Dental Info

You gotta have heart! The New York Times Just published and article about how important overcoming setbacks can be to a career path.  I know that it has been true for me since failure and the fear of failing again has been a potent motivator for me along my dental journey. Yes I have failed at many things but these failures have also taught me alot and along the way I find that my failures have become less frequent and I seem to have learned important lessons from analyzing each of my poor outcomes. I recently watched a documentary about Lebron James' early junior high and high school basketball team. Lebron grew up in extremely difficult circumstances that seemed to motivate him on the court.  His team mostly won, but sometimes winning too often seemed to make them cocky and somewhat complacent. In their interviews they acknowledged that their  failures, though few, were extremely motivating and helped make their eventual success as National High School...

Full disclosure before Chamblee Orthodontics starts dropping knowledge on the muscles in your mouth that are partially to thank (or blame) for the foods you love: we’re hungry as we write this and are envisioning pizza; yummy, savory pizza with cheese that stretches when you grab a slice, crust with just the right amount of crunch, sauce with the best blend of veggies and herbs…what were we going to talk about? Oh yeah, taste buds ! Wait—are you craving pizza now, too? Let’s go halfsies on some ‘za! Gusta-what?! The scientific term for your taste buds is gustatory receptor cells . Jot that down because there will be a quiz later (we joke). These taste buddies (that’s just more fun to say, isn’t it?) form before we evacuate the womb. In fact, based on their sensitivity to sweet and bitter tastes, newborns may have more taste buds than adults. For an image to distract from the pizza that may still be on your mind, picture babies trying new foods. Need help? That’s what we’re here for!...

Sometimes in life, you just need a do-over. That’s precisely what dental crowns are—a new start for your tooth. Teeth are important players in your life! They’re not only the first responders for your digestive tract, but they can make a great first impression – so you deserve a beautiful, fully-functioning set. If your teeth need a real makeover, a crown might be just the thing you need. A crown is a custom-made shell that fits perfectly over your natural tooth. Crowns look and act exactly like your original tooth – but better. Crowns restore broken and badly decayed or discolored teeth. Crowns also top off dental implants and build dental bridges . San Luis Obispo dentist Michael Colleran, DDS shares what you need to know about getting a crown. If You Need A Crown Getting a crown usually requires two trips to the dentist. On the first trip, the dentist makes a plan to suit your specific needs and prepares the tooth. You will also get impressions of the tooth so that a crown c...

The root word “ortho” means “straight or upright.” Orthodontics— you guessed it – help make your teeth straight. But oh, how it can do so much more! A lovely smile with straight teeth and an even bite is equal parts functional and beautiful – and thanks to scientific progress, all that can be yours. Orthodontics is an area of dentistry that focuses on how the bones and teeth of your mouth are placed and fit together. St. Augustine dentists Dr. Jeremy Gordon and Dr. Sarah Hutson are professional providers of orthodontic treatments. Read more for our general overview of orthodontics and what teeth straightening can do for you. How Does Orthodontics Work? Orthodontics moves the placement of your teeth slowly over time. Appliances (fixed or removable pieces in your mouth) add a tiny bit of pressure to help your mouth and teeth achieve the perfect shape and alignment. Your mouth is an incredible machine with many parts that work (or should work) in harmony to let you eat, speak, and ...

Cold sore . Fever blister. Herpes Simplex Virus-1. These babies go by a lot of different names, but the experience is always the same: Telltale burning or itching near the lip A red bump appears a day or so later The bump becomes a cluster of blisters The blisters dry up and scab over The scab falls off The whole process usually takes two weeks or less. Infamous for irritating pain and ruining first dates everywhere, cold sores sure wreak a lot of havoc for something so small. A cold sore is a symptom of the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) in your system. HSV-1 is so common that most people are exposed to it in childhood. Many people can have and spread the virus without ever actually having a cold sore. Catching & Spreading a Cold Sore Sadly, once you catch HSV-1, there is no permanent cure. Thankfully, it won’t do much harm. If you have HSV-1, you might occasionally experience cold sores with long periods between each outbreak. This is because HSV-1 has the habit of “...

If you’re one of the 40 million Americans with sensitive teeth, you must be familiar with the painful zing that follows a hot drink, a bite of ice cream, or just a deep breath of cold air. These and other elements can cause a sudden discomfort if you have sensitive teeth, also called dentin hypersensitivity. Each of your teeth has an important protected layer called enamel. If your enamel gets worn down, your teeth can become more sensitive over time. Your enamel is the visible, white part of the tooth and it protects the softer, inner layers of each tooth. Receding gums[LINK] can also reveal sensitive parts of the tooth that aren’t protected by enamel. If you’re living with sensitive teeth, it’s good to know what causes the pain and how to avoid it. You should also talk with Portland dentist Dr. David Case about how to treat sensitive teeth and prevent further damage to your enamel or gums. Causes of Sensitivity Underneath your enamel is a part of the tooth called the dentin. D...

A lot of healthy lifestyle choices benefit more than one system within your body. Eating well, exercising, good sleep, and fresh air all support a lot of your physical needs. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that what hurts one area of your health can easily hurt another area, too. An important (though less known) connection in your health systems is the connection between oral hygiene and heart health . Heart Disease Your mouth is home to countless kinds of bacteria. Most of these bacteria are normal and good, but some may put you at a higher risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease. Heart disease is an umbrella term that covers a wide array of less-than-desirable conditions in your heart and its connecting vessels. Your heart muscle, valves, and rhythm can all be affected by heart disease. If something prevents your heart and blood vessels from working properly, the consequences can be devastating. That’s why it’s important to know how your oral health and other lifestyle factors can...

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 ! The Salt Lake City dentists of Natural Smiles Dentistry 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? Celine Dion Jim Carrey ...

Babies and kids are constantly growing and changing, and their mouths are no exception! Throughout childhood, kids lose their baby teeth, gain adult teeth, and they begin to take ownership of their own oral health. From brushing to braces to practicing their smile, oral health is important for every kid at every stage. Read on for tips to help keep your kid smiling for life—we know you love to see your child smile, and so does Park Slope Dental Arts ! Caring for Kids’ Teeth Your child’s first teeth—often called “baby teeth”—make their momentous early arrival and continue to serve many purposes until they fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. Baby teeth hold a place in the jaw, paving the way for the adult teeth to grow in properly.  Kids who develop cavities are more likely to develop them later as adults. Don’t dismiss the importance of oral health for kids, even though there’s so much transition in their mouth in these early days. Basic oral health for kids includes brus...

You might be surprised to hear that the state of your oral health has a lot to do with preventing a stroke. There’s a certain kind of bad oral bacteria that cause gum disease , travel to other parts of your body, and cause harm. A stroke is a common but dangerous medical condition that causes a lack of blood in the brain. The effects of a stroke can be long-term and life-changing. People of any age can experience a stroke, but it’s most common in adults 40 years and older. Oral Wellness The Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center lists favorable oral health among its top five factors that prevent stroke , and a growing number of studies are finding the link between certain kinds of oral bacteria and the harm they cause to your brain. For example, these bacteria can travel into your head through your bloodstream, causing brain bleeding and dementia. This sounds scary—and it certainly can be. But with good, simple oral hygiene , you can take care of your mouth and prevent a lot of o...

Dental bonding is a versatile cosmetic and restorative dental procedure that can be performed on patients of all ages. It can repair damage, fill gaps, and improve the look and structure of teeth. Harp Pediatric Dentistry wants all our patients to enjoy healthy, confident smiles, and if your child faces problems with chipped, misshapen or gapped teeth, your Palm Harbor pediatric dentist Dr. Mark Dawoud may recommend bonding treatment. What is the Bonding Procedure? Dental bonding is a treatment where a tooth-colored material is applied directly to the teeth—a composite resin or modifiable ceramic—that restores, rejuvenates, and improves teeth in appearance and function. This minimally invasive same-day dental solution is performed in-office, and rarely requires anesthesia unless it is being used to correct decay. To assist the bonding composite in adhering to the tooth, Dr. Dawoud roughens the tooth surface and applies a conditioning liquid. Since bonding requires little prepara...

C;upping  refers to concave erosions in teeth sometimes found on the biting surfaces of teeth. These result when enamel becomes perforated due to attrition (due to tooth wear from function) and erosive wear of the exposed dentin causes the small cup shaped depression in the dentin to form. These are opposed to wear from just attrition where exposed dentin remains at the same level as the enamel of the occlusal or incisal table. Some dentists will leave these lesion alone but in my practice I suggest placing small minimally invasive composite restorations ( about .75 mm in depth) in order to prevent further errosion of these cupping lesion, since when they enlarge they tend to undermine adjacent enamel and gradually widen and deepen over time. The small composite filling that I place functions like artificial enamel since the protect the underlying dentin from further erosion. These small filling take minutes to place and the restorations are mostly completed without the need fo...

It's getting late and we are near the end of the year. If you have dental insurance and haven't made good use of it this year, there is no time to lose. Most dental insurance plans are calendar year plans and start fresh on the first of January. If you are due for a cleaning and a check up it would be best to see your dentist ASAP.  That way there may be still time enough for him or her to perform any needed treatments before the end of the year. Most plans have a yearly maximum that is covered. Each plan has it's own maximum that tend to pay out between $1000-3000 per calendar year.  To fully utilize most plans for their patients most dentists will try to allot some needed dentistry to the current year and may delay less urgent procedures to a following year. That way our patients can receive maximum help from their insurance.  Of course this isn't always possible because some work can't wait and needs to be done asap, but if procedures can wait and it's cl...

I teach at a NYU dental school on Thursdays and Fridays and am often wish the students spent a little more time on fabricating and polishing their the temporaries they fabricate for their patients Temporaries that are ill fitting and have poor margins tend to be more likely to come off between visits and to cause gingival inflammation. Also for anterior crowns, a well made temporary can function as a "dress rehearsal" for the permanent one. Some crown preparations can be done over more than one visit and relining the temporary in order to aide both in the temporary's retention and in achieving good coverage of the margins. Also when margins are covered often patients experience less sensitivity between visit. Of course there are time when I will accept less than ideal coverage of a preparations margin, but only when I expect to insert a permanent crown in approximately two weeks or less. When a patient goes for a longer time between visits, let's say several mo...

Sore jaw? Restless nights? Play sports? If any of these apply to you, you might be surprised to hear that you could use a mouthguard! Atlanta orthodontist Dr. Caroline Ceneviz has more information below. Functions of Mouthguards Mouthguards are solid pieces of plastic that keep your teeth and jaw in a specific resting position. The basic function of a mouthguard is protection. Mouthguards help prevent accidental mouth injuries, ease pain from grinding your teeth, and can even help patients with trouble sleeping. They usually only cover the top row of teeth, but can sometimes be made to cover the bottom row too. You can buy a mouthguard pre-made, custom-made, or use the “boil and bite” method for something in the middle. Custom mouthguards offer the highest level of protection and the most comfortable fit, but no matter where you get your mouthguard, actually wearing it is the most important part. Types of Mouthguards All mouthguards look and function mostly the same, but they mi...

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? Tomball dentist Dr. Michael Cimino sheds 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 pain in your mouth a...

My methods for bleaching teeth has changed a little but has for the most part stayed the same.  I still employ a zoom system for chairside whitening and still make trays for follow up whitening. If a patient wants to sav ea little money, I may suggest tray bleaching alone or Zoom Whitening alone.  I  explain that if they want to add a second modality with in a year I will discount that so that they may get a lower "bundle" fee. The new Zoom system is manufactured by Phillips and utilizes a bright visible spectrum light in place of the previous UV light. This is a good thing since the operator had to make sure to not illuminate any exposed skin or gingiva with the older UV system. I have used the newer Zoom system for over a year and it seems to perform equally well as the older version. I pre-warm the whitening gel by partially submerging it in warm water prior to using it for 3 or 4 - 15 minute sessions. Although sensitivity afterwards seems to still be a problem, mo...

A hole in your smile is never a positive thing. It negatively affects physical appearance, eating, speaking, and your overall sense of confidence and well-being. Let Family Dental Health bridge the gap between where you are with your smile and where you want to be! A missing tooth or teeth can also cause jaw pain and bite misalignment. Without a full set of teeth, your other teeth tend to move into the empty space, causing unnatural alignment in your bite and jaw—which can be very uncomfortable and can lead to bigger headaches and TMJ/TMD problems. Portland dentist Dr. David Case shares how each tooth plays an important role in your health and everyday life, and how dental bridges can restore your smile and the function of your teeth. Types of Bridges Depending on your needs, there are three common kinds of dental bridges that your dentist may recommend. The difference between each type of bridge is how they are installed and secured. The core of every bridge is the false to...

What is the Oral-Systemic Link? You’ve always heard that it’s important to take care of your teeth. Brush and floss every day, and see the dentist for good oral health. But did you know that your oral health could directly affect your overall health? And the road goes both ways—problems with your overall health show signs in your mouth, too. Did you know that gum disease increases your risk of heart attack by 50%? Did you know that plaque buildup in your mouth can be an indicator of and contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries? These mouth-body connections are called the “ oral-systemic link ”. Your St. Augustine dentists Dr. Jeremy Gordon and Dr. Sarah Hutson explain the important ways your body systems work together for better or worse. Gum Disease Infection in your gums can significantly increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, low birth weight babies, bacterial pneumonia and more. In fact, gum disease is directly linked to at least 52 other sy...

Saliva . Just the word can conjure an array of images in your imagination. From salivating at a delicious meal to studying Pavlov’s dogs to watching a baseball player spit, life is full of saliva! And that’s a good thing because saliva is very important for oral and overall health. Problems with saliva can lead to dry mouth, cavities , and bad breath. Read more below from the Salt Lake City dentists of Natural Smiles Dentistry to learn more about your saliva. Composition of Saliva Saliva is 98% water. It also contains electrolytes, mucus, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. Saliva travels to all parts of your mouth via “saliva ducts.” Saliva is made in your salivary glands and the contents come from your blood. Ancient doctors believed saliva and blood were “brothers” when it comes to a person’s wellness. Because saliva is so similar to blood, research is growing on how to use saliva samples to test for diseases. Saliva samples are already used to test for HIV, but studies are find...