Dr. James C. DeFinnis's Dental Blog

Wilkes Barre Family Dentist Dr. James C. DeFinnis

When Veneers Are the Viable Solution

Porcelain veneers are very effective at covering imperfections in the teeth. That said, veneers aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution for damaged teeth. There are a number of situations that warrant their installation: Continue reading

August 6, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , | Leave a comment

For Your Teeth’s Sake: Food Items Worth Avoiding

It is often fun to eat some snack items at certain times of the day. However, doing so without caution and compunction can present a huge threat to your teeth’s integrity. Your preferred dentist can tip you on them and plan your eating accordingly. Continue reading

July 27, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , , | Leave a comment

Pain-Free Dentist Visits Are Possible With Some Help

Serious dental procedures can be painful. After all, there are a lot of nerves and pain receptors in your mouth. More often than not, painkillers aren’t enough to block out the pain.

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July 22, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , , | Leave a comment

Tips on Effectively Whitening Teeth with Braces

When you wear braces, your teeth become more prone to stains and discolorations. That’s because teeth are that much harder to get to, thanks to metal braces that get in the way of brushing and flossing. For this same reason, many people with traditional braces feel restricted when it comes to their options in cosmetic dentistry.

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July 20, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , , | Leave a comment

Cosmetic Dental Procedures—Reasons to Smile

2Cosmetic dentistry concentrates on restoring your beautiful smile. You may think that tooth loss is permanent and can’t be resolved, but there would be nothing to worry about if you visit a cosmetic dentist in Dallas, PA. You can have your missing teeth replaced and your other teeth cosmetically improved. There are several benefits to visiting your cosmetic dentist. Continue reading

June 14, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , | Leave a comment

The Advantages of Sedation Dentistry

2Going to the dentist can be a stressful event for both children and adults. In fact, many people end up with serious dental problems that are caused by a lack of routine maintenance. If you fear going to the dentist, you may want to consider sedation dentistry as a way to put you at ease during your visit. Continue reading

June 4, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , , | Leave a comment

Sedation Dentistry: Comfort in the Dentist’s Chair

2If you are one of the millions of people who get anxious about a visit to the dentist’s office, sedation dentistry may be the solution for them to finally be comfortable. It can be used with virtually any procedure, from serious treatments to simple cleanings. Essentially, dentists use medication to relax patients. That being said, there are many different sedation levels and methods that a number of dental practices offer. Continue reading

May 20, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , | Leave a comment

Beautiful Teeth are Key to a Beautiful Appearance

BMD_logoIf you’re looking to improve your appearance, your smile is a great place to start. Your smile is indicative of your personality; it says you are a great person and worth getting to know. Your smile is often the first thing someone notices about you. A beautiful smile can be a great start to success in business, relationships, and many other facets of life. Continue reading

May 17, 2015 Posted by | Back Mountain Dental, Children's Dental Care, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Cleaning, General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Sensitivity | , | Leave a comment

IV Sedation Dentistry: What Should You Expect?

IV sedation or Intravenous sedation is an increasingly popular method used by dentists to ease patients into a deep state of relaxation and unawareness. Like its name suggests, the process involves a sedative drug being injected into the vein through the use of an extremely fine needle and an indwelling catheter.

The needle will be inserted into a vein found in the arm or the back of a hand, and once the sedative takes effect, the dentist will proceed to numb the patient’s mouth with an anesthetic injection. Since the drugs administered for IV sedation are anti-anxiety drugs and not painkillers, local anesthesia is still necessary to dull the pain from the procedure. Continue reading

March 23, 2015 Posted by | General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Sedation Dentistry | , , | Leave a comment

Wisdom Teeth: Should They Stay or Should They Go?

While they might grow out of your gums during the so-called “Age of Wisdom” (which is between ages 17 and 25), wisdom teeth might not bring you the knowledge about life you deeply wished to have; on the contrary, they might bring you discomfort. Although not everyone develops this third set of teeth, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons says that nine out of ten people who do develop them would have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, meaning there’s no space for it to break through the gums.

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When a wisdom tooth gets impacted, the partial eruption it causes in your gums allows bacteria to enter your mouth, causing pain, jaw stiffness, swelling, or even a small bout of illness. Moreover, since the general area where your wisdom teeth grows is usually beyond the reach of your toothbrush or dental floss, these could easily cause decay and even gum disease.

Normally, your dentist would suggest having your wisdom teeth removed in order to avoid the further complications of an impacted tooth. Wisdom teeth extraction is recommended at a young age since the roots are not yet fully developed. As you age, however, extraction becomes more painful, yet not impossible when you opt for an IV sedation during the whole procedure. With this in place, you can lie back and relax knowing that you can have all the benefits of wisdom teeth removal with none of the pain.

February 9, 2015 Posted by | General Dentistry, Healthy Living, Oral Hygiene | , , | Leave a comment