What Is a Smile Makeover?

February 29, 2012

As February turns into March, warmer weather is on the way. And with this warmer weather comes thoughts of heading outdoors and enjoying the sunshine.

There are a lot of ways you can prepare for this welcome change, and one of them is with a smile makeover from Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office.

What is a smile makeover, exactly?

It’s a combination of cosmetic dentistry services designed to help you achieve your brightest, most dazzling smile possible.

When planning a smile makeover, Dr. Carmen will take a range of factors into consideration, including aspects like tooth color, tooth length, tooth alignment, and tooth integrity.

Based on what we find from a thorough oral exam, we can then recommend which services we think will benefit you the most. For some, that may just be teeth whitening. For others, we may recommend a combination of two or more services, like teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.

Are you ready to get started on a smile makeover for this spring or summer? Call our office to schedule a consultation. Dr. Carmen serves patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and beyond.  During your visit, we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about our services and how they can help you boost your smile.

A Reminder about the Body’s Smile-Heart Connection from Dr. Carmen

February 17, 2012

Valentine’s Day may be over, but it’s not too late to draw attention to the relationship between your smile and your heart (or between your smile and your overall health for that matter). The two are deeply connected, tied to one another by gum disease.

The trouble starts when bacteria and plaque irritate the gums, causing inflammation and the development of pockets between the teeth and gums. From these pockets, it’s possible for bacteria and plaque to gain access to other parts of the body, including the heart.

How gum disease contributes to heart disease is still a little bit of a mystery, but one theory explains it this way: As bacteria and plaque irritate the heart’s arterial walls, protective plaque is produced, blocking blood flow in the process and eventually causing a heart attack.

One way you can protect your smile (and your body) is with regular dental visits to Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office. Regular visits aren’t a guarantee against heart disease, but they do provide an extra layer of protection for patients who want to support their overall health.

Is it time to schedule your next visit with us? Call our office to schedule one. Dr. Carmen treats patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.