What is Perio Protect®?

Perio Protect® is a customized, comprehensive system that is designed to help patients manage biofilms, which are communities of bacteria that colonize in the spaces—also known as periodontal pockets—between the teeth and gum tissue in gum disease-infested gums. The overall goal of the Perio Protect® method is to manage oral biofilm with minimally invasive dentistry for lasting oral health.

How does Perio Protect® Work?

There are several components of the Perio Protect® method. In addition to the standard in-office dental cleaning procedures, including scaling and root planing, the chemical therapy of the Perio Protect® system involves delivery of doctor-prescribed solutions through a custom-fitted tray to disrupt the growth of biofilms within the periodontal pockets.

To begin this portion of your Perio Protect® treatment, Dr. Coon will take impressions of your teeth that will be used to fabricate your Perio Tray®. Once your tray returns from the state-of-the-art dental laboratory, Dr. Coon will invite you back to our Sheridan dentist office to continue your treatment. At this point, Dr. Coon will assess the severity of your periodontal pockets and biofilms and decide which solution best meets your specific needs. Most patients need a solution that contains oxidizing and oxygenating agents to break down the slimy protective coatings of the biofilms and cleanse the oral wounds.

To reap the benefits of Perio Protect®, simply wear your Perio Tray for a few minutes each day and allow the solutions to work their magic. It’s as simple as that. In fact, most Perio Protect® patients can agree that the treatment is comfortable, convenient, and completely non-invasive.

To find out more about Perio Protect® or to reserve an appointment, call Grinnell Street Dental, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, at (307) 672-7567 or visit us online at smilesbydrcoon.com.

Straighten Your Smile Without the Metal

As a professional, image-conscious adult, it’s no surprise that you want a natural-looking smile that’s beautiful and gives you self-confidence. If your smile woes are based on the position of your teeth however, these same image-conscious feelings may keep you from your dream smile because you don’t want to have a mouth full of metal braces. At Grinnell Street Dental, we have an alternative to traditional metal orthodontia: Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a revolutionary teeth straightening system that gives you the results of traditional braces without the burden and eyesore of a mouth full of metal.

How does Invisalign work? Invisalign is a series of clear, removable, plastic aligners that gradually move your teeth to the desired position. Once Dr. Coon evaluates your dental needs, designs your treatment plan using 3-D imaging software, and takes impressions of your teeth, your Invisalign treatment can begin.

You’ll wear your Invisalign aligner at all times—except when eating and cleaning your teeth—for approximately two weeks until it’s time to move on to the next one. You’ll continue this process for the entire duration of your treatment, which, for most patients, lasts anywhere from 12 to 18 months. To monitor your progress, Dr. Coon will see you in our office about every six weeks.

What are the Benefits of Invisalign?

In addition to providing you with the end result of a beautiful smile, Invisalign allows you to enjoy a metal-free smile throughout your treatment with clear, inconspicuous aligners. Additionally, the Invisalign aligners are removable, so you have the freedom and ability to eat whatever you want, clean your teeth easily, and remove your aligners for special occasions. Just remember that it’s important to wear your aligners as much as possible in order to reap the full benefits of Invisalign treatment.

If you want to say goodbye to the gaps, crookedness, and misalignment in your smile, say hello to Invisalign clear braces by Dr. Coon. Call Grinnell Street Dental, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, at (307) 672-7567 to reserve an appointment.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loved ones from the Grinnell Street Dental team!

If so, teeth whitening treatment can give you the bright, white smile you’re longing for and, as a result, instantly take years off of your appearance. Teeth whitening has quickly become the most popular cosmetic dental procedure and one of the most widely requested cosmetic enhancement procedures overall. Why? Because it works.

Two Options to Whiten Your Smile

At Grinnell Street Dental, we offer two very different teeth bleaching options, so you can choose the teeth whitening procedure that best fits your lifestyle needs and smile goals. These whitening treatments are at-home teeth whitening and in-office teeth whitening.

While the location of where these treatments are administered might sound like the only difference between these two teeth whitening treatments, they’re actually very different. At-home teeth whitening gives you the freedom to whiten your teeth at your own convenience in the privacy of your own home using a custom-made whitening tray and professional strength bleaching gel.

To begin your at-home teeth whitening regiment, Dr. Cody Coon, Dr. Justin Coon, or Dr. Donald Coon will start by taking impressions of your teeth from which your custom whitening tray will be fabricated. Once your whitening tray returns from the state-of-the-art dental laboratory, we will invite you back to our Sheridan dentist office to explain how your teeth whitening system works. To whiten your teeth at home, simply load a thin layer of bleaching gel into your dental tray and put the tray in place. Depending on the beginning color of your teeth and the shade of white you desire, we will prescribe a length of time for you to wear your bleaching tray. Generally, we prescribe one to two hours of wear time per day for a period of approximately two weeks, but each patient and each case is different. At the end of your treatment time, you will enjoy a smile that is dramatically whiter than your starting shade.

If you’re looking for more immediate results, we may suggest in-office teeth whitening. During your in-office bleaching treatment, also known as chair-side teeth whitening, you’ll sit for approximately an hour in the dental chair while an extremely bright, yet safe light activates the bleaching gel that has been applied to your teeth. At the end of the short treatment, you’re smile will immediately look five to ten shades whiter than when you came into our office. Some patients have said that their teeth continued to lighten for up to 24 hours following their in-office teeth whitening procedure.

Whether you choose in-office or at-home treatment to initially whiten your smile, we suggest using the at-home system for occasional touch-ups to maintain your teeth’s new, bright white appearance.

Come See Us for Whiter, Brighter Teeth

Although teeth whitening will not remove deep-set dental stains, like those caused by fluorosis and damage to your tooth structure, it can breathe new life into a dull and discolored smile. To look ten years younger, experience a new level of self-confidence, and fall in love with your smile all over again, consider in-office or at-home teeth whitening.

To reserve an appointment at Grinnell Street Dental, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, call our dentist office at (307) 672-7567 or visit us online at smilesbydrcoon.com.

What is Cosmetic Dental Bonding?

Using high-quality composite dental resin—a biocompatible, tooth-colored, safe and durable material—cosmetic dental bonding corrects smile imperfections, such as gaps, chips, and permanent stains.

During your bonding procedure, Dr. Coon will tint the composite resin to precisely match the color of your surrounding teeth. Then, he will apply the resin, expertly sculpt it to correct your smile flaw, as well as blend it in with your natural tooth structure and overall appearance, set your restoration with a safe, yet powerful curing light, and then shine and polish your new tooth to look 100 percent natural.

Who is a Candidate for Cosmetic Dental Bonding?

Before Cosmetic Dental Bonding by Dr. Coon

Anyone who has quality oral health and a minor dental flaw is a candidate for cosmetic dental bonding. In fact, cosmetic dental bonding is the procedure Dr. Coon recommends most for children who have a chipped tooth as a result of a sports or playtime injury. Because of its non-invasive nature and long-lasting results, cosmetic dental bonding is a safe, durable, natural looking, and cost effective restorative dental procedure for most patients.

After

How Long Does Cosmetic Dental Bonding Last?

With the proper care, your cosmetic dental restorations can last for at least 10 years. If you’re interested in a more permanent solution for your dental flaws, Dr. Coon may suggest porcelain veneers.

To find out which restorative dental procedure you’d benefit from most, contact Grinnell Street Dental, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, at (307) 672-7567 or visit us online at smilesbydrcoon.com.

Social Behaviors

Teenagers experiment with different habits in the hopes of “fitting in” or being socially accepted. Despite all the health warnings, many teens consider smoking. Smoking can cause stained teeth, bad breath, gum disease, and oral cancer. Older peers also encourage youth to experiment with alcohol, which contributes to dry mouth and bad breath. Teenagers are always focused on the coolest fashions, and oral piercings are a common fashion misconception. Tongue and lip piercings can cause oral swelling, infection, and chipped teeth. Furthermore, as their bodies change, many teenagers develop unhealthy eating patterns and eating disorders. Bulimia and other purging disorders can cause enamel erosion, stained teeth, and halitosis.

Life Factors

During your teenage years, your body changes from child to adult. Puberty causes hormonal changes, and the dental changes are more common in women than men. An increase in progesterone and estrogen hormones cause increased blood circulation to the gums, causing sensitive and tender gum tissue. Oral contraceptives and birth control pills can increase your risk of gingivitis if taken for long periods of time. Some oral medications and treatments may also decrease the effectiveness of the contraceptive. Other life changes include the increased stress teenagers face. School, work, and parents cause tension in your life, which may cause you to develop poor eating habits (such as loading up on sugar and soda), neglect dental hygiene, and grind your teeth.

Dental Problems

Many people realize the need for braces as a teenager. During or after your teeth have fully developed, Dr. Coon can evaluate your alignment. Spaced, crowded, or crooked teeth can be difficult to clean, increasing your risk of tooth decay. In addition, misaligned teeth aren’t very appealing and can crush a teen’s self-confidence. Braces can straighten teeth and push them into proper position. If a mouth full of metal makes you fear the school bullies, ask Dr. Coon about the clear Invisalign treatment to secretly straighten your grin. Additionally, your third molars, also called wisdom teeth, start to develop and erupt during the late teen years. Sometimes there is not enough room for these teeth to grow in properly, and they push on the surrounding teeth, causing pain and discomfort. If wisdom teeth are problematic, Dr. Coon may recommend getting them extracted.

If your typical teenage habits and changes start to affect your teeth, visit Drs. Cody, Justin, and Donald Coon to keep your smile safe. Contact Grinnell Street Dental in Sheridan, WY, at (307) 672-7567 to request an appointment or checkup.

What are Veneers?

Basically, veneers are thin wafer-like coverings that fit over your teeth. They can hide a wide range of imperfections such as gaps, crowding, misalignment, and permanent stains. Many patients believe that they look and feel like real teeth.

Who are the Best Candidates for the Procedure?

Candidates for veneers have multiple problem areas with their smile they want to correct. Ultimately, it is best that our team at Grinnell Street Dental provide you with a consultation and our assessment of which cosmetic dental procedures we feel are best for you.

How Long do Veneers Last?

As long as you care for your veneers properly, there is no expiration date. Treat them like natural teeth and brush two times a day and floss once a day. If you do this, your veneers will last for years to come.

How are Veneers Placed on My Teeth?

First, our dentists will take precise molds of your teeth. These molds will allow your veneers to be custom made just for you.  Based on the molds your dentist takes, your veneers will be created by a trained dental lab technician. After your veneers are ready, you will come back and our dentists will permanently bond the veneers to your teeth with dental cement. Final adjustments will be made to find the best color and shape for  your facial features so that the end result is a natural-looking smile.

I’m Interested in Veneers, What should I Do Next?

Contact our office at (307) 672-7567 for more information or to schedule a consultation. We have enhanced the smiles of residents in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the surrounding areas.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Mouthwash.

1.  How can mouthwash affect your hair?

a.  Make it grow faster

b.  Treat dandruff

c.  Make your hair fall out

2.  Which of the following can mouthwash mask?

a.  Carpet stains

b.  Smoke damage

c.  Underarm smells

3.  How much mouthwash would it take to clean your toilet?

a.  ¼ cup?

b.  2 cups?

c.  An entire bottle

4.  True or False? Mouthwash used to be an antiseptic to prevent infections.

a.  True

b.  False

Answers:

1. B.  If you have a case of dandruff, you can apply mouthwash to your head after you use your shampoo and rinse. You can still use your conditioner like normal after you mouthwash your head.
2. C.  If you dampen a cotton ball with mouthwash and apply it to your armpits, you will kill odor-producing bacteria that cause your underarms to smell. Deodorants only cover up the smell, while mouthwash can actually get rid of the pesky bacteria.
3. A. It’s true. Only ¼ cup of mouthwash in your toilet can clean it. Put the mouthwash in the toilet bowl and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then use your toilet brush to clean more thoroughly and then flush it all away to leave your toilet as clean as your mouth.
4. A. Mouthwash can be used to disinfect small cuts. The alcohol-based mouthwash will kill harmful bacteria, which is why mouthwash used to function as antiseptics during surgeries to prevent infections.

If you have any questions about how mouthwash can help you keep you mouth clean, call Dr. Coon and our team at (307) 672-7567. You may reserve an appointment to come into our offices in Sheridan, Wyoming. We offer services to residents in Sheridan and the surrounding area.

What People are Saying About Grinnell Street Dental

Word of mouth can go a long way when you’re choosing a dentist or dental team to invest not only your smile, but also your hard-earned money, time, and trust with. Here’s what patients are saying about Grinnell Street Dental and our dental team.

“I’ve always been self-conscious of my smile. Throughout my life, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t cover my mouth with my hand. I look at all my past pictures and see the closed mouth half-smile. Now with my ‘new smile,’ I can’t help but show everyone. It’s amazing what this has done for my life. Everyone around me keeps asking why I’m so happy all the time. I tell them I’ve always been a happy person; it’s just now that I can show it with my beautiful smile. I not only look great, but I feel great.”- Leah

“For many years of my adult life, I have been in the public eye and done many speaking engagements. I have never been happy with the way my smile looked. Consequently, I wore a mustache hoping that would help distract from my smile. Finally, I decided to do something about it. I went to see Dr. Coon, and he assured me that I could have a natural-looking smile. I was hesitant, but decided to go through the full-mouth restoration procedure. I am amazed at how good I feel and look. I find myself smiling for no reason. Finally, the mustache is gone! I feel like I look younger and have had others tell me that I look younger. I would highly recommend investing in your smile. I believe it’s the best money I ever spent.”- Tom

“Dr. Coon helped me have a better outlook on life. I suffered from headaches and low self-esteem, and was constantly grinding my teeth. All of that has changed because of the dedication and hard work put into my case. My smile is beautiful. I now have the confidence to approach new people and try new things. It is difficult for me to express how grateful I am in words. I will never forget the compassion for me and my future that was so evident in you and your team.”- Kathy

An Invitation for You and Your Family

As you can see, our patients love the care and results they’ve received at Grinnell Street Dental, and we want to help you achieve your smile goals in 2012. To reserve appointments for you and your family, call our office, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, at (307) 672-7567 or visit us online at smilesbydrcoon.com.

Brushing Habits

Yes, brushing your teeth at least twice a day is very important to keep your smile healthy. However, the way you brush can damage your grin. Brushing too aggressively can wear away the enamel on your teeth and irritate your gum tissue. Dr. Coon can show you the proper way to brush to protect your smile.

Cracks and Fractures

If you bite down on something hard such as ice or candy, it could fracture your tooth. Your teeth are strong, but they’re not made for crushing through hard objects. Many dental injuries also result from sports accidents. Hitting and falling could break a tooth, or even knock one out. If you’ve chipped your teeth, Dr. Coon can restore your smile with crowns or bonding. For athletes, Dr. Coon can design a custom-fitted mouth guard to protect your teeth from injury.

Grinding

Stress and anger may lead to unconscious tooth grinding or clenching. Chronic grinding, called bruxism, can damage the chewing surfaces of your teeth. It can also wear away your enamel, which increases your risk of decay.  In addition, grinding may actually wear down the shape of your tooth. Bruxism can cause headaches, jaw pain, sensitivity, and other discomfort. Dr. Coon can look for changes on your tooth surfaces, and may recommend a mouth guard to protect your smile from the harmful damage of grinding.

Erosion

High acid levels in your mouth can eat away at your tooth enamel. Bacteria in your mouth combine with the foods you eat to produce an acid that attacks your teeth. This acid can eat away your enamel and make you more susceptible to decay. The acid from acidic foods and drinks should be rinsed out of your mouth to avoid erosion. Vomiting and acid reflux disease can also cause acidic enamel erosion. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth properly will help keep your teeth from eroding.

If your teeth are worn, Dr. Coon offers restorative and cosmetic procedures to restore and repair your smile. Call Grinnell Street Dental in Sheridan, WY at (307) 672-7567 to schedule an appointment.

Electric Toothbrushes for Kids or Adults

If your loved one is devoted to dental health, how about a powered toothbrush? Modern electric toothbrushes have awesome cleaning power. Most come with a timer that tells you when to switch quadrants in your mouth, and they won’t let you get away with lazy scrubbing. Some of the more fancy electric brushes will stay charged for up to two-weeks, which is great for folks who travel. Electric toothbrushes are also ideal for elderly people because they feature a large, easy-to-hold handle and don’t require fine motor skills required to scrub teeth clean. Moving bristles do all the hard work!

Water Flosser

Already have an electric toothbrush? Consider a water flosser for efficient, effective, easy flossing. Research shows that water pressure flossing can be 90% more effective than traditional flossing. These devices have a dial that allows you to control the PSI. A water flosser can be a real treat for people with braces or gum disease.

Professional Whitening

A professional teeth whitening session makes a great gift. Grinnell Street Dental offers both in-office and at-home whitening solutions. Professional whitening can quickly erase  years of built up stains to reveal a more youthful, vibrant smile.

Toothpaste

Add a travel-size tube of toothpaste, or just a new flavor, to the stockings this year. Make sure to get a fluoridated paste because adults need topical fluoride to strengthen enamel.

Mouthwash

Why not add a few travel-size bottles of mouthwash to their stocking this season? Mouthwash is a toiletry often left at home during travels, but it can significantly reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth at home or on the road. Not only does mouthwash kill germs that cause bad breath (halitosis), but most antiseptic mouthwashes also kill germs that cause gingivitis and plaque.

Flossers

Handheld, pre-strung flossers provide an easy flossing experience that efficiently removes plaque and tartar from between teeth. Flossers make it easy to make flossing a daily habit.

Talk with a dentist today at Grinnell Street Dental. Call our Sheridan, Wyoming dentist office at (307) 672-7567 to schedule your routine cleanings and checkups or to talk about the latest dental gadgets. We serve Sheridan, Ranchester, Dayton, Parkman, Big Horn, and Story, Wyoming.