When you practice consistently good hygiene and keep up with regular preventive dental visits, you have a very good chance of preventing some of the most common dental health concerns. Things like tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath can all stem from excessive plaque and tartar buildup. However, not every challenge that your smile faces can be controlled with good hygiene. For example, if your jaw’s joints can’t operate properly – a condition known as TMJ disorder – then you may require more than just a dental checkup and cleaning to resolve it. (more…)
Teeth-Whitening: Professional vs. OTC Treatments
Few good things could be said about teeth stains, but one of the most important ones is that they can often be erased quickly and conveniently with teeth-whitening treatment. Because common teeth stains are often cosmetic and don’t pose a threat to your oral health, you can even find multiple over-the-counter (OTC) products that promise to effectively whiten your teeth. Such options are tempting given their convenience; however, even if your teeth stains are minor, treating them professionally is almost always the best option. (more…)
What No One Tells You About Bad Breath
Some people have no problem telling you that your breath is bad, while others may try to drop hints so as not to cause you any embarrassment. Some people may offer a few friendly tips, like chewing gum, and others may never say anything, but limit their interactions with you to avoid having to deal with it. However, what no one but your dentist can tell you about your bad breath is why it’s bad, and what options you have for actually getting rid of it. (more…)
Reasons Why Oral-Systemic Health Should Matter to You
Your oral health consists of many different aspects. For example, dental and periodontal care encompass most treatments that address the health of your teeth and gums. Your oral health is also closely related to your overall systemic wellbeing in many different ways. For instance, if you have severe gum disease, it could have a significant influence on your risks of other chronic inflammatory diseases. If you have a sleep breathing disorder, like sleep apnea, that involves oral tissues clogging your airway, then it could negatively impact your cardiovascular and other systems over time. Today, we examine a few aspects of the oral-systemic connection, and how understanding it can help you improve your quality of life. (more…)
A Few Other Things Sleep Apnea Treatment Improves
When you have obstructive sleep apnea – a disorder that causes you to stop breathing in your sleep – there are several different ways in which it can affect your sleep and your life. For instance, sleep apnea stops you from entering deep levels of sleep, such as Rapid Eye Movement (R.E.M.), which can cause you to grow increasingly more sleep deprived. By treating sleep apnea, preferably with a custom-designed oral appliance, you can alleviate the cause behind your sleep apnea so you can rest peacefully each night. As you sleep more soundly, you’ll also notice several related benefits of finally treating your sleep apnea. (more…)
When Smile Improvement Requires Full Reconstruction
If you have multiple concerns with your smile, then it isn’t advisable to just focus on one and ignore the rest. For example, if you have one tooth that’s chipped or fractured, another that’s infected with decay, and several more that are out of alignment, then each issue could be equally threatening to your overall oral health. A custom-designed full-mouth rehabilitation plan is one that takes all of your smile’s concerns into account, and focuses on improving your smile’s overall health, bite function, and appearance in a conservative matter. (more…)
Does Your Tooth Need a Full or Partial Crown?
When a tooth is cosmetically blemished, structurally damaged, or made slightly weaker by root canal therapy, a dental crown is often the most appropriate restoration for it. A custom-made crown can completely cap the tooth in question, revitalizing its appearance as well as fortifying and strengthening its healthy, natural structure. Today, however, not every dental crown caps a tooth completely. For minor cases of tooth damage or cosmetic blemishing, we may recommend a partial dental crown to address your tooth’s concern while minimizing the amount of preparation needed to restore it. (more…)
A Brief Guide to Your Dental Emergency
Not every dental emergency is the same, and you may not react to every one as though it were an emergency. However, the one thing they all have in common is a need for immediate attention. Whether your tooth starts to hurt or you experience accidental trauma to one or more of them, waiting to seek treatment will only give the problem more time to progress. Depending on the specific nature of the emergency, this could lead to increasingly more severe complications with your teeth and/or oral structures. Today, we take a brief look at a few of the common dental emergencies, and why seeking treatment as soon as possible is the best thing you can do for your smile. (more…)
3 Possible Reasons Why Your Tooth Hurts
If you’ve never had to deal with a toothache, then there’s a good chance that you might at some point in your life. The good news is that it isn’t always an immediately serious condition, but if ignored long enough, even the most minor toothaches can progress into much more severe pain. Because a toothache can have such a wide variety of potential causes, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for one. Instead, your dentist will carefully examine your teeth and diagnose the cause of your discomfort, then consult with you to determine the best way to deal with it. (more…)
Why Skipping Your Dental Cleaning Is a Bad Idea
The fact that professional dental cleaning is vital to a healthy smile is common knowledge. However, it doesn’t stop many people from avoiding, neglecting, or postponing their visits when time seem short. Even if you do an amazing job of consistently brushing and flossing your teeth every day, regular dental cleanings are essential to ensuring that your smile remains healthy for life. If you skip even a single appointment, then your hygiene efforts alone may not be enough to protect your smile from concerns such as tooth decay, gum disease, and more.
