General Dentistry

Sep29

Do Veneers Make Teeth Look Bigger?

General Dentistry Sedation Dentistry

Queen Creek cosmetic dental and tooth implants

A well-designed veneer does not make your tooth look larger – unless you want it to. A veneer can correct many cosmetic dental problems and is a minimally invasive restoration. During the placement of some porcelain veneers, an extremely thin layer of enamel is removed from the tooth.

If you have teeth with damage, discoloration, an irregular shape or minimal to moderate misalignment, you have several dental remedies to choose from. Don’t worry if you feel that veneers seem to have more cons than pros for you. You have alternative options. We can analyze your smile, your needs, and your goals to develop a perfect plan.

Harris Dental offers the highest standard of dental care and the full spectrum of vital services including:

sedation dentistry
CEREC same-day crowns
dental implants
cosmetic dentistry
Invisalign clear braces

Harris Dental has been improving smiles since 1979. We’ve scheduled Scottsdale patients for CEREC same-day crowns. We’ve served patients from Mesa with cosmetic dentistry. We’ve performed popular procedures like general dentistry for our patients in Queen Creek. And we can advise you on any restorative, preventative, or cosmetic procedure in which you are interested.

Ask us about invisible braces, the cost of a dental bridge, or how long it takes to whiten your teeth.

With our busy schedules, we don’t want a long wait to see the dentist. Dr. Harris’s team schedules carefully so we can keep your consultation convenient, pleasant, informative, and thorough. Our staff is patient-oriented and equipped to do it right.

Call our office to schedule a consultation: 480-428-0040

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Sep8

It’s A Great Time To Have Ugly Teeth!

Cosmetic Dentistry Dental health General Dentistry

Mesa cosmetic smile makeover

Huh? Yep, it’s true. It’s a great time to have ugly teeth because cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry provides several procedures to turn ugly to unbelievably beautiful.

Teeth whitening can benefit almost every adult. Years of staining can be magically erased in a day at your dentist’s office or over a few months with a cost-effective at-home kit. This popular treatment gives you a lot of bang for your cosmetic dental buck.

If your teeth are slightly crooked or have small chips or cracks, minimally invasive porcelain veneers could be the answer. A veneer is a translucent, wafer-thin cover that is permanently attached to the front of a tooth. Many people get veneers on the upper front teeth for a fabulous smile renewal. Call Harris Dental at 480-428-0040 to learn more about wonderful veneers.

Have your gums receded and thereby exposed the metal base of an old dental crown? Soft tissue grafts and/or crown replacement can correct this common issue. Call Harris Dental at 480-428-0040 to schedule a gum-contouring consultation.

A missing tooth detracts from your smile, even if your other teeth look great. Many people have benefited from dental implants. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. The post integrates with the bone to provide a stable foundation for the natural-looking crown. Dental implants can also anchor full or partial dentures and significantly improve life for denture wearers.

If your teeth have severe alignment problems, we encourage you to think about braces. Dental patients of all ages are undergoing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth and transform their smile. The newest braces are faster, less noticeable, and more comfortable than ever before.

Other cosmetic dental procedures available at Harris Dental in Phoenix are inlays/onlays, dental crowns, and white fillings. If you have an ugly smile, our team of distinctive dental professionals is enthusiastic about making it dazzling. Call 480-428-0040 today!

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Aug25

The Link Between Gum Disease and Viral Infections

Dental health General Dentistry Gum disease

gum disease and COVID-19 risks Phoenix

The pandemic has increased public awareness of the danger of viruses and the importance of a well-functioning immune system.

Our Immune System Protects Against Serious Illness

The variation in the seriousness of COVID-19 illness is due, in part, to the strength of natural biological defenses.

Of course, you may be wondering why we’re reviewing this in a dental blog. Does it have anything to do with a healthy smile?

Actually, it does. Scientists have found a link between oral bacteria and viral infections.

Gum Disease is Caused by Bacteria

The oral bacteria in question is Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis for short). The “gingivalis” in its name gives you a clue to what type of bacteria it is. As you may have imagined, P. gingivalis is the bacteria that causes gingivitis and the more advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis.

Your Mouth Produces Natural Viral Protection

Interferon lambdas are a family of proteins generated by cells in the mouth. These proteins protect us from all varieties of bacterial and viral infections in addition to the coronavirus. The danger of P. gingivalis is that it makes Interferon lambdas less effective at protecting us.

This is how one of the researchers explained it:

“Our studies identified certain pathogenic bacterial species, P. gingivalis, which cause periodontal disease, can completely suppress interferon production and severely enhance susceptibility to viral infection. These resident oral plaque bacteria play a key role in regulating antiviral responses.” Juhi Bagaitkar, assistant professor, University of Louisville Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Disease. 

Oral Health and Physical Health Go Hand in Hand

As if you needed one more reason to prevent gum disease! Not only does gum disease put you tooth loss, it makes you more susceptible to the risks of viruses. To recap: if you prevent gum disease, you protect your mouth from P. gingivalis. This lets you benefit from Interferon lambdas and the virus protection they provide.

Let’s explore basic oral hygiene behaviors that can prevent periodontitis and keep your smile healthy:

  • Brush at least twice daily using the correct brushing techniques
  • Use a fluoride toothpaste
  • Floss daily using the correct flossing technique
  • Get a professional dental cleaning twice a year
  • Schedule twice-yearly dental exams
  • Take care of dental issues in their early stages so they don’t progress

Has it been a while since you’ve had a dental exam and cleaning? Call today to schedule a visit. We are located in Phoenix and serve the Phoenix area. Our friendly team of dental professionals is here for you and your family.

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

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Aug18

How Do You Measure Success?

Dental health General Dentistry Gum disease

Affordable Phoenix Tooth Bleaching At Harris Dental, we are committed to success. Dr. Harris’s experience, ability, and commitment to dental excellence result in outstanding outcomes daily for our dentistry patients. Each team member at Harris Dental shares Dr. Harris’s passion for success.

For many Phoenix dental patients, success is a routine check-up that reveals healthy teeth and no cavities. For our cosmetic dental patients, success is a stunning smile transformation using veneers, teeth whitening, and white fillings.

We also enjoy providing tooth-straightening for youth and adults. Though these transformations generally take longer than smile transformations, the results are no less incredible. In fact, our orthodontia patients probably appreciate their straight teeth and beautiful smile more than any of our other patients.

Success sometimes means removing tetracycline stains for a teeth-bleaching patient who has been hiding his/her smile for years. Sometimes, success is as simple as helping a nervous patient feel serene during their visit to our Phoenix family dental office.

What do you desire for your smile? At Harris Dental, our success depends on your complete smile satisfaction.

To meet our helpful team and discuss your smile specifics, call Harris Dental at 480-428-0040 .

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

Read More
Aug11

3 Vital Reasons to Floss Regularly

Dental health General Dentistry

reasons to floss your teeth

Are you an avid flosser? Many of us occasionally skip this necessary habit. Studies show that around 68% of people report flossing at least once a week while 20% say they really never floss. Skipping the daily flossing routine can have devastating consequences on your overall dental health and result in costly dental work in the future. Find out more about 3 major ways flossing helps protect us from gingivitis, cavities and enhances our social lives. 

1. Helps Fight Cavities

Every time we eat, small remnants of food are left behind. It’s common for these tiny bits of food to accumulate in between our teeth without us always being aware. When we floss, it gets rid of all these bits of food and helps reduce the amount of plaque buildup on our teeth.

If we’re not flossing routinely, more and more plaque will form and put us at risk of developing cavities. When plaque begins to cover our teeth, the enamel is slowly worn down and can result in a tiny hole which we call a cavity. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends flossing at least once per day to prevent this growth of plaque.

2. Prevents Gum Disease

Gum disease is a major dental issue and can leave you with fewer teeth if not properly taken care of in a timely manner. There are four stages to gum disease and first signs usually show up as blood in your gums after flossing or brushing. Anytime we’re flossing and notice this, we can take it as a sign we’re not flossing well enough. The bleeding in our gums creates an accumulation of plaque and tartar along the gumline.

Flossing is a great way to eliminate this plaque from our teeth. With a piece of floss, we can reach areas a toothbrush can’t reach. If we avoid flossing for long bouts, more and more tartar can accumulate and become harder to get rid of, so our gums bleed. Plaque and tartar allow certain bacteria to build up and seep in between our gums, damaging our teeth in the process.

3. Freshens Your Breath

Have you ever wondered why your breath is stale at times? This could be due to a lack of flossing, even if you brush routinely. When you brush your teeth, you eliminate small amounts of saliva, food, and a variety of fluids from your teeth. If you don’t brush frequently, everything sticks to your teeth and results in foul-smelling breath. The same thing can happen when we start reducing the amount of time we spend flossing. Since the food is collecting at a slower rate, we may not notice our breath turning sour. Eventually, this will lead to covering our mouths during conversation.

Conclusion

Even if flossing is the most hard part of your oral health regimen, refusing to floss is not worth the risk. Removing the bacteria in between your teeth regularly is crucial to your dental health and will keep your breath smelling fresh.

Flossing and brushing are the best preventative measures to avoid gum disease. Remember to have twice-yearly professional dental cleanings as well. If you’re not currently flossing, it’s best to start sooner rather than later. Unexpected cavities can be expensive to treat and damaging to your health.

Contact Harris Dental:

480-428-0040

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4444 N 32 St Ste 208
Phoenix, Arizona
85018

Read More