Hi. I’m Dr. Richard Kernagis. Welcome to my Gibsonton dental blog! I find that many of my patients in the Apollo Beach, Fish Hawk, and Lithia areas get a couple of dental terms mixed up. Today, I would like to clarify the differences between plaque, calculus, and cavities.
Plaque is a film that covers teeth – a sticky layer of bacteria. You can remove plaque through daily brushing and flossing. However, if it isn’t removed it can build up and harden into calculus.
Calculus, also known as tartar, is hardened plaque that also accumulates minerals from food and saliva. Regular check-ups and cleanings with your Gibsonton dentist are necessary to remove tartar as well as hard-to-reach plaque.
Plaque and calculus are not cavities, but they can lead to cavities. A cavity is basically a hole in the tooth caused by decay. Because plaque and calculus contain bacteria, the bacteria release acids which accelerate tooth decay and eventually lead to more cavities.
A good rule of thumb for Tampa dental patients is this: Avoid plaque to avoid calculus and tartar to avoid tooth decay to avoid cavities. Got it?
I hope you’ve found this helpful, and if you’re in the Apollo Beach, Fish Hawk, or Lithia area and are in need of quality dental care, call our office at 813-519-0128 to schedule an appointment today.
Our comfortable staff would love to answer any questions you have about our services, including cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and veneers.
I’m Richard Kernagis of Your Time Dental Urgent Care. My office is located at 13145 Kings Lake Drive Ste 105B in Gibsonton. One of the best things about being a dentist is interacting with my patients. During initial dental consultations, I listen carefully to my patient’s short and long-term dental goals.
I enjoy discussing options and developing effective treatment plans tailored specifically to each person. Some of my patients desire a total smile makeover. I explain in detail the treatments available including teeth whitening, dental veneers, orthodontia, crown restoration, and dental implants.
If a patient is nervous about undergoing treatment, we discuss oral conscious sedation. Oral conscious sedation, sometimes called oral sedation dentistry, is a great option for anxious patients. Dental visits do not have to be painful!
After the treatment has been completed, it is very gratifying for me to see my patient’s reactions to their new smile.
I never get tired of creating dramatic smile transformations for the best patients in Florida!
If you have been considering a smile makeover, let’s talk about your smile. Call Your Time Dental Urgent Care at 813-519-0128 to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation.
A cosmetic dental consultation is informative and enjoyable. You’ll have the opportunity to describe your goals and expectations.
We Look Forward to Meeting You
If this is your first visit to Your Time Dental Urgent Care, you’ll discover whether you feel comfortable with Dr. Kernagis and other members of the treatment team.
Successful cosmetic dentistry consultations help us provide the highest level of Tampa area dental care.
We’ve Got Answers
This is the time to ask questions about possible procedures such as teeth whitening. You can look at pictures of actual Apollo Beach porcelain veneer patients and Fish Hawk dental implant recipients. Our cosmetic dentistry patients really get excited when they see images of the possible results for their teeth.
By listening effectively and asking the right questions, Dr. Kernagis can fully assess the many variables unique to your needs.
Richard Kernagis thoroughly examines teeth, gums, and biting function. Complete X-rays are taken. Existing dental work, tooth color, tooth alignment, and gum condition are taken into consideration. Medical history and lifestyle are also important considerations.
Learn about the possibilities for your smile at Your Time Dental Urgent Care.
Dental health and a stunning smile depend on much more than simply brushing regularly. In today’s Your Time Dental Urgent Care post, we present a quick refresher course on critical lifestyle practices that affect oral health. You are probably familiar with most of these recommendations, but it is helpful to get a reminder once in a while. We encourage all of our patients to maintain a lifestyle that promotes dental health as well as overall physical health. After all, the two are inseparable.
DO:
Eat a nutritious diet. Eat calcium-rich dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt to neutralize acids that attack enamel. Brush gently but meticulously at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you clean thoroughly between teeth with dental floss or interdental cleaners such as flossing picks. If you have children, communicate with your Tampa dentist about water fluoridation. If your municipal water supply is not fluoridated, you may want to give your children fluoride supplements. Get your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. Have a dental examination twice yearly with your Gibsonton dentist.
DON’T:
Eat a sugar frequently. Sugar triggers the production of harmful cavity-causing acids that weaken enamel. Snack throughout the day. This speeds up plaque production and subjects the teeth to constant bombardment with acids. Chew on ice. Use your teeth as tools. Ever. Drink energy drinks. Get oral piercings. Ignore tooth pain or sensitivity.
If you have oral pain or haven’t visited a dentist in a while, call Your Time Dental Urgent Care at 813-519-0128 to schedule an appointment with Richard Kernagis. Tooth problems get worse over time – especially if there is decay or gum disease.
At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we serve the Gibsonton area with exceptional dental care including general and cosmetic dentistry. Ask us about weekend dental care, sedation dentistry, root canals and dental implants.
Imagine you are starting a new job and are going to meet with your new boss for the first time. Confidence is key to your success. As you reach out to shake the extended hand your broad confident smile exposes rows of pearly white teeth, yet when you open your mouth to exchange greetings you worry about bad breath.
Perhaps your breath is not as a pleasant as you had hoped. Bad breath is a worry and possible embarrassment for many people. Regular dental checkups at Your Time Dental Urgent Care can help alleviate your concern over bad breath. We have been addressing bad breath since 2001.
The technical term for bad breath is halitosis. Many factors can cause or contribute to halitosis.. One of these factors is the food you eat. Onions and garlic are both known for having a potent effect on your breath.
Brushing and flossing daily is an important step in curing bad breath. Food particles can build up in your mouth and foster bacteria which can cause bad breath. This not only includes the food particles that may get stuck between your teeth, but also the food that collects around your gums or on your tongue. Brushing and flossing daily can help reduce the number of food particles that stay in your mouth and cause bad breath.
Other factors to examine include dry mouth, tobacco use, and health concerns such as infections. Come visit Your Time Dental Urgent Care located in Gibsonton, Florida; we’ll provide you with information about bad breath in a professional environment. Give us a call at 813-519-0128 to set up an appointment.
Did you know that enamel is the hardest substance in the body? It’s true! This substance, found on the outer surface of your teeth, truly should last a lifetime. But just because it’s super strong doesn’t mean you don’t have to work to take care of it.
Here are some useful tips for keeping enamel healthy.
1. Pick the right foods for enamel health. It’s no secret that soft drinks weaken your teeth, and don’t think that diet sodas are harmless – the artificial sweeteners can also erode enamel over time. There are also other culinary culprits that can do a lot of harm. Sticky, chewy candies should be avoided. Chewing ice is a no-no. And don’t use your teeth as tools. Take a minute to grab some scissors before you rip open that package with your incisors.
On the flip side, foods with calcium can neutralize acid in your mouth and safeguard your enamel. So, enjoy your dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt!
2. Avoid vigorous brushing and use a soft brush. Also, it’s best to brush about an hour after eating, because foods, especially acidic ones, can soften the enamel, thus making it more prone to weakening from brushing. If your teeth are discolored or yellowish, you may feel you need to brush harder. Instead, examine teeth whitening and communicate with your dentist.
3. Keep stomach acids in check. If you have a problem with severe heartburn, the stomach acid could be traveling up your esophagus and into your mouth. This acid can erode enamel, so it is important to meet with your Gibsonton doctor about treatment.
4. Talk to your dentist about dry mouth and tooth grinding. Lack of saliva is a major dilemma for tooth enamel, and it’s no surprise that teeth grinding can also wear it down. Make sure your dentist is aware if you observe either of these issues.
Hi, my name is Dr. Richard Kernagis. I want my patients to have the best oral health possible, and enamel health is a key component. I also love helping my patients achieve the beautiful smile they want with cosmetic dentistry procedures such as dental bonding, veneers, invisible braces, tooth-colored fillings, and dental implants.
My practice, Your Time Dental Urgent Care, is currently accepting new patients. Give us a call at 813-519-0128 to make an appointment!
The following website was used as source material for this blog: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-2/tooth-enamel-damage, accessed on September 18, 2013
In today’s post, we share a personal story from a patient:
For many years, I didn’t have ‘go to the dentist’ at the top of my to-do list.
But all that has changed. I now consider visits a fundamental part of my personal health plan.
Here’s why…
Teeth won’t stay healthy without regular dental visits. I’ve come to realize this more definitively as I get older. From the obvious functional utility to the important cosmetic nature of teeth, we literally can’t live without them.
When it comes to functional utility, teeth are a foundation of our health. We use them to eat every day. The status of our teeth can impose unnecessary restrictions on our diet. With no teeth at all, our diet might be so restricted we don’t get the necessary nutrition.
For those who don’t have teeth, this is a sobering realization. Dentures and other prosthetic solutions can help. There are substitutes for the real thing, but having your own natural teeth is preferred.
When it comes to the cosmetic side, there isn’t an alternative to a bright and toothy smile. It may be the most noticeable element of our face. Having an attractive smile our self-esteem.
I’ve learned that a healthy smile is more than just a nice set of teeth. It contributes to all personal interactions.
Aging combined with poor dental hygiene is perilous for teeth. The simple process of eating causes wear and tear. A continuous bacterial onslaught threatens the protective enamel. Cavities, periodontitis (advanced gum disease), and trauma round out the list of detriments that could separate us from our teeth.
We Want To Help You Have a Healthy Smile
Healthy oral habits are, of course, the best way to keep your teeth in great shape. Practicing daily oral hygiene will improve your health now and in the future.
Regular dental visits are also vital. Your dentist can help you improve the health of your teeth. Your Time Dental Urgent Care can help you discover oral dilemmas before they become destructive.
Since your teeth are central to your overall health, it is critical to find a trusted dentist who can help.
At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we have extended hours. We can accommodate your schedule.
This is an important question occasionally asked by patients at Your Time Dental Urgent Care. The answer, however, is “No!” Bleeding is probably a sign that you need to clean your teeth and gums more thoroughly—not leave them alone. It is hardly possible to clean effectively between teeth without using floss or an interdental brush.
If you have never flossed before, your gums might bleed the first few times you use floss. The bleeding may be due to harmful gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding generally stops within a week or two.
Gingivitis (gum disease) and the more advanced periodontal disease is extremely common in Florida and around the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that half of American adults aged 30 and over have periodontal disease. https://www.perio.org/consumer/cdc-study.htm
If you don’t make flossing a habit, and your gums become sore, swollen, and tender, it could result in gum disease. The good news is that, unlike decay, gum disease can be reversed with improved oral hygiene.
It is vital to correctly use dental floss to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth:
Cut a length of floss about 18 inches long.
Securely wind each end around your middle fingers.
Take hold of the floss with your forefinger and thumb leaving about two inches to work with.
Thread the floss between two teeth.
Hold the floss tightly against the side of the tooth and move it up and away from the gumline. You want to clean the space between the tooth and gum without pulling more gum tissue away, so it’s critical to scrape up and out of the pocket.
Move the floss around the tooth to clean every surface—especially those that your brush can’t reach. As you use a section of floss, unwind from one hand to access a clean piece. With 18 inches, you should have enough to provide a clean section for every tooth. If you run out, that’s okay. Just toss the used piece and cut a new one.
Some individuals find it easier to start on one end on the upper teeth and clean each gap one by one until they reach the end on the opposite side. Then repeat for the bottom row. Whatever process you select, make sure you clean around every tooth, including the back surfaces of the last molars.
What if you continue flossing for a few weeks and still see bleeding? Call Your Time Dental Urgent Care at 813-519-0128 to schedule a consultation. Richard Kernagis, DMD, will complete a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of the bleeding.
At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, our goal is to help patients keep healthy teeth and gums. Our dental hygienists not only complete the most thorough dental cleanings, they also educate patients on proper brushing and flossing. If you have a child who needs extra help learning how to brush and floss correctly, schedule an appointment with our Your Time Dental Urgent Care child-friendly team.
Some patients have perfectly healthy teeth and gums but are not comfortable with their smiles due to cosmetic problems. If you want to explore possibilities for improving your smile, speak with us today at 813-519-0128.
We offer state-of-the-art cosmetic dental care including teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental crowns, inlays/onlays, and tooth-colored filling replacement. Ask us about oral sedation options if you need help relaxing during dental treatment. You can count on us to maintain the highest standard of safety and sterility at Your Time Dental Urgent Care.
I’m Richard Kernagis. I’ve been practicing dentistry here in Gibsonton, Florida since 2001. I have found amazing people in this community. At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we focus on three important things as we strive to be your dental provider of choice.
Family
We want to be the dental practice families trust in for quality care, whether for routine preventative services, tooth restoration, or cosmetic dentistry. If your son chips a tooth and is in severe pain, we want to be the first choice that comes to mind. We offer variety for any family’s various dental needs.
Your Time Dental Urgent Care focuses on your Family.
Facts
When we sit down in consultation and you say “Dr. Richard Kernagis, I need to know the cost of veneers, dental implants, the cost of a dental bridge… I need to know my options.” We’ll give you the bottom line on emergency same day dental care, emergency dental care, and urgent dental care. Whether it’s affordable dental care for quality of life or affordable cosmetic dentistry for increased confidence, we’re here. Look us up or call: https://www.yourtimedentalurgentcare.com813-519-0128
Your Time Dental Urgent Care focuses on the Facts.
A Friendly, Comfortable, and Safe Environment
We focus on clean, bright, and inviting and follow rigorous standards of sterilization. Our team here at Your Time Dental Urgent Care is friendly, professional, and considerate.
Your Time Dental Urgent Care focuses on a Friendly atmosphere.
Today’s post focuses on an effective and versatile cosmetic dental procedure—porcelain veneers.
Veneers are individual covers for the front part of teeth. They are a terrific way to correct a myriad of tooth imperfections such as chips, stains, yellowing, unattractive shape or minimal misalignment.
Have you ever yearned a minimally-invasive facelift for a tooth without getting an entire crown? Veneers are your answer! Strong, tooth-colored porcelain laminate is shaped into thin shells and custom-fitted for each patient’s unique set of teeth.
How many veneers should you get? This depends on how many teeth you want to enhance and the overall condition of your teeth. Dr. Kernagis will counsel you on the most successful strategy.
The thickness, enamel color, alignment, and shape of your teeth impact the result as well as whether you have any gum recession. Veneers are matched to your existing teeth so they will blend seamlessly, but if you are planning to treat several teeth, you definitely want to have them fabricated in the same “batch” at the lab.
The first step in the veneer process is to make a model of your teeth to work from. After that, a dental technician will use the model to engineer the veneers to the exact size, shape, color, and degree of translucency. Experienced cosmetic dentists and dental technicians elevate the level of artistry in this It is an involved process.
Many patients wonder if veneers are as durable as their natural teeth. Though the veneer tooth-prep process weakens the tooth slightly, with proper care, veneers can last up to 15 years. Dr. Kernagis will advise you in detail on the proper care of porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers are more durable than dental bonding, which is sometimes used to fix the same kinds of imperfections. Dental bonding generally has a shorter life span than veneers, so keep this in mind when comparing the relative prices of the two procedures.
If you are looking for a dentist with an artistic eye for stunning porcelain veneers, give Your Time Dental Urgent Care a call. My name is Dr. Richard Kernagis and I have been serving Gibsonton, Florida since 2001. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/v/veneers.aspx4
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