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…)
Why Are My Teeth Loose?
When healthy, your teeth have a very slight amount of flexibility within their sockets. This flexibility helps ensure that your teeth can withstand the immense pressures of biting and chewing without damaging their roots or jawbone. However, when your teeth are noticeably loose, then their foundation may be in trouble, and you may be at risk of tooth loss. Noticeably loose teeth can shift and move about, damaging the tissues that hold the roots in place. To find out why your teeth are loose and how you can save them, make an appointment with your dentist so you can receive appropriate treatment as soon as possible. (more…)
Should You Upgrade Your Filling to a Tooth-Colored One?
As our knowledge of dental health has progressed over the years, so have the techniques and materials used to treat common dental issues. For instance, cavities were once most commonly treated using durable metal amalgam fillings, which could effectively withstand the immense pressures of biting and chewing. Today, however, most people prefer tooth-colored fillings for their many esthetic and functional advantages. If you have a metal filling, then ask your dentist if you should upgrade it to a tooth-colored filling, and how doing so can improve your smile’s appearance as well as your long-term oral health. (more…)
Can Gum Contouring Restore Your Confidence?
The main purpose of your gums is to protect and support the roots of your teeth as they extend out of your jawbone. However, their appearance also has a significant impact on the appearance of your overall smile. When gum tissues are uneven or cover too much of one or more teeth, the result is often called a gummy smile, and can make the rest of your smile seem crooked and off-balance. Fortunately, in many cases, gum contouring can restore your confidence by restoring the esthetic appeal and symmetry of your gums and smile. (more…)
What Happens When You Grind Your Teeth?
Your teeth do a lot. They tear and mash your food into easy-to-digest chunks; they can express your joy when you flash them in a smile; and they help you enunciate your words clearly when you speak. In some cases, teeth also constantly grind against each other, which unlike routine biting and chewing, can wear them down and lead to cracked, fractured, and/or misshapen teeth. Known as bruxism, the habit of grinding your teeth can occur during the day, but if it happens at night, you may be unable to catch it, much less understand and stop it, without professional treatment. (more…)
Why Dentures Are Better with Dental Implants
If you’ve lost all of your teeth on both of your dental ridges, then you may have concerns about whether dental implants can restore such extensive damage. The truth is, complete tooth loss is even more reason to consider supporting your denture or dentures on dental implants. They can prevent the continuing recession of your jawbone that accompanies the loss of your teeth roots, and implants may be your last chance at preserving your oral health in the face of full tooth loss. (more…)
What to Ask Your Dentist About Tooth Extraction
When you visit your dentist, your goal is to keep your smile healthy and beautiful by preserving your natural tooth structure and oral tissues. Typically, that means receiving regular preventive care, and when necessary, receiving a personalized restoration. Sometimes, however, circumstances can make tooth restoration impossible, and the best way to preserve your smile is to undergo tooth extraction. If it becomes necessary, then ask your dentist how tooth extraction can help you improve your smile and long-term oral health. (more…)