Hello, I’m Dr. Buchheit of Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS in Florissant. I am enthusiastic about upgrading smiles through cosmetic dentistry. Few physical improvements have such a compelling effect on attractiveness and self-confidence as a smile makeover. Excellent oral health and an attractive smile contribute to overall physical health and high quality of life.
If you have ever wondered how cosmetic dentistry could change your life, I invite you to schedule a consultation so we can talk about it. I believe that the initial consultation is a crucial part of any treatment plan. During your no-pressure smile redesign consultation we will consider the following issues:
Your goals for how you want your smile to look and feel after the makeover.
The state of your oral health.
The distinct features of your teeth and gums that you wish to correct.
Which distinct treatments are needed.
A detailed explanation of each needed procedure (e.g. porcelain veneers, dental crowns, inlays/onlays, gum contouring, crown lengthening, tooth implants, braces, or teeth whitening).
You can see before and after pictures of smile redesign patients.
Your options for how to schedule the procedures (all at once or over time).
Information about sleep dentistry.
Answers to any questions or concerns.
Cosmetic dentistry costs and financing options.
Your beautiful smile begins with an exam and consultation; give us a call at 314-837-7744.
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To achieve the utmost in oral health and a beautiful smile, you need a strategy. If you’re in Florissant, Missouri looking for a smile makeover and need general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry or any number of dental restoration procedures done, your strategy should be: “Contact my professional neighborhood dental practice.” Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS is at your service.
We’ve been serving the Florissant area since 1987. Our highly regarded patients will tell you they can’t get over the way Martin Buchheit and staff repaired and transformed their most critical feature into a dazzling smile. We would love the chance to thrill you, as well.
An Investment In Your Health
If you’re worried about how pricey the work you need could be, don’t worry, you might be pleasantly surprised about the bottom line. Especially, if like many of our nearby St. Louis patients with dental coverage, your insurance picks up a significant portion. But even without insurance, the procedures can be affordable. We have competitive pricing and work to keep the costs reasonable when it comes to Invisalign, restorative dentistry, and dental implants. Let us transform your smile into one that will light up the world.
Here’s the strategy you need: Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS!
During your consultation, we will discuss all of the procedures we offer – from braces to crowns to veneers to bridges. Knowledge is power.
You don’t know dental family until you’ve been here
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When you go to your drugstore or supermarket looking for toothpaste, mouthwash, teeth whitener, or another oral care product, be sure that the product you select lists the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.
Today, we look at 4 ways the ADA seal can help you make good oral care choices for yourself and your family.
1. Products with the seal have to be safe and effective, so you won’t waste your money on something that won’t work, or worse, can harm you.
2. The American Dental Association (ADA) only places their seal on a product after serious scientific testing. Which usually means that manufacturers have to meet higher standards than those required by law.
3. When you purchase products with the ADA seal, it’s practically like shopping with your Florissant dentist or dental hygienist right by your side! Who wouldn’t want that extra knowledge and information?
4. The ADA seal is not the organization’s recommendation of one particular product or another, but rather is a verification of the claims made by said product, claims on which savvy consumers can rely. Dr. Buchheit of Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS serves the St. Louis area from our beautiful practice in Florissant. We take pride in caring for our patients and, like the ADA, want you to have a healthy, beautiful smile.
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There’s something about having knowledge on anything unknown that makes us feel less afraid or at least more self-assured handling the unknown. If you consider dentistry an unknown topic, maybe you can educate yourself by asking your dentist lots of questions. Find a dentist willing to listen to your fearful thoughts and concerns so they can better assure you there isn’t much to worry about. Usually, when we talk about our fears someone with more information can help by reducing our dread. They may even eliminate it completely by showing our thoughts to be entirely irrational.
Meditate
Studies show how incorporating a 10-minute meditation routine can improve our overall feeling of wellness considerably. Think of meditation as a way for you to focus on the present moment and be comfortable with a subtle feeling of relaxation. This will provide a sense of tranquility we don’t always experience in our day-to-day lives. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I dedicated time to concentrate on the present moment and simply watch life pass, instead of trying to control everything.” With meditation, we can tune in to our natural way of being and more easily distinguish the difference between a real-life threat or an anxious thought.
Bring a friend or family member to your appointments
Sometimes modifying your environment in a way that’s more familiar will reduce anxiety. A great way of doing this is to bring someone familiar to your dental appointments who can offer emotional support. This could be a close friend or family member who understands how you feel. You should bring someone who is prepared to talk you out of negative thinking patterns. Your companion ideally will realize they are there for you and that this isn’t so much about the two of you hanging out socializing. Make sure they are up to the challenge!
Practice good oral hygiene
By having first-rate oral hygiene you can feel more confident about your next visit to the dentist. With excellent dental care, you can go into the dentist with a lower chance of having a root canal or being diagnosed with gingivitis, the onset of periodontal disease. See why these conditions may worsen your anxiety? If you were diagnosed with gingivitis, your mind would have logical reasons for feeling apprehensive which is not what we want. However, if you’ve been doing the regular brushing and flossing as recommended then there isn’t as much to fret about.
Seek out a therapist
Are you feeling anxious all the time or just while at the dentist’s? Seeking out a therapist may help with dental anxiety. Your therapist may counsel adjusting your daily routine to help fight both dental anxiety and any anxiety from day-to-day life. Or, your dentist may suggest specific techniques to focus on while at the dentist. The 3-2-1 technique involves naming 3 things you can hear, followed by 3 you can see, and lastly, things you can feel. Then you reduce the numbers to 2, then 1. This is a beneficial exercise you can do while in a dentist’s office or anywhere you may feel anxious.
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This is a key question occasionally asked by patients at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS. 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 extremely difficult 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 detrimental gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding usually stops within a week or two.
Gingivitis (gum disease) and the more advanced periodontal disease is extremely common in Missouri 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 lead to gum disease. The good news is that, unlike decay, gum disease can be reversed with improved oral hygiene.
It is important to correctly use dental floss to remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth:
Cut a length of floss about 18 inches long.
Securely wind each end around your middle fingers.
Take hold of the floss with your forefinger and thumb leaving about two inches to work with.
Thread the floss between two teeth.
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 vital to scrape up and out of the pocket.
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 system 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 see bleeding? Call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS at 314-837-7744 to schedule a consultation. Martin Buchheit, DDS, will complete an extensive examination to determine the cause of the bleeding.
At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, our goal is to help patients preserve healthy teeth and gums. Our dental hygienists not only carry out 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 Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS child-friendly team.
Some patients have perfectly healthy teeth and gums but are not satisfied with their smiles due to cosmetic problems. If you want to explore possibilities for improving your smile, speak with us today at 314-837-7744.
We offer state-of-the-art cosmetic dental procedures 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 rely on us to maintain the highest standard of safety and sterility at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS.
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Some men and women don’t feel that their smile is an asset, so they do their best to keep it hidden. Pictures, funny movies, jokes, hilarious internet videos—none of these can entice a smile or chuckle.
If this person sounds familiar (because it is you!), then maybe you would like some details about complete smile makeovers.
Don’t be embarrassed! Plenty of people are unwilling to reveal their smiles.
Here at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS we provide cosmetic dental care for our patients who have issues such as a previous mouth injury, tooth discoloration, poor spacing, chipped teeth, tetracycline stains, crooked teeth, or missing teeth.
Now is the time to get the confident smile that you’ve always wanted!
Many individuals start with teeth whitening. This swiftly creates a brighter smile. It’s a simple procedure, but the results are truly dramatic.
Other procedures that improve the look of your teeth and/or your oral health include dental crowns, dental implants, veneers, enamel shaping, gum contouring, bonding, and more! We can also refer you to an experienced orthodontist if necessary.
I’m Dr. Martin Buchheit and I am devoted to helping my patients enjoy healthy mouths and beautiful smiles.
You don’t know dental family until you’ve been here
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You’ve been doing it since you were five. You switch to autopilot morning and night and go through it. But are you doing it right?
Actually, many men and women are making tooth brushing mistakes. You may need to tweak your routine to better support your oral health and protect your smile from decay and gum disease.
1. Take your time. It’s understandable. You want to get it over with and go to bed. Proper teeth cleaning takes time and careful attention. Time yourself the next time you brush—you might be surprised at how rapidly you finish. The process should take at least two to three minutes. It can also be useful to take a different route around your mouth every few days. By altering your pattern, you approach areas from a different, and possibly, better angle.
2. Don’t forget to floss. No matter how agile you can be with your brush, it’s problematic to eliminate the plaque from all those narrow gaps between your teeth. That is where bacteria can easily increase and start the decay process.
3. Use the right toothbrush. It is ironic that some people damage their enamel or gums because they brush too hard with a hard brush. Dr. Buchheit counsels patients to only use a soft brush. If you’ve had gum grafts, you may want to use an extra soft brush.
4. Don’t keep your toothbrush near the toilet. This is terrible to think about, but each time the toilet is flushed, bacteria is sent far into the air—even if you close the lid. Keep your toothbrush in a clean place and allow it to air dry.
5. Use fluoride toothpaste. This may seem like a no-brainer but you may be surprised that some oral care products don’t contain fluoride. And you may think it’s only for kids. Not true. Your enamel is constantly under assault from acidic foods and drinks and fluoride helps it remineralize.
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A dental emergency is any situation in which damage to the teeth occurs and the patient needs urgent care. While a dental emergency may have never happened to you, it could happen in the future.
Some things are too pressing to wait for an appointment. How do you know if you need to call for help? Who do you call? How can you be prepared?
Some persistent questions people may have in a dental emergency:
“Is this serious enough, can’t we treat it at home for now?”
“Should I call 911?”
“How can I help in the moment?”
How to know if it is a dental emergency and when to seek help
If you are experiencing any of the following, call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS:
If you suspect you are dealing with a potential dental emergency, stay calm. In the heat of the moment a person’s instinct may be to call 911. However, paramedics and dentists would encourage you to analyze the situation.
Dental emergencies are serious. Dental offices are for an urgent dental issue. If you need treatment, dentists are the specialists for the job. Act fast and responsibly.
Calling 911 may ultimately waste your time in getting the help you need. The police cannot help in dental matters and paramedics are not dentists. They can help if you have a non-dental medical emergency, but not if it is a dental-specific issue.
What should you do instead?
Instead, call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS. We will help you over the phone. We can talk you through your situation to identify and diagnose the dilemma. No prior appointment needed. We will identify the best course of action and set up a time for you to come in for treatment.
Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS is here for you when you have a dental emergency
When it comes to your smile, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Obtaining immediate assistance is the first step in addressing the situation. When you call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, a dental professional will advise you over the phone. Do not hesitate. The consequences of untreated emergencies can leave permanent damage. Some serious dental infections can even threaten your life if not treated.
Our contact information is below. Save our number in your phone contacts so you will be prepared in the unfortunate event that you go through a dental emergency.
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If you are researching orthodontics, you have probably heard about clear aligners. They offer several advantages over traditional metal braces. The most popular benefit is the fact that they are nearly invisible.
Millions of people have straightened their teeth with aligners in the past twenty years since they were invented.
We’re here to help with your research. Note that your orthodontist may not offer all types of clear aligners. This post is for informational purposes only.
Invisalign (as with the other types) uses virtual modeling software to create custom aligners formed specifically for your teeth.
First, you’ll start with a consultation where an orthodontist will evaluate your teeth. They will work with you to determine which Invisalign treatment plan will work best for your teeth, lifestyle, and dental goals. Then, they will set you up with aligners that are tailor-made for you.
It’s important to note that you will never be left on your own to figure out what step is next. Your orthodontist will be with you every step of the way. Finally, you just live your life, while sticking to the guidelines set out for you by your doctor.
ClearCorrect
This is how the company describes its product: Clear. Simple. Friendly. Made of polyurethane, these aligners can straighten your smile discreetly and effortlessly.
ClearCorrect is run by a team of highly trained professionals. They have added many innovations to the diagnostic and treatment process. Many orthodontists believe it’s the most convenient system for both patients and doctors.
Over 10,000 doctors use ClearCorrect. Many ClearCorrect providers offer flexible payment plans.
SmileDirectClub (And Other At-Home Systems)
Though we don’t prescribe this system, let’s talk about the “mail-order orthodontics” products. We are including an explanation of SmileDirectClub and other at-home systems so you’ll educate yourself to their potential risks and limitations.
SmileDirectClub provides custom clear aligners without regular office visits. They advertise an average cost savings of 60% of orthodontist-administered Invisalign and similar systems. They report that the average length of treatment is 6 months.
All aligner systems require a 3D image of your teeth. With Invisalign and ClearCorrect, your doctor creates the scan in their office.
With SmileDirect, you can visit one of their “SmileShops” for a scan. There are SmileShops in every U.S. state but you may have to make a long trip. They also provide you the option of taking your own impression using their at-home kit.
Your treatment is supposedly overseen by a dentist or orthodontist—but you don’t visit them in person. Your dentist doesn’t take X-rays or examine your progress.
Because of this, we don’t recommend these types of systems. Your smile is too important to use a DIY approach. Your teeth could end up worse than before! The problems could be costly to correct. In a worst-case setting, you could experience irreversible damage.
The American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists have released warnings against at-home orthodontics.
Schedule a consultation at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS to determine which system is best for you.
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Hello Florissant! Welcome to the Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS dental blog. Let’s talk about smile redesigns. Some Florissant patients wonder if the term is synonymous with general cosmetic dentistry.
Is the placement of four veneers considered a smile makeover? Well, yes and no. If your smile is attractive and healthy except for some chips in your upper front teeth, veneer placement may remedy the few cosmetic problems and result in a beautiful smile.
Generally, however, a complete cosmetic dental smile makeover combines several carefully chosen cosmetic dentistry procedures performed at the same time for a complete smile metamorphosis. In other words, the sum is greater than the parts.
For example, one treatment plan could include crown restorations, veneers for teeth that are misshapen but otherwise healthy, a tooth-colored filling replacement for old amalgam fillings, and teeth whitening for the crowning touch.
I am Dr. Martin Buchheit. I have been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry in Florissant, Missouri since 1987. Performing successful cosmetic dental smile makeovers makes my profession extremely fulfilling. Patients who plan to receive a smile makeover should take their time choosing a dentist to perform it. I invite you to schedule a consultation so we can discuss your needs and wishes. During the consultation, I can tell you about my extensive experience and show you before and after pictures of satisfied patients.
When I design a custom smile makeover, I study several elements in addition to the teeth. After all, the teeth are just one component of the patient’s face. The gumline, lips, mouth, facial shape, facial structure, coloring, and patient’s age affect the scope of the design. This comprehensive approach to a smile makeover achieves extraordinary results and sets our practice apart.
If you are interested in learning more about smile makeovers, call us today at 314-837-7744
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