Is it time to get your life back in order, Reno? Call it Spring Cleaning. Call it a Hard Reset.  I like to call the small and simple tasks cling-ons. These are things like refill a prescription, change your furnace filter, get your oil changed, replace the lightbulb or make a dental appointment.

If you’ve been pushing dental work onto the back burner, maybe it’s time to just get it out of the way and move on to your other tasks. Call 775-323-0700 to set up a consultation. Once and for all determine your dental needs and create a straightforward, incredible, all-encompassing plan.

Here at The Reno Dentist we see patients for many smile fixes including the following:

dentures
Invisalign
root canals
porcelain veneers
wisdom teeth extraction

Dr. Shane Sykes strives to provide extraordinary service to our awesome patients in Reno, Nevada. At your consultation feel free to ask about veneers, implants, invisible braces, bridges and all things dental. We answer cosmetic dentistry questions all day long and Dr. Sykes knows how to clearly explain the pros and cons related to various treatment plans.

Since 2011, Reno patients have enjoyed having The Reno Dentist nearby, ready to provide cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and restorative dentistry.

Move through your to-do list today – change your oil, check. Replace that lightbulb, check. Make a dental appointment, check. It feels great.

Shane Sykes, DMD

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503

 

This is a vital question occasionally asked by patients at The Reno Dentist. The answer, however, is “No!” Bleeding is probably a sign that you need to clean your teeth and gums more thoroughly – not leave them alone. It is impossible to clean effectively between teeth without using floss or an interdental brush.

If you have never flossed before, your gums might bleed the first few times you use floss. The bleeding may be due to harmful gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding often stops within a week or two.

Gingivitis (gum disease) and the more advanced periodontal disease is extremely common in Nevada and around the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that half of American adults aged 30 and over have periodontal disease. https://www.perio.org/consumer/cdc-study.htm

If you don’t make flossing a habit, and your gums become sore, swollen, and tender, it could cause gum disease. The good news is that, unlike dental caries, gum disease can be reversed with improved oral hygiene.

It is vital to correctly use dental floss to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth:

1. Cut a length of floss about 18 inches long.
2. Securely wind each end around your middle fingers.
3. Take hold of the floss with your forefinger and thumb leaving about two inches to work with.
4. Thread the floss between two teeth.
5. Hold the floss tightly against the side of the tooth and move it up and away from the gumline. You want to clean the space between the tooth and gum without pulling more gum tissue away, so it’s critical to scrape up and out of the pocket.
6. Move the floss around the tooth to clean every surface – especially those that your brush can’t reach. As you use a section of floss, unwind from one hand to access a clean piece. With 18 inches, you should have enough to provide a clean section for every tooth. If you run out, that’s okay. Just toss the used piece and cut a new one.

Some people find it easier to start on one end on the upper teeth and clean each gap one by one until they reach the end on the opposite side. Then repeat for the bottom row. Whatever process you decide on, make sure you clean around every tooth, including the back surfaces of the last molars.

What if you continue flossing for a few weeks and still observe bleeding? Call The Reno Dentist at 775-323-0700 to schedule a consultation. Shane Sykes, DMD, will complete an extensive examination to determine the cause of the bleeding.

At The Reno Dentist, our goal is to help patients preserve healthy teeth and gums. Our dental hygienists not only perform the most thorough dental cleanings, they also educate patients on proper brushing and flossing. If you have a child who needs extra help learning how to brush and floss correctly, schedule an appointment with our The Reno Dentist child-friendly team.

Some patients have perfectly healthy teeth and gums but are not happy with their smile due to cosmetic troubles. If you want to explore possibilities for improving your smile, meet with us today at 775-323-0700.

We offer cutting-edge cosmetic dental services including teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental crowns, inlays/onlays, and tooth-colored filling replacement. Ask us about oral sedation options if you need help relaxing during dental treatment. You can depend on us to maintain the highest standard of safety and sterility at The Reno Dentist.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503

 

For those of you who feel pain when you sip your morning coffee or who cringe each time you brush or floss, The Reno Dentist is here for you. Dr. Shane Sykes has been treating this common issue since 2011.

The first line of defense against tooth sensitivity is proper oral hygiene. Incorrect brushing and over-brushing can cause receding gums, which leads to the exposure of microscopic tubules in the dentin. When these tubules are exposed, acidic, hot, cold, and sticky foods can then reach the nerve cells in the teeth causing discomfort (who are we kidding – it’s pain).

Here in our Reno dentistry practice, Dr.Sykes can determine if your brushing style is contributing to your tooth sensitivity and get you on your way to proper oral care habits.

Shane Sykes usually recommends an over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste that reduces tooth pain after several applications. However, some Reno patients may need in-office procedures such as fluoride gel treatments available at The Reno Dentist.

Don’t worry if you have sensitive teeth and want to have your teeth whitened. Here at The Reno Dentist, Dr. Sykes can determine which professional tooth whitening or at-home whitening procedures will work for you.

Call our Reno cosmetic dental office today at 775-323-0700 to get relief for your sensitive teeth.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503

 

Improving your oral hygiene doesn’t have to take a lot of time. In fact, you can establish a new habit to benefit your oral health in 10 seconds. I’m Dr. Shane Sykes with The Reno Dentist writing to offer my patients in Carson City, Spanish Springs, and Virginia City 6 manageable ways to add vital dental care to each day in 60 seconds or less.

Find a good place for your toothbrush.
Look around. In 10 seconds you can probably find 5 places to set your toothbrush that will allow air drying and can slow the growth of microorganisms that a closed, moist environment would encourage.

Leave the floss on the counter.
If you want to build consistency, you’ll need a plan. Deliberately setting out the floss will give you more commitment to use it. And if you see it you’ll remember that commitment.

Swish.
If you’re in 20 seconds already, might as well grab the fluoride rinse and rinse away food particles after flossing and freshen your breath at the same time. 10 seconds is the minimum but it will do the trick if the alternative was no time spent swishing.

Smile in the mirror.
Check out those chompers. Examine for 10 full seconds. Inspect gums for bleeding or tenderness, missed food particles and staining or other concerns.

Have a water chaser with dark beverages.
Rinse your mouth with a sip of water when drinking cola, tea, or coffee throughout the day.  It takes less than 10 seconds and is a habit that will lessen discoloration.

Call The Reno Dentist.
10 digits, 10 seconds, a short conversation and you can secure yourself a consultation with me and my knowledgeable staff. Call 775-323-0700 so we can examine your teeth for more than your initial 10 seconds and help you to have the smile you can be proud of.

For families throughout Sparks, cosmetic dentistry – teeth whitening, crowns, chipped teeth and even braces – all have their place in improving a smile. Why not let us improve yours?

We can answer questions about the cost of cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, or restorative dentistry. Trusted since 2011 to promote healthy smiles and educated hygiene, we will take care of all your needs including: dentures, Invisalign, root canals, porcelain veneers, wisdom teeth extraction and everything in between.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503

 

Dental health and a remarkable smile depend on much more than simply brushing regularly. In today’s The Reno Dentist post, we present a quick refresher course on important lifestyle practices that affect oral health. You are probably familiar with most of these recommendations, but it is helpful to get a reminder once in a while. We encourage all of our patients to maintain a lifestyle that promotes dental health as well as overall physical health. After all, the two are inseparable.

DO:

Eat a nutritious diet.
Eat calcium-rich dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt to neutralize acids that attack enamel.
Brush gently but meticulously at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Make sure you clean thoroughly between teeth with dental floss or interdental cleaners such as flossing picks.
If you have children, meet with your Sparks dentist about water fluoridation. If your municipal water supply is not fluoridated, you may want to give your children fluoride supplements.
Get your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year.
Have a dental examination twice yearly with your Reno dentist.

DON’T:

Eat a sugar frequently. Sugar triggers the production of detrimental cavity-causing acids that weaken enamel.
Snack throughout the day. This speeds up plaque production and subjects the teeth to constant bombardment with acids.
Chew on ice.
Use your teeth as tools. Ever.
Drink energy drinks.
Get oral piercings.
Ignore tooth pain or sensitivity.

If you have oral pain or haven’t visited a dentist in a while, call The Reno Dentist  at 775-323-0700 to schedule an appointment with Shane Sykes. Tooth problems get worse over time – especially if there is decay or gum disease.

At The Reno Dentist, we serve the Reno area with exceptional dental care including general and cosmetic dentistry. Ask us about:

• CEREC Same Day Crowns
• Dental Implants
• Porcelain Veneers
• Prepless Veneers
• Teeth Whitening

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503

 

Life is busy for many Reno residents. At times, it’s impossible to get all the “gotta do’s” done and many are postponed or dropped altogether. Sometimes your car has to wait another 500 miles for an oil change or you are a month late replacing your furnace filter or you realize that you’ve had a leaky faucet since the Clinton administration. Many important things get put on the back burner, but we urge you not to get careless about essential dental care.

Here are some common dental care shortcuts. Are you guilty of any of them?

Rushing Through Brushing
Your teeth deserve an attentive two minutes or more. Slow and methodical beats quick and dirty. Use a system to make sure you get every tooth. Playing one of your favorite two- or three-minute songs may help you go the distance.

Only Seeing Your Dentist When You Notice a Problem
We hope none of our patients put off examinations and cleanings. When you feel tooth pain, it may be way too late to prevent a filling or even a root canal.

Neglecting Professional Cleanings
When softer plaque turns to calculus, you can’t brush it away with a toothbrush. Six-month cleanings help get rid of the calculus or tartar before it can damage your enamel or irritate your gums.

Using Floss Picks Instead of Dental Floss
While it’s better to floss with a floss pick than to not floss at all, it’s important to understand that floss picks can only clean a part of the tooth’s surface. A floss pick holds just a small length of floss stretched in a straight line. Looking down, a tooth is shaped somewhat round or oval. A straight piece of floss just doesn’t make sense geometrically because it doesn’t conform to the shape of the tooth as well as traditional floss. When you wrap a string of floss completely around the circumference of a tooth, you can more thoroughly clean that high-priority area around and just below the gumline. We have seen patients who are observant floss pick users who developed decay in a minuscule crack the floss pick missed day after day.

At The Reno Dentist, we urge our patients to practice preventative dentistry to preserve their smiles for life. We offer the full spectrum of general and cosmetic dental procedures including restorative dentistry:

• Dental Crowns
• Dental Implants
• Dentures & Partial Dentures

. For more information, call The Reno Dentist today at 775-323-0700 or visit https://therenodentist.com/about/our-doctors/.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
89503

 

For those of you in the Sparks area who feel pain when you sip your morning coffee or who cringe each time you brush or floss, The Reno Dentist is here for you.

Dr. Shane Sykes has been treating this common problem since 2011.

The first line of defense against tooth sensitivity is proper oral hygiene. Incorrect brushing and over-brushing can result in receding gums, which leads to the exposure of microscopic tubules in the dentin. When these tubules are exposed, acidic, hot, cold, and sticky foods can then reach the nerve cells in the teeth causing discomfort.

Here in our Reno dentistry practice, our knowledgeable staff can determine if your brushing style is contributing to your tooth sensitivity problems and get you on your way to proper oral care habits.

Shane Sykes usually recommends an over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste that lessens tooth pain after several applications. Most Sparks area drugstores carry it. However, some Reno patients may need in-office procedures such as fluoride gel treatments available at The Reno Dentist.

Don’t worry if you have sensitive teeth in Reno and want to have your teeth whitened. Here at The Reno Dentist, Dr. Sykes can determine which professional tooth whitening or at-home whitening procedures will work for you.

Call our Reno cosmetic dental office today for fast relief for your sensitive teeth.

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W 7th St Ste 5
Reno, Nevada
89503

Too tired to touch a toothbrush. We’ve all been there.

The Reno Dentist in Reno and Dr. Shane Sykes are committed to helping patients throughout the Carson City, Spanish Springs, and Virginia City neighborhoods to maintain balanced hygiene and to correct imperfections that can lead to inhibited confidence and self-assurance.

On our blog today we are offering two fabulously bright ideas for overcoming exhaustion in favor of brushing and flossing late at night.

Idea #1 Drag Tongue Along Teeth
After a long thankless day as you are lying there in bed and realize you forgot to brush, drag your tongue over your teeth a few times while mentally reviewing how plaque and tartar form. Within 48 hours they can start the dirty work of eating away at the teeth. Then jump up and give your mouth just 2 minutes of gentle, thorough cleaning. It’s that straightforward.

Idea #2 Scrutinize the Food You Eat
Another convenient and straightforward approach is to pay attention to what’s going into your mouth throughout the day. The higher the sugar content the sooner the teeth will need a brushing to avoid harm. Swish with water after coffee, tea or soda if brushing isn’t going to happen soon. Chewing sticky candy leaves debris all over in the mouth as does bread and crackers. Keep this in mind and commit to take care of the particles as soon as possible.

Shredded meat can remain lodged between teeth for days if you don’t pull it out with floss. Plan to floss or brush after eating if possible. With each particular type of food, learn to assess the effect it could have on your smile. Make the decision to brush before you are tired. By simply visualizing and committing, you reduce the likelihood of hemming and hawing later when you’re yawning and fading and have to choose between settling into bed and spending 2 minutes cleaning your teeth.

We know a long day of work or play can yield a worn out body. Likewise, we know consistent brushing will diminish buildup and help prevent decay and gum disease. And we know that sometimes cavities need filling, chipped teeth need fixing, crooked teeth need straightening, and wisdom teeth need extraction.

Some smile problems can be prevented and some just can’t. We are happy to help with dentures, Invisalign, root canals, porcelain veneers, or wisdom teeth extraction. Come see our comfortable office at 855 W Seventh St Ste 200 in Reno, Nevada 89503 and we’ll help with any dental problems we can.

Cosmetic dentistry enhances a smile in several ways – straightness, coloration, conformity, and natural feel. Cosmetic dentistry helps our valued patients talk clearly, smile freely, and eat comfortably. A consultation with Dr. Sykes can open your eyes to the unique possibilities for your remarkable smile. Contact us at 775-323-0700 for an appointment or visit our website https://therenodentist.com/about/our-doctors/.

If we each do our part to keep your smile healthy and beautiful, then all of us can sleep at night.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, NV
89503