Dr. Kevin Hicks DDS and the team at Hicks Family Dentistry are pleased to provide professional and caring dental services to their patients from Lititz PA and the surrounding communities. Our dental services include: adult, children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, orthodontic, preventive and restorative dentistry.
We are excited to be one of the first practices in our area to utilize 3-D cone beam CT digital imaging technology. This advancement allows Dr. Hicks to see his patients’ anatomy in 3-D, instead of flat, two-dimensional images. Three-dimensional X-ray images are more precise than conventional film X-rays. They require less time to produce an image and subject a patient to far less radiation exposure. Using ultra cone beam images when diagnosing patients represents a tremendous advantage for evaluating treatment options, particularly important for implant placement and oral surgeries. Hicks Family Dentistry Kevin Hicks, DDS 756 Lititz Pike Lititz, PA 17543 (717) 625-0596 HicksFamilyDentistry.com
STRAIGHT TEETH IN SIX MONTHS – NOT TWO OR MORE YEARS!
Countless adults wish to have even, beautiful teeth that they can show off in a smile, but can’t afford the long-term time commitment required of traditional orthodontics. The possibility of wearing braces for years keeps them smiling tightly or covering their mouths. Well, we have the answer you’ve been searching for!
Six Month Smiles™ uses an innovative technique that changes only the teeth noticeable in your smile. The gentle but accelerated method can eradicate gaps, crowding, and overlapping in six months or possibly less! Another benefit to Six Month Smiles is how inconspicuous they are. The brackets are clear, and the clear or white-colored wires are scarcely discernible. Even though the process is quick, the system uses a low-intensity force that increases comfort. The reduced treatment time also allows for better hygiene and the prospect for an even cleaner look when it’s done.
Even better – Six Month Smiles is often less costly than conventional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers! Say hello to stunning, straight teeth in a matter of months! Hicks Family Dentistry Kevin Hicks, DDS 756 Lititz Pike Lititz, PA 17543 (717) 625-0596 HicksFamilyDentistry.com
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing-the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your mouth. Here are a few helpful things to know about how what you eat can impact your dental health. Diet and Tooth Decay The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon:
The form of the food-whether it’s liquid, solid, sticky or slow to dissolve makes a difference.
How often you eat sugary foods and beverages and how often you eat or drink acidic foods and beverages.
The nutritional makeup of the food.
The combination of the foods you eat and the order in which you eat them.
Medical conditions you may have, such as gastrointestinal reflux and eating disorders, which can increase risk of cavities and weaken teeth.
How Snacking Affects Your Dental Health For dental health, it’s recommended that people limit eating and drinking between meals. Of course, sometimes eating between meals must happen. Unfortunately, most people choose foods like sweets and chips for snacks; foods that harm teeth by promoting tooth decay. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice-such as cheese, yogurt, fruits, vegetables or nuts-for your overall health and the health of your teeth. Did you know that certain foods can put you at risk for cavities and other dental health problems? Here are some MouthHealthy tips. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article details the following:
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org The right smile can leave you laughing, fill you with joy or make you melt with emotion. But, ultimately, the best smile is one that is healthy and strong. Here are some of the “tooth truths” about how tough your teeth really are - and how to keep them that way. 1. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. The shiny, white enamel that covers your teeth is even stronger than bone. This resilient surface is 96 percent mineral, the highest percentage of any tissue in your body - making it durable and damage-resistant. 2. Your bite is powerful! Did you know your teeth can exert an average of 200 pounds of pressure when you bite down? That’s probably what tempts us to use our teeth as tools from time to time ñ but as your dentist will remind you, that’s one of the worst habits when it comes to preserving healthy teeth. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article details the following:
Teeth can last for hundreds of years
Strong as they are, teeth can't heal on their own
Healthy teeth have the power to resist decay, but they need our help
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Is the satisfying fizz of your favorite sparkling water putting you at risk for tooth decay? Because any drink with carbonation-including sparkling water-has a higher acid level, some reports have questioned whether sipping sparkling water will weaken your tooth enamel (the hard outer shell of your teeth where cavities first form). So, Is Sparkling Water Affecting My Teeth? According to available research, sparkling water is generally fine for your teeth-and here's why. In a study using teeth that were removed as a part of treatment and donated for research, researchers tested to see whether sparkling water would attack tooth enamel more aggressively than regular lab water. The result? The two forms of water were about the same in their effects on tooth enamel. This finding suggests that, even though sparkling water is slightly more acidic than ordinary water, it's all just water to your teeth. Tips for Enjoying Sparkling Water-and Protecting Your Teeth
Sparkling water is far better for your teeth than sugary drinks. In addition, be sure to drink plenty of regular, fluoridated water, too-it’s the best beverage for your teeth. Water with fluoride naturally helps fight cavities, washes away the leftover food cavity-causing bacteria feast on and keeps your mouth from becoming dry (which can put you at a higher risk of cavities).
Be mindful of what’s in your sparkling water. Citrus-flavored waters often have higher acid levels that does increase the risk of damage to your enamel. Plan to enjoy these in one sitting or with meals. This way, you aren’t sipping it throughout the day and exposing your teeth over and over again to the slightly higher level of acid it contains.
Sparkling water brands with added sugar can no longer be considered just sparkling water. They are a sugar-sweetened beverage, which can contribute to your risk of developing cavities. So remember-sparkling or not-plain water is always the best choice.
Who needs dentures that won’t stay put? We can abolish undesirable movement for denture wearers with All-on-4™ immediate load implants. With only four implants, dentures can be anchored permanently. They’re known as immediate load, because there is no delay while the bone around the implant heals. In our office, during a single visit, you can have the implants secured and then go home and eat whatever you like.
Previously, to have implants done, a patient would have to be referred to an oral surgeon. After the surgeon placed the implants, the patient revisited their normal dentist to have restorations put over the implant. Now, there is no longer a 4- to 6-month waiting period to finish the process. Nor do you have to work with referrals. We do it all – start to finish – in our office. Hicks Family Dentistry Kevin Hicks, DDS 756 Lititz Pike Lititz, PA 17543 (717) 625-0596 HicksFamilyDentistry.com
THREE-DIMENSIONAL DENTISTRY!
