-
Invisalign®
Category:
Treatment, Cosmetic Dentistry
Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign® is great for adults and teenagers.
What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your
Read more
-
April 2022 Dental Newsletter
The Importance of Preventive Care: Maintaining Good Oral Health
Preventative dental care is a significant part of overall dental health, but it's often an afterthought. Our dedicated dentist sees many patients who don’t keep up with consistent preventative oral care and then must fix the problems
Read more
-
High-Tech Office
Category:
Oral Health Topics
Digital Imaging
Digital Radiography
Future Advancements
Lasers
Read more
-
Veneers
Category:
Treatment, Cosmetic Dentistry
Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped,
Read more
-
Fillings
Category:
Oral Health Topics
Frequently asked questions: dental fillings
Are dental amalgams safe? Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to amalgam? Is it true that dental amalgams have been banned in other countries? Is there a filling material that matches tooth color? If my tooth doesn't hurt and my filling is still in
Read more
-
Women and Tooth Care
Category:
Tooth Care
Women have special needs when it comes to their oral health. That’s because the physical changes they undergo through life—menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, breast-feeding and menopause—cause many changes in the body, some harmful to teeth and gums.
Lesions and ulcers, dry sockets, as
Read more
-
Sealants
Category:
Tooth Care
Sealants are liquid coatings that harden on the chewing surfaces of teeth and are showing a great deal of effectiveness in preventing cavities—even on teeth where decay has begun.
The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses these
Read more
-
Wisdom Teeth
Category:
Dental Problems
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that erupt in the back corners of the upper and lower normal adult mouth. Unfortunately, most people experience problems from wisdom teeth; in most cases, this is because the teeth erupt too close to existing permanent teeth, causing crowding, improper
Read more
-
Pocket Reduction (flap surgery)
Category:
Treatments
Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck. When you have periodontal disease, this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming "pockets" around the teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to thrive and wreak havoc.
As
Read more
-
When to See a Periodontist?
Category:
Prevention
Anytime is a good time to see our office for a proper evaluation.
Often, the only way to detect periodontal disease is through a periodontal evaluation. A periodontal evaluation may be especially important if:
You notice any symptoms of periodontal disease.
You are not satisfied with your current
Read more
-
Oral Cancer
Category:
Dental Problems
Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers today and has one of the lowest survival rates, with thousands of new cases being reported each year. Fewer than half of all people diagnosed with oral cancer are ever cured.
Moreover, people with many forms of cancer can develop complications—some of
Read more
-
Managing Pain
Category:
Pain Management
There are many methods for relieving oral pain. They include:
Ice packs on the affected area.
Avoiding hard candy or ice.
Avoiding sleeping on your stomach.
Dentists use a wide array of pain management tools, including:
Anesthetics such as Novocaine.
Analgesics such as aspirin
Read more
-
Scaling and Root Planing
Category:
Treatments
Some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that do not respond to more conventional treatment and self-care such as flossing may require a special kind of cleaning called scaling and root planing.
The procedure begins with administration of a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small
Read more
-
Plaque
Category:
Dental Problems
Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and gums after eating foods that produce acids. These foods may include carbohydrates (starches and sugars), such as candy and cookies, and starchy foods such as bread, crackers, and cereal.
Tooth decay, commonly known as cavities, occurs when
Read more
-
Toothaches
Category:
Dental Problems
Simple toothaches can often be relieved by rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth. Avoid placing an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving
Read more
-
Scaling and Root Planing
Category:
Treatment
Some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that do not respond to more conventional treatment and self-care such as flossing may require a special kind of cleaning called scaling and root planing.
The procedure begins with administration of a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small
Read more
-
Cavities and Tooth Decay
Category:
Dental Problems
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is caused by a variety of things; in medical terms, cavities are called caries, which are caused by long-term destructive forces acting on tooth structures such as enamel and the tooth's inner dentin material.
These destructive forces include frequent exposure to
Read more
-
Old and Unsightly Fillings
Category:
Treatment, Cosmetic Dentistry
Newer kinds of fillings made from composite resins and porcelain can restore unsightly fillings; many people are surprised how natural these kinds of filling materials can make a tooth once covered by the old-fashioned silver amalgams.
Read more
-
What is Tooth Decay?
Category:
Tooth Care
Plaque is an insidious substance—a colorless, sticky film—that blankets your teeth and creates an environment in which bacteria erode tooth enamel, cause gum irritation, infection in inner structures such as pulp and the roots, and in extreme cases, tooth loss.
Some of the biggest culprits causing
Read more
-
Dentures
Category:
Treatment
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals.
Types of dentures
Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents
Read more
-
Gum Disease (Gingivitis)
Category:
Dental Problems
Gingivitis is the medical term for early gum disease, or periodontal disease. In general, gum disease can be caused by long-term exposure to plaque, the sticky but colorless film on teeth that forms after eating or sleeping.
Gum disease originates in the gums, where infections form from harmful bacteria
Read more
-
Flossing
Category:
Prevention
What is flossing? Flossing is a method for removing bacteria and other debris that cannot be reached by a toothbrush. It generally entails a very thin piece of synthetic cord you insert and move up and down between the sides of two adjoining teeth. Why is flossing important? Many dentists believe
Read more
-
Root Canal Therapy
Category:
Treatment
Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root.
All teeth have between one and four root canals.
Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the inner chamber
Read more
-
Canker/Cold Sores
Category:
Dental Problems
People sometimes confuse canker sores and cold sores, but they are completely unrelated. Both can be painful, but knowing the differences can help you keep them in check.
A canker sore is typically one that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. It is usually light-colored at its base and
Read more
-
Nutrution and Your Gums
Category:
Prevention
All dentists believe that people can prevent two of the most common diseases today - tooth decay and periodontal disease - simply by improving their diet.
Decay results when the hard tissues are destroyed by acid products from bacteria. Although poor nutrition does not directly cause periodontal disease,
Read more
-
Latex Allergy
Category:
Oral Health Topics
Naturally occurring latex has been linked in recent years to allergic reactions in people who use such products as latex gloves. The proteins in the latex, which can also become airborne, can cause problems in vulnerable people such as breathing problems and contact dermatitis. Some allergic reactions,
Read more
-
Denture Care
Category:
Tooth Care
Dentures today are made from very advanced materials designed to give you a natural appearance.
However, keep in mind that just like your teeth, dentures should be cared for with the same diligence. This means daily brushing and regular visits to your dentist.
Regular visits to your dentist are
Read more
-
Flossing
Category:
Tooth Care
What is flossing?
Flossing is a method for removing bacteria and other debris that cannot be reached by a toothbrush. It generally entails a very thin piece of synthetic cord you insert and move up and down between the sides of two adjoining teeth.
Why is flossing important?
Many dentists believe
Read more
-
Tobacco
Category:
Oral Health Topics
Dentistry health care that works: tobacco
The American Dental Association has long been a leader in the battle against tobacco-related disease, working to educate the public about the dangers inherent in tobacco use and encouraging dentists to help their patients break the cycle of addiction. The Association
Read more
-
Grafts
Category:
Treatments
Soft tissue grafts are sometimes performed to treat gum disease, or correct other abnormalities.
The procedure involves taking gum tissue from the palate or another donor source to cover an exposed root in order to even the gum line and reduce sensitivity.
Periodontal procedures are available to stop
Read more
-
Ridge Augmentation
Category:
Treatments
When you lose one or more teeth, a small indention in your gums and jawbone will form where the tooth used to be. This happens because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place. This indentation can sometimes cause a replacement tooth to look too long compared to the adjacent
Read more
-
Grafts
Category:
Treatment, Cosmetic Dentistry
Soft tissue grafts are sometimes performed to treat gum disease, or correct other abnormalities.
The procedure involves taking gum tissue from the palate or another donor source to cover an exposed root in order to even the gum line and reduce sensitivity.
Periodontal procedures are available to
Read more
-
Bulimia Nervosa
Category:
Dental Problems
People with eating disorders can suffer from oral health problems as well. This is because many of the behaviors associated with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—such as binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and use of diuretics or laxatives—cause changes in the mouth.
For example, repeated
Read more
-
Water Picks
Category:
Product Reviews
There is never a suitable substitute for daily brushing and flossing.
While some products, including water irrigation devices (or “water picks”), may be useful for specific applications, they may not be as effective as traditional flossing in the removal of plaque.
Water picks use powerful
Read more
-
Nutrition and Your Teeth
Category:
Tooth Care
It has long been known that good nutrition and a well-balanced diet is one of the best defenses for your oral health. Providing your body with the right amounts of vitamins and minerals helps your teeth and gums—as well as your immune system—stay strong and ward off infection, decay and disease.
Harmful
Read more