At Cowlitz River Dental, we emphasize preventive dentistry for the care and maintenance of your natural smile, but we also know that to meet the needs of all our patients, we have to offer exceptional restorative and cosmetic dentistry services as well as meeting the needs of the whole family including patients with dental anxiety. Dr. L. Blaine Kennington and his team are also here to help your family in case of emergency. Whatever your dental care needs, let the superior dentist near Longview, WA put a smile on your face. Call our Castle Rock, WA office to schedule an appointment today.
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Qualified Dentist Near Longview, WA
July 28, 2015
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Best Dentist Near Longview, WA
July 27, 2015
You may not want to judge a book by its cover, but maybe you should judge dentists by their smiles. If you’ve ever visited a dental practice, other medical care office, or even a grocery store where all the other patients are frowning and the employees are surly and unapproachable, you probably didn’t go back. A dentist’s first priority should always be making you smile, and at Cowlitz River Dental, we believe that begins before you ever enter the patient care room. From the moment you arrive, our staff will make you feel welcome and comfortable. Dr. L. Blaine Kennington is dedicated to making sure every patient is at ease and looks forward to their next visit. Call to schedule your appointment today, and let Cowlitz River Dental of Castle Rock, WA put a smile on your face.
How to Choose a Dentist
Finding a dentist isn’t always fun, but it should be a priority. Whether you’ve recently moved or you just need a new dentist, take your time and make sure you choose the dentist that is right for you. Here are some tips for choosing a practice to meet your oral health care needs:
- Know what you need – If you’re a single, relatively healthy person, you likely just need a general dentist, but if you have children or need special dental care, you’ll want to pay more attention to what services are available before you choose a dentist. Most offices list their services on-line, or would be happy to tell you more over the phone.
- Know what’s covered – Insurance is rarely straightforward. Review your dental insurance coverage, and try to select an in-network dental care provider. However, almost all dental practices will process and file insurance claims for you regardless of what insurance coverage you have.
- Check the credentials – This matters. If your dentist doesn’t keep up their licenses or continuing education, they may not be reliable.
- Read the reviews – Look for on-line reviews from real patients. We recommend reading the highest and lowest ratings to see what the most and least satisfied customers thought.
- Ask other trusted medical professionals – Your previous dentist or other trusted medical professionals may be able to offer some recommendations for dentists in your area. Additionally, the American Dental Association provides lists of their members on-line, and this may be a good starting point for your search.
- Schedule a consultation – You don’t have to commit to a dentist before you see the office and meet the staff. Schedule a consultation to check the facilities for cleanliness, meet the staff and see the other patients, and ask the doctor plenty of questions.
Preventive, Restorative, Cosmetic, Implant and Sedation Dentistry
At Cowlitz River Dental, we’re here to help our patients with a full spectrum of dental services. Dr. Kennington has completed advanced training in numerous areas including dental implants, CEREC same-day ceramic restorations, and laser dentistry. Our state-of-the-art office allows patients to receive the most up-to-date care in a peaceful environment. We’re here for our patients in case of an emergency offering same day treatment whenever possible. Best of all, we welcome the whole family to experience our superior dental health care.
General and Emergency Dentist Near Longview, WA
Whatever your dental health care needs, Dr. Kennington and the Cowlitz River Dental team are here to help. From your 6 month checkups and cleanings to dental emergencies, oral surgery and more. Call to schedule an appointment today, or find out more about our superior dental care services. Our Castle Rock, WA office accepts patients from nearby Longview, Ryderwood, Vader, Toledo, Toutle, and beyond.
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When is it time to see the dentist?
June 17, 2015
Every six months since we were children, we have all had to visit the dentist. It’s not like it’s something everyone wants to do; it’s done because it has to be. Sure, a busy work schedule, hectic family life or demanding social schedule can get in the way of receiving the proper care you need. Blaming your absence on those situations can only work for so long. You should all make time for the dentist or hold some serious regrets later in life. Your Longview, WA cosmetic and sedation dentist, Dr. Blaine Kennington, offers fantastic cosmetic dentistry and general family dentistry services that will help you and your family achieve optimal oral health.
10 Signs to See a Dentist
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing a few times a week won’t keep every form of bacteria from growing inside your mouth, and it certainly doesn’t mean you are exempt from visiting us. If teeth aren’t properly cleaned at least once a year, you run the risk of serious health issues like gum disease (periodontitis), coronary artery disease and dementia, to name a few. If you are experiencing any of the signs below, it’s time to give us a call.
- Tooth pain: When a toothache hits, you will do anything to get it treated. If pain resides after a day or two, don’t wait; your body may fight off the infection, but the root cause still remains.
- Inflamed gums: Swollen gums are caused by hardened plaque that has accumulated under your gum line. It can often be a sign of gingivitis or periodontitis.
- White spots on teeth: It’s the first sign of dental decay. It’s an infection where the enamel begins to dissolve in response to acid produced by bacteria.
- Sensitivity to hold and cold: Tooth decay is a good possibility here. As the condition advances it makes its way into the center of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels are located.
- Changes of color in the mouth: If your cheeks, the top and underneath of your tongue has discoloration, lumps or inconsistencies, it’s time to pick up the phone and call us.
- Canker Sores
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Metallic taste in the mouth: It’s a very distinct taste that can lead to bad breath, and a popular sign of gingivitis.
General Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Every dentist wants his or her patients and their families to experience excellent oral health, and we’re no different. There is nothing that brings a smile to our faces more than helping a patient achieve their dreams and walk around showing off a beautiful smile. We provide the utmost care and professionalism when it comes to restoring your smile, whether it’s using cosmetic dentistry or general family dentistry services.
Our cosmetic dentistry services include:
- Teeth whitening
- Porcelain veneers
- Invisalign
- Six Month Smiles
- Dental Implants
- CEREC One-Visit Crowns
- Cosmetic bonding
- Complete smile makeovers
General family services include:
- Checkups and dental hygiene
- Children’s dentistry
- Periodontal therapy
- TMJ therapy
- Emergency dental care
- Restorative dentistry
Schedule an Appointment
Cowlitz River Dental helps southern Washington communities realize their dental dreams at our Castle Rock, WA office. Patients from all over the area, including Ryderwood, Vader, Toledo, Toutle, and beyond, have come to us for help. Schedule and appointment and make your smile pop!
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Longview, WA dentist, L. Blaine Kennington, helps patients relax at Cowlitz River Dental.
May 10, 2015
Fear, anxiety and panic attacks keep people from receiving essential dental care. Longview, WA, dentist, Dr. L. Blaine Kennington, relaxes the most anxious of patients with different kinds of conscious sedation.
No one should be deprived of essential dental care. Examinations, cleanings and restorative care such as fillings, crowns and root canals help keep teeth and gums healthy for a lifelong smile. Yet, many dentists report that they see patients who have been so afraid of the dentist that they allow teeth to fail and even fall out.
Furthermore, poor dental health does more than affect what’s in the mouth. The accumulated bacteria associated with gum disease, cavities and abscesses can contribute to systemic health issues such as:
- diabetes
- stroke
- coronary artery disease
- heart valve problems
- heart attack
- low birth weight babies
- pre-term labor
- dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
How can patients overcome the devastating effects of “dental phobia?”
The staff at Cowlitz River Dental understand. No anxious patient will feel alone in our office. L. Blaine Kennington DDS and his kind team of professionals understand that past experience, concern about pain and simply, the language and tools of dentistry frighten some people–both young and old. As such, they have created a calm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout their offices, and Dr, Kennington has worked hard to become an accredited and expert sedation dentist in the state of Washington.
Longview, WA dentist, Dr. L. Blaine Kennington, offers conscious sedation.
Dr. Kennington can offer many different kinds of conscious sedation to help patients feel comfortable even during the simplest of dental procedures, such as cleanings, to the most complex, such as root canal therapy. Besides local anesthesia (pain shot) a common choice is tried and true nitrous oxide or “laughing gas.” Inhaled in varying amounts, this mild sedative allows the individual to be awake, but erases anxiety. The drugs wears off quickly and can be adjusted up or down during treatment, leaving the individual able to drive home.
Oral sedation is another frequent option. Administered in pill form, valium or halcion helps a patient feel peaceful enough to drop off to sleep. This medication is great for individuals who need multiple procedures, sitting still for a long period of time.
Finally, Dr. Kennington can use intravenous or IV sedation. Medication is delivered via a needle in the patient’s arm and can be adjusted during the procedures. Both oral and IV sedation can wipe out the memory of the procedure, and when administered, they require a friend or family member to drive the patient home.
Don’t put your dental health on hold any longer.
Contact Cowlitz River Dental right away and get an appointment for a dental evaluation. Dr. Kennington and his staff will put your mind at ease, fully explain dental procedures and offer sedation if necessary. While Dr. Kennington is also a great emergencydentist in the Longview, WA, area, don’t wait until you have a pressing dental problem. Call (360) 703-9092 now. We conveniently serve patients from Longview, WA, as well as Castle Rock, Kelso, Lewis County and the surrounding areas.
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Teeth Whitening near Longview, WA
April 25, 2015
Spring has sprung, so naturally it’s time for some cleaning. No, we’re not talking about cleaning the gutters, sweeping out the garage or weeding the flower beds. The kind of spring cleaning we’re talking about is the kind that leaves your smile fresher looking, too. At Cowlitz River Dental we offer teeth whitening, so the folks in Castle Rock, WA, near Longview, WA, and the surrounding communities will have even more to smile about this season.
Dr. L Blaine Kennington and his team know that there are many over-the-counter teeth whitening systems available in supermarkets, pharmacies and big box stores. However, the problem with those is that you never know how long they’ve actually been sitting on the shelf, which can affect the potency of the whitening formula. With the teeth whitening system that we use at Cowlitz River Dental, you can be sure that our professional grade gel is at the peak of potency.
Teeth Whitening in the Office or at Home
If you have a big event coming up this spring—a wedding, prom or a graduation—then you’ll want to choose our in-office teeth whitening system. In just one visit to our office in Castle Rock, you can have a smile that is several shades whiter and brighter. On the other hand, if your schedule doesn’t allow for another appointment—or if you’d simply prefer to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home—then we also offer a take-home whitening system. With this, you’ll receive custom-fitted trays and a professional grade whitening gel. Fill the trays with gel and wear them according to Dr. Kennington’s instructions and you’ll begin to see results in no time, with the best effect happening in about two weeks.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you’d like to spruce up your smile for spring, then call us at Cowlitz River Dental in Castle Rock, WA, to find out more about teeth whitening. We conveniently serve patients from Longview, WA, as well as Castle Rock, Kelso, Lewis County and the surrounding areas.
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Endodontics, or Root Canal Therapy, in Castle Rock, WA
March 25, 2015
No one needs to tell you that if you’re in pain, something is wrong. If that pain happens to be a toothache, then the pain may indicate the presence of infection. To save an infected tooth, endodontic treatment, or root canal therapy, is necessary. Dr. L. Blaine Kennington at Cowlitz River Dental in Castle Rock, WA, gently performs root canal therapy so you can eliminate the pain and save your tooth.
To understand the need for a root canal, let’s first examine the structure of a tooth, which consists of three layers. The first is called enamel, the hard and protective outer shell that surrounds each tooth. Next is the dentin, the softer and more sensitive middle layer. Finally, at the core of each tooth is dental pulp, which is comprised of nerve and lymph tissue as well as blood vessels. If this pulp becomes exposed to bacteria—whether through extreme decay or a traumatic injury to the tooth—the tooth can become infected and begin to die.
Other than a toothache, signs that indicate you may have an infected tooth include swelling of the gum and facial tissue around the tooth; a newly discolored tooth; and visible indications of infection on an x-ray.
The Endodontic Procedure
To begin a root canal, Dr. Kennington gently anesthetizes the tooth and surrounding tissue so the procedure is completely painless. Then, the tooth’s pulp is exposed and the pulp chamber and associated root canals are cleaned of infection and any accompanying debris. A biocompatible anti-bacterial material is inserted into the chamber and the tooth is sealed. To protect the tooth, Dr. Kennington will likely want to place a crown. When the root canal procedure is completed, you’ll have a strong and healthy tooth.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you’re having any of the symptoms mentioned above that indicate an infected tooth, then call Cowlitz River Dental and ask about our endodontic treatment. We serve patients in Castle Rock, WA, as well as from Kelso, Longview and Lewis County and the surrounding area.
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Have Straighter Teeth with Six Month Smiles® from Cowlitz River Dental
March 10, 2015
Traditional orthodontic treatment takes time—usually two years or more. There is a way, however, to reduce that time significantly. With Six Month Smiles, you can have a straight and beautiful smile in, well, six months. Dr. L. Blaine Kennington at Cowlitz River Dental has used Six Month Smiles to create happy smiles for many patients in and around Castle Rock, WA, and he can do the same for you!
Whereas traditional braces are meant to realign all of your teeth, Six Month Smiles focuses only on those teeth that are in your smile zone. Moreover, although Six Month Smiles uses common orthodontic mechanics, the emphasis is on the cosmetic appearance of your teeth and not the position of your bite.
Six Month Smiles and You
Speaking of the cosmetic appearance of your teeth, Six Month Smiles offers the added advantage of using clear brackets and tooth-colored wires, so the braces are less noticeable while you’re wearing them. Likewise, many of our patients tell us that Six Months Smiles are quite comfortable. This is probably because these braces use low force to move teeth more gently.
As the name implies, most adults complete their orthodontic treatment in about six months with Six Month Smiles. Because teeth have “memory,” you will need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth in their new straight position once you’ve completed treatment. You can have a removable retainer or one that is bonded into place.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you’re an adult who has been considering different methods of orthodontic treatment, Dr. Kennington and his team at Cowlitz River Dental in Castle Rock, WA, would be happy to speak to you about Six Month Smiles. Considering the reduced treatment time—and by the way reduced treatment cost—you could have a straighter smile before the year is finished! We also serve patients from Kelso, Longview and Lewis County and the surrounding area.
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Have a Complete Smile again with Dental Implants in Castle Rock, WA
February 24, 2015
If you need to replace a tooth, or more than one tooth, then you know you have more than one option for replacement. There are bridges and dentures, of course, but perhaps the best option is a dental implant. Unlike other tooth replacement choices, dental implants replace the entire tooth from root to crown. In Castle Rock, WA, and the surrounding area, there are many people who have turned to Dr. L. Blaine Kennington at Cowlitz River Dental for dental implants that look, feel and function like a natural tooth.
Patients lose teeth for a variety of reasons: severe decay or a failed root canal that necessitates extraction and a hard blow to the face that knocks out a tooth are only a couple of reasons. Regardless of how teeth go missing, it’s important to replace them not only for the sake of appearances, but for your overall oral health, too. One missing tooth can cause adjacent teeth to shift, thereby throwing your bite out of alignment. And without a tooth root, the jawbone around the open socket begins to deteriorate, causing facial sagging.
Dental Implants to the Rescue!
In addition to replacing one tooth, dental implants can anchor a bridge to replace several teeth, and they can also hold a denture to make wearing a removable dental prosthetic far more comfortable and stable. When you come to Cowlitz River Dental for a dental implant, Dr. Kennington will first surgically implant a titanium post into the jawbone beneath the open socket. As you heal, the post will fuse with the bone much like a real tooth root. You’ll wear a temporary prosthetic during the healing process and then return to our office to have your permanent crown, bridge or denture secured into place. With proper oral hygiene and regular checkups, your dental implant can give you a lifetime of happy smiles.
Call Our Office Today
If you would like to learn more about dental implants, then call the office of Cowlitz River Dental today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Kennington. We serve patients in Castle Rock, WA, as well as the surrounding communities of Kelso, Longview and Lewis County.
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Relax! Cowlitz River Dental Offers Sedation Dentistry
February 10, 2015
If you’re overdue to see the dentist, then you’re in good company. Millions of Americans avoid the dentist year after year because they’re afraid of dental procedures. The sights and sounds in a dentist’s office—combined with the uncomfortable feeling of someone else’s fingers in your mouth—can be reason enough for some people to ignore their dental health. There is, however, a solution. Dr. L. Blaine Kennington at Cowlitz River Dental in Castle Rock, WA, offers sedation dentistry, so you can relax while we take care of your teeth and gums.
Three Types of Sedation Dentistry
Regardless of whether your dental anxiety runs high or low, or whether your treatment time will be short or long, Cowlitz River Dental has the sedation technique for you. For patients who simply need to take the edge off of their anxiety, nitrous oxide may be the ideal choice. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is delivered in combination with oxygen through a nose mask worn during your dental treatment. As you inhale this gas, you’ll feel calm and light. Once the mask is removed, the effects wear off quickly, so you’ll be able to carry on with your day as usual.
With oral conscious sedation, Dr. Kennington prescribes an anti-anxiety medication that you’ll take at a designated time before your procedure. While you will not be asleep during treatment, you will be completely relaxed and may not remember anything afterwards. Likewise with IV sedation, which administers a sedative through your bloodstream. Dr. Kennington can speak to you during both of these types of sedation and you’ll be able to respond, but may not recall speaking when your treatment ends. And with both oral sedation and IV sedation, you’ll need a friend or family member to drive you to the appointment and take you home.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
If you’re overdue for an appointment with the dentist, then call Cowlitz River Dental and ask about sedation dentistry. We conveniently serve patients in Castle Rock, WA, as well as Kelso, Longview and Lewis County and the surrounding area.
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Get Relief from Pain and Discomfort with TMJ Therapy from Cowlitz River Dental
January 26, 2015
Simon Sez touch your nose. Simon Sez touch your ears. Simon Sez touch your temporomandibular joints. Aha! If you’re like most people, chances are you don’t know where those joints are or what they do. Your temporomandibular joints are located on either side of your face just in front of your ears, and they allow you to open and close your mouth. However, if they don’t function properly, then you may experience persistent headaches or several other painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Fortunately, Dr. L. Blaine Kennington at Cowlitz River Dental in Castle Rock, WA, offers TMJ therapy to help eliminate the pain.
Sometimes the cause of TMJ dysfunction is unknown. In other cases, patients can point to a particular injury, such as a hard blow to the face, as the beginning of their TMJ problems. Most of the time, however, TMJ dysfunction is the result of a bite problem that directly affects the joint. Misaligned teeth, bruxism—teeth grinding and clenching—and other activities are some of the culprits.
The Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction
The symptom of TMJ dysfunction that Dr. Kennington hears patients describe most often is pain in the jaw joint when they chew. This pain may extend to the head, ears, neck and shoulders, too. Other symptoms include:
- Swelling on the side of the face
- A clicking or popping noise when the jaw is opened or closed
- The feeling of an earache, but no sign of infection
- Sensitive teeth
- A misaligned bite
- The feeling that the jaw is locked when opened to eat, talk or yawn
Treating TMJ Dysfunction
Because teeth grinding and clenching can be a contributing factor of TMJ dysfunction, Dr. Kennington can prescribe a custom-designed nightguard to help alleviate pressure and prevent damage from the movement of teeth against each other. By stopping nighttime teeth grinding and clenching, routinely wearing a nightguard can reduce or even eliminate the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ dysfunction.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you are experiencing any of the painful symptoms listed above, then call the office of Cowlitz River Dental in Castle Rock, WA, for TMJ therapy. Our office is conveniently located for patients in Kelso, Longview and Lewis County and the surrounding area.
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