What Are Your Smile Goals for 2014?
December 30, 2013
Even though 2014 isn’t here just yet, it’s never too soon to start thinking of goals for your smile. After all, people routinely set other kinds of goals at the start of a brand new year. Why not include your oral health?
Maybe your goal is a simply to see Dr. Brandon Kearbey or Dr. Malinda Kearbey on a more regular basis. Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are the foundation for good oral health. It will be easier for our Hillsboro dental team to keep your smile healthy when we can see you twice a year for regular checkups.
Another common goal patients have, besides coming in on a more regular basis, is transforming the way their teeth actually look. Drs. Brandon and Malinda Kearbey can create dazzling results using teeth whitening and porcelain veneers, two very effective cosmetic dentistry services. What’s more, when combined with treatment for cavities, misalignment, or missing teeth, patients can look forward to an even more dazzling transformation.
Your final treatment plan will depend entirely on your needs. During a consultation appointment, Drs. Brandon and Malinda Kearbey will assess your health and talk to you about the changes you’d like to make. How you feel about the health and appearance of your teeth truly matters to us. We want to not only help you achieve optimal oral health but also a smile that fills you with a sense of confidence and good wellbeing.
Call The Dentists at Orenco Station today to reserve your first appointment of 2014. We offer personalized general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Beaverton, Cornelius, Rock Creek, and beyond.
Trade Sugar for Xylitol This Holiday Season
October 28, 2013
On Thursday, Halloween will come and go, signaling the start of the holiday season. From now until the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2013, homes and offices will be awash in holiday treats.
At The Dentists at Orenco Station, we want you to enjoy everything the holidays have to offer, but we also want you to enjoy good oral and overall health. To help with that, we recommend that our Hillsboro patients trade conventional sugar for xylitol.
What Is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibers of plants and can be substituted with sugar for baking at a ratio of 1:1. But the key thing to note here is how differently it responds to the bacteria in the mouth. Sugar responds to bacteria by creating acid, which damages teeth and creates cavities. That’s not the case with xylitol, which creates a neutral environment safe for teeth instead.
Because of how different the response is, why not consider making a switch? You can use xylitol for baking, but you can also find candies that have been sweetened with it. To find candies sweetened with xylitol, explore sites like Dr. John’s Candies and Ice Chips. You can also find xylitol products at your nearest health food store.
Do you have questions for Dr. Brandon Kearbey and Dr. Malinda Kearbey? Call us today to ask, or to schedule your next appointment. Our office is located in Hillsboro and serves patients from Forest Grove, Beaverton, Cornelius, and Rock Creek.
Acid Reflux and Your Oral Health
October 3, 2013
A touch of heartburn from time to time is inconvenient and uncomfortable but nothing to worry about. Experiencing heartburn several times a week, on the other hand, is. Not only can it make life uncomfortable, it’s a symptom of a condition known as acid reflex disease. Other symptoms of acid reflux disease include:
- Nausea
- Bloating or burping
- Hiccups
- Regurgitation
- Black/bloody stools or bloody vomiting
- Weight loss
- Wheezing, hoarseness, sore throat, or dry cough
Of all the problems acid reflux disease can cause, though, you might be surprised to learn that it can also have an impact on your oral health. That’s because of how acid reflux works.
When a patient has acid reflux, a small amount of stomach acid ends up in the esophagus. If this acid comes into contact with your teeth, it can damage the protective layer of enamel on the outside. Signs that acid may have damaged your teeth include:
- Pain or irritation
- Teeth that have shortened or thinned
- Teeth with short edges
- Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods
You can make sure your teeth are protected with regular care at The Dentists at Orenco Station in Hillsboro. During every visit with Dr. Brandon Kearbey or Dr. Malinda Kearbey, we’ll look for changes in your oral health that might indicate the presence of decay or gum disease. If we find anything during your appointment, we can put together a treatment plan immediately.
Is it time for your next checkup with our Hillsboro dental team? Call us today for an appointment. The Dentists at Orenco Station serves patients from Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Beaverton, Cornelius, and Rock Creek.
Enhance Your Smile with Custom-Made Porcelain Veneers
August 19, 2013
Every patient wants to have a smile they feel confident about. Unfortunately, not everyone is born with a smile that’s naturally straight or white. That’s why Dr. Brandon Kearbey and Dr. Malinda Kearbey of The Dentists at Orenco Station offer porcelain veneers.
This cosmetic dentistry service is among the most popular offered today. With a few thin pieces of porcelain, the team at The Dentists of Orenco Station can help you transform a stained, misaligned, chipped, or cracked smile into one that looks naturally dazzling. What’s more, the entire procedure can be completed in just two visits to our Hillsboro dental office.
What to Expect from a Porcelain Veneers Procedure
During the first of your two porcelain veneers visits, your doctor will take molds of your smile. We’ll also talk to you about how you want your smile to look when we’re all done. Then, our lab technicians will take the information we gather during that first appointment and use it to make customized veneers that will match the shade and shape of your natural smile.
On your second appointment, we’ll reveal your finished veneers and affix them to the front of your smile. Then, with your transformed smile in place, you can go back to your normal schedule feeling more confident than maybe you ever have.
Call The Dentists at Orenco Station to ask us a question about porcelain veneers or schedule a consultation appointment. We’re happy to create beautiful smiles for patients of Forest Grove, Beaverton, Cornelius, Rock Creek, and beyond.