Advance Dental: Blog

We are OPEN and Ready to take care of YOU! COVID-19 is in the news everywhere, and we are closely monitoring the situation here at Advance Dental. We already, as a daily practice, assure universal precautions as outlined by CDC and OSHA standards of infection control, and safety is always our number one focus. Our high standard of care ensures that your trust and safety are never compromised. At this time, we are also taking extended measures to further protect all of our patients and team members, including the following:  Anyone with a cough or fever will not be allowed in the building and should stay home. We will be happy to reschedule your appointment for a later date. Before your appointment, we ask that you stay in your car until we are ready to seat you in your personal operatory. Simply call us when you arrive, and we will let you know when it's time to come in. Please limit the number of individuals coming to your appointment as they may be asked to wa...

Here at Advance Dental in Granger, IN, creating healthy smiles is our specialty. If your tooth develops an infection or is facing damage from decay, you should visit your dentist, Dr. Ronald F. Stangebye, DDS, immediately to discuss options for saving it. After all, a simple root canal could end up being the key to keeping your smile intact! What Is a Root Canal? Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from inside the dental pulp, prevent reinfection, and save your overall tooth structure. During the procedure, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected using miniature tools before being filled and sealed with a safe, putty-like material to protect the health of your smile. Root canal treatment is a comfortable and painless method that will benefit your oral health in the long run. Reasons for a Root Canal A tooth's nerve can develop inflammation, irritation, and infection and may require a root canal for several reasons. These include facial i...

Advance Dental's SIXTH Annual Food Drive Monday October 14th through Saturday December 14th     We would like to take this time to give thanks for what we have and consider what we can share with our community. For the past five years, our office has partnered with the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. If you’ve participated in previous years, you know that we've had  FIVE  wonderful years of donations, both through food and monetary gifts, from our patients and staff. We challenge  ALL  our patients to participate this year and help feed our community members who are in need. Here is what we've been able to donate together over the years and our goal for 2019. ·  2014: 146 pounds of food donated ·  2015: 233 pounds of food donated ·  2016: 409 pounds of food donated (including monetary donations) ·  2017: 556 pounds of food donated (in...

This Friday, September 13th, our staff will be participating in our Annual OSHA & HIPAA training. Our office hours will be modified on this day. We will be available back in the office from  1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  As always, if there is a true dental emergency please call the office to be directed to our emergency telephone number. Next week, from Monday, September 16th to the 20th, Dr. Stangebye will be out of the office. Rest assured our office staff will be available to answer any questions you may have or schedule any appointment you may need! Just a few friendly reminders: The end of the year is rapidly approaching, if you are due for your dental check-up and cleaning and/ or are in need of dental treatment, please call the office  today  to schedule. If you have dental insurance,  this year's benefits may expire on December 31st! If you haven't "LIKED" our  Facebook  page yet, please do so and join in on the fun! You can look forward to ex...

The Dangers of Soda Over the last few years, the consumption of soda by kids, teens, and young adults has increased dramatically. These days it seems like everybody prefers to drink things that are sugary and acidic. What is important to realize is that these drinks offer no benefits to oral health (or health in general). According to reports the average person drinks around 16 ounces of soda a day which equates to 53 gallons of soda a year. Consuming 53 gallons of liquids filled with acids and sugar will repeatedly expose teeth to sugar, fueling decay. Harmfulness of Soda on your Teeth Soda harms teeth by directly exposing them to acid and by feeding acid-producing bacteria. Erosion occurs when acid breaks down tooth enamel, leaving the sensitive dentin layer with less protection. This makes teeth more sensitive to hot and cold, resulting in frequent toothaches. The sugars in soda also allow bacteria to multiply and produce acid as their waste product. This acid gets trapped...

People have been asserting that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” since the 19th century. While it may not necessarily be true that those who eat apples never have to see a doctor, apples certainly have great health benefits for our bodies! Did you know they can even be good for our teeth? Let’s take a look at what the research says …  It’s widely thought that chewing a crisp, fresh apple can help brush away plaque on our teeth. We’re not too sure on this one, as some studies show a higher plaque content on teeth after eating an apple. At the same time, there is evidence to suggest some polyphenols in apples can lower the ability of cavity-causing bacteria to adhere to teeth. Further, some studies have shown that the antioxidants in apples can help prevent periodontal disease.  Apples even contain a (very) small amount of fluoride. This is worth noting, as fluoride is so important in helping prevent cavities.  Lastly, the act of chewing an a...

Fall is open enrollment for many employers.  Now  is the time to  enroll or review  your current dental insurance company, plan and benefits. As you are evaluating your dental plan, please keep in mind that we are In-Network with Delta Dental Premier, Lakeland ASR and Dental Health Options by Health Resources.   Some of our patients have dental insurance that is Out-of-Network. We do work with and file for them daily. There are some Out-of-Network insurances that still have good coverage in our office.  Although, if you can switch to one of the above In-Network dental insurances, you will have a greater savings in our office. For those patients who are unable to obtain dental insurance, we do offer an in-office dental savings plan. Details can be found simply by clicking the link below. Dental Savings Club We understand that insurance, in general, can be confusing and overwhelming. Any of our administrative staff wo...

At Advance Dental, we are blessed to have a family of patients who trust us and value the dedication, personalized care and attentiveness that we've given to people in the community over the years. Did you know that most of our new patients come from referrals by people like yourself? Chances are that you're one of them. We wanted to take this opportunity and ask you to help us spread the word. If you have friends or relatives who could benefit from our services, can you please give us a referral? It will mean the world to us, and will make you their hero for years to come! :)

August 21, 2018 We are proud to announce we have a new paperless system for appointment reminders, patient paperwork and other forms of communication. We now have the ability for you to complete your paperwork on our IPADS! This will save an enormous amount of paper in our office and is another step towards our ongoing efforts to "GO-GREEN!" We've been utilizing this system for a few weeks and have had a positive patient response. We hope you find it as easy to use as we do! We ask that you arrive  10 minutes prior  to your scheduled appointment time so you are able to complete your paperwork on our IPADS.  On another note, it's a very personal thing to tell a relative or friend about our practice. It means you trust our professional skills enough to put your reputation on the line. It says you're comfortable being part of our family, and that you appreciate our special level of care. Our practice depends on satified patients like you. Your referrals are th...

Dental Care for Children Dental  Care for Children Even the smallest teeth need attention and care. Infants will start to teethe at about six months old, and many of the baby teeth will erupt above the gum line by the time the child is one year old. This is why the first  dental  appointment for your child should take place between their first and second birthdays. A child’s first dental appointment does not typically involve any treatment. Instead, this visit is a wellness check or "chair-ride" for the infant to discuss oral care during development and introduce oral care habits as a routine to keep up with throughout their life. The First Appointment At the appointment, you can hold your child in your arms while your dentist examines his or her teeth and mouth. You should use this opportunity to discuss your child’s medical history and any issues you’re concerned about. Your  dentist  will review the child’s teething and tooth development to see...

The Best Brushing Apps for Kids! It's important to make brushing FUN, especially for kid's. With today's technology it's EASIER than ever.  We'd like to give you some guidance on how to make your children's dental health even healthier! Let's be realistic. Many times it's a struggle to get a toothbrush IN your kid's mouth, and IF you can, it's even MORE difficult to get them to brush for two WHOLE minutes, TWICE a day.  So, why not make it fun by letting them use their IPAD or tablet DURING brushing time?!?! Here are some of the best brushing apps for kids we've compiled for you! All you need to do is click on the link or links below, download them onto their electronic device and encourage them to use their apps during each brushing session.   It WILL help them brush a little better and a little longer, so here you go! Best Brushing Apps for Kids! Disney Magic Timer Brush DJ Aquafresh Brush ...

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month Did you know an estimated 50,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer in the United States each year? That accounts for nearly 2.9% of all cancers! Your dentist or dental hygienist is in the best position to detect oral cancer during your routine examinations. At each routine examination you are given an oral cancer screening in our office. We are looking for anything abnormal that should not be present in your mouth. This could be a lump, lesions, red or white spots, sores or areas that bleed easily. If there is an area of concern, the rule of thumb is, if it does not resolve in about a two week time period it should be considered suspect and worthy of further examination or referral for biopsy.  Early detection is essential to more successful treatment outcomes.  It is important to be aware of your own body and be able to recognize any changes. Please let Dr....

February 2018 Dental Health Tips from Dr. Stangebye at Advance Dental Common Mistakes in Oral Care Routines Brushing and flossing every day is the best way to maintain your oral health and protect your teeth against decay, and if you complete both of these steps at least twice a day, then you’re doing great! However, even people who practice proper oral care regimens don’t realize the simple mistakes they’re making that can counteract their effort to achieve a healthy mouth. Read about the most common mistakes people tend to make in their oral care routines and the easy fixes that can correct them. When brushing The most common mistakes people make when brushing are simply not brushing long enough and brushing too hard. Many people think that if they’ve touched every tooth that brushing is over, but brushing for a full two minutes is the best way to get all of the teeth thoroughly cleaned each time. Setting a timer or playing a two-minute song in your head or on your phone whi...

Happy Wednesday, T o take advantage of our  Seal the Deal, Sealant Day Special , p lease email at advancedentalgranger@gmail.com or call at 574 271 9910 to schedule an appointment on one of the above days. To learn more about  Sealants , click this  link ! We look forward to hearing from you! Your Dental Family at Advance Dental www.advancedentalmichiana.com