Michel Dental's Blog

How to Choose the Right Mouthwash for Your Needs

September 12, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, mouthwash, Topeka — tntadmin @ 7:00 am

When it comes to home care, brushing and flossing are what you hear about the most, while the topic of mouthwash rarely gets mentioned. As a result, you may think rinsing with mouthwash isn’t all that important. Or, just as possible, maybe you know it’s important but you just don’t know what kind is right for you.

Today, we’d like to address both of these positions and offer some advice on what to look for the next time you’re in the oral hygiene aisle of your local grocery story or pharmacy.

First, is using a mouthwash important?

The answer to that question will vary with every person, but broadly speaking, the answer is yes. An antibacterial mouthwash can give your smile extra protection from bacteria, plaque, and gingivitis. That doesn’t mean rinsing with a mouthwash should ever a substitute for brushing and flossing, but it does mean that patient who brush and floss daily can enjoy extra protection for their smile with a mouthwash.

Second, what kind is right for you?

As we just mentioned, an antibacterial mouthwash supports daily brushing and flossing. But not every mouthwash on the market was designed to meet the same need. Some are made only to hide bad breath, while others use fluoride to strengthen teeth. Still others are meant to combat dry mouth symptoms, sensitivity, or teeth stains. So the key to choosing the right mouthwash is knowing what your needs are and keeping your eyes wide open as you shop.

And don’t be afraid to ask Dr. Michel or another member of our Michel Dental team for a recommendation. We would be happy to help you find the right mouthwash. Call us today with your questions or to reserve an appointment with us. We serve patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.

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A New School Year Means It’s Time for a Back-to-School Checkup

August 29, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Emporia, general dentistry, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, Topeka — tntadmin @ 7:59 pm

In many parts of the country, school has already started or is just around the corner. That makes now a busy time for children and their parents, especially when it comes to buying new clothes for the fall or stocking up on school supplies. But as busy as this time is, if you’re a parent, now is still a great time for you to schedule a back-to-school checkup for your child with Michel Dental.

Why Is Now a Good Time for a Back-to-School Checkup?

Despite how busy life is now, the next few months are likely to get busier. With homework and school projects competing against extracurricular activities like sports or theater, finding a free moment to bring your child in to Michel Dental can be almost impossible.

But right now, with the school year just starting, time is not as scarce as it might soon be.

What Happens During a Back-to-School Checkup?

A back-to-school checkup at Michel Dental is just like any other regular checkup. Besides including a comprehensive oral exam, Dr. Michel and his Topeka team will also give your child’s smile a professional cleaning. And if we need to, we can recommend a follow-up service to treat things like cavities, gum disease, or any other common oral health condition.

Schedule Your Child’s Appointment Today

Don’t wait any longer to schedule your child’s back-to-school checkup. Call Michel Dental today. Dr. Michel proudly serves patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.

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Effective Relief from Sleep Apnea and Snoring

July 31, 2012

Filed under: Sleep Apnea — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, sleep apnea, snoring, Topeka — tntadmin @ 7:16 am

Does snoring or sleep apnea keep you or your partner from enjoying a restful night of sleep? At Michel Dental, we hate to see any of our patients struggle with such a common but underdiagnosed problem. So to help our patients in the Topeka area overcome snoring and sleep apnea, Dr. Michel offers treatment with the patented Oasys Sleep Snoring Device.

You may be wondering, though, why—not to mention how—the Oasys Sleep Snoring Device treats sleep apnea and snoring?

The reason is simple: sleep apnea and snoring often go hand-in-hand. There are always exceptions, of course, but many cases of sleep apnea are caused by the blockage of important airways, whether by the tongue or the lower jaw. The snoring sound we’re all so familiar with is a secondary result of this blockage, after trouble breathing.

A custom-made Oasys Sleep Snoring Device works by repositioning the lower jaw or tongue to keep airways open throughout the night, putting a stop to both the snoring and the breathing problems caused by sleep apnea.

Have you previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are in need of treatment? Does your partner complain about your loud snoring? Call Michel Dental today to find out how Dr. Michel and our team can help. We gladly serve patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan and beyond.

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Enjoy a Straighter, Whiter Smile with Porcelain Veneers

July 26, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Michael Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, porcelain veneers, Topeka — tntadmin @ 5:16 pm

If you’ve ever explored our website or visited our Topeka dental office then you may have heard of porcelain veneers. They’re currently one of the popular services of their kind, with patients everywhere turning to them for help enhancing their smiles. And while patients have all kinds of reasons for choosing them, we’d like to spend today’s post focusing on just two.

Reason #1

First, because of how porcelain veneers work, patients with crooked or oddly spaced teeth may want to consider porcelain veneers over braces. Imagine having a beautiful, straighter-looking smile in just two or three appointments instead of the year or more it can take to complete treatment with orthodontics. Porcelain veneers only affect front teeth, though, so before you decide for sure that porcelain veneers are what you want, we recommend letting Dr. Michel take a look at your smile. During a consultation appointment at our Topeka office, he can help you determine if porcelain veneers really are the best choice for you.

Reason #2

Patients who want a whiter smile but have been disappointed by the results of professional teeth whitening may also want to consider porcelain veneers. Even the most powerful whitening system available can have trouble cutting through certain stains, like the stains caused by a prescription medication. But with porcelain veneers, Dr. Michel can help his Topeka patients achieve a dazzlingly white smile, with no follow-up whitening appointments or touch-ups at home necessary.

Why Are You Considering Porcelain Veneers?

Do you have a different reason for considering porcelain veneers? If so, we’d love to hear about it. Call Michel Dental today to schedule your consultation appointment. Dr. Michel gladly serves patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and beyond.

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Treat Gum Disease with Advanced Periodontal Therapies Like Arestin

June 25, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry,Preventive Dentistry — Tags: Arestin, Dr. Michael Michel, Emporia, gum disease, gum disease therapy, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, periodontal therapy, Topeka — tntadmin @ 2:04 pm

At Michel Dental, we want all our Topeka-area patients to have beautiful, healthy smiles. But for some patients, achieving that goal is more difficult than it is for others. That’s why Dr. Michael Michel has made it a priority to offer advanced periodontal care. Through effective, non-surgical gum disease treatment, we can help you reclaim your oral health and support overall health.

Advanced, Non-Surgical Care to Meet Your Needs

To meet the needs of our patients, Dr. Michel uses three effective means of treating gum disease:

Scaling
Root planing
Arestin

Each of these lets us target an aspect of gum disease, resulting improved health for you. Arestin in particular is an effective tool in the fight against periodontal disease.

Arestin is a concentrated antibiotic that Dr. Michel places directly where you need it. It uses microscopic, medicine-filled spheres to deliver treatment over a series of days, making it more effective than just a basic in-office treatment with scaling and root planing.

Are you interested in learning more about periodontal therapy from Michel Dental? Dr. Michel would be happy to answer your questions during a consultation visit. Call us today if you’d like to set up an appointment. Our office serves patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.

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Create a Sensation Smile in Time for Summer

June 8, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Dr. Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Topeka cosmetic dentistry, Topeka teeth whitening — tntadmin @ 8:21 pm

Summer is a time for family vacations, family reunions, and other major events, like weddings and get-togethers with friends. Because events like these often involve lots of pictures, if you’re embarrassed of your teeth, you might be dreading this summer more than you have to. All of which is why Dr. Michael Michel offers teeth whitening at his Topeka dental office.

Dazzling Results with Two Convenient Options

To help patients from Topeka and beyond achieve the whiter smile they’ve dreamed of, Dr. Michel offers two convenient options for patients to take advantage of—in-office and take-home whitening. Both can yield dramatically brighter results, but if you’re looking for an immediately whiter smile, you may want to consider in-office teeth whitening. After about one hour, in-office teeth whitening can have your teeth looking close to 10 times whiter than they did when you came in. In some cases, patients may experience some sensitivity afterwards, but if you want fast results, in-office teeth whitening may be for you.

For patients who aren’t in a hurry, though, or have experienced sensitivity in the past, why not talk to us about our take-home whitening option. With take-home teeth whitening, you can use custom-made bleaching trays and professional bleaching gel to help you achieve your goal in in a matter of days.

Are You Ready To Turn Your Smile Around?

If you’re ready to transform your smile with professional teeth whitening, call Dr. Michel’s Topeka office today. Dr. Michel serves patients from Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.

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How Does Dr. Michel Diagnose TMJ Disorder?

May 15, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Emporia, joint vibration analysis, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, Topeka, Topeka tmd, Topeka tmj — tntadmin @ 7:30 pm

When you see your doctor for a diagnosis, one of the first things you want to know is how he or she is going to make that diagnosis. What kinds of tests will be needed? Will be they invasive or uncomfortable? And just as important, will they be trustworthy?

At Michel Dental in Topeka, Dr. Michael Michel uses joint vibration analysis to diagnose cases of TMJ disorder. Of all the way that TMJ disorder can be diagnosed, joint vibration analysis is one of the most comfortable and trustworthy, in addition to be non-invasive.

Here’s how joint vibration analysis works.

When you come to our Topeka office, Dr. Michel will slip something that looks like a pair of headphones over your head. They’re not headphones, of course—they’re actually sensors, and we’ll use them to measure how well your temporomadibular joints are functioning.

How?

By listening for friction between the bones and cartilage of your joints. As you open and close your mouth, these sensors will be listening for anything out of the ordinary that might indicate a problem. Once we’ve collected all the data we need, Dr. Michel can scrutinize it more closely and continue to screen you if necessary.

In all, joint vibration analysis takes only a few seconds to complete and has proven to be an effective means of screening and diagnosing patients. If you’re concerned that you might have a TMJ disorder, call Michel Dental today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michel. We serve patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.

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Which Kind of Toothpaste Should I Use?

May 4, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Dr. Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, toothpaste, Topeka, Topeka dentistry — tntadmin @ 5:29 pm

In the past, you didn’t have much to choose from if you were looking for toothpaste. But that’s not the case anymore. Now, each one seems to have a special purpose, whether it’s whitening, tartar control, or sensitivity. With so many options staring you in the face, you may not be sure which one to pick.

What’s a patient to do?

Well, the truth is that it may not matter all that much. What’s more important is how you brush, and that you’re brushing with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Why Is Fluoride So Important?

Because it attracts minerals that are important for building strong enamel, and that’s what you need to defend your smile from decay and cavities. Outside of that, what you need from your toothpaste will be different from what others need. If you have trouble with sensitive teeth, a toothpaste that treats sensitivity may be able to help. The same goes for patients who want a whiter smile. Whitening toothpastes aren’t guaranteed to deliver professional results, but they may give your smile just the boost you’ve been looking for.

But what’s more important than anything else is that you’re brushing regularly and with a fluoride toothpaste. It’s really as simple as that!

Still Have Questions?

If you still have questions about what kind of toothpaste is most right for you, Dr. Michel’s Topeka dental office would love to help. Call us today with your questions or to schedule an appointment with us. We serve patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and beyond.

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Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays—Conservative Options for a Healthier Smile

April 27, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Dr. Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dentistry, Topeka crowns, Topeka dentistry, Topeka inlays, Topeka onlays — tntadmin @ 7:15 am

We have mentioned that tooth-colored fillings are a great restorative and cosmetic solution for patients to take advantage of. But they aren’t the only cosmetic-restorative combination available at Dr. Michael Michel’s office. With tooth-colored crowns, inlays, and onlays, we can provide our Topeka-area patients with even more advanced care without compromising their smile’s natural appearance.

Tooth-Colored Crowns

Dr. Michel’s Topeka dental office uses all-porcelain crowns to help patients maintain a fully white smile while still delivering quality restorative care. Using our precise color-matching system, we can find just the right color of porcelain to blend with your natural tooth color. What’s more, porcelain crowns are durable and can provide long-lasting protecting to smiles with a cracked, broken, decay, or worn tooth.

Inlays and Onlays

If you’ve never heard of them before, inlays and onlays are what dentists use when a patient needs more than a filling but less than a crown. Like crowns, they’re created in a lab, and often from porcelain. Because they’re a conservative option, they let patients retain more of their own natural tooth structure, which benefits your smile in the long run. Dr. Michel will have to be the one to determine which material is most right for you, but in most cases we’re able to give patients a tooth-colored restoration.

Curious about crowns, inlay, onlays, or any of Dr. Michel’s other cosmetic and restorative options? We’d be happy to schedule a consultation visit with you. We’re committed to helping patients from Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas have strong, confident smiles that will last.

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Save Your Smile with Tooth-Colored Fillings from Michel Dental

April 20, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,General Dentistry — Tags: Dr. Michael Michel, Dr. Michel, Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, Michel Dental, tooth-colored fillings, Topeka cosmetic dentistry, Topeka tooth-colored fillings — tntadmin @ 7:15 am

If you’ve been told you need a filling, you may be worried about marring your smile with dark-colored amalgam fillings. At Michel Dental, we don’t want our patients to worry. That’s why we offer tooth-colored fillings. Also called composites, tooth-colored fillings are a cosmetic twist on restorative dentistry.

Why are tooth-colored fillings superior to their amalgam counterparts? For a couple of reasons.

First, because tooth-colored fillings are made of a combination of plastics, they can be shaded to exactly match your natural smile. That way, only you and Dr. Michel will ever have to know about your fillings.

Second, tooth-colored filling supports your remaining tooth structure. Amalgam fillings, by contrast, merely cover the tooth without supporting it. Amalgams are also temperature sensitive and can crack or change shape over time, possibly allowing for bacterial reinvasion later on.

Tooth-colored fillings, on the other hand, won’t change shape. Instead, they’ll provide long-lasting, conservative protection that helps you get the most out of your natural teeth and your natural smile.

Have you recently been told you need fillings and want to learn more about how tooth-colored fillings work? Michel Dental in Topeka would be happy to answer your questions. Give us a call today to set up an appointment. Dr. Michel and our entire time want to give you the strong, confident smile you deserve.

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