Save a Tooth and Save Your Smile with Root Canal Treatment in Norman, OK

January 30, 2015

480377293Root canal. Just saying those two words can run chills down your spine. The truth is, however, a root canal is meant to stop the chills down your spine by halting the pain and discomfort that accompanies an infected tooth. Moreover, a root canal can prevent the need for having that tooth extracted. With modern dental techniques and the comfort of sedation dentistry, Dr. Bobby Carmen performs root canals for patients in Norman, OK, and the surrounding vicinity.

Get to the Root of the Problem with a Root Canal

Your teeth are more than what you see. Inside each tooth there is soft tissue called pulp that is comprised of nerve tissue, blood vessels and lymph tissue. If you have a tooth that has severe decay or has suffered a serious injury resulting in a deep fracture, then the tooth’s pulp may be exposed to infection-causing bacteria. An infection inside a tooth can be extremely painful, and the infection can spread to your gum tissue, jawbone and beyond. The solution is to have a root canal.

During a root canal, Dr. Carmen removes the infected tissue inside your tooth along with any accompanying debris that the infection causes. Then, the tooth’s root and canals are filled with a biocompatible material and sealed. Dr. Carmen will also likely want to fit the tooth for a dental crown to protect it from further damage. Once the crown is in place, your tooth will look and function as good as new. Best of all, you’ll be pain free and you will have avoided extracting the tooth.

Call Our Office Today

Don’t contend with toothache pain for even one more day. Schedule an appointment for root canal treatment with Dr. Bobby Carmen. We serve patients in Norman, OK, as well as the surrounding communities of Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and central Oklahoma and beyond.

Make 2015 Your Brightest Year Yet with Teeth Whitening from Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK

January 15, 2015

100047604It’s not too late to make one more New Year’s resolution: smile more. But if your smile isn’t as white and bright as you’d like, that may be a difficult resolution to keep. So, why not consider doing something to make that resolution a cinch? Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK, revives smiles with professional teeth whitening.

As we age, our teeth become stained and discolored for a number of reasons, including:

  • Commonly consumed foods and drinks, such as blueberries and red wine
  • Tobacco use
  • Certain medications, such as the antibiotic tetracycline
  • Genetic predisposition
  • The unavoidable aging process itself

Fortunately, there is a way to reverse the hands of time. Teeth whitening is a popular and safe alternative to simply putting up with a dull smile. Dr. Carmen uses the Kör® Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System. Kör combines the precision and comfort of custom-fitted trays that we fabricate in the office with the convenience and comfort of whitening your teeth at home.

Teeth Whitening in Norman, OK

When you visit Dr. Carmen for teeth whitening, we’ll take impressions of your teeth in order to make form-fitting trays that snuggly but comfortably hold the whitening gel against your teeth. The KöR whitening gel restores your teeth’s ability to absorb oxygen. The oxygen from its whitening gel is absorbed deeply into the tooth, dissolving stain molecules. You’ll notice results within a few days, but for maximum whiteness, you should continue treatment for about two weeks.

At the end of treatment, your teeth will be dramatically whiter, and Kor even whitens teeth stained by tetracycline. In addition, patients report low tooth-sensitivity using the Kör® Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System.  For long-lasting brilliance, Dr. Carmen may recommend combining in-office teeth whitening with periodic take-home touch-ups.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you’d like to learn more about teeth whitening, then call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen. We conveniently serve patients in Norman, OK, as well as Moore, the University of Oklahoma, central Oklahoma and beyond.

Rely on Dr. Bobby Carmen for Family Dentistry in Norman and Moore

December 30, 2014

170082992Wouldn’t it be nice to find a dentist who provides a one-stop shop for all of your family’s dental needs? Yes. Well in that case, you’ve come to the right place! Dr. Bobby Carmen practices all of the elements of family dentistry for patients in Norman, OK, as well as Moore.

As your family dentist, Dr. Carmen will want to see you and all the members of your family for dental checkups at least twice each year. At these checkups, he and our dental hygienists will clean your teeth and remove plaque, assess your gum health, examine for signs of tooth decay and take x-rays when necessary to reveal hidden spots of decay. If found, Dr. Carmen will fill these decaying spots with a tooth-colored composite resin that matches your natural tooth color.

Periodontal Therapy in Norman and Moore

Likewise, if we find an indication of gum disease, also called periodontal disease, we take the necessary steps to halt the progress of this all too common disease. Treatment may include root scaling and planing to remove plaque from below the gum line and smooth the surface of tooth roots; antibiotic therapy; laser treatment to remove bacteria and help gums reattach to your teeth; and oral surgery in advanced cases of gum disease. In this instance, we will refer you to a competent periodontist.

More Family Dentistry in Norman and Moore

Dr. Carmen also treats patients for sleep apnea and TMJ dysfunction. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that causes lapses in breathing during the night. There is one audible consequence—snoring—but the other consequences are far more life threatening and include high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Dr. Carmen treats sleep apnea with an oral appliance that shifts the position of the jaw in order to maintain an open airway.

TMJ dysfunction results from the malfunction of the temporomandibular joints, which move your jaw up and down. While there are a number of conditions that can cause TMJ, the most common is nighttime teeth grinding and clenching. Here too, Dr. Carmen can prescribe a custom-designed oral appliance.

Call Our Office Today

To schedule an appointment for family dentistry in Norman and Moore, call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen. We’ll be glad to see you and your whole family. Our office serves patients in Norman, OK, as well as Moore, the University of Oklahoma, central Oklahoma and beyond.

Restorative Dentistry from Norman Dentist Dr. Bobby Carmen

December 15, 2014

134124545The first job of a dentist is to preserve oral health and prevent problems. But when problems do arise—and most people don’t go through life without at least a few dental problems—it’s important to restore your oral health and your smile. When those dental problems happen, there are a number of procedures that fall into the category of restorative dentistry. Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK, is your Norman dentist who practices a variety of restorative dentistry procedures to give you back your happy smile.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

One of the most common dental problems is tooth decay. Fortunately, repair has come a long way since the days of dark, metal fillings. Today, your Norman dentist, Dr. Bobby Carmen, can use composite resins to restore teeth to an attractive and healthy state. This tooth-colored plastic mixture can be blended to find the perfect match to your teeth’s natural color.

CEREC One-Visit Crowns

For a tooth that is severely cracked, or to protect a tooth that has recently undergone root canal therapy, you’ll need a crown. Dr. Carmen offers CEREC One-Visit Crowns, which are convenient, strong and completely natural looking. After taking a 3D image of your tooth, our CEREC machine mills a strong, beautiful restoration in about an hour. We’ll permanently place the crown during your single visit, and you’ll leave our office with a full, healthy smile.

Dental Implants

If you’re missing one or more teeth, dental implants offer the most lifelike replacement. The advantage of a dental implants is that both the tooth root and crown are restored. First, Dr. Carmen implants a biocompatible titanium post in your jawbone beneath the open tooth socket. Then once the bone and implant have fused, a custom-designed crown or implant retained denture is affixed to the new tooth “root.”

Call Our Office Today

These are just some of the restorative dentistry procedures offered by your Norman dentist, Dr. Bobby Carmen. Others available include dentures and fixed bridges, inlays and onlays, root canals and full-mouth reconstructions. We serve patients in Norman, OK, as well as Moore, the University of Oklahoma, central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Norman, OK

November 30, 2014

porcelain veneersIf your smile doesn’t make you happy, then perhaps you should consider cosmetic dentistry. Unlike traditional dentistry that focuses on the health of your mouth, teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry addresses the appearance of your smile. Under the overall heading of cosmetic dentistry, there are a number of treatment options for you to consider. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Bobby J. Carmen and his staff in Norman, OK, will be happy to consult with you to find the cosmetic dental treatment that will give a smile guaranteed to make you happy.

Your Cosmetic Dentistry Choices

The first step toward your new and improved smile is a smile makeover consultation with Dr. Carmen. Our office takes a comprehensive approach to smile makeovers, making sure your teeth and mouth are healthy before beginning any cosmetic treatments. Once your best oral health is confirmed, Dr. Carmen will recommend the cosmetic treatment best suited to your unique situation. These may include:

Teeth Whitening—to remove surface stains and reveal a whiter smile, we offer the KOR™ Whitening at-home teeth whitening system. You’ll simply wear the custom-fitted trays and professional grade whitening gel for the time Dr. Carmen specifies, and you’ll see a whiter smile in a few days.

Cosmetic Bonding—for a tooth with a slight imperfection, such as a chip or minor misalignment, Dr. Carmen may recommend one-appointment bonding. A tooth-colored composite resin is applied to the tooth and hardened with a curing light. Once hardened, Dr. Carmen will sculpt and polish the restoration.

Porcelain Veneers—for more seriously stained, chipped or misaligned teeth, there are porcelain veneers, which are thin layers of dental porcelain that Dr. Carmen adheres to your teeth. Porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental lab to specifications designed to best enhance your unique smile and face.

Cosmetic Gum Lift—if your smile shows too much gum and not enough teeth, then a gum lift can uncover the tooth structure that is hidden beneath that overgrown soft tissue. Excess gum tissue is precisely removed and after a short recovery, you’ll have a happy smile to show the world!

Schedule an Appointment Today

To learn more about the possibilities of cosmetic dentistry, call the office of Dr. Bobby J. Carmen in Norman, OK. We also conveniently serve patients in Del City, Moore, the University of Oklahoma and throughout central Oklahoma.

Dr. Bobby Carmen: Your General Dentist in Norman, OK

November 15, 2014

shutterstock_94075012Whether you need a routine teeth cleaning or a more specialized treatment, Dr. Bobby J. Carmen is the general dentist in Norman, OK, with the training and experience to handle your dental needs. As a general dentist, Dr. Carmen treats children, teens, adults and seniors. You’ll be pleased to know that since graduating from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, Dr. Carmen has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education in order to stay up-to-date with the latest dental skills and techniques.

General Dentistry Services

The old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure was probably never more applicable than it is with general dentistry. As a general dentist, Dr. Carmen can, of course, treat any dental or oral health problems that may arise. More importantly, however, he works to prevent those problems from ever happening. For example, everyone over the age of three should have a professional teeth cleaning at least twice per year. At these appointments, our gentle hygienists will not only clean and polish your teeth, they’ll carefully examine your gums for any signs of periodontal disease. If necessary, x-rays of your teeth will be taken to see any tooth decay that is invisible to the naked eye.

Beyond this basic general dentistry service, our office also provides periodontal (gum disease) therapy, athletic mouthguards, snore guards for sleep apnea and TMJ therapy. If we do find signs of gum disease at a check-up, then there are methods of treatment we can use in-office to improve the condition of your gums, teeth and supporting bone tissue. Athletic mouthguards are a must if you or anyone in your family participates in sports. A mouthguard fits over your teeth and helps protect your smile as well as your lips, tongue, face and jaw.

A snore guard is a custom oral appliance that keeps airways open to eliminate lapses in breathing due to sleep apnea and stop snoring. Likewise, Dr. Carmen can treat TMJ dysfunction with a custom fitted oral appliance that will alleviate the painful symptoms associated with TMJ.

Call Our Office Today

If you need an appointment with a Norman, OK, general dentist, call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen. We also serve patients in Moore, Del City, the University of Oklahoma and throughout central Oklahoma.

Relax! Sedation Dentistry is Available in Norman, OK

October 30, 2014

76132811Are you willing to admit that the thought of going to the dentist makes you a little nervous? Or actually, are you just plain fearful of the dentist and have consequently delayed and avoided a long overdue dental check-up? Well, with sedation dentistry, Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK, can ease your nerves and calm your fears.

Sedation Dentistry for All Types of Dental Procedures

Whether you are coming to see Dr. Carmen for a teeth cleaning and check-up or a more involved procedure, sedation dentistry can relieve your anxiety. The degree of sedation will depend on how invasive the procedure is and your level of fear. Dr. Carmen uses three types of sedation.

Oral conscious sedation combines oral medication with nitrous oxide to achieve the appropriate level of relaxation. In this case, you will usually take an anti-anxiety medicine the night before your dental appointment. The next morning, a friend or relative will accompany you to the dentist. Depending on whether or not you’re still feeling somewhat anxious, Dr. Carmen may decide to administer nitrous oxide to further calm you.

Another option is to use only nitrous oxide (many people know this as laughing gas). Once you are comfortable in the dental chair, Dr. Carmen will position a mask over your nose. You’ll then inhale the combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen until you are sufficiently relaxed for your dental work to begin. Once the mask is removed, the effects of nitrous oxide quickly wear off, so you’ll be able to drive after your appointment.

Finally, if necessary, Dr. Carmen works with an anesthesiologist who can administer IV sedation. This type of sedation can relieve severe anxiety and help patients with sensitive gag reflexes, TMJ or other neuromuscular disorders that may make keeping their mouths open for a long time difficult.

Call Our Office Today

Don’t let fear of dentistry stand in the way of your best oral health. Call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK, for an appointment made easier with sedation dentistry. Dr. Carmen conveniently serves patients throughout Central Oklahoma, Moore, Del City, and the University of Oklahoma.

Cosmetic Bonding for Quick and Easy Tooth Repair

October 15, 2014

Shutterstock Lumineers Close UpOops! You just chipped a tooth. Or perhaps you have a tooth that has always been misshapen or misaligned. There’s no reason to settle for a smile that is less than what you want it to be. With the modern dental treatment of cosmetic bonding, that tooth can likely be repaired in one appointment at the Norman, OK, office of Dr. Bobby Carmen.

When is Cosmetic Bonding the Right Choice?

There are a number of cases when cosmetic bonding may be the perfect option. Some of these instances include:

  • Repairing a chipped or cracked tooth
  • Restoring the look of discolored or stained teeth
  • Correcting the spacing between teeth
  • Changing the shape of a tooth

With cosmetic or dental bonding, Dr. Carmen will first need to slightly roughen the exterior of the existing tooth in order to provide the proper surface for the bonding material to adhere. Then a tooth-colored resin material is applied to the tooth. The resin is molded and smoothed to the desired shape. A special ultraviolet light that “bonds” the resin to the tooth hardens the material. Dr. Carmen will further shape, trim and polish the bonded material to match the appearance of the rest of the tooth, thereby restoring your tooth and improving your smile.

Advantages of Cosmetic Bonding

The first advantage of cosmetic bonding is that the procedure can usually be completed in a single visit, unless several teeth are involved. Secondly, cosmetic bonding rarely even requires local anesthesia. Finally, when compared to other cosmetic dental procedures such as veneers or crowns, cosmetic bonding is relatively inexpensive.

Call the Office of Dr. Carmen Today

Whether you just noticed that chipped tooth or you have a tooth that has been bothering you for a while, cosmetic bonding may be just the solution you’re seeking. Make an appointment with Dr. Carmen and his team in Norman, OK. We’ll be happy to speak to you about what cosmetic bonding can do for your smile. Dr. Carmen also serves patients throughout Central Oklahoma, Moore, Del City and the University of Oklahoma.

Hidden Dangers of Periodontal Disease: What You Need to Know

February 8, 2014

You may already know that periodontal disease can cause a number of undesirable conditions in your mouth – red, swollen gums and bleeding, to name a few – but did you know that it can also affect other areas of your body as well? At the office of Dr. Bobby J. Carmen in Norman, OK, we treat all stages of gum disease to help you avoid the potentially dangerous consequences associated with this common oral health condition.

The Unexpected Connection

While the detrimental effects of periodontal disease are bad enough, the complications that can arise when the condition is left untreated are far worse. Aside leading to oral inflammation, pain and an increased risk of tooth loss, the bacteria that causes advanced gum disease can spread throughout your body and wreak havoc on vital organs and tissues. Some of the most common complications associated with untreated periodontal disease are:

  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart attack
  • Diabetes
  • Stroke
  • Low birth weight and preterm delivery (in mothers with periodontitis)

Fortunately, proper treatment of the infection can significantly reduce your risk of developing these often life-threatening conditions. Dr. Carmen’s preventative periodontal therapy can restore the health of your gums and teeth, protecting you from these and other diseases. Following treatment, you simply continue to brush and floss twice per day and visit the office every six months for routine checkups and cleanings.

If you or a loved one suffers from untreated periodontal disease and you’re ready to take the first step toward a healthier you, contact us at our Norman, OK office today to find out how Dr. Carmen can help you. We also serve patients throughout the surrounding areas of Moore, Central Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and beyond.

 

Why Sleep Apnea Treatment Is So Important

January 30, 2014

Do you find that you regularly feel tired during the day even after you’ve slept all night? Have you ever been told that you snore loudly or that you seem to have trouble breathing while you sleep? These may be signs of sleep apnea and should be evaluated by a qualified medical professional. If you’ve been dealing with sleep apnea and its many undesirable side effects, Dr. Bobby J. Carmen and his caring staff in Norman, OK want to help you find the rest and rejuvenation you deserve from your sleep.

Complications of Sleep Apnea

As if excessive snoring and feeling exhausted as soon as you wake up isn’t bad enough, sleep apnea can actually lead to a whole host of other potentially dangerous problems if left untreated. Because instances of apnea throughout the night deprive the brain and body of vital oxygen, treatment should begin as soon as possible following diagnosis. Complications of untreated sleep apnea include the following:

  • High blood pressure
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Heart attack
  • Greater risk of stroke
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Respiratory failure
  • Atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart beat

Fortunately for people suffering from sleep apnea, Dr. Carmen treats this condition with specialized oral devices called mouth guards, night guards or snore guards. The comfortable oral appliance is custom-fitted to your mouth for optimal results. It keeps your airways open while you sleep to prevent lapses in breathing and loud snoring.

If you or your spouse is affected by sleep apnea, don’t suffer for one more night. Contact our Norman, OK office today and see how we can help you get the peaceful, restful sleep you want and need. We proudly serve patients from throughout Oklahoma City, the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore and beyond.

 

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