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The Wand STA (single tooth anesthetic) is an anesthetic delivery system. The system eliminates the use of the traditional syringe-style injection for numbing your mouth before a dental procedure. If you’re afraid of needles, then the Wand STA system is perfect for you.

How the Wand STA Works

The Wand is a computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery system. By using the the Wand STA, Dr. Gregory Weaver can numb only the tooth that needs work, not your entire mouth.

Benefits of the Wand STA

The Wand STA was created to eliminate the use of the traditional syringe style injection. It has many benefits, including:

• Minimal to no pain during the numbing process
• It eases fear and anxiety for you if you’re afraid of needles
• The majority of patients state they didn’t even notice when they were giving the local anesthetic
• In most situations your mouth, tongue, lip, and cheek will not be numb, only the tooth that is being worked on

The Wand STA – What to Expect

The Wand STA is a computer unit. Dr. Gregory Weaver will deliver the local anesthetic with a tool called the hand piece; it looks very similar to a pen. We place the pen on the gum where the injection is to be given and control the flow of the injection using the computer. What you probably do not know is that the actual pain that comes from the traditional syringe injection is caused by the rapid flow of the local anesthetic. Since we control the flow with the computer, it is slow and steady, which reduces the pain of the numbing process.

It is important to visits our Raleigh, NC office regularly to maintain good oral health. The Wand STA system is beneficial in providing a comfortable, syringe-free dental experience.

Happy Independence Day from Dr. Gregory Weaver and team! The Fourth of July celebrations in America may have changed a lot over the years, but there is no doubt that we Americans love to celebrate the anniversary of our country's independence! Today we're devoting the Weaver Dentistry blog to some fun facts about the Fourth!

• My, how we have grown! This year the United States Census Bureau estimates that our country has 313.9 million residents celebrating the Fourth of July this year, but back in 1776 there were just 2.5 million members of the country.
• Our country loves to show how proud that we are of our independence. Did you know that there are 31 United States places with the word “Liberty” in their names? The state of Iowa actually has four towns with the word Liberty in the name: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty, and West Liberty.
• The United States loves Fourth of July food! It is expected that around 150 million hot dogs are eaten on the Fourth each year. One of the Fourth's most popular sides, potato salad, goes just perfectly with the hotdogs and hamburgers that are standard Fourth of July fare. Some people choose potato chips instead, but we wouldn't have such a plethora of potatoes if not for the prodigious production of the states of Idaho and Washington -- they provide about half of all the potatoes in the United States today!
• Americans love celebrating the Fourth outdoors: About 74 million Americans fire up their BBQ grill every Fourth of July.
• The Chinese contribution: Did you know that Americans have spent more than $211 million on fireworks that were imported from China?

No matter how your family chooses to celebrate the Fourth, stay safe, take precautions, and don't forget to brush after your fabulous Fourth feast!

Teeth and gums are likely to be at the front of your mind when you visit the dentist. You may think about a tooth cleaning by a dental hygienist, a dental checkup to look for tooth decay and gum disease, fillings, crowns, or other restorative procedures.

These are all important, but TruDenta can make your trip to our Raleigh, NC office even more valuable. The TruDenta System can treat head, neck, face, and jaw pain from a variety of causes, such as TMJ, migraines, and aging. These are the steps in the TruDenta treatment process that can help you find a solution to your pain.

Undergo diagnostic tests.

As a TruDenta-trained practice, Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team will examine the forces that affect your head, neck, teeth, and jaw. We also investigate symptoms such as pain, clicking and popping, breaking teeth, and ringing of the ears. TruDenta technology painlessly analyzes your bite to measure jaw forces and determine which forces are contributing to your symptoms. It also measures the motion of your head and neck. Taken together, these forces may be contributing to your pain. TruDenta dentists design a treatment plan based on these findings.

Attend one or more treatment sessions.

Your specific treatment plan is customized to your needs. Most patients need between one and 12 treatments, with each session lasting 50 minutes. You attend appointments weekly, so a 12-treatment plan would take about three months to complete. You don’t need to worry about painful treatments, drugs with side effects, or needles during your TruDenta treatments.

Nobody should be forced to live with chronic pain, but you may feel as though you have no choice if you’ve already gone to multiple doctors because of neck, jaw, face, and head pain. With an initial consultation and diagnosis and a few treatment sessions, we may be able to help you get rid of your pain.

Many parents worry that their children’s teeth are not falling out on time. A lot of concerned parents want to know: When will my child lose his or her first baby tooth? At what age should the last tooth fall out? Is there a specific order in which the teeth are lost?

Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team explain that a child's 20 baby teeth (primary teeth) typically come in by age three and begin to loosen and fall out on their own to make room for permanent teeth, which usually appear by the time your child is six. It is important to know that timing may vary, and girls typically lose their baby teeth earlier than boys. The last baby teeth will likely fall out by the time your child is 13.

So, which teeth do children lose first? Baby teeth tend to fall out in the order in which they came, which means the lower center incisors are usually the first to go when your child is between six and seven years old. The next teeth your child will lose are his or her top center pair, also called the upper central incisors.

It’s important to note that if a child loses a baby tooth early as a result of decay or an unforeseen accident, his or her permanent tooth may erupt early and potentially come in crooked due to limited space. If your child suffers an injury or has tooth decay, we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment with Dr. Gregory Weaver.

While we know some children couldn’t be more excited to lose their baby teeth, we know others are anxious about this childhood milestone. When your child starts to lose teeth, our team at Weaver Dentistry encourages you to stress the importance of proper dental care on a daily basis.

Remember to:

• Remind your child to brush his or her teeth at least twice a day. Supervise and offer assistance as needed.
• Help your child floss his or her teeth at bedtime.
• Limit eating and drinking between meals and at bedtime, especially sugary treats and drinks, such as candy and soda.
• Schedule regular dental visits for your child every six months.
• Ask about the use of fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay.

To learn more about baby teeth, or to schedule your child's next visit with Dr. Gregory Weaver at our Raleigh, NC office, please give us a call today!