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Dentist Blog
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October 5, 2008
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.
September 27, 2008
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.
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September 22, 2008
What are Cavities?
“Cavities” is another way of saying tooth decay. Tooth decay is heavily influenced by lifestyle, what we eat, how well we take care of our teeth, the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste. Heredity also plays a role in how susceptible your teeth may be to decay. While cavities are generally more common among children, adults are also at risk. The types of cavities include:
* Coronal cavities—the most common type occurring in both children and adults, coronal cavities usually are located on chewing surfaces or between the teeth
* Root cavities—as we age, our gums recede, leaving parts of the tooth root exposed. Since there is no enamel covering tooth roots, these exposed areas easily decay
* Recurrent decay—decay can form around existing fillings and crowns. This is because these areas may have a tendency to accumulate plaque, which can ultimately lead to decay. Adults are especially at risk for cavities if they suffer from dry mouth, a condition due to a lack of saliva. Dry mouth may be caused by illness, medications, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and may be either temporary (days to months) or permanent, depending on its cause.
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September 21, 2008
Cavities occur as a result of tooth decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure. Tooth decay can affect both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin layer of the tooth.
Tooth decay occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as breads, cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candy are left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods, turning them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities, or caries. Who Gets Cavities? Many people think cavities only affect children, but changes that occur with aging make cavities an adult problem too. Recession of the gums (a pulling away of gum tissue from the teeth), often associated with an increased incidence of gingivitis (gum disease), can expose tooth roots to plaque. Also, sugary food cravings in pregnant women can make them more vulnerable to developing cavities. Decay around the edges of fillings is also common in older adults. Because many older adults lacked the benefits of fluoride and modern preventive dental care when they were growing up, they often have a number of dental fillings. Over the years, these fillings may weaken and can fracture, allowing bacteria to accumulate in the tiny crevices causing tooth decay.
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September 19, 2008
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.”
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September 18, 2008
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
September 15, 2008
As we grow older, we may begin to notice that our teeth start to tint a little and start to look more on the stained side. Even for those of us who brush our teeth like we should, white teeth can simply disappear it seems. This is why so many people go and get professional teeth whitening so that they can once again have pearly whites that they can truly be proud of. Before going the route of professional teeth whitening, almost everyone tries the home whitening kit since they figure it is cheaper that way. And to an extent they are right but if they keep buying over the counter teeth whitening products over and over again, they might as well just pay for the professional teeth whitening and be done with it.
(more…)
September 12, 2008
# Dentist can provide expertise. Even when using do-it-yourself kits, you may still want to visit your dentist to determine why your teeth are discolored and which treatments will work and won’t. An appointment and evaluation could save you time and frustration in the future, as well as alert you to additional safety precautions.
# Tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. About half the people who try whitening products experience some degree of tooth sensitivity or gum irritation. If you experience discomfort, immediately try using lower concentration of peroxide (e.g. 6% instead of 10% or 20%). Usually side effects fade in a few days, but prolonging your exposure to too much peroxide could also prolong the side effects. If irritation persists, see a dentist.
LINK
September 9, 2008
Question:I’ve seen these ads for Lumineers on TV. What is the cost of Lumineers?
Answer:
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.
LINK
September 3, 2008
Smiling is contageus, it spreads happiness. It gives every one great feeling that make them smile too. Let alone that a smile of yours will state your personality and give you such a confidence and good feeling about yourself. Therefore having a good smile is a priceless plus, but this has to be supported by having great teeth. However nobody is perfect, not every one is born with good teeth. Sometimes having your teeth to be whitened, pocelain veneers and crown or dental implants is needed. Nowadays, cosmetic dentistry is becoming quite popular in order to get a dazzling healthy smile every one wants. Cosmetic dentistry procedure also help people to restore their missing tooth as a result of accident or such. You will get all you need in order to make your teeth better at New York Cosmetic Dentist.
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August 25, 2008
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.
LINK
August 22, 2008
Thomas K. Barber co-wrote an influential article in the late 1950s that advocated early and proactive orthodontics work on children based on projections of how their adult teeth would come in. A longtime professor and later an adjunct faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s dental school, Dr. Barber, 84, died Thursday, July 24, in California of complications following heart surgery, UIC spokesman William Bike said. He was a resident of Arroyo Grande, Calif. Dr. Barber received his dental degree and a master’s in pediatric dentistry from UIC in 1949. Two years later, he joined the school’s faculty and in 1965 was named head of its Department of Pediatric Dentistry. With UIC colleague Earl Renfroe, an orthodontic specialist, he wrote a 1957 article for the Journal of the American Dental Association that stressed the need for “interceptive orthodontics”—guiding the shape of a child’s bite and adult teeth formation at an early age.
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August 20, 2008
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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August 18, 2008
Thumb through a phone book and you’ll find plenty of ads in which dentists promise whiter, straighter teeth. Some even tout a “cosmetic dental practice.” Although they can advertise teeth bleaching, bonding and veneers, dentists can’t call themselves cosmetic specialists, says the Ohio State Dental Board, which oversees more than 6,100 practitioners. Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the state or the American Dental Association. Among specialties that are recognized: pediatric, general dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics and periodontology. State officials say advertising must be clear: They’re general dentists who provide cosmetic services. “To hold yourself out as a cosmetic dentist is to mislead the public,” said Lili C. Reitz, the board’s executive director. “There’s no standard program one would take to become a specialist in that area.”
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August 16, 2008
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.
LINK
August 13, 2008
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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