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A cavity is something that every individual needs to go through in his entire life span. All the efforts put in to keep the teeth clean and strong can prove to be useless when you find the one little cavity being formed in a tooth. Cavities can cause a major problem if they are left unattended and here is when people walk in for dental treatments that will help them deal with the present cavities and fight the further consequences.

A group of dentists in Little Rock has recently spoken about filling the cavity at an earlier stage can be the best solution to the problem. It prevents the tooth from decaying further and reduces the amount of pain that the patient may have to go through. In the most several conditions, one needs to think of undergoing a root canal treatment. But, what if the tooth has already been filled or has already undergone root canal and still the patient feels the pain? There are a number of reasons that might cause this pain to persist even after the cavity has been filled. Let us take a look at these one by one and make sure that the dentist does not make these minor mistakes while treating our teeth.

One thing that is most important before a cavity is being filled is that the tooth needs to be cleaned thoroughly and should be dry before that paste is applied on it. There should be even a hair like space present between the tooth and the filling. This space is enough to let in external stimulations to enter in and affect the pulp from within.

This is the rarest and the least observed after effect of a filling or a root canal. It occurs if there are two kinds of metals present in the mouth. This might be due to a silver cap placed on a root reacting to a cavity filling that contains another metal. The reaction causes an electric charge and thus results into a pain like the one felt while having a sensitive tooth.

This might happen if the bacteria that decayed the tooth already reached the pulp inside. This might have been missed out by the dentist and thus caused pain after the filling was placed. Another thing that could have happened is that the bacteria might have almost reached the pulp and the pulp might have got infected only after the filling was done.

These might be the three main reasons that might be causing the pain even after you have gone through a proper dental treatment. Thus, it is important for doctors to be extra careful while treating a patient with a cavity in the tooth. It is the duty of the dentist to make sure that every minute area on and around the decayed tooth is cleaned before the cavity is being filled or the tooth is to be covered using a metal cap.

Mangan Dental Group - Dr. Steve Mangan
2011 North Van Buren Street, Little Rock, AR 72207
(501)666-1188

Who can resist the charm of a person with a beautiful smile flashing her pearly whites? As strange as it might sound, a survey has proved that people with beautiful smile are favored over others. Your teeth can make or break your smile. White, perfectly identical teeth can enhance your smile to no extent. On the other hand, stained, chipped, missing teeth can mar even the most beautiful faces. If you are not naturally blessed with a set of pearly whites, you can always seek an expert's help and go for a smile makeover treatment! 

Smile Makeover Treatment

Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way, since its inception. Its applications are no more restricted to realigning teeth and fitting crowns on chipped teeth. With the advent of technology and newer practices in this field, one can go for a complete smile makeover. Let us see what are the procedures involved in a smile makeover treatment.

• Repositioning or realignment of teeth using Invisalign braces
  
• Removal of stains - includes veneering, porcelain treatments
• Missing tooth replacement through dental implants
• Chipped tooth correction using advanced fillings
• Teeth whitening treatments

All the above treatments are capable of producing dazzling results. They can bring about a drastic change in an individual's appearance. Invisalign braces are almost invisible and a far better option than the metal braces. Dental implants are a permanent treatment to replace a missing tooth. Similarly, teeth whitening treatments are a great option if you are looking for a dazzling result in a short time. 

Smile Makeover Cost and Duration

The cost of the dental treatment would depend upon the particular treatment you opt for, location of the dental clinic and the qualification of the dentist. It's a no brainer that these treatments at the best dentist's clinics often cost you more. The treatment cost would also depend upon the condition of your teeth. If you only need a small fix, then you can get away with a small budget. On the other hand, major procedures such as implants can put quite a dent in your dental budget.

Similarly, the duration of smile makeover treatments is also dependent upon the nature and number of procedures that you want to opt for. Some procedures like veneering, fillings can be completed over 1 - 2 sittings, whereas more extensive treatments such as braces may even take up to one year to complete.  

Smile makeover can definitely enhance your appearance and boost your self-confidence. It may not be wrong to assume that you may actually counter better opportunities in your career and personal life due to an improved appearance. 

About Oracare Dental Centre:

Oracare Dental Centre: A dental clinic based in Pune, India offers you a pleasant experience in regards to your dental needs. Oracare features state of the art technological equipments doubled up with some of the best dentists that Pune has to offer. Rest assured for a pain free treatment at one of the best dental clinics in Pune, Oracare. The clinic has collaborated with the prestigious Jehangir Hospital and takes end-to-end dental care through advanced treatment options at a reasonable cost. With over a 1000 successful smile design treatments and over 5000 root canal treatments, at Oracare, you are in safe and professional hands. Walk in for an appointment today or connect online with the Oracare Dental Centre at www.oracaredentalcentre.com

If you’re scheduled for your dentist to pull a tooth in the near future, read below for some things you should know beforehand, as well as some suggestions regarding what to do both before and after the procedure.

First, before having a tooth pulled be sure to tell the dentist about any medications you’re taking for any conditions you may have. You pretty much should provide your dentist with your complete medical history.

As for the extraction itself:

• Your dentist will do different things, depending on why he’s decided the tooth needs to go. If he’s pulling the tooth, for example, because it’s become impacted, he will cut the gum and bone tissue that cover the tooth and will use forceps to first, rock the tooth gently back and forth to loosen it and then pull it out.  (He will have given you’re an anesthetic of some type before this, of course!)
• Once the tooth is out, a blood clot more than likely will form in the socket. Your dentist will tightly pack sterile gauze in the socket, asking that you bite down on it to help stop bleeding.
• Your dentist may place a few self-absorbing stitches to close the gum’s edges over the socket.

Rest assured, complications are rare, although full recovery can take a few days. You should be able to return to school or work after 24 hours have passed.

Your dentist may prescribe non-habit-forming pain killers. Take them as he prescribes.

The blood clot in your socket will continue to bleed for a bit, so be sure to change the gauze pads your dentist placed in the socket before they become soaked. (You probably won’t leave the dentist’s office until he has determined the bleeding has stopped.)

Once the bleeding stops, you should keep the gauze pad(s) in place for three or four hours. Your dentist also probably will apply an ice pack to the area right after the extraction to keep swelling down. Apply ice for no more than 10 minutes at a time.

Relax at home for the following 24 hours and take it easy for the two or three days following.

Don’t spit or rinse too strongly for 24 hours as you could dislodge the blood clot. After 24 hours, you should rinse your mouth with a mixture of 8 ounces of water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt.

You should eat soft foods (yogurt, soup, applesauce, and so on) for 24 hours after the extraction and then slowly reintroduce more solid foods as you heal. You also should continue to brush/floss your other teeth, being careful to stay clear of the where your tooth was pulled.

You should expect to feel some pain and an achy feeling after the extraction, especially after the anesthesia has worn off. You also could have a bit of bleeding.

If the bleeding and/or pain are excessive four hours or more after the extraction, call your dentist. You also should contact your dentist if you have a fever, nausea/vomiting, cough, shortness of breath, pain in your chest, and/or excessive redness or swelling near the extraction site.

Technically, anywhere in the world could be a dental tourism destination. However, there are a number of countries who have established themselves as dental tourist destinations, providing patients with good quality, affordable dental care they can rely on.

Where to go for dental treatment abroad?

Traditionally, patients living close to an international border have formed the majority of dental travelers. This is still mostly true, but with the advent of cheap international airfares patients are no longer looking at the nearest destination. However, because most dental tourists are looking to save money, it makes sense not to have to waste money on unnecessary travel expenses.

So, Mexico attracts North American visitors, especially those from the southern states of California, Arizona and Texas who can cross the border easily. Similarly, Costa Rica is within touching distance of Miami, and is convenient for East Coast Americans and Canadians.

In Europe, Hungary is credited as being one of the very first dental and medical tourist destinations with visitors from surrounding countries making the trip for better and less expensive medical care. It is one of the world’s most popular medical tourist destinations and boasts more dentists per head than any other country.

Meanwhile, Thailand has positioned itself as one of the pioneers of modern medical and dental tourism, attracting Aussies and Kiwis, as well as travelers from Europe and The Americas.

Why go abroad for dental care?

The main reason is cost.  Americans, Canadians, some Europeans, Aussies and Kiwis all pay a lot for dental care, and the simple fact is that for a lot of people even a modest-priced procedure (in terms of cost of dental procedures) is often out of reach.

Depending on the nature of the treatment dental tourism can save patients, on average, around 70% - more than enough to pay for a holiday.

What about the quality of dental tourism?

There is no reason why the standards of dental care abroad should be any less than what you would receive at home.

But like any other service, it is wise to do your research and check all the information available regarding your procedure, your destination of choice, the clinic and the dentist who will be performing your treatment.

If you don’t know where to start then Dental Departures is an online resource where you can search for a dentist from more than 2250 listed in 29 countries. Dental Departures also pre-checks its verified dentists and provides details of qualifications, clinic photos and real patient reviews to give you everything you need to feel confident about becoming a dental tourist.

When asked why they avoid regular dental checkups, many people said that they are scared of the pain that they may have to bear and a few others said that they do not want to undergo treatments that include a lengthy procedure. But, are the dental treatments really that painful and lengthy? Aren’t there any easier methods to replace such treatments?

A dentist is the right person who can help you select the best treatment that you need. With the introduction of advanced technology in almost all the medical fields, the dental health care industry is in no way an exception. Here too, many dental lab equipments have been introduced to make the tasks easier for dentists and bearable for the patients.

We all know that technology has been helping in making things simpler. Similarly, when we are talking about the use of latest equipments in the dental field, it does mean that the entire dental procedure will be made easier so that dentists finish their task soon without causing much pain to the patient. There are a number of equipments that are necessary in a dental clinic.

The Digital X-ray machine is an important equipment that is a must at a dental clinic. The regular ones will give you a mystified image on a film that you barely understand. But, the more advanced machines that now introduced in this field promise less use of radiation and are thus environment friendly. There are also machines that display the image immediately on the computer screen. The dentist can then explain what is exactly wrong with the tooth.

When a dentist is examining a patient’s mouth, the patient has no idea about what can be seen within. If a camera is used in this case and a monitor placed before the patient, it will help in showing the patient what exactly the problem is. According to dentists, cameras like this, do not only give them a larger view of things, but make it easier to explain the patients about the root cause of a problem.

Patients are often found visiting a dentist when its too late. Either the cavity has reached deep within or it has completely destroyed the tooth. But, if one can make use of a laser scanner to detect these cavities well in advance, dentists can help patients deal with the problem at an earlier stage. Detecting a cavity even before it actually starts affecting the tooth can help in saving the original condition of the tooth.

We have thus seen how useful these advanced equipments can be. They will make work much easier for the dentists and will help in making the patient realize the severity of the problem and will also speed up the entire procedure. Thus, a dentist who wishes to invest in these dental lab equipments, should prefer purchasing the latest ones that have all the advanced features.

Cosmetic dentistry gives an experienced cosmetic dentist the ability to transform any smile from ordinary to extraordinary.Porcelain veneers can be a major component in that transformation. Unfortunately, not every patient who wants porcelain veneers is a good candidate for them. Below you will find what is needed to be a good candidate for porcelain veneers.

Criteria For Porcelain Veneers

-Desire For A Beautiful Smile. when one desires a change, especially one requiring a financial investment, they are usually open to being diligent to maintaining it. If the porcelain veneers are not cared for they will break down overtime. Regular dental examinations, professional cleanings, and excellent homecare are an integral part of keeping your smile transformation.

-Healthy Teeth And Gums. If extensive tooth decay, fractured teeth, or periodontal disease are present, you will not be considered a good candidate for porcelain veneers. A stable platform is needed for porcelain veneers. The mouth needs to be  in a healthy, stable state to allow porcelain veneers to be considered an option. You will need a full dental evaluation to assess your dental health. If your mouth is unhealthy, it is best to avoid porcelain veneers due to the high liklihood of failure.

-Alignment Of Teeth. Severely misaligned teeth will cause issues with preparation of teeth for porcelain veneers. Most dentists try to be quite conservative when removing natural tooth structure. If the teeth are too far out of alignment it means more tooth structure will need to be removed to accomodate the spacing. Removing too much tooth structure can lead to tooth sensitivityand even nerve exposure (requiring root canal therapy). For teeth that are severely misaligned, invisalign, 6 month smile, or traditional orthodontics may be needed to bring them into better alignment.

-Sufficient Tooth Enamel Present. Tooth enamel is needed for the porcelain veneers to bond to your teeth. If the tooth  is severely worn down or damaged, porcelain veneers will not bond well and may not be a good option for you. In this case a full crown may be a better option.

-Tooth Color. In general, veneers look best when they are thin and translucent. If you have severely stained teeth (developmental dentin staining, tetracycline staining, root canal staining), it is usually best to whiten your teeth prior to veneers. Blockout of color is possible, but doesn’t look as natural.

-Gum Tissue Alignment. Proper gum contours are necessary to proper tooth shaping of veneers. If the gum heights are out of proportion, they will need to be recontoured with a gingivectomy procedure prior to veneer placement.

- Oral Habits: Nail Biting, Teeth Clenching/Grinding (Bruxism). Severe teeth clenchers or teeth grinders are not good candidates for porcelain veneers. Veneers are not able to handle the powerful stresses put forth by grinding and clenching. If a patient only grinds their teeth at night then it is possible to still complete porcelain veneers but only with the use of a night guard at night. Other oral habits such as, biting nails, chewing on pens, opening packages with your teeth, etc. will also cause damage to veneers and may cause them to fail.

Porcelain Veneers Conclusion

Porcelain veneers when done on the right individual can change a persons smile dramatically. It is important to remember that veneers are not right for every situation. Be sure to have a thorough evaluation by your dentist to see if your cosmetic options may include porcelain veneers.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

It has been said that the only thing in life that is constant is change. The same can be said for our smiles. As we age, our smiles change. This occurs when we are younger with new teeth erupting, loss of teeth as we get older, or even just teeth being misaligned. Ever wonder why teeth are constantly on the move?

Teeth Moving Factors

-Genetics. This always plays a role when it comes to our bodies and especially our teeth. Children actually inherit their parents tooth shape and size.

-Age. Anothe rmajor factor. As we use our teeth the dimensions of them change from wear over time. The lower teeth tend to wear out facter than the upper teeth due to their smaller size. This is commonly referred to as vertical bite collapse and is one of the reasons the skin around our mouths sag as we age. As the teeth wear down they are under immense pressure to shift and change positions as the bite re aligns itself anew.

Genetics, of course, can be a major factor. You can actually inherit your tooth shape! Tracing back either one or several generations, if it’s in your genes to have small or misshapen or crooked teeth, then that will probably be your eventual (not-permanent) fate.

-Tooth Loss. A major factor in teeth shifting when we are young and old. Most people believe that primary teeth can just come out and not cause any problems. This is not the case, the primary teeth hold space for the larger permanent teeth so are vital in that capacity. The loss of permanent teeth will allow the other teeth surrounding the loss to shift into that space.  If bottom teeth are missing, the tooth above will begin to grow downward. Nothing is stopping it from doing so or pushing it back into its place.

-Tooth Grinding (Bruxism). Grinding the hard surfaces of enamel together can wear down, fracture, and chip your teeth. Your teeth may appear shorter as they wear.  Another effect of teeth grinding is actual changes in the position of the teeth.  This grinding action juts the lower teeth forward and can loosen your upper teeth over time. Over time, these stresses can allow the teeth to move or drift to a different position and dramatically change your smile.

What Can Be Done To Fix or Stop Your Smile Moving?

-Dental Implants. Missing teeth can make you feel uncomfortable with smiling, socially awkward, or may make you look older than you are. Replacing lost teeth can be done with very natural results. Dental implants are a great way to achieve cosmetics, strength, and durability. Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. The best part is, once restored, the dental implants should last long after your big day is over.

-Dental Bonding. This cosmetic dentistry procedure involves using tooth colored materials that can be bonded to teeth to change shape, color, and length. This same material can also be used to fully cover the front surface (referred to as a composite veneer). Dental bonding can generally be completed in one visit and make dramatic changes to your smile.

-Porcelain Veneers. While the initial cost is higher than the other cosmetic dentistry options, this may be cost effective if extensive changes need to be made. Porcelain veneers can change shape, color, length, and even correct minor misalignments of teeth. This will last a long time, will not stain, and is a very strong, natural looking material. If this is an option for your big day, you will need to plan in advance as time is needed to complete lab work.

-Porcelain and Zirconia Crowns. These types of crowns are the strongest and most cosmetic options available. They are made from modern dental porcelains that range in strength and esthetics. If done properly, no one should ever be able to tell a porcelain crown from a natural tooth. Modern porcelains possesses strength, color properties, and light reflection properties that very closely mimic our natural teeth. Porcelain crowns can be used to change bite alignment issues as well as change alignment of front teeth which are more extreme such as those issues that porcelain veneers alone cannot fix. More natural tooth structure needs to be removed in preparing a porcelain crown vs a porcelain veneer.

-Snap On Smile. This is a quick, conservative way to improve your smile without any permanent dental work. All that is required is having your dentist take impressions of your teeth, choosing a color, and the dentist sending them to a lab to have your custom snap on smile fabricated. Once the snap on smile is created, you simply clean your teeth, apply a fluoride gel inside, and slip it on over your teeth. You can talk, eat and smile with it all day long.

-Tooth Recontouring. Changing the shape or alignment of teeth in a minor way can have a dramatic effect on a persons smile. Tooth recontouring involves removing small amounts of tooth structure from edges of teeth to correct a tooth that might be misshapen or slightly misaligned.

-Orthodontic Treatment. Minor tooth movement can be utilized by your cosmetic dentist to bring your smile in line and allow for a better harmony between your smile and function.

Conclusion

Gone are the days where you have to just “deal” with a smile you are unhappy with. Cosmetic dentistry is not only about esthetics. Many of the procedures listed above will also improve the form and function of your teeth to allow for better health as well.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

Bleeding gums are often an indication of poor dental hygiene or gum diseases. In some cases they may be a symptom of some underlying health issue. In rare cases, they may be a sign of a serious problem such as heart disease or cancer. If you have been suffering from bleeding gums for a prolonged period, then it definitely warrants a need for medical intervention. Your dentist will be able to ascertain a cause behind bleeding gums and suggest an appropriate remedy.

Bleeding Gums Causes     

As mentioned above, there could be myriad causes for bleeding gums. Oftentimes, you may also have red, swollen, painful gums. Here are a few of the causes.

• Poor hygiene.
• Wrong brushing technique.
• Using a hard bristled brush.
• Poor diet and lifestyle.
• Underlying medical conditions.
• Gum diseases such as scurvy, gingivitis, periodontitis.
• Hormonal problems.

Bleeding Gum Treatment     

Only a dentist will be able to ascertain the correct cause behind gum problems. He will suggest an appropriate course of treatment depending upon the underlying cause.

• Poor hygiene can be countered by brushing your teeth for prescribed number of time. Regularly floss your teeth and get them cleaned from a dentist at least once in six months.
• If there is a plaque accumulation underneath your gums, causing pockets, then the plaque needs to be cleaned by a dentist. At times, surgery may be required to reduce the pockets.
• You can get educated about the correct brushing technique from your dentist. Invest in a good quality brush with gentle bristles. It is a good idea to go for electric brush rather than a manual one. Clean your teeth by applying gentle, circular strokes.
• Make necessary changes in your diet plan. Junk food, desserts, sugary drinks can be detrimental to your gums and teeth. Instead, include a lot of nutrient rich fruits and vegetables in your diet.
• Quit smoking. Smokers are six times more likely to develop some kind of dental problem than non smokers.
• Pay a visit to a dental clinic on a regular basis, even if you have perfectly healthy teeth and gums. This way you can address any underlying issue before any painful symptoms surface.

You may want to see your physician on an urgent basis, if the problem is not with gums but your health. In any case, do not delay seeking an expert's opinion when you have bleeding gums.

Billboards On High Traffic Roads In The Area of Your Practice Will Help To Bring In New Clients.

If your child’s presses up against his teeth or behind them while swallowing, he may have a condition known as orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD), colloquially called tongue thrust.

Some cases of tongue thrust see the child moving his tongue to the side of his mouth, instead of forward toward his teeth. In addition, your child could position his tongue improperly while at rest. If so, it may lie too far forward in your child’s mouth.

You also might notice that your child tends to keep his lips open and may even stick his tongue out enough that you can see it.

One indication of tongue thrusting is when a child tends to keep his or her tongue a bit exposed outside the mouth.

A tongue thrust may not seem like such a big deal, but it can adversely affect how your child’s teeth align. It also could affect his speech, possibly eventually resulting in a lisp.

Also, just as when a child’s sucks his thumb, tongue thrusting can bring pressure against the front teeth, possible pushing them out of alignment. This can lead the teeth protruding, causing an overbite.

Additional signs of tongue thrust are chapped lips or sores on your child’s lips. You also may notice that your child tends to breathe through his mouth most of the time, rather than through his nose.

Many parents have never heard of tongue thrusting, so don’t be surprised if your child’s dentist, orthodontist, pediatrician, or even someone at school mentions or diagnoses the condition.

A good percentage of tongue thrusting actually is diagnosed when a child starts displaying a speech impediment, such as a lisp.

Treatment may be handled in two different ways:

• The first involves placing a device in the child’s mouth (a dentist performs this procedure) that helps prevent your child from thrusting his tongue forward.
• The second is retraining this habit. Your child will be given exercises that will help him retrain the muscles that are associated with swallowing. A trained speech therapist oversees this type of retraining.

The oral therapy method/retraining tends to have the highest percentage of successful results.

Image courtesy of arztsamui/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Word of mouth advertising has always been the best most inexpensive source of new clients for dental practices.

We all have had to deal with the annoyance of removing a Yellow Pages directory from our front doorstep only to place it directly in the trash.  You would be surprised at the fact there are many Americans who still use the Yellow Pages and have a land line telephone in their home.  

Many of these individual are baby boomers that are late in retirement age.  Dental practices cater to patients of all ages. During a person's entire life span they will still need to visit some type of dental practice, even after they lose their teeth.

What is Zirconia?

Zirconia or Zirconium Oxide is a powdered metal that is used to produce dental Zirconia or frameworks or even dental substructures like bridges and crowns. It is a replacement for the earlier used gold and silver. Zirconia gives a whiter look to the teeth and is transparent for x-rays.

What is a Zirconia Crown used for?

A Zirconia crown is a wonderful cap that helps cover chipped, disfigured, broken or stained teeth. The crown makes them look natural and pretty. These new types of restorations make the tooth look aesthetic and natural. The destroyed part of the tooth is first chipped off and then later is shaped in such a way that the crown can fit in comfortably.

Let us take a look at the advantages of such crowns.

1. Strength: The material used for dental Zirconia is made using a powder that possesses crystalline properties. This makes it sturdy and durable. The strength of the crown determines how long will it support you and reduce your trips to the dentist.
2. Unbreakable: As we have already seen that the Zirconia is made using a strong material that makes them unbreakable and strong enough to bear all kinds of wear and tear. This reduces the frequency of the visits that a patient would have to pay to the dentist.
3. Aesthetics: Zirconia is made of a crystalline, transparent material that makes it look not much different than a real natural tooth. One may not be able to distinguish between the part of the tooth and the Zirconia crown that may be placed over it.
4. Highly Compatible with the human body: Zirconia is a material that does not cause any harm to the human body. It is used as a raw material to make artificial joints. Unlike the other materials used, this does not create problems like infections or allergic reactions. Thus, it is completely safe to be used in the making of dental restoration materials.
5. Easy procedure: When a person may first think about dental procedures or corrections, all that he might think is about the longest time and lots of pain that one would experience. But, fitting in Zirconia Crowns is an easier task. The tooth is not extracted completely like it is done in other forms of treatment. Only the defected area of the tooth is removed and the rest is made ready to hold the crown.

These are the 5 basic advantages of getting a Zirconia Crown fitted. Another important advantage of such a treatment is that it prevents the graying of the gums that is usually found in the case of many other treatments.

Stress is the body’s internal and external reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious.

Too much stress is known to be bad for us but did you know that stress can also cause issues to your dental health?

Dental Issues That Can Be Caused By Stress

Poor Dental Hygiene

When a person is under stress they tend to lose focus on basic habits and this includes being diligent with maintaining their dental hygiene. If you do not take care of your dental hygiene, your dental health as well as your general health will begin to suffer. This is especially true if you already suffer from periodontal disease as skipping any part of your dental hygiene program can worsen the periodontal disease. Another issue with being under stress is your nutrition changes. Most people dealing with stress tend to develop very unhealthy eating habits. This can include snacking on larger than normal amounts of sugary foods and drinks. These changes will increase your risk for tooth decay.

A good way to combat stress in your life is to maintain a routine of regularly exercising. Exercising regularly can help you relieve some of that stress and give you an extra energy boost. Exercise will also boost your immune system which is always a plus.

Teeth Grinding (also called Bruxism)

One of the main reasons why people grind their teeth is due to stress. Bruxism can occur day or night but it is usually a subconscious act. Stress is not the only cause of bruxism but it does make it worse. Some of the dental issues associated with bruxism include:

-Headaches

-Ear Pain

-Worn Down Teeth.

-Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Issues

-Sensitive Teeth

-Chipped or cracked teeth

-Receding Gums or teeth with notches in them at the gum line

Your dentist may recommend a night guard to wear while you sleep to minimize the damage caused to your teeth. Usually, if stress is the cause the bruxism will stop when the stressor is removed.

Mouth Sores

Mouth sores come in many forms. These can include:

-Canker sores. These are small ulcers with a white or grayish base and bordered in red.  There has been vigorous debate regarding what causes canker sores. Some believe it is an immune system issue, bacteria, or even a virus. Consensus is that stress can increase the risk of them showing up. Canker sores are not known to be contagious.

Canker sores generally last about 7-10 days. Spicy foods as well as highly acidic foods should be avoided as they tend to irritate the sores. One of the best forms of relief comes from a dentist prescribed medicine called Debacterol. This medicine is applied directly to the sore and can reduce symptoms as well as the length that the sores are present.

-Cold sores (or fever blisters). These sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are highly contagious. Cold sores are blisters that are filled with fluid that often appear on or around the lips. They can also appear under the nose or around the chin area. Emotional stress can trigger an outbreak. Other triggers include fever, a sunburn, or skin abrasion.

Cold sores often heal on their own in about a week’s time. Treatment is available, including over-the-counter remedies and prescription antiviral drugs. Ask your doctor or dentist if either could help you. It is important to start treatment as soon as you feel or notice the cold sore forming. The sooner you start treatment the effects of the cold sore will be reduced.

Periodontal Disease

Stress can lead to depression. And studies have shown that patients who are depressed have twice the risk of a poor outcome from periodontal disease treatment compared to those who are not in a depressed state. You can not make depression or the stress disappear, of course. But most experts agrees that learning healthy coping strategies can help reduce the risk of periodontal issues getting worse.  Also, people who are depressed tend to have poor overall hygiene and that includes dental hygiene.

Conclusion

Keep in mind we all have stress during the course of our day. Developing proper techniques for dealing with that stress can make a world of difference in the maintanence of our dental health as well as our overall health. As always, see your dentist regularly for dental examinations along with professional cleanings to ensure you keep your smile as healthy as can be!

Remember, eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene help reduce your risks of periodontal disease. Make sure you brush twice a day and floss daily.

© 2014, Marielaina Perrone DDS. All rights reserved. Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

A dental implant is synthetic structure made to replace the roots of the missing tooth. Broadly, the procedure is a three step process – first is the implant itself, second is the abutment, followed by a dental crown that is placed over the implant. It is fabricated from a bio-compatible material and can be custom-made to match the colour & shade of your original teeth, giving you a complete natural appearance enhancing the beauty of your smile.

The word “Zirconia” is derived from Zirconium Oxide, a white powdered ceramic metal like substance to craft frameworks for crowns, bridges and other dental substructures. It is significantly utilized in superficial dentistry to ensure restoration of a whiter appearance and translucency of the tooth. Zirconium crowns are the ideal solution to several dental issues caused due to unhealthy eating and drinking habits that encompass consumption of antibiotics, tobacco, carbonated drinks, coffee, tea etc.

Zirconium crowns are framed in a manner that they encircle a tooth that has been affected by a threatening cavity. It is typically used to enhance the quality, strength and form of teeth. Though you can find crowns made of different materials, those using zirconium have been steadily growing in their popularity. These crowns have a very thin line to corrode, due to their strong ceramic metal composition. What’s more, their lack of electric conductivity ensures that you don’t feel the too cold/hot sensations that you would with other crowns.  

In order to formulate Zirconium crowns, a temporary crown is mounted by uprooting the decomposed segment of your natural tooth. The new crown is securely fixed after it is prepared, thus ensuring a lifelong resolution to your oral health concern. Opting for zirconium crowns lets you bridge gaps in teeth and establish a strong foundation to healthy teeth that rivals all other crowns built of materials such as porcelain, plastic metal etc.

The growing popularity of zirconium crowns can also be attributed to their look, which is very similar to that of natural teeth. These crowns permit light to pass just like a normal tooth would, thus giving your teeth a natural look, contrasting other metal cores that block the passage of light. Many users say that it’s really difficult to tell the difference between natural teeth and zirconium crowns, which in turn make them high in demand for dental work and those looking to get an aesthetic look. Another factor working in favor of zirconium crowns is their ease of use as you can get them fixed using conventional dental cements.

Zirconium oxide is one of the most desired biocompatible substances for dental crowns. It is not only a robust substitute to gold or stainless steel wrapped in the exterior of a rotted tooth but can also be powdered with a laser grinding machine to offer a better fit. This facilitates less labor association and makes it more cost effective, providing an advanced product with a much enhanced longevity. No wonder why zirconium crowns are in vogue and many consider them to be the right choice for their oral health.

Teeth and aging overview

No one is exempt from practicing proper oral health care.  Whether you’re young or old, it pays to have a good set of teeth and healthy gums not only to keep you looking youthful but, more importantly, to help keep you healthy.

One of the biggest misconceptions about aging is that it automatically comes with a full set of dentures, and weakened gums and teeth are natural consequences of senescence, the body’s natural aging process.  Years of oral health care will help you keep your teeth intact.  The earlier you start with a routine that keeps your mouth clean, the better payoff you will get as you get older.

Aging teeth: signs and causes

Older women and men, in general, face several and more severe oral health care challenges than their younger counterparts.  Yet, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more adults are able to keep their natural teeth well within and beyond 60 years of age.  From 31 per cent of adults 60 years and older who lost their natural teeth in the late 1990s, the statistics dropped to only 25 per cent by 2006; while for adults between the ages of 40 and 59 years, the number dropped from nine per cent down to only five per cent during the same period.

The CDC further reports:

• Over 40 percent of adults, 20 years and older, who have little or no income suffer from at least one untreated tooth decay compared to only 16 percent of sufficiently earning adults.  This shows that those who are gainfully employed are more likely to visit a dentist than those who are not.
• Among those falling between 45 and 54 years of age, 14 per cent are known to suffer from some form of gum disease.
• Chronic and lifelong diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer which affect a large number of the US population, compromises oral health.

Other than a weakened immune system and the declining capacity of older adults to assimilate proper nourishment from the food they eat, taking maintenance drugs is also a major contributing factor to their deteriorating health care.  Several maintenance drugs, particularly those that have something to do with heart diseases and high blood pressure, steroids, and chemotherapy, to name a few, have debilitating effects to oral health.  To make matters worse, bone and muscle loss during old age causes gums to recede which, in turn, causes teeth to fall.

Tooth loss and menopause, gum disease are further exacerbated by a lifetime of tobacco use, excessive alcohol intake, poor diet, and hormonal changes including menopause.

Signs that your teeth are aging include:

• Swollen and more frequent bleeding gums
• Noticeable receding of gums and the apparent separation from teeth
• More frequent occurrence of bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Teeth more easily chip
• Darker teeth color and appearance of stains

Don’t ignore aging teeth

Don’t ever think that just because you’re old, you’ve gained your license to neglect your teeth and oral health in general, and dismiss tooth loss and weakened gums as natural consequences of anti-aging.  You will want to keep your natural teeth well throughout your senior years or, you will be sorry you didn’t show those little enamels more TLC when you could have.

How to take care of aging teeth

Oral health care stays the same no matter how old or young you are.  Older people will just need to exert more effort to keep their teeth and gums healthy.  Here are some tips to help older adults achieve proper oral health care even in old age:

1. Practice good oral hygiene daily.  Older adults need to continue with the dentist-recommended oral health care system: Brush-Floss-Gargle. Brush teeth after meals or at least twice daily.  Floss to clean areas in between teeth thoroughly and prevent plaque and cavities from forming.  End your routine by rinsing your mouth an antiseptic mouthwash to kill and help balance bacteria and acid in the mouth that cause bad breath and tooth decay.
2. Watch what you eat.  Crave healthy foods that provide you with essential nutrients for stronger teeth and healthier gums.  Avoid sweets and acidic food which facilitate the growth of germs inside your mouth.  Refrain from eating tough foods that chip and scratch your teeth, and put unnecessary pressure on your gums.
3. Practice good personal hygiene all the time.  Dental caries is a communicable disease.  Refrain from sharing cups and utensils with other.
4. Visit your dentist every six months.  You should get an oral prophylaxis and have your teeth and gums checked every six months.

Final Verdict

Healthy teeth and gums transcend age differences because oral health care makes no difference whether you’re 16 or 60.

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Fixing Tooth Decay Without Drilling

If you or a loved one have a cavity, it’s absolutely necessary that your dentist drill a hole in your tooth to fill the cavity, right?

Maybe not.

New technologies are becoming available to your dentist that help him identify the start of tooth decay so that he may catch the tooth as it starts to lose some of its minerals, but before it starts to form a cavity.

If there’s no hole, there may not be a need to drill/fill it.

Believe it or not, you and your dentist just may be able to say “No!” to drilling cavities.

Most tooth decay actually can take up to three years (!) to move from the early signs of decay (which appears on the surface of a tooth) to a major cavity that goes all the way to the center of the tooth (the pulp, where the tooth’s blood vessels and nerves are located). Cavities in the early part of the 20^th century often could reach a tooth’s pulp in just a few months.*

If your dentist finds decay on your tooth enamel (the start of a cavity), you may not need a filling (unless you’re in pain or the cavity’s hole is obvious).

In fact, if there’s no hole and you’re not in pain, the decay may be able to heal itself!

Decay starts when your mouth’s acids trigger your tooth’s enamel to leach minerals, breaking the enamel down and forming a cavity.

But treatments and technologies today can help reverse decay with dental office fluoride treatments, changes to your diet (watch the sugar, starches, etc.) and making sure you floss and brush twice daily. This helps minerals build up in your mouth once again, strengthening tooth enamel.

In addition, “drill-free fillings” may be coming, in which a dentist can use electrical currents to repair your tooth’s minerals. The British newspaper Independent.com.uk reported in June that the procedure (developed at King’s College in London), is called Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER). It could be offered on the market within three years.

Until then, go to your dentist regularly for checkups, and so that he can look to see if you have the start of tooth decay on your tooth enamel. If so, work with him and take the steps he recommends to help you re-mineralize your enamel and possibly repair it naturally.

*Interesting side note: we can thank the addition of fluoride to toothpaste and public drinking water to delaying the full-blown onset of tooth decay. Tooth decay in the early years of the 20^th century could make its way to the pulp in a matter of just months. The American Dental Association approved the addition fluoride to toothpaste in the mid-1950s; adding fluoride to public drinking water took off after the 1940s and water fluoridation now benefits more than 200 million Americans in cities across the country.

In fact, so beneficial is fluoride to delaying the formation of cavities that the Centers for Disease Control in 1999 named water fluoridation as one of the ten top public health achievements of the 20^th century.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Teenagers are more concerned about the way they look. A perfect smile adds beauty to your face. But oftentimes, teenagers fail to maintain an adequate oral care and the results can be perceptibly negative. Teenagers tend to eat a lot of junk food which is certainly not good for health and also for mouth as it is a direct way for cavities. Teens are adapting the modernity which is why they fail to uphold a proper oral care regimen. Not only food, but there are various aspects that teens experiment with their mouth which can have a detrimental effect on your oral health. Oral piercing, dental grills have gained popularity among youngsters and everyone feels like trying it.

It is highly recommended to visit a dentist to seek his advice before getting any part of your mouth pierced as there is a great amount of risk involved in oral piercing such as:

• Prolonged bleeding
• Intensive pain and swelling
• Infection
• Serious injury to gums
• Major damage to nerves and blood vessels
• Possibility of periodontal disease

It is better if teenagers avoid penetrating their oral parts and concentrate more on maintaining a better oral health. The ideal way to achieve a bright smile is by upholding good oral habits such as brushing and flossing on a regular basis. It is quite obvious that many teenagers are stubborn and they hardly follow any instructions. But parents and closed ones play a vital role in motivating them and teaching them the importance of good oral habits. Teenagers are highly concerned regarding their aesthetic appearance. By learning the effects of bad oral hygiene you can actually encourage them to maintain good oral care. A healthy mouth is always beneficial, as with a good looking smile your aesthetic value will increase.