Savannah Cosmetic Dentist Blog - Dr. Brad Durham

VersaWave Hard & Soft Tissue Laser

Our practice is built on the foundation of excellence. That's why we call ourselves "Beyond Exceptional Dentistry".

We are always striving to provide the best in Cosmetic Dentistry, but sometimes we're limited by the current technology. This is why we are so pleased that HOYA ConBio has developed the VersaWave.

This new laser is the most practical and least invasive laser on the market. It is a huge advancement allowing us to preform many new procedures that once would have required a scapel and stitches.

Examples of procedures that can be preformed with the VersaWave:

• Cosmetic Gum Recountouring


• Cosmetic Bone Recountouring


• Periodontal (gum) Treatments


• Small cavities treated without the drill


• And many more

I'd like to take up a bit of cyber-space to talk about a common problem that Denture Wearers have. If you don't know what a Denture is, then go ahead and stop reading, because this doesn't apply to you...

I've seen many patients who just hate their lower denture, and they've been told that there's no other solution to their problem except for denture adhesive.

For some this is true... but many people, they could have Mini Dental Implants placed. These are a breakthrough in the dental field. Read this excerpt from our website:

Do you hate your lower denture?
Is it too loose?
Have you been told that you DON'T have enough bone?

Mini-Implants are a GREAT solution for a loose lower or upper denture. They are only a fraction of the size of a traditional implant. This means that they can be used on people who never could have traditional implants.

Mini-Implants can be used to stabilize a lower or upper denture. Patients love how much better they can talk, chew, laugh... you name it.

It only takes one appointment to get your Mini-Implants. That's right, after your consultation and exam it only takes one appointment. You are numbed using The Wand so that you don't feel any pain. The implants are gently placed, without stitches. Then your existing denture is "retro-fitted" to attach to the new implants. When you leave the office, you will have a much better fitting denture!

Contact Us Today to see if you are a candidate for Mini-Implants.

An Alternative to CPAP, it may save your life.

Do you hate your CPAP, or do you know someone who does? Most people don't know there's an alternative or may not even know what a CPAP is.

Sleep Apnea is a condition that occurs when someone stops breathing for more than 10 seconds while sleeping. Lots of people don't even know they suffer from this condition. The symptoms can include:

• Snoring
• Daytime Sleepiness
• Nighttime Restlessness
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Weight Gain
• Fibromyalgia
• And many more...

Just think about it, 1/3 of your life is spent sleeping. If you are not getting the restful sleep your body needs, then your body doesn't have the health that it should. Each pause in your breathing if you have sleep apnea can last 10-20 seconds, and these pauses can occur up to 20 to 30 even up to 90 times per hour! The dangers of snoring and sleep apnea are sometimes overlooked and left untreated. Sleep apnea is basically repetitive episodes of suffocation. According to recent studies people with mild sleep apnea have a 300-500% increase in motor vehicle accidents involving serious injuries.

People who suffer from snoring and sleep apnea are deprived of necessary oxygen while they sleep. While it may not seem like a serious problem because the sleep apnic eventually wakes up to take the necessary breath of air, the lack of oxygen to the body can have lasting effects. Sometimes the body can experience as much as a 50% reduction in the amount of oxygen being taken in. This lack of oxygen can lead to many health problems including an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Disruption in sleep cycle creates hormonal and metabolic consequences.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Treatment for Sleep Apnea varies with each patient's diagnosis, and treatment can be as simple as behavior and lifestyle changes. Dr. Strickland may recommend a change in diet or weight loss. CPAP is considered the gold standard of treatment but unfortunately CPAP is used by less than half of patients fitted for it.

Many patients feel the CPAP is too uncomfortable to sleep with. For these patients, oral appliances are the best form of treatment. Oral appliances are devices that you wear over your upper and lower teeth. The appliance holds your lower jaw slightly forward, which will open your airway and allow more air to flow into your lungs.

Surgery to prevent upper airway obstruction is available but is best used only after evaluating the effect of an oral appliance. The exception is opening of nasal airway and tonsil and adenoid removal in children.

Please contact Dr. Strickland today to learn more about Obstructive Sleep Apnea. See if we can help you get a good night's sleep, and give you a healthier and longer life!

Have you been told that you need to change the way you brush because you are damaging your teeth?

If so, I would disagree. I don't believe there is a toothbrush sold in America today that is capable of damaging your teeth. Your teeth are the hardest substance in your body. And just think about all the lawsuits that would be flying around if Crest or Colgate were manufacturing toothbrushes that damaged teeth.

Another reason...

What I'm talking about here are those "notches" that occur on the teeth at the gumline. You can usually feel them with your fingernail. Sometimes they may be sensitive to hot or cold. Dentists used to believe that improper toothbrushing was wearing down the enamel and creating these "notches".

Not so. What really causes these notches is from grinding your teeth, or having an improper bite. Having an improper bite or grinding your teeth causes micro-flexing of the teeth. This micro-flexing stresses the teeth where they meet the gums. Enamel then begins to microscopically splinter away and over time a "notch" is created.

These notches are a sign of a bigger problem. An improper bite is the leading cause of TMJ problems. These problems can lead to loss of teeth, jaw pain, jaw popping and clicking, chronic headaches, migraine headaches, soreness in the neck and back and many others.

If you have this notching at the gumline, consider asking your dentist about it.

As many of you know, we are the dentists for celebrity chef and Food Network TV host Paula Deen. We have done smile makeovers on Paula and her husband Michael. They both LOVE the results, and were gracious enough to feature us in a story in her magazine.

Does this look like your teeth? Go ahead and take a look. Get real close to the mirror and take a look inside. Are you surprised at what you see? We see many patients that once shown their teeth in a photograph are disgusted. They are upset to find out that the condition of their teeth is not as healthy as they had thought.

Why does this happen? You see there are basically 3 types of dental practices. What type of dental practice do you belong? If it's a fit then great, you will see what you expected to see when you looked in the mirror. However, if you are shocked at what you see, then chances are that you are in a dental practice that has differing values than yourself.

What do I mean by dental risk factors. Simply put, these are the things that cause damage to your teeth and cause you to lose your teeth.

There are 3 basic risk factors. You probably know 2 of them very well, but the third you may have never heard of.

1. The first risk factor is cavities. Bacteria that live on the teeth eat holes in your teeth. We call these holes... cavities. The problem with a cavity is that it makes the tooth weak. A weak tooth can break. Cavities can grow into the nerve of the tooth causing extreme pain.

2. The second risk factor is gum disease also called periodontal disease. Those same bacteria that can cause cavities cause gum disease. These bacteria live at the base of the teeth next to the gums. If you don't brush and floss properly bacteria will thrive at the gum line. When this bacteria colonizes it destroys and eats away the bone. If the bone is destroyed, there is nothing to hold your tooth in your mouth. The result is your teeth will loosen and fall out just like baby teeth.

3. The third risk factor is bite disease. You don't have to have crooked teeth to have a bad bite. You can have a bad bite with either straight or crooked teeth. A bad bite may be the worst of the 3 risk factors because it causes teeth to be weak (like cavities do) and it causes your bone to be destroyed (like gum disease does).

We provide a very comprehensive examination on all patients of our practice. We will thoroughly check each risk factor and help you develop your own personalized dental plan. This plan becomes your "roadmap" of how to get your mouth and teeth as healthy as you want them to be.