Many people don’t see a dentist on a regular basis. They go only when they feel they have a problem. We call this "crisis treatment" as opposed to "preventive treatment". While these patients may feel they are saving money, it usually ends up costing much more in both dollars and time. The reason for this is that most dental problems don’t have any symptoms until they reach the advanced stages.

An example is tooth decay. We hear all the time, "Nothing hurts…I don’t have any problems". But tooth decay doesn’t hurt! Until, that is, it gets close to the nerve of the tooth. Then a root canal and crown are usually necessary, instead of the small filling, which could have been placed several years ago when the cavity was small. We can usually detect a cavity 3-4 years before it may develop any symptoms. It is not uncommon to see a patient with a tremendous cavity and they have never felt a thing!

Teeth are often restored with fillings of silver or composite plastics. These materials can often accomplish the aim of replacing the part of the tooth that has been lost in a strong and good-looking manner. However, there comes a point where the damage to the tooth has removed too much structure to hold a filling. The restoration must be done by a technique that will attach to the remaining tooth, stand up under heavier use and meet more elaborate cosmetic requirements.

The Crown is the dental restoration that can strengthen and restore the entire top of a tooth. The crown can also be part of the attachment of a fixed bridge for the replacement of teeth. The tooth is strengthened because it is covered from the outside with a casting of metal or ceramic that will wrap up and splint the tooth.

The chewing of the tooth can be improved because it can be reshaped to match more efficiently with the opposing teeth. A crown can improve cosmetics by the use of modern ceramic processes that produce translucency and color that is more natural than has ever been possible.

We all lead with our smile. Your smile brightens up each person you meet. Are you happy with your smile?

One question I ask my patients is: "What would you do to your mouth if you had a magic wand?" Nine out of ten tell me they would like whiter or brighter teeth.

The answer is yes. Many times the process is relatively simple. Bleaching teeth, through treatment in the office and/or by home bleaching techniques, has worked wonders for many patients.

So, if you could use help in brightening your smile, please don't hesitate to call our office. I am always dedicated to achieving a healthy smile.

The American Dental Association says that over 75-80% of all adults have or will have some form of gum disease

Gum disease, or more correctly called "periodontal disease", is a bacterial infection in the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It can be divided into several categories.

The first stage is called "gingivitis" and is characterized by gum tissue that is red, puffy, and bleeds easily when touched with a toothbrush, floss or dental instrument.

The second, third, and fourth stages are initial, moderate, and advanced "periodontal disease", respectively. These stages are different from gingivitis because the infection has destroyed the bone supporting the teeth, causing eventual tooth loss. The treatment is more involved at these stages, usually consisting of a special cleaning with anesthesia and sometimes gum surgery.

The loss of natural teeth is far-reaching and cannot be resolved by dentures. (Is blindness resolved by inserting glass eyes?)

In the past, the loss of teeth was dismissed as a natural part of the aging process, and dentures were considered a normal sign of old age. While such ignorance is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, there is still not a general awareness of the seriousness of edentulism. Multiple tooth loss is most commonly caused by periodontal disease, i.e.. gum and bone disease. Periodontal disease has a high statistical correlation with chronic debilitating disease, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. So it is not very surprising that studies now show a shortened life expectancy by as much as 10 years for persons who have lost their natural teeth, when compared to those who have kept their teeth.

In addition to longevity, quality-of-life differences are just as significant. The functional efficiency of dentures has been measured to be only 20% of that of natural teeth. Can there be any doubt that nutritional deficiencies will be much more prevalent in those without their natural teeth? Loss of teeth often causes a feeling of loss of wholeness and a sense of deterioration and aging. Given these factors, preservation of the natural teeth is integral to whole-person wellness.

Losing a tooth by accident or by extraction is not the end of the matter. When a tooth is missing, the resulting gap will allow nearby teeth to tilt or drift from their normal position, and the teeth above the gap will move downward. Aside from the obvious cosmetic problem, the changed positions of these teeth can lead to severe bite problems causing jaw pain and headaches.

Missing teeth should be replaced to keep other teeth in their normal position. This can be done by means of a fixed bridge or a dental implant. Both of these treatments offer a good functional and cosmetic result.

Please call our office with any questions you may have about the benefits of replacing missing teeth with bridges or dental implants.

Why should you wear a mouthguard? While mouthguards are not mandatory equipment in all sports, their worth is indisputable. Mouthguards cushion blows to the face and neck. A mouthguard should be part of every athlete’s gear, no matter the sport. Even adults or weekend athletes need to protect their smile and preserve their health.

Do: Wear a mouthguard at all times when playing sports. Wear a mouthguard custom-fitted by your dentist, especially if you wear bridges or braces.

Don’t: Wear removable appliances like retainers when playing sports.

There are two types of mouthguards:

Custom-made: Designed by a dentist and made on a cast of your teeth. These cause very little interference with speaking or breathing. They provide the best protection and fit over braces and fixed bridges. They also cost more.

Ready-made: Purchased at most sporting goods stores. They are the least expensive, the least effective, and least comfortable.

Please call our office if you would like to "play it safe!" and wear a comfortable mouthguard and protect your teeth.

The appearance of the teeth has a dramatic effect on both the person's attractiveness to others and on their own self-image and self-esteem. Studies have shown that a person's appearance will have a strong effect on their social and career success, by influencing how others perceive them.

While the appearance of the teeth is one of the most important contributors to facial beauty, it is also probably the most often neglected when improvements to appearance are sought. A person with low self-esteem connected to their facial appearance, can often be greatly helped by cosmetic dental procedures.

Dental make-overs have become more common, less invasive, and more effective in correcting deformities and cosmetic dental problems. The effect of these procedures can be nothing short of dramatic both in terms of appearance and also in terms of correcting, at least partially, personality deficiencies caused by poor self-image. Ugly teeth are no longer a matter of fate; they are now becoming a matter of choice.

Periodontal disease can go on for years without pain and without detection unless specific examination procedures are performed. Visual oral examination by itself (even by a dentist) will not reliably detect periodontal disease until it has reached an advanced stage.

Early detection and adequate diagnosis require measurement of pockets (the crevice between the tooth and gum) with a periodontal probe. Effective prevention and treatment is available, but the damage caused as the disease progresses is irreversible.

Early detection and treatment is critical to prevent tooth loss and disfigurement. Although the procedure is simple, painless and requires only a few minutes, millions of American adults have never had it done.

Signs of periodontal disease - bleeding gums, redness of gum tissue, swelling of gums around the teeth, breath odor, receding gums, mobility of teeth.

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous disorder with fairly benign symptoms such as loud snoring at night, and morning headaches or daytime bouts of sleepiness. The cause? Intermittent periods throughout sleep when you actually stop breathing.

Breathing cessation, or apnea, lasts from seconds to nearly a minute. When breathing resumes, the brain senses lack of oxygen and wakes you up. The snoring is loud, sometimes explosive. In the morning, the build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood causes headaches. And the lack of deep, relaxing sleep can leave one drowsy and usually grouchy, during the day.

During sleep apnea , the upper air passages in the mouth and throat are obstructed (no one is sure why). One form of treatment that has proven successful is wearing an acrylic appliance during sleep to keep air passages open. It’s comfortable and easy to use.

For more information regarding sleep apnea please call our office.

• If the tooth is loose, even extremely so, but is still attached in any way, leave it in place; do not remove it.
• If it is out of its socket completely and unattached, but still in the victim’s mouth, it is best to have the person hold it there, if possible, until a dentist can attempt re-implantation.
• If it is out of the mouth, do not let it dry out. Handle it as little as possible.

Do not attempt to disinfect the tooth, or scrub it, or remove any tissue attached to it.

• If it is recovered from the ground or other soiled area, rinse it off in lukewarm water. Preserve it in milk until a dentist is available. If milk is not available, lukewarm water will suffice. not available, lukewarm water will suffice.
• Time out of the socket is critical in the long-term success of re-implantation. After 30 minutes, the success potential begins to decline. However, re-implantation is still possible after several hours, so the attempt can still be made even if the tooth has been out for a long period.

Children who have erupted teeth or are past the age to be weaned are highly susceptible to rotted front teeth when being put to bed with a bottle containing milk, juice or other sugar-containing liquids. There is decreased salivary flow during sleep and clearance of the liquid from the teeth is slowed. The liquid pools around the upper front teeth and creates an excellent environment to promote the growth of decay-causing bacteria. Removing the bottle before the first tooth appears and wiping the child’s gums and teeth with a soft cloth before being put to bed can help prevent decay.

Signs and appearance of teeth displaying bottle caries:

• Brown teeth with fragmented edges
• Upper front teeth that break easily

At 18 months of age, parents should be encouraged to ask their dentist to examine their child and recommend home care.

"Well, you know Doc, it's just a back tooth. No one will see it so I'll just get rid of it. It's not going to make a difference."

The plain truth is that it will make a difference. The loss of just a single tooth can set a course that can destroy an entire mouth. "Well, if that's true, tell me more. I sure don't want to lose the front ones that I smile with."

Teeth will drift and tip into a space that is created by missing teeth. Just like two gears of a car that are not properly aligned, pretty soon you've got a whole lot of problems.

"Well, I don't like that. What can I do?" If it sounds like I've heard this conversation a few times, you're right. If I'm going to keep a patient happy, I need to provide options at this point.

One of the options would be an implant. This is the replacement of a tooth with a false root that is surgically placed. It is then followed by the careful construction of a crown to replace the missing tooth, to prevent teeth from shifting and thereby causing further tooth loss.

If you have any questions about missing teeth and possible implant treatment, please call our office.

While bad breath might be a symptom of some other disorder, it most likely stems from dental decay and periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a disease affecting gums and bone that support the teeth, and it results from inadequate tooth brushing and flossing. In this disease, the irritated gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets between the teeth and the gums. These pockets fill with bacteria and pus which give off a foul odor.

Patients with bad breath should be referred for a complete dental evaluation. If gum disease and/or dental decay is diagnosed, it can be treated readily. The patient will no longer have an infection in his or her mouth, and he or she will no longer have the embarrassment of bad breath.

If you have questions regarding halitosis, please call our office.

Bonding is typically painless and can yield dramatic results in a single office visit. Essentially, bonding hides any natural flaws through the placement of a thin plastic coating on the front surface of the teeth. After treating the tooth surface, a puttylike bonding material is applied that is then sculpted, shaped and colored to suit the patient’s needs. A high-intensity light causes the plastic to harden after which the new surface is smoothed and polished.

Bonding can lighten stains, close gaps and even alter crooked or malformed teeth. It can be utilized to change the shape or color of a single tooth or if necessary to revamp the entire smile.

Please call our office for a free cosmetic consultation.