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  • Mon – Thurs: 7:30am - 4:30pm
  • Friday: 8:00am - 1:00pm

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Keep a Close Eye On Your Gums For Potential Gingivitis

August 10, 2015

Gum disease should be taken seriously.Periodontal disease, or gum disease as it’s most commonly known, is very debilitating. Your gums are one of the most important structures in your mouth. “Structure” is a good word to use because they are just that — structures. They are the foundation that teeth sit on. Without them, your teeth would sag and most likely never stay in your mouth. It’s not hard to imagine a life spent dealing with gums that are infected. Gum disease isn’t some rare ailment, either. There are many patients that suffer from this disease and new cases are popping up every day. The good news is there are ways to keep gum disease in check and there are common symptoms that can give you a good idea of whether or not you’re dealing with the disease. At our office in Superior, WI, we want your gums to be in excellent shape today, tomorrow and into the future. Anything less than great gum health isn’t good enough for us. Nobody deserves to live in pain, that’s why Hill Avenue Dental is here for you. Superior dentists, Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. and his son, Dr. Douglas III, offer gentle care in the event of gum disease. You have options, and we’re happy to help.
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Sports Mouthguards Superior, WI, Wears for Safety

July 21, 2015

ThinkstockPhotos-532701925Think of all the steps you take to keep your family safe. Car seats, boosters and seatbelts for everyone in the car? Check. A working smoke detector in every room of your house? Check. Vaccinations up-to-date? Check. Mouthguards for all of the sports enthusiasts in your family? Uh-oh. A mouthguard is critical to protecting your teeth, gums, lips and tongues during any kind of athletic activity, including both contact and non-contact sports. Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. or Dr. Doug Clark III, the dentists at Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI, can fabricate a customize sports mouthguard for you and all of the members of your family who are actively involved in athletics.

Sports injuries are responsible for more than five million lost teeth every year, and the American Dental Association states that one-third of all dental injuries are sports related. Wearing a mouthguard, however, can prevent more than 200,000 mouth injuries every year. Besides a knocked out tooth, other types of dental injuries that may occur as a result of not using a mouthguard include:

  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Fractured crowns or bridgework
  • Cheek and lip injuries
  • Root damage to your teeth
  • Fractured jaws

In addition to these oral injuries, mouthguards may also reduce the risk and severity of a concussion that can happen as a result of a hard blow to the head, face or jaw. A study of high school athletes showed that 56 percent of all concussions were suffered when mouthguards were not worn. But when you wear a mouthguard, you’re wearing a shock absorber between your upper and lower jaw to help prevent concussions as well as neck injuries, too.

Mouthguards Superior Can Count on for a Psychological Edge

When you’re playing to win, you want every psychological advantage you can get. Research shows that if you’re wearing proper protection, including a custom mouthguard, then you play more confidently and aggressively. Furthermore, wearing a mouthguard offers a tremendous economic advantage: replacing a tooth lost because of a sports injury can cost 20 times more than the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard.

Call Our Office Today

If you or anyone in your family needs a customized mouthguard before heading out to play, practice or compete, then call Hill Avenue Dental.  We serve patients in Superior, WI, as well as from Duluth, Douglas County, Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

Cosmetic Bonding Is The Perfect Solution for Damaged Teeth

July 17, 2015

Broken teeth, along with cracked teeth, can be a pain in the neck do deal with. Having a beautiful smile is next to impossible with discolored, cracked or broken teeth. A smile that has imperfections can leave a person feeling like their confidence is shattered. We don’t want anyone having a bad day because of how they’re feeling about their smile. When you come to our office, we’ll do everything we can to ensure you’re well taken care of and are provided with the best procedures in the dental industry.

Cosmetic bonding can turn a smile into a beautiful work of art. This particular service is designed to bring your smile from bleh to BLAM in no time. Our Superior, WI office can handle whatever cosmetic dentistry needs you have. The industry has come a long way over the last few years and more patients are opting for cosmetic dentistry services than ever before. From teeth whitening to cosmetic bonding, we can handle it all.
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Keep An Eye Out For Cavity Symptoms

June 24, 2015

ThinkstockPhotos-477249801Just because you get a cavity doesn’t mean the world is ending. We understand that there are tempting foods and snacks out there. Carbonated drinks can sometimes sound much more quenching than plain water. Though we can try our best to steer you away from sugary drinks and other foods that wreak havoc on your teeth, the decision is left to you. Cavities, unfortunately, are most often the result. If you are currently dealing with a cavity issue, Drs. Doug Clark Jr. and Douglas Clark III would like you to come in for a checkup and determine how best to treat your cavity issues. The warning signs of cavities are easily felt, and can be corrected if caught early enough.

 

What is a Cavity?

Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that turn into tiny openings or holes. Also referred to as tooth decay or caries, cavities are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks and so much more. It’s among the world’s most common health problems, especially in children and teens. If they aren’t treated, they get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth not visible to the eye. Severe toothaches, infection and tooth loss have resulted from patients who didn’t treat their cavity.

Symptoms To Look Out For

The signs and symptoms of cavities vary depending on their extent and location. One thing is for sure – a cavity is not something you want to deal with. When a cavity is born, you may not experience any symptoms. However, once the decay increases in size, the signs and symptoms become more apparent.

  • Toothache
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold
  • Visible holes or pits in your teeth
  • Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth
  • Pain when you bite down

Any or all of these symptoms can combine and result in a terrible dental experience for a patient. Any amount of pain or discomfort you feel that isn’t normal should be handled by a dentist you can trust. Our team is prepared to bring your smile back to working order.

 

Schedule an Appointment

We’re experts at treating cavities and want you to experience the type of care that you deserve. Visit us in Superior, WI and receive treatment from a superior dentist! We also serve the surrounding communities of Riverview, Oliver, Pokegama, Parkland and beyond.

How To Decide If You Need Root Canal Therapy

June 18, 2015

Tooth ache help! Root canal therapy from HIll Avenue Family DentalWhen teeth become damaged or lost, it will impair the function of your mouth. It’s not great for your self-image, either. To improve both the use and look of your smile, talk to the staff at Hill Avenue Dental about our available restorative dentistry treatments. Both Drs. Doug Clark are experienced in providing viable dentistry solutions for their patients, and our staff is ready to welcome you to our Superior, WI practice.
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CEREC One-Visit Crowns from Hill Avenue Dental

May 25, 2015

183708884Perhaps there is a crack in one of your teeth and it is gradually worsening. Or maybe you have a tooth that is abnormally worn because of teeth grinding and clenching. Whatever the reason, the time has come to repair that tooth. Trouble is you don’t want to take a lot of time in the dentist’s office. Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI, has the solution for you. Our dentists, Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. and Dr. Doug Clark III, use the CEREC system to design, fabricate and place crowns in one visit.

CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economic Restorations of Esthetic Ceramics, consists of:

  • A digital camera that takes a visual impression of you tooth instead of the traditional molded impression
  • Special computer software that designs the crown, including the size, shape and color of the crown
  • A milling unit that uses high-speed burs to manufacture your new crown

A Crown for You

Once Dr. Clark or Dr. Clark determines that you are a qualified candidate for a CEREC One-Visit Crown, you’re only a couple of hours away from a complete tooth restoration. The affected tooth and the surrounding tissue will be anesthetized and prepared for your metal-free crown. Then, we take a digital picture of the tooth and that is sent to the computer. Equipped with 3D-CAD software, the computer system designs your crown for a perfect fit and match to your existing teeth. From here, the design is transmitted to the milling unit, which creates your new restoration in about 20 minutes. The dentist will then adhesively bond the crown into place and make sure the chewing surface fits exactly with the opposing tooth above or below.

Also, if you have any ill-fitting or unsightly crowns made of metal, they can be replaced with a CEREC One-Visit Crown.

Call Our Office Today

To learn more about CEREC One-Visit Crowns, or to schedule an appointment for your tooth restoration, call the office of Hill Avenue Dental today. We serve patients in Superior, WI, as well as from Duluth, Douglas County, Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

Rebuild Your Smile with Restorative Dentistry in Superior, WI

May 10, 2015

159289454You have always taken very good care of your teeth and gums. Every morning and every night, you brush and floss. You schedule twice yearly dental checkups at Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI, so we can help you have a healthy smile. Yet despite all of this good care, you now find yourself needing to “fix a problem.” Whether you need to rebuild a tooth that has decay or replace a tooth that has been knocked out, Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. and Dr. Doug Clark III have the restorative dentistry treatment to rejuvenate your smile.

Perhaps the most frequently performed restorative treatment in dentistry is repairing a cavity with a filling. At Hill Avenue Dental, our dentists use tooth-colored composite resin materials when filling a cavity. This material offers several advantages. First and most obvious is that the filling blends in seamlessly with the color of your natural teeth; no one will see a darker spot in your smile. Secondly, a filling with composite resin necessitates less tooth preparation, which means that more of your tooth’s original structure is preserved. Once restored, your tooth will be as strong as one of your natural teeth.

Restoration for Missing Teeth

Whether you have missing teeth because of severe tooth decay, advanced gum disease or a traumatic injury, replacing those teeth is imperative for your oral health as well as your general health. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement that restore a tooth from root to crown. With minor oral surgery, one of our dentists implants a titanium post in your jaw. This acts similarly to the root of a tooth, anchoring the restorative crown and stimulating bone tissue, so there is no loss of bone density or sagging facial muscles.

Call Our Office Today

If your oral health requires you to have a tooth restoration procedure, then call the office Hill Avenue Dental. We serve patients in Superior, WI, as well as from Duluth, Douglas County, Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

Mouthguards for Athletes and Others in Superior, WI

April 25, 2015

77295850Every sport has its uniform essentials. Football players wear helmets and shoulder pads. In hockey—a Wisconsin favorite—players also wear heavy padding as well as a helmet and in the case of the goalie, a face mask, too. Tennis stars wear tennis whites. The list goes on and on. But there is one piece of equipment that every player should wear regardless of the sport and regardless of whether they play professional or amateur. A mouthguard is essential for protecting your teeth, gums, lips and tongue during any kind of athletic activity. At Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI, Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. or Dr. Doug Clark III will prescribe a custom-fitted mouthguard for you or any member of your family who is actively involved in sports.

Every year, more than five million teeth are lost because of sports injuries. With a mouthguard, you can prevent one of those teeth from being yours. But avoiding tooth loss is only the beginning of the advantages that wearing a mouthguard offers. The risk of other serious injuries—such as lacerations to the tongue, lips and gums—are greatly reduced. Moreover, wearing a mouthguard has been shown to reduce the risk of concussion that might otherwise result from a hard blow to the head, face or jaw. Essentially, a mouthguard acts like a shock absorber between your upper and lower jaw, thereby helping to not only prevent concussions, but neck injuries, too.

Mouthguards: The Psychological and Economic Benefits

When playing competitive sports, athletes want every psychological advantage they can get. Research indicates that when they are wearing proper protection, including a mouthguard, they feel more confident and are likely to play more aggressively. Furthermore, wearing a mouthguard offers a tremendous economic advantage; replacing a tooth lost due to a sports injury can cost 20 times more than the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard.

Call Our Office Today

No matter what your sport is, call Hill Avenue Dental to schedule your appointment for a custom-fitted mouthguard. We serve patients in Superior, WI, as well as from Duluth, Douglas County, Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

Oral Cancer Screening at Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI

April 10, 2015

ThinkstockPhotos-511776085According to the American Dental Association, some 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. The five-year survival rate for those who are told that they have oral cancer is slightly more than 64 percent. Fortunately, there is something you can do to avoid the ravages of this disease: have an oral cancer screening. The Oral Cancer Foundation has designated April as Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so there’s no better time than now to come to Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI, for an oral cancer screening.

During each of your biannual dental checkups, Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. or Dr. Doug Clark III will visually examine your entire oral cavity from the tip of your tongue to the back of your throat for the early signs of oral cancer. These include:

  • A sore or ulcer that does not heal within two to three weeks
  • A red, white or even blackish colored patch
  • A swelling or lump that is in the tissue or raised above the tissue
  • An area in the mouth or on the lips that feels numb
  • A spot that bleeds when touched
  • A persistent sore throat, raspy voice or cough
  • Painful swallowing
  • A long-lasting earache with no sign of infection

Preventing Oral Cancer

When you come to Hill Avenue Dental for your regularly scheduled dental checkup, our dentists will conduct an oral cancer screening and talk to you about your health history to determine if you are at greater risk. Research has shown that a number of factors contribute to the development of oral cancer. People who smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol, especially those who are older than 50 years old, are at greater risk. Additionally, the human papilloma virus (HPV) has been connected to oral cancer.  In non-smoking adults, HPV may be related to the growing number of throat cancers.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Call the office of Hill Avenue Dental to schedule your dental checkup and oral cancer screening. The saying is cliché, but the life you save may be your own. We serve patients in Superior, WI, as well as from Duluth, Douglas County, Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

Bridge the Gap with Dental Bridges from Hill Avenue Dental

March 24, 2015

180413013If you have a damaged or missing tooth, then you know the consequences are anything but pleasant. Of course, there’s the concern about the appearance of your smile, but beyond that you also may not be able to speak clearly or eat the foods that are part of a nutritious diet, such as raw fruits and vegetables. If you are contending with any of these difficulties, then consider getting a dental bridge from Hill Avenue Dental in Superior, WI.

In addition to the troubles named above, missing teeth can also bring about a change in your bite, cause other teeth to shift out of place, bring on symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), and increase the risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Dental Bridges in Superior, WI

A bridge is a dental prosthetic that fills the space left by one to three missing teeth. This bridge is held securely in place by dental crowns, which are adhesively bonded to the teeth that are on either side of the missing teeth. In turn, these crowns support the pontic, or false tooth or teeth that replace your damaged or missing teeth.

If you are a candidate for a dental bridge, Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. or Dr. Doug Clark III will first need to prep the teeth that support the bridge. If these teeth are decayed or worn down, we may need to restore them before they can be outfitted for crowns.

Next, we’ll take impressions of your teeth in order to create model that will be used to design a bridge that fits perfectly across the gap and matches your bite. A perfect fit is critical in order to avoid any dental health problems down the road. While your bridge is fabricated in our trustworthy dental lab, you’ll wear a temporary bridge so the teeth and gums are protected from damage. When the permanent bridge is ready, simply return to Hill Avenue Dental for one more visit when we’ll fit and cement the bridge in to place.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you would like to determine whether or not a dental bridge is the right choice to mend your smile, then call Hill Avenue Dental today for a consultation. We serve patients in Superior, WI, as well as from Duluth, Douglas County, Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota.

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