Diamons

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Photography by Dr. Padval

Root Surface Caries

We are Growing Older... As the population ages—more gracefully than ever, of course— we're keeping more teeth. Along with wisdom and experience, however, come different health problems. Among them, cavities on the surface of the tooth root, what we call root caries. Growing up, most decay is found on the surface of teeth, usually the crown. But gum tissue has a way of receding as the years go by, and this exposes the root to bacteria that cause decay. Periodontal (gum) disease worsens the [...]

By |2017-03-28T00:00:59-07:00March 28, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Do You Have A Salivary Stone?

A healthy flow of saliva is critical for chewing and digestion, bathing gums, and bacterial control. And we owe it all to salivary glands, three pairs of organs in the cheek and floor of the mouth. Each gland secretes saliva into the mouth via a tube, and this is where trouble can begin. Sialolithiasis—whew—names the condition that results from a small calcified stone blocking the salivary duct. Clearly, a kink in the duct will cause swelling of the gland itself. And swelling usually means [...]

By |2017-03-21T00:00:10-07:00March 21, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Alcohol and Your Health…

Just the Facts There's so much conflicting information regarding drinking alcohol blasting at us these days. A glass of red wine is good? Is even drinking at all a good idea? It's a matter of proportion. The facts are these. First, alcohol affects women more than men. Because men tend to be heavier in muscle mass, their bodies can process slightly more alcohol with fewer negative consequences than women's. But there's something else: the amount of an enzyme known as gastric alcohol dehydrogenase that's [...]

By |2017-03-14T00:00:35-07:00March 14, 2017|Patient Education|

Making Bad Breath Go Away

Where Bad Breath Comes From Most, but not all, bad breath comes from bacterial plaque and food accumulated mainly towards the back of the tongue. The problem is, there are all sorts of not-likely-but-possible other reasons for halitosis: upset stomach, anxiety, inflamed gums, saliva deficiency, infections and removable dentures are among them. What Not To Do Because nobody—but nobody!— wants bad breath, a billion-dollar industry has sprung up hawking a variety of mouthwashes, rinses, drops, pastes and mints to mask halitosis. But there's a huge [...]

By |2017-03-07T00:00:20-08:00March 7, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Dental Implants: The Next Best Thing to Natural Teeth

Once teeth are missing from the jawbone—whether one or many; whether from accident or disease—something very important is missing as well. That's tooth stability. Any denture wearer will tell you there's nothing more upsetting than a slipping lower denture and the anxious uncertainty it brings. That's because once one or more teeth are removed, the jawbone that previously anchored the roots begins to dissolve. Dental researchers worked for years to find ways to keep bone from shrinking. Now we're proud to offer a solution [...]

By |2017-02-28T00:00:46-08:00February 28, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

These are Times that Stress Kids’ Mouths

What does a student facing exam pressure have in common with a World War I soldier—or an 18th-Century British sailor? More than you might think. Kids surviving on junk food and stress are at risk of two retro tooth-and-gum woes: trench mouth and scurvy. Trench Mouth (named for the soldiers) is better known today as ANUG, or Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis. While it's similar to periodontal disease, what sets ANUG apart is its immediate onset. Suddenly the mouth is sore, gums bleed easily, and…bad [...]

By |2017-02-21T00:00:06-08:00February 21, 2017|Patient Education|

Diabetes

The first clue to diabetes may be in your mouth! In many cases it's the dentist–and not the physician–who has the first opportunity in the early detection of diabetes, because diabetics are especially prone to dental problems. Swollen, tender, bleeding and receding gums, loose teeth, and a sore tongue may not just be signs of poor dental health. They may be danger signals for diabetes, too. If you have any of these symptoms, you may be one of the millions of Americans who has diabetes. [...]

By |2017-02-14T00:00:46-08:00February 14, 2017|Patient Education|

The Makings of a Better Smile

One of the best things about today's cosmetic dentistry is how dramatically your smile can be enhanced with very simple, conservative procedures. All of us differ in terms of our appetite for cosmetic improvement. But a custom plan can be developed that fits your own particular desire—and comfort level—to a "T." A great smile is the sum of its components. These include color, tooth spacing, size, straightness, gum line, and more. As we age, all of these components can be negatively affected: teeth darken, [...]

By |2017-02-07T00:00:20-08:00February 7, 2017|Cosmetic Dentistry|

What Did You Say?

We've all heard young children speak "baby talk." Sometimes it can sound endearing—or it may be a speech defect. In early infancy, babies begin to make vowel sounds, usually mastered by age three. Consonant sounds are more difficult and come a little later on. By the eighth birthday, most children can pronounce all consonants and are 100% intelligible. But some children have more difficulty with speech and may need help learning. Lisping—The most common speech defect is lisping, which is relatively easy to correct. [...]

By |2017-01-24T00:00:06-08:00January 24, 2017|Children's Dentistry|

Tool of the Trade

Sure, everybody knows dental floss when they see it (we hope), and if you're in a periodontal program, you may be using miles of it. But do you recognize this gizmo? It's for "interdental" hygiene, especially useful for people with substantial spaces between their teeth at the gum line. Some studies show that interdental brushing, in combination with regular brushing and flossing, does a real number on plaque. Go gently, though. Any extreme pressure between the teeth, particularly in the presence of gum problems, [...]

By |2017-01-17T00:00:29-08:00January 17, 2017|Preventative Dentistry|