A healthy human mouth typically grows 32 permanent teeth by early adulthood. Unfortunately, the average human mouth is only suited to hold 28 teeth comfortably. The last four teeth are known as wisdom teeth, or third molars. Although not everyone grows all or any of these teeth, when they do come in, they are frequently accompanied by great discomfort and a threat to your oral health. So frequently, in fact, that many people choose to have their wisdom teeth removed before they can begin to cause trouble. Today, we explore why extracting third molars is often wiser than waiting to see how they will behave. (more…)
A Few Tips for Better Sleep
Without sleep, your mind and body couldn’t rest and would soon begin to wear down. Aside from making you move slowly, sleep deprivation can also inhibit your ability to concentrate, make you more irritable, and lead to a host of various health problems. There are a number of issues that can affect your sleep cycle, and finding adequate rest often depends on diagnosing and treating the underlying issue, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In the meantime, however, we offer a few tips for better sleep throughout the night. (more…)
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Dental Cleanings
When you brush and floss your teeth twice every day, the ritual can become so ingrained that you do it automatically, without always thinking about it. Professional dental cleanings, however, are typically spaced out every six months, with enough space between them that they may not exactly feel routine. Nevertheless, professional care and maintenance is as important as daily hygiene. If you forget or neglect to attend a dental cleaning, then your toothbrush and floss might not be as effective as you think. Today, we explain the importance of regular dental cleanings, and the consequences of skipping one or more of them. (more…)
3 Reasons Tooth-Colored Fillings Work Better
Treating cavities has long been an important part of professional dentistry, and until relatively recently, most patients relied on durable metal fillings to restore their teeth. Today, however, tooth-colored fillings are a better, increasingly more popular option for treating cavities in a discreet and safe manner. While their main attraction is their appearance, tooth-colored fillings offer a number of functional benefits that make them preferable over traditional metal fillings. (more…)
How Gum Disease Becomes a Problem
Though you may not realize it, periodontal (gum) disease probably affects most of the people you know. In fact, nearly 80% of adults in the United States are afflicted with the chronic condition, and it’s the number one cause of adult tooth loss. However, as a progressive illness, periodontal disease goes through several stages before it can claim one or more of your teeth. Therefore, treating it depends on the stage at which you detect it. Today, we explore the process by which gum disease becomes a problem, and how you can increase your chances of successfully treating it early. (more…)
Do You Have TMJ Disorder?
TMJ disorder isn’t limited to a specific few symptoms, and its resulting discomfort may not always seem related to your dental health. Chronic headaches, recurring earaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and neck and shoulder pain can indicate TMJ disorder, but they are also symptoms of a lot of other conditions. Today, we explain how you can gauge the likelihood of TMJ disorder by examining its symptoms and judging your jaw’s balance. (more…)
Can Your Dentist Help You Stop Snoring?
Did you know that you can find relief from your chronic snoring problem at your dentist’s office? You probably wouldn’t naturally think of your dentist when seeking better sleep, but the mechanisms behind snoring and the sleep disorder, sleep apnea often originate with your oral tissues. Today, we explain how methods for treating OSA often involve interrupting the processes that lead to snoring, and how you can find relief and the sleep you need at our dental office. (more…)
Why Dental Crowns Work So Well
Because your teeth cannot repair themselves when damaged or threatened by disease, modern dentistry focuses much attention on creating effective, discrete man-made solutions to reinforce weakened teeth. As a custom-designed, fabricated replica of your tooth, a dental crown can offer a wide range of benefits in a number of different circumstances. Today, we explore some of these benefits, and why today’s dental crowns are vital to many successful dental restorations. (more…)
How Porcelain Veneers Improve Smiles
Patients who are unhappy with their smiles because stains, chips, odd spacing, or slight crookedness mar their teeth’s appearance tend to hide their smiles more often than they show them. Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of dental porcelain that are bonded to the fronts of a patient’s teeth to cover such potentially embarrassing blemishes. If your smile’s imperfections seem overwhelming, then porcelain veneers may provide the conservative treatment you need to successfully improve your smile’s appearance. (more…)
Exploring Jaw Pain and TMJ Disorder
There are plenty of issues that can affect your smile’s health, beauty, and function. Most people are aware of the few that can directly attack their teeth and gums, such as tooth decay and gum disease. However, your dental health involves more than just teeth and gums, and in some cases, the components that move your mouth can be the ones to suffer. Today, explore these components, and how TMJ disorder can cause intense jaw pain and difficulty with your mouth’s operation. (more…)