Bad breath (or halitosis) happens to all of us from time to time, and nobody likes it. As well as being a social embarrassment, bad breath can also be a warning sign of more serious dental problems. By analyzing the type of bad breath patients complain of, we can help determine its cause. What Causes Bad Breath? External Factors Food - If your breath is especially strong after fragrant meals with as garlic or onions, there's unfortunately not much to be done except to [...]
If It Ain't Broke, Why Fix It? Patients are sometimes surprised when they have a cavity or two and wonder, "How can I need a filling when I haven't been in any pain?" Unfortunately, this is common because cavities often don't give any warning signs at all. Teeth can become extremely broken down and even abscess due to decay and still never hurt. So while it may not be causing you any discomfort at the moment, our experience has shown that catching problems early [...]
If there's anything good to be said about a broken tooth, it's that the cause of the problem is pretty obvious. The same can't always be said when a tooth develops a crack, which are sometimes too small to even be seen with the naked eye. In fact, researchers have compiled case histories to develop a "cracked tooth syndrome" profile. Who? The potential for crack rises with age. Past 40, enamel tends to grow brittle partly due to reduced moisture. The tooth itself is [...]
Options are Available to Improve an Aging Smile Are you at the point in life where most everything still works, but there's just no denying that you're getting a little older? Maybe you hear your joints creak, and you've started wearing glasses to read. Your hairstylist suggests new ways to cover the gray... The same thing happens with your teeth–they simply aren't as young as they used to be. Teeth naturally change as we age, meandering and crowding each other. Their color darkens over [...]
Is TMJ causing my pain? TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. Located just in front of the ear, it is the joint that connects your lower jaw to the rest of your head, allowing the jaw to move freely while biting, chewing, and speaking. Problems related to the TMJ can affect jaw muscles, teeth, and nerves associated with chronic facial pain. Times of stress can cause or aggravate TMJ, since most of the discomfort is attributed to overuse of muscles during clenching or grinding of [...]
When it comes to replacing a missing tooth, several factors determine what treatment option will be best for each individual. Sometimes a patient is missing just a single tooth (or very few teeth) and aren't ready for dental implants or dentures. Sometimes the gums and underlying bone are too weak to support an implant, or need time to heal before it's placed. And, unfortunately, sometimes insurance and financing options are limiting factors. In cases such as these, the best option is often a removable [...]
Tooth Colored Fillings for a Natural Appearance Do you have a cavity, but have always hated the thought of dark, metallic-looking fillings? Or maybe you already have one of these "amalgams" and it's time for a replacement? Well, consider the beautiful results that can be achieved with composite resin, tooth colored fillings. Your teeth will look as fresh, white, and natural as when they first grew in. The most important aspect of any restoration is strength, and the newest materials used in composite bonding [...]
Improving the smiles and self-esteem of our patients is one of the best parts of our job. And often this requires the use of dental bonding, a painless and easy way to restore damaged teeth, or just to improve appearance. A thin layer of liquid resin is simply brushed onto the tooth and cured with a special light to harden the bond. Bonding can be used many ways such as to cover stains, fill in chipped areas, repair areas of decay, or fill in [...]
Shortened teeth are a sure sign; lengthening them makes people look younger. We have methods to build up shortened or chipped teeth. Do You Have Periodontal Disease? Periodontal, or gum, disease are rarely noticed in early stages. Only by dental exam do you know for sure. However, there are some telltale symptoms: bleeding gums, bad breath, loose teeth, or gums that are shrinking away from the teeth. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, so help keep your smile youthful [...]
Temporomandibular Joint disorder—TMJ—often disguises the source of the pain it inflicts. Although it originates in the jaw joint, sometimes the pain appears to emerge from an entirely different part of the head. Many people living with TMJ don't know what's behind their suffering. Their teeth themselves feel fine. So they suspect the flu, an allergy, or something psychosomatic. Something temporary. TMJ is not temporary! Symptoms range from mildly annoying discomfort to severe, debilitating pain in the face, head, neck, and teeth, plus earaches and [...]
