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Dental Blog

Dr. Kathy Zuccarelli and Dr. Nicholas Berns have created this informative blog to help educate the community.

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Latest Posts:

Reduce Dental Anxiety Without the Use of Medication

Posted on 10/15/2019 by Crossroads Family Dental

Dental anxiety is a real thing for a lot of people. A huge part of that anxiety comes from the fact that you are lying down in a vulnerable position with tools that are near your face. Our office's goal is to make you as comfortable as possible while understanding what it is you are afraid of. Here are some strategies that you can practice for your next visit. Distraction and Relaxation Techniques One of the most common ways that have been found to relieve stress and anxiety is to distract yourself with something pleasant. What I mean by that is if you have a certain playlist on your phone or iPod, bring it with you to your appointment. Once you are comfortable and seated. Turn on your music and practice relaxation techniques. Studies have shown that practicing relaxation techniques reduce pain and anxiety levels. As each song is playing on your iPod think about the situation or what that song brought to mind. You'll find as you do this you'll relax further and further throughout the procedure. Guided Imagery and Deep Breathing Guided imagery is when you are focusing on a particular soothing environment, maybe it was a hike you went on, a date you recently went on, just a pleasant experience and the test is to try to focus on details that don't immediately come to mind. As you go through the experience, physiologically, you will start to feel better. An example of this is if you've ever seen somebody tell a story about something exciting, they will physically get excited. The same is true for you in that dentist's chair. If you focus yourself and your thinking on a pleasant experience, your body will respond accordingly. For your next dental visit, it's important to remember our dentist will also provide you with topical numbing solutions and pain relievers. If you can combine the strategies mentioned above, not only will you have a painless experience, but you will also recreate it into a pleasant experience. Our office is empathetic to your fear and will work with you to make sure you feel safe and secure....
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Getting Dental Implants Can Help Improve Your Confidence

Posted on 9/25/2019 by Crossroads Family Dental

If you are missing one or more teeth, it can have a detrimental effect on your psychological well-being. You may feel less confident or you may feel self-conscious. When you smile, you may start hiding the area where there are missing teeth. You may not be able to eat some of your favorite foods, depending on which teeth are affected. It could also affect your speech, again, depending on the missing tooth. When you have a missing tooth, many areas of your life can be affected, and replacing them becomes a top objective. The problem is that there are so many options, you don't know which to choose. Let's look at one option, a dental implant, and how it compares with other options in restoring your self-confidence What Makes Implants Better for Self Confidence? Dental implants have come a long way since they were first introduced as a treatment option for missing teeth. They have not only become more affordable, but the process of installing them has shortened. The biggest advantage of dental implants over other options such as bridges, is that dental implants look more like natural teeth. As an added bonus, if you are one of those people that runs their tongue along their teeth from time to time, they also feel more like natural teeth. As time goes on, some recipients of dental implants tell you that they can't even remember which tooth was an implant. Another advantage to dental implants is their longevity. If your implants are planned and installed correctly, they can last as long, if not longer than, traditional tooth replacement options like bridges. As the technology advances, their longevity will likely exceed the other options available to you. As they become more commonplace, they should also become less expensive. Since dental implants are anchored into your jaw, they also give you added ability to eat and chew. You won't have to worry about them falling out or coming loose. They also help preserve the bone and reduce bone loss in your jaw. Contact our office to find out more!...
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Foods to Avoid if You Have a Sore Tooth Until We Can Check It Out

Posted on 9/15/2019 by Crossroads Family Dental

As you probably know already, if you have a tooth that is causing you some degree of discomfort, it is very important that you come see us as soon as you can. Depending on the situation, delaying could mean further damage to the tooth—or even the loss of the tooth altogether. Until we are able to take a look at your tooth, there are some foods that you should steer clear of. Here are a few foods to keep away from until we have the chance to see you. Overly Crunchy Foods Depending on the situation, you could be dealing with a slight crack in your tooth. Eating foods that are crunchy brings with it the real risk that you could permanently damage your tooth. Stay away from chips, hard candy, any kind of jerky, and other crunchy foods. Your primary focus during this time is to keep from doing any further damage until we can take a look at your tooth. Sugary Foods In addition, keep in mind that if there is a crack in your tooth, you want to minimize the chance that bacteria could get into it and begin creating more damage. As most people know, the bacteria in your mouth thrive on sugars. So do your best to stay away from sweets, desserts, and sugary drinks. If you absolutely must consume them, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean water as soon as you have finished. Doing this will greatly reduce the amount of residual sugar in your mouth, and will help to keep the bacterial population down as well. We want you to be comfortable during this time. If you have any questions relating to what you should or should not eat, please reach out to us. We are here to help you, and we look forward to talking with you....
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All Posts:

Reduce Dental Anxiety Without the Use of Medication
10/15/2019
Getting Dental Implants Can Help Improve Your Confidence
9/25/2019
Foods to Avoid if You Have a Sore Tooth Until We Can Check It Out
9/15/2019
The Importance of Always Having Up to Date Dental Records
8/25/2019
Senior Teeth Need Special Care to Keep Healthy
8/15/2019
Do You Use the Right Amount of Toothpaste?
7/23/2019
Decreasing How Much Sugar You Consume Can Improve Your Oral Health
7/13/2019
Important Tips for Right Before a Root Canal
6/25/2019
How to Manage the Discomfort That Comes with an Abscess
6/15/2019
You Need to Let Us Know if Flossing Starts to Hurt
5/25/2019
Why Your Teeth Need You to Drink Water Daily
5/15/2019
Foods That Can Freshen Your Breath In a Flash
4/25/2019
Even Minor Dental Problems Can Lead to Chronic Tooth Pain
4/15/2019
Speaking with Us at Each Appointment Helps You Get the Best Care Possible
3/25/2019
How Long Can a Professional Dental Whitening be Expected to Last?
3/15/2019
Wisdom Teeth Only Hurt When There is Something in the Way
2/25/2019
Why Your Teeth Love Tea So Much
2/15/2019
Is There Any Cure for Cavities?
1/25/2019
How to Keep Your Teeth Safe When Struggling with the Flu
1/15/2019
Why Could Biting Hurt?
12/25/2018
Why Composite Fillings Are So Popular
12/15/2018
Why Ibuprofen is Best Following Oral Procedures
11/30/2018
When Struggling with Morning Sickness, You Must Protect Your Teeth
11/20/2018
Which Types of Juice Are Bad for Your Teeth?
10/25/2018
When You Get Cavities Between Your Teeth, They Can Do a Lot of Damage
10/15/2018
Are Toothpicks Good at Improving Oral Health?
9/23/2018
Are There Benefits to Having Xylitol in Your Gum?
9/13/2018
Fiber is Great for Improving Oral Health
8/30/2018
Facts You Need to Know About Untreated Cavities
8/20/2018
Signs You May Have Gum Disease
7/20/2018
How Can You Tell if a Filling Comes Loose?
7/10/2018
Why You Should Leave Reviews After Coming to Our Office
6/23/2018
Why You Need to Time How Long You Brush
6/13/2018
Caring for Veneers Means Keeping Up with Oral Hygiene
5/23/2018
Maintaining New Fillings is Important
5/13/2018
You Need to Come In and See Us Every Six Months Without Fail
4/20/2018
You Can Make Brushing More Fun By Swapping Toothpaste Flavors
4/10/2018
You Need to Come In and See Us Every Six Months Without Fail
3/27/2018
You Can Make Brushing More Fun By Swapping Toothpaste Flavors
3/17/2018
Why Your Teeth Suffer When You Get Insomnia
2/27/2018
Why Should You Wait After Eating to Brush?
2/17/2018
How Long Does it Really Take for a Cavity to Form?
1/27/2018
How Do You Build Up Your Tolerance for Oil Pulling?
1/17/2018
Dry Mouth is a Problem for Denture Wearers Too
12/30/2017
Brushing Immediately After Eating Can Hurt Your Teeth
12/20/2017

(219) 440-2950
1314 Eagle Ridge Dr, Schererville IN 46375

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