One of the most difficult challenges that dentists must face is the task of retrofitting fillings and crowns to an existing removable partial denture. For those who do not wear partials, a partial denture grips natural teeth with cast metal clasps. Sometimes, these teeth break or develop tooth decay before the partial needs to be remade. However, it is…
Deciduous teeth, or "baby teeth" as they are commonly called, erupt during the first two years of life and function in a healthy mouth until the adult, succedaneous, teeth are fully developed. During this time, they function for chewing, speech development, esthetics, and they are critical for proper growth and development of the skull and jaw. When they are lost…
In light of reality television and many of the popular programs which inform people of the many reconstructive procedures that can be done medically, the term "cosmetic dentistry" has become a popular buzz word. Unfortunately, "cosmetic makeovers" are often done without considering the overall health, needs, and fundamental desires of each individual patient. In an era of evidence-based medicine, many of…
Snoring occurs when the muscles of neck relax during sleep, allowing the structures of the nose and mouth to to fall backwards against the back of the throat, constricting the airway. As long as the person is breathing regularly and exchanging air, the only problem is for other people in the room. However, many snorers actually stop breathing several times during the…
Dental implants have proven over the past 20+ years to be a fantastic alternative to many traditional dental therapies. They have proven to be between 88% and 96% successful in replacing one or many teeth. However, they do tend to be more costly than traditional dentistry in many situations, require specially trained dentists and surgeons, and cannot be placed in…
The answer to this question is quite simple.... as soon as they can comfortably sit in a dental chair by themselves or lay back on a parent's lap. Dental schools often state a magic age of 3 years old. However, this has absolutely no scientific foundation. Unfortunately, many parents wait until their child has a toothache or an obvious cavity before…
For centuries, many concoctions have been devised for cleaning teeth and brushing. Some of those ingredients have been ground pebbles, honey, incense, burnt seashells, coral, talc, salt cattle hooves, and dragon's blood. The popularity of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as an ingredient has ebbed and flowed in popularity over the past two centuries. It has many beneficial properties for oral…
Healthy gums do not bleed. Any amount of bleeding during brushing on on minimal stimulation is, therefore, variation from health. Both gingivitis and periodontitis are forms of gum disease. Classification of gum diseases is very difficult because they are caused by many different types of germs and are dependent on the overall health of each individual patient. However, recently it…
Germs that cause gum disease, gingivitis, and tooth decay live in groups. These bacteria are much less destructive when their groups, called colonies, are mechanically broken up with a toothbrush. Another problem caused by bacterial colonization is the production of foul odors. This is why proper oral hygiene is important. The surface of the tongue is covered with many little…
Dental insurance pay-out is based on a contract between a patient and an insurance company. Unless a dentist signs into a related contract with that insurance company and essentially agrees to work for it, he/she legally is not obligated to work at a reduced fee for that company. An "out-of-network" dentist works for the patient and not for a dental…
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