Dr. King Scott's Blog

Bruxism and Nightguards for Your Smile

April 25, 2013

Do you find yourself grinding your teeth, especially at night or if you’re stressed? Teeth grinding is also referred to as bruxism, and can be a threat to the health of your teeth. At Dr. King Scott’s dental office, we can help you treat your bruxism before it threatens your teeth, gums and jaw.

Frequently, bruxism is triggered by stress, and many people may not even realize that they’re doing it. We are here to help by suggesting stress and anxiety management tips and use of an appliance such as a bruxism appliance or nightguard. Your bruxism appliance or nightguard will be custom made to fit your teeth, and will help keep you from grinding your teeth while you’re sleeping.

Symptoms of bruxism include headaches, earaches, and sore jaws. If you’re experiencing any of these, give us a call. It’s important to identify and treat your bruxism as soon as possible because your teeth will become worn down with time, causing increased discomfort. Also, the intense clenching and grinding could also contribute to TMJ dysfunction and cause further jaw discomfort.

If you’re grinding your teeth and can’t seem to stop, give us a call. We’re here to help with bruxism appliances or nightguards and other bruxism treatments. Also, we can repair any damage to your smile that may have occurred.

Dr. King Scott’s West Monroe, LA dental office wants all our patients to have beautiful, healthy smiles. We serve patients from Monroe, Ruston, Rayville, Farmersville, Columbia, Winnsboro, Delhi, South Arkansas, and all of greater North Louisiana. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

AvaDent: A Better Denture Solution

April 9, 2013

Are you missing teeth and need to replace your full upper or lower teeth? Are you nervous about having dentures? AvaDent from Dr. King Scott’s dental office could be a great solution for your smile.

AvaDent are custom made, digital dentures that allow us to restore your smile after only two appointments. Dr. Scott will take an impression of your mouth and use AvaDent’s Anatomical Measurement Device to collect all the information needed to create your dentures. This information will be sent to AvaDent who will enter it into a computer and create a digital record of your smile.

This digital information will be used to design dentures that are perfectly suited to your smile and your needs. Once designed, your dentures will be milled and when you come back for your second appointment they will be ready for you to wear. Since the information is all digital, it will remain on file so if you need dentures made again in the future, the information will be there, ready to go.

Thanks to advances in dental technology, we can now provide you with better fitting dentures than ever before. AvaDent is a great way to restore your smile and feel comfortable at the same time. We want our patients who wear dentures to feel confident and smile proudly. Call us or visit AvaDent to learn more.

Dr. King Scott’s West Monroe, LA dental office wants all our patients beautiful, healthy smiles. We serve patients from Monroe, Ruston, Rayville, Farmersville, Columbia, Winnsboro, Delhi, South Arkansas, and all of greater North Louisiana. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Oral Cancer Awareness

March 26, 2013

Oral cancer is a serious health concern, and at Dr. King Scott’s dental office we want our patients to be informed and prepared. It kills more people nationwide than either cervical cancer or melanoma. The best thing you can do is to visit us regularly and educate yourself on the warning signs.

Signs of oral cancer include the following:

Flat, painless, red or white spots or sores
Change in color of oral tissues
Pain, tenderness or numbness in the mouth or lips
A lumpy, thick, rough, crusty spot or small, eroded area

If you see any of these symptoms, you should call our office right away. It is important to come see us every six months for your regular checkup, as we will check for signs of oral cancer. If you notice anything unusual it is important to call us, because the sooner oral cancer is detected, the greater the chance it can be treated.

Your risk of developing oral cancer is increased if you’re a smoker, drink frequently and often, are in the sun a lot, bite your cheek or lip habitually, or have poorly fitting dentures. Twenty five percent of oral cancer cases are found in people who do not have any of these risk factors, so just because you don’t fit the profile doesn’t mean that you have no risk of developing this.

Oral cancer is a serious health concern. It is important to be informed and visit us regularly to ensure the continued health of your gums and teeth. For more information, visit The Oral Cancer Foundation.

Smile Makeovers from Dr. King Scott

March 12, 2013

Are you disappointed with your smile? Do you avoid photographs and smiling in public? Are you missing a tooth or are your teeth damaged, decayed or crooked? If any of these questions apply to you, a smile makeover from Dr. King Scott may be just the solution for your smile.

A smile makeover uses a combination of cosmetic, restorative, and prosthetic dentistry treatments to give you a healthy, beautiful smile. All your dental concerns, needs and wishes will be addressed.

You’ll come in for an initial consultation, where Dr. King Scott will analyze your teeth and come up with a personalized treatment plan. He will carefully consider your thoughts and wishes for your teeth, so it’s helpful to bring in pictures of teeth and smiles that you think are attractive and beautiful.

If you have misaligned, cracked, yellowed, or stained teeth, those concerns can be addressed by cosmetic dentistry treatments such as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and cosmetic bonding. If you have decay or damage to your teeth, that will be repaired with restorative dentistry treatments such as crowns, fillings and bridges. If you’re missing a tooth or teeth, that will be addressed with prosthetic dentistry treatments such as dental implants.

No matter what your smile needs, we can create a custom smile makeover to give you the beautiful smile you deserve. We’ll help you schedule convenient appointments to accomplish your treatment plan, and can even help you with financing. There is no reason why you can’t have a beautiful smile that you’ll want to show off. Investing in your smile is one of the smartest investments you can make, as it’s one of the first things people notice when they meet you. Call us today to learn more and schedule your consultation.

Dr. King Scott has provided quality, full-service dentistry for over three decades. His West Monroe, LA dental office serves patients from Monroe, Ruston, Rayville, Farmerville, Winnsboro, Columbia, South Arkansas and greater North Louisiana. Call our office today to schedule your appointment!

Teeth Whitening for a Brighter Smile

February 26, 2013

If you want to improve the appearance of your smile, teeth whitening from Dr. King Scott’s office may be a good place to start. Since your smile is one of the first things other people notice about you, you’ll want to make sure it’s bright and white.

Teeth whitening is a great way to remove stains and brighten yellowed teeth. It’s also a simple way to help you appear younger instantly. Dr. King Scott uses take-home whitening systems such as Boost, Opalescence and LifeLike.

At your consultation, we’ll create custom whitening trays for your teeth. Dr. King Scott will pick the right whitening gel for your smile needs. Then simply fill the trays with the professional whitening gel, wear as directed and your teeth will begin to whiten instantly!

We offer take-home whitening trays because we feel they’re the best option for our patients. They’re easier than in-office teeth whitening treatments and you have more control over the color change. Also, whitening at your own house is convenient for you, there’s minimal sensitivity associated with the treatment, and you get better results than over-the-counter methods.

There’s no reason why you can’t have the bright, beautiful smile of your dreams. Learn more about teeth whitening or see if it’s right for you by giving our office a call. Whiter teeth are just around the corner.

All About Inlays and Onlays

February 19, 2013

Last time, we discussed restorative dentistry and the wide variety of services we provide to help our patients smile proudly. One of those numerous services was inlays and onlays.

If you need a filling replaced, or have a large area of your tooth that is decayed or damaged, inlays and onlays from Dr. King Scott’s office could be a good solution. The best way to describe it is as a mix of a filling and a crown. It just replaced the part of your toot h that is decayed or damaged, like a filling, but is made out of milled porcelain, like a crown.

Inlays and onlays are essentially the same, they’re just located different places on your teeth and in relation to your cusps. Cusps are the bumps you’ll find on the top of a tooth. Inlays go in between cusps, and onlays fit over your cusps.

This procedure is a great alternative to replacing a tooth, as it allows you to keep more of your natural tooth structure, which is important. At your initial consultation, Dr. Scott will see if this procedure is right for you, and take an impression of your tooth. This will be sent to the lab, and used to mill your inlay or onlay. You’ll have a temporary put in and at your second appointment, the permanent inlay or onlay will be placed, and your tooth will be restored.

Inlays and onlays are great options to help repair and restore your teeth. If you’re interested, call us today to see if this could be right for you.

Dr. King Scott has provided quality, full-service dentistry to patients for over three decades. His West Monroe, LA dental office serves patients from Monroe, Ruston, Rayville, Farmerville, Columbia, South Arkansas and greater North Louisiana. Call our office today to schedule your appointment!

Reconstructive Dentistry from Dr. King Scott

February 12, 2013

Do you have missing or damaged teeth? Has aging and the stresses of life taken a toll on your smile? Reconstructive dentistry from Dr. King Scott could be a great solution to get you smiling again.

At Dr. King Scott’s West Monroe, LA dental office, we have a variety of reconstructive dentistry options available to restore and enhance the beauty of your smile. Services include:

You’ll come in for a consultation, where Dr. Scott will analyze and assess the current state of your mouth. He’ll ask about your goals for your smile, and help you come up with a personalized smile plan to restore your teeth to a beautiful, healthy state.

Restorative dentistry is a great way to achieve a beautiful smile, both inside and out. It is essential that your teeth are healthy first to provide a good foundation. Crowns, fillings, and gum disease treatments are all important procedures for the health of your teeth. It is important to address these concerns because they could lead to tooth loss, pain, more damage or TMJ dysfunction if left untreated for a long time.

With so many treatment options available, we can create the right mix of treatments for your smile. Give us a call today to set up your consultation and see how restorative dentistry can help transform your smile.

Dr. King Scott’s West Monroe, LA dental office provides quality, full-service dentistry to patients from Monroe, Ruston, Rayville, Farmerville, Columbia, South Arkansas and greater North Louisiana. Call our office today to schedule your appointment!

Receive Expert Treatment for your TMJ Disorder in West Monroe, LA

February 5, 2013

In the dentist’s office, you hear about all sorts of common oral health problems, from cavities to gum disease to discoloration. One of the conditions that can be the most frustrating and uncomfortable, though, affects an area you may not first think of when considering dental care – the jaw. Your jaws are crucial tools that enable you to speak and eat, and they’re supported by small joints (commonly known as temporomandibular joints) that connect them to the skull and an intricate system of nerves and muscles. However, when these joints are even slightly misaligned, it can cause debilitating symptoms. These symptoms are commonly known as temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder. Thankfully, here at our West Monroe practice, Dr. King Scott and his team are able to provide effective and efficient treatment for TMJ disorder, thanks to both Dr. Scott’s specially honed expertise and our commitment to providing well-rounded and personalized dental health care to patients of all ages.

How do I know if I suffer from TMJ disorder?

Take a look at these common symptoms of TMJ disorder:

Constant, excessive headaches
Popping or clicking jaw joints
Persistent pain in the face, neck, head, shoulders, or back
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Jaw discomfort when chewing, or an inability to fully open or close one’s mouth

If one or more of these sound familiar, then Dr. Scott would like to see you so that he can inspect your jaws for signs of TMJ disorder.

What kind of treatment can you offer me?

Many dentists can offer help to those seeking relief from TMJ disorder. However, Dr. Scott has set himself apart by studying TMJ therapy and bruxism in-depth at The Dawson Academy –and The Piper Center – both in St. Petersburg, FL; his care is precise, informed, and most important of all, carefully personalized to fit your unique needs as a patient who deserves relief. He can prescribe a custom-made mouth appliance to correct TMJ disorder, and has been bringing smiles to beleaguered patients’ faces for years with minimally invasive TMJ splint therapy. He can discuss your unique case with you in more depth once you come in for a consultation.

Don’t suffer in silence any longer – let Dr. Scott and his team give your teeth a break with expert TMJ treatment. Call our West Monroe, LA practice today to schedule a consultation. We also serve patients from Ruston, Rayville, Farmersville, Columbia, Winnsboro, Delhi, South Arkansas, and all of greater North Louisiana.

Cosmetic Gum Lifts for a Beautiful Smile

January 30, 2013

Do you feel your smile has a lot of gum showing? Are you self conscious because you think it makes your teeth look small or stubby? Cosmetic gum lifts from Dr. King Scott may be the right solution for you.

If you have a lot of gum showing over your teeth, this doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. All this means is that your soft tissue is overgrown, hiding your teeth. If it’s the right fit for your smile, we can perform a gum lift, also called laser perio-plasty or if more advanced, a gingivectomy.

There are three different methods to perform the gum life: soft tissue laser, Electrosurge, or traditional surgery. Dr. King Scott prefers using the laser as this is the simplest and easiest for you. We will discuss your options and figure out which would be the best solution for your smile. The excess gum tissue will be carefully removed, giving you a beautiful, well-proportioned smile you can’t wait to show off!

A gum lift from Dr. King Scott can be a great solution to help improve your smile. Schedule an appointment to learn more and see if this procedure could be right for you! We want all our patients to have fabulous, healthy, beautiful smiles that they’re proud of and we are proud of too!

Dr. King Scott’s West Monroe, LA dental office is dedicated to creating beautiful, healthy smiles. We have served patients from Monroe, Ruston, Rayville, Farmersville, Rayville, Columbia, Delhi, South Arkansas, and all of greater North Louisiana for three decades. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

Fix Your Smile and Feel Great Again with Tooth-Colored Fillings from Dr. Scott

January 23, 2013

It’s always frustrating to go in for a routine dental check-up, only to be told you have a cavity. Cavities are small, sneaky, and potentially destructive – if left untreated for too long, they can grow to threaten the health of your entire tooth. The idea of having dark, metal-based fillings put in, though, can be a tough one to swallow, especially if you’ve worked hard to create a professional image focused around a flawless smile. Dark fillings are distracting and obvious, alerting everyone you come in contact with that you’ve had dental work done, which could lead to a variety of potentially embarrassing situations. Here in West Monroe, LA, we understand your hesitation – you deserve to be able to keep your teeth perfectly healthy and happy without having to sacrifice the cosmetic beauty of your smile. Thankfully, Dr. King Scott is committed to providing you with effective and personalized service that puts your needs first. That’s why he’s happy to offer tooth-colored fillings as a restorative option at his West Monroe practice.

So what exactly are tooth-colored fillings, if they’re not made of metal?

Simple – they’re made of composite resin, a silicon-dioxide mixture that can be blended and mixed in order to match the exact shade of your natural teeth. Composite resin fillings have several advantages over traditional metal fillings: for instance, only you and Dr. Scott will have any idea that they’re there at all, resulting in a perfectly healthy smile with zero of the embarrassment.

In addition, tooth-colored fillings last just as long, if not longer, than traditional fillings, and actually work much better with your natural teeth, deterring further breakage as well as allowing us to keep more of the natural structure intact. Our team strongly believes in conservative dentistry – we want to help you hold on to as much of your original teeth as you can. With tooth-colored fillings, we can accomplish that goal much more easily than ever before.

If you have a cavity that needs treatment, don’t hesitate – Dr. Scott and his excellent team want to keep you safe and smiling with the help of composite resin, tooth-colored fillings. Call our West Monroe, LA practice today to schedule an appointment. We also serve patients from Ruston, Rayville, Farmersville, Columbia, Winnsboro, Delhi, South Arkansas, and all of greater North Louisiana.