The teeth whitening solutions available from your dentist can work wonders on your teeth. These whitening treatments use bleaching agents, which can attack stains that sit under the surface of your teeth (over-the-counter whitening agents are only intended to treat surface stains). However, if you have tooth discoloration that is less responsive to bleaching, you may require a different treatment. Cosmetic dentistry offers a range of treatments that can give you the vividly white smile you desire. (more…)
Tooth Loss Is More Than Just A Cosmetic Problem
Children have the tooth fairy to look forward to, but you would be hard-pressed to find an adult who is excited to lose a tooth. That unsightly absence can mar your smile, and undermine your confidence. Tooth loss can also complicate the way a person chews, and speaks. A missing tooth leaves the surrounding teeth with less support, which makes them vulnerable to movement. In addition to repairing damaged teeth, restorative dentistry offers several methods for replacing a lost tooth or teeth. (more…)
How Routine Dental Visits Go Beyond Teeth Cleaning
The cleaning you receive from your hygienist during a routine dental checkup is majorly beneficial to your oral health, but routine visits involve more than just a cleaning. A checkup gives your dentist an opportunity to examine your overall oral health, and identify problems before you notice symptoms. A routine checkup also allows your dentist to screen you for signs of oral cancer. It is important to fully disclose any existing health problems when you meet with your dentist, as something you consider unrelated to your oral health could stem from issues that your dentist can diagnose. (more…)
What Porcelain Veneers Can Do For You
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…)
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