Weblog

Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) affects more Americans than heart disease, cancer, and stroke combined. At Dr. Michael Curtis’s office, we’re always looking for ways to serve patients with excellent dental care. If we find signs of gum disease at your dental visit, we can provide gentle, appropriate therapy with one of our gum care services.

About Gum Disease

Gum disease is an infection that starts below the gum line, when sticky plaque hardens into tarter. Combined with bacteria and decaying food particles, infection spreads quickly. The signs of early stage gum disease, swollen, bleeding gums, are mild enough to escape your notice. But this signals the start of a progression into a serious condition which can cause bone deterioration, tooth loss, and spread infection into your entire body. (more…)

Do you have crooked teeth? Do you have crowding or spaces in your smile that you would like to correct? Dr. Curtis offers “invisible braces” that can straighten your smile in an average of only 6 months!

How it works:
This orthodontic solution consists of clear brackets and tooth colored wires to move teeth, so it’s much less obtrusive than traditional braces. And if you prefer Invisalign-type clear aligners, Dr. Curtis also offers these type of invisible braces. Here you would get a series of clear removable trays that fit intimately over your teeth to create the beautiful smile you deserve. (more…)

If you’re an athlete or the parent of an athlete, you know that appropriate protective gear is invaluable. Helmets, knee pads, and other safety measures come to mind immediately, but were you aware that up to 40 percent of sports injuries involve the face? A professionally-made mouthguard from Dr. Curtis’s office can effectively protect an athlete’s mouth and reduce the trauma that can occur from a blow to a jaw.

What is a mouthguard?
A sports mouthguard is a piece of protective gear that fits over your teeth and protects your smile as well as your lips, tongue, and jaw. A custom mouthguard is neither bulky nor uncomfortable, as store-bought mouthguards can be, and fits securely inside the mouth. Dr. Curtis’s custom mouthguards also won’t interfere with breathing or speaking during sports, so you can enjoy comfort and safety and even enhance your performance on the field. (more…)

Oral surgery requires specialized experience and skills. When choosing a dentist to perform a tooth extraction, gum graft, or dental implant procedure, you want someone with those qualifications and more. He should understand your concerns and be willing to explain procedures so you’re comfortable with the process. For 30 years, Dr. Michael Curtis has been performing oral surgeries with just such expertise and care.

Dr. Curtis completed two postgraduate residencies at Albert Einstein Medical Center and at Montifiore Medical Center in New York, where he specialized in oral surgery. Now, Bridgeport and Trumbull area patients benefit from his proficiency and personal attention when undergoing oral surgery procedures. (more…)

Every time you visit the dentist for a six-month checkup and cleaning, you hope that you don’t hear the dreaded word: cavity. You probably brush, floss, and keep regular dental appointments to avoid cavities, but occasionally they develop in spite of your best efforts. The good news is that if a cavity forms, Dr. Curtis is equipped to detect it early. If it’s small, he may repair it with air abrasion rather than a dental drill. This means you may not even need a numbing shot!

How does air abrasion work?

During a treatment, the air abrasion instrument sprays a fine stream of particles at your tooth’s decay. It functions like a tiny (and comfortable) sandblaster. An air abrasion tool, powered by compressed air or gas, propels silica, aluminum oxide, or baking soda particles at the decay on your tooth’s surface. Air abrasion is more effective at targeting the unhealthy area, so it’s minimally invasive. That means less disruption to the surrounding healthy tooth. (more…)

Bridegeport, Trumbull Dentist Performs Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the final set of teeth to erupt. Most people get them in their late teens or early twenties, though many times wisdom teeth become “impacted” or trapped under the gum. Wisdom teeth can be beneficial if they’re aligned and healthy but may become severely infected if they are impacted. Wisdom teeth can be trapped sideways, at an angle, or only partially erupt. In these cases, wisdom teeth may have to be removed

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Tooth pain can range from mild sensitivity to severe aching that spreads to the jaw and face. Because nerve fibers of your teeth work differently than nerves in the rest of the body, it can be difficult to determine the source of the pain. Dr. Michael Curtis has 30 years of experience diagnosing tooth pain and can often provide solutions that will eliminate your discomfort easily and comfortably.

The Root of the Problem
Nerve fibers that connect to the teeth send pain signals to the brain, but they do not specify the location. A damaged back molar, for example, may cause the entire jaw to hurt, making it difficult to determine the source of tooth pain. A gentle dental professional with years of experience can help. (more…)

Dr. Michael Curtis Performs Oral Surgery
Oral surgery can seem intimidating for some; unless it’s performed by a dentist you know and trust. Dr. Michael Curtis has been performing oral surgeries for nearly 30 years, and he specialized in oral surgery during his postgraduate residency at the Montifiore Medical Center in New York. At his Bridgeport dental office, located near the Trumbull mall, Dr. Curtis provides comprehensive care for his patients, including oral surgery.

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Are you happy with your smile? What if you could improve your health and confidence with orthodontics in just 6 months? What if you could do it all comfortably and inconspicuously with clear braces? Sounds too good to be true, right? Dr. Curtis proudly offers 6 Month Braces-the latest teeth-straightening technology to our Bridgeport and Trumbull-area patients.

Using specially-formulated nickel-titanium wires and clear brackets, 6 Month Braces reposition the front teeth with low force in just 6 months. In most cases, we use tooth-colored wires, so you won’t have any metal showing in your mouth. In addition, 6 Month Braces typically cost about half the price of traditional orthodontics. So what are you waiting for?

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Tooth extraction does not have to be a negative or drawn-out experience. Dr. Michael Curtis can perform tooth extractions quickly and comfortably to treat a variety of dental conditions. Patients suffering from cracked, broken, decayed, or otherwise damaged teeth (who aren’t candidates for alternative treatment, e.g. root canal therapy) benefit from this straightforward procedure. As a general dentist, Dr. Curtis regularly performs simple tooth extractions at our Trumbull, Bridgeport dental office.  

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