Are Veneers Right For You?

Veneers are shell-like coverings that are permanently bonded to your natural tooth. Composed of either porcelain or resin, they resemble real teeth and are customized specifically for each patient by a trained dental technician.  Originally popular amongst the wealthy and famous, veneers have become increasingly available in recent years. Wager Evans Dental offers porcelain veneers and our professional team is here to consult with you on your decision. Continue reading “Are Veneers Right For You?”

Make Sure You Brush Correctly

Brushing Keeps You Healthy

Oral health can be a breeze if you keep up good practices and visit Drs. Wager and Evans every six months. Make sure to brush 2-3 times every day and floss once. Like any habit, if you brush as often as you should, you may become complacent.  Don’t get sloppy with your oral health; experts agree that a healthy mouth can keep your body healthy, too.

Use Proper Brushing Technique

If you don’t use proper technique when you take care of your teeth, you might be hurting more than you’re helping. To brush effectively, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle at your gum line. This angle can help you avoid gum abrasion. Don’t brush across your teeth; instead, move your brush up and down, softly stroking your teeth. A lot of people forget about the  back surfaces completely. The back of your teeth is a crucial place to scrub because your tongue, which is usually caked with bacteria, presses against these surfaces all day long. Continue reading “Make Sure You Brush Correctly”

Teeth Whitening Solutions for the Holidays

Over-The-Counter Whitening

The whitening kits that you find at big box stores and grocery stores can whiten teeth but may not be potent enough to make a dramatic difference in the color of your teeth. Professional whitening solutions are safe and reliable and can whiten teeth 8-10 shades in some cases. As the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure, teeth whitening can make a person appear younger and more attractive. Drs. Wager and Evans offer in-office and take-home whitening options in Reno.

What Causes Teeth to Yellow?

Tooth enamel is porous, so it can soak up stains. Various agents and factors contribute to the external discoloration of teeth, called extrensic stains. Using tobacco and consuming of pigmented foods and drinks, like tea, cola, coffee, and red wine, are prominent causes of yellowing. Age, too, causes teeth to discolor. From inside teeth, tetracycline medications (some antibiotics) can cause a brown or blue staining, and swallowing fluoride as a child can cause horizontal white lines called fluorosis. These are called intrinsic stains. Continue reading “Teeth Whitening Solutions for the Holidays”

Gum Disease Beyond Your Mouth

Weight Loss Connected to Periodontitis

A pilot study conducted in November 2011 looked at how excess weight affects the body’s natural ability to fight gum disease. Researchers compared two groups of obese people with periodontal disease to assess and compare their body’s ability to fight back using natural, non-surgical methods of periodontal treatment. One group shed significant amounts of weight during the treatment and the other group maintained their initial weight. The group that lost weight fought periodontal disease with natural, non-surgical methods much better than the group that maintained their weight. Drs. Wager and Evans and our team are equipped to identify any gum disease during regular cleanings and checkups. Continue reading “Gum Disease Beyond Your Mouth”

Holiday Nutrition for Reno Smiles

Holidays are cause for celebration, spending time with friends and family, and decadent feasts. Many people have concerns regarding the traditional dishes served during the holidays. Here, we’ve addressed some common questions about a few favorites.

Q: What are the nutritional benefits of pumpkin?

A: Pumpkins are low in calories and fat, and loaded with healthy antioxidants and vitamin-A (or beta-carotene), vitamin-C, and vitamin-E. Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and good fats that benefit heart health. These tasty seeds are also great source of iron, niacin, selenium, and zinc. Continue reading “Holiday Nutrition for Reno Smiles”

Order CloSYS and have improved oral health with the click of a button!

At Wager Evans Dental, we make your oral health our top priority. That’s why we recommend the CloSYS oral health care system to our patients.

CloSYS products are designed to work together to kill germs at the source, while making your mouth cleaner and healthier. Brushing with CloSYS toothpaste, rinsing with CloSYS oral rinse instead of water, and using CloSYS oral spray between brushings is the optimal system for oral health.

We specifically believe in the power Cloristan, the CloSYS oral rinse product. This powerful, patented ingredient kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in 10 seconds. Cloristan is completely safe, as it is made from stabilized chlorine dioxide, an effective antibacterial agent that is considered to be one of the safest ingredients used in the health care industry.

You do not need a prescription to use CloSYS. In fact, you can order the products by clicking on the link at the bottom of the Wager Evans Dental website.

We invite you to call our dental office in Reno, Nevada at (775) 800-4845 if you have any questions about the CloSYS system or your oral hygiene in general. We look forward to hearing from you!

How often should you go to the dentist?

How often do you need to go to the dentist?

Any guesses? The correct answer is every 6 months, but most people go much longer between visits to the dentist’s office. The truth is, if you’re overdue for a dental checkup, you might be putting yourself at risk for developing serious oral and overall health problems.

The American Dental Association suggests sticking to the 6-month rule, and the team at Wager Evans Dental agrees. Oral health problems, such as periodontal disease, oral cancer, and tooth decay, can usually be effectively treated when caught early, and we look for signs of these conditions, plus more, at your dental checkups.

Additionally, we will look at each tooth in your mouth to assess problems like cracks and wearing, as well as old fillings and other dental work to see if it needs replacing. If your deteriorated metal restorations need replacing, we will most likely suggest using tooth-colored alternative restorations, such as crowns and metal-free fillings.

By checking your mouth for signs of trouble every 6 months, your potential for danger is greatly reduced. For example, if left untreated, a small cavity can grow to destroy an entire tooth and spread to surrounding teeth. If that cavity is caught early, it can be filled before the damage spreads.

Don’t put yourself at risk for developing debilitating and lifelong dental and overall health problems. Be proactive and come to the dentist every 6 months.

We’re Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans, and we give complete dental care to patients from Spanish Springs, Dayton, Fernley, and the surrounding areas. Call our dental office in Reno, Nevada, at (775) 800-4845 to schedule an appointment.

Enter to Win at Wager Evans Dental

Wager Evans Dental recently kicked off a brand new giveaway program! Next time you’re in our office, be sure to look for the fish bowl at the front desk.

Ask any member of the office team about our short, 5-question survey, and make sure you fill it out and drop it in the fishbowl. By taking a minute to answer these questions, you are helping your dental care team take better care of you. The opinion of our patients is very important to us. We want to know how we’re doing so that we can give you the best care possible.

Also, by taking a minute to answer the questions, you will enter a drawing for a fantastic prize package! Once a month for the next 6 months, we will draw a name from the fishbowl to win a Crest/Oral B gift bag. Each gift bag comes with a new, top-of-the-line Oral B electric toothbrush, two tubes of Pro-Health toothpaste, and Pro-Health nighttime mouth rinse.

Be sure to drop your survey in the bowl next time you’re in the office. Also, don’t forget to include your email address on the survey so that you receive special Wager Evans Dental emails, news, and promotions.

If you have postponed a routine dental checkup and cleaning, make an appointment to come in soon and take advantage of this great giveaway. Patient Ed Ng did, and he won the first giveaway just last week!

To schedule an appointment, please call our dental office in Reno, Nevada, at (775) 800-4845.

The Extreme Power of Tooth Enamel

Did you know that the second hardest naturally occurring substance in the world is located inside your body? It’s true. Your tooth enamel is second only to diamonds.

It’s incredible! Tooth enamel is the white coating you see on your teeth when you look in the mirror. It is incredibly hard and is the natural defense system for your teeth.

In addition to protecting your teeth, tooth enamel helps to regulate how your teeth feel and respond to temperature. Your tooth enamel is filled with tiny tunnels that connect the nerve in your tooth to the root. If your teeth are sensitive to hot and/or cold temperatures, it is all thanks to your tooth enamel.

While there is no real substitute for this protective covering, scientists are discovering ways to promote growth of natural enamel. Eventually, this will make dental fillings and drilling a thing of the past.

Although your tooth enamel is the toughest substance in your body, it’s not completely invincible. After you eat or drink, acids temporarily soften your tooth enamel, making it vulnerable to sugars and other harmful bacteria. Fortunately, your saliva is designed to re-strengthen your tooth enamel when this occurs. Your saliva builds itself back up to prevent these sugars and bacteria from sticking to your teeth and causing infections and tooth decay.

This is just one example of how closely everything in your mouth works together and how important it is to have regular dental checkups to make sure that everything is healthy and in proper working order.

If you are due for a dental cleaning or exam, please call the Wager Evans dental office in Reno, Nevada at (775) 800-4845.