Common Emergency Visits

You never know when you’re going to experience a dental emergency, but if you do, it should give you peace of mind to know that emergency dental care is available at our office 24/7. Whether you chip your front tooth playing softball, or your child knocks out a couple of teeth in a playground fall, receiving the emergency dental treatment you need is accessible and convenient.

If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, our team at Metro Square Dental Associates is here to help you any time of the day or night. Dental emergencies should not be taken lightly, so don’t delay. Contact our office as soon as possible. Common dental emergencies include the following:

Lost Fillings and Crowns

Fillings are used to repair cavities. Crowns, on the other hand, are used to cover broken or damaged teeth. Over time, it’s possible for both of these items to loosen and fall out. A lost filling or crown can be painful, because the exposed tissue may be sensitive. Hot and cold temperatures will cause discomfort. While a lost filling or crown might not be as severe a dental emergency as a broken or chipped tooth (most people respond quicker to pain than self-consciousness about their looks), you need to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Broken Dentures

If your dentures are broken, everyday tasks may become trying and arduous. If you can’t chew, swallow, or eat properly, the situation calls for emergency care. Depending on how damaged your dentures are, Metro Square Dental Associates may need to send out a mold of your mouth in order to have the manufacturer make a new pair. On the other hand, if the dentures are not damaged too badly, then we may be able to fix them in-house. If you’re having problems with your dentures, you should give us a call as soon as possible.

From chipped and cracked teeth to lost fillings and broken dentures, dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. Emergencies are unexpected, but we want you to know that treatment is available, day or night. When your dental health is at risk, we are here to help. In the case of a dental emergency, don’t wait; contact our Vernon Hills,IL office at your earliest convenience. 847-680-7171, www.metrodental.com

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR CEREC ?

CEREC is a technology our team at Metro Square Dental Associates uses for restoring damaged teeth. The procedure involves Dr. Cohen and Dr. Goodzey  digitally scanning the area in your mouth that needs restorative work and then creating a replacement using three-dimensional imagery and a milling machine. The best part? All of this takes place in just one appointment!

Using CEREC’s proprietary software, your restoration will be designed according to your tooth’s appropriate form and function. There are many advantages of CEREC over traditional crown technology. Here are a few:

• Less time spent in the dental chair: We know our patients lead busy lives. CEREC crowns are made in one visit, saving you considerable time away from the office, your loved ones, and other activities.
• More comfort: With CEREC, there is no need for a temporary crown, which eliminates potential discomfort.
• Appealing on the eyes: CEREC’s tooth-colored ceramic materials help restore your teeth to their natural strength, beauty, and function. They also closely match the composition of natural tooth structure.
• Durability: Milled ceramic is stronger than the traditional method of layering and pressing porcelain to metal, meaning your smile will be stunning for years to come!

Dr. Jeffrey T. Cohen and Dr. Sharon Goodzey  are your local CEREC dentist for single-visit tooth restorations. Give us a call today at MetroDental.com at 847-680-7171 in Vernon Hills, IL  to learn more or schedule an appointment at our convenient Vernon Hills, IL office. We look forward to seeing you!

Dentistry Love Song - Valentine's Day

This is a Great Song for a Laugh !!!













Metro Square Dental Associates, 847-680-7171Vernon Hills, IL www.metrodental.com

The Effects of Biting Your Nails

Known as onchophagia, the habit of nail biting is one of the so-called “nervous habits” that can be triggered by stress, excitement, or boredom. Approximately half of all kids between the ages of ten and 18 have been nail biters at one time or another. Experts say that about 30 percent of children and 15 percent of adults are nail biters, however most people stop chewing their nails by the time they turn 30. Here are four dental and general reasons to stop biting your nails: 1. It’s unsanitary: Your nails harbor bacteria and germs, and are almost twice as dirty as fingers. What’s more, swallowing dirty nails can lead to stomach problems. 2. It wears down your teeth: Gnawing your nails can put added stress on your pearly whites, which can lead to crooked teeth. 3. It can delay your orthodontic treatment: For those of our patients wearing braces, nail biting puts additional pressure on teeth and weakens roots. 4. It can cost you, literally: It has been estimated that up to $4,000 in extra dental bills can build up over a lifetime. The Drs. at www.metrodental.com and our team recommend the following to kick your nail biting habit: Keep your nails trimmed short; you’ll have less of a nail to bite. Coat your nails with a bitter-tasting nail polish. Ask us about obtaining a mouthguard, which can help prevent nail biting. Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you get the urge to gnaw on your nails. Think about when and why you chew your nails. Whether you are nervous or just bored, understanding the triggers can help you find a solution and stop the habit. If you can’t stop, behavioral therapy may be an effective option to stop nail biting. Ask our team at www.metrodental.com for a recommendation.

Invisalign Teen is it worth Smiling About ?

Invisalign Teen is designed with today’s youth in mind. These clear, removable orthodontic aligners can straighten your teeth without the need for metal wires and brackets. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign Teen aligners are comfortable, nearly invisible, and removable, which allows you to remove them as you eat your favorite foods and brush and floss your teeth. Invisalign Teen motivates teenagers to enjoy life without restrictions while promoting better overall dental care.

Key features of Invisalign Teen

Teenagers are constantly on the move and require special options when it comes to their braces. Invisalign Teen utilizes the same technology as Invisalign for adults; they consist of a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually move the teeth. Extra features designed especially for teens include:

• Blue wear-indicators on the aligners that gradually fade from blue to clear to help you, and our team, gauge wear time
• Aligners designed to compensate for the growth of molars and new teeth
• Customization to fit your mouth correctly and comfortably
• Removable and nearly transparent to ensure you can eat with freedom and smile with confidence
• Six free individual replacement aligners in the event that your aligners become misplaced or lost

Conditions improved by Invisalign Teen

Between 70 and 80 percent of adolescents in the United States require braces, according to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Invisalign Teen uses advanced technology to treat a broad range of orthodontic conditions. These include overbite, underbite, crossbite, widely-spaced teeth, and overly crowded teeth. Injuries and tooth and jaw problems may also require the use of braces to correct jaw and teeth alignment problems.

How does Invisalign Teen work?

Like any orthodontic treatment, Invisalign Teen requires a customized treatment plan created by the Orthodontist at Metro Square Dental Associates. Generally, each set of aligners is worn for approximately two weeks and removed when you brush, floss, eat, and drink. Your teeth will gradually move with the series of aligners, which typically ranges from 18 to 30 aligners in total. You’ll visit our Vernon Hills, IL  office every eight to ten weeks to check your progress and make any needed adjustments.

Invisalign Teen introduces a whole new way to make your smile straight without the unappealing look and hassle of traditional metal braces. This revolutionary method of correcting smiles is being used by teens everywhere, including right here at Metro Sqaure Dental Associates , to straighten their teeth with confidence.

Regular Cleanings Lead to Healthier Mouths and Bodies

The American Dental Association and dentists everywhere, including our own Drs. at Metro Square Dental Associates  recommend that you schedule an appointment every six months for a cleaning and checkup. Despite this universal recommendation from the experts, some people believe regular cleanings and checkups are unnecessary unless there is something wrong with your teeth—for example, a cavity or a toothache. In fact, coming in for a six-month checkup and cleaning is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health, as well as your overall health.

Why It’s Important to Visit Regularly

Numerous studies have shown that oral health is closely tied to the overall health of your whole body. In fact, having a healthy mouth can help the rest of your body stay in balance. On the other hand, an unhealthy mouth can cause all kinds of problems for you down the road.

One of the most important things we do at Metro Square Dental Associates  when you come in for cleanings is remove plaque that has collected on your teeth and around your gums. If left untreated, plaque build-up can cause inflammation and irritation around your gums, and lead to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontal disease.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal disease has been linked to increased risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, inflammation, osteoporosis, and pregnancy complications.

Most oral health issues will begin with subtle changes before progressing into more serious conditions. If you visit us for regular checkups, we may be able to identify common indicators that could lead to larger issues down the road. If we only see you at our office every few years, it becomes more difficult to catch these conditions before they grow into bigger and more painful problems.

What happens at a dental checkup?

When you come in for your regular checkup, there are several things our dentists and hygienists may do, including:

• Take X-rays to determine the overall health of your teeth, jaw, bones, and the tissue surrounding your teeth, including a check for early signs of tooth decay, abnormal growths, cavities, and other damage that is not immediately visible
• Perform a thorough cleaning of your mouth and teeth to remove any excess plaque and tartar, then polish and floss your teeth
• Check for signs of gum disease or evidence of tooth decay
• Examine your bite, and look for broken or damaged teeth
• Identify any changes to your gums or teeth since your last visit
• Examine your head and neck for signs of oral health problems

Waiting to visit the  until you already have a problem, like a cavity, is like waiting to put gasoline in your car until after you run out and your vehicle is stalled on the side of the road. Once you have a problem, the ripple effect can cause you a lot of pain, take considerably more time, and cost a lot more money to fix than if you had come in for preventive care and cleanings every six months. Call the Drs. at Metro Square Dental Associates 847-680-7171 Vernon Hills, IL 

CEREC®: Are you a candidate? From Metro Square Dental Associates

If you’ve ever had a dental crown made, you know that the process can be time-consuming. Our team at Metro Square Dental is proud to offer a treatment that makes crowns, veneers, and bridges faster and simpler so that you can get back to enjoying life with just one visit.

Gone are the days when anesthetic was involved so that the crown can be placed. Also gone are the cumbersome, hassling steps needed to have an outside lab construct a crown.  With CEREC, Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs. can scan your tooth using a small infrared camera that fits inside your mouth and takes a picture of the area in question. The image is then transferred and displayed on a computer screen, where Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs. can use the computer to design the dental crown. The crown is then milled from a high-grade ceramic material, all while you wait and enjoy the sights and sounds of our office. Once the machine is done milling, Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs.  place the crown on the tooth and have you out the door quickly so that you can get back to enjoying life.

The reduced time involved with this procedure makes the CEREC system especially appealing for patients who lead busy lives. CEREC patients benefit from this treatment because they needn’t deal with the having their teeth numbed, nor are they required to wear a temporary crown or return to our office for a follow-up visit.

To learn more about CEREC technology or to schedule an appointment with the Metro Square Dental Associate's Drs. at our convenient Vernon Hills, IL  office, we invite you to give us a call today! We look forward to working with you! 847-680-7171