Teeth Whitening Products and What You Need to Know Before Using Them

In our dentist office, we speak with a lot of patients about teeth whitening. Many people want to know what products they should try and if they are safe.  It is extremely popular to have bright, white teeth right now so it is understandable that the curiosity level is so high.  It is, however, important to note that with any trend comes a lot of misleading advertising that doesn’t paint the full picture.  While marketing companies have done a great job of bringing awareness to these products, you should be an informed consumer. 

A Warning:
One in twenty-five people that use store-bought teeth whitening products report experiencing some level of pain or discomfort afterwards.  This can be mild and go away with an aspirin, or severe and require follow-up dental care. This is partially why we recommend using products and solutions administered by a dentist.  We can help to prevent much of these problems. 

When you look at products in the store, there are several kinds to choose from.  Whitening toothpaste is by far the easiest to use because you were brushing your teeth anyway.  This is a good way to brighten your smile, but it won’t produce dramatic results.  In fact, most people are fairly disappointed. We do, however, recommend using this after having a professional teeth whitening procedure because it can help your teeth to stay white for a longer period of time. 

Another option, to consider, is whitening strips.  These look like a piece of tape that you apply to your teeth after brushing them.  With the strips securely in place, the solution can start to whiten your teeth.  The biggest challenge with strips is that they can easily slide off, so people find them difficult to use throughout the day, decreasing the chance of sticking with the treatment. 

You can also purchase whitening trays at the store.  This solution carries the greatest level of risk for discomfort because the trays are designed to fit everyone.  This means that they fit no one perfectly.  With that in mind, the solution can easily leak out of the trays and onto your gums, causing irritation.  Anytime that bleach comes in contact with your gums, it will create some level of discomfort.  As a dentist, we can create customized whitening trays so that there is no leakage and teeth can be whitened safely without these risks. 

If you decide to buy whitening products at the store, know that you may be disappointed.  They do work but not as well as a professional procedure so the results are not as dramatic.  This leads many people to use the products repeatedly and expose their teeth to sensitivity and their gums to discomfort. Overuse is the primary reason that so many people report discomfort after using store-bought products.  While it may be tempting to use them over and over again - this is not wise.  Instead, if you don’t like the results, schedule a dentist appointment. 

Invisalign Can Straighten Your Teeth and After You Will Need a Retainer

As a modern procedure, Invisalign® has brought the promise of beautiful, straight teeth to millions of adults around the world. Once stifled by the perceived stigma of wearing braces or afraid of being ridiculed for a mouth full of metal, today adults can have their teeth straightened without any such fears. The virtually invisible system of aligners can work while you are at work, taking care of the kids, or even celebrating the holidays with your family, and nobody will be any the wiser. Additionally, unlike regular braces, you can remove the Invisalign® aligners at any time meaning that there are virtually no restrictions on what you may or may not eat while undergoing the treatment. Simply remove the aligner, eat to your heart’s desire and put it back, keeping it in place for at least 20 – 22 hours per day. 

As with any treatment, Invisalign® only works if you make sure to follow up after the treatment is completed. The aligning of teeth involves moving the teeth from what they perceive to be the natural spot. While we may find the placement and size of the teeth to be unnatural and, even ugly, the mouth has placed them in a particular spot because that's where the body believes the teeth should go. Once the Invisalign treatment is complete, it is imperative to continue wearing a retainer to ensure that the mouth does not start to move back into the previous structure. The retainer’s job is to prevent nature from undoing all the work you did to have that perfect smile. You will need to decide, however, if you are more comfortable with a permanent retainer or would prefer one that can come out when you are not actively using it. 

The removable retainer: The removable retainer is designed to come out of your mouth and go back in, to ensure that you are exerting pressure on the teeth to hold them in place. Typically you would have the retainer in your mouth at night and remove it during the day. For some patients, they may need to have a retainer in for more than just the night. Unfortunately, a removable retainer’s best feature, its removability, is also its greatest weakness as it is easy for someone to fall out of the habit of putting on the retainer.  This can ultimately cause the teeth start to move. Also, removable retainers are not as effective as permanent ones.  On the other hand, removable retainers do make it easier to eat, brush your teeth, and floss effectively. 

The permanent retainer: The permanent retainer works the same as the temporary retainer except that it is installed by your dentist or orthodontist and is never removed. For people who do not want the hassle of having to remember their retainer this is a far more effective solution. It is also a more efficient solution in terms of holding the teeth in place since it is permanent and adjusted for maximum impact. A permanent retainer has one major disadvantage when it comes to flossing, requiring the patient to learn how to floss around the retainer. However, the advantages of a permanent retainer far outweigh the disadvantage of having to learn a different way of flossing. This is why many Invisalign® dentists recommend permanent retainers or a combination of permanent and removable retainers.  

We can discuss your options during a consultation in order to determine what the best option for you will be. 

Learn How Popular Dental Implants Are and Why

For over 3 million Americans dental implants have proven to be the best and most effective way to address serious dental challenges like a loss of teeth. The number of people who are seeking out this form of treatment is growing every year, and last year almost half a million patients chose to get dental implants. Despite the fact that this form of treatment has been around for a long time, it is only now starting to be accepted as a mainstream medical correction versus the long-held perception that dental implants were strictly for cosmetic application. As the education of consumers, doctors, and insurance carriers continues to improve, more people will be able to get back a beautiful smile with the help of implants.

This procedure has been perfected but is not new.  They have been around for a very long time. An interesting fact is that ancient Mayan women would have bone implanted into their gums to simulate teeth. This is the first known dental implant surgery with records of such type of procedures dating back to 600 AD. Modern medicine has made implants much safer and less intrusive, giving rise to a larger number of people chose to replace their teeth with implants rather than less permanent solutions. 

Dental implants are a much more permanent solution to tooth loss than traditional bridges or dentures. Since the implant is placed directly into the gum there is a level of permanence that you cannot achieve with a traditional bridge. Additionally because of the fact that the implant is put into the jawbone, the titanium screw acts like a naturally occurring root. This holds the tooth in place and you do not ever have to worry about misplacing an implant. With over 25% of senior citizens losing all of their natural teeth, implants provide a safe, long-term solution to tooth loss. 

There is definitely an expense associated with dental implants. Since they have been viewed, and still are in some circles, as a purely cosmetic procedure the cost of dental implants is still relatively high. However, as more people become aware of implants and the permanence of the solution they offer, insurance companies are starting to realize the benefit of paying for them. Even if not through a direct pay system, patients can get their insurance to cover some or all of the cost of the procedure through an allowance granted to them for a traditional denture or bridge. That money can be put towards an implant. 

Getting dental implants takes time and a certain level of commitment. They are made to fit exactly into your specific mouth. To accomplish this, we will need to get the right measurements, take several impressions of your mouth, build a mold that fits your mouth & mimics your teeth structure, and then ultimately place the implant into your mouth. All of these require you to be at our dentist’s office on an outpatient basis, so you should be prepared to take some time off for your appointments.  To find out what your exact timeline would look like, give us a call.

Times Have Changed for the Cosmetic Dentist

In the 1970s, a cosmetic dentist had fewer ways to treat patients.  As a result, tooth pulling was still common, and dentures were the go to solution for people that needed to replace missing teeth. In fact, most people simply expected that they would end up wearing dentures and didn’t think about alternative options.  Thankfully, the 80s brought changes in dental technology that improved everything. 

Resin cement was invented in the 1980s and made it possible for dentists to restore teeth using ceramics.  While ceramic solutions had been available for close to a hundred years, they simply weren’t as durable as silver amalgam and therefore not nearly as popular.  As much as most people want a beautiful smile, the ability to eat comfortably is still a higher priority and always has been.  Modern technology makes it possible to have both. 

When resin cement started being used by the cosmetic dentist, it opened up a world of possibilities.  This material is used to bond a ceramic crown or dental veneer to a natural tooth.  By bonding the two together, the restoration becomes incredibly strong and durable.  This is important when talking about a tooth that is used all day, every day.  The difference was so extreme that many people stopped using silver amalgam on a frequent basis and replaced the material with ceramic crowns instead. 

As all-ceramic crowns and dental veneers became widely available, many Hollywood celebrities were among the first to take advantage of it.  Now, it is expected that a star have the perfect smile.  In fact, there is a term “Hollywood Smile” because it is universally known that celebrities in the United States have a beautiful and perfect smile.  This, however, didn’t used to be commonplace.  In fact, celebrities like Tom Cruise used to have terrible looking teeth.  They were so bad that if you look at a picture from his early acting days, you wouldn’t even recognize his smile. As resin cement made it possible to permanently secure ceramic crowns and veneers to teeth, celebrities like Tom Cruise had a smile makeover.  

While more celebrities had their teeth fixed, the cosmetic dentist also started talking to patients about the options that were available.  This has led to people throughout the country having their crooked, broken, stained or damaged teeth corrected using dental crowns and veneers. These solutions have become so popular that people in other countries have come to know Americans as people with nice teeth.  Not only have these options make it possible to restore damaged and unattractive teeth but resin cement led to the invention of the dental bridge and opened the door to the possibility of having missing teeth replaced without dentures. 

It is typically impossible to have perfect looking teeth without the help of a dentist, so if you don’t love your smile, don’t feel bad.  You can have the smile that you have always wanted with help from our office.  All you need to do is schedule an appointment so that we can examine your teeth and present treatment options for correcting them. 

Common Oral Health Problems and How an Emergency Dentist Can Help

As a local emergency dentist, we treat patients with all types of oral health problems.  Many people think that as long as they keep their teeth healthy, they will never have an emergency.  This, unfortunately, isn’t the case because teeth are subject to all types of damage just like the rest of your body is.  The majority of adult tooth damage happens while playing sports so even if you are trying to be healthy, you could still injure your teeth.

There are several reasons why people need to see a dentist quickly.  If any of these happen to you, we recommend keeping your mouth clean by rinsing with warm water and avoiding eating or drinking anything other than water. We also advice staying away from blood thinners or aspirin since it can make it harder for your blood to clot. If you are in pain, apply a cold compress or ice to help stop the pain and reduce the swelling. Next, call our office so that you can be treated right away.

Here are common reasons people need to see an emergency dentist:

• Broken tooth.  If your tooth gets cracked or chipped while playing sports, at work, riding a bike, playing with the kids, etc., you will need to get it restored quickly.  A damaged tooth can become infected and painful.  By having it restored right away, you can prevent these complications. 
• Lost tooth.  If your tooth gets knocked out, we can either help to save it or provide options for replacing it.  If you can find the tooth rinse it off and put it into a glass of milk then come see us. When possible, we will save your natural tooth but time is of the essence.
• Swelling in your face.  If you notice that your face or jaw starts to swell up, it could be due to an infection called a dental abscess.  An abscess is a severe infection and needs to be drained immediately before the infection can be reduced.  If you allow it to spread, the infection will only grow and become more painful, so you need care immediately. 
• Massive bleeding.  If you mouth starts to bleed and won’t stop, you need to come see us right away so that we can identify the source of the bleeding and provide the treatment necessary to stop it. 
• Swollen gums.  If your gums are hurting, swelling, and bleeding you may have gum disease.  This can be treated by removing the bacteria from underneath your gums.  If you schedule an appointment right away, the damage can be reversed before pockets are created in the gum tissue.  If you ignore the condition, you will likely need a gum graft later on. 

As an emergency dentist, we provide dental care when you need it so don’t worry about calling after hours or on the weekend.  If we don’t pick up, leave a message, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.  Our goal is to treat you right away so that you can start to feel well again. 

Visit our Family Dentist Office to Have Your Sensitive Teeth Treated

If your teeth are in pain, schedule an appointment with our dentist office.  We will examine your teeth and determine what is causing the pain in the first place.  Many people suffer from tooth sensitivity.  This can be due to a cavity, gum disease, and a lack of enamel.  In order to treat it properly, we need to know why your teeth are sensitive.  We recommend having a dental exam and teeth cleaning twice a year which can prevent a lot of these issues, but regardless of when you had your last appointment, call us if you are in pain.

One of the things we will look for is whether or not the enamel on your teeth has worn away.  As people age, it is common for teeth to go through a process called demineralization.  This is when the enamel starts to wear off, and the dentin underneath is exposed.  The challenge with dentin being exposed is that it is full of tiny holes that lead directly to the roots of the tooth.  This means that when you eat or drink anything, sensations are sent through the dentin and to the roots.  This is what can lead to a sudden painful sensation.  You can help to reduce the pain at home by brushing with desensitizing toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.

If your enamel is strong, then the pain is likely caused by either a cavity or gum disease. A cavity can be diagnosed and treated easily.  Once the cavity is removed, and a filling is placed, your tooth should stop hurting.  If the infection is in the center of your tooth, a root canal will likely be necessary in order to remove the infection.  Afterwards, we typically place a crown around the tooth in order to protect it.  This will prevent anything from touching the tooth directly since a crown is essentially a cap that surrounds the tooth. As a family dentist, we have multiple ways to treat a cavity that are painless and can help you to feel better right away.

When there are no cavities and your enamel is strong, the pain in your mouth is likely due to gum disease. As bacteria gathers around your gums, it can get between the gum tissue and your tooth.  This can make your gums swell, bleed, and be in pain.  This creates an overall sensitivity in your mouth and as the disease grows, it can be painful. Our goal is to catch gum disease quickly before it can spread and create issues with your teeth.  In its early stages, we can treat gingivitis by performing a deep cleaning and removing the bacteria from under the gum tissue.  This will give your gums the natural ability to heal themselves and the symptoms will go away.

If gum disease is allowed to spread, it will make your gums recede.  This can be painful, and as the roots and tooth structure are exposed, your teeth can start to hurt.  In this scenario, a gum graft is typically necessary for protecting the teeth and restoring gum health.

To find out what is causing your sensitive teeth, call and schedule an appointment with our family dentist office today. 

As Football Games Take Place Across the Country, Dental Implants Can Restore Knock Out Teeth

Fall is here and with it comes fall sports and the need for dental implants.  According to the American Dental Association, sports injuries account for 13 to 39 percent of dental injuries leading to tooth loss. Parents should consider this when putting their kids in sports and look for ways to keep their teeth safe.  When teeth do fall out, many athletes are turning to implants as a permanent solution but this is normally a solution for adults, not children.

In order to keep kids safe, we recommend starting with ongoing preventative care.  By brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day and having their teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, their teeth will be stronger and less susceptible to becoming injured during an accident.  Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and getting a fluoride treatment at the dentist can also help.  In addition, to ongoing preventative care, we recommend that athletes of all ages wear a customized mouth guard in order to protect their teeth.

Football injuries may be significant but fewer football players lose teeth as a result of the sport because they wear mouth guards and a protective helmet. It is actually more common for basketball players to need dental implants than football players.  The University of California reviewed accident records from their athletic department in order to find out which sports had the highest likelihood of producing an oral injury.  It turns out that 11 out of every 100 basketball players reported a dental injury.  This could mean tooth loss, a cracked tooth, etc.  Since basketball players are not required to wear a mouth guard and do not have any protective face gear, these statistics make sense.  As a parent, if your child plays basketball you should consider the mouth guard as their only real means of protection.

Why Dental Implants Are So Popular

During the procedure, we implant a metal post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone.  Over time, the post and bone will fuse together and create a new root system.  It can take several months for this process to complete but it makes the implants incredibly secure and durable.  The new synthetic tooth is secured to the metal post, and once the procedure is complete, it won’t become loose while playing sports or eating.  The process makes implants as sturdy as a natural tooth would be.  This is significant since for athletes and adults with active lifestyles, slowing down is not an option.  It is important to be able to function like normal without thinking about a missing tooth, and this is the best option for doing so.

Once installed, people can take care of dental implants just like they would a natural tooth.  Brushing and flossing throughout the day along with regular teeth cleanings are all that is needed to keep teeth in good shape.  The healthier the mouth is, the stronger teeth will be overall so remember to schedule your teeth cleaning today.