Most children and adults should see their dentist for a regular cleaning and check-up every six months. People at a greater risk for oral diseases should have dental check ups more than twice a year. Tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, pregnancy, periodontal and gum disease, poor oral hygiene and certain medical conditions are some of the factors that the dentist takes into consideration when deciding how often to get your check-up done.

Believe it or not, the recommended guide line to bring a child in for their first dental visit is about 6 months after their primary teeth have erupted, or generally around their first birthday.

The first time you visit our office, we strive for two goals: one, to provide you with the most comfortable, pleasant dental experience you've ever had; and two, to get to know you as thoroughly as possible. We suggest you allow at least 90 minutes for the appointment. We'll take whatever time is needed to learn about your medical history, dental health history, concerns and areas of anxiety, and any urgent problems. We'll also do a comprehensive exam, observing and asking questions about everything from plain old tooth decay and periodontal disease, to warning signs of clenching and grinding, TMJ, oral cancer, bite misalignment, and even general health issues such as blood pressure and nutrition. While this may sound like a lot of information, we're convinced the better we know you, the more appropriately we can assess your health and help determine the best route of care for you.

Xrays (Bitewings) are recommended every 6-12 months and are taken to diagnose the presence of interproximal caries (i.e. cavities between teeth). A full mouth or Panoramic x-ray should be taken every 36-60 months. This x-ray shows the entire mouth, and any abnormalities of the hard tissues that may exist. Once they are identified, appropriate treatment can be given. It also provides us a way to evaluate the level of bone, any abscesses or abnormalities that should ordinarily not be present

Most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled brush is best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth The only thing that matters is that you brush your teeth atleast twice daily. Many just don't brush long enough. Most people brush less than a minute, but to effectively reach all areas and scrub off cavity-causing bacteria, it is recommended to brush for two to three minutes. For many, a powered toothbrush is a good alternative. It can do a better job of cleaning teeth, particularly for those who have difficulty brushing or who have limited manual dexterity

Unfortunately, these days, grinding and clenching is all too common. Grinding is referred to as bruxism and is more a "nocturnal" habit (night-time). Clenching, on the other hand, is a "diurnal" habit (day-time). It appears to be a stress induced response, and one which is invariably treatable by utilization of a simple splint, which is custom made for the patient to wear. Usually this method of treatment obtains good results.

There are a number of procedures available to help whiten your smile, from at-home bleaching products to in-office supervised treatments. Generally, bleaching is successful in at least 90 percent of patients, though it may not be an option for everyone. Consider tooth bleaching if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea or smoking. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, smoking or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic. If you have very sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, or teeth with worn enamel, your dentist may discourage bleaching.

We request you to inform our office the need to change or cancel appointments at least 2 days prior to your scheduled appointment. Shorter notice of change or cancellations will severely limit our ability to offer another patient their most preferred time. We reserve the right to bill you for our time and preparation if we don't receive your notification.

Absolutely!!!Our goal is to work for the best dental health of each person who comes to us. If you are pleased with the care you receive in our office, tell your friends and family about us. The best compliment we can recieve is the referral of your friends and loved ones.

Call our emergency number and leave a message. We will return your call as soon as possible.

We speak English, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati

Drs.Pawar and Sood subscribe to the latest industry journals to keep tabs on research and development in the dental profession, and take time on a regular basis for continuing education and hands-on programs. Not only do they share this information with their entire staff, but each team member keeps up with their own areas of expertise through continuing education as well. Pursuit of excellence in our guest care is mandatory. Continuing education, refinement of skills, and providing only the very best possible care is our goal. We view the attainment of excellence as a journey---requiring constant growth and an openness to change.

One of our top priorities at North Star Dentistry, is keeping our patients comfortable, both physically and mentally. Since every one is different, we offer different means of relaxation. For those who appreciate the opportunity to 'escape' through music, we have personal headphones/CD players you may use during treatment. For others who need more help with physical relaxation, we offer the mild and safe relaxant method: nitrous oxide (laughing gas)?the effects of which are fully reversible and allow the patient to operate normally by the conclusion of their visit.

Bad breath can have several causes. By far, the most common causes relate to dental problems, primarily gum disease and tooth decay. The first step is making sure the mouth is free from infection (decay and gum disease are infections). Next, home care will be reviewed to make sure that all sources of bacteria are controlled, from brushing and flossing techniques to tongue cleaning. Occasionally, a medical consultation is necessary to rule out sinus or digestive disorder. We do see some few people who have bad breath for none of these reasons. In those cases, it's the type of bacteria that normally reside in their mouth that is producing the odor. For those patients, there are special mouth rinses that are made to neutralize the compounds that you smell.

There are dental devices that can help reduce or eliminate snoring. When you sleep, your muscles relax. When the tongue relaxes, it can drop back very near the back wall of the throat. This is the space air passes through when you breathe. During inhalation, the air is drawn past that narrowed passageway. Just like the air that rushes out of a balloon when you let it go, the back of the tongue and the soft palate will vibrate. This vibration causes the sound we call snoring. If the tongue gets very close to the back of the throat or actually touches it, the suction caused when you inhale will suck the airway closed; no air can get by. Breathing stops. After several seconds, an alarm goes off in the brain and you are aroused from deep sleep, which restores the muscle tone, and the tongue is pulled forward, opening the airway. There is usually a gasp with the first breath, then a relaxation back to sleep. The sleeper is unaware of what happened. This is called obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. This is a very dangerous condition. There have been numerous studies linking OSA with serious medical conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and others. There are specific dental appliances that can help snoring and OSA. They are worn in the mouth like a mouthguard or night guard. When you bite into it, the appliance causes the lower jaw to be positioned forward. This causes the tongue to come forward, away from the back of the throat, thereby opening the airway.

It's estimated that at least one-fourth of the population currently suffers from debilitating tension headaches, migraine pain or painful problems with their jaw joint Most facial pain and headaches are muscular in nature. It has been discovered that most headache sufferers clench and grind their teeth at nighttime while they are sleeping. Fortunately, we now have a simple device that can significantly reduce the intensity of jaw clenching and the painful problems it causes. It's called the NTI Tension Suppression System. It works by preventing contact between the molars and canine teeth. Without this contact, your jaw cannot clench intensely and your muscles will not become fatigued. The NTI is a small acrylic appliance that's customized to fit your bite precisely. It's about the size of the top third of your thumb and it's worn securely over your upper front teeth while you sleep or at other times when you find yourself clenching.