Any number of mental acrobatics can be used to convince yourself not to see a dentist. Fear of pain, dislike of the procedures, even sensitivity to the sounds associated with cleanings can all be deterrents. But in some cases, legitimate allergies to common dental supplies and medicines can keep you from getting the oral health care you need.

Common Dental Allergies

Many people suffer from allergies that can interfere with their daily lives. Pollen, mold, and other environmental allergens can cause discomfort seasonally or year round. You won't find mold or pollen inside of a dental office but you may find other common allergens, like:

• Latex and rubber used in gloves and some dental tools
• Sulfites used in dental materials
• Metals like gold, nickel, and mercury used in fillings, bridges, and crowns
• Fragrances used in dental cements
• Pain relief allergens

At Colonial Dental Group, we strive to make your experience as safe and comfortable as possible. Using only all-porcelain crowns, offering resin composite fillings, and using latex-free gloves are all methods we employ to ensure your allergies are not aggravated.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois, and common allergies have kept you from getting the dental services you need and desire, please contact the experienced dentists at Colonial Dental Group. Our staff will listen closely to your concerns, and make every effort possible to ensure a flare-up free visit.

Your smile is the first thing people notice about you. Stained, yellowed teeth can be a turn off during social, business, and romantic encounters. For this reason, procedures to whiten teeth have topped the cosmetic dental market in recent years. There are several options available to make your teeth their whitest and most brilliant.

Tooth Whitening

Many options exist to help whiten teeth. Over the counter tooth whitening kits are the most readily available, but they are also the least effective and can cause the most tooth sensitivity. Professional alternatives to store bought kits include:

• Professional at-home whitening kits - These contain a higher concentration of whitening gel along with a personally molded mouthguard to ensure quick, even results.
• In-office whitening - This takes place over a single office visit. Whitening gel is applied and a special light is used to increase its whitening power while decreasing the amount of time necessary to see results. This helps eliminate time, effort, and discomfort associated with do it yourself methods.
• Dental bonding - This can be used to fill in cracks, chips, and pits where discoloration can hide. In some cases, these areas cannot be whitened with a gel due to their inaccessibility.
• Porcelain veneers - These are a quick, painless, noninvasive way to correct problems ranging from cracked and chipped teeth, to teeth that are discolored by stains and environmental factors.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois, and are looking for an ideal solution to whiten your teeth, please contact us for a consultation. The dentists at Colonial Dental Group will work closely with you to find a solution that best meets your needs and desires.

Dental phobia is quite common in our country. Memories, both real and imagined, of painful dental procedures, sensitive teeth scraped, a slipped cleaning tool, insufficient amounts of Novocain, or perhaps even sensitivity to the sounds of dental instruments cleaning your teeth causes your skin to crawl. No matter what the cause of your dental phobia, a friendly, professional dental staff can help alleviate your discomfort, and get you back into the dental chair.

Common Causes of Dental Phobias

Bad experiences are the most common cause of dental phobias. Some of us experienced dentists that were uncaring or rushed, while others have had actual painful experiences while visiting the dentist. Other causes may be:

• Unrelated history of abuse, particularly in childhood
• Unrelated post traumatic stress disorder
• Unrelated medical humiliation

Phobia means "fear" in Greek, but in our modern society, the term phobia has been extended to mean an "irrational severe fear that leads to avoidance." No matter how irrational, however, dental phobia is individually legitimate, but can lead to serious oral health problems.

Cure for Dental Phobia

The best cure for any fear is to face it directly; but it's helpful to have a caring, friendly, and professional staff to help you conquer this fear. At Colonial Dental Group, we are dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable atmosphere.

Our dentists are skilled in dealing with every form of dental phobia, and we offer special treatments like sedation dentistry for patients who are particularly nervous about dental procedures. We are devoted to making every visit to the dentist easy and enjoyable.

If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois, and fear of the dentist has kept you from getting the oral health care you deserve, please contact the friendly, professional staff at Colonial Dental Group to hear about the ways we can make your visit stress and anxiety free.

Eating ice cream, drinking coffee, these are things we take for granted if our teeth are not sensitive. However, many Americans suffer from sensitive teeth, making these every day activities painful and unpleasant.

Tooth sensitivity is a common problem, but not an untreatable one. There is no reason for you to live your life in pain, afraid to enjoy certain foods, pained by brushing your teeth. Depending on the cause, several options exist to help ease the discomfort associated with sensitive teeth.

Causes of Sensitive Teeth

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by a number of common problems. Some, like tooth whitening gels, can be avoided by reducing or ceasing the application. Others, like loss of tooth enamel, a cracked tooth, or an exposed tooth root may require intervention by a dentist.

Solutions for Sensitive Teeth

Over the counter solutions may help solve your problem. Using a toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth can often help eliminate the discomfort. There are many brands of toothpaste for sensitive teeth. The dentists at Colonial Dental Group can help you determine which one will best work for you.

In some cases, in-office services may be required. Some common procedures to reduce tooth sensitivity include:

• Enamel strengthening fluoride treatments
• Bonding and sealing treatments
• Root canals

Depending on the cause and severity of your tooth sensitivity, these and other solutions may be applied. It is important to have the dentists at Colonial Dental Group asses and help you correct your tooth sensitivity issues.

If you are experiencing a diminished quality of life due to tooth sensitivity and live in or around Chicago, Illinois, please contact us to schedule an appointment. The dentists at Colonial Dental Group will best be able to determine the cause and appropriate solution to solve your problem.