Do you find yourself constantly smirking in photos because you don’t want to show your teeth? Are you not 100% happy with what you see in the mirror? You might be a good candidate for a Smile Makeover. What is a Smile Makeover? A Smile Makeover is a dental procedure that works to give you a healthier and more attractive smile. Say goodbye to all of your dental insecurities.

What’s so important about a smile?

Naturally, every human feels a sensation of positivity when they see others around them smile. Smiles make us feel comfortable. Smiling can also boost our own health. Studies show that simply smiling can boost moods, lower stress, and possibly prolong your life. Therefore, smiles are good for everyone!

What exactly do Smile Makeovers fix?

Smile Makeovers fix aesthetic issues and function issues. For instance, if your teeth are dull, chipped, worn, oddly shaped, or cracked, a smile makeover can fix that. Those are all aesthetic issues that can cause low confidence. You shouldn’t let your insecurities get the best of you though, especially when there are ways to fight back. If you are experiencing pain, tooth loss, decay, or infection, a smile makeover can fix that too. There is no reason anyone shouldn’t be able to go about daily tasks without any pain or issues. That’s where a smile makeover can come to the rescue.

Gain back your confidence.

Having problems with your teeth is the worst, especially if you are feeling discomfort. It’s time to stop overthinking pictures. The days of low self-confidence are over. It is now your time to take control and become confident again.

Get Connected!

Get social with us! Follow us on social media @PhillyDentistry on Instagram, @PhiladelphiaDentistry on Facebook, and @DrKenCirkaDMD on Twitter!

When people think about their health it is normal to categorize it. We categorize our mental health with our feelings, our oral health with our mouth, our physical health with our body, etc. However, it is important to remember that all of these categories make up our overall health. They all work together to keep us healthy. Specifically, let’s dive into the correlation between our oral health and mental health.

The Facts

Studies show that two-thirds of toothache reports came from people who were suffering from a mental health issue. Research also shows that 50% of people who suffered from depression, classified their teeth as average or poor. A review of many studies found a strong correlation between gum disease and mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and stress.

Behavioral Changes

So, with those facts, you might ask why there is this scientific link. The link comes from the behavioral effects of mental illnesses. Anxiety, depression, and stress can cause people to subconsciously change their behavior. For example, a person with depression usually loses interest in activities, which ultimately causes impairment in daily life tasks. More specifically, a person with depression can be inconsistent with brushing their teeth, maintaining a good diet, and visiting the dentist. Another example can be made with anxiety. People who suffer from anxiety are more likely to grind their teeth.

Biological Effects

In addition to possible behavioral effects, mental illnesses can affect our oral health due to biological reasons. There is a hormone called ‘cortisol’ that impacts our body when we feel a lot of stress. When the hormone levels increase, the immune system gets weaker. When this happens, it can result in vulnerability to gum disease. Another biological effect can occur due to medications. Often people with mental illnesses are prescribed medications to cope with their illness. These medications can cause a dry mouth. This dry mouth can mean that plaque, bacteria, and debris aren’t getting rinsed properly. This ultimately means there is more opportunity for cavities to form.

Fight Back

Thankfully, when mental illnesses affect our oral health, there are things to do that can help. Finding a good dental practice that considers your overall health is the first step. At Philadelphia Dentistry, we value the health and safety of all of our patients. Patient care is our number one priority. Therefore, booking an appointment with us will ensure your mental health is not affecting your oral health.

Let’s Get Social

To stay connected with us, follow us on social media @PhillyDentistry on Instagram, @PhiladelphiaDentistry on Facebook, and @DrKenCirkaDMD on Twitter!

Philly Dentistry Sets the Record Straight

“My teeth don’t hurt, so I don’t need to go to the dentist.” “I brush my teeth fast and hard so the plaque is removed faster and better.” “My teeth are fairly white so they’re fine.” “Gum disease only affects my mouth.” These are all common dental myths that people often fall victim to believing. As a result, patients suffer the consequences due to a lack of information. In an effort to educate, let’s dive into some myths.

“My teeth don’t hurt, so I don’t need to go to the dentist.”

Maintaining good oral health is linked to a person’s overall health. However, many people think that they can go years without visiting their dentist. There are many reasons why this could happen. People might have dentist fears, financial issues, think no pain means that they’re OK, etc. Whatever the reason, it is important for people to visit the dentist twice a year. During these visits, we will have the opportunity to examine your teeth. When examining, we see cavities, damaged teeth, discolorations, etc. It’s important to have these opportunities so that we can replace existing dental work through cosmetic and/or restorative dentistry. Visiting twice a year will ensure a happier and healthier life.

“I brush my teeth fast and hard so the plaque is removed faster and better.”

Brushing your teeth harder or faster is not considered a good thing. The notion of “brushing your teeth” is often thought of as “scrubbing your teeth.” Scrubbing is not the correct word, as scrubbing can be too harsh on our teeth and gums. It is important to be gentle with our smiles. We should be brushing our teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Check out this video of our hygienist, Rachel, properly explaining how to brush your teeth.

“My teeth are fairly white so they’re fine.”

Just like the rainbow, there are a plethora of shades for each color. Teeth come in a wide range of white shades because each person has a different shade of white. However, no one wants to have dark or discolored teeth. If you look at your teeth in the mirror and aren’t 100% satisfied with the color, you would be a good candidate for a smile makeover. Smile makeovers fix your smile aesthetically by changing the color, shape, spaces, bite, etc. These changes are proven to boost the patient’s confidence, as a smile is usually the first thing others see. However, smile makeovers don’t limit themselves to aesthetics. Smile makeovers cover functional aspects such as gum disease, infection, decay, tooth loss, etc.

“Gum disease only affects my mouth.”

Gum disease, otherwise known as gingivitis, does affect your oral health. It can cause you to have bad breath, tooth loss, pain, and more. So much more, that it doesn’t stop at just affecting your oral health. Gum disease can affect the rest of your health as well. Gum disease may increase your risk for heart disease or strokes, diabetes, and premature birth. If you want to have a healthier smile and life, consider coming in for a free gum disease assessment.

Now that you have some myths debunked, let’s get connected to ensure your teeth are as healthy as they can be. To stay social with us, follow us on social media – @PhillyDentistry on Instagram, @PhiladelphiaDentistry on Facebook, and @DrKenCirkaDMD on Twitter!

What’s New at Philly Dentistry

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in our daily lives. Throughout the changes though, an important factor shines through – health and safety. The health and safety of our patients has always been our number one priority at Philadelphia Dentistry. We have implemented new procedures at our office to ensure the best environment. All in all, these slight changes align with our consistent priority of health and safety. That is something our patients are most definitely used to!

What to Expect: Before Your Appointment

When booking your appointment, you will be asked some quick health questions. These questions are asked to ensure no one who has been exposed to COVID-19 comes into our office. For example, “Have you tested positive for COIVD-19,” is one of our standard questions. You will be asked these same questions again once you arrive for your appointment. This will ensure nothing has changed with your health since the last time we spoke. We also ask that you limit the number of people you bring with you to your appointment. Ideally, our patients would come alone. Check out this video to watch our new building entry procedure, as we walk you through it step by step!

What to Expect: During Your Appointment

It is required that all patients wear masks to enter our building. When you arrive, you may be asked to wait outside until we are ready for you to come up. We do this to reduce the number of patients in our office and to reduce the amount of time you are close to other people. You will also have your temperature taken to ensure you are under the degree limit of 100.4° or higher. Expect to see your doctors and hygienists dressed in disposable gowns, double-masked, wearing face shields and scrub caps. Rest assured; a friendly face is always behind the mask. Pictured is Dr. Mimi Jeon dressed in her PPE gear.

What to Expect: After Your Appointment

After your appointment, our staff will clean the room. Cleanliness is another thing we hold to a high standard at Philadelphia Dentistry. We only want the best environment for our patients. We clean our rooms with disinfectants that are effective against the virus. We do this to prepare for the next patient, and frequently throughout the day. By keeping our office clean, we are reducing the risk of spreading the virus to others.

Maintaining good health involves visiting your dentist regularly. Therefore, don’t forget to book your next appointment with us on your way out. To stay connected with us, follow us on social media @PhillyDentistry on Instagram, @PhiladelphiaDentistry on Facebook, and @DrKenCirkaDMD on Twitter!