Blog

Nov3

Find A Few Minutes To Floss

One common excuse often given by people who don’t floss is that the practice is difficult to fit into their daily schedule. If you’ve found this to be true, and feel like you are too busy to floss, here are some suggestions for when to fit this important dental health habit into your day.

The most common time is right before bed, but make sure you aren’t too tired to do a good job.
Right when you wake up is also an option, but if food is left between teeth all night, it can lead to plaque.
Try just after lunch, before you go back to work.
Floss while you are in the car sitting in traffic. It’s easier one-handed with the pre-strung floss pics. (You might get some strange looks from other drivers, but it’s worth it.)
Keep some floss in your gym bag so you can floss after you exercise.
While you’re watching the nightly news.

I hope this gives you some beneficial ideas to help you make flossing part of your daily routine. Flossing is important for anyone in Gibsonton who wants to have a healthy smile.

My name is Dr. Richard Kernagis. Helping my dental patients establish good habits is important to me, as well as helping them attain the smile they want with cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, teeth whitening, and complete smile transformations.

We are currently accepting new patients, so give us a call at 813-519-0128 to make an appointment!

We make patients feel comfortable

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Oct28

Beautiful Teeth Without Breaking The Bank

At Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton, our cosmetic dental smile makeover patients believe that life-changing cosmetic dentistry is a worthwhile investment. Indeed, for most people, the value of a healthy, desirable smile cannot be measured in dollars. We agree, however, that cosmetic dentistry is not cheap.

There are Affordable Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Do you have to spend thousands of dollars to improve your smile? Actually, no. Today’s post focuses on the most affordable cosmetic dental procedures.

Dental Bonding

In many cases, dental bonding can be used to correct a tooth that has been chipped. When Richard Kernagis repairs a tooth with dental bonding, a pliable resin material is applied to the tooth. Dr. Kernagis expertly molds the material to create the desired shape. The resin is then hardened using a special light. After hardening, Dr. Kernagis performs any needed trimming and shaping followed by a final polishing.

Dental bonding is usually less costly than porcelain veneers or dental crowns. Call us at 813-519-0128 to discuss cosmetic dental financing options.

Be Skeptical if the Price Seems Too Good to be True

Beware of brand-new Tampa area practices that advertise immensely low prices for dental bonding, veneers, or dental implants. The competence and artistic ability needed to achieve minuscule tolerances should not be undertaken by a beginner. Thoroughly research any new cosmetic dentist you are considering for any cosmetic dental procedures or complete smile makeover.

Tooth Whitening

Most Gibsonton people are aware that there are several different tooth whitening techniques. Richard Kernagis recommends scheduling a tooth whitening consultation to discuss your options. Even inexpensive OTC tooth bleaching systems can be misused and bring about tooth sensitivity, damage to tooth enamel, and spotty coloration.

Regarding the cost of teeth whitening: if you decide on an at-home system from a drugstore, you may have to buy several packages to achieve even slight whitening. In-office whitening or a take home system from our office may be more affordable in the long run.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

Oct20

Why Aren’t Dental Implant Prices Listed Anywhere?

You can’t buy dental implants at Costco. You can’t compare relative prices on Amazon. The rates aren’t listed on your dentist’s website.

There is a reason for this.

A dental implant procedure isn’t one-size-fits-all.

The price of a permanent dental implant depends on many factors.

First, let’s designate what we are talking about.

It’s important to understand that a tooth implant involves several elements:

The post (screw)
The abutment
The crown

So, how much does a dental implant cost?

Give me a rough estimate….

In Florida, you can expect to pay from $1,000 to $3,000 for one implant (the post that is screwed in).

Then there is the abutment (connector piece) and crown. These components could cost from $900 to $3,000.

This would bring the total price from $1900 to north of $5,000.

Remember, this is for ONE post, abutment, and crown.

What if I need a whole bunch of implants?

Some people spend between $20,000 and $50,000 for a total mouth reconstruction.

Wow!

Implants seem really costly…

An implant procedure is an oral surgery. It requires a consultation and additional visits. It requires X-rays and impressions. You might need bone grafting to augment the bone where the implant will be placed.

There are indirect expenses as well…

Your dentist will pick up the components from a dental supplier. The dental crown is custom-made in a lab. Dental laboratories have pricey equipment. They employ professionals who are specially trained.

Consider your dentist’s schooling. Just one year of dental school costs between $30,000 and $70,000… (Don’t forget, your dentist earned an undergraduate degree before attending dental school.)

Your dentist employs a team of professionals. A dental office must buy and maintain expensive equipment and supplies.

According to the American Dental Association, it costs at least $500,000 to open a dental practice. The yearly overhead can run over $200,000.

Does my dental insurance cover dental implants?

Some Florida dental insurance carriers cover dental implant procedures. Some only cover the crown portion. Others don’t cover any portion of the procedure. It’s unfortunate that more dental insurers don’t cover implants. They are cheaper over the long run. They preserve bone. They don’t require removing tooth structure like dental bridges. They don’t have as many complications as dental bridges.

Talk to your provider. If your insurance company doesn’t cover them, or if you don’t have dental insurance, meet with us about financing.

Permanent dental implants are costly. No doubt about it.

But if you talk to our patients, each one will tell you that they are worth every penny.

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

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):

Mon:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Tue:	7:00am - 5:00pm
Wed:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Thu:	7:00am - 5:00pm
Fri:	7:00am - 7:00pm
Sat:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Sun:	8:00am - 6:00pm

Mon:	8:00am - 5:00pm
Tue:	7:00am - 5:00pm
Wed:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Thu:	8:00am - 5:00pm
Fri:	7:00am - 5:00pm
Sat:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Sun:	8:00am - 6:00pm

Mon:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Tue:	7:00am - 5:00pm
Wed:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Thu:	7:00am - 5:00pm
Fri:	8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat:	8:00am - 6:00pm
Sun:	Closed

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

There are Affordable Cosmetic Dental Procedures

Dental Bonding

Be Skeptical if the Price Seems Too Good to be True

Tooth Whitening

Contact Your Time Dental Urgent Care:

Locations: (Tap to open in Google Maps):

South Shore – Gibsonton

FishHawk – Lithia

So, how much does a dental implant cost?

What if I need a whole bunch of implants?

Implants seem really costly…

Does my dental insurance cover dental implants?

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

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

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