http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog Chicago Dentist News Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/08/cavities-2/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/07/cons-of-porcelain-veneers/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/06/pros-of-porcelain-veneers/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/05/cost-of-lumineers/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/04/lumineers-veneers/ Porcelain veneers, alternatively termed dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth. Porcelain veneers are routinely used by dentists as a way to make cosmetic changes for teeth that ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/03/porcelain-veneers-4/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/02/whitening-vs-bleaching/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/10/01/teeth-whitening-3/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/09/30/gingivitis-treatment/ 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. ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/09/29/bleeding-gums/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/09/28/gingivitis-2/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/09/27/root-canal-treatment/ 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 ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/09/26/dental-health-root-canals-2/ Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth enamel by dental plaque that causes holes known as cavities. It strikes people of all ages, but is particularly prevalent in children ages 5 to 17 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A sticky film called dental ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2008/09/25/about-tooth-decay/