get a CEREC crown, you only need to come in for one appointment! The CEREC machine eliminates the need for a temporary crown. Everything is done on-site during your appointment, saving you time!

Comfort at First Fit

Since the CEREC crown we fit you with is the permanent dental crown that will stay with you, there’s no dealing with a temporary crown. For many patients, this is a huge plus because temporary crowns can feel like an irritation due to their imperfect fit and size. With your completed crown, we’ll make any necessary fit adjustments on-the-spot so you won’t be sent home with a dental crown that doesn’t fit just like it’s supposed to.

CEREC Crowns at Optima Dental Spa

If you’d like to learn more about how CEREC dental crowns work and what sets them apart from the conventional crown option, head on over to our same-day CEREC crowns page. We also invite you to ask our friendly team any questions you might have about the dental crown procedure, our relaxing amenities, or our other services. Call or email us today!

When Is Emergency Dental Care Necessary?

November 9, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Brunette man cringes in pain due to toothache dental emergency

In this blog post, we provide an overview of situations when you should reach out to our expert team for emergency dental care in Portland, Lake Oswego, or Bellevue.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

These are some common signs that you’re experiencing a dental emergency that requires urgent care:

Profuse oral bleeding
Extreme tooth pain
Swelling
Broken, chipped, cracked, or knocked-out teeth
Complications or abnormalities after a dental procedure
Lost or damaged dental crown or filling
Broken dentures
Failed dental implant

How to Handle a Dental Emergency

If you are experiencing a dental issue, don’t panic! Remain calm and contact us right away for an emergency appointment. On the phone, we can also suggest additional steps you can take before you are able to see us.

For example, to reduce any swelling, ice your cheeks in 20 minute increments using a cold compress, bag of frozen peas or corn, or a baggie of ice cubes. If you have a toothache, brush and floss your teeth and rinse with a mixture of warm water and salt. Time is critical for a knocked-out tooth since the tooth must be reattached within the hour. Keep the tooth moist in a glass of milk until you can see us.

Tips to Prevent a Dental Emergency

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood of an emergency situation:

If you play contact sports, always wear a well-fitting mouthguard to protect your teeth from potential impact.
Those who grind their teeth should wear a custom-fitted nightguard to prevent chips, breaks, and enamel thinning.
If you’ve recently undergone a dental procedure, such as a tooth extraction, carefully follow our post-treatment instructions to prevent complications.
Always maintain good oral health habits to promote strong teeth and gums. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, floss at least once a day, drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet, and quit or avoid cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Keep up with your routine dental checkups. These appointments allow us to identify oral health problems and address them before they worsen into an emergency situation.

Your Emergency Dentist

At Optima Dental Spa, we offer emergency dental services so you can enjoy a pain-free and fully-functional smile in nearly no time. Moreover, we can help you stay relaxed throughout your appointment with our sedation dentistry options and pampering amenities. Emergencies are stressful, but we’re here to help you stay calm. Contact us today!

What Can Cause Dental Implant Failure?

October 30, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Blonde woman with dental implants smiles after restoring a failed dental implant

Dental implants are a terrific modern solution with a high success rate when it comes to replacing missing teeth. But with any surgical procedure, sometimes there are complications and the procedure fails. In this blog post, we go over some situations that can cause failure of a dental implant. But don’t worry–the good news is that trouble can be averted with early intervention. Here at Optima Dental Spa, you have options when it comes to fixing the problem and restoring your mouth to full health.

Causes of Dental Implant Failure

A variety of issues can increase the risk of dental implant failure. For example:

If an implant was placed incorrectly or with improper techniques, it could puncture the orofacial cavities, cause nerve impairment, or lead to infection.
A patient lacking sufficient jawbone density before the surgery, and who did not receive a bone graft, will not have a strong enough jaw to support the implant.
Poor oral hygiene by the patient after surgery can result in gum irritation and infection that can compromise the implant.
Nighttime teeth grinding and clenching can also put excessive pressure on the implant.
Other factors that increase the risk of failure include poor overall health, poor circulation, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain medications.

Improving Your Success Rate

For many of these reasons, it’s imperative to have your dental implant surgery done by a highly qualified dental provider, such as a member of our expert team at Optima Dental Spa. A correct surgery will obviously increase the implant’s chance of success. But an experienced implant dentist will also know what red flags to watch out for and can help you stay healthy and comfortable every step of the way before and after your surgery.

What to Do If Your Implant Fails

If you experience dental implant failure, contact our trusted team at Optima Dental Spa. We’ll examine your mouth and jaw to diagnose what is wrong. Depending on the issue, we’ll come up with a personalized plan to safely resolve your issue and restore your mouth to full health and function.

Consult with Our Smile Team!

Do you have a failed dental implant? You don’t need to suffer any longer. Contact Optima Dental Spa so we can help find you a solution to your pain and inconvenience as soon as possible!

In-Office vs. Take-Home Teeth Whitening

October 23, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Bald man wearing a white t-shirt smiles brightly after receiving professional teeth whitening

If you’re looking to whiten and brighten your smile, consider professional teeth whitening. This is the most efficient way to whiten your teeth and achieve the dramatic, long-lasting results you deserve. The strong whitening agent used in professional systems is more effective at removing stains than what is used in over-the-counter products like whitening pens, whitening strips, and whitening toothpastes. It’s also safer because of the included guidance of a trained professional. This means that you’ll get a whiter smile in less time, and with less risk to your oral health (and wallet).

At Optimal Dental Spa, we offer two types of professional teeth whitening: in-office and take-home. Here, we’ll explain the difference between these two options.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

Our in-office Zoom!^® teeth whitening is fantastic because in just one visit you’ll see dazzling results. Our office utilizes a professional-strength whitening gel and accelerating LED light that takes just three 20 minute sessions. To further stabilize your results, we’ll give you a take-home Zoom! whitening kit, which you’ll use for 14 days. If you desire, you can then return to our office for another in-office treatment.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

We also offer custom take-home bleaching trays so you can whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home and on your own schedule. Your trays will be made from impressions we take of your teeth. Every night you’ll squeeze Nite White^® bleaching gel into the trays. For optimal results, you’ll need to wear them for the treatment time recommended by our team. As your smile becomes whiter and brighter, you decide when your teeth are as white as you’d like them, at which point you can stop wearing the trays. Although this option is not as rapid as in-office whitening, it is still safe and effective.

Looking to Brighten Your Smile?

If you are interested in whitening your teeth, contact us today to schedule a consultation so we can help you decide whether take-home or in-office teeth whitening is better for you. We look forward to helping you achieve a glowing smile!

How to Care for Your New Dental Veneers

October 16, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Blonde woman with dental veneers smiles while wearing a mustard yellow pea coat outside by fall leaves

When you get veneers, it can finally feel like you have the smile of your dreams. You may be walking around, looking for every opportunity to show off your pearly whites. To keep that glowing feeling and that sparkly look lasting as long as possible, keep in mind these important steps for taking care of your new dental veneers:

Maintain Daily At-Home Oral Hygiene

No special changes are necessary for your daily at-home oral care if you’ve been following the recommended guidelines of brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing at least once a day. Doing this will keep your gums and tooth roots healthy, which in turn will help keep your veneers looking great. If you’re having a tough time staying consistent, try switching to an electric toothbrush and water flosser.

Watch What You Chew On

Before getting veneers, you may not have thought twice about chewing on some ice, your pen, a jawbreaker, lollipop, or unpopped popcorn kernel, but you definitely should now. That intense pressure from chewing on a hard material can end up chipping or cracking the material that your veneers are made out of.

Get a Guard

If you play a lot of contact sports and you don’t already have a custom athletic mouthguard, now is the time to get one. Wearing a well-fitted mouthguard will help prevent your veneers from suffering potential damage from a blow to the face, a fall, or a collision. Additionally, if you grind your teeth at night while you’re sleeping (a condition called bruxism), you should get a custom nightguard so you don’t end up damaging your dazzling new veneers.

Expert Help in Lake Oswego, Portland & Bellevue

Do you need more help keeping your dental veneers in their very best shape? As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Optima Dental Spa team. We are proud providers of veneers at our practice, and we can answer any questions you might have about the cosmetic procedure. Or if you are interested in getting veneers and you’re here doing preliminary research, all you need to do is give us a call or send us an email to set up your complimentary consultation!

Visit Our New Bellevue Dental Office!

October 10, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Hey, dental family! Our Optima Dental Spa team has some exciting news. We already have locations in Lake Oswego and Portland, OR, but we’re proud to introduce another office location for Optima Dental Spa in Bellevue, WA! Here’s a little bit more about it:

Our New Optima Dental Spa Location

Come check out our new Optima Dental Spa office conveniently located at 10500 NE 8th St., #208, Bellevue, WA 98004, near the intersection of NE 8th Street and Bellevue Way NE. You can find us in The Bellevue Collection, which is just a quick Sky Bridge stroll from Bellevue Square. If you have any trouble at all finding our office, call us at 425-688-1345 so we can give you additional directions.

Bellevue Office Hours

Monday & Tuesday – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday – 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Thursday – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday – 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Meet Our Dentists in Bellevue

When you visit our Bellevue location, you’ll be seen by one of our friendly, hardworking dentists: Dr. Lynn Jones or Dr. Sarah McDonald. Both dentists are passionate about helping each patient achieve and maintain their very best smile.

Dr. Lynn Jones

Dr. Jones received her dental doctorate from the University of Washington School of Dentistry. She is internationally recognized for her excellence in cosmetic dentistry. In fact, her exceptional work helped the practice snag a spot on CBS Seattle’s Best Places for Teeth Whitening list, ThreeBest Rated Best Cosmetic Dentists in Bellevue list and on Seattle Met’s Best Dentist list for 10 years.

Dr. Sarah McDonald

Dr. McDonald also earned her dental degree from the University of Washington School of Dentistry and has received various awards for her research and patient care. She loves continually enhancing her dentistry skills and knowledge about a variety of dental topics, particularly Invisalign^®, dental implants, and IV sedation.

Our Dental Services

We’re proud to offer a comprehensive suite of dental services in order to meet the unique needs of our patients. For example, we not only provide preventive dentistry like routine check-ups and cleanings, we also provide cosmetic and restorative dentistry like Invisalign, veneers, and dental implants. Whatever your dental issue or goals may be, whether you’re looking to improve your gum health or would like to makeover or restore your smile, we’d love to help you every step of the way. Our Bellevue dental office also provides sedation dentistry!

Visit Our Dental Office in Bellevue!

At our Bellevue dental office, we will strive to help you have a positive dental experience from start-to-finish. And for those who are not native English speakers, we have team members that can communicate in Russian, Romanian, Korean, Spanish, and French during your appointment. So why wait to schedule your visit with us? Contact our practice by phone or email – we hope to see you very soon!

Porcelain vs. Zirconia Dental Crowns

September 30, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Gray-haired woman wears a burgundy blouse and smiles with dental crowns

A dental crown can be a great solution to a broken or damaged tooth. Alternatively, multiple crowns can be used to totally refresh a smile. If you are a candidate for a dental crown, or crowns, read on to learn about the options we offer here at Optima Dental Spa.

What Is a Crown?

A dental crown is essentially a cap that fits right over a natural tooth. Crowns are custom-made with durability, comfort, and aesthetics in mind. This restoration aids in fixing a variety of issues, such as hiding a cracked, worn-down, or discolored tooth; restoring strength and function to a damaged tooth compromised by decay and/or infection; topping a dental implant; or anchoring a dental bridge.

Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns consist of a special ceramic that is durable and stain-resistant. It can be layered to create a natural look that matches the shade, shine, and translucence of neighboring teeth. Although realistic-looking and strong, they are not invincible and can chip.

Zirconia Crowns

We also offer zirconia crowns. Zirconia, sometimes referred to as “ceramic steel,” is incredibly strong. In fact, solid zirconia crowns are the strongest available material for crowns. This is a safe, nontoxic option that provides a long-lasting new tooth. It is unlikely to crack or break and can withstand immense pressure, which is a requirement for functional back molars. Although zirconia’s appearance does not mimic that of natural teeth quite like porcelain, a layer of porcelain can be added to help this restoration blend more seamlessly with your smile.

Crowns in Lake Oswego & Portland

If you have a problem that requires a crown, set up a visit and we’ll have your smile restored to full beauty and function in nearly no time. If you’re not sure which crown material is best for you, we can provide a further breakdown of the pros and cons of porcelain and zirconia. So come on in for a consultation and we’ll help you understand which is right your needs. Contact us today!

What Is Holistic Dentistry?

September 25, 2019 by Optima Dental Spa

Balding dark-haired man smiles while wearing black glasses, a white shirt, and an open blue button up

The link between your dental health and your overall health and wellbeing is not to be ignored. Here at Optima Dental Spa, we emphasize that link with our practice of holistic dental care. New to the notion of holistic dentistry? Read on to learn all about it.

What Is Holistic Dental Care?

With our holistic approach to dental care, we look beyond just the care of your teeth by taking into account your overall health and recognizing connections between your wellbeing and your oral health. That means using non-toxic materials, emphasizing patient education and preventive care, promoting relaxation, and much more.

Mercury-Free Fillings

A key component of holistic dental care is in the materials we use. Traditional amalgam fillings actually contain mercury, an ingredient that can contribute negatively to your overall health. At our practice, we use only non-metal, composite fillings. Not only are they free of unhealthy elements, but composite fillings actually serve to strengthen your teeth. Additionally, we are happy to provide the service of safely removing and replacing amalgam fillings if you have them.

Porcelain Crowns

Similar to how we only use natural-looking and safe materials for fillings, we are also picky about the materials we choose for dental crowns. We opt to provide our patients with porcelain crowns. These restorations are not made with metal, and therefore safe to remain inside your mouth for long periods of time. Porcelain crowns are strong and durable, and they offer a realistic look that will blend in with the rest of your smile.

Holistic Dental Care in Lake Oswego & Portland, OR

Our Optima Dental Spa team will recommend a conservative treatment plan whenever possible. And you can trust we’ll be honest when we explain why certain procedures will benefit your oral and overall health. So let us know if you have any questions about our comprehensive dental services or would like to schedule an appointment. We have dental offices in Lake Oswego or Portland. Contact us today!