A comprehensive dental exam goes far beyond looking for signs of tooth decay. It’s also necessary to take a complete medical history to alert the dentist to health conditions and/or medications that may affect future oral health and dental treatments. The dentist or hygienist will want to assess the health of the gums as well,
read moreWhile many people have been led to believe that they should brush their teeth with up-and-down motions, the proper way to brush is actually in circular motions. Not only does this way of brushing get tooth surfaces clean, but it also massages and stimulates the margins of the gums. For individuals with crooked teeth, it
read moreConsuming sports drinks, fruit juices, and carbonated beverages that are high in sugar content is not the only habit that can threaten the health of your teeth. Habits involving chewing on pencils and ice can also cause teeth to crack. If this absentminded chomping on inappropriate objects irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth (pulp), sharp
read moreWhile research indicates that women are more likely to have cavities than men, females tend to have better overall dental health. Perhaps this is due to the fact that women are nearly twice as likely to have visited the dentist in the past year. As a result of this proactive approach to dental and periodontal care,
read moreThere has been a great deal of discussion in recent years about the link between gum disease and heart disease. Now, researchers have found the culprit responsible for this link. The bacterium known as “Porphyromonas gingivalis” is well known to dentists and periodontists for causing the development of “periodontitis,” the serious form of gum infection
read moreDespite the gains provided by fluoridated water, tooth decay is the leading chronic childhood illness in the United States. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports that 42% of U.S. children aged 2-11 have primary-tooth decay, and 21% of children aged 6-11 have tooth decay in their permanent teeth. While this high incidence
read moreWhen teeth are crooked, chipped, or overlapping, individuals may hesitate or even forego visiting the dentist or orthodontist in the belief that treatment would be too expensive. The fact is, however, that damaged and out-of-position teeth can often be remedied without orthodontic treatment, veneers, or crowns. The cosmetic technique known as “tooth reshaping and contouring”
read moreTooth Sensitivity can be triggered by hot or cold foods and liquids or merely by breathing in cold air. The sudden, sharp pain associated with these activities is due to the involvement of nerve endings in one or more teeth. Sometimes, receding gums expose the soft “dentin” layer, which is below the enamel and encapsulates
read moreFifteen million “root canal” procedures are performed in this country annually. These procedures are undertaken when a tooth’s nerve becomes infected or the pulp (the soft material inside the tooth) becomes damaged and bacteria in the pulp chamber cause an infection or abscess. The goal is to preserve the tooth by removing the pulp, the
read moreTooth loss resulting from accidents, gum disease, unsuccessful root canal treatment, or decay necessitates treatment to restore chewing/biting ability and prevent adjacent teeth from moving into spaces left by missing teeth. While dentures and fixed bridgework used to be the most popular options, dental implants have been gaining ground largely because they look, feel, and
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