What is this New All Natural Technology designed to make your dental appointment completely comfortable and relaxing? It is called "Nu Calm".

NuCalm is a revolutionary technology proven to naturally relax the body without drugs. We at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry have recently integrated this technology into our practice and are very excited about how it is helping our patients overcome dental anxiety and other unpleasant feelings often accompanied with dental treatment.

This technology is all natural, drug free, has no side effects or recovery time. NuCalm relaxed you within minutes and provides a comfortable dental experience by mimicking the natural communication process of readying the body for sleep. NuCalm provides the same deep relaxation every person feels moments before they fall asleep.

95% of NuCalm patients say they would use it again, and 98% would recommended NuCalm to their friends.

So, how does it work?

NuCalm helps the brain relax. It starts by chewing tablets that contain naturally occurring neurotransmitters that are dominant in the brain just before people fall asleep. These neurotransmitters are really just amino acids that your body already naturally produces. The tablets include structures, nutrient-sourced building blocks that rapidly enter the brain and convert to powerful messengers that suppress anxiety and create relaxation.

The main ingredient in the chewable tablets is GABA (gamma amino-butyric acid), which is the only neurotransmitter that can cross the blood-brain barrier when administered orally, thus the impact is immediate. The GABA-A and GABA-B receptor sites are responsible for calming the brain, but only GABA is the body's natural pathway for relaxation and does NOT produce any side effects.

NuCalm also uses a Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation Device. This Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation Device (CES) is an FDA-cleared device used to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and has been used for over 45 years. It sounds a little strange and scary but all it consists of are two small pads that go behind your ears and send through a little electrical pulse or signal. You can't even feel it!

Next is neuroacoustic software that leverages binaural beat and frequency-following-response technology to get the brain waves to the Alpha stage of sleep. In essence we put a set of very comfortable headphones on and you listen to some soft classical music that was designed to cover almost everyone's tastes. This in itself is very relaxing.

Then NuCalm adds the use of blackout glasses to mitigate stimulation through the visual cortex. This keeps that pesky dental light from getting into your eyes and disturbing this relaxing experience.

How long does it take NuCalm to take effect?

NuCalm takes approximately 2 to 3 minutes to administer the four steps and you will experience deep relaxatioon within 3-5 minutes.

Can I eat before NuCalm?

It is recommended, but not necessary, for patients to eat or drink before experiencing NuCalm.

Are there any side effects with NuCalm?

NuCalm simply mimics the body's natural communication pathways to prepare the body for sleep. Everyone sleeps, and you cannot become addicted to sleep, so it deos not harm. NuCalm creates a neurological "reboo" that typically helps people sleep better and manage stress better for several days following their NuCalm experience. Your central nervous system has not been compromised so the body doesn't need to recover from major sedation, which often takes more energy than recovering from the specific dental procedure.

How do you feel after experiencing NuCalm?

Your muscle tension and stress areas feel more relaxed. You feel refreshed and rejuvenated and often will sleep better for several days after your NuCalm experience.

For more information about NuCalm, visit your Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry. We are currently the ONLY providers of this technology in the Charlotte region.

NuCalm^(tm) is a revolutionary technology proven to naturally relax the body without drugs. Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, have started offering this innovative holistic sedation option to their patients. 

Two pioneering neuroscientists developed NuCalm over an eight-year period. The solution is all natural, has no side effects, and there is no recovery time after using NuCalm. 

NuCalm mimics the body's natural experience of preparing for sleep. When it is time to sleep (rest and recover) your body shuts off adrenaline production and uses the GABA extracted from the foods you have eaten to naturally calm the body and prepare for sleep. 

NuCalm works on the GABAergic system to counteract adrenaline and begin the relaxation response. NuCalm gives you the feeling of a relaxed, power nap. You feel rejuvenated after your dental treatment. NuCalm uses a binaural beat; frequency-following-response neuroacoustic software embedded into classical music and listened to through noise-dampening headphones. The NuCalm neuroacoustic software paces the brain wave function to the first stage of sleep.

Here are some of the benefits of using NuCalm:

• *You will be in a state of deep relaxation for the entire procedure.
• *Your motor responses are dulled - minimizing risk to you and your dentist or hygienist during the procedure.
• *You are conscious and able to respond to voice commands during the  procedure
• *Your body is more receptive to dental treatments because your  natural resistance mechanisms are dulled.
• *After the dental treatment, you have a feeling of rejuvenation and  relief
• *NuCalm is less intrusive than sedation techniques - does not chemically compromise your central nervous system or cognitively impair your mind.
• *You won't need a driver to take you home after the procedure. There  are no side effects, no recovery time or supervision required, and no impairments. 
• *NuCalm promotes better dentistry because you are relaxed and still (reduced startle responses, salivary flow, and gag reflexes)
• *NuCalm is all-natural and does not use any narcotics or controlled substances. It has been used with over 21,000 patients throughout the United States with no reported adverse reactions.

NuCalm is not recommended for patients under the age of 12, pregnant or nursing mothers, or patients with pacemakers, ear implants or brain implants. If you are one of these type patients, you can still use the NuCalm's music, along with the noise dampening headphones and blackout glasses for relaxation during your dental procedure.

Your body posture relaxes, the muscles in your head, jaw and neck relax, and you feel as if you are in the beginning stages of sleep. NuCalms provides the equivalency of five hours of restful sleep, and recreates a neurological reboot in your brain, and creates a feeling similar to those who practice yoga or mindfulness. You will have a period of enhanced clarity, relaxation and creativity after your dental treatment.

Schedule your next appointment with your Charlotte cosmetic dentist, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, and ask for more information about NuCalm. Or call 704-540-2255. 

Have you been postponing your trip to the dentist….for several years?  Do you suspect that there is a problem with your teeth but you just can’t face the dental chair?  Would you go if you knew it wouldn’t hurt and you’d be totally relaxed?  You can be relaxed and experience little or no pain or discomfort during dental procedures if you go to a dentist who is certified as a sedation dentist.  Luckily, such dentists can be found at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte. 

Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry are certified in oral sedation for dental patients by the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS).  These sedation dentists understand the fear and anxiety experienced by many dental patients.  Through the careful, prescribed use of oral sedatives, the dentists can help you to relax and still be comfortable during your dental appointment.

Oral sedation means the patient receives a small pill or a few pills about an hour before the procedure.  The sedative allows the patient to relax by calming the central nervous system.  While the patient is aware of his or her surroundings and can respond to questions, he or she will enter a state of deep calm and relaxation. For many patients, time seems to pass quickly and many report having little, if any, memory of the procedure.  In addition, the oral sedatives have an analgesic effect meaning pain is reduced or eliminated during the procedure.

Before any oral sedative is prescribed, the dentist will take a thorough medical history including asking about any current medication you are taking.  There are several types of sedatives with the most common coming from the benzodiazepine class of drugs.  The advantage of these sedatives is that they not addictive and have few side effects.  Nonetheless, if a benzodiazepine is not right for you, there are other alternatives.   What is most important is that you receive care and monitoring from a certified DOCS dentist.

Sedation dentistry has more benefits than the obvious relaxation.  When a patient is sedated, the dentist is able to perform more work.  This can mean resolving dental issues in one visit instead of several.  Furthermore, with each positive experience at the dentist’s office, the fear and anxiety traditionally associated with dental work wanes.  By overcoming their fears, people feel more comfortable to continue with proper dental care and maintenance.  Because good dental health is associated with good overall health, seeking dental care regularly can literally change your life for the better.  Sedation dentistry can help build the bridge between your current fears and a future of better dental health and care.

If you have been avoiding the dentist like the plague, you can stop hiding now.  Make an appointment with Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry by calling 704-540-2255. 

Patients are never too happy to learn they need a dental procedure.  Often, it is the fear of pain that is their biggest anxiety.  Those fears can be banished, however, with the use of laser dentistry.   Technology is our friend and nowhere is that more evident than the dental chair.  Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the very few dental practices in North Carolina or South Carolina to use Waterlase^®MD, a top of the line laser dental system.

As the name suggests, Waterlase^®MD combines the power of lasers with the comfort of water.  By combining water with laser energy, a powerful but gentle stream of water is used to remove decay or diseased tissue without harming the surrounding tissue.  The Waterlase^®MD is nearly silent.  Instead of the pressure, vibration, whine and possible pain of a traditional dental drill, the laser drill only makes a light, soft clicking sound.  There is no heat, no pressure and no vibration.  Most patients do not require numbing prior to the use of the Waterlase^®MD.  You know what that means….no more needles, no more shots!

A number of procedures that used to require traditional dental drills can be performed with this less invasive dental laser technology.  Decay can be removed more precisely with a laser dental drill and the dentist is able to prepare the tooth for receiving a filling without the dreaded mechanical drilling.  Preparation for root canals, gum surgery or jawbone surgery can also be performed with the Waterlase^®MD.  In all cases, the dental laser allows the dentist to work specifically on the affected tissue or tooth without damaging or hurting surrounding tissue.  This leads to more benefits for the patient in the form of less bleeding, less pain after a dental procedure, reduced swelling and the reduced need for pain medication.  In addition, procedures that previously required few visits, may be accomplished in one visit now. 

For patients who are especially anxious about dental procedures, the dentists at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda, are also certified as sedation dentists.  Many patients who have opted for sedation in the past, however, report they feel comfortable without sedation when the dental laser is being used.   If you are not ready to take that big of a step, Dr. Yaste and Dr. Hufanda can still discuss the options of sedation dentistry with you.  Sedation dentistry does not put you to sleep, but allows you to fully relax and remain comfortable throughout your dental procedure.

Combining the expertise of Drs. Hufanda and Yaste with the gentle power of Waterlase^®MD in the spa like setting of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry might make a trip to the dentist downright enjoyable.  If you’ve been postponing dental care because you wanted to avoid the drill, you have no more excuses.  Call Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte at 704-540-2255 today for an appointment. 

Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, have seen the results time and again. A patient comes to them begging, “Fix my teeth!  Fix my smile!”  Using the latest in technology and applying their considerable skills and talent to each case, your cosmetic dentists will now work their dental magic for a smile makeover. And voila!  Another new smile is born!

The best cosmetic dentists in Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte use a variety of techniques and procedures to customize treatment for each patient.  For patients who have significant damage to their teeth or who suffer from underdeveloped or badly discolored teeth that can’t be whitened, porcelain crowns offer the promise of a new and improved smile.  A porcelain crown is a cap or cover for the existing tooth.  Porcelain has a very natural tooth-like appearance so the crowns blend naturally with the other teeth.  A trusted Charlotte cosmetic dentist, either Dr. Yaste or Dr. Hufanda, can evaluate your teeth carefully and discuss the possibilities of dental crowns with you.

A new technology has arrived at your Charlotte cosmetic dental office.  CEREC, or Ceramic Reconstruction, allow specially trained cosmetic dentists to create crowns, veneers and filling replacements right in the office.  No longer does the patient need to schedule a series of appointments to allow for dental impressions to be shipped off to a lab.  In many cases, using CEREC technology, a qualified cosmetic dentist can create and permanently place a crown, veneer or tooth-colored filling in one visit.

Tooth-colored fillings are another option for fixing your teeth and your smile.  If old, metal fillings are loose, missing or just unsightly, your Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Yaste and Dr. Hufanda, can refill the tooth with filling that matches the tooth’s natural shade.  This procedure alone can restore a healthy appearance to your teeth.

Finally, porcelain veneers are becoming increasingly popular with patients visiting their cosmetic dentists.  Dental veneers are adhered to the front of the existing tooth.  The porcelain veneers are designed, shaped and fitted to produce the look of a healthy, well-formed natural tooth.  Porcelain veneers can also be used to cover gaps between teeth or to even out the smile when teeth are of different lengths or have been damaged or chipped.  For some patients, porcelain veneers can offer the appearance of a straight, healthy smile without the expense and time of braces.  An evaluation with your trusted and reputable Charlotte cosmetic dentists in Ballantyne Center for Dentistry is the place to start if you are want to enhance the appearance of your smile but are unsure if orthodontic treatments are really what you need.

Get ready to dazzle your colleagues, friends and family with a new smile.  Make an appointment to discuss the options for your smile makeover with the best cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte.

Charlotte, North Carolina cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, are treating their patients like royalty by improving their health and appearance with dental crowns.  Dental crowns are a permanent, effective and safe solution to restore or to replace broken, damaged or missing teeth.  Charlotte, North Carolina cosmetic dentists are experienced and highly trained in the most modern materials and technology available for creating dental crowns.

What are dental crowns?

Charlotte, North Carolina dentists, Dr. Yaste and Dr. Hufanda,  use dental crowns to cover existing teeth or, if the tooth is missing or has been removed, a dental implant.  Although crowns were once made of gold, today they are made by using strong porcelain composite that looks like real tooth material.  A crown is hollow on the inside and fits over an existing tooth or a dental implant.  A crown may be created in a dental lab after the dentist takes impressions of your teeth or, using new technology including CEREC (Ceramic Reconstruction), it may be made in the dental office.  The best Charlotte cosmetic dentists use CEREC to construct the crown in the office and reduce your visits to as little as one appointment.

Do you need a crown?

Do you have dental work that dates back many years?  Sometimes, old dental work can become damaged or loose and the remaining tooth can crack, break or further deteriorate.  In this case, it may be time to visit your Charlotte, North Carolina dentists in Ballantyne Center for Dentistry to talk about restoring or replacing the tooth.   If the old dental work is removed and enough of the tooth can be saved, a crown can be created to fit over the existing tooth.  If the old tooth needs to be removed, your Charlotte dentist can put an implant into the gum that will serve as the base for the crown to cover.  Either way, you’ll benefit from a new natural looking and strong tooth. 

Do you have teeth that are misshapen, damaged or badly discolored?  Maybe you try to hide your teeth behind your hand or by smiling less.  Dental crowns can give you a new smile.  Again, the crowns can be placed over existing teeth or implants.  The porcelain material used for creating crowns has a natural tooth-like appearance in color and texture.  Your new crowns will blend with the rest of your teeth fixing any imperfections and enhancing your appearance.

Are crowns painful?

Charlotte, North Carolina dentists know that many people have very real fears about having dental work due to the possibility of pain.  Getting crowns does not need to be a painful experience.  Your Charlotte, North Carolina cosmetic dentists, Dr. Yaste and Dr. Hufanda, are also specially trained and certified as sedation dentists.  This means they can prescribe medication to make your time in the dental chair more comfortable and less stressful.  If pain or fear of the dentist is keeping you from getting dental crowns or other dental work, your Charlotte, North Carolina cosmetic and sedation dentists can help.

Dental crowns can change your appearance and improve your dental health.  See your Charlotte, North Carolina experienced cosmetic dentists in Ballantyne Center for Dentistry to discuss dental crowns to improve your smile.

A dental implant is the literal base for full tooth replacement.  From the base provided by an implant, a crown, bridge or other dental prosthesis can be permanently placed.  Together, the implant and the dental work attached to it form an entire replacement tooth.  Dental implants, then, are the first step to restoring healthy smiles.

Dental implants are made from titanium which has special properties that make it especially suitable for permanent placement in the jawbone.  The titanium implants have the look and feel of a natural tooth root.  In addition, once placed, they go through the process of osseointegration.  That is, the implant fuses with the jawbone creating a stable, natural replacement for the root of the tooth.  Once fused with the jawbone, the dental implant is ready to receive the crown, bridge or other dental prosthesis.

 Dental implants may be the first step to a healthier smile and a healthier you.  People whoare missing teeth or have damaged teeth are susceptible to a number of dental health complications.  Missing teeth create gaps into which other teeth may shift or crowd.  This can result in damage to other teeth, pain in the mouth, jaw or head, and changes in the alignment of your teeth.  People who experience pain while chewing are more likely to skip healthy, fresh foods in favor of highly, processed soft foods.  This change in diet can affect your overall health.

Missing and damaged teeth can also affect your self-confidence and sociability.  Many people who are embarrassed by their teeth tend to avoid smiling or even eating in front of others and may skip social gatherings with family and friends.   Your teeth shouldn’t be hindering you from enjoying good food, good friends and good times.  If you want to restore your smile and appearance, a consultation and evaluation with Dr. Christian Yaste or Dr. Joe Hufanda at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry is the best place to start.

Some patients tolerate missing and damaged teeth because they are so nervous and anxious about dental procedures.  Both Dr. Yaste and Dr. Hufanda are certified in oral sedation by the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS).  Sedation dentistry allows the patient to be completely relaxed, calm and comfortable throughout the dental appointment.  Sedation dentistry does not put the patient to sleep, but allows the dentists to do their work while the patient is put into a state of deep relaxation.  Time seems to pass quickly and patients often don’t remember the procedure.   Fears of the dentist or dental procedures should not prevent you from seeking help for missing or damaged teeth.

If you’ve never experienced dental care in a spa-like setting, you’re in for a treat. Begin the process of restoring your healthy smile with Dr. Yaste or Dr. Hufanda at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry today.  Call 704-540-2255 to schedule your appointment.

Here is video we just created for those interested in learning more about dental implants. We hope you enjoy it.

Charlotte’s cosmetic dentists, Dr. Joe Hufanda and Dr. Christian Yaste, Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, have the power to make to your smile whiter!  Teeth whitening can restore teeth to beautiful, pearly white.  When we were children, our teeth were naturally whiter.  With age, exposure to stains and damage, however, they can lose their luster.  Charlotte area residents can regain their beautiful white smiles by visiting a Charlotte cosmetic dentist.

Teeth whitening can be performed effectively in the cosmetic dentist’s office using various techniques based on the condition of the teeth and the patient’s needs.  “Laser whitening” is a misnomer.  Lasers are not actually used to whiten teeth, but the power of light is used to produce results.  LED is used by some of the best dentists and stands for light-emitting diode.  This type of blue concentrated light can be used to whiten teeth.   Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda, can apply this treatment in short appointments of 20-30 minutes and achieve great results without pain or sensitivity.  In the span of a lunch break, you can have whiter, brighter teeth.  Other types of treatment include using halogen or plasma arc technology to achieve similar whitening effects.  Special internal whitening procedures can be used for patients who have staining from the inside of the tooth, however this often requires a more invasive technique and can have its disadvantages.  Charlotte’s cosmetic dentists, Dr. Yaste and Dr. Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, are specially trained to treat tooth discoloration from any cause.  If necessary, veneers can even be applied to produce the whitening effect.

Charlotte residents are flocking to their cosmetic dentists for these procedures.  Many patients feel more comfortable when a specially trained, certified dentist is using the best technology to brighten their smiles.  Home pastes, strips and trays can be messy, ineffective and costly with minimal results.  For the most noticeable improvement in whitening, visiting Charlotte’s cosmetic dentists in Ballantyne Center for Dentistry is recommended.

Look at some recent pictures of yourself.  Do you notice the discoloration of your teeth?  Perhaps you are a coffee or wine drinker or perhaps you have been a tobacco user  All of these activities can stain the teeth causing them to appear yellow or even brown.  Discolored teeth can be an embarrassment causing many people to hide their smiles and their teeth.  A whiter smile can change that attitude.  You’ll be proud to show your white teeth and to share your positive cosmetic dental experience with others.  Furthermore, whiter teeth can take years off your appearance.  A younger, healthier smile is available for you in a few short, painless visits to your Charlotte cosmetic dentist.

Perhaps you’ve been putting off a whitening procedure because you are anxious in the dental chair.  This is completely understandable.  Cosmetic dentists may also be certified and licensed as sedation dentists.  A sedation dentist doesn’t put you to sleep but uses prescribed medication to make you feel more comfortable and relaxed during the whitening procedure.  Don’t delay any longer.  Do something for yourself – whiten your smile.  Charlotte’s cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, are committed to restoring and whitening your beautiful smile.

Porcelain veneers are without a doubt one of the greatest developments yet for those who have longed to have the perfect smile in Charlotte. Though many methods for cosmetically enhancing or repairing damaged or unsightly teeth have evolved over the decades, the introduction of teeth veneers, or dental veneers, to the Charlotte cosmetic dentist’s arsenal has made the process of improving a person’s smile easier, far more comfortable for the patient and much less time-consuming. Porcelain veneers have come to the forefront in the quest for dazzling white teeth and a truly attractive smile.

One of the most often-used means of improving the appearance of broken, chipped, stained or badly decayed teeth has been to cover the unsightly teeth with eye-pleasing crowns, which are cemented to the damaged teeth, usually covering them completely. The crowns are perfectly shaped and perfectly colored, and make for a stunningly beautiful smile. They are also quite strong and stain-resistant, and allow the recipient to enjoy the foods and drinks he or she consumed before the crowns were installed.

Installing crowns normally involves physically reshaping the teeth, quite often entailing the removal of some healthy tooth material along with the bad in order to leave the perfect nub that will accept the crown. An advantage of having crowns made is that crowns allow for major reshaping of damaged or malformed teeth. Once a tooth has been reshaped to accept a crown, however, it will always require a crown. There is no going back once tooth material has been removed. A point to keep in mind is that as the patient’s gums naturally recede with age.  With certain type of crowns, specifically those with metal underneath, this can cause visibility of a dark line around the gum line.  Today we have all porcelain technology that creates a more natural interface between the tooth and the crown at the gumline.  When or if the gums do recede, if all porcelain is used, there is much less of a contrast (dark line) that ends up being noticeable.

With dental veneers, only minor reshaping of damaged teeth is possible, but if major reshaping is not required, the advantages of dental veneers are many. First off (and most importantly, for many people), there is little to no tooth restructuring involved. This means, in nearly all cases,  no pain or discomfort whatsoever, no post-procedure sensitivity or recuperation time and no prolonged schedule of visits.

There are different types of teeth veneers, also called porcelain veneers, some of them consisting of a composite resin that is applied to the outsides of the affected teeth. These composite resin dental veneers are very strong, and have the advantage of quite often requiring only one visit to the Charlotte cosmetic dentist. This type of dental veneer also allows for some reshaping of a tooth, since a thin layer of material is added to the natural tooth’s surface. It does not allow for as much reshaping as does the crown, however.  Your Charlotte cosmetic dentists, Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda, can fully explain the pros and cons of porcelain veneers and other procedures, and talk you through each process. If your teeth do not require major restructuring in order for you to have the smile you want, you may well find yourself among the growing number of people in Charlotte North Carolina who opt for porcelain veneers.  Contact Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, your Charlotte cosmetic dentist today for more information about dental veneers.