Root canal therapy has gotten a bad reputation. If you need a root canal, we have some great news – this negative reputation is very unfair. In fact, root canal therapy typically relieves the pain and dental sensitivity many patients feel prior to receiving this treatment. Root canals are comfortable, and they may just allow our team to save your damaged tooth. In this post, we’ll walk you through just what to expect, during and after your root canal therapy.
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I’ve Heard Horror Stories About Root Canals – What Should I Expect?
April 20, 2018
Teeth Whitening in Horsham
October 25, 2016
“Say cheese!” If those two words don’t bring a smile to your face instantly, well then maybe there’s something about your smile that you don’t like. If the color of your teeth is bothering you, then we have a simple and affordable solution. With either in-office or take-home teeth whitening in Horsham, Dr. Henkel and his team at Horsham Dental Elements can give you the sparkling smile you deserve.
Root Canal Therapy in Horsham and Philadelphia
February 17, 2016
Everyone’s tolerance for pain is different. Some people can barely stand the thought of pain while others have a very high tolerance. But no one—and we mean no one—can tolerate the pain of a toothache. Not only can the the pain be severe, but it can also radiate to your jaw, your ear and even your head, neck and shoulders. Moreover, the cause of the pain may actually threaten the integrity of your tooth. Very often a toothache happens because infection sets in deep inside a tooth. In this case, Dr. Henkel may need to perform root canal therapy to remove the infection and preserve your tooth.
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Practice Great Dental Care Habits with the Horsham Family Dentist
September 16, 2015
Great dental health starts and ends at home. There are no two ways about it. True, whenever you come to our office for a dental checkup or any other service, it can improve your oral health and give you a beautiful smile. It’s what we specialize at doing. However, at-home care is just as important as coming in to our office for a checkup. From brushing and flossing to watching what you eat, it all adds up in deciding how healthy your mouth will be.
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Introducing Invisalign: Clear Braces Horsham Residents Will Love
August 4, 2015
Invisalign treatment is within your grasp, all you need to do is take hold of it. If you’re new to the teeth-straightening world, or have never had to deal with misalignment issues in the past, Invisalign is the latest and greatest in straightening technology. What used to take multiple years to accomplish can now be taken care of in less than half the time. In the past, metal braces have been the dominant procedure when it came to correcting a smile’s alignment issues. Many years and countless hours of research and testing later, Invisalign is the futuristic way to straighten teeth. The best part? It can all be done invisibly to where nobody notices you straightening your teeth. How cool is that? True, braces can offer the same type of treatment, but it’s more painful and you won’t see the final results for an average treatment duration of five years. That’s too long to wait for real results. You’ve got a life to live and that shouldn’t involve sporting metal braces on your teeth. You’re older and need treatment that works. When you visit Horsham Dental Elements in our Philadelphia, PA and Horsham, PA, you’ll see firsthand just how beneficial Invisalign treatment is for your smile. For the best straightening treatment featuring Invisalign, Philadelphia residents are urged to check it out for themselves!
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Laser Periodontal Therapy in Philadelphia, PA
June 30, 2015
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that almost 50 percent of people over the age of 30 in the United States have periodontal disease, or gum disease. And in the 70 and older crowd, the percentage increases to more than 70 percent. And many of those people don’t even know they have this all too common infection. Dr. Gary Henkel and his team at Horsham Dental Elements want to help you avoid gum disease in the first place. That’s why we encourage all of our patients to schedule regular checkups at either our office in Horsham, PA, or Philadelphia, PA. Of course, if we find evidence of periodontal disease then treatment is imperative not only for your oral health, but your general health, too. For gum disease treatment in Philadelphia or Horsham, count on Horsham Dental Elements. (more…)
Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants from Horsham Dental Elements
March 15, 2015
Unless you are a child eagerly waiting for the tooth fairy, nothing good can come from having a missing tooth. To the contrary, there are a number of negative consequences: a “hole” in your smile, insufficient nutrition because you can’t chew healthy foods, and damaged self-confidence. Obviously, tooth replacement is imperative. Dr. Gary Henkel of Horsham Dental Elements in Horsham, PA, and Philadelphia, PA, is an expert in restoring smiles, good health and confidence with dental implants.
Although you do have other options when choosing a tooth replacement—crown and bridgework, partial or full dentures—dental implants are the most lifelike, because they not only replace the crown of a tooth, but the root, as well. And when you choose to have your dental implant done at Horsham Dental Elements, you can be sure that you’re receiving the finest care; Dr. Henkel not only places implants and restores bad implants, he teaches other dentists how to perform the procedure, as well.
Furthermore, Horsham Dental Elements uses cone beam computed tomography, or CBCT, to create 3D images as a guide for dental implant placement. With this, Dr. Henkel is able to more accurately position your implants during the actual procedure.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The first step in tooth replacement with a dental implant is minor surgery to position a titanium post in the bone beneath your open tooth socket. This post becomes the “root” of your new tooth. As such, it offers greater stability and prevents bone deterioration, which often occurs when there is a missing tooth and root. As you heal, the post and bone will fuse together. After a few months, you’ll return to Horsham Dental Elements for Dr. Henkel to complete the tooth replacement by attaching a crown to the post. When completed, you’ll have a lifelike tooth replacement that looks and feels completely natural.
Call Our Office Today
To learn more about dental implants, call Horsham Dental Elements in Horsham, PA, or Philadelphia, PA. We also conveniently serve patients from Dresher, Springfield and Hatboro, as well as Bucks County and Montgomery County.
Get a Dazzling Smile with Porcelain Veneers from Horsham Dental Elements
February 15, 2015
Do you smile easily or do you often find yourself covering your smile with your hand? Well then why not just hide that smile permanently? Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic treatment that cover smile imperfections and give you a beautiful new smile. Using porcelain veneers, Dr. Gary Henkel at Horsham Dental Elements in Philadelphia, PA, and Horsham, PA, has improved smiles for many people in the area, and he can do the same for you.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers, also called dental veneers, are a type of cosmetic dentistry in which a micro-thin layer of dental porcelain is bonded to the outer surface of the teeth in your smile zone. As such, they correct and conceal a number of dental imperfections, including:
- Stains and discoloration that will not respond to teeth whitening
- Chipped or slightly cracked teeth
- Teeth that are unevenly worn
- Teeth that are misshaped or somewhat misaligned
How are Porcelain Veneers Applied?
The first step in building your new smile is a consultation with Dr. Henkel, where the two of you will discuss your smile goals and he will examine your teeth and gums for any concerns that might need to be addressed before the veneers. Then the procedure usually requires two appointments at Horsham Dental Elements.
At the first appointment, Dr. Henkel will likely need to slightly reshape the teeth receiving the veneers, so your new smile will blend seamlessly with your existing teeth. An impression of your teeth is taken in order to create a mold for our dental lab to use as they fabricate your custom veneers. While your permanent porcelain veneers are made, you’ll wear temporaries to protect your teeth. In a few weeks, you’ll return to Horsham Dental Elements for Dr. Henkel to place your custom veneers. You’ll leave our office with a smile you wouldn’t dream of covering!
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you’d like to learn more about how porcelain veneers can give you a new smile, then call Horsham Dental Elements in Philadelphia, PA, or Horsham, PA. We also conveniently serve people from Dresher, Springfield and Hatboro, as well as Bucks County and Montgomery County.
Make 2015 the Year of the Smile with Teeth Whitening from Horsham Dental Elements
January 20, 2015
The New Year has really just gotten started, so it’s not too late to make one more resolution. Resolve to smile more! Smiling isn’t just good for you, it’s good for everyone around you, too—acquaintances and strangers alike. And if you really want your smile to have an impact, then consider teeth whitening with Dr. Gary Henkel of Horsham Dental Elements in Horsham, PA, and Philadelphia, PA.
Teeth can become dull and discolored for a number of reasons, including:
- The natural aging process
- Favorite foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, cola, blueberries, cherries and chocolate
- Certain prescription medications, such as the antibiotic tetracycline
- Teeth grinding, which may cause the biting edge of teeth to darken
- Tooth injury that leads to cracks, which hide stain-causing debris
Teeth whitening doesn’t just improve the appearance of your smile. Numerous studies have shown that people with white teeth are more confident, more socially out-going and are even considered to be smarter than people whose smiles aren’t as white. So, a white smile not only goes a long way aesthetically, it can impact you emotionally and psychologically.
Teeth Whitening Made Easy
Dr. Henkel and his staff at Horsham Dental Elements understand that your schedule is busy enough already. You shouldn’t have to squeeze another appointment onto your calendar to have white teeth. That’s why we offer an at-home teeth whitening kit for you to use in the privacy and convenience of home. We’ll give you custom-fit whitening trays that you’ll fill with the professional grade gel we supply. Then, just wear the trays as Dr. Henkel instructs, and you’ll be on your way to a whiter and brighter smile in no time!
Call Our Office Today
If you would like to learn more about at-home teeth whitening, then call Dr. Henkel at Horsham Dental Elements in Philadelphia, PA, and Horsham, PA. We also serve patients from Dresher, Springfield and Hatboro, as well as Bucks County and Montgomery County.
Dr. Henkel Creates New Smiles with Full-Mouth Reconstruction
December 16, 2014
Full-mouth reconstruction is reserved for those instances when nearly all of the teeth on the upper and lower arches need replacement. At Horsham Dental Elements in Philadelphia, PA, and Horsham, PA, we don’t question why there is a need for full-mouth reconstruction, and we don’t judge. Our job is to help you enjoy the best oral health possible. With this in mind, Dr. Gary Henkel will create a treatment plan for your full-mouth reconstruction that rebuilds your smile as well as your oral health.
Full mouth-reconstruction may be necessary for a variety of reasons, including:
- Tooth loss due to decay
- Numerous teeth that are fractured or otherwise injured
- Teeth that are worn because of acids in foods, beverages or from acid reflux
- Uneven and worn teeth from bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Constant jaw, muscle and head pain that requires adjusting the bite
In order to plan for a full-mouth reconstruction, Dr. Henkel will conduct a thorough examination. He will assess the condition of your teeth to determine what procedures may be necessary, including porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding, crowns, dental implants or bridges. In addition, Dr. Henkel will look for signs of tooth decay, gum disease or root canal issues, which will need attention before your full-mouth reconstruction can begin. Likewise, if you are having jaw pain or headaches, he will examine the function of your temporomandibular joints to determine if correcting your bite needs to be part of the reconstruction plan.
With the information gathered from his examination, along with any necessary x-rays, photographs or impressions, Dr. Henkel will develop a comprehensive treatment plan for your full-mouth reconstruction. The plan will proceed in a logical step-by-step process that corrects all of the problems in your mouth.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you would like to learn more about full-mouth reconstruction, then call the office of Horsham Dental Elements in Philadelphia, PA, or Horsham, PA. Dr. Henkel also serves patients from Dresher, Springfield and Hatboro, as well as Bucks County and Montgomery County.