Cheek Dental
770-993-3775
Cheek Dental
  • Marietta Dentist
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
      • Meet Dr. Cristi Cheek
      • Meet Dr. Kristina Chandler
      • Meet Our Staff
      • Dr. Cheek’s Published Articles
      • Community Involvement
    • Your First Visit
    • Contact Us
    • Reviews
    • Office Tour
    • Our Blog
  • Patient Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Financial Policies
    • Map to Our Office
  • Cosmetic Procedures
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Makeovers
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Zoom Whitening
    • Invisalign
    • Dental Bonding
    • Porcelain Onlays
    • Botox/Fillers
  • Smile Gallery
  • Tooth Replacement
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
    • Implant-Supported Dentures
    • All-on-4 Dental Implants
  • Other Services
    • CEREC Same-Day Crowns
    • Pediatric Dentist
    • Teeth Cleaning
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Fillings
    • TMJ Dentist
    • Sleep Apnea
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
Long-Lasting, Beautiful Dentistry

Meticulous attention to detail, an eye for aesthetics, and a warm, personal approach.

Schedule an Appointment

Archives for July 2020

SmileDirectClub Problems

Posted on July 29, 2020 by writeradmin.

We sometimes get inquiries about SmileDirectClub from patients and others who do not feel they can afford Invisalign but want to straighten their teeth. In doing some research, we came across a warning given by mynewsmile.com. You can find the original post for that here. They talk about pages of complaints from patients who’ve tried the service and have been dissatisfied.

SmileDirectClub Advert

In an attempt to be careful with our conclusions we decided to verify the claims. Doing our own research, we went back to the dates he originally mentioned on two different websites. One that posts general reviews about SmileDirectClub and the other being the Better Business Bureau. There were more than we could reasonably place in a blog post.

One thing we noticed is the complaints fell into three different categories: First, not receiving their aligners and unable to get a refund. Second, the aligners didn’t work. Third, their teeth ended up in a dangerously worse situation.

Aligners Don’t Arrive as Promised

Review of SmileDirectClub where aligners didn't arrive

There were many similar reviews such as this one, including some patients who received some aligners but not others which completely threw off their treatment. Another waited months for their retainer after treatment, by which time her teeth had shifted out of place again.

Treatment Doesn’t Work

SmileDirectClub Review about the treatment not working

It is hard to imagine going through orthodontic treatment, investing all that time and money, and then having no improvement on your teeth. Imagine then trying to get this rectified and being given the run around over and over again.

Teeth End Up Damaged

SmileDirectClub review about teeth coming loose

One of the biggest issues of not having your orthodontic work done with a dentist is things can get overlooked. For instance, before Dr. Cheek would move forward with any orthodontic treatment, she would do a thorough exam. This simple, but imperative step protects the patients. As an example, let’s say a patient had the early signs of gum disease. That would get addressed before moving forward with any type of braces. Otherwise, you risk something like this patient above experienced. Your teeth can come loose.

If that happens, you will no longer be looking to straighten your smile but to replace missing teeth.

Based on these reviews, I would say approach this option with caution. If finances are what are drawing you to a mail order service, talk to your dentist. They may have payment plans for you. Another option is to try Care Credit. They are a medical loan service that offers low-interest plans enabling you to get your treatment and pay it out over a period of time you can choose.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek. You can read more about SmileDirectClub here.

Filed Under: Invisalign Tagged With: Alternatives to Invisalign, dental implants, loose adult teeth, mail order orthodontics, SmileDirectClub

Did Teeth Whitening Hurt My Baby?

Posted on July 25, 2020 by writeradmin.

I didn’t realize I was pregnant until today and I just finished three weeks of teeth whitening. Did I hurt my baby? I honestly didn’t know. I read this morning they don’t recommend teeth whitening for pregnant women. I’m trying not to panic.

Hannah

Dear Hannah,

A woman placing teeth whitening trays on her teeth

First, congratulations. It is an exciting time in your life. Second, take a deep breath. Your baby is likely perfectly fine. The reason they have a notice that teeth whitening isn’t recommended for pregnant women is because we don’t have studies on the effects of teeth whitening on pre-born children. As you can well imagine, there aren’t expectant moms lining up to have their baby be used as the guinea pig.

The teeth whitening gel contains peroxide. The atomic structure of water is H2O. The atomic structure of hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. Essentially, it is water with an extra oxygen molecule. As oxygen is not harmful to you, it is likely the extra molecule isn’t going to do any harm. That doesn’t mean run out and have more whitening done. That would be an unnecessary risk. I just don’t think you’ll have much to be worried about if you are already finished with the whitening.

Start Planning Now for Your Babies Oral Health

Instead of worrying about the whitening, I would redirect your thoughts on something much more proactive. This is a good time to start researching pediatric dentists and to learn about how to help your child have the best experience and training in brushing and flossing their teeth.

The earlier you start the better. For instance, did you know there are apps to help children brush for the full amount of time and in the right locations? When should your child first visit the dentist? Do you know which teeth usually come in first? Notice I said usually. Don’t panic if your child’s make their arrival in at a different order.

These are much more useful and joyful things to spend your time thinking about.

Again, congratulations. Now go to the store and start buying diapers.
This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Filed Under: Teeth Whitening Tagged With: dental apps, pediatric dentists, preganancy and teeth whitening, tooth bleaching

Is there a Benefit to Invisalign if Everyone is Wearing a Mask?

Posted on July 15, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve been setting aside cash in my HSA for Invisalign treatment. It’s something I set up at the end of last year. Long before coronavirus was a thing, I worked out what my co-payments would be and broke it up across the year so that I could start treatment at the end of this year. I’m 37 and work in an office setting, so for me, the big draw was that I wouldn’t be stuck with a face full of metal braces as an adult. I know some people do, and I certainly don’t think anything less of them for it, but I really wanted to keep things low key for myself.

Now COVID is in full swing and I’m still working from home. If my job gets moved back to the office, I’m told we’ll all be wearing masks all day. That in mind, nobody will ever see my teeth anyway. That’s a bit of a bummer, isn’t it? If this becomes a ā€œnew normal,ā€ there may be no reason to do cosmetic dental work like braces because nobody will see your smile anyway. The point being, at least during treatment, chances are nobody will know what type of braces I go with. The traditional metal ones are a bit cheaper and I could probably start with treatment now if that’s what I’m going with. But, if I hold out for the clear ones, I’m going to give it a couple more months. Is there still a benefit to using the clear ones or should I just jump in with the metal?

Thanks,

Debra

Dear Debra,

Invisalign Aligners

Great question! Lots of adults prefer the clear aligners simply for aesthetics, but there are quite a few other reasons to choose them over traditional braces as well. First, I’d like to address a separate issue. Braces often get lumped in with cosmetic dental treatment, but that’s a bit misleading. When your teeth are misaligned or crowded, it’s difficult to clean between them no matter how careful or diligent you are. That ultimately leads to cavities and gum disease. Orthodontics can be a vital tool in the long-term health of your teeth and gums. There is also an issue of a misaligned bite leading to TMJ Disorder and migraines.

That said, let’s look at five more ways clear aligners may be the better way to go.

Invisalign may move your teeth faster.

Traditional braces are cemented to the front surface of your teeth. That’s where they apply the pressure required to get teeth to move. Aligners give gentle nudges along a greater surface area, which means they can usually move teeth faster. Some cases with Invisalign are done in half the time as traditional braces.

You’ll have fewer dietary restrictions.

Ever try eating a tough steak, corn on the cob, or caramel with braces? It’s a nightmare! If you manage to do it without breaking anything, you’ll still have your work cut out for you when it’s time to brush after. Conversely, you can remove aligners when you’re ready to eat and brush uninhibited after. Eat whatever you like…even popcorn.

It’ll be easier to clean your teeth and gums during treatment.

Braces can be a great tool, but a lot of people have difficulty cleaning around them in general. To that end, it’s quite common for people to develop stains or decalcified spots on their teeth during treatment. One of the most common questions cosmetic dentists get after teens finish braces is how to get rid of the spots that developed.

Additionally, many also develop gingivitis, where their gums become inflamed and will bleed when brushed. This is more because it is difficult to get floss or floss picks between the braces, so plaque builds up and bacteria flourishes. Again, you can remove clear aligners, so you won’t have this battle on your hands with Invisalign.

Aligners are usually more comfortable and result in fewer dental visits.

True, there will always be a bit of discomfort as you swap out aligners, just as you’d have some discomfort during orthodontic adjustments, but at least with aligners, there’s no metal digging into tender tissues and no wires that can snap and poke you. This also means you’ll have few, if any, emergency dental visits. Considering treatment may go faster overall too, you could spend a whole lot less time in the dental chair.

You Can Simultaneously Whiten Your Teeth.

An underused benefit to aligners is they can double as teeth whitening trays. This enables you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time, giving you a mini smile makeover at a fraction of the cost.

Clear aligners are still a great choice, even if you’re the only one who will ever know you’re wearing them. Best of luck to you!

This blog is sponsored by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Filed Under: Invisalign Tagged With: clear aligners, emergency dental care, invisible braces, migraines and teeth, teeth whitening, TMJ Disorder

Recent Posts

  • A Cavity with Porcelain Veneers
  • A bad ClearChoice review from Benson
  • Sometimes You Should Not Trust a Dentist
  • The denture didn’t look at all like the wax try-in
  • Can a Tooth Infection Cause a Fever?

Categories

  • Best Dentist
  • CEREC Crowns
  • Cosmetic Dentist
  • Dental Articles
  • Dental Bonding
  • Dental Crowns
  • Dental Emergencies
  • Dental Implants
  • Dentures
  • Implant Overdentures
  • Invisalign
  • Lumineers
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Same Day Crowns
  • Teeth Whitening
  • TMJ Dentist
  • Uncategorized
  • Zoom Whitening

Archives

  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
our adorable patient, olive
Complete Dental Care for Your Family

We thoroughly enjoy the relationships built by having families in our practice.

Schedule an Appointment
Contact

Cheek Dental
2872 Johnson Ferry Rd.
Marietta, GA 30062

Phone

770-993-3775

Office Hours

Monday: 7am - 1pm
Tuesday: 8am - 5pm
Wednesday: 8am - 4pm
Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 7am - 1pm

Follow Us

Facebook
Instagram

Read Our Reviews

  • Best Dentist in Marietta
  • Blog
  • East Cobb Lumineers
  • Privacy Policy
  • East Cobb Affordable Dental Implants
  • East Cobb SmileDirectClub

©2015-2023 Cheek Dental • All rights reserved. Website Design and SEO by Infinity Dental Web IDW Copyright Logo

Cheek Dental
  • Marietta Dentist
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
      • Meet Dr. Cristi Cheek
      • Meet Dr. Kristina Chandler
      • Meet Our Staff
      • Dr. Cheek’s Published Articles
      • Community Involvement
    • Your First Visit
    • Contact Us
    • Reviews
    • Office Tour
    • Our Blog
  • Patient Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Financial Policies
    • Map to Our Office
  • Cosmetic Procedures
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Makeovers
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Zoom Whitening
    • Invisalign
    • Dental Bonding
    • Porcelain Onlays
    • Botox/Fillers
  • Smile Gallery
  • Tooth Replacement
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
    • Implant-Supported Dentures
    • All-on-4 Dental Implants
  • Other Services
    • CEREC Same-Day Crowns
    • Pediatric Dentist
    • Teeth Cleaning
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Fillings
    • TMJ Dentist
    • Sleep Apnea
  • Click to Call
    (770) 993-3775

  • Please answer before we set up your appointment -