Chicago Dentist

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.

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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.

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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 .

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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.

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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.

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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).
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Cosmetic Dentistry Offers A Smile Makeover
Cosmetic dentistry comprises of dental procedures that are aimed at improving the overall aesthetics of your smile. A beautiful smile enhances the self-confidence and the personality of an individual. With the increasing media focus on ’smile’ and recent popular TV shows such as ‘Extreme Makeover’, wearing a stunning smile has suddenly become almost everybody’s covet. Further, the growing awareness towards dental health has many people flock to dental clinics where advanced dental care procedures are readily available. The recent development in the technology of dentistry has enabled dental surgeons to address an extensive range of challenges in the direction of dental surgery and treatment procedure. With the introduction of cosmetic dentistry, which is popularly known as wedding smile, smile makeover and even Hollywood smile, the dentists are now able to improve the overall aesthetics of smile that empowers you with an impressive personality.

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A cosmetic treatment that has become increasingly popular in recent times and with the increase of various celebrities with sparkling perfect smiles most of us feel motivated or even compelled to get a similar sparkling pearly white smile. With the demand on the increase for teeth whitening procedures there has also been an additional amount of locations that make available these types of services. Teeth whitening by beauty salons has turned highly popular and teeth whitening by beauty salons has become highly sought after and are being highly publicized as a less costly as well as more effective than going to a visit to your local dentist.

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Common side effects associated with the use of teeth whitening strips.
The side effects that one is likely to experience when bleaching teeth with white strips are essentially the same as to those side effects one is likely to encounter when using any other form of peroxide-based teeth whitening products, such as a tray-based system utilizing a 10% carbamide peroxide whitener. However, the two most common side effects that people notice with white strips are:

* Gum irritation.

* Teeth Sensitivity.

Especially in the case of those who have never used whitening strips before, it’s impossible to know specifically who will experience side effects or how problematic these side effects might become. In general, it could be expected that as many as half of the people who whiten their teeth using white strips might experience side effects to some degree.

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Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth’s enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost (demineralization) from a tooth’s enamel layer when acids - formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth - attack the enamel. Minerals such as fluoride, calcium and phosphate are redeposited (remineralization) to the enamel layer from the foods and waters consumed. Too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer leads to tooth decay.

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Dental flossing technique. The information found on this page provides instructions for what we would consider a good tooth flossing technique. It’s one that is thorough and one that should be able to keep you in good dental health, if practiced daily. We’d suggest that you study our description of this technique and then demonstrate your interpretation of our instructions to your dentist or dental hygienist. This way they can refine your flossing technique as needed, and also give you tips and pointers that may help you use dental floss more effectively in specific locations in your mouth.

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Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past two decades. The calorie-dense, fatty, salty diet eaten by American children, combined with the serious lack of physical activity means that 25% of kids under 10 years of age have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or some other contributor to heart disease. A new report has issued a stark warning that children’s lives will be shorter than their parent’s if this trend continues. While extreme calorie reduction is not advisable for children, a balanced diet of whole foods and reduced dietary fat is recommended. The biggest challenge is finding a way to make what’s nutritious delicious enough to satisfy kids’ craving for sweets.

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The key to the PPE lies in neuromuscular dentistry and the belief that jaw alignment can have a major effect on the rest of the body. According to the Canada-based company that markets the PPE, the jaw is not in its optimal position for 90 percent of the population - an overbite in most cases. Wagner said the brain spends half of its energy on head, neck and jaw position, and by finding the ideal jaw position and locking it in place with a fitted mouthguard, strength is released to the rest of the body because the brain can focus more on core muscles. Endurance improves because the PPE opens up the airway and allows for better circulation and oxygen flow, Wagner said. “A lot of our football players tell us that they feel stronger in the fourth quarter, and this is coming from guys who were adamant that they didn’t want to wear a mouthguard, even though it’s required,” Wagner said. “Now, when you see that they won’t go to the gym or anywhere without it, that’s powerful.”

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How Does What You Eat Affect Breath?

Basically, all the food you eat begins to be broken down in your mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as, garlic or onions), brushing and flossing - even mouthwash - merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

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