Chitra Naik Blog
Take Care of Your Smile with Preventive Dentistry in Flint, MI
October 10, 2014
The old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is true with many health matters and oral health is no exception. The American Dental Association recommends twice yearly check-ups for adults and children, so that your can dentist can spot any concerns and treat appropriately before they become problems. Dr. Chitra P. Naik and her team in Flint, MI, are ready to provide you and your entire family with the preventive dentistry you need to maintain oral health and general health.
Dr. Naik: Your Partner in Preventive Dentistry
Successful preventive dentistry is actually a partnership between you and your dentist. Optimal oral health requires at-home care—your part—and regular in-office visits with Dr. Naik. Daily brushing and flossing at home is basic oral care. In fact, this basic should begin as soon as a child’s first tooth appears. Good habits start early!
In the office, Dr. Naik and her colleagues will pick up where you leave off in preventive dentistry. At a check-up, we will provide a professional cleaning to remove plaque and stains; a thorough examination of your teeth, gums and oral cavity; and when necessary, we’ll take x-rays in order to spot problems that are not visible to the naked eye, such as cavities and problems below the gum line.
At your preventive dentistry check-ups, Dr. Naik will also check for any abnormal signs of wear and tear on your teeth that may be caused by teeth grinding and clenching, or bruxism. If found, Dr. Naik will prescribe a night guard to wear during sleep when bruxism usually occurs. Likewise, if you or one of your children is active in sports, Dr. Naik will create a custom-fitted athletic mouthguard.
Contact Our Office Today for an Appointment
If it’s time for you or someone you care for to see the dentist for a preventive dentistry check-up call the office of Dr. Naik today. We’ll be happy to assist you. Our office serves patients in Flint, MI, and Flushing, Davison, Fenton, Ortonville and beyond.
How Porcelain Veneers Can Transform Your Smile with Dr. Chitra Naik
September 9, 2014
When you think of a “perfect” smile, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Straight, healthy teeth in a brilliant shade of white are the fundamental components of any radiant smile, but not everyone is born with these highly coveted dental features. Fortunately, there is a way to enjoy a flawless smile without extensive dental work. Porcelain veneers from Dr. Chitra Naik’s dental practice in Flint, MI can help you smile with complete comfort and confidence.
Why Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are one of the most versatile cosmetic dentistry procedures available, instantly changing the appearance of a smile for the best. First, Dr. Naik will discuss your expectations and preferences during a one-on-one consultation. We invite you to bring in some photos of smiles that you like; think celebrities, favorite actors, models, and the like. This will help us better develop a custom look just for you. During your first appointment, the front surfaces of your teeth will be prepared to accept your custom veneers. Temporaries will be provided for the interim between your first and final visits.
At your second and last visit, your custom porcelain veneers will be placed. These wafer-thin layers of tooth-colored porcelain are shaped, sized, and shaded to create a gorgeous smile that still looks completely natural. Porcelain veneers from Dr. Naik are commonly used to cover the following dental flaws:
- Deep stains and resistant yellowing
- Cracks in enamel
- Chipped teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Teeth that are misshapen or too small
- An excessively “gummy” smile
Reclaim Your Beautiful Smile Today
Whether you have a single cracked tooth or your entire smile needs some cosmetic help to look its best, Dr. Chitra Naik can help. Contact our office in Flint, MI to schedule your appointment today, and discover the dramatic difference that porcelain veneers and our other cosmetic dentistry solutions can make in the appearance of your smile. We look forward to serving you! Our welcoming office in Flint, MI treats patients from throughout the surrounding areas as well, including Flushing, Davison, Fenton, Ortonville, and beyond.
Rebuild Your Smile’s Beauty and Function with Crown and Bridge Treatment in Flint, MI
August 14, 2014
Missing teeth present a variety of problems from the moment they are lost or extracted. It immediately becomes more difficult to chew food and to speak clearly. If the teeth missing are visible when you smile, you may feel self-conscious about your appearance in public and in photographs. At the Flint, MI office of Dr. Chitra P. Naik, patients with missing teeth are invited to rebuild their smiles and their dentition with a full scope of restorative dentistry solutions, including crown and bridge treatment.
Benefits of Crown and Bridge Treatment
A bridge is a dental prosthetic that replaces between one to three missing teeth in a row. The bridge is permanently affixed to the two teeth that are situated on either side of the gap using custom crowns. These crowns are meticulously crafted of only the highest-grade dental materials to ensure a natural, seamless appearance and long-lasting stability. The replacement teeth are also customized to match the color, size, and shape of your natural dentition. With custom-crafted crown and bridge restorations from Dr. Naik, no one will ever have to know that you are missing teeth at all.
Another form of crown and bridge treatment utilizes the proven efficacy of dental implants. These titanium posts are implanted into the bone of your jaw for maximum stability, and the crown and bridge restoration is attached directly to them. Dr. Naik can talk with you about the additional uses for dental implants at your consultation, as well as help you choose the restorative dentistry option that best suits your lifestyle.
Explore the Possibilities of Restorative Dentistry
Whether you are missing one or more teeth and you’d like to schedule your crown and bridge consultation or you’d simply like to find out more about our extensive range of restorative procedures, we’re here to help. Contact our office in Flint, MI today and speak to our caring, knowledgeable staff about how crown and bridge treatment can benefit you. Our warm, welcoming dental practice serves families from Flint, Davison, Ortonville, Flushing, Fenton, and from throughout Michigan. We look forward to helping you enjoy the full benefits of a complete smile.
Root Canal Therapy: What You Need to Know
July 2, 2014
When you think of the dental procedure known commonly as a “root canal,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Many patients think immediately of a treatment that is both exceedingly painful and immensely complicated, fearing multiple appointments and a hefty bill. Fortunately, none of these are true today. Root canal treatment, known as endodontic therapy, has come a long way over the past few decades, allowing patients to receive the care they need without the fear. At the office of Dr. Chitra P. Naik in Flint, MI, our team performs root canal therapy only when absolutely necessary, helping patients with root infections preserve the integrity and health of their natural teeth.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal?
Any dental pain should be assessed as soon as possible in order to rule out the possibility of a serious condition. An exam with Dr. Naik will help determine whether or not the tooth pain you are experiencing is caused by an infection, as well as aid in the development of a customized treatment plan. If your tooth root is infected, the diseased pulp within must be removed so that the canal may be thoroughly cleaned. After all traces of infection have been eliminated the canal will be filled and the tooth will typically be capped with a custom-made, aesthetically pleasing crown. You’ll finally be free of pain and your smile will look better than ever.
Though an exam by Dr. Naik is the only way to be sure if root canal therapy is necessary, there are some things that you can be aware of at home as well. Keep an eye out for the following, and call us immediately if any of these factors pertain to you:
- Inflammation and/or redness in the gum tissue surrounding a specific tooth
- Tooth pain that does not subside with regular oral hygiene care (brushing and flossing)
- The formation of an abscess
- A tooth that becomes darker than the rest (usually gray)
- Unexplained increase in sensitivity to hot or cold
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Do you suspect that you or someone in your family may be suffering from a tooth infection? If so, time is of the essence and we urge you to contact our office today. Though prevention is certainly the best medicine, timely treatment of a serious dental issue is the next best thing. Dr. Naik and her caring staff look forward to helping you find lasting relief from tooth pain and infection with our comprehensive array of general, restorative, and endodontic dental solutions. Our family-friendly office happily serves patients from Flint, MI and the surrounding areas, including Davison, Flushing, Ortonville, Fenton, and beyond.
Tooth-Colored Fillings for a Healthier, Stronger, and More Beautiful Smile
June 15, 2014
For many years, dental cavities were treated with amalgam fillings, commonly known as “silver” or “metal” fillings. Today, however, modern dental technology and advanced science have made it possible to utilize much more sophisticated materials in the treatment of tooth decay. At the Flint, MI dental practice of Dr. Chitra P. Naik, we offer a variety of restorative dental solutions to help keep our patients’ smiles looking and feeling their best, including composite resin tooth-colored fillings.
The Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings
Though tooth enamel is the hardest natural substance in the human body, it is still susceptible to considerable damage due to decay. A dental filling is placed to repair and protect a damaged tooth after the decayed portion has been treated. Amalgam fillings are comprised of numerous metals, including silver, liquid mercury, tin, and copper. Because of their composition, amalgams can be affected by changes in temperature, thereby making them unideal as compared to a more stable substance like composite resin. Composite resin maintains its size and shape despite temperatures changes, decreasing the chances that a tooth will develop microfractures over time. In addition, composite resin fillings (often simply referred to as tooth-colored fillings) are more aesthetically pleasing, blending in with your smile in a way that looks completely natural.
While it has not yet been definitively proven that the mercury in amalgam fillings poses a health risk, many doctors and patients prefer the certainty afforded by composite resin fillings instead. The biocompatible materials used in these restorations look and feel more natural, and they are completely free of metal. You can rest assured in the knowledge that your dental fillings are 100 percent safe.
Visit Our Dental Practice in Flint, MI Today
Whether you currently have amalgam fillings and you would like to learn more about tooth-colored alternatives or you simply need to schedule your next dental checkup, we are here to help. Contact our office in Flint, MI today and speak with our caring, considerate staff, and discover the difference that our experience, technology, and patient-centric approach can make in your oral health and wellness. Our practice also happily welcomes patients from throughout the surrounding communities, including Ortonville, Flushing, Fenton, Davison, and more.