Request Request Appointment Patient Portal Patient Portal Contact Offices

Children’s Dentistry in Topeka, KS

March 25, 2015

Oh those precious little ones with their precious little smiles. How quickly they grow. But while they are little, it’s important to care for their dental health, so children have a solid foundation upon which to build a lifetime of good oral health care. At Michel Dental in Topeka, KS, we want to help you instill the value of dental health, which is why children’s dentistry is an integral part of our preventive dentistry practice.

Truth be told, children’s dentistry begins long before you bring your children to see Dr. Michael Michel for their first checkups, and it begins at home with you. As soon as you see that first baby tooth break through those pink gums, it’s time to start cleaning their teeth. Just take a soft cloth that’s been dampened with warm water and wipe their teeth after feeding. As more teeth appear, you can begin to use a small, soft toothbrush with a dab of toothpaste.

Children’s Dentistry at Michel Dental

Around the time that your children are three years old, Dr. Michel will want to start seeing them in the office for dental checkups every six months. At these exams, we’ll clean their teeth and remove any plaque buildup, assess the health of their gums—yes, children can have gum disease—and we’ll take digital x-rays when necessary. Of course, if we find anything of concern, such as a cavity, we’ll want to treat with expediency in order to prevent a little problem from becoming a big one.

Fluoride treatments and dental sealants are another important component of children’s dentistry. Fluoride is a mineral that has been shown to strengthen teeth’s enamel. Dr. Michel may want to apply a topical fluoride treatment to boost the enamel’s ability to fight dental caries and tooth decay. Dental sealants are a clear or white plastic coating that Dr. Michel “paints” on to your children’s deeply grooved molars, creating a physical barrier between decay-causing bacteria and teeth.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If it’s time for your children to see the dentist, then call the office of Dr. Michel. We serve adults and children in Topeka, KS, as well as from the surrounding areas of Emporia, Lawrence and Manhattan.

For a White Smile, Choose Tooth-colored Fillings from Michel Dental

March 10, 2015

You do your best to care for your teeth at home by brushing at least twice every day and flossing at least once a day. At Michel Dental in Topeka, KS, we certainly do our best to care for your teeth, too, when you come to our office for your regular dental checkups. Yet, despite our best efforts and yours, you now find yourself with a cavity. Don’t worry—it happens to a lot of people. Fortunately, Dr. Michael Michel can now repair that cavity with a tooth-colored filling, so you don’t have to contend with a dark spot in your otherwise white smile.

For many years, cavities were filled with an amalgam of metals. Although this material is strong and durable, it is not very “visually appealing.” And for some people, the metal in amalgam fillings causes tooth sensitivity.

The Advantages of Tooth-colored Fillings

In addition to having a more pleasing appearance in your smile and in your mouth, tooth-colored fillings offer other advantages, too. Made of composite resin or dental porcelain, tooth-colored fillings have become much stronger and more durable as manufacturers have improved the components of these filling compounds. In fact, these fillings are strong enough to hold up against the pressure of chewing and biting that your molars must withstand.

Furthermore, tooth-colored fillings made of composite materials necessitate less tooth preparation—that is, less drilling—and may not weaken the affected tooth as much as amalgam fillings, which often require more extensive tooth preparation. Dr. Michel subscribes to conservative dentistry, meaning that the more natural tooth structure you keep, the healthier your teeth will likely be in the future.

Finally, the strong bond between your tooth and the composite resin material actually supports the remaining tooth structure, thereby deterring breakage and insulating it against temperature changes.

Call Our Office Today

If you would like to have your amalgam fillings replaced with tooth-colored fillings made of composite materials, then schedule an appointment with Dr. Michel. We serve patients from Topeka, KS, as well as from Emporia, Lawrence and Manhattan and surrounding areas.

Nutrition Tips for Dental Health from Dr. Michael Michel

February 25, 2015

Did you know that eating right isn’t only important to your general health and wellbeing, it’s also important to your oral health, too? The foods and beverages you choose to consume directly—and we mean directly—affect the health of your teeth and gums. Obviously, your mouth is the point of entry for everything you eat and drink, so it should come as no surprise that your diet affects your oral health. With this in mind, Dr. Michael Michel and his staff in Topeka, KS, would like to offer some advice on how you can eat well and maintain your oral health, too.

What Foods Should You Eat?

Let’s begin by focusing on the foods that are helpful to your teeth and gums. First, dairy products such as cheese, milk and plain yogurt, along with calcium-fortified tofu, leafy greens and almonds, are foods that benefit dental health. These foods are high in calcium, which strengthens teeth just as it does bones. Protein-rich foods such as meat, poultry, fish, milk and eggs are good sources of phosphorus. Both calcium and phosphorus fortify and rebuild tooth enamel.

Even though fresh fruits and vegetables contain some sugars, they balance that out with fiber and water to clean your teeth, making them a healthy diet choice. Fruits and vegetables also stimulate saliva production to rinse decay-causing acids and food particles away from teeth and gums. Plus, many contain vitamin C, which promotes healthy gums, and vitamin A, another nutrient that builds tooth enamel.

What Foods and Drinks Should You Avoid?

The foods and drinks you try to avoid in order to maintain a healthy diet and healthy weight are essentially the same foods you should avoid for the sake of your dental health. Sweet treats—candy (especially hard or sticky candy), cookies, cakes, muffins—all contain sugars that stick to your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth thrive on these sugars and release acids that cause tooth decay. Likewise starchy foods, such as potato chips and crackers, have the same effect.

Sodas, juices, sweetened teas and coffee, some sports drinks, lemonade and limeade literally bathe your teeth in sugar, which causes tooth decay. Choose water instead, and occasionally choose tap water, which is fluoridated.

Call Our Office Today

In conjunction with a healthy diet, regular dental checkups are a must for maintaining oral health. So, schedule an appointment with Dr. Michel in Topeka, KS. We also conveniently serve patients in Emporia, Lawrence and Manhattan and surrounding areas.

For a Smile that’s as good as New, Choose Dental Crowns from Dr. Michael Michel

February 10, 2015

Dental crowns have been an integral part of restorative dentistry for many years. So, getting a crown is nothing new. What is new about dental crowns is the ease with which the procedure is now completed and how lifelike your new “tooth” will look. With dental crowns, Dr. Michael Michel has restored many smiles for patients in Topeka, KS, and the surrounding areas, and he can do the same for you!

If you have been contending with a severely cracked or worn tooth, or a tooth that is damaged by extensive decay, then a dental crown—also called a dental cap—may be the perfect solution. A dental crown fully encapsulates a tooth that needs repair, thereby restoring appearance and function. Furthermore, a crown protects your tooth from further damage and help to maintain a proper bite.

Dental Crowns in Two Appointments

In most cases, a new dental crown requires only two appointments with Dr. Michel. At the first appointment, we’ll likely take an impression of your existing teeth that will be used as the template for creating a correctly shaped and sized crown. Then, Dr. Michel prepares the tooth to be outfitted with a crown, and another impression is taken in order to fabricate a crown that fits perfectly on top of the prepared tooth. You’ll leave this appointment wearing a temporary crown, while your custom crown is prepared in a cosmetic dental lab.

In about two weeks or so, you’ll return for your next appointment with Dr. Michel where he will cement your permanent crown to the prepared tooth. He will make sure your crown fits perfectly, gently filing and shaping the crown for a finish that looks and feels completely natural.

Call Our Office Today

If you would like to consult with Dr. Michel about receiving a dental crown, then please call our office to schedule an appointment. Located in Topeka, KS, we also conveniently serve patients in Emporia, Lawrence and Manhattan and surrounding areas.

Heal an Infected Tooth with Endodontics from Dr. Michael Michel in Topeka, KS

January 10, 2015

Although most people are inclined to pay closer attention to the outside of their teeth—their color, shape and position—if a toothache happens, then chances are it’s time to pay attention to the inside of that tooth. More often than not, a toothache is a sign of infection in the tooth’s pulp, the soft tissue inside your tooth. Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the health of your internal tooth structure, or the pulp. If you have a tooth with internal infection or damage, then Dr. Michael Michel in Topeka, KS, will likely recommend a root canal to save the tooth from extraction.

Get to the Root of the Problem with Endodontics

Despite a bad reputation, a root canal is not a painful procedure thanks to anesthesia and modern dental techniques. In fact, a root canal is meant to relieve the pain of a tooth with internal infection or damage. The inside of each tooth is made up of nerve tissue, lymph tissue and blood vessels. If this dental pulp is traumatized, whether by decay-causing bacteria, a severe fracture or a hard blow to the face, then the tooth begins to die. A root canal can eliminate the infection and save the tooth, thereby preventing the need for extraction.

The Root Canal Procedure

Once your tooth is anesthetized, Dr. Michel will gently work to remove the infected tissue and any ensuing debris from canals inside the tooth’s roots. Then, the canals are filled with a biocompatible material. Finally, your tooth will be prepared for a crown that will Dr. Michel will place on the tooth to protect it from any further damage.

Call Our Office Today

If you are experiencing the pain of a toothache, then please schedule an appointment as soon as possible with Dr. Michael Michel in Topeka, KS, to determine whether or not a root canal is needed. Our endodontics services are also available to patients in Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence and Manhattan and surrounding areas.

Get Your Rest with Sleep Apnea Therapy in Topeka, KS

December 10, 2014

Do you often feel tired or irritable during the day? Do the words, “stop snoring!” interrupt your sleep quite regularly during the night? All of these may be due to a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea happens when you have a lapse in breathing during your sleep. These lapses may occur as many as 100 times in a night. Fortunately, there is treatment. Dr. Michael Michel of Michel Dentistry treats sleep apnea so patients in Topeka, KS, and the surrounding areas can enjoy quiet and restful nights.
The most common form of this ailment is obstructive airway sleep apnea. In this case, tissues relax while you are sleeping and may obstruct your breathing airway. Likewise, your tongue may fall back into your throat and block breathing. Snoring may also occur as breathing becomes strained and air tries to force its way through narrowed passageways. When this happens and your breathing is interrupted, your brain signals the body to awaken in order to restart breathing. If this occurs dozens of time each night, then you can surely understand why you may be sleepy and irritable during the day. Sleep apnea has also been connected with lower work productivity, automobile accidents and poor performance in school by children who have sleep apnea.

The Oasys Oral/Nasal Airway System™

Dr. Michel treats obstructive airway sleep apnea with an oral device called the Oasys Oral/Nasal Airway System. This FDA-approved snoring/sleep appliance combats snoring and sleep apnea in two ways:
• It repositions the lower jaw to open passageways and encourage optimal airflow, thus eliminating apnea episodes.
• Nasal passages are dilated to decrease airflow resistance and inhibit snoring.

Dr. Michel will specify your custom oral appliance to address your specific needs. Comfortably worn at night, the Oasys Oral/Nasal Airway System will have you sleeping peacefully and restfully night after night.

Schedule an Appointment Today
If you think that you or a loved one might have sleep apnea, then call the office of Dr. Michael Michel in Topeka, KS, for a consultation. We also conveniently serve patients in Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.

Get a Quick Tooth Fix with Cosmetic Bonding

November 24, 2014

If you could change one little thing about your smile, what would it be? Perhaps a slightly chipped or cracked tooth. Or maybe you have one or two teeth that are misaligned. Is there a gap between your front teeth that you’ve always wanted to close? Well then, cosmetic bonding may be the solution. With cosmetic bonding and one appointment Dr. Michael Michel in Topeka, KS, can repair your smile.

Today, cosmetic bonding is a common dental procedure in which a tooth-colored material—usually a sturdy plastic material—is applied to the tooth and hardened with a special light. Cosmetic bonding is not only used to repair a host of cosmetic concerns—chips, cracks, discolored teeth, misaligned or misshapen teeth—but now these same tooth colored materials are used to fill cavities.

The Process of Cosmetic Bonding

For cosmetic bonding, Dr. Michel will carefully examine the tooth or teeth that need repair to determine whether or not cosmetic bonding is the correct treatment. If so, then he will prepare the surface of the tooth and smooth on the liquid bonding material. After the material is molded, an ultraviolet light hardens the material. Dr. Michel will then further sculpt and trim the bonding for a finish that blends seamlessly with your other teeth.
In most cases, cosmetic bonding is used to repair front teeth. So in order to preserve the strength of the bonding, Dr. Michel recommends not biting on hard foods, such as carrots or apples. Otherwise, teeth that have had cosmetic bonding require no special treatment. Simply brush and floss as you would your other teeth and your new smile will give you pleasure for years to come.

Call Our Office Today

If you would like to learn more about cosmetic bonding, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Michel, call the office today. We proudly serve patients in Topeka, KS, Emporia, Lawrence and Manhattan and the surrounding areas.

Brighten Your Smile with Teeth Whitening

October 22, 2014

Many people go to great lengths in order to achieve the look they want. Whether it is through haircuts or getting manicures and pedicures, many people want to make sure they look their absolute best at all times. One thing that many people spend a lot of time on are their smiles. Many people consider a smile a first impression, and when you feel confident in your smile, you are able to feel confident about the way you look overall, and your general wellbeing will be improved. If you have stains on your smile, you may find it difficult being as outgoing as you may want because you feel insecure about the way you look. Fortunately, Dr. Michael E. Michel is able to whiten the smiles of his patients with ease using teeth whitening at his Topeka, KS dental office.

There are many things that contribute to your smile losing its luminescence over time. Everything from coffee, wine, and tea to dyes in food, certain medications, genetics, and the natural process of aging all play a role in your smile going from bright to dull. The wonderful thing at Dr. Michel’s dental office is that we give our patients a couple of options to whiten their smiles.

The first option is in-office teeth whitening, which is great for our patients that are constantly on the go. When you come in for your appointment, we will apply a whitening gel onto your smile, and let you sit back and relax. In as little as an hour, your smile can be up to eight shades lighter! The second option is at-home teeth whitening, and this form of whitening appeals to those who wish to have a more gradual change to their smiles. We will create custom whitening trays, promising great results and a personalized treatment. We will also give you with the whitening gel, which you fill the trays with. Simply wear the trays for an allotted amount of time each day, and your smile with effortlessly whiten! If you would like Dr. Michel’s help whitening your smile with teeth whitening, contact our office today!

At Michel Dental, we offer quality dental care for a distinctive smile. Our Topeka dental office serves patients from Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

Restore Your Health with Gum Disease Therapy

October 8, 2014

Just like almost everything in life, from relationships to building a business, it is important to have a healthy, solid foundation in order to reap any sort of positive benefit. Though many people may think they can bypass all of the important groundwork in order to get things done quicker, it is crucial that you be sure you take care of the early stages as much as possible. The same can go for your smile. Many people may not know this, but your gums are the foundation to your smile, and it is very important to make sure you take just as much care of your gums as you do your teeth. Millions of people suffer from gum (periodontal) disease, and the scary thing is that they may not be aware of it. Because Dr. Michael E. Michel understands the importance of gum health with his patients, he offers gum disease therapy at his Topeka, KS dental office.

It is very important to make sure that you are aware of your status when it comes to gum disease, as leaving it unchecked can really be detrimental to your oral and bodily health. If left to its own devices, gum disease can put you more at risk for heart disease, stroke, tooth loss, bone loss, Alzheimer’s, dementia, respiratory complications, and much more. If you are unaware as to whether or not you are living with gum disease, a few symptoms are red and swollen gums, gums that bleed when you brush or floss, discoloration of the gums, and gums that are sensitive to the touch.

The ways that we tackle your gum disease is through scaling and root planing. Scaling is when we remove the harmful bacteria from below the gum line, allowing for your gum’s reattachment to the tooth and a healthier smile. Root planing involves smoothing out the rough surfaces on your tooth’s root that have become jagged due to the bacteria sitting on your smile. We will also develop a lesson plan with you, ensuring your gums will be healthy for years to come! If you would like Dr. Michel’s help taking care of you gum disease with gum disease therapy, contact our office today!

At Michel Dental, we offer quality dental care for a distinctive smile. Our Topeka dental office serves patients from Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

Accomplish Discreet Orthodontic Care with Invisalign

September 24, 2014

For those who have a misaligned or gapped smile, trying to find the right orthodontic treatment for you can be daunting. Though you may want a straight, perfectly aligned smile, the thought of having to wear braces with wires and brackets can completely turn you away. Many people wish for a straighter smile, but also want to look as natural as possible while undergoing their orthodontic treatment. Thankfully, Dr. Michael Michel is able to give you the discreet orthodontic care you have been wanting by offering Invisalign to his patients!

One of the main reasons why people love Invisalign is because they are able to look like themselves during their treatment. Invisalign works through a series of aligning trays, and each tray sits nearly invisibly on your smile. The trays are custom made to fit your mouth, and each tray signifies a different step in your straightening process. After wearing one aligning tray for a certain amount of time, simply switch to the next tray in the series to continue your treatment! Simple and discreet, Invisalign is a great option for teens and adults alike.

Another great benefit to Invisalign is the fact that you are not restricted to any foods or drinks. Being able to eat what you want is a benefit, as you will not have to pick food out of your wires and brackets as you would with traditional braces. Also, you are able to have better overall oral care when using Invisalign. Any time you need to brush, drink, floss, or eat, simply remove the tray and reapply when necessary. Because we will make impressions of your smile, and because each aligning tray is custom made to fit your mouth perfectly, your treatment as personalized as ever. If you would like Dr. Michel’s help in achieving a beautifully straight smile using Invisalign, contact our office today!

At Michel Dental, we offer quality dental care for a distinctive smile. Our Topeka dental office serves patients from Emporia, Lawrence, Manhattan, and surrounding areas. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

« Newer PostsOlder Posts »