Chicago Dentist

Cavities (dental caries) are decayed areas in the teeth, the result of a process that gradually dissolves a tooth’s hard outer surface (enamel) and progresses toward the interior. Along with the common cold and gum disease, cavities are among the most common human afflictions. If cavities are not properly treated by a dentist, they continue to enlarge. Ultimately, an untreated cavity can lead to tooth loss. For tooth decay to develop, a tooth must be susceptible, acid-producing bacteria must be present, and food must be available for the bacteria to thrive. A susceptible tooth is one that has relatively little protective fluoride incorporated into the enamel or that has pronounced pits, grooves, or fissures that retain plaque. Poor oral hygiene that allows plaque and tartar to accumulate can accelerate this process. Although the mouth contains large numbers of bacteria, only certain types generate acid, which causes decay. The most common decay-causing bacterium is Streptococcus mutans.

LINK

Artificial – although they look realistic, porcelain veneers are artificial teeth, which may be a problem for those desiring a more natural solution to their dental problem.

High Cost – Veneers, especially porcelain veneers, are expensive. Each veneer can range anywhere from $500 to $1000. When that gets multiplied with the number of teeth that needs veneering, it becomes a costly investment.

Fragility – Although porcelain veneers are relatively tough, they are not impervious to any chipping/breaking when exposed to excessive impact or force, e.g. teeth grinding, eating hard foods, etc. Repairing or replacing veneers then becomes an expensive endeavor.

Permanent Procedure – when its done, there’s no going back.

Side effects: Teeth Sensitivity – Since the veneering procedure requires the removal of enamel, your tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages.

You may not be candidate – If you have unhealthy teeth (for example, those with decay or active periodontal disease), weakened teeth (as a result of decay, fracture, large dental fillings), have an inadequate amount of existing enamel on the tooth surface, or suffer from bruxism (teeth clenching).

Overall, most people find that the advantages porcelain veneers can bring, outweigh the disadvantages. Porcelain veneers are an easy way to attain a perfect smile and a friendlier appearance. The resultant natural-looking, well-aligned, whiter, more evenly-spaced teeth provide for that much sought-after cosmetically perfect smile. That is the reason why veneers are so popular among professionals, actors and actresses and other public performers.

LINK

Realistic Appearance – One of the features of porcelain veneers that is contributing to their rising popularity is their optic properties. Porcelain is a ceramic that has many similar properties to the teeth’s natural covering, enamel. Because of this, porcelain veneers appears very natural and realistic.
Stain-Resistant – Porcelain is a ceramic, and therefore quite ”glass-like”, its surface is extremely smooth and impervious. This makes porcelain veneers quite resistant to permanent stains. No need to worry about the coffee, wine, or cigarette stains.
Durability – Porcelain veneers are relatively long lasting – up to 15 years – compared to plastic (composite) veneers (~7 years).
Color Versatility – The color of a porcelain veneer can be selected such that it makes dark teeth appear whiter.
Ease of Shaping – Compared to crowns, porcelain veneers do not require extensive shaping prior to the procedure.
Improves Appearance & Restores Confidence – Porcelain veneers can help individuals with dental flaws such as teeth that are crooked, discolored, or have small gaps between them. Veneers dramatically change a person’s smile and in the process, help improve their self-confidence.

LINK

Lumineers generally cost a little less than other porcelain veneers. Lumineers is a brand name of the Den-Mat Corporation.  Essentially, they are a tough porcelain that can be made very thin.  Their main marketing appeal is that, since they are so thin, the teeth don’t have to be “ground down” any, and they can be placed directly over unprepared teeth without being too bulky. Since the procedure for doing Lumineers is simpler than the procedure for doing traditional porcelain veneers, their cost may be about 3/4 of the cost of porcelain veneers, though that cost will vary from dentist to dentist. However, a couple of warnings are in order. If the teeth are not prepared any before placing the porcelain veneers, the cosmetic dentist has much less latitude in creating a beautiful smile design.  Great cosmetic dentists, being very passionate about the beauty of the work they create, will resist this, and may refuse to place Lumineers in a situation where they feel that they will not end up looking good.

Lumineers veneers are simply one brand of porcelain veneer. Lumineers veneers are fabricated using the patented ceramic Cerinate and can only be produced in a Cerinate Smile Design Studio. The main characteristic that sets Lumineers veneers apart from other types of porcelain veneers is that they can be made so their thickness is ultra-thin. In their advertising Den-Mat Corporation states that Lumineers veneers can be crafted so they are as thin as a contact lense. In more precise terms, Lumineers veneers can be fabricated so they are as little as .2 to .3 millimeters in thickness. As a basis of comparison, the minimal thickness of a traditional porcelain veneer is typically on the order of .5 millimeters (almost twice as thick).

LINK

For more than a decade, the development and the increasing numbers of whitening oral hygiene products has increased and shows no sign of leaving supermarket shelves any time soon. But what’s the difference and which products are best for you? “Whitening” is any process that will make teeth appear whiter. Technically bleaching falls under this broad category, but by contrast, non-bleaching whitening products contain agents that work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains only. Whitening products may be administered or dispensed by dentists or purchased over-the-counter at most drug stores and supermarkets and can be categorized into two major groups: Peroxide-containing whiteners or bleaching agents; and whitening toothpastes. “Bleaching” is the process of applying a product can bleach the tooth, which means that it actually changes the natural tooth color. Bleaching products contain peroxide(s) that help remove deep and surface stains.

LINK

In the blossoming world of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening reigns supreme. Universally valued by men and women alike, whitening (or bleaching) treatments are available to satisfy every budget, time frame and temperament. Whether in the form of one-hour bleaching sessions at your dentist’s office, or home-use bleaching kits purchased at your local drugstore, teeth whitening solutions abound. Yet only 15 percent of the population has tried the cosmetic procedure, and misinformation on the subject is rife. The long and the short of it is that teeth whitening works. Virtually everyone who opts for this cosmetic treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the brightness and whiteness of their smile. However, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution and requires maintenance or “touch-ups” for a prolonged effect.

LINK

Your dentist may treat gingivitis in several ways, but the first step is to thoroughly clean your teeth, removing all traces of plaque and tartar — a procedure known as scaling. The cleaning may be uncomfortable, especially if your gums are already sensitive or you have extensive plaque and tartar buildup. Gingivitis usually clears up after a professional cleaning as long as you continue to follow a program of good oral hygiene at home. Your dentist may recommend using an antiseptic mouth rinse in addition to brushing and flossing.

LINK

Bleeding from the gums is mainly due to inadequate plaque removal from the teeth at the gum line. This will lead to a condition called gingivitis , or inflamed gums. If plaque is not removed through regular brushing and dental appointments, it will harden into what is known as tartar. Ultimately, this will lead to increased bleeding and a more advanced form of gum and jawbone disease known as periodontitis .

LINK

If your gums are swollen, tender and bleed easily when you brush your teeth, you’re not alone — nearly 80 percent of American adults have some form of gum (periodontal) disease. One of the most common of these is gingivitis, which develops when bacteria multiply and build up between your teeth and gums, leading to irritation, inflammation and bleeding. If not treated, gingivitis can progress to more-serious gum diseases, such as periodontitis, and eventually to the destruction of bone and to tooth loss.

LINK

Root canal therapy refers to the process by which a dentist treats the inner aspects of a tooth, specifically that area inside a tooth that is occupied by its “pulp tissue.” Most people would probably refer to a tooth’s pulp tissue as its “nerve.” While a tooth’s pulp tissue does contain nerve fibers it is also composed of arteries, veins, lymph vessels, and connective tissue.

LINK

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form. “Root canal” is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth. The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the root canal. The tooth’s nerve lies within the root canal.

LINK

* A cavity occurs when carbohydrates (sugars and starch) found in breads, cereals, milk, soft drinks, fruits, cakes, and candies stay on the teeth. The bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods and transform them into acids. The bacteria, acids, food debris, and the saliva combine together to create dental plaque, which softens the enamel and the dentin of the tooth, creating a cavity.
* Three factors play a role in the formation of a cavity: heredity, hygiene, and food. Although, it is definitely food that plays the most important role.
* A cavity can occur in areas where good hygiene is difficult to maintain, such as in the grooves of the teeth, the area between two adjacent teeth, around the gum line, or around the edges of an old filling.
* The cavity formed by the decay grows with time and can end up reaching the pulp. If at this stage there are no treatments done by the dentist, the decay destroys the tooth and may become an infection of the underlying bone, causing an abscess.

LINK

Researchers have tested gummy bears made with a sugar substitute that wards off cavity-causing bacteria. A study in Washington State gathered 154 first to fifth graders from two elementary schools. The students were given four gummy bears made with either xylitol or maltitol (types of sugars used in many types of sugarless chewing gum) three times a day during school hours. All were checked for plaque and bacteria in their mouths at the start of the study and six weeks later. After six weeks, there was a “significant” reduction in the main bacteria buildup associated with cavities for the children who snacked on the xylitol and maltitol candy. Study lead author Kiet A. Ly with the University of Washington says in a news release that gummy bears may have the edge over gum. “For xylitol to be successfully used in oral health promotion programs among primary school children, an effective means of delivering xylitol must be identified,” Ly says. “Gummy bears would seem to be more ideal than chewing gum.”

LINK

Cavity. That’s the word no one wants to hear at the dentist’s office. A cavity (say: ka-vuh-tee) develops when a tooth decays (say: dih-kaze), or breaks down. A cavity is a hole that can grow bigger and deeper over time. Cavities are also called dental caries (say: kar-eez), and if you have a cavity, it’s important to get it repaired. But why would your tooth develop a hole? Blame plaque. That’s a sticky, slimy substance made up mostly of the germs that cause tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth make acids and when plaque clings to your teeth, the acids can eat away at the outermost layer of the tooth, called the enamel (say: ih-na-mul).
LINK

About a decade ago, people knew only one way of getting their teeth whitened- that was through dental in-office whitening. It was a wearisome procedure but slowly when people started showing a compulsive concern of having a whiter set of teeth, the impulsion goaded a number of different bleaching formulas and teeth whitening kits started flooding the every day market. Nowadays, dental in-office teeth whitening aren’t the only option. Numerous home teeth whitening kits are now dominating the market with unprecedented rate, as they are more beneficial products of teeth whitening treatments. Home teeth whitening system uses different teeth whitening kits like whitening strips, teeth whitening trays with , and brush-on whitening.

LINK

(more…)