Cosmetic Dentistry

A smile is one of the very first things that someone remembers when meeting a person, so it’s important to sport one you are proud of. From subtle changes, to extensive repairs, Lis Bradley DDS offers a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures to improve the smile you already have or provide you with a brand new one. With modern advances in dentistry, cosmetic procedures can range from teeth-whitening, to replacing missing teeth, and everything in between.

Cosmetic improvements aren’t always just cosmetic. Many of these treatments can improve your oral health as well as your bite. For example, if you are missing teeth due to trauma or decay, Dr. Lis Bradley may recommend dental implants or a bridge for you. Dental implants involve a series of procedures used to recreate a missing tooth, and a dental bridge is a non-removable prosthesis attached to remaining natural teeth. Or, if you have chipped or cracked teeth, Dr. Lis Bradley may discuss veneers or dental bonding with you. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic placed over the front teeth to change the color or shape of your teeth, while dental bonding uses tooth-colored materials to fill in gaps.

At Lis Bradley DDS, regardless of how you wish to improve your smile our staff is here to make your care as affordable and comfortable as possible. No matter what your dentistry needs are, our professionals guarantee that you will leave our office satisfied.

If you wish to aesthetically improve your smile, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the cosmetic services we provide at our practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Lis Bradley DDS in Brentwood, TN call 615-778-0810. 

What is a General Dentist?

A general dentist, such as Lis Bradley, DDS is the primary dental care provider for patients of all ages. Dentistry is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dr. Bradley has the ability to treat patients of all ages from their first dental appointment to senior care.

Instead of specializing in just one area of dentistry, Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS provides a variety of cosmetic restorative and preventive services for each member of the family. These may include but are not limited to dental crowns and bridges, dental implants, dentures, gum disease treatment, home care instruction, root canal therapy, teeth cleanings and much more. Additionally, Dr. Bradley stays updated on the latest advances in technology to guarantee that you receive the most exceptional quality of dental care.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive oral care or general dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

How to Choose the Correct Toothpaste

Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS wants patients to keep their permanent teeth for a lifetime and doing so begins with a proper oral hygiene routine. Think about oral care as you would think of a recipe. If you use low-quality ingredients, it won’t taste as good. If you don’t use the proper tools to give your mouth a thorough cleaning, then all of your hard work will go unnoticed.  In this post, Dr. Bradley wants to discuss toothpaste. When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs such as:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste help reduces oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exactly what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.

If you have questions or concerns about oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

Tooth Decay in Seniors

Patients can count on us for lifelong dental care at Dr. Lis Bradley’s Brentwood office. According to the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control, tooth decay in seniors is far too common. Estimates for the number of people over sixty-five with untreated caries are as high as one in five. We believe that education is one of the best means of combatting this scourge.

Many seniors with tooth decay are people who had healthy teeth earlier in life. While their lack of access to fluoridated water during their formative years makes them more vulnerable to decay, the fact that their health worsened implies something changed in their oral hygiene practice. Some common problems are limited dexterity, which makes brushing and flossing difficult, as well as switching to foods that are sticky and high in sugar. Many seniors also take medications which cause dry mouth as a side effect. This makes them more vulnerable to oral infections because saliva is one of the most important means by which the body removes food debris.

With the expertise of Dr. Bradley’s team, all of these problems are fixable. There are many home dental products designed for people with limited dexterity we can recommend, as well as means of keeping the mouth moisturized. We also accept CareCredit health care financing, providing seniors with another way of covering their 6-month check-ups.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit LisBradleyDDS.com or call 615-778-0810.

 

Oral Cancer Screenings

At the dental practice of Lis Bradley, DDS we want the families from our community to be aware of oral cancer and how to prevent it.  Heavy smoking and drinking do increase the risk of oral cancer, but oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes.  The human papilloma virus (HPV) was recently found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth.  Because there is no way to predict cancer, you should ask about an oral cancer screening with each dental checkup. 

To screen for oral cancer, Lis Bradley, DDS will conduct a visual exam, and use an ultraviolet light to see any irregularities inside the mouth. This can be done quickly in addition to any appointment.  Regular screenings are the best way to protect yourself, but always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw.

To learn more about oral cancer screenings all the services provided at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

Gum Contouring

We all like to make a great first impression with a nice smile.  Lis Bradley, DDS knows that the overall look of your smile includes your gums.  Even patients with teeth in good condition feel like their gums keep them from enjoying their best smile.  We offer gum contouring surgery so that any patient can have their perfect smile.

Removing excess gum tissue is a simple procedure that can correct a gummy smile or a smile that looks uneven.  This safe and non-invasive procedure can be completed in the office using local anesthesia.  Once the gums are numb, a scalpel or laser tool is used to remove excess gum tissue and expose more of the tooth.  This can be done to each tooth, or selectively to match other teeth, as if sculpting the gum line.  The result is an even, stunning smile!  If you think your smile would benefit from gum contouring, please contact us.

To learn more about gum contouring and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

Bleeding Gums

Gingivitis, or gum inflammation, is a common condition, but one that can be avoided. Many people think that it’s normal or not a big deal if their gums bleed when they brush their teeth, but this is actually a sign of disease and a warning about their oral hygiene.

People should only use soft-bristled toothbrushes to brush their teeth. Hard bristles can bruise their gums. However, gingivitis is caused by excessive bacterial growth in the gum pockets. In the space between the gum and the tooth root, bacteria grow naturally as part of the oral ecosystem, but their numbers can increase too much when they have large amounts of food debris available. Bacteria produce acid, which sticks to plaque and irritates the surrounding gum tissue. As plaque builds up, tartar forms at the gum line around the tooth.

Patients can reduce plaque and tartar build-up by brushing regularly, but they cannot remove material from their gum pockets. Regular deep cleanings are necessary for preventing gingivitis. Even then, some people are particularly at risk. Those groups include pregnant women, people with dry mouth or who are on blood thinner medications, and smokers.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit LisBradleyDDS.com or call 615-778-0810.