Donald M. Marks DMD offers clear braces in his State College, PA office. Comfortable, discreet aligners move crooked teeth into healthier and better looking positions.
Have you wanted your smile to look straight and stay healthy, but the idea of wearing traditional metal braces discourages you? Many teens and adults feel that way but have a great orthodontic option: Clear Correct clear braces from State College, PA dentist, Dr. Donald M. Marks. (more…)
Happy New Year from all of us at Donald Marks Family Dentistry! We hope you and your loved ones are starting 2016 off with a bang. In the spirit of fresh starts and new beginnings, we thought it would be an excellent time to remind you that nothing improves your oral and overall wellbeing like regular dental checkups from your dentist in State College, PA! Our team is looking forward to serving you and your family in 2016 — keep reading to learn why checkups are so important, then contact us to schedule your appointment today.
As your dentist in State College, I have a real interest in keeping your smile as healthy — and as beautiful — as it can be. When it comes to achieving the latter, I like to recommend the quickest way to dramatically improve your smile. It’s teeth whitening, and I’ve seen the positive difference it makes in a life again and again. Keep reading to learn more about the treatment, and how it can improve your smile right in time for the holidays!
If you’ve ever been told you need braces but said no because of the time, hassle, discomfort, or embarrassment of traditional metal, the ClearCorrect alignment tray system may be right for you. For many years, metal brackets and wires have been used to correct crooked, gapped, and misaligned teeth by tightening wires that pull brackets shifting teeth into proper alignment. Traditional orthodontics are extremely effective, but treatment impacts every aspect of patients’ lives. Bracket and wire braces require regular visits for tightening and adjustment, changes to diet and oral hygiene routines, take as long as 24 months to complete, and give patients a metallic smile. Thanks to advances in orthodontics, our State College, PA dental patients have a more cosmetic, convenient solution: the ClearCorrect alignment tray system.
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It’s no secret that what we eat has a big effect on the way our teeth look. Like coffee, a well-known smile stainer (that’s why you won’t find it on this list — it’s been talked about enough). There are some things you may not realize are slowly staining your smile, though. If you’d like to achieve noticeably whiter teeth naturally this fall, your dentist in State College, PA says avoid these five foods.
Dr. Donald Marks and Dr. John Martin need your help—not for their sake, but for the sake of your dental and oral health. We take the health of your smile very seriously, so we offer a comprehensive selection of general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Nevertheless, we need you to do your part at home with regular oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing at least once a day. Yes, you read that correctly—floss your teeth every day. Flossing is just as important (if not more so some believe) as brushing your teeth.
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That clean, fresh feeling you get after brushing your teeth is wonderful, isn’t it? After a restful sleep, one of the first things you do once you wake up is brush your teeth (after breakfast). Brushing your teeth serves a couple of purposes: First, it helps keep your teeth clean by removing tooth decay, plaque and other bacteria that is too small to see. Second, it freshens your breath. Have you smelled either your own or someone else’s breath right after they’ve woken up? It can be stinky. Hopefully, you’re practicing good brushing techniques and cleaning every part of each tooth.
Your tongue can also help keep your mouth clean and fresh if you give it a good brush. It’s true! There are many people who never think that the tongue can be brushed. We’re here to tell you that not only is brushing your tongue helping keep your breath fresh, but it also helps keep bacteria off of its surface. Our office in State College, PA wants you to know how important it is to keep that tongue as clean as possible. A good tongue brushing can go a long way in helping you maintain great oral health. Dr. Donald Marks and Dr. John Martin are the dentists State College residents can visit for priceless dental tips.
Brushing your teeth may be a habit that you take for granted. After all, most people begin to brush their own teeth around the age of 2 or 3 (with some adult backup), but what many of us don’t realize is we’ve never updated our tooth brushing techniques. Our teeth require different hygiene and care at different stages of our lives. One of the most essential elements of dental hygiene is proper tooth brushing, but if you’re still brushing the way mom or dad taught you as a child, you may not be cleaning your teeth effectively. Let the skilled staff at Donald Marks Family Dentistry help you make the most out of your daily tooth brushing routine. Call to schedule a dental hygiene appointment with our State Park, PA dental practice today.
When it comes to brushing, we recommend double checking the basics:
Many people are taught to brush their teeth as children using big circles or back and forth motions with the bristles flat against the outside and tops of teeth. Many children are never taught to brush the inside of their teeth at all. While these methods may be effective for children with poor hand eye coordination who are just developing the necessary motor skills to keep up their hygiene, there’s a reason we don’t brush our hair or wash our bodies the way we did when we were 3. Why would we continue to brush our teeth that way? For patients who want to start a more effective brushing routine, the Bass method is an option the team at Donald Marks Family Dentistry highly recommends.
How the Bass method works:
The Bass brushing method is preferred by many dentists and hygienists because it encourages increased periodontal care, and maximizes the effectiveness of each brush stroke. Ask your dental hygienist to explain or demonstrate effective brushing techniques for your, unique bite next time you visit our office.
We’re always here to help, no matter what your dental care needs, but we’re dedicated to improved preventive care so our patients are more likely to retain their natural smiles for life. Call Donald Marks Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment today. Our State College, PA dental practice welcomes patients from neighboring communities Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewistown, and Phillipsburg.
The hand that strikes also blocks is a mantra of the martial art form, Wing Chun. It means to be on the offensive to avoid receiving a blow from an opponent. This mantra should also be applied to your dental health. The best way to keep your teeth and gums at optimal health is to stop tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health concerns before they start. In State College, PA our professional, friendly staff will help you to achieve your healthiest smile and keep it for life. From six month dental check-ups and hygiene appointments, to fluoride treatments and dental health education, we help you land the first strike in the fight for your perfect bite. Contact us today to schedule your general dentistry check-up.
At Donald Marks Family Dentistry, our skilled dentists and outstanding dental care services help you maintain a perfect smile. At check-ups scheduled every six months, we will screen for oral cancer, check the alignment of your bite, look for signs of teeth grinding that may require TMJ treatment, and use state-of-the-art DIAGNOdent laser technology to screen for cavities.
Oral cancer, bite alignment and teeth grinding screenings are checked visually by our dentists. Oral cancer often manifests as a lump, bump or sore in the mouth that does not go away over time. When you visit the same dentist every six months, he will take note of any areas that may show signs of oral cancers. Bite alignment and teeth grinding too are most noticeable when the same dentist views your teeth over time, but some misalignments and severe grinding are apparent right away. By screening for these items at every visit, our dentists help you maintain a healthy smile.
DIAGNOdent is one ways that our dentists use technology to ensure your ongoing dental health. While adults should only receive dental x-rays once per year at the very most, DIAGNOdent is a hand-held, laser device that allows your dentist or hygienist to view or monitor areas with potential for tooth decay. This highly affective device allows our team to find cavities in some of the most difficult to see spots, and clear out decay-causing bacteria growth.
Above all, maintaining a consistent dental hygiene routine in and out of our office puts you on solid footing to develop strong bite. Our hygienists will thoroughly clean and examine your teeth and gums. They will consult with you regarding any changes to your oral health, and suggest and at-home hygiene adjustments that may be beneficial. Our number one priority is your health and wellbeing.
From infancy, our teeth help to deliver nutrition to our bodies. Early examination of teeth or gums in young children can help our dentists diagnose and treat any dental health concerns before they can have a lasting impact on your child. Our friendly staff will put your child of any age at ease, and give her foundation upon which to build a life-time of dental health. Don’t wait until children have their adult teeth, we recommend an initial visit with our staff before the age of two.
Our team is here to help you with any of your State College, PA family dentistry needs. Don’t wait until you have a problem to schedule an appointment with us, stop dental health issues before they start with our outstanding preventative dentistry options. Contact us to schedule an appointment in State College, PA. We also welcome patients from nearby Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewistown, Phillipsburg, and the surrounding communities.
Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are essential to keep your oral health in tip-top shape and stave off serious oral problems. Proper oral hygiene and regular dental appointments will prevent issues that can potentially build-up. Without routine brushing and flossing, or infrequent dental appointments, plaque, bacteria, and tartar form in pockets in the mouth, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. The disease affects thousands of Americans every year, and without proper treatment, the condition can lead to serious oral and health problems. The office of Donald M. Marks, DMD offers a comprehensive, effective treatment to combat periodontal disease.
Every mouth is full of bacteria. Bacteria, along with food and other particles, will build sticky plaque on your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing will get rid of plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it will harden and turn into tartar, which can only be removed by professional cleaning. The longer tartar stays on the teeth, the more damage it goes to the teeth and gums. Some warning signs for periodontal disease include:
Our experienced dentists and trained team of professionals have treated this disease on hundreds of patients. Containing and removing the infected areas are top priority. For initial periodontal treatment, we will apply a specific, powerful antibiotic powder, which reduces inflammation and brings infections under control. If the disease has spread throughout the mouth and into the roots of teeth, a more extensive approach might be necessary. We can scale – scraping tartar from above and below the gum line – the teeth and remove bacteria from the roots.
If you are noticing signs of gum disease, you need to schedule an appointment with our team immediately. Our experts can diagnose and treat periodontal disease and restore your oral health. We offer our perfected services to those who live in State College, PA, Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewistown, Phillipsburg, and the surrounding communities.
