Dental X-Rays Contribute to a Healthier Smile

One of the best things about the world we live in is the fact that technology is always growing, advancing, and bettering itself. Advancing technology has really made an amazing impact on many fields and specialties, especially that of dentistry.  The team at New Smile Dental love offering the latest technology, such as dental x-rays, to their patients, as it coincides with having an easier, healthier, and more comfortable appointment.

Digital dental x-rays have given dentists and hygienists the opportunity to look far beyond the surface of your teeth, allowing for a more personalized and healthy treatment plan. Also, dental x-rays allow for doctors to detect diseases and other complications before they arise and/or become a serious problem. These issues include bone loss, tooth decay, abscesses, and much, much more.

Some people may be cautious about using dental x-rays because of the amount of radiation they fear they will be exposed to. Luckily, these dental x-rays give off as much radiation in a full serious of dental x-rays as nature does, so you will be safe, comfortable, and healthy throughout the entire appointment. Dental x-rays are usually taken every time a patient has a checkup and a cleaning, but because everyone is different, some patients may need dental x-rays more often than others. No matter how many times you need to have x-rays done, Dr. Gilbert Lopez and the team at New Smile Dental will make sure that your smile is even better than it was when you walked through our doors.

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

Refresh Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers

Minor chips, cracks, and misalignments in your smile can be a difficult thing to live with. Your teeth go through life’s hard knocks, and can become discolored and damaged. Many people consider a smile is a first impression, and if you do not feel confident about your smile, it can really have a negative effect on how you see yourself. Luckily, Dr. Gilbert Lopez is able to transform your smile with the help of porcelain veneers.

The process of porcelain veneers begins with a consultation with Dr. Lopez. There, he will be able to get a good look at your smile, and ask you about your long-term goals. Also, during the consultation, you will be able to express any questions or concerns you may have regarding the procedure. When it comes time to apply your porcelain veneers, Dr. Lopez will prepare your natural tooth by removing a small amount of enamel. Your custom-made veneers will be applied, and made permanent with dental resin cement. At the end, you are left with a beautiful, flawless smile!

One of the benefits of porcelain veneers is that they are stain resistant. You won’t have to worry about having that extra cup of coffee or glass of red wine, as your smile will always be dazzling. Also, with proper care and maintenance, your porcelain veneers can last up to ten years! If you have any questions on how Dr. Lopez can help with your journey to porcelain veneers, make an appointment and we’d be glad to help!

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

Save Your Smile with Root Canal Therapy

Regardless of what you may have heard, root canals get rid of your pain; they do not cause pain. An infected tooth not only causes an immense amount of pain, but can be more of an expensive investment down the road if nothing is done. At New Smile Dental, we want to make sure we take care of all of your dental needs, and Dr. Gilbert Lopez is able help you along that journey!

Having a root canal done not only helps in getting rid of your pain, but it also benefits your teeth. A root canal is performed when there is an infected or decayed tooth, and the decomposition has to be removed before it gets any worse. The doctor begins your root canal by accessing the infected tooth, and removing the pulp. When the tooth is infected, it also infects the pulp of the tooth, causing it to exacerbate. Once the pulp of the tooth is removed, Dr. Lopez will fill the tooth with a tooth-colored filling, and top it with a crown to prevent any further corruption. In the end, you’re left feeling refreshed and in better oral health!

When you leave your teeth infected, not only can your mouth get worse, but it can affect you in other areas of your body. By delaying getting a root canal, the bacteria infecting your teeth can enter your blood stream, possibly causing destruction to the rest of your body. It’s better to take care of your oral issues sooner rather than later or it may get worse! If you’re wondering how Dr. Lopez can help you by performing a root canal, contact our office and make an appointment!

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

Brushing and Flossing 101

Have you ever heard of the saying “It’s the little things that count”? Well, that can be applied to all areas of life, even your oral health! Though it may not seem like a big deal, simple things like brushing and flossing can really make a difference in your teeth. Dr. Gilbert Lopez is a strong believer in patient education, and he wants to make sure you have the proper knowledge to better care for your smile.

In regards to toothbrushes, small toothbrushes with small, rounded-out ends are best, as they can clean your entire mouth without damaging any tissue. A very important tip is to make sure that you change your toothbrush every three months, or after recovering from a sickness. This prevents bacteria from infesting your mouth and helps you have a cleaner smile. Tilt your toothbrush to a 45 degree angle, and use small, circular movements to gently brush along the gum line and the teeth.  To be especially thorough, brush the tongue and the backs of your teeth!

With flossing, this is a very secure way of removing stubborn bacteria, plaque, and tartar from where your toothbrush can’t reach. You want to form a U-shape around the tooth, but do not jerk the floss in and out of the gum line, as that can cause bleeding. Gently slide the floss between the teeth, and do it for every tooth.

If you have any more questions about how to properly brush and floss your teeth, make an appointment, and we’d be glad to help!

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

Brighten Your Day with Teeth Whitening!

There are many reasons why someone would not feel one hundred percent confident in their smile. For some, it may the spacing between their teeth; others, it may be length. For a lot of people, though it is the color of their teeth. Your smile loses its luminosity naturally over time, but there are things that people eat and drink that causes your smile to dull over time. Thankfully, Dr. Gilbert Lopez is able to help his patients restore the shine in their smile with teeth whitening!

Tobacco use, drinking coffee and tea, and even certain medications can all affect the brightness of your smile. If you have bought over the counter whitening solutions in the past and they did not work the way you wanted them too, you are not alone. The results from a professional teeth whitening is second to none, and we believe our patients deserve the best results possible.

We offer at-home whitening to our patients, which is one of the most convenient ways to whiten. The whitening process takes two appointments; the first is when we make molds of your teeth to create our custom-fitted whitening trays. The second appointment involves fitting the trays on your teeth. We supply you with the whitening gel, and you simply wear the trays twice a day for half an hour, or you have the option to wear them overnight while you are sleeping. Depending on how badly your teeth are discolored, you should see full results in as little as a couple of weeks!

If you have any questions on how Dr. Lopez can help rejuvenate your smile with teeth whitening, make an appointment, and we will be more than happy to help you!

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

Be Sure To Have Regular Dental Checkups

With certain things in life, there is maintenance involved. Plants need to be watered, cars need to have the oil changed, etcetera. The same goes for your teeth. At New Smile Dental, we stress the importance of taking care of your teeth, which is why routine checkups are so important. When you take care of your teeth, there is no doubt you are on the road to excellent dental health.

We recommend having a dental checkup every six months. During the checkup, Dr. Gilbert Lopez and our experienced team will be able to fully assess your smile, and look for potential problems. Routine checkups allow us to see if you have any early signs of cavities, gum disease, and other issues. We will be able to remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth, leaving your mouth clean and fresh.  Though brushing and flossing your teeth are excellent ways of maintaining a beautiful smile, we will be able to tackle the areas that a toothbrush can’t reach.

By doing X-rays, we will be able to see what is going on with your smile under the surface, checking to see if there are any issues that aren’t necessarily visible at first glance. If during your checkup we detect signs of gum disease, we may request you come in every three months so we can take care of the issue before it gets worse.

If you’re due for a dental checkup, make an appointment, and we will be glad to help you achieve excellent oral health!

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.

Composite Fillings with Dr. Lopez

If you are embarrassed by your silver amalgam fillings because they are too obvious, there is a wonderful solution! At New Smile Dental, Dr. Gilbert Lopez offers his patients composite fillings, a wonderful alternative to achieve a natural, seamless look to your dental work.

Unlike amalgam fillings, composite fillings are made of a material that matches the color of your teeth. They are used to repair decayed and fractured teeth, and are very durable, so you don’t have to worry about damaging them. If you get composite fillings, you may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold foods, which is very normal, and should subside over time. Composite fillings can last for several years, and after your appointment, we will be able to give you instructions on how to care for them.

The good thing about composite fillings is the fact they usually take a single session to apply. Dr. Lopez will numb your gums, and then remove whatever decay your teeth may have. After cleaning the area, Dr. Lopez will place the composite filling on your tooth, and shape it to look like your natural teeth. Simple yet very effective, there are many benefits to composite fillings that you really should experience for yourself! Make an appointment at our office, and we will be more than willing to assist you!

At New Smile Dental, we focus on enhancing and restoring the beauty of your smile with help from the latest dental technology. Dr. Gilbert Lopez treats patients from Fort Smith and Van Buren, AR and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.