No dental filling, crown, denture, or whitening procedure lasts forever. Recently, unfounded claims have been made by some dentists that if specific criteria are followed and if people do exactly as they are told that dental restorations last "a lifetime." To some extent, this is true...for the lifetime of the restoration or the prosthesis. Any promise otherwise is unfounded, unethical,…
It goes without saying that mastication, or chewing, is an absolute necessity of normal living. As we age, eating becomes one of the only pleasures that most of us can enjoy in almost any setting. All one has to do is to take a look at the plethora of fine public eating establishments in the area to understand how important…
Periodontal disease has become the most common reason for tooth loss in the American adult population. Multiple research studies have been conducted during the past thirty years that have proven that, what used to be called "pyorrhea of the gums" and "periodontosis," is an opportunistic infection caused by several different types of bacteria. Recent research has linked periodontal disease to systemic…
Complex biological events occur in the mouth during pregnancy as they do all over the body. Hormonal changes increase the potential for inflammation, make the mouth more susceptible to infection, and can sensitize the gag reflex. As a result, it may be difficult for some women to brush their teeth properly during the first trimester of pregnancy. An old adage…
It is simply human nature to procrastinate dental work. There are multiple known reasons for this, including fear of discomfort, time constraints, and fear of the unknown. Modern dental techniques that make dental care much more comfortable than in days past; technology that makes dental appointments much shorter, and a plethora of free information about dentistry that can be found on the…
Lasers have been reported to work wonders in all aspects of modern medicine, including dentistry. While lasers offer a different twist to doing routine dental procedures and give the aura of "state-of-the-art technology," they do not replace the traditional dental handpiece ("drill") currently. Lasers can be used to perform soft tissue surgeries very well, and they can remove decay from…
Periodontal (gum) disease is a very common enemy of the astute dentist, and we now know that is can have very serious implications to those who suffer from it. Gum disease is linked to diabetes, low birth weight infants, heart disease, high blood pressure, and it is the major cause of tooth loss in adults today. This relationship now has…
A commonly accepted recommendation in years past was that denture wearers should wear their dentures 24/7. In theory, dentures would fit better in this way. However, today we know that this probably is no longer the correct approach--with few exceptions. Dentures are prosthetics that are usually made of plastic. This is a foreign material in the mouth, and the skin…
Dental injuries, especially to the upper central incisors, are extremely common in both young children and in athletes, both adolescent, and adult. Most of the time, the teeth get chipped or cracked and can be repaired by routine dental techniques like fillings or crowns. Unfortunately, if a properly fitted mouthguard is not worn, more severe injuries can occur like bone…
Chances are, you can spot denture wearers all around you—even without going to dental school. You know what I’m talking about…. The older gentleman in church who has huge bright, white, straight teeth on the upper arch with what appears to be nothing on the lower arch; the little old lady in the garden club who doesn’t smile and looks…
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