Dental Info

Let's face it, no one person or business can generate all positive customer reviews, since there is no pleasing everyone. In fact if a business has no bad reviews it seems like the reviews are not real. So what's a business owner to do after a scathingly bad review.... Surround it with positive reviews if possible. Hopefully the business has enough enthusiastic customers willing to write glowing reviews to compensate for a few "sour grapes". If not the business may suffer from too many bad reviews since it will appear to imply that the service it provides is indeed  inferior. My staff and I make an extra effort to ensure that our patients feel extremely well taken care of and for the most part our reviews do back up this claim. For those few who leave dissatisfied or disappointed I am truly sorry that they had anything other than a positive experience. Often, when I am aware of a patient who leaves unhappy, I will reach out to them personally to speak to them over...

For many Columbus residents, one thing stands in the way of a healthy, beautiful smile – fear of the dentist!  Even routine cleanings can be scary for folks with dental phobia. However, at Lifetime Dental Health we have made it our business to offer you the most comfortable dental experience possible, which is why Dr. Barry and Dr. Love offer  sedation dentistry services . There’s a lot of misinformation floating around, so here are the facts about sedation dentistry. What is sedation dentistry? For millions of Americans, even the thought of visiting the dentist is terrifying. As a result, many people avoid dentists altogether and miss out on a healthy, happy smile. Sedation dentistry is the answer to dental anxiety, aimed at relaxing patients for a comfortable, enjoyable experience. Who is it for? Sedation dentistry is generally intended for Columbus residents whose fear of the dentist might prevent them getting the dental care they need. If you suffer from dental anxiet...

Imagine this – you have come to see Dr. Colleran for a cleaning and routine check-up. The cleaning goes well, but then Dr. Colleran tells you that you have a cavity. You’ve been dreading the possibility of this news and now you fear that something must be wrong since you have been brushing and flossing regularly. We at Michael Colleran, DDS see this happen every day and want to put your mind at ease. Cavities are very common and usually a simple fix for Dr. Colleran. Use this guide to learn about what cavities are and how you can prevent them. Cavities: The Basics Cavities are caused by tooth decay, which is a byproduct of too much plaque. Here’s how it works: every day, our saliva breaks down the food we eat into bacteria and then into acid, which mixes with the saliva and forms the nuisance commonly referred to as plaque. Remarkably, it only takes 20 minutes for plaque to form on your teeth after eating. Plaque is corrosive to the outer layer of your teeth (enamel). If plaque...

Ah, nighttime… the end of the day, the ceasing of work, and hopefully a good night’s sleep. But did you know things are still happening in your mouth all night long, even if you’re blissfully unaware of it? Dr. Brickey and Dr. Provine , Salt Lake City dentists shed some light on the world of your mouth and everything going on inside of it while you catch some zzz’s. Dry Mouth You produce much less saliva overnight than you do during the day—your body’s way of minimizing the risk of choking. This leads to the common occurrence of dry mouth. Dry mouth can be a bit uncomfortable and lead to more cavities and bad breath. It’s perfectly fine and normal to have less saliva at night but to take care of your oral health, it’s important that you brush and floss before going to bed. Saliva usually rinses away the food debris that can stick around and cause plaque and bad breath, so it’s a good idea to head to bed with a blank canvas. Keeping a glass of water by your bed can relieve the pa...

It’s easy to think that baby teeth aren’t that important. They make their grand entrance (however painfully) and leave your baby’s mouth soon thereafter. But your baby’s oral health is very important, both in the present and to set the stage for a lifetime of health. Today Dubuque Periodontics would like to talk about those tiny teeth and how to care for them. Dr. Fili is a professional dentist who cares for baby teeth and pediatric oral health. Teething Facts Teething begins anywhere from 3-9 months and can continue until your child is 3 years old. Every baby is different. Teeth emerge in a consistent pattern: lower 2 front incisors; upper 2 front incisors and 2 additional lower incisors; first set of molars; canines; then second molars. One reason we get baby teeth is that our baby mouths aren’t big enough for the size and number of adult teeth we need later in life. Babies have 20 teeth that fall out. They are then replaced by 32 adult teeth. Chewing on a cold, wet washcloth,...

Are you or a loved one suffering from the toothache blues? Don’t wait around in pain for the problem to resolve itself. Although we do enjoy spending quality time with our patients at Family Dental Health , we don’t want any Portland residents to have to undergo unnecessary dental procedures. A toothache can indicate a much more serious problem that should be addressed immediately – but there are a few things you can do in the meantime for temporary relief from toothache pain. Home Remedies: Painkillers – This one might be obvious, as painkillers are one of the fastest, most effective ways to temporarily relieve mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Salt Water – Salt has natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Add a spoonful of salt to a warm cup of water. Gargle the dissolved solution several times daily. Cold Compress – Just like any other injury, a cold compress can work wonders at reducing the swelling, inflammation, and pain of a toothache. Cl...

Have you ever heard someone say, “I would rather have a root canal”? Most of us in St. Augustine are used to hearing root canals compared to some genuinely unpleasant circumstances, but Dr. Gordon would like to set the record straight and talk about how root canals can do some serious dental good. Root Canals Save Teeth Here it comes, the question on everyone’s mind – why on Earth would you want a root canal?! There is one thing all dentists in St. Augustine and beyond will agree on – saving your natural teeth is always the best option. There are many ways that Dr. Gordon can replace missing or damaged teeth , but nothing is as good as the real thing. If you have a tooth with inflamed or infected pulp, a root canal can eliminate the infection and save it. Thus, root canals are preferable to extraction. Here are some more advantages of endodontic root canal treatment: Natural appearance Efficient chewing Tolerance of normal bite force and sensation Surrounding teeth ar...

If we told you that your mouth is the site of a constant battle between teeth and bacteria, would you believe us? Alright, maybe it’s not that dramatic, but the fact that Denver teeth are always at risk of developing dental caries is no exaggeration. In case you’ve never heard about caries, Dr. Paini is going to take this opportunity to shed some light on what it is, how to stop it, and what Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry can do to help. Dental Caries, Tooth Decay & Cavities What do dental caries and tooth decay have in common? A lot – actually, they are the exact same thing. When bacteria interact with carbohydrates as they are broken down in the mouth, they ferment and produce lactic acid, which eats away at the structures of the teeth. Considered the most prevalent chronic disease among adults and children, this condition is called dental caries, or tooth decay. Without proper care and regular dental appointments, the acid from bacteria will eat away the surface layer of the t...

If you’ve visited our blog before, you know that we love to talk about tooth decay. The chances are, everyone in Plantation has had or will have tooth decay at one point. It is classified by the National Institutes of Health [ http://nih.gov/ ] as the most prevalent disease in the world. Today we’re going to talk about a few of the factors involved in causing tooth decay and what you and Dr. Rizvi can do to protect your smile. The Unique Makeup of Your Teeth Even within your own mouth, teeth vary widely in shape, size, and enamel quality and consistency. Some teeth are harder than others, and some – especially molars – may have deep fissures that can trap bacteria, causing decay. Additional defects in enamel formation can cause yellow or brown areas on your teeth that are more susceptible to caries (tooth decay) . The pH Level in Your Mouth Research indicates that acidity in your mouth plays an important role in developing tooth decay. A low pH (an acidic state) allows decay-causi...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fluoridation of drinking water is ranked among the ten greatest public health achievements of 20 th century America. However, a quick search of the internet tells us that fluoride can actually be toxic if ingested in large enough quantities. So which is true? Do the health benefits outweigh the negatives of fluoride in toothpaste and drinking water? At A.J. Gollofon, DDS know that Seattle folks care a great deal about their health, so we’ve put this article together to examine the facts and help you come to your own decision. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you might have, so feel free to contact us! Why Use Fluoride in the First Place? To begin to understand the controversy, we must first understand what led to putting fluoride in toothpaste and water. Even today, tooth decay is considered the most prevalent chronic disease in children and adults. With that in mind, it’s not hard to understand why Gr...

Cracked tooth syndrome ( CTS ), also known as cracked cusp syndrome or split tooth syndrome, is a painful condition that results from a crack in one of your teeth. CTS can mean anything from a tiny hairline split in the crown to a fracture that goes all the way to the root. If you have a nasty toothache and remember biting down on something hard, it’s time to contact Dr. Berglass . Don’t worry though, because the dental professionals at Central Avenue Dental are committed to giving you the best oral care that Charlotte has available. To find out more about cracked tooth syndrome, read on. Symptoms of Cracked Tooth Syndrome Although this condition can vary a little bit for everyone, here are some common signs you may have cracked tooth or cracked cusp syndrome: Biting down in a certain area causes sharp pain The pain goes away shortly after you have finished chewing or biting You have localized sensitivity to hot or cold, and sticky, sweet, or sour foods You find that you have ...

Oral hygiene is the foundation of good dental health. Brushing and flossing regularly is the best way to keep your Las Vegas smile healthy and clean. Consider this your personal tutorial on the art of dental hygiene, instructed by Drs. Wagner, Cannon, Lawler, & Nelson, along with the expert hygienists at Wagner Dental. Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss & Mouthwash Before we talk technique, we need to make sure you have the right tools for the job. You’re going to need a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and floss. Pick whatever floss is most comfortable for you and any toothpaste that you like, provided it has fluoride. Mouthwash is not required, but some Las Vegas residents really like the extra health boost you get from a good swish and gargle. How do you pick a good toothbrush? Always go with soft bristles. Medium or hard bristles can damage enamel. Choose a brush that fits your mouth. The head of the brush should be small enough to reach all the way behind your back tee...

This medical mission was spent in a remote place that can’t be found on any map called El Bale in the Veraguas province of Panama, a 5-hour drive West of Panama City. Most of the people in this mountainous area are never able to see a city simply due to the fact that no one owns a car. We saw one or two horses, but the majority of people walked to see the doctors—some, like one 8-year-old boy I took care of, had walked up to 6 hours to get medical help. We were in El Bale thanks to an amazing organization called ProNiñez (Pro-Children in English). This group is fascinating and admirable in so many ways. They have worked with the communities in this area for almost 20 years, and to hear how they have touched the lives of these people would bring tears to your eyes. They have built 75 schools (some schools before were literally just a tent), helped build a small fish farm for the nuns of El Bale to provide food, and built an apiary for the nuns to sell honey for income (best honey I’ve...

If your teeth or jaw don’t line up well with each other, you may have crossbite. Dr. Buck, Gwinn dentist explains more about this condition, its effects and what you can do to treat it below. A Good Bite In a perfect world, your teeth would all be straight, and your upper jaw would rest nicely on top of and just a little in front of your bottom jaw. Of course, this frequently isn’t the case. Sometimes teeth are crooked or twisted and sometimes your top jaw rests awkwardly on your bottom jaw. How your teeth and jawline up together is called your “bite.” When we talk about this alignment, the medical term is “occlusion.” If you have a problem with your bite or alignment, it’s called “malocclusion.” Crossbite is a condition of malocclusion. A Bad Bite It’s estimated that one in five people have some kind of malocclusion. Under the category of malocclusion, you can have: Underbite – when your lower jaw protrudes far out in front of your upper jaw Overbite – when your upper jaw pr...

Nicknamed for the fact that they come into your mouth and your life by the time you are mature and supposedly “wise,” wisdom teeth are simply the last set of molars that grow furthest back in your mouth. If you’re experiencing some specific pain in your gums and jaw, you may be wondering if you have impacted wisdom teeth. Dr. Brewer takes care of wisdom teeth from all around Lexington! Let us tell you more about impacted wisdom teeth and what to do if you have them. What are Impacted Wisdom Teeth? Your wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars you’ll get. They usually come in when you are between 17 and 21 years old. Sometimes they appear later in life, while some people’s wisdom teeth never grow in at all. (Does that mean those people never become wise? Hard to say.) As with other teeth, wisdom teeth are expected to break through the gums and become totally visible when they emerge. However, in some situations, they remain deep in the jawbone or never break thr...

First bicuspid (middle tooth) crown Sometimes this question is asked differently; Why can't I have a filling instead of a crown. The answer is relatively simple. When tooth structure is compromised by the size of the hole in a tooth after a dentist has cleaned out all decay the tooth may be at risk for fracture if restored with a simple filling. Crowns provide a means of providing full protective coverage . This allows a better distribution of forces placed on the tooth by their occlusion  and should lesson the risk of fracture. Another reason that dentists often advocate a crown is for teeth with cracks that can't be removed easily. Teeth can develop cracks (small fissures). If left unprotected these cracks are more likely to propagate and can eventually cause a tooth to need a root canal or even require extraction. Crowning these teeth can protect them and help prevent a crack from propagating, while filling them may not protect the tooth sufficiently. Sometime...

I host my study club nine or ten times a year. I always make sure to provide tasty food before hand, because, you know...food tends to sooth the savage beast ( just joking). I started the meeting by discussing our club renewals ( this usually involves my members being informed of their yearly renewal fee!). I then moved on to presenting what I thought was an interesting multidisciplinary case involving a single tooth replacement of a maxillary central incisor. This was the sort of  case that many experienced dentists experience some trepidation before treating. We all have patients like this one and a positive outcome is never a forgone conclusion. After years of practice most of us have experienced a poor outcome or two. Most of us are always searching for a slightly better recipe in order to achieve a trouble free way to ensure degree of predictable road to achieving a beautiful result that will stand the test of time. This is why I believe that most of our members are experi...

I have been advocating tooth whitening for my patients 1985. Over the years there have definately been some improvements. My recommendations have changed somewhat. Now I usually recommend my patients , who can afford it, have the delux treatment and start by having a session of Zoom Whitening. Actually most of the brands that dentists use work OK, but I have a Zoom light and like using the Zoom whitening system for my patients's in-office whitening. This session is considerably shorter than it was originally and total chair time is about an hour and 15 minutes (3- 4 fifteen minutd applications of the bleach and isolation about ten minutes) .  Teeth tend to get several shades whiter after this treatment ( most companies claim more shade changes but I believe their claims may exaggerated for marketing purposes). After the Zoom Bleaching I make custom trays to allow my patients to continue whitening until they achieve their eventual desired shade. Lately I have been recommending...

I have written often about the importance of staging dental treatment. Some dental treatment, especially multidisciplinary treatment plans  that involves multiple procedures with more than one dentist  can require a number of steps and be quite expensive.  Part case acceptance is the patient being made aware of the timing of the steps involved. I always try and make my patients aware of how  much time can be allowed to overlap before their next visit. This is especially important for implant driven cases and teeth that need to have a periodontist, endodontist, oral surgeon or orthodontist involved. Patients are usually made aware that the visits should be performed on a certain time table. For some the timing is not critical but for others it can make the difference between a good and bad outcome. That being said , people generally can get busy with their lives and not start their next stage in the time recommended. I have just been going over a case that I jus...

Sometimes life can be like a Disney Movie. The innocent young struggle to learn how to become adults. Pinochio grew a longer nose, Sleeping beauty was put into an endless sleep. Belle ended up in imprisoned by a monster... and so it goes.  A young aspiring dentist must undergo their own struggles. First getting into a college with a decent premed program, They must matriculate and maintain high grade averages and score well on their DAT's. If they are fortunate, and do not loose their way, they will apply to Dental School and go on interviews and get accepted. Money plays a role, since there usually aren't many scholarships for dental students seeking a free ride ( The military does provide this option if a student will serve afterward for the number of years that the scholarship provided). Most accepted dental students find a way to finance their education through loans. Its not unusual for students to graduate with hundreds of thousands in debt. Dental School...

Not all fillings are shallow and some are placed in teeth that have extensive and "deep" decay. Often when cavities are deep dentists must decide how much of a tooth needs to be cleaned out in order to achieve a successful restoration. Its easy with a relatively small cavity where the caries is not close to the nerve (more than one mm away). Most dentists will remove all softened tooth structure until sound unaffected dentin is reached. The situation is more complicated the closer the dentist is forced to go as he or she approaches the pulp. This is because the pulp doesn't do so well when microscopic or macroscopic "exposures" occur. Pulps, tissues inside teeth composed primarily of connective tissue, blood supply and nervous tissues, will sometimes die (become non vital because they loose their blood supply). When this happens a tooth will need a root canal. Most dentists will try to avoid exposing the pulp if possible when cleaning out a cavity and when I b...

If you are looking for a dentist in Dubuque, you may have picked up on the fact that there are two types of dental degrees – DDS and DMD. Perhaps you’ve noticed that there are far more of one than the other, or maybe they are split 50/50. Either way, you’re probably wondering what the difference is, and how this will affect your dental care. At Dubuque Periodontics, we love to spread the word about all things dental, so here are the facts, straight from Dr. Fili . The Difference Between DDS & DMD You have the right to know what training your health care professionals have received so that you can choose the best fit for your needs. Most Dubuque folks know there are specialties in dental medicine, such as orthodontics (braces), periodontics (gums) , and cosmetic dentistry, but what separates one dental degree from the other? The short answer: the difference is exactly one letter. Both DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) and DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) indicate that an individual ...

Acids and bases might sound like something from far back in your memory, like middle school science class, but the concept is still very applicable to every aspect of life today. The foods and beverages you consume daily have a big effect on your oral health and overall health, for better or worse. You can protect and support your health by eating the right foods. We know this isn’t news to anyone, but it’s much easier said than done, right? Dr. Berglass , your Charlotte dentist explains more below about how an alkaline diet can benefit your oral and overall health. What is an Alkaline Diet? Everything around us is made of chemicals that are either some level of acidic or basic (alkaline). Chemicals are numbered on the pH scale from 0-6 as acidic, 7 as neutral, and 8-14 as alkaline and more people are talking these days about the negative effects of diets high in acidity. A minimally acidic, or alkaline, diet will contain mostly foods with a pH above 7. Research shows that some c...

What is oil pulling? Claiming to achieve everything from whiter teeth and healthier gums to decreased body aches and pains, oil pulling is the latest trend in DIY detox therapies. Newly popular among celebrities and lovers of natural health and wellness, oil pulling is a dental hygiene practice that actually dates back centuries through the Indian medical tradition Ayurveda. Simply put, oil pulling uses common plant-based oils (coconut is a favorite) in place of store-bought mouthwash. Users swish, or “pull” one tablespoon of oil in their mouth for 10-20 minutes every day. The volume of oil usually doubles in size due to the collection of saliva and toxins from the mouth during this process. Users are strongly warned to spit out the oil because it contains the microorganisms which pulling aims to extract. Oil is believed to draw toxins out of the mouth by sticking to their outer, fatty layer. Since oral hygiene is linked to health in all parts of the body, it’s believed that the be...