Dubuque Cosmetic Dentistry Blog
May 14th, 2012
DUBUQUE, IOWA DENTIST COMPLETES ADVANCED TRAINING IN COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Dr. Kristen Berning, of Exceptional Dentistry at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002, has recently completed an advanced comprehensive Post-Graduate Continuing Education Program in Esthetic Dentistry at The University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
“This is a unique opportunity for practicing dentists to become involved with the latest techniques in cosmetic dentistry” said Paul Belvedere, D.D.S., Adjunct Professor, School of Dentistry. The University of Minnesota is one of only two premiere university-based clinical training centers for contemporary esthetic dentistry in the country.”
“Participating dentists acquire their skills working with the leading clinical teachers” stated Paul Olin, D.D.S., M.S., Director of the Postgraduate Programs in Esthetic Dentistry. “Esthetic restorative procedures are important to patients and dentists alike; both can appreciate the immediate results and the innovative conservation of the tooth structure.”
Dr. Berning is now one of very few dentists in all of North America who have achieved this level of training in Contemporary Esthetic Dentistry.
The rigourous 100 hour course took place over the last several months while Dr. Berning was pregnant with her third child. Dr. Berning is pictured with the course instructors and her 1 month old baby Ted, who was basically with her for the entire course! 
Exceptional Dentistry provides complete family, cosmetic, and sedation dental care at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 and serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning, please call 563-556-2711 or contact us online.
Tags: advanced dentistry, continuing education, cosmetic dentistry, dental bonding, Dr. Kristen Berning
Posted in Awards & Recognition, Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers | No Comments »
February 13th, 2012
Before we first met Mary*, she wrote a letter to Dr. Ted Murray. Mary’s letter included the following…
“It is with a mixture of fear and shame that I await my first visit to your office. My extreme dental issues (chipping, fractured, badly worn and missing teeth, etc.) resulting from an adulthood of neglect are impacting my life in a way that cannot be ignored or put off any longer. I fear that a full mouth reconstruction (or worse) is in order.
“I have not enjoyed very positive experiences with dentists. Arguably, the dentists were competent and certainly did no injury, emotionally or physically. But I had the impression that I was very much a “lost cause” as far as they were concerned…”
________
She felt she was “A LOST CAUSE”. Powerful words.
________
When Dr. Murray and his assistant Amy, first met Mary, they also learned that Mary was concerned because her teeth were so badly worn down that it was affecting her speech. She expressed that she’d like to get her confidence back.
Thanks to Dr. Murray’s advanced training in cosmetic dentistry and full mouth reconstruction, Mary was given her smile back through an amazing smile transformation using porcelain veneers and crowns:
Not only does she LOVE her new smile, her speech has improved, and thanks to the neuromuscular dentistry techniques, she no longer wakes up in the morning with a headache.
Dr. Murray recently received this note from Mary:
“Dear Dr. Murray, WOW!! Thanks so much for the CD of my super duper beyond fabulous razzle dazzle smile transformation! It was amazing to compare the dismal before with the stunning after… I am speechless- which as you have come to know me, is a rare occurrence. Thank you so much for giving me my smile and my smiling life back!”
Dr. Ted Murray enjoys changing peoples’ lives with his cosmetic dentistry skills. He is the only accredited cosmetic dentist in Dubuque and one of just a few in the state of Iowa.
*Patient’s name has been changed.
Exceptional Dentistry provides complete family, cosmetic, and sedation dental care at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 and serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning, please call 563-556-2711 or contact us online.
Tags: advanced dentistry, broken tooth, cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Ted Murray, family dentist, full mouth reconstruction, grind my teeth, modern dentistry
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Neuromuscular Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers | No Comments »
February 8th, 2012
The Myth of “Soft Teeth” and Early Childhood Tooth Decay
Many people falsely believe that the reason their infant or toddler has tooth decay is because they inherited “soft teeth.” The actual reason that cavities may be common in an entire family is because tooth decay is an infectious disease, the most common chronic disease among children. However, the good news is, tooth decay is completely preventable.
Dental caries, or cavities, are caused by particular strains of bacteria which live in the mouth. Mothers who carry these bacteria – especially those who have many cavities or fillings – can pass them to their baby or child through their saliva.
These bacteria thrive on a diet that’s high in sugar or refined carbohydrates, including sweet liquids such as sugar water, juice and soft drinks. Even baby formula, milk or breast milk has decay potential if you routinely put your child to bed with a bottle. When bacteria break down these sugars, they produce acids that then break down tooth enamel and cause decay.
Here are some important tips to help you take care of your children’s smiles and prevent early childhood caries:
- Reduce your own oral bacteria levels by caring for your teeth. Brush gently at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once a day. Eat a healthy diet and limit snacks. Schedule regular dental exams and cleanings, and make sure that you have no tooth decay yourself.
- Avoid putting a child to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, sweetened water or soft drinks – instead fill it with water.
- Parents should avoid sharing toothbrushes, bottles, spoons and straws to protect babies and children from the transfer of cavity-causing bacteria.
- Wipe your baby’s gums after every feeding with a gauze pad or infant toothbrush and water, and begin to gently brush the teeth as soon as they erupt. Clean and massage the gums in areas that remain toothless and begin flossing when all the baby teeth are in place, usually by age 2 or 2½.
- Around age 2, when you can get your child to spit out the excess, you can start using a very small dab of fluoride toothpaste on their brush.
- A child’s first visit to the dentist should be made by their first birthday, or within six months after the first tooth erupts, whichever comes first. Your dentist will be able to provide guidance on the best ways to prevent tooth decay throughout childhood.
- Check your baby’s teeth regularly. If you suspect your child has a dental problem, schedule a visit to the dentist as soon as possible.
Be sure that good oral health habits start in infancy to ensure that your child will have a beautiful smile for a lifetime.
The above article came from Delta Dental.
Exceptional Dentistry provides complete family, cosmetic, and sedation dental care at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 and serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning, please call 563-556-2711 or contact us online.
Tags: family dentist, healthy teeth, kids and cavities, oral hygiene
Posted in Dentistry in the News, Family Dentistry | No Comments »
February 6th, 2012
Recently, one of our patients had a conversation similar to this with Dr. Kristen Berning:
Patient: “Doc, I don’t know how you do it. It must be a challenge working on patients like me, working in a small, dark area with my tongue in the way.”
Dr. Kristen Berning: ”Yes, but you completed all your treatment, and I am so proud of you for persevering to the very end. Your mouth will feel healthier now, and your teeth will feel stronger. Watching a patient who has committed to a long process emerge on the other side with a healthy smile is incredibly rewarding for all of us. Let me tell you about one of my other patients, a grandfather, whose grandson said “Your teeth are yellow…” and asked “Grandpa, why are you missing two teeth?” He was ashamed of his teeth around his family, and some of them even teased him about it. Once the treatment was accomplished he transformed into a new, happy grandpa. He looks younger and smiles more often for family photos. It doesn’t really get better than that for a dentist.”
Exceptional Dentistry provides complete family, cosmetic, and sedation dental care at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 and serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule an appointment, please call 563-556-2711 or contact us online.
Tags: advanced dentistry, broken tooth, Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, family dentist, modern dentistry
Posted in Family Dentistry | No Comments »
February 1st, 2012
Happy Dental Health Month from Dr. Ted Murray, Dr. Kristen Berning, and the Exceptional Dentistry team!
We are blessed with a dream team of talented and hard working individuals: Melissa A., Kori, Amy, Maureen, Charity, Talia, Melissa F., Heather, Stephanee, Jenni, and Darlene.
They come to work every day to give 100% to our patients. This positive environment in our beautiful, modern dental office allows us to give you a healthy smile with the highest quality and most advanced dental care. It is a privilege for for us to work with this talented group!
To learn more about our team, click here.
Also, to celebrate National Dental Health Month, we are giving away 6 tickets to see Gaelic Storm in concert at Five Flags Center, Dubuque, on February 14th at 7:30 pm. To learn how to enter, visit our facebook page.
Exceptional Dentistry provides complete family, cosmetic, and sedation dental care at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 and serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule an appointment, please call 563-556-2711 or contact us online.
Tags: advanced dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental team, Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, modern dentistry
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January 23rd, 2012
Invisalign isn’t just about making your smile look better…
straight teeth are often healthier teeth too!
(actual Invisalign case done by Dr. Kristen Berning)
Teeth that are not aligned properly in the mouth create malocclusion. Malocclusion, in simple terms, means a “bad bite” or a “misaligned bite”. Left untreated, malocclusion can lead to many problems, including periodontal disease. Crowded teeth are harder to keep clean. And as more bacteria and plaque accumulate, the risk of bone loss around the teeth increases.
Malocclusion also creates abnormal amounts of stress on teeth and jaws, which leads to premature wear. Surveys show that malocclusion affects 74% of American Adults (Journal of Dental Research 2/1996). From teenager to senior citizen, thousands of people have benefitted from a straighter smile thanks to Invisalign.
To learn more about the effects of crooked teeth on your oral health, you can watch this video from Invisalign. This quick 3-minute video that shares exactly what can happen if crooked teeth are left untreated. This video also goes on to discuss the possible medical issues related to malocclusion and misaligned teeth.
It is important to consult with an experienced Invisalign dentist to learn exactly how Invisalign will fit your unique needs. Please contact us online or call 563-556-2711 to arrange a consultation with our Invisalign dentists: Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning. Exceptional Dentistry at 4200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52002 serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas.
Tags: Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, Invisalign, metal free braces, straight teeth
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign, Oral Hygiene | No Comments »
January 17th, 2012
With the advent of social media and mobile internet devices, today’s dental patients have a wealth of information at their fingertips regarding cosmetic dentistry. This makes them more informed and more knowledgeable about what treatment their desire for their own cosmetic concerns.
People are seeking out the dental treatment that looks the best and lasts the longest. Often times they are requesting the most conserative treatment. Thanks to the improvement in dental materials, dental bonding is a conservative treatment that solves many dental problems. Dental bonding can be thought of as “nip and tuck” cosmetic dentistry.
Cosmetic dental bonding is used for the following situations:
- Chips or cracks
- Discoloration that resists tooth whitening
- Mis-matched tooth shapes
- Teeth that are either slightly crowded or too widely-spaced
Here is an actual case of cosmetic dental bonding done by
Dr. Ted Murray to close a space between this woman’s front two teeth. He also replaced discolored fillings on the teeth adjacent to her front teeth.
The final results were beautiful, and so natural-looking:
This treatment was completed in one visit, and just in time for her wedding as requested!
Exceptional Dentistry at 4200 Asbury Road serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule a consult with Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning, call us today at 563-556-2711 or contact us using this form.
Tags: advanced dentistry, conservative dentist, cosmetic bonding, cosmetic dentistry, dental bonding, Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, modern dentistry, space between teeth
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry, Teeth Whitening | No Comments »
November 10th, 2011
Many people ask us if Invisalign would work for them. Often times they hold back their true smile because they are self conscious about some imperfection. Their concerns may range from crowded teeth, crooked teeth, or spaces between their teeth. Invisalign can solve many problems, and it’s a comfortable way to straighten teeth.
Here is a case where this woman was not happy with the space between her 2 front teeth…
and an even larger space between two of her bottom teeth! It almost appeared as if she was MISSING a tooth, when in fact, she was not.
Here’s another view of the space on the lower:
She went through the Invisalign process with Dr. Ted Murray and was very happy with the results. Look how the space closed!
And a look at her final smile 
Exceptional Dentistry serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule a complimentary Invisalign consult with Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning, call us today at 563-556-2711 or contact us using this form.
Tags: cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, Invisalign, metal free braces, straight teeth
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign | No Comments »
November 9th, 2011
If you are straightening your teeth with Invisalign, or you know someone who is… here is a free smartphone app that tells you when to change your aligners… cool! This app will help you stay on track so that you can achieve your results quicker & more efficiently, since forgetting to change your aligners might SLOW down your treatment.
http://bit.ly/o6Wo91
Check out the link to read reviews, get customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about ‘Align On Time’ on the App Store. Download ‘Align On Time’ and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Our patients love Invisalign! Invisalign is a series of invisible, custom-made aligners that slowly reposition teeth without the use of conventional metal braces.
Exceptional Dentistry serves the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule a complimentary Invisalign consult with Dr. Ted Murray or Dr. Kristen Berning, call us today at 563-556-2711 or contact us using this form.
Tags: cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, Invisalign
Posted in Family Dentistry, Invisalign | No Comments »
October 18th, 2011
Kristen Berning, DDS, FAGD, of Dubuque, Iowa received the Academy of General Dentistry’s 2011 Fellowship award during the AGD 2011 Annual Meeting & Exhibits, in San Diego, CA.
Dr. Kristen Berning at the Award Ceremony
The Fellowship award is presented to dentists who seek to provide the highest quality of dental care by remaining current in their profession. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Berning completed 500 hours of continuing dental education, passed a comprehensive exam, and fulfilled 3 years of continuous membership in the AGD. She is one of only 7 female dentists in the state of Iowa to achieve Fellowship status in the AGD. She is now working towards the prestigious Mastership Award, which her father, Dr. Ted Murray, received in 1995.
Kristen Berning with her parents, Dr. Ted & Carol Murray
During the AGD meeting, Dr. Ted Murray and Dr. Kristen Berning attended a 3-day course focusing on oral conscious sedation in dentistry.
Dr. Kristen Berning currently practices dentistry at Exceptional Dentistry, 4200 Asbury Road in Dubuque, serving the Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, IA and Galena, IL areas. To schedule a consult today, call us at 563-556-2711 or contact us using our online form here.
Kristen Berning with her husband, Tim, and their 2 children
Tags: advanced dentistry, awards, continuing education, Dr. Kristen Berning, Dr. Ted Murray, family dentist, sedation dentistry
Posted in Awards & Recognition, Family Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry | No Comments »
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