Williamsburg Dental Blog

Trusted Emergency Dentistry Services in Lincoln

Dental emergencies are rare but they do happen, and it’s always important to be prepared. Your Lincoln emergency dentists are Drs. Michael Kotopka, Benjamin Gessford, Addison Killeen, Colt Beddes, and Andre Rossini. Pain, swelling, broken teeth and a lost crown are the most common dental emergencies, but any amount of trauma can have extremely negative effects. Our dental office in Lincoln, NE is quick to assist you whenever a dental emergency arises. Meeting urgent dental needs as soon as possible is very important. Time is of the essence, and we will be with you every step of the way with our emergency dentistry services.

Common Dental Emergencies and Remedies

Dental emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. Staying adequately prepared for a dental emergency is next to impossible. The most common emergencies besides a broken tooth/toothache include:

• Lost tooth
• Severe toothache
• Cracked or broken crown
• Something caught between teeth
• Bleeding lip or tongue
• Broken Jaw

Below are a few short-term remedies you can try before seeking dental emergency help.

Lost crown, veneer or permanent bridge: It isn’t uncommon for a crown, veneer or bridge to come loose. If it gets to the point where the crown, veneer or bridge has popped out, your primary goal is to NOT swallow or lose the tooth. Be sure to store it in a safe place and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Not sure what to do? Here are a few friendly tips just in case a tooth replacement is loosening or has fallen out:

Place the tooth replacement in a clear sandwich bag or medicine vial (don’t use tissue or a paper towel).

Re-seat (insert) a crown and “snap” it back into place.
Use Vaseline or an FD-approved denture adhesive as a temporary glue to hold your corn, veneer or bridge in place.

Broken tooth: If cold air or water causes pain, chances are you’re dealing with a broken tooth. Not to worry! Always make sure not to ever eat on the damaged tooth – a crack can spread and cause major damage. You should schedule a dental visit as soon as possible, but in the meantime, give these self-care measures a shot:

If the tooth is painful, take acetaminophen or another over-the-counter pain reliever. Rinse your mouth with saltwater.

If the break has caused a sharp or jagged edge, cover it with a piece of wax paraffin or sugarless chewing gum to keep it from cutting your tongue or the inside of your lip and cheek.
If you must eat, eat soft foods and avoid biting down on the broken tooth.

Call Williamsburg Dental When A Dental Emergency Occurs

As an emergency dentist, Lincoln’s Dr. Kotopka and his peers can help your family if a dental emergency arises. Don’t hesitate to give us a call, no matter the time of day. Speak with our staff in Lincoln, NE and cosmetic dentists for more information. We also welcome patients from all over including Crete, Hickman, and South Lincoln and beyond.

We all have our fears, whether it’s speaking in public, spiders, or the fear of dentistry. Up to 75 million Americans have had bad dental experiences that left them too nervous to return even for routine checkups. Unfortunately, neglecting dentist appointments can lead to major dental problems, even when you religiously brush and floss. One way to combat dentophobia, or the fear of dentistry, is through sedation dentistry. Williamsburg Dental is proud to be the top sedation dentist Lincoln, NE, residents turn to time and again. We offer nitrous gas sedation and oral sedation to our patients who are anxious about their appointments.

What Is Nitrous Gas Sedation?

You might know nitrous gas by its nickname, “laughing gas”, a phrase used in many movies, TV shows, and books. It is odorless and colorless, and helps distract patients by making them feel happy and giggly, removing feelings of fear or anxiety. It has also been shown to help elevate pain thresholds. The word “sedation” belies the actual practice, since patients are not fully sedated, but are conscious so as to ensure their safety and cooperation.

Typically, nitrous oxide is administered via a tube and small mask over the nose and mouth. Once the gas has taken effect and the dental work begins, our dentists will switch to a nasal delivery mask to ensure the nitrous oxide levels are maintained throughout the procedure.

Once your dental work is completed, we remove the mask, and the nitrous side effects disappear within a few minutes. Typically, you will be able to walk around and drive yourself home after an appointment. With both nitrous oxide and oral sedation, patients will still receive local anesthetic at the site of their dental work, if fillings or crowns are being done during the appointment.

The American Dental Association (ADA) deems nitrous oxide sedation safe for children and adults alike, making it a popular choice for alleviating dentophobia in patients of all ages. If you suffer from multiple sclerosis or respiratory disorders such as emphysema, however, nitrous may not be a good choice for you. Our dentists are happy to consult with you on other anxiety management options.

What about Oral Sedation?

Oral conscious sedation is for patients for whom laughing gas alone does not allay their anxiety. As with nitrous gas sedation, patients are not fully sedated, but the stronger medication helps release their fears. A variety of tranquilizers and antianxiety medications are used in conscious oral sedation, with Halicon (a member of the Valium family) being the most commonly used.

Oral sedation dentistry does require a longer recovery period than nitrous sedation dentistry. We advise our patients to make sure they have someone else drive them home after their appointments.

Contact Us Today to Set Up Your Sedation Dentist Lincoln Consultation!

At Williamsburg Dental, we prioritize your comfort and health. If you suffer from dental anxiety, we’re here to help you. Southern Lincoln, NE, residents are welcome to call us at any time with questions or to set up an appointment. We also conveniently serve patients from the surrounding communities of Crete, Hickman, and South Lincoln.

Many children (and many adults) are terrified of going to the dentist. It’s natural for them to be cautious of strangers who want to poke strange objects around in their mouths! This apprehension can be frustrating for parents, though, who simply want to establish lifelong dental hygiene and checkup habits. Williamsburg Dental offices have the best children’s dentist Lincoln, NE, has to offer, and we promise a safe, non-threatening environment for your children.

When Should My Baby Have His First Dentist Appointment?

The American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dentist’s visit around their first birthday, even if they only have three or four teeth. Before that first appointment, it can be fun for toddlers to accompany their parents to an adult dental cleaning, so they can watch Mommy or Daddy get their teeth cleaned, and see that it doesn’t hurt.

Your child’s initial appointment “in the chair” will usually be a short cleaning and/or tooth counting. Your dentist at Williamsburg Dental will gradually add in more in-depth dental cleanings, X-rays, sealants, and fluoride treatments as children age and are better able to understand what’s going on.

How Can I Make Dentist Checkups Fun for My Child?

Your Lincoln children’s dentist at Williamsburg Dental will help a child feel comfortable in our offices. Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal along to their first visits, so that the dentist can do an “exam” on the animal to show kids what’s going to happen. We also offer fun cartoons available for them to watch during their appointment!

For more serious dental work such as fillings or crowns, Williamsburg Dental can administer nitrous oxide (aka “laughing gas”) to help children relax. Our dentists are happy to discuss nitrous oxide sedation for children with you further.

There are also a variety of kid’s books and TV shows that talk about visiting the dentist in a friendly way. Check out books at the library, like The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist. YouTube, PBS Kids, and Disney Jr. all have dentist-themed episodes of children’s shows like Sesame Street, Doc McStuffins, and Curious George.

Let’s Make an Appointment

Parents in Lincoln, NE, and the surrounding communities of Crete, Hickman, and South Lincoln are welcome to contact us today to get their children started on the journey to a happy, healthy mouth. Dental health is an important part of a healthy body for life, and we’re proud to take care of your whole family, no matter how young!

Untreated orthodontic problems only get worse with age. However, many adults avoid the orthodontic treatment they need because they refuse to wear bulky metal braces. Although braces are the most effective way to straighten teeth, wearing them can be a long and painful process. But old fashioned bracket and wire braces are no longer the only way to effectively straighten teeth. Invisalign clear braces utilize clear and removable aligners, instead of brackets and wires. The Invisalign clear braces are received in stages and are worn for short periods of time to gradually correct misalignment. While braces are usually the best option for complex dental corrections, Invisalign is a fast, effective, and convenient alternative. To discover the Invisalign advantage for yourself, schedule an Invisalign consultation appointment with Williamsburg Dental today. Williamsburg Dental delivers quality care daily to patients of all ages throughout South Lincoln, NE, Hickman, Crete, and the surrounding communities.

The Invisalign Process Step By Step

• Initial Visit: Your first appointment will be a personalized consultation to determine if Invisalign will effectively treat your orthodontic problem. Pictures and X-Rays will be taken and evaluated to make this determination.
• Impressions Visit: If Invisalign will work for you, you will come back to take upper and lower impressions (molds) which will be sent to the Invisalign labs for your custom aligners to be fabricated.
• Aligner and Adjustment Visits: When your new aligners are ready, you will come in to receive your first set. You will wear each aligner for approximately 2-3 weeks, and return to our office about 4-6 weeks to check your progress.
• Final Visit: For your final appointment no more aligners will be delivered. An evaluation of your results will be completed to determine if a case refinement stage will be necessary. If case refinement is necessary, new impressions will be taken and submitted to Invisalign to correct any issues. If your results match initial expectations, impressions will be taken to fabricate retainers, which are worn after any orthodontic treatment is completed to prevent your teeth from shifting out of alignment again.

Lincoln Invisalign Appointments

The sooner you come in for your initial visit the sooner you will be able to enjoy a straight and confident new smile. Schedule your Invisalign consultation appointment with the experienced orthodontic team of Williamsburg Dental today. Williamsburg Dental proudly serves families daily throughout South Lincoln, NE, Hickman, Crete, and the neighboring areas.

General Dentistry 101: What Are the Sedation Options for Fearful Lincoln Patients?

Do you have a fear of dental work? Every year, millions of Americans avoid the general dentistry appointments they need to stay healthy. Research suggests that over 75 million people in the U.S. live with some degree of dental fear or anxiety. Some may have had traumatic dental experiences as children, while others have had more recent unpleasant experiences as adults. Some patients simply fear the potential time and costs associated with general dentistry work. Regardless of the reason, however, far too many people have given up on receiving routine dental care. Some may even be avoiding the dentist in spite of periodic tooth pain and sensitivity. If you’re one of these patients, you should know that dental care is now more painless, convenient, and stress free than it has ever been in history. This is due in large part to advances in sedation dentistry. To experience the difference for yourself, and finally get the dental care you need, make your next general dentistry appointment with the sedation experts of Williamsburg Dental today. You can get needed dental work in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Williamsburg Dental is the trusted general dentistry of families throughout South Lincoln, NE, Centerville, Crete, and the surrounding communities.

What Causes Dental Fear and Anxiety for Some Lincoln Dental Patients?

Dental fear overwhelmingly stems from traumatic childhood dental experiences. Many patients fear the possibility of pain and discomfort, as well as drilling, anesthetic needles, or the need for tooth extraction. Williamsburg Dental works continually to find new ways to alleviate the stress and apprehension of these patients.

What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?

One method we use is oral conscious sedation. With oral conscious sedation, sedative medication is given orally to patients to help them relax by slowing the action of the central nervous system. Patients remain responsive and aware of their surroundings during treatment, but are less reactive to external stimuli like the sound of the drill or the smell of dental materials.

Is Nitrous Oxide Sedation Right For You?

Nitrous oxide is also a sedation option for fearful patients. Nitrous oxide is an odorless and colorless gas that produces highly pleasurable sensations. The gas can distract hesitant patients as they undergo treatment. The effects of the gas can be felt within minutes, but quickly fade as soon as the source is removed. Nitrous oxide gas mixtures and delivery methods have greatly improved in recent years.

Lincoln General Dentistry Sedation Appointments

The attentive and gentle dentists of Williamsburg Dental are understanding and empathetic with fearful patients. Some patients have experienced dental treatment in the past that was heavy-handed, critical, remote, and distant. Our dentists are the exact opposite. At Williamsburg Dental, patient comfort and relaxation is a top priority. Make an appointment with the highly qualified sedation dentists of Williamsburg Dental today for the Lincoln general dentistry experience you deserve. Williamsburg Dental proudly restores smiles daily throughout South Lincoln, NE, Centerville, Crete, and nearby areas.

Seeking routine and quality dental care for your child now, is an investment in their health that will pay lifelong dividends. The primary goals of a children’s dentist are prevention and maintenance. If you are prone to tooth decay or gum disease, your children may be at higher risk as well. Make your child’s dentist appointment with the gentle and experienced children’s dentists of Williamsburg Dental today.  Williamsburg Dental keeps families healthy year round throughout South Lincoln, NE, Centerville, Crete, and the surrounding communities.

A Children’s Dentist Checkup:

• Helps children chew properly to maintain good nutritional habits
• Stops tooth decay and prevents gum disease
• Helps with speech development
• Helps find occlusion problems early (orthodontic evaluation)
• Promotes a healthy smile that helps install self confidence

What Can a Children’s Dentist Offer Your Family?

• Dental Sealants– A dental sealant creates a highly-effective barrier against decay. Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of a child’s permanent back teeth, where most cavities form. Applying a dental sealant is not painful and can be completed in one dental visit.
• Fluoride Treatments– Fluoride is our primary weapon against tooth decay. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that combines with the tooth’s enamel to strengthen and fortify it.

How to Help Your Child Get Over a Fear of the Dentist

You can start by setting an example for your children. Taking good care of your own teeth sends the message that oral health is something to be valued. Additionally, always try to answer your child’s questions about dental visits honestly and sensitively. You can also try the following methods:

• Sneak Preview– Take your child with you for your next dental checkup to see you having your teeth examined and cleaned.
• Educate Your Child– Many books and online resources are geared toward teaching children more about dental health and dentist visits.
• Play Pretend– Take turns being the dentist and the patient with your child. Examine each other’s teeth with a mirror or use your fingers to count each other’s teeth so that your child will become familiar with dental examinations.
• Timing Is Everything– Plan plenty of time so that the dental visit isn’t rushed; also, make sure your child is well-rested before the visit so that they are as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

Lincoln Children’s Dentist Appointments

You should schedule your child’s first dental appointment before their first birthday and every six months thereafter, starting at age three. With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, your children will have a solid foundation for maintaining healthy teeth for the rest of their lives. You can make dental checkup appointments for your entire family at Williamsburg Dental today. The highly trusted Children’s Dentists of Williamsburg Dental are dedicated to protecting your child’s good health.  Williamsburg Dental proudly serves patients of all ages throughout South Lincoln, NE, Centerville, Crete, and nearby areas.

Orthodontic treatments are not just for pre-teens and teens anymore; they’re for adults too.  Successful orthodontic treatment will not only improve your oral functioning like speaking and eating, but can also improve your oral hygiene, and the appearance of your smile. Williamsburg Dental now offers Invisalign orthodontic treatment, which has revolutionized modern orthodontics. With Invisalign clear aligners, you can improve your bite and malocclusion issues, faster and more conveniently than ever. Make an appointment with the experienced restorative and cosmetic dentists of Williamsburg Dental today for your Lincoln NE Invisalign consultation. We can get you started on the road to a perfectly aligned smile today. Williamsburg Dental proudly restores smiles daily throughout South Lincoln, NE, Centerville, Crete, and the surrounding communities.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a set of removable orthodontic appliances made of nearly invisible plastic aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth. The clear aligners are designed to move your teeth gradually into the desired orthodontic position. Invisalign requires only one set of impressions and photographs of your teeth to be taken during your initial consultation.

Why Should You Get Invisalign?

Invisalign is superior to traditional orthodontic treatments for several reasons. Unlike traditional bracket and wire braces, Invisalign clear aligners can be easily removed for eating, brushing and flossing, and for special occasions or important meetings. Invisalign is incredibly discrete, so that you can complete treatment without broadcasting it every time you smile. Additionally, Invisalign only takes about 12 months to complete, whereas traditional braces usually take two or more years to complete.

Invisalign Appointments in Lincoln, NE

No matter what your age, Invisalign orthodontics treatment can correct your bite (occlusion), maximize your teeth’s effectiveness in performing their daily functions, and create a picture perfect smile. Today, close to 30 % of all orthodontic patients in the United States are adults. Make an appointment with an Invisalign Preferred Provider at Williamsburg Dental today. You can visit our Lincoln dental practice for an individualized Invisalign consultation. Williamsburg Dental proudly serves patients of all ages throughout South Lincoln, NE, Centerville, Crete, and nearby areas.

Often we hear questions about radiation exposure and how much each dental xray exposes a patient to possibly harmful radiation.  Here at Williamsburg Dental, we truly care about how much radiation we use on each patient.  We worry about the same thing with our staff and family members.  That is why we have invested heavily in the best technology so that radiation is used at the most minimal levels possible, while getting the clearest possible pictures.

We now use Dexis Platinum sensors in each practice, and use a Digital Panoramic Xray machine, the Instrumentarium OP-30.  Each Dexis Sensor has such a high quality image, that each pixel is about 50 microns thick. That is such a high resolution that we can see much more than we could with the older plate xrays.

To give you an idea on how small the exposure can be, here a little lesson in physics.  A unit called a “rem” is used to measure radiation. A rem is a large unit, much like a mile is a large unit of length, so we usually use a millirem (mrem) instead, much as you would measure in inches instead of miles for most purposes. (It takes 1000 mrem to equal one rem.)

Advances in x-ray equipment, especially film technology, allow your dentist to get a good x-ray image using much less radiation than was previously required. A typical dental x-ray image exposes you to only about 1 mrem. The National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) says that the average resident of the U.S. receives about 360 mrem every year from background sources. This comes from outer space, radioactive materials in the earth, and small amounts of radioactive material in most foods we consume.

Some typical sources that may expose you to radiation also include smoke detectors (less than 1 mrem per year), living in a brick house instead of a wood one (about 10 mrem per year due to radioactive materials in the masonry), cooking with natural gas (about 10 mrem per year from radon gas in the natural gas supply), reading a book for 3 hours per day (about 1 mrem per year due to small amounts of radioactive materials in the wood used to make the paper), and even from flying in an airplane (about 5 mrem for one cross-country flight because of the increased altitude.) In fact, you receive about 2 mrem per year from sleeping next to someone! This is because all of us have very small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials in our bodies.

Obviously, you probably would not refuse to fly on an airplane, live in a brick house, read books, live without smoke detectors, or sleep with your spouse because of the small amount of radiation you receive from these activities. Since we gain much valuable information from the dental xrays, we recommend following the American Dental Association Guidelines, which are Bitewing xrays every year, and then a Pantomograph xray every 5 years.  This will keep your exposure down greatly, and keep your teeth healthy!

Have you ever looked at your teeth and wondered where your pearly-whites are?  Maybe you’re like most people and drink coffee in the morning and red wine in the evening.  These two substances contribute the most to tooth and filling yellowing.  Great news, however, we can fix all the years of staining in just a few hours!

Do you want results like this patient?

This can be your teeth in just 2 hours. The current in-office treatments we offer can fix any type of tooth discoloration.  There are two ways of achieving the best results or the whitest teeth.

Zoom! is the in-office option for tooth whitening where we take a light-activated gel and use the extremely strong light to make the gel more powerful.  This option is used very useful and can achieve great results.  When we do Zoom!, we also make you custom whitening trays to take home to whiten as needed after the treatment.  This means you can keep the white teeth you have for many years!

Boost is the other in-office option where we use a different kind of gel. This option includes some whitening before and after the in-office treatment, and is great for many patients.  No light is included, but it does take about 2 hours in the office watching your favorite TV show. This option is great for patients with sensitivity, and can achieve amazing results.

If you’re interested in either of these options to get your whitest teeth possible, give us a call today at 402-420-2222 or 402-421-6611.

Summer is here and with it will come some changes at your dental office. Our primary goal is to offer excellent oral care to keep your family’s teeth healthy.  In striving to maintain that goal, we have recruited Dr. Andre Rossini, who will begin working with us starting in July 2014.  Dr. Rossini grew up in Brazil and received his first Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree at the capital of Paraguay where he practiced dentistry for 3 years.

Recently, Dr. Rossini earned a Master of Arts in teaching from UNL and went on to earn his second Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Lincoln. While at the College of Dentistry he excelled at crowns and bridges, where he enjoyed casting them himself for better quality.

Dr. Rossini is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and is a member of the American and Nebraska Dental Associations. Dr. Rossini has lived here in Lincoln for 10 years with his wife Laura. They are excited to announce the birth of their new baby daughter Nina.

The addition of Dr. Rossini will also allow us to expand our hours of operation!  The expanded hours will include 2 evening (Monday and Thursday) and some Saturday morning hours for the convenience of our patients and their families.  Please join us as we welcome Dr. Rosinni to Williamsburg Dental LLC.

Have a great summer!