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August 27, 2022

Negative Effects of Nighttime Teeth Grinding

In addition to keeping your partner awake at night, nighttime teeth grinding and clenching (also known as bruxism) can poorly impact your oral health. At Serenity Dental Studio, we can help alleviate the negative effects of nighttime teeth grinding!

What Causes Nighttime Teeth Grinding?

Nighttime teeth grinding can be hard to diagnose on your own, as you may be doing it without realizing it. There are many factors that can cause you to grind your teeth. For some patients, teeth grinding is a reflection of stress and tension experienced during the day. For others, teeth grinding is a sign of alignment issues. Certain medical conditions or medications can also contribute to teeth grinding.

Negative Effects of Nighttime Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding can cause a variety of issues, such as: pain and stiffness in the jaw joints, face, and surrounding areas; earaches; tension headaches; degeneration and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints; and difficulty talking, chewing, and swallowing. Grinding puts teeth under abnormal pressure, which can lead to receding gums, cracks, chips, and thin enamel that increases your risk of sensitivity and infection.

How Do We Treat Nighttime Teeth Grinding?

One way we treat teeth grinding is by creating a custom nightguard. This becomes a shield between your top and bottom teeth. A nightguard can alleviate many of the symptoms associated with teeth grinding and protects teeth from shifting, wearing down, or breaking. It can also help you get better quality sleep, which will improve your mood, energy level, brain function, and overall quality of life.

If you think a nightguard might help you, the first step is scheduling a consultation with our team. We’ll discuss your oral health and look for signs of nighttime grinding. Then, we’ll design your customized nightguard. Please contact us today to schedule your consultation at Serenity Dental Studio!

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Teeth grinding image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0

July 26, 2022

What Vitamins Are Good for Your Teeth?

Brushing, flossing, and routine visits to the dentist are essential for healthy teeth and gums. A nutritious, vitamin-rich diet is also important! Vitamins are organic compounds that keep our bodies strong and healthy. The following vitamins are especially good for your oral health:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for healthy gums. Gum disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults. The bacteria associated with the infection can cause damage to your body’s blood vessels. Vitamin C helps repair these blood vessels, as well as form new ones. Vitamin C is found in foods like oranges, kiwi, tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and berries. Bear in mind that some foods with vitamin C are also acidic. The presence of acid increases your risk of enamel erosion. It’s best to consume a wide variety of whole foods that contain vitamin C, instead of juice or only citrus, and rinse with water during your meal.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps with tooth mineralization and reduces your risk for cavities. It also helps your body absorb calcium, a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth. You can obtain vitamin D from salmon, sardines, cheese, egg yolks, fortified breakfast cereals, and fortified milk.

Vitamin A

While vitamin A is well-known for its benefits to eye health, it’s also healthful for your smile. Vitamin A encourages your mouth to produce saliva, which helps rinse food debris and plaque from your teeth. Orange foods like carrots, orange bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and salmon contain lots of vitamin A.

Vitamin K

Like vitamin D, vitamin K helps the body use calcium to build strong teeth. It also keeps your immune system strong so the proper amount of K can help you heal faster if you have gum disease. Get vitamin K by eating green vegetables like kale, spinach, parsley, and broccoli.

Maintain a Healthy Smile at Serenity Dental Studio in Frisco, TX!

A healthy diet will contribute to good overall health, as well as strong teeth and gums. If you’re experiencing dental problems or other health issues, a vitamin deficiency could be a contributing factor. A healthcare professional can help you identify what vitamins you may need more of.
At our office, Dr. Kengskool and our team are proud to offer dental services like preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment at Serenity Dental Studio, please reach out today!

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June 26, 2022

Can Dental Issues Cause Headaches?

Do you find yourself getting frequent headaches? Headaches can be associated with certain dental issues. For example:

Dental Injuries

Any dental injury that damages a tooth can potentially cause chronic headaches. For example, if your tooth is broken and the nerve is exposed, it can irritate the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V). This nerve is connected to special sensors throughout your face, including your teeth. Abnormal activation of this nerve is associated with migraines and headaches. Other common dental injuries that can lead to headaches are cracked teeth, broken tooth restorations, and chipped teeth.

Tooth Infections

If a tooth becomes infected, the infection can cause a buildup of pus, bacteria, and debris that results in severe nerve pain and discomfort. Infected teeth can result in headaches, nausea, and vomiting. The infection can also spread to other teeth, jaw, and your bloodstream, increasing your risk of tooth loss and sepsis.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The temporomandibular joints are the joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull and give the jaw its mobility. TMJ dysfunction, or TMD, is when these joints are damaged or malfunctioning. This is sometimes associated with chronic teeth grinding and clenching. These conditions are linked to headaches from the tension and stiffness in the jaw.

Schedule Your Dental Consultation!

Are you suffering from regular headaches? Headaches can be extremely uncomfortable to manage and can also negatively impact your memory, mood, relationships, productivity, ability to concentrate, and enjoyment of daily activities. The sooner you identify the source of your headaches, the sooner you can get the relief you deserve.

At Serenity Dental Studio in Frisco, our experienced team is committed to helping patients achieve superb oral health, which will thus contribute to a healthier body. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

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May 30, 2022

What to Do If Your Dental Implants Are Damaged

Dental implant images from Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Dental implants are a popular tooth replacement that restore your smile’s appearance and function. While the process is more complicated than other restorations, implants are permanent and protect against bone loss!

Dental Implants in Frisco, TX

Our team works with local oral surgeons and periodontists who are responsible for the implant surgery. Once we’ve confirmed your eligibility, you can have a titanium post placed in your jawbone. Over 3-6 months, the area heals and the implant fuses to your bone. It serves as a replacement tooth root.

Once the implant is fused with your jawbone, we use an impression cap to create a mold for your permanent implant crown. When the crown is finished, we can attach it to complete your tooth replacement!

Thanks to modern technology and techniques, implants are a highly successful tooth replacement solution with good oral health habits. To protect your implants: brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time; floss every day; consume a balanced diet; avoid tobacco products; do not open packaging with your teeth; and visit us for regular cleanings and exams.

Can a Dental Implant Be Damaged?

Any part of a dental implant can become damaged. If too much pressure is put on the post before it’s fully bonded to your jaw, it can break. If this happens, the post will need to be replaced. Gum disease and infection can also cause an implant to fail due to a lack of support. However, it’s more common for the accompanying crown to wear down or break from wear and wear.

If you’re experiencing trouble with your dental implant or have any concerns, contact Serenity Dental Studio right away. We can diagnose the problem and create a treatment plan to restore your smile. Please contact us today!

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April 30, 2022

How To Keep Your Teeth Bright After Professional Whitening

Serenity Dental Studio offers two kinds of professional whitening: at-home custom bleaching trays and in-office whitening. With both, you can expect results much better than anything you’d buy over-the-counter. Teeth whitening isn’t permanent, however, so how do you keep your teeth bright as long as possible? Here are some tips:

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

To reduce staining, maintain good brushing and flossing habits. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Remember to brush your tongue! Floss once a day. And keep up with regular professional cleanings twice a year.

Don’t Smoke or Use Tobacco

The pores in your teeth absorb the tar and nicotine from tobacco. Nicotine by itself doesn’t have a color, but when combined with oxygen, it gives your teeth a yellow shade. Avoid all tobacco use for both the health and appearance of your teeth.

Limit Dark-Pigmented Beverages

Dark-colored beverages like coffee, wine, hot chocolate, and black tea can stain your teeth. If you do drink them, rinse thoroughly with water right after. You can also drink with a straw to reduce a beverage’s contact with your front teeth.

Limit Acidic Foods & Drinks

When you eat acidic food, your tooth enamel softens. This makes your teeth more porous and more likely to stain. Certain acidic foods, like whole citrus, contain healthful nutrients so shouldn’t be eliminated from your diet. However, be sure to rinse your mouth with water when enjoying citrus and avoid acidic fruit juice whenever possible.

Professional Teeth Whitening in Frisco, TX

How long the effects of your professional teeth whitening last will depend on many factors. To maximize the longevity of your brighter smile, you should: take good care of your teeth, avoid tobacco, and watch what you eat and drink. If you’re interested in professional whitening or any of our other services with Dr. Kengskool, please contact us today!

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March 31, 2022

Maximizing Your Dental Benefits in 2022

If you have dental insurance, you don’t want to miss out on the benefits you should take advantage of in 2022. With dental insurance, many people have partial or even full coverage for their dental care. Here are our tips on how you can maximize your dental benefits this year.

Visit the Dentist Every 6 Months

Majority of dental insurance plans cover a portion of your preventive treatments at the very least. These treatments include routine cleanings and examinations, which are essential to maintaining good oral health. There’s no reason not to schedule your semiannual examinations to protect your health, especially if you receive coverage.

Time Extensive Treatments to Maximize Your Coverage

If you are in need of a restorative treatment, chances are you’ll make repeat visits to your dentist’s office. Coverage for restorative treatments can vary depending on your insurance plan. If you do have coverage, in certain cases it can be a good idea to start treatment in 2022 and resume in 2023 when your benefits renew so you can get maximum coverage.

Consult with Our Team About Your Options

Another way to maximize your dental benefits is simply to ask your dentist what you have covered. You might have orthodontic or even cosmetic treatment coverage depending on your insurance plan, so why not take advantage of them? At Serenity Dental Studio, our team is happy to work with your provider to understand your benefits coverage so you can make the very most of them.

Affordable Dental Care in Frisco, TX

We love helping patients of all walks of life at Serenity Dental Studio. While we accept most major insurance plans, we also have options for those who don’t have dental insurance, including our in-house membership plan and payment plans to help make your treatments affordable. Learn more about our office on our FAQ page.

Whether you need to schedule an exam or are interested in our restorative or cosmetic treatments, contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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Insurance image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0

February 28, 2022

Your Smile Makeover Options for 2022

Are you ready to achieve your dream smile in 2022? There are a wide variety of cosmetic dental treatments that can turn back the clock on your smile and give you a more youthful-looking appearance! From tooth replacement to teeth whitening, there is a treatment for all of your esthetic dental concerns.

Brighten Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening

Take your smile from dull to dazzling with professional teeth whitening! Teeth whitening treatments are one of the fastest ways to enhance your smile and boost your self-confidence. Whitening treatments can be done at home with whitening trays or at your dentist’s office depending on your preference and availability.

Replace Missing Teeth with Dentures

You shouldn’t have to miss out on living your best life because you’re missing teeth! You deserve a complete, attractive, fully-functioning smile. Dentures are a great tooth replacement solution to fill in the gaps in your smile. They are designed to look just like natural teeth and gums so that most people won’t notice your teeth aren’t real!

Create a More Uniform Smile with Dental Veneers

Veneers are an extremely versatile cosmetic option. They are thin, porcelain shells that are attached to the front side of teeth. Veneers can alter the shape, color, length, and overall appearance of your teeth to help you reach your smile goals.

Straighten Your Teeth with Invisalign® Clear Aligner Therapy

Putting off braces? We get it! Luckily, you don’t have to spend years in metal braces to achieve a straighter smile. Now, you can straighten your teeth with comfortable Invisalign® clear aligners. They are worn 20-22 hours a day and switched out every one to two weeks for your next custom set in your personalized treatment plan. With clear aligner therapy, your teeth and aligners are simple to clean. And the smooth plastic is easy on your cheeks and lips.

Ready to Schedule Your Smile Makeover?

If you are unhappy with your smile, don’t settle! At Serenity Dental Studio, we are passionate about helping each o our patients achieve a smile they love. Please contact our office to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation.

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January 31, 2022

Dental Tips to Keep Your Smile Healthy

Want to know more about keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy? We’re so glad you asked! While every patient is different, here are some simple yet very effective tips for keeping your smile healthy.

1. Brush & Floss Regularly

Establishing a thorough and consistent at-home oral care routine is one of the best ways to keep your smile healthy and clean. Switching out your soft-bristled toothbrush every couple of months and using a fluoridated toothpaste can help keep harmful bacteria at bay. Flossing is an important dental habit that many patients don’t do regularly enough, but it’s very helpful for cleaning in between teeth and preventing cavities and gum disease.

2. Drink Water

Drinking lots of water offers many great benefits for the body, but did you know that staying hydrated can help your smile too? Drinking water while eating or after eating sugary or starchy foods is especially effective, as it helps to rinse food debris from the mouth and reduce plaque. Keeping the mouth from drying out can also reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria that are present.

3. Eat Tooth-Friendly Snacks

Foods like apples, carrots, celery, and nuts are not only healthy snack options, they’re beneficial for your teeth too! Chewing these foods helps to scrub the teeth and keep them clean while eating (although they’re not a replacement for daily brushing, of course!). If you’re looking for another delicious snack, cheese is a tooth-friendly option that is full of calcium. Calcium is a mineral that keeps your teeth strong.

4. Schedule Regular Preventive Care

During routine exams, our team can diagnose and treat dental issues early before they become more serious. Professional teeth cleanings allow our hygienists to remove plaque from hard-to-brush areas, like around the gumline and in between teeth. In addition to biannual checkups and cleanings, preventive treatments like fluoride treatments and dental sealants can reduce your risk of tooth decay. We also offer mouthguards for sports and nightguards if you grind your teeth.

Has it been more than six months since you last visited the dentist? Contact us today to schedule your appointment at Serenity Dental Studio!

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December 30, 2021

Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign Clear Aligners

Are you dreaming of a straighter smile but you don’t want to get clunky metal braces? Invisalign clear aligner therapy is designed to help improve the look and function of your smile in a subtle, effective way. We’re proud to offer Invisalign clear aligner therapy as an orthodontic option for our patients at Serenity Dental Studio!

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign uses clear, removable aligner trays that incrementally shift your teeth into proper alignment over time. After your initial consultation, we will create computer-generated aligners to help you achieve your unique smile goals. Every two weeks, you will receive a new set of aligners and check in with our team to ensure that your teeth are shifting as desired and on schedule.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign aligners slip discreetly over your teeth. You should wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours a day, removing them only to eat and brush and floss your teeth. To keep them clean, you should brush your aligners every day with a soft toothbrush and dish soap, and regularly soak them in a denture cleaner, Invisalign crystals, or retainer cleaner. Due to the amount of upkeep and possibility of losing or damaging the aligners, we recommend Invisalign for responsible older teen and adult patients.

What Can Invisalign Correct?

Invisalign is great for fixing mild to moderate issues with alignment, spacing, and crowding. For more advanced orthodontic issues, it might be best to opt for traditional metal braces.

How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?

How long your treatment lasts depends on your individual situation and how closely you follow your care plan, but Invisalign treatments typically last between 6 and 24 months.

Is Invisalign Expensive?

Invisalign is an affordable treatment — and at Serenity Dental Studio, we make every effort to make your treatment even accessible with our in-house membership club and custom payment plans. We’ll work with you to figure out how best to make your treatment fit within your budget.

Affordable Invisalign Treatment in Frisco, TX

If you’re looking for a discreet and affordable way to straighten your smile, consider Invisalign clear aligner therapy! Dr. Kengskool is Invisalign certified and would love to care for your smile. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.

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November 30, 2021

The Best Foods to Eat Post Oral Surgery

After oral surgery, our team will give you specific care instructions to follow at home. For example, we will recommend you eat soft foods. Hard and crunchy foods can irritate your surgery site. Soft foods will be easy to eat as you recover.

The following foods are safe and comfortable to eat post oral surgery. It’s likely that you already have some of these foods in your home!

  1. Protein Shakes & Smoothies

    2. Protein shakes and smoothies are easy to eat, filling, and nutrient-dense. Getting adequate nutrition will be critical as you recover. Just remember to not drink your beverages with a straw. The sucking of a straw can dislodge the blood clot that is supposed to form at your surgery site. If it gets dislodged, you will experience a painful dry socket.

  2. Mashed Potatoes

    3. Creamy mashed potatoes is a food that doesn’t require much chewing. Potatoes contain many healthful minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body heal after surgery, injury, and infection.

  3. Scrambled Eggs

    4. Scrambled eggs are another nutritional and easy food choice post oral surgery. They contain protein, which is the building block of all your body cells, as well as many disease-fighting nutrients.

We also recommend eating applesauce with no sugar added (just sprinkle with some cinnamon for extra flavor), low-sugar yogurt, steamed broccoli, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and bananas.

Tooth Extraction & Root Canals at Serenity Dental Studio

If you’ve been told you need oral surgery, like a tooth extraction or root canal therapy, visit us here at Serenity Dental Studio! We can thoroughly answer any questions you may have so you can make an informed decision about your oral healthcare. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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