What is Air Polishing?

At Family Dentist Tree, we are always striving for the best. We frequently look at new products, tools, equipment and techniques to ensure we are able to provide each of our patients with the best care. We are excited to announce that we now have an air polisher to aid in teeth and implant cleanings! What is air polishing? The air polishing technique has been around since the late 1970’s; however, advancements have since been made in these units and in the way we use them. The handpiece uses air, water and non-toxic powder to remove plaque and stains. This Read More →

No More Gooey Impressions – Easy as One, Two, TRIOS!

What is it? We are excited to announce that we have adopted a new way of taking impressions for crowns, night guards, retainers, bridges, implants and Invisalign®! We now have a 3Shape TRIOS® Intraoral Scanner that eliminates the need for goopy impression material, saving time and providing comfort to both the patient and clinician. How Does it Work? The scanner takes several images to create a 3D image of your teeth. This scan is sent to a dental lab that uses it to create the 3D models needed to create most of the items listed above. The scan takes around Read More →

Pros and Cons of Saving vs. Extracting a Tooth

We’ve all had that dreaded dream of losing teeth in our sleep. What happens when we are truly faced with this situation? While we may not want to think of needing to have a tooth extraction, there are many circumstances that can require this treatment. Traumatizing events can happen in the blink of an eye. A piece of workout equipment lands on our face and knocks out a front tooth. You bite down on a hard candy and hear a crunch that crumbles your tooth. You hit a tooth with a fork while eating a salad. These are all real-life Read More →

Working Through COVID-19 in a Dental Setting

  Family Dentist Tree has been successfully back up and running since mid-May. We continue to follow all current guidelines from the CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health, the American Dental Association and the Minnesota Board of Dentistry. Safety is our number one priority when caring for our patients and staff through the ever changing world around us. Our hygienist, Christina, is here to walk you through a typical appointment at our office with our new COVID-19 protocols in place.   Prior to your appointment, you will be asked screening questions by phone, text or e-mail to ensure that you Read More →

All About Veneers

Veneers have gained a lot of popularity over the years, due to the pleasant aesthetics they bring to a smile. Veneers are thin coverings that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth. They are used to replace the shape of teeth, fill spaces and blend colors of teeth that may have demineralization or discolored pits. There are two types of materials generally used for veneers: porcelain and resin/composite. Porcelain doesn’t stain as easy as composite/resin. For this type of veneers, the tooth is prepped and an impression is sent to a lab to makes the veneers. It can Read More →

The Truth About Root Canals

A root canal may not be a dream day at the dentist, but sometimes it is necessary. In some cases, it is needed when a cavity is too deep and extends into the nerve of the tooth. A root canal may also be needed if a tooth has a crack that extends into the nerve. Both of these issues can cause a nasty toothache, which you’ll want taken care of quickly. What is a Root Canal? A root canal is a process in which the top of the tooth is opened and the nerve is accessed. The dentist or endodontist Read More →

How to Get the Most Out of Your Dental Benefits

At Family Dentist Tree, we work with dental benefits every day. We know they can be confusing and difficult to navigate. While it’s important to review and understand your specific dental benefit package, here are some general tips to ensure that you are getting the most out of your benefits. Pre-authorizations If you are unsure of what your dental insurance will cover, ask your dental office to submit a pre-authorization. While pre-authorizations do not guarantee benefits, they are usually pretty accurate. If you have questions about your pre-authorization, talk to your dental office and they can help you understand your Read More →

Which Mouth Rinse is the Most Beneficial?

From Christina, Dental Hygienist: Mouth rinses are a hot topic in dental hygiene. Almost daily, I am asked which mouth rinse is most beneficial. The answer isn’t easy, as more recent research has looked deeper into the active ingredients in mouth rinses and how they directly affect the mouth. Patients come to our office daily with conditions such as dry mouth, gum recession and cavities. These are all factors to take into account when recommending a mouth rinse. Best Mouth Rinses for People Prone to Cavities Recently, mouth rinses such as LISTERINE® have been shown to have a relatively low Read More →

Senior Dental Plans: What They Cover and How to Qualify

So, you’re a senior now. It’s time to retire, spend more time with your family, explore the world and relax, but don’t forget about those dental appointments! As we get older our teeth continue to change and providing care to keep your smile healthy and looking its best is something we at Family Dentist tree love to do! You may find yourself with a pile of options through private insurances for dental coverage and it can be hard to know which option is best for you. We’ve heard the struggles our patients have faced in making these decisions and the Read More →

What to Do When You Chip a Tooth

From Christina, Dental Hygienist: We all know someone who took a bite out of an apple and heard that dreaded crunch that signified a chipped tooth. Check out our tips for what to do when you chip a tooth and how each solution depends on the size and extent of the fracture. Smooth Over the Teeth If your tooth doesn’t have a deep fracture or if the neighboring teeth were already a bit shorter than the fractured tooth, smoothing over the chipped tooth to match the teeth around it may be a great option to consider. Even a smallest chip Read More →