Practice News

Replacing One Tooth

One tooth may not seem like too big a deal until it's missing. A missing tooth is like an invitation to decay and shifting of the nearby teeth. To avoid these problems, lost teeth can be permanently replaced using titanium implants and natural-looking crowns.

When a tooth is replaced using this method, the titanium root form is placed under the gum, where it bonds with the bone in a process called osseointegration The crown that is attached to this implant will be selected for fit, function, and to blend with the color of your other teeth.

The goal of permanent replacement is to provide a tooth that you are comfortable with. It must function like a natural tooth remaining stable during eating and in conversations. It must also feel good to you and look like it belongs with your other teeth.

Lighten Up

your teeth that is

Your wedding is coming up and you want your smile to be its brightest, or you maybe have an important speaking engagement. Whatever the reason, tooth beaching isn't just for the movie stars, and isn't just for one day. Many people have had their teeth beached, and probably millions more are thinking about it. The desire for a brighter smile with whiter teeth is very strong, and tooth Beaching safely lightens the color of the teeth, lasting for up to five years. The most effective and safest method of tooth bleaching is dentist supervised.

Generally, Bleaching is successful in at least 90 percent of patients, though it may not be an option for everyone. Consider tooth Bleaching if your teeth are darkened from age, coffee, tea, or smoking. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown, or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, smoking or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic.

First, the dentist will determine whether you are a candidate for tooth bleaching and what type of bleaching system would provide the best results. Most patients choose dentist supervised at-home bleaching, which is more economical and provides excellent results. At the next appointment, the dentist will make impressions of your teeth to fabricate a thin mouthguard appliance for you. The tray is custom made for your mouth and is lightweight so that it can be worn comfortably while you are awake or sleeping. It is so thin that you should even be able to talk and work while wearing it. Along with the tray, some bleaching systems recommend bleaching your teeth from two to four hours a day. Generally this type of system requires three weeks to complete, and works best in patients with sensitive teeth. Other systems recommend bleaching at night while you sleep. This type of system usually requires only 10-14 days to complete.

Lightness should last from one to five years depending on your personal habits such as smoking and drinking coffee and tea. At this point you may choose to get a touch up. This procedure may not be costly because you will likely use the same mouthguard. The re-treatment time is also much shorter than the original treatment time, usually two to three days.

The active ingredient in most of the whitening agents is 10 percent carbamide peroxide (CH4 N2 O2), also known as urea peroxide; when water contacts this white crystal, the release of hydrogen peroxide lightens the teeth.

Several studies, during the past five years, have proven bleaching is safe and effective. The American Dental Association has granted its seal of approval to our tooth Bleaching products. Some patients may experience slight gum irritation or tooth sensitivity, which will resolve when the treatment ends.

No one can really predict how much lighter your teeth will become. Every case is different. Typically, there is a two-shade improvement as seen on a dentists shade guide. The success rate depends upon the type of stain involved and your commitment. Bleaching does not lighten artificial restorative materials such as composite resins or porcelains.

Give Up The Grind

Bruxism is the technical term for grinding and clenching that abrades teeth and may cause facial pain. People who grind and clench, called bruxers, unintentionally bite down too hard at inappropriate times, such as in their sleep. In addition to grinding teeth, bruxers also may bite their fingernails, pencils and chew the inside of their cheek. People usually aren't diagnosed with bruxism until it is too late because so many people do not realize they have the habit. Others mistakenly believe that their teeth must touch at all times. About one in three people suffer from bruxism, which can easily be treated by a dentist.

People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and so hard that over time their teeth become sensitive. They experience jaw pain, tense muscles and headaches along with excessive wear on their teeth. Forceful biting when not eating may cause the jaw to move out of proper balance.

When a person has bruxism, the tips of the teeth look flat. Teeth are worn down so much that the enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of the tooth, which is called dentin. When exposed, dentin may become sensitive, bruxers may experience pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) the jaw which may manifest itself as popping and clicking. Women have a higher prevalence of bruxism possibly because they are more likely to experience tissue alterations in the jaw resulting from clenching and grinding. Tongue indentations are another sign of clenching.

Stress and certain personality types are at the root of bruxism. For as long as humankind has existed, bruxism has affected people with nervous tension. Anger, pain, and frustration can trigger bruxing. People who are aggressive, competitive and hurried also may be at a greater risk for bruxism.

Possible treatments for bruxism include wearing a hard, acrylic bite splint on one arch of the teeth and changing your lifestyle to lessen stress. Controlling tooth grinding can be affected by the patients motivation, but many cases of bruxism can be kept under control with a bite splint. Depending on when the bulk of the "bruxing" occurs, these appliances can be designed to be worn during sleep or at various times during the day. This appliance can prevent future damage to the teeth and helps change the patients destructive behavior. If you think you might be grinding your teeth, talk with us about your symptoms and concerns. You might save yourself from a morning headache.

Oral Health and Your Heart

Researchers are finding possible links between periodontal infections and other diseases throughout the body. Current studies suggest that there may be a link between periodontal (gum) diseases, heart disease, and other health conditions. In fact, research suggests that gum diseases may be a more serious risk factor for heart disease than hypertension, smoking, cholesterol, gender and age.

New studies suggest that people who have gum disease seem to be at higher risk for heart attacks, although no one is certain how this relationship works. Your oral health affects your overall health, but the studies that will find exactly why these problems linked are still underway. The current theory is that bacteria present in infected gums can come loose and move throughout the body. The same bacteria that cause gum disease and irritate your gums might travel to your arteries, researchers are unsure what causes the bacteria to become mobile, but it has been suggested that bacteria can be dislodged and enter the bloodstream during tasks as simple as brushing, flossing or even chewing.

Research shows that risk varies according to the level of gum infection. The worse the infection, the more likely the bacteria are to become Hood-borne. Infected gums Weed, making it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If bacteria become dislodged, the bacteria enter through cuts or sores in your mouth and travel to other parts of the body through your bloodstream.

Once bacteria reach the arteries, they can irritate them in the same way they irritate gum tissue. This could cause arterial plaque to accumulate in the arteries, which can cause hardening and block blood flow. Compromised blood flow to your heart can cause a heart attack. Also, arterial plaque can come loose and travel to other parts of the body.

Gum disease is a serious gum infection that should always be taken seriously. Although gum disease can often show few or no symptoms at all, watch for gums that are red and irritated, or gums that bleed easily. There are many new treatments available to control and help reverse gum disease.

Always remember that gum disease is caused by plaque buildup. Brush and floss regularly to remove plaque that you can't see below the gumline and remember to schedule regular checkups. If you remove the plaque, you minimize the chance of getting gum disease.