Our Blog

Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Alissa Edwards will tell you that while you are sleep, your mouth may be very active. If you find yourself waking up with headaches, facial pain, neck aches, or a sore jaw, you may have tooth grinding, a condition we also call bruxism.

We see many people who experience some extent of tooth grinding, but a very small percentage of the population actually experiences symptoms severe enough to warrant visiting a doctor. If you continually experience any of the symptoms listed above, we encourage you to give us a call at our Appleton, WI office so that we may be able to diagnose and treat the problem.

The most common treatments include:

• Reducing your stress level to help relax your jaw muscles and prevent grinding
• A custom-made night guard to cushion your teeth and protect them from damage
• Changing your eating habits. Coffee, tea, or alcohol before bed can increase your chance of nightly grinding
• If your jaw or teeth are misaligned, Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Alissa Edwards may also recommend a brace to decrease grinding.

Grinding your teeth can have serious consequences that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth fractures and damage to the TMJ (temporomandibular joint).

If you think your teeth may not be getting the rest they need at night, we encourage you to give us a call and schedule an appointment with Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Alissa Edwards. Call us today!

A smile makeover is usually a combination of one or more cosmetic dental procedures. To achieve your desired result, Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Alissa Edwards may perform or suggest a variety of options. The entire process is designed specifically for your unique cosmetic needs, and Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Alissa Edwards will make sure all your concerns regarding your smile are addressed.

Here are some of the most common procedures in cosmetic dentistry and how they work:

• Tooth whitening – Whiter teeth are achieved through a bleaching process typically using hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Yellower teeth usually respond well to this procedure, while brown-colored teeth stained by fluorosis or taking tetracycline do not respond as well to whitening. Tooth whitening is not for everyone; if you have sensitive teeth, gum disease, or poor enamel, Dr. Dale Scharine and Dr. Alissa Edwards may recommend against tooth-whitening services.
• Orthodontics – Braces are one of the tried-and-true ways of achieving a healthier smile. Braces are typically worn between 12 and 24 months to reposition the teeth in a straighter and safer alignment. Since your bite is also corrected during this process, it helps ensure you won't have any trouble down the line. There are several different types of braces available these days including: traditional metal braces, clear ceramic braces, lingual braces, and clear aligners.
• Veneers – Veneers are thin, tooth-colored material (porcelain or resin) designed to be placed on the front surface of teeth to improve their overall appearance. They can be used in cases where the color, shape, size, or length is not as desired. Veneers are usually used in cases where teeth are discolored, chipped, worn down, misaligned, irregular, or have gaps.
• Implants/bridges – Dental implants and bridges are used to replace missing or broken teeth. Nowadays, both implants and bridges are commonly performed procedures. Implants integrate directly with the jawbone, while bridges are placed over the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth. Implant technology has advanced a great deal in recent years and highly biocompatible ceramic materials are becoming more commonplace.

Getting your perfect smile will take time and patience, but the end result will be well worth it! Please schedule an appointment at our Appleton, WI office about the cosmetic dental services we offer, and achieve the smile you've always wanted!

If you’re like us, you hoped that Groundhog Day would predict the early arrival of warmer weather and sunshine but it looks like we’re in for another six weeks of winter. While we’re excited for spring to come, February is definitely keeping us busy! With National Acts of Kindness Day, American Heart Month and Children’s Dental Health Month going on, there are great opportunities for us to give back to our community.

Believe it or not, we are still going strong on our New Year’s resolutions! This year we’re focusing on balancing work, being with family and taking time for ourselves when we need it. When life gets busy (and it always does) it’s important to dedicate time to do what makes you happy.

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t keeping hearts on our minds. In honor of American Heart Month, we encourage our patients to educate themselves about the warning signs of heart disease and take steps to prevent health problems in the future. A healthy diet is a great way to set yourself up for success and it just happens the options for heart-healthy recipes are endless! We like to keep it simple and stay away from sugar as much as possible. Fun fact: the bacteria found in heart is the same type of bacteria found in periodontal disease so let’s keep those teeth and hearts healthy!

February 17th was National Acts of Kindness Day and we encourage all of our patients to participate, even if it’s just with a small gesture. Sometimes a smile or a simple “hello” when you’re out and about can make a world of difference in a person’s day. We love the idea of an entire day dedicated to kindness but we think being caring toward everyone all year long is even better!

In recognition of Children’s Dental Health Month, we’ve had so much fun going to schools in the community to educate kids about oral health and the effects of sugar intake on teeth. The kids have enjoyed learning about dentistry in a fun way and getting cool new toothbrushes. Not to mention, our friend Fang from our very own Wisconsin Timber Rattlers came along and even got his teeth cleaned! It’s so rewarding working with kids and hearing from the teachers how they appreciated the lesson.

We hope everyone is having a wonderful year so far. Happy February and we hope to see you in the office soon!

When’s the last time you gave your toothbrush any serious thought? Sure, you use it every day (and ideally twice), and you know that with a dollop of toothpaste it waxes up your pearly whites nicely, not to mention preventing bacteria, plaque, and inflammation.

But what are the things you should never do with your toothbrush? Here’s a brush-up on five toothbrush no-nos, from Elite Smiles Dental.

1. If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, you’re brushing your teeth with what’s in your toilet. In other words, keep your toothbrush stored as far from the toilet as possible.

2. The average toothbrush harbors ten million microbes. Many families keep their toothbrushes jammed together in a cup holder on the bathroom sink, but this can lead to cross-contamination. Family members’ toothbrushes should be kept an inch apart. Don’t worry; they won’t take it personally.

3. Don’t delay replacing your toothbrush. It’s best to purchase a new one every three to four months, but by all means get one sooner if the bristles are broken down because of your frequent and vigorous brushing. If you have a cold or the flu, replace your toothbrush after you recover.

4. Store your toothbrush out of the reach of toddlers. The last thing you want is for your toothbrush to be chewed like a pacifier, dipped in toilet water, or used to probe the dusty heating ducts.

5. Sharing is caring, right? Your parents probably taught you the importance of sharing back when you were, well, dipping their improperly stored toothbrushes in toilet water. But here’s the thing: As important as sharing is, there are some things you just don’t share, and your toothbrush is one of them.