Bad Breath / Halitosis
Bad breath or Halitosis is an embarrassing and unpleasant condition. Some people with bad breath don't even know there is a problem with their breath. If you're concerned about bad breath, schedule a visit with Dr. Herman. He can help identify the cause and, if it's due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can decompose, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Cracked Teeth
With the more sophisticated procedures, dentists are helping people keep their teeth longer. Because people are living longer and more stressful lives, they are exposing their teeth to many more years of crack-inducing habits, such as clenching, grinding, and chewing on hard objects. These habits make teeth more susceptible to cracks. 
Cracked teeth show a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when chewing, possibly with release of biting pressure, or pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. In many cases, the pain may come and go, and dentists may have difficulty locating which tooth is causing the discomfort.

There are many procedures available to fix cracked teeth. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Herman if you feel you have a cracked tooth.

Crooked Teeth 
Braces offer a great solution to an uneven smile. But many of our patients are looking for faster results. Fortunately, you no longer have to endure the long-term (three to-six years) commitment braces require. Amazingly, we can fix the problem quickly, often in one day. We offer such groundbreaking solutions as porcelain veneers, dentalimplants, crowns, inlays, onlays and teeth reshaping. Call Dr. Herman today to schedule a consultation.

Discolored Teeth
Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.

Sometimes people are born with yellow, brown or orange-looking teeth. That could be due to medication their mother took during pregnancy or a later trauma when your teeth were developing. Genetic defects can also cause imperfections. Of course, what you eat and drink also affects your tooth color. Wine, coffee, soda and especially smoking all have an impact.

Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day and the regular cleanings at your dentist's office. If you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.
You can take several approaches to whiten your smile:

• In-office bleaching;
• At-home bleaching;
• Whitening toothpastes
• Veneers

Dental Anxiety
Making our patients comfortable is our number one objective. We understand that patients come to our office from all different dental experiences and backgrounds. We appreciate what they have been through and want to give them a low anxiety, highly comfortable dental experience.

We spend a lot of time educating and answering our patient's questions. We also review all treatment plans in detail to make sure you know all about your dental treatment. Of course, safety and comfort are also of primary importance to us. Dr. Herman and his staff are deeply committed to your success and how you feel while achieving that success.

Trapped Food Between Teeth 
It's annoying, sometimes embarrassing and it's an occasional problem for almost everyone. But if food tends to get caught in your teeth on a regular basis, you should talk with us. Food impaction-as it's called-can be caused by loose, crooked or broken teeth. It may be also be a sign of gum disease.

There are various solutions. We can reshape the problem teeth by adding some filling material. Veneers, inlays, onlays, crowns and braces are also effective solutions.

Teeth Grinding / Bruxism
Teeth grinding is clinically referred to as bruxism. Simply defined, it is the act of consciously or unconsciously clenching your teeth either during the day or while you sleep. Bruxism is considered both a medical and a dental problem. This is because it affects both the teeth and all of the structures near them, including the head. 

Teeth grinding usually happens during sleep. Have you ever had a roommate or a sleeping partner that snores? You might have had one that grinds their teeth in their sleep as well. Teeth grinding is as common as snoring. However, unlike snoring, teeth grinding sounds are a little on the low side, although it can be just as bothersome.

Solutions include a bite guard to wear during the night or day, cold sprays and muscle exercises to reduce tension in the face, medications, and in some of the more severe cases, porcelain veneers, onlays and crowns to restore the bite.

Gum Disease / Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease involves inflammation and infection that destroys the tissues that support the teeth, including the gums, the periodontal ligaments, and the tooth sockets (alveolar bone).

Gingivitis is due to the long-term effects of plaque deposits. Plaque is a sticky material made of bacteria, mucus, and food debris that develops on the exposed parts of the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth decay. If you do not remove plaque, it turns into a hard deposit called tartar that becomes trapped at the base of the tooth. Plaque and tartar irritate and inflame the gums. Bacteria and the toxins they produce cause the gums to become infected, swollen, and tender.

Injury to the gums from any cause, including overly vigorous brushing or flossing of the teeth, can cause gingivitis.

The following raise your risk for developing gingivitis:

• General illness
• Poor dental hygiene
• Pregnancy (hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of the gums)
• Uncontrolled diabetes

Sensitive Teeth
If you eat something cold or sip a hot drink and it makes you wince, you may have a common problem called "sensitive teeth". Some of the causes include tooth decay, a cracked tooth, worn tooth enamel, worn fillings, and tooth roots that are exposed as a result of aggressive tooth brushing, gum recession and periodontal (gum) disease.

Safe Amalgam Filling Removal: Mercury Free & Safe Dentistry

• Keep the fillings cool during removal - Cooling the filling with water and air while drilling substantially reduces the amount of mercury vapor the filling releases.
• Cutting the Amalgam into Chunks
• Use a high-volume evacuator
• Provide the patient with an alternative source of air
• Use a rubber dam - A rubber dam isolates the tooth or teeth being worked on.
• Remove gloves and clean the patient's mouth - Once the filling(s) have been removed, the dentist and the assistant should remove and dispose of their gloves and the rubber dam, and thoroughly rinse and vacuum the patient’s entire mouth for at least 15 seconds.
• Use additional air purification
• Cover the patient's face with a barrier to prevent spattered particles.