How can we help you?
We want you to be an active participant in your oral health care. It's our job to educate you about the benefits of good oral health and how it can impact your life. But it's your job to let us know when you have a question or something doesn't make sense to you. We are always available to answer your questions thoroughly. You deserve to have access to all the information you need to make sound decisions about your dental care.
Here are a few of the questions we hear most frequently, but you may have one that you don't see here. Please don't hesitate to call us or fill out our convenient online contact form.
Other
Excessive snoring can be very annoying to your partner, but it can also indicate a more serious problem – sleep apnea.
Until recently, the go-to treatment for sleep apnea was a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask. CPAP has proven to be very effective in minimizing the symptoms of sleep apnea, which can include frequent pauses in breathing. However, many people who have a CPAP machine don’t wear it because they find it bulky and uncomfortable.
Now there’s a way to help minimize snoring and other symptoms of sleep apnea without a CPAP machine. Dr. Debra V. Irvin can design a customized oral appliance that resembles a sports mouth guard. The device is intended to move and hold the jaw slightly forward, which prevents the tongue from collapsing and blocking the airway while you sleep.
You should be aware that snoring doesn’t always indicate sleep apnea. The best thing to do is call your primary care doctor. They may want to perform a sleep study to find out how your snoring is impacting your breathing while you sleep. If your doctor agrees, the oral appliance may be all that's required to get the relief you need.
Bridgework over Teeth or Implants
Our office works with many dental insurance companies. Please contact the office at 215-329-5512 for assistance.
Dental Implants
Dr. Debra V. Irvin restores dental implants. We will refer you to one of the top oral surgeons in our area who will place your implant. During the healing process, Dr. Irvin will consult with your surgeon to check on your progress.
After the implant heals, we will fabricate a beautiful restoration, which is the part of your tooth that’s visible when you smile. We have several options for restoring a dental implant.
The most commonly used restoration for an implant is a dental crown. Crowns are appropriate if you have a single missing tooth. The restoration not only improves your smile, but it also allows you to eat and chew comfortably.
We can also attach a dental implant to a bridge to hold the artificial tooth securely in place. If you have a removable full or partial denture, we can talk to you about securing it with dental implants. Dental implants have helped many denture-wearers eat, speak, and smile with confidence. Implants that are strategically placed in your jaw hold a denture securely in place and prevent the movement and irritation that are common with dentures.
Dental implants have changed the way we approach the problem of missing teeth. Please call our Philadelphia dental office to learn how a dental implant can help you!
Root Canals
Dental anxiety is a serious problem because it causes many people to avoid visits to the dentist. The problem is that avoiding treatments because of fear will only lead to more complicated dental problems in the future.
Debra V. Irvin, DDS, has been putting her patients at ease for decades. She knows that, for some, a gentle approach is all that’s needed to soothe anxiety. However, many of our fearful patients benefit from the use of sedation dentistry.
Oral conscious sedation involves taking a prescription sedative before you come to our office for treatment. When you arrive for your appointment, you will feel calm and relaxed. The effects of conscious sedation last longer than nitrous, so you will need a friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment.
If you would like more information about which type of sedation is right for you, please call our Philadelphia dental office.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is the fastest and most affordable way to brighten your smile and boost your self-confidence. Debra V. Irvin, DDS, is pleased to offer our patients the convenience of professional take-home whitening kits.
Our take-home kits include customized trays that fit perfectly because they are made using impressions of your teeth. This is a significant advantage that professional kits have over the ones you buy in a drug store. Store-bought kits use generic trays that may not cover all surfaces of your teeth, which can lead to sensitivity and uneven whitening results.
Included in your kit is a prescription-strength whitening gel. The gel whitens your teeth by lifting stains from the surface enamel. Place the gel in the custom trays and wear every day for about 20 minutes.
After two weeks, you will see dramatic results and whiter teeth by as much as six shades. You can maintain the brightness of your smile by doing periodic touchups at home to achieve the results you desire.
Teeth whitening is an excellent way to improve your smile for a special event or just because you want to look your best. If you are interested in professional teeth whitening, please call our Philadelphia dental office to arrange a dental cleaning.