Porcelain veneers are a popular cosmetic procedure that can overhaul your smile. If you are considering porcelain veneers, you should talk to your dentist to get more information on what they are, and how they can help you. It is important to understand that porcelain veneers are a permanent treatment. Depending on what you wish to remedy, there may be an alternative procedure that better fits your needs. You should also be aware that preexisting conditions can prevent your dentist from being able to provide you with porcelain veneers. (more…)
What Are Composite Fillings?
A cavity erodes the surface of your tooth. If you develop a cavity, your dentist will remove the damaged part of the tooth, and will replace the lost material with a filling. Composite fillings are a special resin that is inserted directly into the opened areas of a tooth, and visually replicates the surface of the tooth. With composite fillings, the affected tooth will retain a more natural appearance than if a metal filling is used. The material is also less susceptible to movement and reshaping than metal fillings. (more…)
Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where soft tissue in the back of the throat obstructs a person’s airways during sleep, with episodes of air loss that last ten seconds or more. It is a serious medical condition that is estimated to affect more than 10 million people in America. A person’s risk increases due to age, and if they are overweight. Your dentist can help determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea, and work to resolve the problem. (more…)
Know the Signs of Bruxism and TMD
Bruxism is the term used when patients habitually clench their jaw and grind their teeth. Because this often happens during sleep, it can occur even if you don’t realize it is happening. Bruxism can cause headaches, tooth sensitivity, and problems with your jaw. Bruxism can even lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which can produce a variety of painful symptoms and limit your jaw’s movement. It’s important to know your risks for bruxism and TMD, and to communicate any concerns with your dentist. (more…)
How Dental Bonding Can Help Your Smile
Cosmetic damage to a tooth, or to several teeth, can critically undermine a person’s confidence, and be a source of anxiety. A popular remedy for superficial damage to teeth is the dental bonding procedure. Dental bonding fixes damaged teeth by attaching (“bonding”) material that will replicate the appearance of a healthy tooth, with care to maintaining proper shape and color. Dental bonding helps to eliminate damage, discoloration, or any other visible problems that keep you from feeling comfortable with your smile. (more…)
How Much Do You Know About Root Canal Treatment?
A tooth’s root canal is the chamber inside of its root, which travels underneath your gums and into a socket in your jawbone. The root canal contains nerves and blood vessels that begin at the tooth’s pulp (center chamber) and extend into the jawbone. The point of root canal treatment is to remove these tissues when they become infected in order to stop the infection from spreading beyond the tooth. In addition to saving the tooth, root canal treatment also alleviates the intense discomfort that often accompanies an internal tooth infection. (more…)
A Close Look at Adult Tooth Loss
It may only be one tooth, but losing it can have resounding consequences for the rest of your oral health (not to mention the confidence in your smile). Those consequences increase with every tooth you lose, but can be mitigated with the right replacement option. Still, the best way to avoid the dangers that your smile could face is to prevent adult tooth loss as best you can. If you have already lost one or more teeth, than we advise scheduling an appointment with your dentist to design a restorative treatment plan as soon as possible. (more…)
Can Adults Get Dental Sealants?
You probably know that dental sealants are an essential part of children’s dentistry and are routinely applied to school-age children’s teeth to prevent the development of cavities. You might be surprised to learn that teens and adults can also reap major oral health benefits from having dental sealants placed, especially if you’re at a higher risk for tooth decay. Learn more about this simple, straightforward, and non-invasive preventive dentistry technique and discover whether you might be a good candidate for dental sealants. (more…)
Should I Whiten My Teeth at Home?
If you ask most adults what they would like to change most about their smile, the majority will answer that they’d like whiter, brighter teeth. This focus on white teeth probably accounts for the sudden boom in the teeth whitening industry over the last 15 years. In any given grocery store, you’ll find a mind-boggling array of toothpastes, strips, gels, and mouthwashes that promise to whiten teeth from the comfort of your home. In order to make the right decision for your smile, talk to your dentist before using teeth whitening products at home. (more…)
5 Tips to Prevent Cavities
The crazy thing about cavities isn’t that they affect over 90% of adults; it’s that they are so highly preventable with consistently good hygiene and dental care. Despite their destructive nature (cavities are a product of tooth decay, which destroys your tooth structure), they begin as peacefully as plaque accumulating on your teeth. The oral bacteria that plaque harbors attack your tooth enamel by converting sugars and carbs into acids, paving the way for tooth decay to set in. To prevent cavities, you have to prevent oral bacteria from overwhelming your tooth enamel and reaching the body of the tooth, called dentin. (more…)
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