Blog

Periodontal Disease: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery

Periodontal disease—commonly known as gum disease—is one of the most prevalent oral health conditions among adults, and it’s a major cause of tooth loss if left untreated. At Springbrook Family Dentistry in Elma, NY, we’re dedicated to helping our patients understand, prevent, and treat periodontal disease with personalized, expert care. Whether you’re experiencing early symptoms like bleeding gums or advanced gum recession, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Cosmetic Dentistry: Options for Transforming Your Smile

A beautiful smile has the power to boost your confidence, enhance first impressions, and even improve your mood. At Springbrook Family Dentistry in Elma, NY, we specialize in cosmetic dental treatments that can dramatically enhance your smile—sometimes with just a small change.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

If you're thinking about dental implants, there is a lot of information out there! Dental implants are incredibly common these days, acting as the primary method for replacing missing teeth and restoring your smile.

My spouse snores at night - could they have Apnea?

Ah, the familiar nighttime symphony of snoring! If your spouse's snoring is starting to sound like a chainsaw orchestra, you might be wondering, “Could this be more than just snoring? Could they have sleep apnea?” Let's dive in and explore this together.

Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces

Before comparing Invisalign and traditional braces, it's essential to understand what each option offers.

Can Veneers Get Cavities?

If you're considering veneers to enhance your smile, you may have some questions about their durability and susceptibility to dental issues. One common concern is whether veneers can develop cavities.

How to Clean Invisalign Trays

In this blog post, we will provide you with some valuable tips on how to properly clean and care for your Invisalign trays.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that disrupts your breathing during sleep, resulting in poor sleep quality and a range of associated health risks. These health complications include cardiovascular problems, daytime fatigue, cognitive impairment, and a diminished quality of life.

Invisalign vs Mail Order Aligners

We often get asked about the different options for orthodontic treatment. While direct-to-home aligners such as "Smile Direct Club" may seem convenient and affordable, choosing clear aligners such as Invisalign, through a dental office with a dentist's oversight, offers many benefits for your oral health and treatment success.

Are Dental Implants Better Than Dentures?

At Springbrook Family Dentistry, we know that missing teeth can be a significant challenge to your overall oral health and quality of life. Fortunately, modern dentistry has made significant advances in tooth replacement options, and dental implants have emerged as the most effective and long-lasting solution for restoring missing teeth.

Recovering After Getting Dental Veneers

Recovering after getting dental veneers can be difficult as it requires some steps that may put a strain on patients' daily activities. Here are some helpful tips to make the recovery period after getting dental veneers easier and smoother.

What To Avoid After Dental Implant Surgery

There are some things you can do, especially in the first part of the healing process, to help speed things along and avoid unwanted complications after dental implant surgery. Check out 5 things you should avoid doing right after getting implant surgery.

What Are Invisalign Attachments?

Here's what you need to know about Invisalign attachments and if you can benefit from them.

Crowns vs. Veneers: Which Option Is Best for Me?

This post will cover everything you need to know about veneers and crowns so you can make a worthwhile decision. Let's take a look!

East aurora sidewalk sale

Our office participated in the East Aurora Chamber of Commerce Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, July 24th and had a blast! The event was a little different than normal due to Covid-19 with many vendors located in the ice rink and no food vendors, but everyone made the best of it!

Patient safety policies and procedures

I know the past few months have been challenging for everyone; we are looking forward to a return to a new type of normalcy. We have officially been given the green light to re-open, and plan to resume seeing patients June 11th. While I have cherished the extra time with my husband and 9 month old, I have missed my patients and doing what I love each day.

Our office during COVID-19 pandemic

We hope all our patients, friends and family are staying safe during this scary and uncertain time! We want to give you a quick update on our office during this time in case you need us!

Why do I need dental x-rays are they harmful?

One of the most common questions we get from patients is regarding radiation exposure during dental x-rays. The good news is dental x-rays have come a long way and the radiation exposure is extremely minimal!

New hygiene rooms!

We are thrilled to announce that we have reoutfitted our two hygiene rooms with brand new, up-to-date equipment! We are hoping our new chairs will allow for a more comfortable patient experience as you get your teeth cleaned.

Take advantage of your remaining 2019 dental benefits before they run out!

As we approach the end of 2019, we are writing to remind you that come January 1 st, any unused dental insurance benefits will be lost. Dental insurance provides you with a capped amount of benefits each year. If unused, the insurance company never has to pay them because these benefits DO NOT roll over into the following year. This means you may end up paying more out of pocket.

Why are dental cleanings so important?

Dental cleanings are extremely important in keeping your mouth healthy and disease free! Plaque is the white, sticky layer of bacteria that adheres to teeth throughout the day. If the plaque is not removed by brushing and flossing prior to it hardening it turns into a substance called calculus. Once it becomes calculus no amount of brushing or flossing will remove it. Only your dental hygienist’s instruments will remove it properly.

How to put your child at ease for their dental visit

For many children, their first dental visit can be a scary experience! At Springbrook Family Dentistry we always do our best to keep your child at ease and make their first experience a pleasant one so they leave with smiles instead of tears!

Medications and your oral health

Sometimes you might wonder why your dental office asks so many questions about your health and medications. You may think your teeth are totally separate from any other health problems, but there is actually quite a bit of overlap! One of the most common problems we see from your everyday over-the-counter and prescription medications is dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. So why is dry mouth a problem?

3 reasons why you shouldnt put off root canal treatment

You take moderately good care of your teeth, but everything feels okay, so you figure you’re on the right track. But this time at your routine check-in appointment, your dentist tells you that you need a root canal. Since nothing hurts, you decide to postpone the procedure because this is a busy time of year for you, and you just don’t have the time.

Are you anxious about dental visits? sedation dentistry helps you relax and get the care you need

Millions of people have some degree of anxiety about dental visits. For some, it’s a nervous flutter when they pick up the phone to make an appointment. For others, the fear can be so debilitating that they skip dental visits altogether.

Is teeth whitening safe?

The answer is yes and no – yes because teeth whitening under a dentist’s supervision is safe, but over-the-counter whiteners have a potential for misuse that can harm your teeth.

Iroquois football mouthguard clinic

September 6th and 8th Springbrook Family Dentistry had the pleasure of hosting the JV and Varsity football players of Iroquois High School! We worked together with the football coach and booster club president to put together a fantastic event that made free custom mouthguards for any player who wanted one! We were able to provide 35 players with a mouth guard of the course of those two days.

Ready to improve your smile consider these top 3 cosmetic dentistry options

When you daydream about your perfect smile, what do you see? Today, it’s not a question of how to get the smile you want, but when.Using natural-looking materials like porcelain, ceramic, and dental composites, there’s virtually no problem your cosmetic dentist in East Aurora, NY can’t fix! Let’s take a look at three of the most popular options in cosmetic dentistry and how each can improve your smile.

Foods to avoid when you have a dental crown

After you have a new crown placed, you want to protect your investment to make sure you get the most use out of it. A well-made crown that’s properly cared for can last as long as 15 years, but there are a lot of factors that determine how long yours will last.

Do you know the 3 biggest benefits of invisalign?

As an adult with crooked or crowded teeth, you may have chosen to forgo treatment because you’re concerned about the impact that metal orthodontics will have on your life. But Invisalign has opened up a world of possibilities, and many adults who had given up hope can now enjoy a confident smile with little or no impact on their lifestyle.

3 unexpected ways invisalign could change your life

Is it a stretch to say a dental treatment can change your life? If you consider the impact that a healthier-looking smile has on your confidence and self-image, it's not hard to imagine a ripple effect that will carry through to other areas of your life.

Children's dental health month

This article is coming a couple months late, but did you know that February is Children’s Dental Health month? Every year thousands of dentists, dental hygienists and dental students travel to local schools to educate children about taking care of their teeth.

Pregnancy and your dental health

How to manage your dental care when you’re expecting is a common question among pregnant women. Preventative dental cleanings and exams while you are pregnant are just as important, if not more important than normal.

Use it or lose it: dental insurance benefits

Did you know that taking advantage of your remaining dental insurance benefits for the year can actually save you hundreds of dollars? Most dental insurance plans allow participants a certain amount of benefits per year. Most commonly we see this in the $1000-$1500 range. This is the maximum amount of money your insurance company will pay towards your care in a given year.

Debunking the fluoride conspiracy

Lately I have noticed more people than usual turning down routine fluoride treatment for their children or choosing to use non-fluoridated toothpastes for themselves. Today I would like to discuss the importance of fluoride in oral health and debunk the myths associated with any harmful effects from fluoride.

When should I bring my child to the dentist for the first time?

A frequent question we get from parents of young children and expectant parents is when their child should first start seeing a dentist. Most of them are quite surprised at the current recommendation for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The AAPD currently recommends all children see a dentist when their first tooth erupts and no later than 1 year of age.

What can I do to improve my smile?

One of the most common requests we receive at our practice is “I’d like to improve my smile.” Often people are looking to improve their smile just to boost self-confidence and other times it is to make sure they look great for a special event like a wedding. Depending on what you are looking to improve your smile and the time frame you would like it completed in, there are a number of different procedures.

What is invisalign?

One dental treatment that has become more and more popular in recent years is Invisalign. Invisalign is an alternative to braces in order to straighten misaligned teeth and create a beautiful smile. Invisalign is able to straighten crooked teeth using clear, flexible retainers that are made to fit like a glove over your teeth, thereby avoiding any unsightly metal brackets or wires used for traditional braces.

Bridge versus implant?

Tooth replacement has advanced quite a bit in the past few decades. Today we have multiple reliable treatment options for replacing missing teeth. While dental implants tend to be the best way to replace a tooth for most people, this can vary from one individual to another and should always be discussed with your dentist.

What to do when you are experiencing a dental emergency

Dental emergencies are common and can range from minor to life-threatening. The following are some guidelines to follow should you encounter a dental emergency.

Who do we serve?

Here at Springbrook Family Dentistry, we are pleased to serve our surrounding communities with the highest quality dental care. These areas include Elma, East Aurora, West Seneca, Orchard Park, Holland, and many more. We are here to help you with whatever dental problems you may have, whether it be tooth pain, displeasure with the appearance of your smile, or replacing your missing teeth.

Should I replace my missing tooth?

Very often when a patient finds out they need a tooth removed, one of their first questions is should I replace my tooth and why? Options for tooth replacement often include dental implants, a dental bridge, or a removable partial denture. Due to aesthetic reasons, most people are very eager to replace any missing front teeth but may question what the purpose of replacing a back tooth is if no one can see it.

Welcome to Springbrook Family Dentistry

Dr. Finney is not only an expert in her field, but a truly caring medical professional. With over 9 years of experience, she brings a level of expertise to the Elma, NY community unlike any other. During her residency at University of Colorado, she received extensive training and hands-on experience in dental implants and complex oral surgeries. She always knew she was meant to serve her local community in a personalized setting, which is why she chose to start her own practice!