Keeping your Mouth Clean

Daily cleanings are important to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. This is because your teeth are covered with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Plaque that is not removed can irritate your gums, making them swollen or causing them to bleed. This is called gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal disease.

Brushing and flossing every day helps remove food particles and plaque from your mouth.

1. Brush your teeth for two minutes each time with a toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen the enamel in your teeth and can help protect them from cavities.
2. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush in a size and shape that will fit your mouth comfortably.
3. Get a new toothbrush when the bristles show signs of wear, usually after about three months.
4. If you have trouble holding a manual toothbrush, you may want to try an electric toothbrush instead.

Why should you visit your dentist regularly?

You may think that your teeth are in tip-top shape because you brush and clean between them every day. But, your home care routine is only part of the plan - your dental team plays a very important role, too.

There are many great reasons to visit your dentist:

To prevent gum disease
To check for cavities and other oral diseases or conditions
To check for signs of oral cancer
To remove plaque. Plaque that is not removed hardens into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental visit. Tartar makes it difficult to clean your teeth on your own.
To get rid of food, drink or tobacco stains on the surface of your teeth that cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing
To keep your teeth healthy, which will keep your body healthy overall.

Source: 2016 ADA, "Your Smile: An Owner's Manual"

TOOTH WHITENING

While our teeth are not, by nature, perfectly white, most people feel that they could improve their smile with brighter, whiter teeth. Over time, our teeth acquire extrinsic stains as a result of eating and drinking certain foods and beverages. They also yellow with age, as a result of acquiring pigmentation inside the teeth. There are various ways to safely remove the extrinsic stains and the intrinsic yellowing, leaving a whiter, more radiant smile.

Brightening your smile is as easy as visiting your dentist for a whitening treatment, or purchasing one of the many at-home treatment options available. You don't necessarily have to change your habits to whiten your teeth. Simply replacing your regular toothpaste with whitening toothpaste is a great way to start whitening your smile gradually.

Tooth whitening lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration. Whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because it can greatly improve how your teeth look.

Whitening is not a one-time procedure. It will need to be repeated from time to time if you want to maintain the brighter color.

VENEERS

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit over teeth, providing a natural, attractive look. They can be used to fix chipped, stained, misaligned, worn down, uneven or abnormally spaced teeth. The two most common materials used in dental veneers are composite resin and porcelain. Both types of veneers can be fabricated by a dental technician in a laboratory and are bonded to the patient’s teeth in a dentist’s office. Dental veneers are bonded to the teeth with resin cement. Porcelain material is brittle; however, when it is firmly bonded to the tooth it can become very strong and durable.

For teeth that are severely discolored, chipped or misshapen, veneers create a durable and pleasing smile. Plus, veneers are difficult to stain, making them popular for people seeking a perfect smile.

BONDING

Bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin (plastic) to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured, discolored tooth, to make teeth appear longer, and as a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings. Bonding can be done in a single visit to your dentist.

Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive cosmetic dental procedure. The composite resin used in bonding can be shaped and polished to match the surrounding teeth. Most often, bonding is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of a discolored or chipped tooth. It also can be used to close spaces between teeth, to make teeth look longer or to change the shape or color of teeth.

Sometimes bonding is used as a cosmetic alternative to fillings, or to protect a portion of the tooth's root that has been exposed because of gum recession.

Source: http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

Good oral hygiene starts as early as infancy. Whether you're nursing or bottle feeding, you should begin incorporating some type of dental hygiene regimen as soon as possible. Before any teeth erupt, wipe down the gums with gauze or a soft, wet washcloth. Once teeth begin to come in, keep them clean. Using the right set of tools is essential for this daily ritual. For example, it is important to purchase a toothbrush designed specifically for babies, which will have a much smaller head, for their tiny mouths.

If you have not done so already, make sure your child has his or her first dental visit by the time he or she turns one to two years of age. Your pediatric dentist will keep your child's teeth healthy by removing plaque build-up and food debris that may be stuck in his teeth. This is an important part of dental care because it prevents bacteria from continuing to grow, which may eventually lead to other dental diseases (eg. tooth decay or inflammation of the gum tissue). Make your regular visits to the pediatric dentist a fun adventure that always yields some type of tooth-friendly reward.

A crown is used to entirely cover or "cap" a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the color of your natural teeth. Other materials include gold and metal alloys, acrylic and ceramic. These alloys are generally stronger than porcelain and may be recommended for back teeth. Porcelain bonded to a metal shell is often used because it is both strong and attractive.

Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Your dentist can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost. Porcelain or ceramic bridges can be matched to the color of your natural teeth.

Tooth extraction procedures today are far less painful than ever before, thanks to powerful anesthetics and sedatives. In many cases, a patient who has tooth pulled experiences little or no discomfort, and only minor bleeding.

Why would I need an endodontic procedure?

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?

Signs to look for include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gum tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.

How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?

The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?

Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.

For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions carefully.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.

What is local anesthesia?
Local anesthesia, sometimes referred to as regional anesthesia, numbs only the areas of the body that are to be effected by a surgery or procedure. With dentistry, local anesthesia is used for most procedures, such as fillings, implants, inlays, and root canals, among other things. Local anesthesia allows the patient to remain awake and alert without feeling any of the pain associated with the procedures.

How does it work?
Local anesthesia works by numbing the nerves of the area to be worked on. It blocks the nerve impulses of the area. It is applied either through a topic solution or, more commonly, a syringe injection.

Will it hurt when it's applied?
Injection can be a bit uncomfortable, as with any shot, but the pain will pass quickly as the drug takes effect.

What are the advantages of local anesthesia?
It is thought to be less risky than general anesthesia, with fewer side effects. It also allows you to be awake and alert during the procedure, so you are available to answer questions. There is no “recovery period” where you feel groggy waiting for the medication to wear off. With local anesthesia, you can leave the dentist's office and go about your day as you normally would, with no restrictions on driving, working, or decision making.

Restoring Your Smile with Dentures

When you are missing teeth, you might find it difficult to eat a variety of foods or speak clearly. You may even be reluctant to smile or laugh in public. Dentures can restore oral functions, such as chewing and speaking, and give you a smile that can make you proud.

Types of Dentures

Removable partial or complete dentures can be made, depending on the number of teeth that need to be replaced. Removable partial dentures typically have a metal framework beneath a plastic base, colored to look like gingival (gum) tissue. Artificial teeth are mounted into the base, and the denture often attaches to your own teeth with metal clasps. Like removable partial dentures, complete dentures have a plastic base that supports the artificial teeth. Complete dentures provide a full set of upper or lower teeth (or both, if necessary). They can be held in the mouth with dental implants (posts placed directly into the jawbone) or by a seal that forms between the denture base and the gums with the help of saliva. Dentists place conventional complete dentures after all of the natural teeth have been lost or removed, and the gum tissue has healed. Some patients are able to undergo denture placement immediately after having their teeth removed, without a healing period. Because immediate dentures are made before all of the teeth have been removed, the dentist will need to adjust the fit once the oral tissues have healed.