Blog

Oct13

Does Whitening Toothpaste Work?

Are yellowing teeth getting you down? If so, you are not alone! Some of the most common concerns of Apollo Beach, Fish Hawk, and Lithia dental patients pertain to cosmetic dentistry procedures like teeth whitening.

Because many dental products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes say they can brighten your teeth, it’s natural to examine changing your brand of toothpaste.

Whitening toothpastes work by adding chemical agents that can gently polish and whiten teeth. However, these substances can only remove stains that are on the surface of the teeth. This generally results in whitening by roughly one shade.

On the other hand, plenty of Gibsonton dentists offer rapid in-office teeth whitening procedures that can generally lighten your teeth anywhere from three to eight shades. That is quite a difference!

Once you see the dramatic changes that can happen with in-office whitening, why not go for the whole smile makeover? Using cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, crowns, inlays, braces, dental implants, bonding, gum contouring, Tampa dentists are helping patients get the marvelous look they desire.

Hi, I’m Dr. Richard Kernagis, a Gibsonton dentist. If you are looking for quality dental care in the Apollo Beach, Fish Hawk, or Lithia area, I hope you’ll give us a call at 813-519-0128.

Call for your appointment today!

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Oct6

Smokeless Is Not Harmless For Gibsonton Tobacco Chewers

Cigarette sales at most Gibsonton stores have decreased in the past decade, but some tobacco consumers have switched to smokeless products.

There is a common misconception (especially among teens) that smokeless tobacco is harmless. This is absolutely not true. Regardless of the specific type: spit tobacco, snuff, chew, or pinch, this form of tobacco is as deadly as old-school cigarettes.

Keeping a pinch between your cheek and gum all day is worse than keeping an all-day sucker tucked in there. The tobacco contains almost as much sugar as the candy but delivers dangerous chemicals as an added bonus. The dangers are two-fold: the tobacco erodes the teeth and also causes the gums to pull away from teeth.

Precancerous Mouth Lesion Screening: Mouth lesions are painful sores that could eventually become cancer. If smokeless tobacco use is stopped, the lesions ordinarily disappear within a year for many dental patients.

Oral Cancer: Smokeless tobacco use increases the risk of several types of life-threatening cancers including those of the mouth, gums, lips, tongue, and throat.

These are the main dental risks of smokeless tobacco. Additionally, I should also mention two other biggies: addiction and heart disease, though those are topics for another day.

At Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton, we perform oral cancer screenings and mouth lesions examinations. To receive more specifics, or schedule an appointment, call 813-519-0128.

If you want to quit using smokeless tobacco products, we recommend that you talk to Dr. Kernagis at Your Time Dental Urgent Care, your primary care doctor, or your pharmacist.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Sep29

Gum Disease Linked To Alzheimer’s: Keep Those Gums Healthy!

As if you needed another reason to keep your gums as healthy as possible.

Scientists have found a link between a bacteria that causes periodontitis (advanced gum disease) and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Porphyomonas gingivalis is a bacteria that often leads to chronic periodontitis. The bacteria was discovered in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

The research study, “Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors,” can be found at Science Advances.

The researchers concluded:

“Chronic periodontitis and infection with Porphyomonas gingivalis have been identified as significant risk factors for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, is inflammation or infection of the gums. For the most part, periodontal disease is preventable.

Risk factors for periodontal disease include tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, genetics, teeth grinding, inflammatory conditions, and poor nutrition.

This study should dispel the misconception that oral health is somehow separate from physical health.

It is vital to see your dentist regularly to keep your gums healthy (as well as your teeth). To schedule a periodontal disease exam, call Your Time Dental Urgent Care today at 813-519-0128 or visit https://www.yourtimedentalurgentcare.com.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Sep22

When it Comes to Your Smile, Don’t Settle For Less

Don’t Settle for a Smile You Aren’t Happy With

No one likes to settle for less than the best, especially with something as important as your smile. Richard Kernagis DMD at Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton has the solutions for your smile problems.

Fixing Small Chips and Cracks Can Work Wonders

You don’t have to live with crooked or chipped teeth. Porcelain veneers are a reasonably-priced and non-invasive way to correct misshapen or damaged teeth that are otherwise structurally sound. If you have a tooth that is beyond repair, don’t despair—a tooth implant may be the answer.

Lighten Up Your Smile!

You don’t have to watch your teeth become duller and more discolored every year, either. Whether you are young, older or somewhere in the middle, professional teeth bleaching works wonders to perk up your smile.

Not Your Grandfather’s Restorations

Modern dental restorations have many advantages over those in years past. There are stronger and more natural-looking materials. Many of our patients at Your Time Dental Urgent Care who have not had a filling for a while, are not aware that white fillings are available. You can even replace old amalgam fillings with white fillings and give your mouth a makeover!

With Cosmetic Dentistry, There is Never Buyer’s Remorse

I have been practicing dentistry since 2001. I have noticed that my patients who receive dental makeovers have only one regret; they wish they would have done it sooner! Patients with dazzling new smiles are surprised by how much confidence they gain. Because they love their smile, they smile more often.

Come in and see us at Your Time Dental Urgent Care.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Sep15

Versatile Veneers For A Vivid Smile

Have you ever wished you could quickly attach perfectly shaped, dazzling white front surfaces to your teeth? Guess what? You can! With porcelain veneers, you can eliminate smile imperfections in just one visit to your outstanding Gibsonton cosmetic dental office.

Simple procedure, dramatic results

The innovative porcelain veneer is one of the most versatile items in a cosmetic dentist’s toolbox. Veneers turn unattractive smiles into beautiful smiles with minimal disruption to existing tooth structures. They are quicker and usually less pricey than complete crowns but are made with the same durable, translucent porcelain.

A celebrity smile secret

It’s no wonder that a very large percentage of people in the public eye have porcelain veneers. An actress can receive a perfect smile in the morning and appear on a talk show that evening. A supermodel can permanently remedy a discolored tooth speedy and pose for photos right after leaving her dental office. A local television news anchor can have his teeth perfectly aligned in a couple of hours and report Florida news that same day.

Trust an experienced cosmetic dentist in Gibsonton

I am Richard Kernagis of Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton, Florida. I have performed hundreds of veneer placements—alone and in combination with crowns, inlays/onlays, and tooth implants for dramatic smile makeovers. Perhaps you should consider veneers as the best way to attain your brilliant smile.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Sep8

Smile Makeovers: First Things First

Hello, I’m Dr. Richard Kernagis of Your Time Dental Urgent Care. Thanks for visiting my blog. In today’s post, we will focus on something that happens occasionally when a patient requests cosmetic dentistry from their Gibsonton dentist.

Let me set the stage. The patient comes in for a consultation about a smile makeover. We’ll call him Mr. Jones. The dentist listens carefully as he explains the esthetic problems that he wants to remedy. Mr. Jones wants to fix two chipped teeth, get a dental implant for a tooth that is missing altogether, and whiten his whole smile. He describes what he envisions for his smile after undergoing treatment.

The dentist performs an examination of his entire mouth and takes x-rays. The dentist discovers some additional dilemmas. There are three teeth with moderate decay, one tooth with acute decay, gum disease, an old crown with a crack in it, and severe bone recession at the potential dental implant site where the tooth was extracted ten years ago.

The dentist explains that these issues need to be addressed before the cosmetic dental smile makeover is performed. Mr. Jones says that the smile makeover is his first priority and plans to deal with the other problems sometime in the future.

How does the dentist advise Mr. Jones? The dentist will probably explain that the lasting success of a cosmetic dental procedure such as porcelain veneers, dental bonding, or tooth whitening is influenced by the condition of the mouth at the time of treatment. There must be a solid, healthy foundation, so to speak, on which to build the smile makeover.

First things first. It makes no sense to attach a veneer to a decayed tooth that may need a root canal. A dental implant may not integrate with the surrounding bone structure if placed at a site where there is bone recession. Tooth whitening will probably not produce favorable results where there is gum disease and exposed tooth roots.

Can Mr. Jones ever have his dream smile? Yes! There are treatments to correct all of the problems mentioned previously. But just like many other things in life, the order of operations is critical.

If you are interested in a smile makeover or simply need a check-up, schedule an appointment by calling 813-519-0128. I look forward to discussing both your oral health and esthetic concerns.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Aug25

Saving Teeth at Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton

When a tooth is threatened by severe decay, periodontal disease, or damage from an injury, a skilled dentist or endodontist must make a judgment call concerning the course of treatment. If the pulp of the tooth is infected or inflamed, a root canal is typically the only way to save the tooth.

During a root canal procedure (or endodontic treatment), the soft tissue in the root of the tooth is removed. This tissue contains veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Once the roots are taken out and widened, they are filled with a special rubber material.

The root canal is only the primary step in the complete tooth restoration. After the root canal, without a crown, the tooth will become dry and brittle. The last processes are the core build-up and crown.

At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we construct strong, natural-looking crowns that blend perfectly with the surrounding teeth. With proper oral hygiene and biannual visits to your dentist, a tooth with a filled root can often function issue—free for the rest of a patient’s life.

I am Dr. Richard Kernagis, DMD, of Your Time Dental Urgent Care. I have been practicing dentistry since 2001. During that time I have seen hundreds of teeth saved by this effective dental procedure. Root canal therapy has a very high success rate.

Because teeth with infected pulp tissue often do not create symptoms, it is critical to have regular dental examinations. I can determine which (if any) teeth have infected roots. If the infection in the soft pulp tissue is left untreated, it can move up to a point where the tooth cannot be saved.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Aug18

Aesthetic Dentistry Solves Difficult Oral Problems

Have you ever been told that your smile is beyond repair? That may not be true. At Your Time Dental Urgent Care we perform dental miracles every day. Here are some tough dental problems we routinely solve:

Tough Problem 1: Insufficient Bone for Dental Implant
Solution: Bone Grafting

As a replacement for a missing tooth, a dental implant has many benefits as compared to a dental bridge. However, there must be enough bone to support the titanium post (screw) that is surgically implanted.

Many implant patients need some level of bone grafting and the procedure has a high success rate. Disinfected, processed donor bone is placed at the implant site where the bone needs structural augmentation. The grafting material is in granular form that can be packed into the contours. It stimulates growth, and eventually, the patient’s newly-generated bone replaces the donor bone material.

If you have had another dentist tell you that you don’t have enough bone to place an implant post, talk to Dr. Kernagis. The team at Your Time Dental Urgent Care has performed many bone grafting procedures for dental implant placement.

Tough Problem 2: Severe Tooth Loss
Solution: Full Mouth Restoration

If it feels like your dental problems are beyond repair because you have few or no teeth left, take heart. Regardless of the cause—chemotherapy, recreational drug use, eating disorder, extreme mouth injury, disability, inadequate oral hygiene, or simply poor overall health—there is hope.

Full mouth reconstruction can restore your previously healthy, attractive smile or give you the stunning smile you never had. Patients who have full mouth restoration regain their confidence to smile, eat, and speak normally.

Full mouth restoration is composed of a combination of dental procedures as needed according to the patient’s particular situation. These can include dental implants, implant-supported bridges, orthodontia, crowns, inlays/onlays, dental bonding, gum contouring, soft tissue grafts, and teeth whitening.

By listening carefully, asking the right questions, communicating clearly, and counseling you, Dr. Kernagis can fully analyze your seemingly impossible dental dilemma and deliver a solution. Call us today at 813-519-0128.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Aug11

What are Possible Dental Implant Complications?

If you’ve visited our blog before, you have read about the advantages of tooth implants. That’s because they are an amazing replacement for missing teeth and have been used successfully in the Gibsonton area for over 30 years. At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, close to 98% of our implant placements are successful. But like any medical or dental procedure, there are risks. In today’s article, we will consider possible complications of a dental implant.

Infection

Any surgical procedure poses an infection risk. That’s why we often prescribe an antibiotic before implant surgery.

How to protect against infection:

Beginning the second day post-surgery, an implant patient should rinse with a salt water solution. This helps prevent infection while the implant site is healing. The patient should continue normal daily dental hygiene and start brushing and flossing the implant as soon their dentist recommends. If an infection develops weeks after the surgery, another course of antibiotics usually takes care of it.

Slow healing

A patient is more likely to experience slow healing if they have another medical condition. Possible conditions include severe gum disease, diabetes, cancer, alcoholism, or poor circulation due to smoking. Dr. Kernagis takes preexisting conditions into account when advising potential implant recipients.

Sinus problems

Upper implants are placed very close to the floor of the sinus. Because of the physical proximity, an implant can pierce the floor of the sinus cavity. This is so rare, most implant dentists have never had a patient experience it. One such case was documented by the International Journal of Implant Dentistry. An implant recipient experienced obstructed nasal airflow. It was discovered that the implant had broken through the nasal floor. The tooth implant patient underwent surgery to repair it. The surgery was successful and the patient was able to retain the implant.

Implant failure

If an implant fails to fuse with the surrounding bone, it is usually due to insufficient blood supply. Teeth grinding, smoking, and the medical conditions discussed previously can impair blood circulation.

Nerve damage

Nerve damage takes place in a very small percentage of implant procedures. Patients may have pain, tingling or numbness at the implant site.

Let’s discuss your concerns

Are you considering but worry about the risks? We invite you to set up a consultation to discuss your concerns.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Aug4

5 Critical Things To Know About Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, is inflammation or infection of the gums. For the most part, periodontal disease is preventable. This condition is so common in the US that it has been called a ‘health crisis’ by the ADA. Fortunately, periodontal disease can be treated.

If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage such as tooth loss.
Practicing daily dental hygiene and having 6-month dental exams are the best way to prevent periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease can occur without the presence of tooth decay.
Almost half of all 30+ adults in the US have periodontal disease.
In some cases, periodontal disease generates no noticeable symptoms.

Risk factors for periodontal disease include tobacco use, poor oral hygiene (especially failing to floss), genetics, teeth grinding, inflammatory conditions, and poor nutrition.

Even if you don’t feel any pain in your mouth, it is vital to see your dentist regularly. To schedule a periodontal disease exam, call Your Time Dental Urgent Care today at 813-519-0128 or visit.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

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Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Don’t Settle for a Smile You Aren’t Happy With

Fixing Small Chips and Cracks Can Work Wonders

Lighten Up Your Smile!

Not Your Grandfather’s Restorations

With Cosmetic Dentistry, There is Never Buyer’s Remorse

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Simple procedure, dramatic results

A celebrity smile secret

Trust an experienced cosmetic dentist in Gibsonton

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Infection

Slow healing

Sinus problems

Implant failure

Nerve damage

Let’s discuss your concerns

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

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