Is it important to have a healthy mouth?
Did you know that your dental health could affect your overall general health? Having a beautiful, healthy smile isn’t just about looking good. U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, Ph.D., reports that neglecting oral health can promote deadly diseases such as kidney and heart disease, oral cancer, diabetes, and/or respiratory ailments. Since your oral health mirrors your general health, you can take steps to prevent future problems. Proper nutrition, fluoride, and optimum oral hygiene will help keep your teeth and gums healthier for life. Regular checkups and tooth cleanings also prevent problems. Even with the best of care, some dental problems can still occur. Old crowns and amalgam fillings may need a redo – they don’t last forever. Accidents or dental trauma can cause missing or broken teeth that also may need to be restored.
What causes cavities?
Contrary to popular belief, cavities are NOT caused solely by eating too many sugary foods and/or not brushing enough. Many people who have a high-carbohydrate diet never get cavities, while others who do not consume many sugary foods continue to get cavities year after year. Tooth decay is caused by multiple factors, but the most important is the type and concentration of bacteria found in the mouth. Excessive amounts of specific “cavity-causing” bacteria can result in tooth decay even if a patient has good dental hygiene and a low-sugar diet. And many forms of decay are harder to detect with X-rays and are usually painless. So as the old adage goes, don’t wait till it hurts.
What is the best way to renew my smile?
New techniques in cosmetic dentistry are making it convenient and attractive to make over your smile. For centuries, porcelain has been used by artists, and in the last few years, porcelain veneers – ultra-thin, translucent shells – have become the technique of choice for treating discolored, chipped, or stained front teeth. Veneers bond tenaciously to teeth and can be successfully applied to teeth in as little as one visit to render a complete smile makeover. Of course, a careful diagnostic first visit with the dentist is necessary in order to discuss patient preferences in color, size, and individual characterizations. Once cemented, veneers are beautiful and as strong as natural teeth, and can withstand normal chewing and function.
What is the cause of the chipping and wear I notice on my teeth?
Most frequently, this is caused by thinning of the enamel from grinding or clenching teeth. Although most people are not aware of it, nearly everyone grinds their teeth at night or during the day to some extent. Bruxism (teeth grinding) is one of the most common conditions in dentistry, and like most other dental conditions, it is virtually painless and without obvious symptoms. But year after year of tooth grinding can damage enamel, fillings, and crowns and also contribute to gum disease by causing gradual loss of the jaw bone that holds teeth in place. The most common treatment for bruxism is a dental appliance called a nightguard. These are typically thin, clear, removable appliances that are custom made and are easy to insert and remove. They are usually worn at night and actually work to deprogram those powerful jaw muscles to prevent them from working teeth against each other during sleep. Nightguards help dental work last longer and often, patients report sleeping better with less joint pain and even fewer headaches.
What is the best way for me to straighten my teeth?
Orthodontics involves gently pushing your teeth into place over months or years. Today, about one in five orthodontic patients is between 20 and 60 years of age. Advanced orthodontic techniques including FastBraces Techology and invisible braces allow us to straighten and move teeth more quickly and discretely than ever before. FastBraces is a patented and proprietary system which can reduce the amount of time spent in braces to as little as 20 weeks! Gone are the days of spending years in braces: Today, we are able to move teeth quickly, safely, and comfortably while being more affordable than ever. Invisible braces use a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth. They are comfortable, and because they’re made with medical-grade plastic, they’re virtually invisible! AuraSmile is proud to be at the forefront of orthodontic technology; utilizing the latest techniques focused on maximizing patient comfort and convenience while remaining affordable.
Does whitening harm tooth enamel?
Contrary to popular opinion, tooth whitening or “bleaching” is not a coloration process. Instead, a chemical gel called carbamide peroxide is applied to the tooth enamel in a plastic tray or brush-on technique. This chemical does not harm tooth enamel. It essentially super-cleans the organic material off of teeth, leaving the surface looking whiter and cleaner. Yellow-stained teeth tend to whiten to a greater extent than gray-toned teeth in general. Next to hair care, teeth whitening (or bleaching) is the most in-demand cosmetic procedure in America. It is relatively inexpensive and much less invasive than nearly any other cosmetic treatment. Everyone from news anchors to housewives to teenagers want brighter smiles. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, teeth whitening has increased 300 percent over the last five years.