Diamons

Restorative Dentistry

Photography by Dr. Padval

Do You Have Bad Breath?

When Bad Breath is Something to Worry About Morning breath...dragon mouth...onion breath...there are about as many descriptions of halitosis as there are reasons for it occurring. Chronic bad breath is usually not just too much garlic for lunch. Here's a list of common bad breath causes, and what you might consider doing about each: Garlic or other Strong Smelling Foods If your breath overreacts, go easy on these foods. Following them with mints or parsley has little effect, and may make matters worse. From [...]

By |2018-09-18T00:00:09-07:00September 18, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Changing Smiles by Bonding

Skill, Technology, and a little "Magic" With the wonderful age of dental bonding, teeth can be made healthy and beautiful in most cases without multiple appointments, anesthesia, temporaries and at less expense than crowns. Magic? Not really. Bonding techniques have been around for years, and improvements in dental materials have made it one of the most effective and versatile treatments in dentistry. Bonding is a procedure in which a white composite resin is applied to the natural outer surface of the tooth. The tooth [...]

By |2018-07-17T00:00:57-07:00July 17, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Your Teeth Age Too!

Special Concerns for Older Adults Along with those gray hairs and inevitable smile lines, your mouth undergoes natural changes over the years, as well. Among them: Cutting edge of teeth are worn flat by chewing or grinding. Remember to keep regularly scheduled hygiene appointments to check for cavities. Consider dental sealants to prevent decay, or a nighttime mouthguard if you experience grinding (bruxism). Jawbones supporting teeth or dentures can shrink by as much as two-thirds! Loss of bone mass is a fact of aging, [...]

By |2018-05-22T08:00:19-07:00May 22, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Crown and Bridge Treatment

Maintaining the integrity of your mouth Teeth are tough. Formed from the hardest substances in the body, they're harder even than bone. But they're not indestructible. Throughout life teeth are subject to injury—maybe it will be a blow from a hockey puck in your twenties. Or a luckless chomp on an unseen popcorn kernel in your thirties. Or a molar that's had one too many fillings in your forties. Whatever the scenario, at some point most of us will need repair for a weakened [...]

By |2018-04-24T08:00:21-07:00April 24, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Mystery Pain & Phantom Toothache

There's only one good thing about a visibly damaged tooth: here, clearly, is where the pain's coming from and where our response will be focused. But complaints of "tooth pain" without a clear source or origin—now, that's something else entirely. Say you've been good with your hygiene, faithful in your checkups, and you wake up one morning with a vague pain. You can't see a crack or cavity, but something's just not right, so you schedule an appointment with our team. What gives? A [...]

By |2018-04-03T08:00:54-07:00April 3, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Older and Healthy…a Natural Match

The words "aging" and "healthy" don't have to be either/or propositions. Fact is, in some ways we grow healthier as we age. We've built up so many antibodies that our resistance to virus increases. Years of brushing with fluoride toothpaste actually strengthens tooth enamel. A little effort on your part now can help insure you'll feel as good as you'll look—years from now. As mouths age, the potential of periodontal disease is ever present. So brushing and flossing become more important than ever—along with [...]

By |2018-02-13T08:00:16-08:00February 13, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

When a Tooth Goes Missing

Harrison Ford took a nasty fall and lost two of his teeth. Thanks to modern dentistry, he went on to become a major Hollywood star. For as long as we humans have been losing teeth, we've been filling the gaps. Early dentures were made from ivory, bone, silver, gold, agate, mother-of-pearl and teeth removed from cadavers. These were held in place with steel springs and silk thread. Only the wealthiest could afford them, and they didn't hold up well. Worse, they often hurt. People [...]

By |2018-01-23T08:00:26-08:00January 23, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Frank Talk About Bad Breath

Social embarrassments come in many sizes. But chronic bad breath is near the top of the list. It affects those nearest and dearest to us and may limit the close social contacts we treasure most. Worse yet, a person with bad breath may be unaware he's offensive—we "turn off" our sensitivity to bad odors over time. Bacteria, plain and simple, are the culprit. Bacteria do their work in the mouth, lungs, sinuses and stomach. All the store-bought fresheners on the market won't remedy the cause. [...]

By |2017-12-19T00:00:46-08:00December 19, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Have You Knocked Out a Tooth?

Cheat The Tooth Fairy We sure can try, but your help is needed, and the most important word is TIME. When a permanent tooth is knocked out, the less time it is out of the mouth the better. In fact, the best results are obtained when the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes! A parent or friend can place the tooth back into the socket or place it in a wet issue and bring the patient, and the tooth to the dentist at once. [...]

By |2017-10-03T00:00:09-07:00October 3, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Making Sure Dentures Will Look Natural

Have you ever looked at swatches of wallpaper or carpeting and tried to imagine how it might look in your living room? Not easy to do. Choosing a denture that fits your face—and looks and feels natural—poses a similar problem. You never really know how they're going to look and feel until you get to wear and chew with them. Our customized denture technique begins with a special treatment denture that you actually wear with the same teeth that will be placed in your [...]

By |2017-07-18T00:00:34-07:00July 18, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|