Being in the dental field, I’ve noticed that about a month before the wedding, patients begin to panic and realize that the smile they’ve loved all their lives just isn’t wedding picture perfect. Unfortunately, the smile of most people’s dreams cannot be acheived in less than 3-4 weeks. If you’re recently engaged and not exactly sure where to start, here is Frangella Dental’s Wedding Countdown Guide:
If you want to straighten your teeth, visit your dentist ASAP for an evaluation. Ortho or Invisalign cases typically take between 8 months and 1.5 years, so you’ll want to get started early in order to have your teeth perfect or at least almost perfect come wedding day.
Crowns, bridges or veneers: These types of restorations usually require multiple visits, and the length of time between visits can be up to 2 weeks per visit. It’s best to have this treatment started as soon as possible but don’t wait any longer than 3-4 months before your wedding.
No one wants a toothache on their wedding day so be sure to keep up with your 6-month check-ups to take care of any cavities.
If you plan to whiten your teeth, we recommend one month before your wedding date. Whitening is the last dental procedure you should have done before big day.
For general maintenance, here are Frangella Dental’s favorite dental products.
Congratulations and best wishes!]]>
00Andrew Frangellahttps://drfrangella.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Frangella_final.pngAndrew Frangella2012-02-09 15:41:002026-04-13 20:55:52How to Get Your Smile Wedding Ready
Conscious sedation is a procedure that allows you to get the dental care you need while remaining stress free and comfortable.
Conscious sedation is defined as a minimally depressed state of consciousness that allows the retention of the ability to respond and react to physical stimulation and verbal command. During the sedated state most patients experience an amnesic effect that can erase any memory of the procedure.
It is a great tool that can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted but were kept from getting due to your fear of the dentist. If you are afraid to go to the dentist, or just anxious about certain aspects of your dental treatment, sedation may be a solution to your anxiety.
Unlike general anesthesia where the patient is unconscious or asleep, conscious sedation allows you to be awake but in a very relaxed state. Our certified IV conscious sedation dentist, Dr. Tina Frangella, can give you the ability to have your dental treatment completed while you are in a sedated and relaxed state.
Sedation Dentistry can give you the peace of mind you need in order to undergo dental work with no memory of the treatment that was done. It will allow you to receive the care necessary for you to enjoy better overall health, an improved self-image, and better quality of life with a healthy, beautiful smile.]]>
Being a dentist and being surrounded by a lot of dentists, I’ve had the opportunity to try a lot of dental products over the years and learn the opinions of my friends, family and colleagues about these same products.
I decided to compile a list of my absolute favorite, tried and true, dental products on the market. Of course I’m always open to try something new, so if you have any favorites, please let us know!
Toothbrush: Sonicare
This toothbrush’s sonic motion and handy timer really make a difference in your smile. It’s the best home care tool in my opinion.
Floss: Glide
Whenever I buy floss, I tend to lean towards an unwaxed tape variety rather than a rope. Glide is great b/c its easy to manuever between teeth and doesn’t shred easily.
Regular Toothpaste: Crest Original (with sodium fluoride)
Crest is a great product. I like the flavor of the paste and usually prefer sodium fluoride in my toothpaste as opposed to stannous fluoride. When I’m looking to buy a regular toothpaste I usually stick to the Crest Original.
Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth: Sensodyne Isoactive
For patients that are long time users of toothpaste for sensitive teeth, this new product is a great change from the dull chalky tasting toothpastes that have been on the market. I tried this product about 6 months ago and use it from time to time when my teeth become hot & cold sensitive. It forms a refreshing foam that leaves you with a great taste and more comfortable teeth as well.
Whitening Toothpaste: Crest 3d White
When brushing your teeth in between whitenings to keep that beautiful fresh smile I like to use this Crest 3d White. It’s Crest, which has a great line of whitening products, and also has a great taste and is very effective in maintaining a bright smile.
Antibacterial Mouthwash: Listerine and Closys
An antibacterial mouthwash is crucial to home care. The hard part is sorting through all the options and finding whats right for you. My top two picks are: CloSys and Listerine. I love CloSys because although it has a mild flavor, it is a great tool to kill bacteria that can lead to periodontal disease and also it is less acidic than many of the rinses on the market. My other top pick is Listerine. In my opinion Listerine is hands down the most effective antibacterial rinse on the market. My morning routine usually includes a quick rinse with CloSys then a thorough brushing & flossing followed by a rinse with Listerine.
Fluoride Mouthwash: ACT Total Care
I always rinse with ACT right before bed. It has a great flavor (my favorite is the green one), probably the best tasting of all the mouthrinses I’ve tried, and is very effective in helping remineralize and strengthen enamel. Another great product worth trying.
100% Xylitol Gum: Epic (epicdental.com)
Xylitol is a great sugarfree product that is important to home care. I usually opt for 100% Zylitol chewing gum (right now I’m addicted to Epic cinnamon flavor). The only downfall is the chewing gum doesn’t keep its flavor for that long. But on the upside, even after only chewing it for a short amount of time, my mouth feels really fresh and clean afterwards. And it’s a great way of delivering Xylitol, which is the only sugar substitute that studies have shown that has cavity fighting properties.]]>
Using both Invisalign and traditional braces, we’ve seen their smiles change over the years and sometimes even caught them in the process.
So who has had Invisalign and who has had braces?
Invisalign
Katherine Heigl: There have been many sightings of the starlet wearing Invisalign and some great pictures of her putting the aligners in. Gisele Bündchen: An interview with Elle Magazine reported that she had worn Invisalign to straighten her shifting teeth. Justin Bieber: The teen crooner is currently wearing Invisalign and was spotted wearing aligners to the UK premiere of “Never Say Never.” Cheryl Cole: The English pop star has said during interviews that her worst habit is not wearing her Invisalign aligner at night.
Other rumored to have altered their smiles using Invisalign include Oprah Winfrey and Zac Efron.
Braces
Other celebs take the traditional route and wear conventional braces. Browse through our gallery of celebrities in braces. I bet you’ll be surprised to see who has worn them and how old they were when they took the plunge.]]>
https://drfrangella.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Frangella_final.png00Andrew Frangellahttps://drfrangella.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Frangella_final.pngAndrew Frangella2012-01-12 05:05:002026-04-13 20:56:03The Benefits of Seeing a Specialist
100% Xylitol can be consumed in many different product forms: mints, gum, lollipops, and granular just to name a few. Many commercial sugarless gums, which are not 100% Xylitol, contain approximately .5 grams of Xylitol per piece. It is recommended that 6-10 grams of Xylitol be consumed daily by children and adults. Therefore, it is recommended that a product with 100% Xylitol be consumed instead.
Products with 100% Xylitol can be difficult to find at your everyday local grocery store but you can usually find 100% Xylitol at health/organic food stores and on the Internet.
Xylitol is also recommended for infants and can be started with a few grams a day once the teeth begin erupting, working up to 6-10 grams as all the teeth have fully erupted. Since babies cannot chew gum/lollipop/mints, we recommend Xylitol be introduced in a granular form mixed in water. A wash cloth bathed in this solution can be used to clean the newly erupted teeth. Speak with your dentist or a pediatric dentist before introducing Xylitol.]]>
00Andrew Frangellahttps://drfrangella.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Frangella_final.pngAndrew Frangella2012-01-05 22:47:002026-04-13 20:56:06Xylitol: What Is It & Are You Getting Enough?
00Andrew Frangellahttps://drfrangella.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Frangella_final.pngAndrew Frangella2011-12-29 14:53:002026-04-13 20:56:08Frangella Dental's Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011
Picture this: You’re mere moments away from your regular dental visit, anticipating the question, “Have you been brushing and flossing regularly?” In an attempt to clean whatever might be lurking between your teeth before your hygienist or dentist catches you red-handed, you franticly brush and floss hours before your appointment. Once that dreaded questions comes, you give your answer, “Yes of course I do! All the time! I love flossing!,” but get the distinct feeling that they just don’t believe you.
So, how do we dentists know if you’ve been flossing regularly?
Being dentists, we can’t stress enough the importance of regular flossing in conjunction with brushing. Flossing is important to your gum and tooth health and when you don’t floss regularly, there are very apparent consequences.
The most obvious is inflammation between the teeth. When you don’t floss regularly, plaque, bacteria, and debris sit between the teeth causing inflammation. As a result, your gums start to look pink, puffy and inflammed and bleed easily.
The second give away is cavities forming between the teeth. Brushing your teeth, no matter how good and efficient you are at it, will not clean where the teeth meet. The only way to clean in that crucial spot is to floss. If you have any cavities or the beginning stages of cavities, it indicates that flossing is a weak point in your home care regimen.
Lastly, the biggest and most obvious sign that a patient is not flossing regularly is cuts or abrasions on the gums, indicating that the patient may have just flossed or isn’t doing it correctly or efficiently. If you aren’t careful and don’t know you’re way around your teeth and mouth, it will show.
The moral of the story is simple, make flossing a part of your daily regimen! The benefits to your oral health are tremendous.]]>
Thanksgiving is over and the holidays are rapidly approaching. If you’re stumped about what to get your loved one this holiday season here are our favorite holiday gifts and stocking stuffers!
Sonicare Toothbrush: This is our number one favorite home care product and the perfect gift for the holidays. An electric toothbrush is a great way to care for your teeth and electric toothbrushes with sonic action are even better. With a built in timer that also gives a gentle reminder about when to switch to the next part of the mouth, you always know if you brushed your teeth long enough. And the sonic motion gives you a better overall clean. Available at many retailers including Target.com.
A di Alessi Rondo Toothpaste Tube Cap and Floss Dispenser: We absolutely love these little guys. They’re fun and practical, which is why they’re one of our favorite stocking stuffers to give to friends and family members. You can find the Toothpaste Cap and Floss Dispenser on newegg.com.
Purse-Sized Violight Slim Sonic Toothbrush: This is an adorable toothbrush for on the go. Slim and stylish, with eight different case styles, it’s a fun toothbrush that fits perfectly in your purse. Available on Amazon.com.
Personalized Turtle Tooth Fairy Box: This is a great gift for the children in your life. It comes in two colors, blue or purple, and can be personalized. Being a dentist, this is the first gift I gave my niece. And although she doesn’t have any teeth yet, it looks very cute on her dresser! This and other tooth fairy boxes are available on chasing-fireflies.com
Being in the dental field, I’ve noticed that about a month before the wedding, patients begin to panic and realize that the smile they’ve loved all their lives just isn’t wedding picture perfect. Unfortunately, the smile of most people’s dreams cannot be acheived in less than 3-4 weeks. If you’re recently engaged and not exactly sure where to start, here is Frangella Dental’s Wedding Countdown Guide:
