We have many options to help make you comfortable for your appointment, including laughing gas, medication to help you relax, or IV sedation with a board certified dental anesthesiologist.

Our doctors are extremely gentle. Sometimes people may experience pressure or sensitivity during some dental procedures, but we make each visit as painless as possible.

X-rays do emit radiation, but we take all necessary precautions to make sure everyone is safe and protected from the radiation. In fact, all of our x-rays in our office are digital, meaning they are modern and up to date and emit the lowest amount of radiation. People are exposed to more radiation flying on an airplane then getting dental x-rays!

Coffee, teas, and dark sodas and some foods can stain your teeth so make sure you brush or rinse your mouth after. Latest trends say “oil pulling” helps whiten teeth, but we haven’t tried it yet. Oil pulling or swishing is when you use olive oil or coconut oil and swish it in your mouth for 20 minutes then spit it out. Another option is to whiten your teeth of course. We offer in- office dental whitening with ZOOM! Whitening, or take home whitening. We offer take-home whitening to our patients! (As long as there is no decay or active periodontal disease)

Sealants are a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth -- usually the back teeth (the premolars, and molars) -- to prevent tooth decay. The painted on liquid sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and groves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth. Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the dental sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants. Sealants can protect the teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wear at regular dental check-ups.

Several different options are available to change the shape of teeth, make teeth look longer, close spaces between teeth or repair chipped or cracked teeth. Among the options are bonding, crowns, veneers, and recontouring. Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the tooth surface and hardened with a special light, which ultimately "bonds" the material to the tooth. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped "caps" that are placed over teeth. The crowns, when cemented into place, fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Veneers (also sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials that are designed to cover the front surface of teeth. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth. Recontouring or reshaping of the teeth (also called odontoplasty, enameloplasty, stripping, or slenderizing) is a procedure in which small amounts of tooth enamel are removed to change a tooth's length, shape or surface. Each of these options differ with regard to cost, durability, "chair time" necessary to complete the procedure, stain resistant qualities, and best cosmetic approach to resolving a specific problem. Talk to our doctors to see if one is right for you.

If you fear going to the dentist, you are not alone! Between 9% -15% of Americans state they avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear. The first thing you should do is talk with our dentists. We have many patients that used to fear appointments, and now they are coming in regularly and are so calm! The key to coping with dental anxiety is to discuss your fears with Dr. Taryn and our hygienists. Once we know what your fears are, we will be better able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more comfortable.

The good news is that today there are a number of strategies that can be used to help reduce fear, anxiety, and pain. These strategies include use of medications (to either numb the treatment area or sedatives or anesthesia to help you relax), use of lasers instead of the traditional drill for removing decay, application of a variety of mind/body pain and anxiety-reducing techniques (such as guided imagery, biofeedback, deep breathing, acupuncture, and other mental health therapies), and perhaps even visits to a dentophobia clinic or a support group.

When purchasing a toothpaste for you or your child, select one that contains fluoride. Fluoride-containing toothpastes have been shown to prevent cavities. However, one word of caution: check the manufacturer's label; some toothpastes are not recommended in children under age 6. This is because young children swallow toothpaste and swallowing too much fluoride can lead to tooth discoloration in permanent teeth.It is also wise to select a product approved by the American Dental Association. The ADA's Seal of Acceptance means that the product has met ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness and that packaging and advertising claims are scientifically supported. Some manufacturers choose not to seek the ADA's Seal of Acceptance. Although these products may be safe and effective, these products' performance have not been evaluated or endorsed by the ADA.

Next, when considering other properties of toothpaste -- such as whitening toothpastes, tartar-control, gum care, desensitizing, etc. -- the best advice for selecting among these products may be to simply ask your dental hygienist or dentist what the greatest concerns are for your mouth at this time. Finally, some degree of personal preference comes into play. Choose the toothpaste that tastes and feels best. Gel or paste, wintergreen or spearmint all work alike. If you find that certain ingredients are irritating to your teeth, cheeks or lips, or if your teeth have become more sensitive, or if your mouth is irritated after brushing, try changing toothpastes. If the problem continues, come see us.

Call us at (480) 782-8825 to schedule an appointment. You can always request an appointment online by filling out our contact form here, online,  at avalondentalaz.com.

We offer two types of first visits. One appointment for dental emergencies and one to establish you as a new patient. If you are coming in for the first time and need an emergency visit, you can expect to get an exam and x-ray. Our dentist will examine the tooth or area of concern and inspect the x-ray. He/she will then determine what treatment is necessary. That emergency visit can last anywhere from 15-30 minutes, plus the length of time to do any necessary procedure to get you out of pain. If you are coming in to establish yourself as a new patient, you can expect to see our hygienist first for x-rays, and periodontal charting (where the hygienist evaluates your gums to determine what type of cleaning your teeth need) and a cleaning. Then you see our dentist for a comprehensive exam where he will examine each tooth and the overall health of your teeth and gums. If you have any concerns or questions Dr. Taryn can answer any of those for you, as well as give you a treatment plan if needed. That first appointment for a new patient lasts anywhere from 60-90 minutes.

Our first priority is to diagnose and treat any urgent conditions that pose an immediate threat to your oral and overall health. Our next priority is prevention, which means to control the disease process, while promoting wellness and helping you maintain good overall oral health. After these, we can proceed with any dental treatment , including major dental treatment, cosmetic work, and alternative and optional dental treatment.

Our dentists and hygienists will perform an oral cancer screening at your check up visits. We are very fortunate at Avalon Dental because Dr Shackelford is one of the only two oral pathologists in the state of Arizona (the second pathologist being his wife)!