Traditional metal or mercury fillings are not only unattractive; they also present some significant dental and total health risks.

Learn more about the dangers associated with metal fillings and about the new tooth-colored filling options available to you.

Not only are traditional metal fillings unattractive, but they are now believed to pose significant health risks, as well.  Metal fillings may release toxic chemicals into the blood, and they definitely cause more tooth damage than new, composite resin fillings. Composite fillings, also known as white or tooth-colored fillings, are rapidly becoming the restoration of choice for patients and dentists alike.

Silver fillings are actually an amalgam material composed of up to fifty percent mercury, a metal that has been found to be more toxic than arsenic, lead, or cadmium. Mercury can leak from metal fillings over time, exposing the body to this toxic substance.  Some doctors believe that even small amounts of mercury in body can lead to physical and psychological problems such as birth effects, mental disorders, and some neurodegenerative diseases. While the debate concerning the safety of metal fillings is ongoing, many dentists have stopped using this material and switched to a resin composite material.

Not only do metal fillings present a risk to the patient’s health, but they also have the potential to cause tooth breakage.  The metal in fillings expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations, and this can cause already weak teeth to crack.  Often, a dental crown or even tooth extraction is the only solution when this happens.

Health risks aside, the main reason most patients opt for white or tooth-colored fillings is aesthetic:  these fillings are crafted to match the color of natural teeth so closely that they are virtually undetectable. While the debate as to the safety of metal filings continues, dental insurance companies still consider white resin fillings to be an elective cosmetic choice, so white fillings are not usually covered by dental insurance plans. Still, many patients find that the added cost is worth it because tooth-colored fillings are not only the safer, but the more attractive restoration option.

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Did your parents make sure you went to the dentist twice a year?  Have you, like many adults, been skipping these regular visits?  It is well-known that we are all supposed to visit the dentist twice a year, but many adults forgo regular dental check-ups. Read on to learn why a bi-annual visit to your dentist for a full examination and cleaning is important.

In addition to a thorough tooth and gum cleaning, your dental check-up also includes a very important full mouth examination.  First, your dentist or hygienist will use a pick and mirror to inspect each of your teeth for signs of enamel loss, decay, or fillings that may need to be replaced.  This examination can help your dentist detect potential problems before they require costly treatments such as dental crowns and bridges.

Your dentist will also examine your gums during this appointment.  Most people don’t know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it can also lead to loss of jaw bone structure.  Most forms of gum disease are easy to treat if caught early, but may do extreme damage if left untreated.  In fact, recent studies have even linked gum disease with heart disease, stroke, and premature birth.

Many people are unaware that during a dental examination, their dentist also screens for oral cancer, which can be deadly.  Cancers may appear as a red or white spot in the mouth, but can be difficult to detect with the naked eye.  Many dentists now use laser technology to perform thorough oral cancer screenings.

Visiting the dentist twice yearly for a thorough examination and preventive dental care is the best way to keep your mouth and teeth healthy and strong for a lifetime.  Now that you know how important bi-annual dental visits are, contact a qualified dentist near you to schedule your appointment.

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How many times have you heard it’s important to visit the dentist twice a year, but ignored this advice thinking it didn’t pertain to you?  Well, to ensure the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth, you really do need to make those bi-annual visits. These visits include not only a thorough cleaning beyond what you can achieve at home, but also a full examination of your mouth, which can help you prevent future problems.  Learn about why the six month dental examination and cleaning is a good idea for anybody who values their smile.

Is there anything about your smile that you wish to improve?  Are your teeth crooked, broken, or chipped?  Does your smile appear yellow or stained?  Maybe your teeth appear too small because of the excessive amount of gum tissue showing?  A qualified cosmetic dentist has the solution for these and a host of other smile imperfections.  Here is a brief description of the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments today.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored porcelain that are fitted to the fronts of teeth.  Using skill and artistry, your cosmetic dentist can apply veneers to mask the appearance of broken or damaged teeth.  Veneers can also be used to brighten the appearance of your smile, and sometimes they are used as “instant orthodontics” to make minor corrections to a crooked smile. Tooth whitening is perhaps the fastest and most popular way to achieve dramatic smile enhancement results.  While at-home bleaching kits are effective to a degree, patients who visit their cosmetic dentist for tooth whitening often see a more dramatic result.  In just one brief session, you can get rid of stains and discoloration caused by coffee, soda, tea, red wine, and certain medications.  Patients who whiten their teeth often find they look younger, healthier, and more attractive than they had anticipated.

In recent years, the United States has seen a huge increase in the number of people who wish to undergo cosmetic dentistry treatments, from porcelain veneers and tooth whitening, to cosmetic dental bonding and even laser gum recontouring.  With the advent of newer and more effective anesthetic methods and dental payment plans, a beautiful, movie-star smile is truly within your reach.

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If you dislike the look of your smile: your teeth are yellowed, your gums show too much, and your crooked bite detracts from the beauty of your grin.  A great smile makes the best first impression, so what can be done to help you?  A cosmetic dentist can offer you an array of smile solutions, including tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, and cosmetic dental bonding.  You can even combine a number of cosmetic dentistry treatments to achieve a totally new look with a full smile makeover.  Learn how you can achieve the smile of your dreams with cosmetic dentistry.

When a woman is expecting a baby, the health of her mouth may not be the first thing on her mind.  However, studies show that gum disease can be passed from mothers to babies, as can bacteria found in unhealthy mouths.  If you are expecting, this brief guide on dentistry for pregnant women is an essential read.

It is recommended that women schedule a dental exam at some point during their pregnancy, though any X-rays, elective, or cosmetic treatments should be deferred until after the birth.  Make sure you let your dentist know you are pregnant and maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine throughout your pregnancy.

Rising hormone levels in pregnant women can lead to swelling and bleeding of the gums, as well as a higher risk of food becoming trapped between teeth and gums.  Recent studies have found a correlation between gum disease and preterm birth, so dental hygiene is especially important during pregnancy.  Additionally, any necessary fillings or crowns should also be taken care of to reduce the possibility of infection.

After the second trimester, it is safest and most comfortable to postpone dental treatment until after the birth.  Aside from the unforeseen dental emergency, most women opt not to undergo dental work during their third trimester, as lying on their back in the treatment chair becomes difficult and uncomfortable at this time.

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, it is important that you discuss your oral health with your dentist.  It is best to tackle any dental issues such as decay, cavities, or gum disease before becoming pregnant to ensure a healthy mouth for mother and baby, alike.

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During your pregnancy, there are many steps you can take to safeguard the health of both yourself and your baby, such as eating right, exercising, and making regular appointments to see your doctor.  However, many pregnant women are unaware that a visit to the dentist’s office can also have a positive affect on the health of their babies.  Learn about why it is important to maintain good oral health during pregnancy, when it is best to visit the dentist, and what dental treatments you should avoid until after giving birth.

Many of us associate dental cavities with childhood, but there is a type of tooth decay that is a prominent threat to middle-aged adults: root decay.  Root decay is common amongst adults over the age of fifty because normal wear and tear can cause a person’s gums to recede, exposing a tooth’s tender root.  Unlike the outer surfaces of teeth, tooth roots do not have the protective enamel layer that can deflect cavity-causing bacteria and plaque, and so they are highly susceptible to decay.  Tooth root decay is easily treatable if it has not progressed too far, but it can lead to extensive tooth damage and even tooth loss if left untreated.

If root decay has not progressed too deeply, a simple filling may be all that is needed to correct the problem.  However, fillings applied to tooth roots often have a shorter life span than traditional fillings, and may require multiple visits to the dentist’s office.  Since a cavity on the tooth root may affect the inner tooth pulp, a root canal may also be necessary.  For root decay that is more advanced, a dental crown or even tooth extraction may be the best solution.

So how do you prevent tooth root decay?  The best way to prevent root decay (and all forms of tooth decay) is to maintain a healthy oral hygiene routine.  This means not only brushing twice daily and flossing once, but also brushing properly: brushing too hard can cause gum tissue to become damaged, which leads to gum recession.  The main cause of receding gums, however, is gum disease.  Gum disease is very common among American adults, but is easily preventable.  In addition to regular brushing and flossing, it is important to visit your dentist twice a year to ensure that gum disease and root decay are not an issue for you.

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Cavities are not just for kids:  more and more adults over the age of fifty are confronted with cavities in the form of root decay.  Root decay occurs when the gums recede and expose the delicate tooth root to bacteria and plaque.  Fortunately, root decay is easily preventable with a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits to the dentist.  Learn more about root decay, how it’s treated, and how to avoid it altogether.

Do you have a crooked smile or uneven bite, but are afraid to seek orthodontic treatment because of the appearance and hassle of traditional braces?  Metal brackets are just fine for teenagers, but adults may want to straighten their teeth in a more discreet manner.  Enter Invisalign® invisible braces: with Invisalign®, patients of all ages can straighten their smiles in comfort, and Invisalign® invisible braces are virtually undetectable to the eye.

Invisalign® aligners are constructed from very thin, clear plastic: they are virtually invisible to even the closest observer and do not hinder regular speaking in the least.  Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign® aligners can be removed for convenient eating and for cleaning, though aligners should be worn as much as possible to achieve maximum results in the shortest amount of time.

Invisalign® invisible braces are actually a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually cause teeth to shift position.  The first step in the Invisalign® process is a consultation with a cosmetic dentist or orthodontist to make sure you are a good candidate for invisible braces.  Once you have been approved for treatment with Invisalign®, your doctor will take a mold of your teeth and send them to an Invisalign® laboratory where your aligners will be custom fabricated to suit your unique needs.

Patients wear each set of Invisalign® aligners for roughly two weeks, then move on to the next set of aligners in the series, gradually causing their teeth to shift into more pleasing positions.  The Invisalign® system is roughly the same cost as traditional braces, and treatment takes roughly the same amount of time.  Most Invisalign® patients can expect to achieve their ideal results in about a year.

If you are ready to achieve the smile of your dreams in comfort and discretion, schedule an Invisalign® consultation with your cosmetic dentist or orthodontist today!

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Many adults are unhappy with their crooked smiles, but are hesitant to undergo traditional orthodontic treatment because of the juvenile appearance associated with metal braces and retainers.  Thanks to Invisalign® invisible braces, however, adults can now achieve the smiles of their dreams with comfort and discretion in about the same time it takes with traditional metal brackets.

When you smile, do more gums show than teeth?  If you have a smile that is overshadowed by gums that descend too far onto the tooth surface or uneven gums, your smile is said to be “gummy”.  When a patient’s gums appear too long, his or her teeth appear smaller, often lending a juvenile appearance to his or her smile.  Thankfully, cosmetic dentists can now employ modern laser gum recontouring to help patients achieve the beautiful and shapely smiles of their dreams.

In the past, the only solution for a gummy smile was to either “grin and bear it”, or to undergo painful gum recontouring.  In traditional gum recontouring, a dentist used a scalpel to cut away excess gum tissue.  The procedure was often painful, caused heavy bleeding, and required stitches and a long recovery period.  With the advancement of modern dental technology, however, dentists can now use a special diode laser to custom-craft a patient’s gum line in a quick procedure that is virtually pain and blood free, with little to no recovery time needed.

The gum recontouring procedure is normally only performed on the patient’s front teeth.  In the first step of gum recontouring, the dentist will gently numb the patient’s front teeth to ensure his or her comfort during the procedure.  Then, the dentist will use a soft-tissue diode laser to gently remove excess gum tissue and sculpt the gums into a more pleasing appearance.  Because the diode laser cauterizes while it removes excess gum tissue, there is very little to no bleeding associated with modern gum recontouring.  What’s more, patients who undergo this quick procedure can return to daily activities immediately and need nothing more than an over-the-counter pain medication to deal with any discomfort.

With so many advances in modern dentistry, there is no reason that every dental patient should not have the smile of his or her dreams.  If you are tired of your “gummy” smile, contact your cosmetic dentist today to schedule a laser gum recontouring appointment.  You will be amazed at the transformation your smile will undergo in as little as one hour!

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Many people who have a “gummy” smile are not aware that there is an easy and virtually pain-free solution available to them.  Modern dental technology has allowed for laser gum recontouring to be completed in one brief visit to the dentist’s office, with little to no recovery time needed.  With gum recontouring, patients can enjoy a more adult-looking smile and teeth that appear larger and healthier in as little as one hour.  Learn more about cosmetic gum recontouring and whether this simple procedure may be the solution to your gummy smile.

We all know that eating sugary foods and drinking lots of soda can have a negative effect on our teeth, but did you know that there are many foods that are good for your teeth?  Eating the right foods not only helps us achieve a healthier and leaner body, but certain foods can also help strengthen our teeth and gums.  Here are just a few of these tooth-friendly foods.

Leafy green vegetables contain high levels of the B vitamin folic acid.  Not only is folic acid crucial to cell growth throughout the body, but the gums and all surface tissue in the mouth require this vitamin to maintain health.

Citrus fruits and tomatoes are both rich in vitamin C, which helps with the production of connective tissues that keep the teeth in place and with keeping gums healthy.  In fact, classic signs of vitamin C deficiency include bleeding gums, gingivitis, and tooth loss.  Other foods rich in vitamin C include kiwis, strawberries, and broccoli.

Cheese and other dairy products can help balance the pH in your mouth, which can inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.  Because cheese is rich in calcium, it can also help rebuild tooth enamel, which is the thin protective layer found on healthy teeth.

Water helps to keep the tissues in your mouth hydrated and it is the best way to stimulate the production of saliva.  Saliva is your body’s natural defense against the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.

Parsley and mint may not help keep your teeth healthy, but what good is a beautiful smile if it is followed by terrible breath?  These herbs contain substances that naturally freshen your breath by killing bad breath in the lungs, where it starts.

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It’s fairly obvious that sticky, sugary, or overly hard foods can cause damage to your teeth, but are there any foods that are actually good for your teeth?  Some of the tooth-friendly foods included in this list (like cheese) may surprise you, while others (like mint) are time-proven remedies.  Learn how a healthy diet can not only help you achieve a more healthy and lean body, but can also help you preserve and protect the beauty of your smile.

These days, many people are trying to fight the signs of ageing with painful and costly plastic surgery procedures designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and promote a younger appearance.  But what if you don’t have the time or money required for surgical intervention, or you simply don’t want to go under the knife?  Luckily, there are a number of cosmetic and restorative dentistry solutions that can help you achieve the younger, refreshed look you desire.

With the progression of age, the structures in the mouth begin to break down and worn or missing teeth can contribute to a sunken appearance around the mouth, increased wrinkles known as “smile marks”, and even the appearance of a receding jaw line.  Restorative dentistry in the form of crowns, bridges, and sometimes dental implants can replace mouth structure and therefore help patients achieve a younger appearance.

Cosmetic dentistry treatments can also have a dramatic effect, helping patients to look years younger.  The simple procedure of tooth whitening can help take years off a person’s appearance, while porcelain veneers can help to correct the smile to promote a more rejuvenated, polished look.
In addition to the reduction of lines and wrinkles around the mouth, many dental facelift patients who have undergone structural and cosmetic enhancements report a younger appearance to their entire face, including the eyes, cheeks, and even the neck.  While a dental facelift can become costly depending on the number of procedures needed to achieve the desired outcome, compared with the cost and risks associated with going under the knife it is often the ideal non-surgical alternative that offers stunning results.

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Do you wish you could look younger, but are hesitant to invest your time and money in cosmetic surgery?  Would you love to have a facelift, eye work, or even a neck lift, but you don’t want to go under the knife?  Using the latest cosmetic and restorative dentistry techniques, your dentist can help you achieve a younger, more refreshed look without plastic surgery.  Learn about some of the many “dental facelift” options available to you.

Imagine reclining in a plush chair, covered with a warmed blanket and indulging in a foot massage while enjoying aromatherapy and listening to soothing music…all while having your teeth cleaned!  This is no longer a fantasy scenario, as hundreds of modern dental practices are now offering spa-like amenities with the advent of the “dental spa”.

Recent years have seen the addition of such comfort-enhancing details as personal satellite televisions, DVD players, and personal headsets to general, cosmetic, and restorative dental practices, but the dental spa takes this idea miles further.  Practices are now offering personal beverage and snack service (one dental spa even boasts wine!), roaming masseurs, aromatherapy designed to soothe nervous patients, water fountains in treatment rooms, and even the occasional manicure, pedicure, or BOTOX® treatment.

So why do dentists invest in spa amenities for their practices?  Experience shows that patient numbers grow dramatically when patients actually want to visit the dentist.  We all know that it is recommended that we visit the dentist twice yearly, but many of us forgo these visits for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is a fear of discomfort that is only enhanced by the sights, sounds, and smells associated with the dentist’s office.  Whether you suffer from dental anxiety or you just can’t seem to make the time to see your dentist, emerging dental spa amenities may make that bi-annual visit something to look forward to, rather than to postpone.

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What if you actually looked forward to a visit to the dentist’s office? What if a trip to the dentist was just as relaxing as a trip to a posh spa?These fantasies are now a reality with the advent of dental spas.Aromatherapy and massage are just a few of the indulgent amenities offered by dental spas.Many patients find their dental spa experience so pleasant, they never want to leave!