http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog Chicago Dentist News Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:18:17 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The mouth comprises a variety of tissues. There are six major tissue types which contribute in various forms to the structure of the mouth. The epithelium acts as the covering for all of the soft tissues. The connective tissue, with its collection of fibers, blood vessels and nerves, is found under the epithelium. The epithelium ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/tissues-of-the-mouth/ For people with average manual dexterity, the basic approach to mechanical hygiene is still with a nylon, soft-bristled brush and dental floss. In my opinion, it is better to use a brush with a small head and to concentrate on cleaning one or two teeth at a time instead of ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/toothbrushing/ The first visit to a dentist usually begins with the completion of a patient demographic and financial information form and a health history questionnaire. The health history questionnaire is very important if you have any medical problems or are taking any medications, either of the prescription or over-the-counter variety Be ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/your-medical-history/ The dentist should ask you why you have sought treatment. If there is an existing problem, be as comprehensive as possible in relating the location, symptoms, and duration of the problem. The dentist should conduct a complete extraoral and intraoral examination. This includes visual inspection of both the face and ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/the-dental-exam/ What happens if the decay is so large that an amalgam or composite resin restoration will not suffice? In these cases, the treatment of choice is an onlay or crown (cap). Onlays and crowns cover the cusps of the tooth and hold the remaining tooth surfaces together. An onlay has ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/crowns/ There are two ways to replace teeth as long as other teeth remain in the same arch. The most stable replacement is the fixed partial denture, or bridge. A bridge uses crowns as the anchors on the remaining stable teeth on either side of the space, with the replacement tooth ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/bridges-partials-and-dentures/ Toothaches and abscesses As mentioned previously, most dental problems are painless, at least initially. Dental caries will progressively destroy the tooth structure without giving you any clue as to what is going on. Eventually, the decayed tooth may become sensitive to cold, hot, or sweets due to initial irritation of the ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/dental-emergencies/ Teeth may be traumatized or avulsed (knocked out), during various kinds of mishaps, including auto accidents, sports injuries, violent attacks, and general horsing around. If a tooth is hit but not dislodged, the crown will turn gray over time. This is due to the breakdown of hemoglobin within the tooth; ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/traumatized-and-avulsed-teeth/ For generations, Listerine has killed the germs that cause bad breath. A burst of Scope gets rid of "morning breath." There are endless claims from advertisers along these lines; hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually in the search for fresher breath. So how did your breath get to ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/halitosis/ Surrounding the mouth and embedded within the cheeks and face are the muscle groups which allow the face and mouth to function. These are divided into two main groups: muscles of facial expression and muscles of mastication. The muscles of facial expression change the shape of the face and lips. ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/facial-muscles/ The alveolar mucosa leads to the vestibule of the mouth, which then connects to the buccal mucosa, or cheek. The buccal mucosa is also lined with nonkeratinized epithelium. Because it has fewer blood vessels and some underlying muscle and fat, the buccal mucosa may not appear as red as the ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/19/salivary-glands-and-tongue/ Oral cancer is one of the 10 leading causes of death worldwide and is responsible for over 30,000 new cases of cancer in the United States each year. The major form of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma; it affects the epithelium which lines the mouth. The epithelial cells become ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/18/oral-cancers/ Chances are good that either you or your children (or both) have had a long-standing and expensive relationship with an orthodontist. While your 13-year-old daughter may just want straight teeth for the prom, there are some very good health reasons for having straight teeth as well. A pleasing smile certainly ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/18/crooked-teeth-and-orthodontics/ Let's start with the short-term effects. As the tooth is removed, there will naturally be bleeding from the new wound. If the tissue around the tooth is infected and inflamed, the bleeding may be more pronounced and may occur after you have left the dentist's office. Usually, it can be ... http://www.chicago-dental.com/blog/2010/01/18/effects-of-tooth-loss/