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Recently, I have seen some patients from other offices that have come in for second opinions.  They were all recently seen by other dentists and were told that they have extensive problems with their teeth and need to have root canals, crowns, fillings, extractions, and/or implants.  Sometimes the proposed treatments run into the tens of thousands of dollars.  After evaluating their dental condition and X-rays, I am saddened with how often I disagree with the assessments of the other dentists.  Sometimes I find that only the most expensive and invasive options were discussed with the patient.  Sometimes the patients have felt pressured to begin work immediately and even pre-pay ...

There are many causes of stained teeth.  Most people are aware that smoking and chewing tobacco are among the worst culprits. Also, teeth naturally darken as we age due to thinning enamel, changes in structure of our teeth, cracks (which pick up stains) and changes in the thickness (density) of our teeth.  Most people are also aware that certain things we eat and drink profoundly affect the color of our teeth. 

A simple way to determine a food’s ability to stain teeth is to think of a white T-shirt.  In general, the things that stain a white T-shirt the most (think of a Tide commercial)-  like grape juice, pasta sauce, blueberry ...

New Teeth in a Day- Reality or Fiction? 

The answer is: a little bit of both. 

Hopefully, you will take amazing care of your teeth, never miss a dental checkup and never need dentures.  But not everyone is so lucky.  Millions of people every year have their remaining teeth extracted and dentures made.  In recent years, some dental clinics have started to advertise “new teeth in one day!”  And the advertisement goes on to claim that these teeth do not come out like dentures—they are literally like new teeth.  It is healthy to be skeptical of television advertisements, but modern dentistry is amazing and it is possible to have this done.  I ...

At Wahlers Family Dentistry, we see patients of all ages from toddlers to the elderly.  We love the youngest patients in our practice; unlike most adult patients they are usually happy and excited to be here!  Many parents wonder if a pediatric dentist is a better choice than a general dentist for their children.  The answer is a matter of personal preference.  Although most young children in this area of Pennsylvania see a pediatrician for their medical care, general dentists (and not pediatric dentists) actually see the majority of children for their dental care.  This is because routine dental care for children is not that different than dental care for ...

I enjoy seeing my patients, when they have just finished an extensive amount of dental work,take pride in their new smile.  Implants, crowns or veneers can have amazing results, either by enhancing a smile, or restoring teeth that were lost for various reasons.  What patients often do not realize though, is that their beautiful new teeth should be protected.  For patients who have just received extensive dental work, a nightguard can often be a wonderful, easy, and inexpensive way to protect your dental investment.  A nightguard is made in our office and is designed to wear during sleep, to protect teeth from grinding or clenching which can lead to cracked ...

What additional training is required for a dentist to become a cosmetic dentist?

This is actually a trick question, because the answer is none!  This is because Cosmetic Dentistry is not a recognized specialty by the ADA or by any Dental Board in the US.  It is essentially the same as if a dentist said they were a Friendly Dentist, or a Family Dentist or a Gentle Dentist; it is only a description that some dentists use to advertise.  All dentists are able to perform the same procedures and techniques on their patients, including whitening, implants, veneers, crowns, gingival grafting or gingivectomy (reshaping). 

Some dentists do have a particular love for performing ...

New Year’s Resolutions

2019 is upon us and undoubtedly there will be a multitude of resolutions made over the coming weeks.  Sadly, most of these resolutions will not make it past the first month or so, as we settle back into our normal routines.  Different theories exist on how many days in a row you need to do something before it becomes a habit, from 21 days to 12 weeks according to an internet search.  Certainly some resolutions are more difficult to keep than others.  For example, a new diet requires a change in food purchases, food preparation, having to deal with cravings, eating less, etc.  Likewise, starting to exercise requires ...