Services
Piatt Park Dental offers an array of dental services. When you come in you will feel comfortable and relaxed as we take care of your beautiful smile.
Hygiene & Prevention
With or without dental insurance – regular cleanings, preventative services, and good oral hygiene are the best ways to avoid discolored teeth, receding gums, and tooth pain. At Piatt Park Dental, we offer:
Teeth Cleaning
Cleanings for those with healthy gums, and a proactive approach to preventing gum inflammation and gum disease. We all know that regular cleanings and good habits are important for preventing cavities and maintaining the bone that supports your teeth, but your dental health affects the rest of your body too. Gum inflammation has been linked to increased inflammation in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. The bacteria that cause gum disease have also been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, meticulous flossing and treatment of gum disease is a big component of the Bredesen Protocol for Alzheimer’s prevention. Taking care of your teeth and gums is taking care of your whole self – it is all connected.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride Treatment is a great way to give your teeth a boost of defense against cavities. The enamel of your teeth is made of a crystal that contains calcium. Whenever you eat or drink something that is not tap water, black coffee, or plain tea, the pH of your mouth decreases to a level of 5.5 or below, acidic enough to cause tooth decay. In this state, the calcium in your teeth gets pulled out, making them soft and weak. Sources of fluoride, like fluoridated water, toothpaste, or fluoride varnish painted on by your hygienist strengthen those teeth again by replacing the spaces left by calcium. In fact, when fluoride ions have replaced calcium ions in your tooth structure, teeth become stronger and more resistant to decay than they were to begin with. This is how fluoride protects teeth. While fluoride varnish can benefit nearly everyone with teeth, we especially recommend it for people who have dry mouth, gum recession, or a high rate of tooth decay.
Sealants
Dental sealants prevent decay on the biting surfaces of your teeth. Teeth in the back of your mouth used primarily for chewing have grooves on the biting surface. These grooves can be deep, collecting stain and plaque which is difficult to clean out with a toothbrush. Over time, if this plaque is not regularly and thoroughly removed, it can cause cavities on these teeth. Dental sealant material placed in deep grooves of teeth fill those spaces in so that plaque and stain can’t get in. A study from the CDC shows that dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth. While children are the main focus for dental sealants, adults can absolutely benefit from dental sealants as well. We are big fans of prevention and would love to help you stop tooth problems before they even start.
X-rays
X-rays allow us to check in on your teeth in ways that we can’t see just by looking directly. When we look at x-rays, allows us to see between teeth and check up on supporting structures. We are able to see the health of the bone that anchors your teeth in place and see signs of infection – sometimes even before it causes issues. Dental x-rays tell us all of this with very little radiation. In December of 2019, we are proud to say that we reduced even this small amount of exposure in half with our upgrade to digital x-rays. Digital x-rays also allow us to easily share what we see so you know exactly what things look like and can make your best decision going forward.
It’s Time To Love Your Smile!
Advanced Care
With or without dental insurance – regular cleanings, preventative services, and good oral hygiene are the best ways to avoid discolored teeth, receding gums, and tooth pain. At Piatt Park Dental, we offer:
Whitening
Teeth whitening can transform a smile from yellow and stained, to bright and confident. There are many different ways to whiten your teeth with different levels of cost, effectiveness, and time. Some methods you can find over the counter, while others can be delivered with the help of your dentist.
It is important to keep in mind that any fillings, crowns, or dental appliances will not whiten along with natural teeth, and if you would like to brighten your smile with teeth whitening, these fillings, crowns, and appliances may have to be replaced in order to match the new shade of your brighter smile. If you are interested in whitening your teeth, we recommend that you schedule a consultation with Dr. Wenzel to discuss one-on-one what solutions would work best for you.
Whitening toothpaste is the least expensive option, but by far the least effective. Whitening toothpastes contain the same active ingredients that dentists use to whiten teeth, but these ingredients need to be in contact with teeth for much longer than the two minutes you are brushing your teeth in order to make a difference. Whitening toothpastes also contain more grittiness than their non-whitening counterparts. While this grittiness can help remove surface stains, it can also remove tooth structure over extended use. If you have experienced gum recession, you will be especially prone to having your roots scrubbed away over time. We typically recommend a non-whitening fluoride toothpaste for everyday use and to whiten with one of the options below.
Over the counter whitening strips whiten just the front smiling teeth. The strips are applied to the teeth for several sessions to see results. They aren’t perfectly adapted to teeth, so this solution works best if your teeth are mostly straight to begin with, if you only want to whiten a shade or two, or if you have a narrow smile that doesn’t show a lot of back teeth. The strips may overlap your gums and result in temporary redness and sensitivity than whitening trays that are specifically molded to your teeth.
Opalescence whitening to-go is similar to over the counter whitening strips except that they cover both front and back, upper and lower teeth. They come in trays and are easier to apply than over the counter strips. These are best for people who want to whiten all of their teeth due to preference or a broad smile and who are committed to whitening over several weeks. Similar to over the counter whitening strips, Opalescence to-go whitening strips will overlap gum tissue and can cause temporary redness and sensitivity to gums. However, these dentist-supplied strips do adapt better in between teeth than over-the-counter strips.
Custom made whitening trays are clear plastic trays that are specifically molded to your teeth. They are designed to keep whitening gel in contact with your teeth for longer and decrease gum irritation compared to other methods. Custom trays can be used multiple times throughout life to whiten and to touch up your whitening as staining resurfaces over time. You have an option to use different concentrations of whitening gel depending on how fast you want to see results and how sensitive your teeth are. Those who are prone to tooth sensitivity should whiten with a lower concentration whitening gel over a longer period of time. Custom whitening trays are good for those who want to brighten all of their teeth, who want to whiten gradually over two-three weeks, may have sensitive gums, and would like to whiten their teeth multiple times.
In-office whitening is done in the dental office by your dentist and provides immediate results within just one appointment. Your gums and cheeks are covered and protected while a potent whitening gel is applied to all teeth. In-office whitening can be done just by itself, or with custom whitening trays to kick-start your teeth whitening goals. In-office whitening is good for those looking to brighten their entire smile in time for a big event, such as a wedding or reunion, or anyone who wants to see the fast results.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Wenzel today to meet and discuss what options for brightening your teeth would work best for you and your personal goals.
Cavity Fillings
We want our dentistry to be as invisible as possible so that you can share your smile without reservation. Dr. Wenzel uses top materials and techniques in order to create a strong bond between your tooth and the filling material while achieving a natural-looking result.
There are a few reasons why you might have a filling recommended to you by a dentist. If you have a small to moderate-sized cavity, a chipped tooth, or maybe tooth decay surrounding an existing filling, a tooth colored filling can be the perfect, natural-looking, conservative solution. We also do cosmetic replacement of silver and old, discolored fillings.
If you think you have one or more cavities, or if you are interested in changing out some old fillings for esthetic reasons, we are here to provide strong, natural looking, long lasting results. Schedule a consultation online or by phone to meet one-on-one with Dr. Wenzel and discuss personalized solutions.
Broken Teeth
Fillings and teeth can break for many different reasons. Sometimes this can happen to a tooth with significant decay. Sometimes a tooth has been weakened due to the stress of chewing, clenching, and/or grinding. Other times, a tooth is fractured due to a fall or other trauma. Teeth with large fillings are more susceptible, but teeth that experience significant force and have no fillings can break too! The size and extent of the fracture can vary and will dictate how we move forward. Until your appointment with us, we recommend trying to keep the broken tooth as clean as possible. If you are in pain, over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen are good to use if okay with your doctor.
When a smiling tooth breaks, especially before a big event like a wedding or a big meeting, it can feel very traumatic. If you have a broken your tooth, we want to get you back to normal as soon as we can. If you don’t see a space in out online scheduling, give us a call at 513-241-1477 and we’ll do our best to find room. We’re here to help.
Crowns
Crowns are like hats that sit over a tooth to replace a large amount of tooth structure and hold the tooth together. In the past, crowns were made of gold or silver colored metals that mimic the shape and size of the original tooth. Now we can make tooth-colored porcelain crowns that blend in with the rest of your natural teeth.
Crowns can be recommended for a number of reasons. Most common is to restore a moderate to large cavity or to fix a broken tooth when a large portion has come off. Sometimes a crown can be recommended to treat a fracture line in a tooth that has gone deep into the tooth and hurts with chewing. Sometimes teeth develop fracture lines that indicate it is at high risk of breaking. Not all fracture lines on teeth are high risk and not all would benefit from a crown.
At Piatt Park Dental, we use local, highly skilled dental lab technicians to custom make your crowns. Our crowns are made in the United States and never shipped overseas. This means that we know exactly what your crown is made of and we can ensure an excellent fit. Because we deal locally, your crown will never get stuck in customs as a result of outsourcing overseas.
A common misconception about crowns is that they can’t get a cavity because the tooth is covered completely by the porcelain. You can still get decay on the tooth where the crown meets the tooth, so it is important to maintain good brushing, flossing, and lifestyle habits.
If you are concerned that you may need a crown, schedule a consultation with Dr. Wenzel to discuss your concerns, discover your best solution, and come up with a plan to prevent the need for future work.
Implants
Replacing missing teeth gets you back to chewing the foods you love and the smile you deserve. When teeth are removed, the rest of your teeth start to shift and tilt, creating a difficult bite to chew with. Dental implant tooth replacement is the most natural looking and feeling option available. An implant stays in place and is easy to floss. Not everyone is a great fit for implants. Depending on your personal situation, a bridge or a removable partial denture may be a better option, but a consultation can help you find out if you are a good candidate.
Gum Disease
Gum disease can be a serious condition that over time causes your teeth to get loose as well as look too long, giving you an older appearance. Gum disease, also called periodontitis, happens when old bits of food and bacteria sit between your gums and teeth for long periods of time and harden onto the surface of your teeth, like barnacles on the bottom of a boat. This causes gums to become red, puffy, and chronically inflamed. Over the course of several years, this inflammation destroys the bone that holds teeth in, causing tooth mobility and gum recession. If you have gum disease, it is important to have it diagnosed and to follow up with the appropriate treatment, such as scaling and root planing, also known as a “deep cleaning”, or treatment with arrestin.
The health of your gums not only has consequences for your teeth, but also for your whole body. Inflammation in your gums leads to inflammation of your arteries, substantially increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. Alzheimer’s and gum disease are also linked. In a recent study, the main bacteria that causes gum disease (p. gingivalis) was found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, suggesting a causative link. Meticulous oral hygiene and treatment of gum disease is a key component of the Bredesen protocol for Alzheimer’s prevention.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers provide beautiful, life-changing results for those who dislike the size, shape, or color of their natural teeth without removing significant tooth structure. A veneer is a thin, porcelain shell that is bonded to your natural tooth that creates a more ideal smile.
Dr. Wenzel is meticulous in listening to your goals, taking records, and planning your case to create a strong, natural looking, long lasting solutions. We want you to be in love with your results. Everyone’s goals and challenges are different, and sometimes to get the best shape, size, and proportions, we may suggest our clients start first with orthodontics. If you are interested in veneers, schedule a consultation to meet one-on-one with Dr. Wenzel to discuss what you would like to see in your smile and if veneers are the best solution for the results you would like to see.
Invisalign
Invisalign is an excellent choice to create a beautifully aligned smile and healthy bite. We use 3D scanning technology to create clear plastic trays that move teeth and create a beautiful smile. And since the trays are clear – other people can’t really tell you’re wearing them! Invisalign is comfortable and easy to wear and the results are beautiful. Schedule a new patient visit to learn more.
Botox
Dr. Alexandra Wenzel has attended advanced training through the American Academy of Facial Esthetics and is now offering Botox® and Xeomin® esthetic and therapeutic treatments including headaches and TMJ Disorders. Schedule a new patient visit to learn more.
Dental Emergencies
Out of nowhere you’re experiencing intense pain, or maybe you broke a tooth eating popcorn (beware the popcorn!) – no matter what your dental emergency, we strive to get you in to take a look the same day. If you can’t fit us in that quickly, here are some tips to get you through to your appointment.
Tooth pain can be from a number of different causes. It can be anything from minor bite or gum issues to a cracked tooth or tooth infection. It is important to contact a dentist to figure out the source of the issue. Over the counter pain medications can help, but make sure that the pain reliever you are using is okay with your doctor. In addition, hot or cold packs may help the tooth feel better in the meantime.
Swelling can be minor or severe. If you are experiencing swelling due to a tooth issue, you need to contact a dentist. Depending on the amount and location of the swelling you may need to prioritize your health over other obligations and see a dentist as soon as possible. In addition, a cold pack and over the counter ibuprofen can help if okay with your doctor.
If you have a dental emergency, we want to get you back to normal as soon as we can. If you don’t see a space in out online scheduling, give us a call at 513-241-1477 and we’ll do our best to find room. We’re here to help.
Choose A Cincinnati Dentist Who Provides An Excellent Dental Experience
Schedule Your Appointment Today
At Piatt Park Dental our clients are heard. Our team strives to make the dental office a better place by asking the right questions and listening to you. We listen to your goals to deliver treatment that is strong, looks natural, and is long-lasting. Discover the difference.
Schedule an appointment today by contacting us online or by calling or texting us at (513) 241-1477.
We Are Excited to See Your Smiling Face
Before you schedule your appointment we want to inform you that we do not accept Medicaid, Caresource, Molina, Dentaquest, or Dental Care Plus. These insurance plans will not cover anything for you to see us. Please confirm your insurance before scheduling.