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…)
Is There a Link Between Coffee and Oral Cancer?
It’s no surprise that Americans love their coffee. In fact, according to a recent poll, 83% of U.S. adults drink coffee every day and the average American drinks about 3 cups of the brown stuff per day (that’s a whopping 537 million cups a day!). A slew of recent studies have shown that regularly consuming coffee may be associated with better mental and physical performance (something we coffee drinkers already knew!), lower risk for Type II diabetes, and lower risk for liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. Now, good news from the American Dental Association suggests that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day may be associated with a lower risk for oral cancers. (more…)
Root Canal Treatment Explained
If you’ve ever had a sensitive tooth, you would probably agree that it was one of the most excruciating experiences you’ve ever had. Studies reveal that 25% of working adults in America have had to take time off of work to visit a dentist about one or more sensitive teeth. The discomfort can indicate any number of dental issues, from a cracked or chipped tooth to a deeply infected pulp (the bundle of nerves and vessels at the center of your tooth). If an infection has reached the center of your tooth, then you may require root canal treatment to alleviate the pain and prevent the tooth infection from spreading. (more…)
Can Porcelain Veneers Give You a New Smile?
You might wish for a new smile, but are not sure where to start. Or, you may have so many blemishes to worry about that you aren’t sure if a new smile is attainable. For many patients, porcelain veneers can offer a minimally-invasive (and almost immediate) brand new smile, regardless of multiple cosmetic concerns. Made from lifelike materials and crafted to mimic your unique individual teeth, porcelain veneers offer amazing results with surprisingly little preparation. (more…)
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
Do you frequently snore or feel inexplicitly tired during the day? If so, you may be experiencing the common symptoms of a serious sleep disorder. Do you have sleep apnea? Fortunately, patients with his disorder can make simple changes to their daily routine and seek comfortable and noninvasive treatment options.
Do You Need a Dental Crown?
All dental crowns are designed to do the same thing – to cover a tooth, either to restore its strength or to improve its outward appearance. However, the specific condition that leads to your need for a dental crown will vary from other patients’ needs. Therefore, how your restoration is designed and placed, such as which materials are used, will depend on your unique need for a dental crown. In most cases, the goal is to restore the tooth’s health, but given the advancements of modern dental crowns, most materials also offer impressive cosmetic improvements. (more…)
A Quick Guide to Dental Implants
Dental implants may be relatively new to the world of restorative dentistry, but they are already popular enough that most people recognize what they are. Still, not everyone understands their importance, or their benefit, when it comes to replacing lost teeth. Unlike traditional dental prostheses, dental implants have the ability to replace the roots of your lost teeth, thereby providing unmatched support for the replacement teeth attached to them. To help you better understand how such support can impact your oral health, we offer a brief guide to dental implants and how, exactly, they can rebuild your smile. (more…)
How Do I Stop Grinding My Teeth?
Do you suffer from bruxism? This disorder involves chronic teeth grinding or jaw clenching and can lead to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. If you have this issue you may be wondering, “How do I stop grinding my teeth?” Fortunately, there is a simple and non-surgical solution to persistent teeth grinding.
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