Dental Info

After I removed a gold crown from a patients tooth and placed it on my bracket table my patient seemed suddenly interested and said "Let me see that baby!". I gave it to him and I explained to him that  if he could save 10 more of these he might be able to get a gold refiner to give him some money in exchange. Actually Gold, when  used as a dental restorative in the mouth  has a much greater value. Other than the fact that it is not tooth colored, it is close to an ideal restorative material . There is nothing more "kind" to opposing teeth because when placed in opposition to opposing teeth gold tends to wear instead of the tooth opposing it. It is virtually unbreakable.  If a patient has a prematurity or grinds excessively side side, the occlusal gold surface will continually tend to correct itself.  Ok, Gold crowns may not last forever. What I have seen over the years, is that under heavy function with high occlusal abrasive forces, gold crowns, even if ...

How do you feel when you see that little plastic floss container in your medicine cabinet? Eagerness to achieve that clean feeling in your mouth? Or regret over a habit you have trouble keeping? Did you get excited about recent headlines saying flossing isn’t necessary? We’re sorry to break the news, but as your oral health experts, we’re here to tell you floss is still incredibly important. In fact, it’s one of the most important foundations for oral health. Dr. James Fili of Dubuque Periodontics shares more below about why you should floss, how to floss, and what to do if flossing causes your gums to bleed. What is Floss? Floss is a simple waxed thread designed specially to clean between your teeth (the hardest spots in your mouth to reach) comfortably and effectively. Floss was invented around 1820 and was first seen on store shelves decades later. There are countless brands and types of floss. It can be thin or thick, flavored or unflavored. Most often, floss is waxed to help...

If you’re a new mom or about to be one, you’re likely already used to putting your needs second to the needs of this beautiful new little person in your life – but maintaining good oral hygiene is still important for keeping you and your baby in tiptop shape. If something happens and you need dental work, it shouldn’t prevent you from breastfeeding regularly or from seeking the treatment you need. Wagner Dental in Las Vegas can explain how prioritizing your own health needs is safe and important during this stage of a woman’s life. Dental Procedures Safe for Breastfeeding You shouldn’t be surprised to hear that regular brushing and flossing is safe for breastfeeding mothers. In fact, it’s probably never felt more luxurious! Especially as you’re likely eating everything in sight (and perhaps indulging in sweet treats, too), it’s a good idea to keep those pearly whites as clean and healthy as possible. We know how difficult it is to take care of yourself with a new baby, but you des...

Don’t be Afraid of the Dentist! San Luis Obispo dentist Michael Colleran, DDS knows that some folks avoid the dentist’s chair like the plague. According to studies at the Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington, as many as 8% of Americans are too afraid to go to dentists and 20% are too anxious to visit a dentist for anything other than an emergency. Dr. Colleran understands that dental anxiety prevents a lot of people from getting the care they need, so we’ve designed our entire practice around your comfort. Read on to find out about how we can help! Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist First of all, don’t feel bad if you fear the dentist. It’s very common and understandable. Your mouth is sensitive and private, and having someone else poke around in there can be traumatic. However, there are a ton of things we do to make sure that every patient feels safe and comfortable. That means that from the waiting room to Dr. Colleran’s chair, you are in good hands! We...

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is a really long name… so let’s call it TMJ .  That sounds more familiar—you’ve probably heard it before. Maybe some lingering pain in your chewing muscles and bones even have you wondering if you have it. TMJ dysfunction is sometimes called TMD, TMJD, or TMJ Syndrome, especially if there seem to be a number of other jaw-related issues. St. Augustine dentists Dr. Jeremy Gordon and Dr. Sarah Hutson are here to tell you more about TMJ and what to do if you’ve got it. What is TMJ? A sailboat requires a complex system of ropes, pulleys, and hooks to catch the wind in its sails and get moving. Your jaw is also made of an incredible team of muscles, bones, joints, and tissues working together in order to function. If anything affects any one part of these pieces in your jaw, it could lead to chronic pain and problems with the joints in your jaw. TMJ is a broad term that includes any of this pain or dysfunction. TMJ can feel like anything from a ...

Whether you’ve never been thrilled with your smile, or it lacks the luster it once had, bonding is a multipurpose cosmetic and restorative dental procedure that can be performed on patients of all ages. Bonding has the capability to fill gaps, correct damage, and refurbish the overall structure and look of your teeth. Natural Smiles Dentistry wants every patient to feel good about their smile, but if you feel less than confident in yours, we may recommend a simple and affordable treatment called dental bonding. What is the Bonding Procedure? There are two different types of dental bonding: direct composite bonding and adhesive bonding. Adhesive bonding attaches a separate restoration to a tooth, so that type of bonding is used for veneers , crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays . This article will focus on direct composite bonding, which is its own minimally invasive smile makeover procedure—and the one most people think of when they hear the terms “bonding” or “dental bonding.” ...

We all remember losing our teeth as children and being delighted to find money from the tooth fairy under our pillow, but it’s just not as much fun losing teeth as an adult. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research , adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have an average of 25 permanent teeth remaining, which is three shy of a full set (not counting wisdom teeth). Dr. Berglass wants everyone in Charlotte to know that replacing a missing tooth is important to your dental health. Read on for more information and please contact Central Avenue Dental with any questions or concerns. Missing Teeth & Dental Health When people lose teeth in the movies, it’s usually from something high-impact and exciting, like getting kicked in the face. However, the leading cause of tooth loss is gum disease. If you are a Charlotte adult who has lost a tooth in the back of your mouth, you might be inclined to ignore it if it doesn’t affect your smile. Unfortunately, missin...

Originally created for people unable to consume regular sugars, alternative and artificial sweeteners have become extremely popular in Portland in all kinds of different products. From chewing gum to diet soda, Dr. Case wants you to know which of these options are best for your dental and general health – so here are the facts about a few of the most common sweeteners. The Big Five Sugar Substitutes The benefits of artificial sweeteners were first recognized as a safe option for diabetics, but have since exploded in popularity because food, beverage, candy, and snack companies have discovered that it is easier to sell fewer calories. In addition, Portland residents with a sweet tooth know that artificial sweeteners are notorious for their ability to ruin your portion control. The substances listed below are considered sugar-free and inhibit tooth decay because bacteria cannot ferment them into enamel-destroying acids. Despite ongoing controversy about health concerns of sugar subst...

When to Straighten Your Teeth There are a lot of reasons to straighten your teeth, and there are a lot of ways to do it . But you may not know that there are many unique times in your life when it might be best to straighten your teeth. In general, dentists begin considering the potential need to straighten a patient’s teeth around 8-10 years of age. People of any age can have their teeth straightened-there is never a bad time-but there are certain times when it makes more sense. Seattle dentist, Dr. Gollofon is a local provider of professional orthodontics and teeth straightening treatments. Read below to learn tips for deciding if it’s time to straighten your teeth. Time for Aesthetic Teeth Straightening If you’re self-conscious about your smile at all, it’s time. If you cover your mouth when you laugh, or if you avoid social situations because you’re not confident, correcting your smile is a worthwhile investment. Your smile is your own personal accessory and it’s the first thi...

They say not everything natural is good for you. Nature has many poisons that humans have experimented with and learned the hard way to avoid. Tobacco is a popular plant that we’ve learned can really do a number on your health. Using tobacco is a personal and communal practice that can be really hard to avoid, even if you know it’s bad for you. Working with your doctor and Gwinn dentist Dr. Gwendolyn Buck will be essential if you’re concerned about your health and want to stop using tobacco. What Is Tobacco? Tobacco is a green, leafy plant that has long been grown, dried, and used by cultures around the world. It’s usually smoked but is sometimes chewed or inhaled. Tobacco is known to affect the way people think, feel, and behave by interrupting your brain’s normal communication with the rest of your body. The tobacco plant contains the addictive stimulant nicotine, which is why a smoking habit is so hard to break. Cigarettes contain 2,000 ingredients known to be toxic and harmful t...

There’s a lot of hair and makeup that goes into making your favorite stars sparkle on the screen. And while we can’t all hire a professional artist to make us look perfect every day, there is a lasting solution to giving you that perfect Hollywood smile – veneers! Lexington dentist Dr. Kevin Brewer is an experienced and trusted provider of veneer treatments. What are Veneers? Veneers are a very strong, paper-thin cover over your teeth. They look just like real teeth, but even better. Veneers are often used to improve the look of teeth with spacing and alignment issues or staining problems. They can be applied wherever needed, on one tooth or a whole set. Which Celebrities Have Veneers? Veneers are a popular option for celebrities who spend their life (personal and professional) in front of the camera. When your smile determines your income, it just makes sense to invest in those pearly whites. So which stars have gotten veneers? Zac Efron George Clooney Tom Cruise Demi Moo...

The other day a patient came in for his six month check up. I noticed an increase in the amount of plaque that seemed to be localizing near the gingival margins of his teeth (as compared with his previous cleaning). After completing his cleaning I asked if he was using an electric toothbrush and he proudly explained he was using a new "Quip toothbrush". I have seen the advertisements for this stylish brush on the subway but haven't tried one out yet. It's design is indeed sleek and modern, but possibly, it may not be delivering the results its users desire . Decades ago, I supplemented my dental income by "moonlighting" as a examiner for safety and efficacy studies of various tooth brushes. The best brush that I tested was a braun electric Oral B model. These featured relatively powerful reciprocating brush actions that cleaned really well when used properly. These are now sold by Crest (Proctor and Gamble bought Oral B some years ago) and there are re...

I grew up raised by parents who told me I could do anything I set my mind to. For the most part what they taught me was more or less true, but high achievement isn't usually achieved without struggle and hard work. Doing things the easy way, may work well most of the times, but sometimes situations require extra effort and thought. Making the "impossible" possible in dentistry can involve complicated multidisciplinary treatment plans that are not easily accomplished. These patients treatments are not "low fruit", easy for the picking, but actually involve some unknowns, that make the dental journey that the patient will travel through, an adventure for both the dentist and the patient. Some patients who desire an esthetic make over can be satisfied with a simple treatment plan involving one modality of treatment (bonding, veneers or Invisalign orthodontic movement for example. In these cases one practitioner can accomplish the entire treatment using just by ...

Six Month Smiles® is a short-term orthodontic treatment that adds some updated twists to traditional braces—with average treatment times of only six months! No one loves the way metal wires and brackets look, and for teens and adults who are concerned about the appearance of their smile during orthodontic treatment, the clear brackets and tooth-colored wires of Six Month Smiles are more pleasing to the eye than a mouthful of metal. Remember how the old metal brackets and wires of traditional braces would always seem to reflect the flash in pictures, or how distracting they could be when someone wearing braces was speaking, smiling, or laughing?  Dr. Gwendolyn Buck is a general dentist providing orthodontic services, including Six Month Smiles—the revolutionary short-term, cosmetic approach to teeth straightening. Orthodontic Options Orthodontics is a dental specialty that incorporates shifting teeth to the best possible form and function. The adjustment of the teeth is accomp...

For a small-to-medium cavity that needs dental attention, your dentist may recommend a dental filling. This virtually painless procedure is a great way to preserve your living tooth structure while removing decay that’s set in. Some of the most common questions I get about fillings include ones such as these: How do I know if I need a filling? Should I have amalgam (silver) fillings removed? Does it hurt to get a filling? How many times will I need to go to the dentist for my filling? First of all, don’t worry! Getting or replacing fillings is one of the most painless dental procedures. Also, there’s a lot of confusion online about which types of fillings to consider. We’ll cover that in detail so you can go to your next appointment with more confidence and less concern. Let’s look at what dental fillings are, what to expect when you get a filling and other common questions. What is a dental filling? A dental filling is a dental procedure used to restore part of a tooth tha...