Last year there was a major change made to School District Employees benefits across the state.  There was a lot of confusion about which dental plan to select.  

As member for the SEBB (School Employee Benefits Board) plan you have been given 3 options:

1. UDP, Uniform Dental Plan, Delta Dental PPO Plan (SEBB plan # 09600)

2. DeltaCare, Delta Dental Managed Care/HMO Plan (SEBB plan #09601)

3. Willamette Dental Managed Care.

The ONLY one of these options that will pay for your services at New Wave Dental Smiles is Option 1 on our list UDP, Uniform Dental Plan, Delta Dental PPO Plan. 

Option 2 and Option 3 are managed care programs with those plans you must select a dentist from the insurance companies list of providers.  Dr. Bajwa and New Wave Dental Smiles does NOT participate in either of those plans.  

Please do NOT select Option 2 or 3 (from our list above).

I have heard that changes to your selection will NOT be allowed after the deadline that has been reported asmidnight on November 23, 2020.   Please take care in your selection and if you have further questions please feel free to reach out to our office at 206-242-8080.

The dates and selection information were gathered from Delta Dental of Washington.  

Sincerely,
KrystalOffice Manager at New Wave Dental Smiles

While your teeth are remarkably strong, many people experience a chipped tooth. New Wave Dental Smiles wants you to be prepared if you chip a tooth, including understanding the causes, first aid, and the treatment options to fix the chipped tooth. Regardless of the severity, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to treat the tooth before it becomes a bigger problem, and if the chip is severe, you should see a dentist immediately for treatment.

Causes of Chipped Teeth

The most common causes of chipped teeth include hitting your mouth when falling, biting into hard objects, trauma from an accident, and sports injuries, but it can also be the result of a tooth that is weak from a cavity, grinding or clenching your teeth and even poor nutrition.

The size of the chip is the determining factor of the type of dental procedure you will need to fix the chip. A small chip may be an aesthetic issue that can easily be treated with a polishing instrument to smooth out the rough edges. A large chip may expose the pulp or the nerve and can become a breeding ground for infection. When this happens, you will most likely be in severe pain and need to seek immediate care, but even a smaller chip that is not treated can result in tooth sensitivity, enamel damage, pain, infection, abscess, and even tooth loss.

First Aid for a Chipped Tooth

If you chip a tooth, following are first aid tips before seeing the dentist:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water to keep irritants away from the tooth, to clear away any blood and to sooth the pain. Make sure the water is warm because hot or cold water can produce pain from sensitivity
• Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze to stop any bleeding. You can rinse your mouth and apply new gauze as needed.
• Use an ice pack to your face in the area where the tooth is to reduce any swelling.
• Relieve pain by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you are having a hard time stopping the bleeding, do not take aspirin as it may cause more bleeding.
• If possible, try to save the chip because the dentist may be able to reattach it to the tooth. You should preserve the chip in milk. If you can’t save the chip, don’t worry as there are other treatment options.

Treatment Options for Chipped Teeth

When you visit New Wave Dental Smiles, your Burien cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Bajwa will examine the chipped tooth and will discuss the best treatment option to repair the tooth. Depending on the extent of the damage, there are several treatment options available for a chipped tooth:

• A composite resin may be used to create a seamless barrier that will protect your tooth while keeping the tooth looking good.
• If the root or pulp are exposed, a root canal and crown may be the best option to repair the tooth. With a root canal, the root and infection will be removed and replaced with a special filling. After a root canal, a dental crown will be placed over your tooth to protect the damaged tooth.
• Enamel shaping may be used on smaller chips with no underlying damage. This procedure involves reshaping the tooth with a polishing instrument to return it to a smooth surface.
• Veneers are a cosmetic solution to fix a chipped tooth by bonding a thin layer of porcelain or composite resin to the surface of the tooth which hides the chip.
• A tooth extraction may be necessary if the chip falls below the surface of your gums. If the tooth has to be removed, a dental implant can replace the missing tooth. The implant is a small metal post with a custom replacement tooth that will match your existing teeth.

Contact Burien Cosmetic Dentistry Today

Dr. Bajwa is a highly respected dentist that can help with everything from general dentistry to cosmetic dentistry. The dental team is committed to providing you with the best possible dental care and providing you with information on various dental issues. Schedule an appointment with us by calling (206) 242-8080 or use our online appointment booking.

At New Wave Dental Smiles, we’re proud to be the preferred West Seattle dentist, providing exceptional care to patients of all ages. Our passion for healthy smiles is the reason we strive to educate our patients on all things oral health, to ensure that they are well informed and equipped to have a beautiful smile for life. Gingivitis is a dental concern that we take seriously. Keep reading to learn what it is, why it’s serious, & how it can be avoided.

What Is Gingivitis?

So, what is gingivitis? Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease that causes inflammation of the gingiva, which is the part of your gums that surround the base of your teeth. This inflammation causes symptoms of swelling, redness and irritation around these areas. Gums may be tender, receding, and bleed easily. They may also be puffy and swollen, or cause bad breath.

Risks Of Gingivitis

If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to serious gum disease known as periodontitis, and tooth loss. Gum disease has been linked to other serious health complications, including diabetes, stroke, respiratory disease, infertility, and more. Your oral health is closely tied to your overall health. That’s why good oral hygiene habits are so important.

Avoiding Gingivitis

Poor dental hygiene is the most common reason for gingivitis. Aside from daily, thorough brushing and flossing, the best way to avoid and prevent gingivitis is to keep up with regular visits to your West Seattle dentist. It is recommended that you should have a West Seattle dental exam every six months to stay on top of your oral health, and catch any signs of gingivitis early—before they develop into a more serious complication.

Schedule Your West Seattle Dental Exam Today

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a West Seattle dental exam and teeth cleaning, don’t wait. Caring for your smile is more important than you think. Schedule a dental exam in West Seattle today so that we can ensure your smile is in top shape. If you have any questions on dental health, please reach out to us at our contact page today. We can’t wait to provide you with a healthy smile!

Most people brush their teeth diligently, taking care to brush both after breakfast and before bed. Unfortunately, though, flossing is often another story. After a long day, it’s all too easy to simply skip the step of flossing your teeth – but that can have serious consequences. As your dedicated Burien dentist, our mission is to help keep your teeth and smile as clean, healthy, and strong as possible, so we’d like to take this opportunity to explain why flossing matters so much to oral health.

The Importance of Flossing Your Teeth

We all know we’re supposed to floss. But why is flossing so important, anyways? The answer, as we’ll see, is two-fold.

First of all, the combination of brushing and flossing is the only way to fully clean the teeth at home. Brushing is great for removing plaque and bacteria from the exposed tooth surface, but a toothbrush misses the spaces between the teeth – about 30% of tooth surface overall. Flossing scrapes away food, plaque, and bacteria from these hidden tooth surfaces, helping to fully clean the teeth and prevent cavities from forming between the teeth.

But that’s not the full story. Flossing is also vital for the health of the gums. The act of flossing stimulates the gums, promoting blood flow to the critical upper section of the gums. This increased blood flow brings more oxygen, helping to bolster the gum tissue’s natural immune response, while also carrying away waste, toxins, and bacteria. In this way, flossing also helps prevent gingivitis and gum disease, which is vital to oral health.

Contact Your Burien Family Dentist

On their own, both brushing and flossing are insufficient to fully protect the smile – but together, they form a comprehensive routine to prevent cavities and dental decay. Remember, though, at-home oral hygiene is only one part of caring for your smile, and regular visits to our office for dental exams and teeth cleanings are just as important. Feel free to contact us if you have more questions about your oral health or if you’d like to schedule your next dental check-up. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we wish you luck in protecting your smile with daily brushing and flossing!