Spring time is the Right Time for CEREC One-Day Crowns and Fillings

The weather is great and spring is right around the corner! The office of Dr. Edwin Porter is booming with excitement for the warm afternoons and longer days. We are completing more Cerec restorations than ever and we have such great experiences here for our patients! Their comments range from “I am so glad I only had to get numb once!” to “I am so excited that I don’t have to wear a temporary crown and come back to place the final restoration!” to “The crown looks like my own teeth!” We have heard great feedback and can only shout the benefits of having Cerec crowns, onlay, and even fillings . We are using on the strongest materials on the market right now and you can rest assured that your dentistry will be in there for a long time.

Dr. Porter and his staff will see you for a free consult at any time to discuss your concerns. All you have to do is call us or e-mail us! 704-544-5330 or Wanda@DentistryinCharlotte.com

Happy Friday, Everyone!!!

Did You See A Shadow in Your Mouth on Groundhogs Day?

Shadows can be discolorations in your enamel, stains from daily coffee, wine or tea drinking, a root canal treated tooth that has died or old restorations that have changed colors over time. There are many ways to fix your unpleasant smile. At the office of Dr. Edwin Porter, we offer everything from whitening, to veneers, to replacing amalgams and old restorations, and even bleaching internally of old root canal treated teeth. Sometimes these services are not just needed for cosmetic reasons but just because the lifespan of the old dentistry has reached its end. Fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and even dentures and partials all have a lifespan that can depend on your bite, the materials used, the wear and tear you put on the restorations and the fit.
Dr. Porter uses the best materials to make our in-office Cerec crowns and only sends off dentures and partials to the best labs in America. Our quality is something that makes us stand out amongst the sea of other dental professionals here in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Our staff is friendly and helpful in making the best use out of your dental insurance. Also, remember that we still complete all the paperwork and do the filing. We want you to get the best benefit for your services and for any out of pocket expenses you may incur, we offer easy payment plans in-office or though outside financing such as Care Credit and Chase Health Financing.
Call us today for an appointment! We can start you out with an exam, x-rays and cleaning or just get you in here for a free consultation so that you may get a feel for what we have to offer. We are here to make you comfortable and at ease with the whole process. Just let us know how we can help!
Wanda@DentistryinCharlotte.com or 704-544-5330

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween to all of our patients and friends on the web! Remember to brush after that candy consumption to reduce the risk of cavities and toothaches!

Enjoy the photo from today as Wanda dressed up as Charlie Chaplin and Samantha dressed up as a Toddlers and Tiaras contestant!

Stay safe Charlotte!

Love,
Dr. Edwin S. Porter
and the Arboretum Gang

Do You Need A Root Canal or Allergy Medicine?!

Springtime brings with it many benefits such as longer days and warmer weather but also the inevitable ALLERGY SEASON!
Allergies can affect people of any age, any gender, and any race with miserable symptoms, including tooth pain. Due to the proximity of the sinuses to the upper teeth, pain in the teeth and gum area may be confused with other ailments such as a cavity, periodontal disease, or the need for a root canal. Try taking your allergy medication before you come in to see us if you are prone to allergies. This may save you a trip! If your symptoms go away, the issues are most likely dealing with your sinuses. If they persist, please call us for a quick exam and x-ray to determine what is going on. Our Arboretum office is conveniently located near your work and home! Call us at 704-544-5330 today!

What’s the Difference in X-rays and Why You Need Them

At the office of Dr. Edwin S. Porter, we place our focus on patient care and making sure your teeth are healthy. In order to diagnose dental issues, we use digital x-rays to diagnose what we cannot see with our eyes or other dental tools. As a new patient, we start out with Full Mouth Series, or FMX as we call it, to establish your whole mouth. For younger patients, we may choose to take a Panorex and four bitewings to see baby teeth and adult teeth. The Panorex and FMX are usually taken every 3-5 years as teeth shift and change within that time. Every year once you are established, we will take four Bitewings to make sure there is not any new decay in between your teeth.

Full Mouth Series ("FMX"): The full mouth series of x-rays are designed to take detailed images of each tooth and the surrounding structures. We usually prescribe them to diagnose most dental conditions like gum disease, cavities, dental abscesses, and pathological lesions.

Bitewing X-rays: These are used to screen for cavities. Bitwing x-rays are not typically used on front teeth and are not used to diagnose gum disease.

Panorex X-rays: These are taken for a broad overview of the mouth as well as the entire maxillofacial area- which includes the midface, upper and lower jaws and surrounding areas. They are used more routinely by Oral Surgeons and Orthodontists during treatment planning, but have considerable less diagnostic value to the General Dentist who need more detail.

After we take your x-rays, you will be able to immediately view them and we can manipulate them by making them bigger and highlighting areas of concern. Call us to check out our great technology! 704-544-5330 today!

Wedding Season is Here!

Here at the office of Dr. Edwin S Porter, we are hoping you have been enjoying the spring weather and that everyone has been safe during the storms that we've had, as well.

Our week has been fabulous and all started out the marriage of our hygienist, Katie Horton! It was a fabulous wedding that was beautiful and fun! She and Todd are now enjoying their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. We can't wait for them to get back and tell us of their fun.

The Royal Wedding has just wrapped up as well and it's officially the start of the wedding season! That means come in to our office to have your teeth cleaned and whitened for your big day. We will be running specials soon on our whitening packages and would love to help you look your best! Call or e-mail our office for more details!

704-544-5330 or Wanda@DentistryinCharlotte.com

Spring Cleaning!

So every spring, everyone gets in the mood to clean up their house, put away those tacky sweaters, and do some yard work. It’s also a great time to think about getting into the dental office for a teeth cleaning! Your teeth get dirty and a professional cleaning by Katie, our Hygienist, will get them back into tip-top shape just in time for summer! We do all types of cleanings here at the office of Dr. Edwin S Porter. We can do regular cleanings, periodontal cleanings, scaling and root planing, as well as cleanings for children. We love to get your teeth cleaned using our ultrasonic machine, which loosens all the plaque and calculus, and then we scale and polish your teeth. And we always recommend a professional fluoride varnish treatment for all of our patients because even adults need fluoride! So call us today to get in for your Spring Teeth Cleaning! Wanda@DentistryinCharlotte.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to the best patients in the world!

We just wanted to take a moment to thank our patients for being great to us. Our patients keep their appointments, come on time or early, and have become great friends of out staff. We strive to give you all the best care we can and you all mean so much to us.

Here's hoping to a great Thanksgiving with each of your families and remember what the holiday is about. Enjoy your time off and even the shopping that follows :)

Today is National Men Make Dinner Day!

Hey Men! Treat that special woman in your life to a great dinner tonight! Whether it's a steak for your wife, chicken noodle soup for your mom, or boiled turkey for your pooch, they will appreciate it!

What's on the menu tonight for our ladies? Wanda is asking for some baked salmon and a fabulous salad. Katie is craving chicken parmesan. And Samantha wants a juicy steak or sushi. When we asked Dr. Porter what he would be making for his wife tonight he replied that he makes dinner every night and tonight would be no different! He's a great husband to his wife and children.

Eat up ladies....Enjoy this one night a year :)

Use your Dental Insurance or Lose It!

Happy Halloween weekend everyone!

The end of the year is fast approaching and some things seem to remain the same. Once again I’m talking about dental insurance. Each year our office in bombarded with calls requesting an appointment before the end of the year. Most dental benefits expire at the end of the year. It would be nice if they “rolled-over” like your cell phone minutes but we all know that is not the case. Needless to say, we hardly ever have enough available appointments to fill all the requests. I thought we were alone in this insurance battle until I read a report that touched on this topic. The statistics are interesting.

Did you Know?
It is estimated that more than 80% of people with DentalBenefits fail to use all of their benefits for that calender year
It is also estimated that more than 90% of the 80% have untreated dental needs
The bottom line is, 7 out of every 10 people needing dental treatment fail to maximize their dental benefits each year. That’s an enormous amount of unused benefits! Even more of a concern, that is a staggering number of untreated people.

Having dental insurance is an awesome benefit. If you have insurance and need treatment you need to remember, USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Halloween Cavities?!

Halloween! Halloween Costumes! Halloween CANDY!! Halloween Cavities??!!

Halloween is next week, which means a seemingly endless supply of candy. Candy is a nightmare for your teeth. Especially since Halloween candy seems to last well past the first snowfall. Even though candy is bad for your teeth, I am not going to tell you to give it up completely. Let's be honest, who would listen to that?

The type of candy you do eat is important. Sticky candies like taffy, gummy bears and licorice are the worst for your teeth. This type of candy gets caught on tooth surfaces and in between teeth. Also, try to avoid chewing on hard candies because there is a chance for a tooth fracture or damage to a filling. Hard candies like lollipops tend to remain in the mouth for long periods of time, thus subjecting your teeth to prolonged acid attacks. Avoid gum that has sugar in it as well.

After eating a piece of candy, there are some preventative measures that can be helpful. Ideally, if you can brush your teeth right after consumption with fluoride toothpaste, this is the best. If not, make sure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss. If brushing your teeth after candy is not an option, try swishing with water. Also try chewing sugarless gum for twenty minutes and this has been proven to reduce tooth decay because it increases saliva production.

Care Credit Now being offered at 12 Months NO INTEREST!

I know you've always wanted to complete your dentistry but have always thought that it was impossible to do without paying a ton of interest! Dr. Porter has now given the go-ahead to offer Care Credit for 12 months interest free! Now you can make payments on your term and not feed the credit card companies free money! You can either sign up online via this link or you can come in our office and we can help you get signed up. It's easy and you can usually find out if you qualify in a few minutes.

Take the next step to making your mouth healthy! Cheers to dental hygiene month!

Free Sedation Dentistry

As fall is setting in, we want to celebrate Dental Hygiene Month with a bang! We are now offering FREE SEDATION for those who are completing qualifying dentistry! This is a great opportunity to get the crowns that you need done or move forward with the bridge that you've always needed. It's also great for those that are scared of the dentist. All we need to do is make sure you have a treatment plan and then do a pre-operative sedation appointment to gather your vitals and make sure that you are a candidate. Watch this video that Dr. Porter did to gather more information!

Call or e-mail today to reserve your spot! 704/544/5330 or Wanda@DentistryinCharlotte.com

Remember consultations are always FREE!!

Custom Athletic Guards are Better than Store Bought!

Get your athletic children and family members into our office to make them a custom athletic mouthguard. Mouth formed or boil and bite mouthguards are the most commonly used mouthguard on the market. Made from thermoplastic material, they are immersed in boiling water and formed in the mouth by using finger, tongue, and biting pressure. When the athlete bites through the mouthguard during forming, the athlete increases their chance of injury, especially concussion, from a blow to the chin. That is why it is imperative to spend a few extra dollars on protection rather than a lifetime of extra dental costs. Call our office for a quote on the custom guards that are easy to make and can generally be picked up the same day! 704-544-5330 or Wanda@dentistryincharlotte.com

Toothbrush too close to the TOILET?

Just a fun tip to prevent any ickiness on your toothbrush! Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. Keep your brush away from the flush!
We also can supply a toothbrush cover at your next visit for some extra protection for free! 704*544*5330

Are Sealants Right For My Child? YES!!

The most important reason for getting sealants is to avoid tooth decay. Fluoride in toothpaste and in drinking water protects the smooth surfaces of teeth but back teeth need extra protection. Sealants cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and keep out germs and food. Having sealants put on teeth before they decay will also save time and money in the long run by avoiding fillings, crowns, or caps used to fix decayed teeth. Help your child prepare for a healthy mouth by getting their cleaning and check-up to determine if they needs sealants! 704-544-5330

Gum is Good For You??!!

Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal stimulates the production of saliva, which helps to neutralize plaque acid. Some chewing gums contain a sugar-free sweetener called xylitol, which may help to reduce decay. Keep gum handy for after meals when you don't have a toothbrush around!

Get your Child in for a Check-up and Cleaning Before School Starts!!

Start this school year with a healthy, beautiful smile - just in time for school pictures. The final days of summer are perfect times for back-to-school dental check-ups. It's back-to-school soon for our children in Charlotte, and it's time to focus on ways to brighten students’ smiles for learning success and adorable school pictures. As the school bell is set to ring and with one in four children having undiagnosed tooth decay, now is the time to give students a solid foundation for their future dental health. Proper oral hygiene is a great way to start the school year off on the right foot. A complete and comprehensive dental exam and cleaning can spell greater success in the classroom! Call us to set up an appointment for your child or yourself today! 704-544-5330

Summer Whitening Special $350!

We've got an exceptional SUMMER WHITENING SPECIAL going on right now! We are offering:

**In-Office Power Whitening done by Dr. Porter**
**Custom Bleach Trays to keep your newly pearly whites their whitest**
**Up to One year's supply of Professional Bleach**

Take advantage of this great offer NOW! Current patients, New patients, or people with another Dentist are welcome to have their teeth whitened with this great deal! Call or e-mail to set up an appointment! 704-544-5330 or Office@DentistryinCharlotte.com

You Can Grow a Flower but You Can't Grow a New Tooth!

It's a hot sunny day...Heat is beating down on your garden...And your flowers are soaking it in (for the most part, that is!). Have you ever thought about how easy it is to grow flowers, a bush, or even a big tree? The one thing humans don't really have the luxury at this moment in scientific history is that we cannot regrow body parts. Once you lose something it's gone for good. A prosthetic can be placed on a leg, skin can be meshed over with man-made material, and teeth...well a tooth that is missing can be replaced in many ways. Dental advances have allowed for bridges, flippers and implants to help the function and appearance of your smile. Once you lose a tooth, your face can start to sink in, your bite can be skewed causing damage to surrounding teeth, and your confidence can be lowered due to a hole in your smile. We have the technology to fix that issue. Call us today to see if we can help you achieve that perfect smile. 704-544-5330 or e-mail us at office@DentistryinCharlotte.com