We are your local Grant MN Dentist – we are happy to serve our community for over 20 years!

We’re glad to have you as our patient. At our office, we strive to make sure that you feel comfortable and well-cared for throughout the process. We encourage you to ask questions and be involved in treatment decisions with your Grant MN Dentist.

Our Qualified Dentists

We offer a number of general and specialized dentistry options to suit all ages and needs:
  • Family & General Dentistry
  • Cleanings & Prevention
  • Dental Exams
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Periodontal Disease
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Invisalign® & Braces
  • Botox®
  • Restorations
  • Dental Implants
  • Professional Teeth Whitening
  • Orthodontics
  • Periodontics
  • Root Canal Therapy
  • Healthy Smile Program
  • Laser Dentistry
Our teamContact us

 651-429-0404

Frequently Asked Questions

When Are Sealants Recommended?

Although thorough brushing and flossing remove most food particles and bacteria from easy-to-reach tooth surfaces, they do not reach the deep grooves on chewing surfaces of teeth. More than 75 percent of dental decay begins in these deep grooves (called pits and fissures). Toothbrush bristles are too large to possibly fit and clean most of these areas. Sealants can seal off these areas from decay by filling them with a plastic material that prevents cavity-causing bacteria from entering.

A sealant is a thin plastic coating that covers and protects the chewing surfaces of molars, premolars, and any deep grooves or pits on teeth. The sealant material forms a protective layer over natural depressions and grooves in your teeth, making it much easier to clean these areas and help prevent decay from forming.

Who may need sealants?

Children and teenagers – As soon as the six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) appear or any time throughout the cavity prone years of 6-16.

Infants – Baby teeth are occasionally sealed if the teeth have deep grooves and the child is cavity prone.

Adults – Tooth surfaces without decay that have deep grooves or depressions that are difficult to clean.

Sealants are easy to apply by your dentist or dental hygienist and take only minutes per tooth. An acid solution is used to roughen the chewing surfaces of teeth, making them more receptive to a sealant material that hardens and bonds to the teeth. A special light will be used during the application process to help harden the sealant material.

It’s important to avoid chewing on ice cubes, hard candy, popcorn kernels, or any hard or sticky foods after sealant treatment. Your sealants will be checked for wear and chipping at your regular dental check-up.

Combined with good home care, a proper diet, and regular dental check-ups, sealants are very effective in helping prevent tooth decay.

Grant MN Dentist

grant mn dentist
grant mn dentist

What Should I Do If a Tooth is Knocked Out?

Everyone is at risk of losing a tooth.  More than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year! If you know how to handle this emergency situation, you may be able to save the tooth. Teeth that are knocked out can be reimplanted if you act quickly and calmly, and follow these simple steps:

  1. Find the tooth but be sure to handle it only by the crown (which is the chewing part of the tooth), NOT by the roots.
  2. DO NOT scrub or use soap or chemicals to clean the tooth.  If it has dirt or debris on it, rinse it gently with your own saliva or whole milk.  If that is not possible, rinse it very gently with water.
  3. Get to a dentist within 30 minutes.  The longer you wait, the less chance there is for successful reimplantation.

Ways to transport the tooth

  • If you’ve knocked a tooth out, try to replace it in its socket immediately.  To do this, gently bite down on gauze or a wet tea bag.  You can also use your own teeth to keep the tooth in place.  Apply a cold compress to the mouth for pain and swelling as needed.
  • If a tooth has been knocked out and cannot be placed back in the socket, place the tooth in a container and cover with a small amount of your saliva or whole milk. You can also place the tooth under your tongue or between your lower lip and gums. Keep the tooth moist at all times. Do not transport the tooth in a tissue or cloth.
  • Consider purchasing a “Save-A-Tooth” storage container and keeping it as part of your home first aid kit. The kit contains a travel case and fluid solution for easy tooth transport.

The sooner the tooth is replaced back into the socket, the greater the likelihood it has to survive and possibly last for many years.  So be prepared, and remember these simple steps for saving a knocked-out tooth.

You can prevent broken or knocked-out teeth by:

  • Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports
  • Always wearing your seatbelt
  • Avoiding fights
  • Avoid chewing hard items such as ice, popcorn kernels, hard breads, etc.

CONTACT DETAILS

4641 WHITE BEAR PARKWAY, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110
DDS1@BIRCHLAKEDENTAL.COM
651-429-0404

 

OPENING HOURS:

Monday-Tuesday   9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday     7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday     7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Friday     By appointment only
Saturday-Sunday     CLOSED