Archive for January, 2008

Restorations in Anterior Teeth

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

If you need restorations in anterior teeth, it is possible to apply invisible or almost invisible restorations in many cases.

In case your restorations are visible, several reasons could account for it. Brown margins on restorations for example can indicate a leakage between the tooth and the restoration resulting form red wine or from tobacco, tee and coffee. The whole restoration is discolored particularly when the restorations are older. One reason therefor is that older restoration materials are not as resistant against discoloration as current materials. Moreover, brown margins on restorations could indicate a caries lesion.

Whatever the reason for the discoloration’s of the restoration is, in most cases we can eliminate the esthetic problem. Sometimes it is sufficient to simply polish the restoration. In this case polishing is better than to replace the discolored restoration, what would lead unavoidably to loss of healthy tooth material.

If the dentist has to replace the restoration and the cavity is not too extended after preparation he can replace the restoration with a new one.

Nowadays the materials your dentist is using, so called composite materials, have almost no side effects.

It is important to know, that in some cases the patient has to pay for the treatment in addition to the payments of his health insurance. For instance if the esthetic problem is more time consuming than a regular replacement of a front teeth restoration or if a special, more expensive composite material is being used. If so, the dentist will inform the patient before beginning of the treatment.

Prior to cavity preparation the appropriate shade of the teeth will be determined. Therefore the teeth have to be cleaned and to be polished with a prophylaxis paste in order to remove any discoloration’s from natural tooth. The best treatment to clean the teeth before the tooth restoration is a professional tooth cleaning performed by a dental hygienist. Your new composite filling should be polished in a separate appointment a few days after the initial treatment.

The dental fragment not being available for reattachment, a widely tested treatment alternative is the restoration of fractured anterior teeth using composite resin. The technique allows the recovery of aesthetics and function of most fractured anterior teeth. This kind of esthetic restoration will prevent the tooth from new damage and will stay invisible over several years.

Dr. C. Zantner

The right way to brush your teeth

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

In 1498, Genoese sailor Christopher Columbus began his third voyage that would make him the first Renaissance European to set foot in the American mainland. That same year, another discovery would be made that would revolutionize oral health - the toothbrush.

Since it first appeared in China, the toothbrush has slowly invaded our homes to become an important dental accessory now used by millions of people worldwide. Today, toothbrushes come in a wide variety of odd shapes and sizes. Various manufacturers say their brand is better than the others.

However, dentists say you don’t need those expensive designer toothbrushes. What matters is the way you brush your teeth. While electric toothbrushes do an excellent job of cleaning teeth, a plain old manual toothbrush will likewise suffice.

For best results, use a soft nylon toothbrush with end-rounded polished bristles. Get a brush that’s small enough to reach all of your teeth, especially those in the back and replace it every three months or sooner if the bristles become frayed, splayed or worn. Strange as it sounds, many still don’t know how to use a toothbrush. While dentists recommend brushing three times a day, preferably after meals, for at least three minutes each time, they lament the fact that the average time spent brushing is only 46 seconds. This is not enough for good oral health.

To ensure you do it right, here is short refresher course on tooth brushing:

1) Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle against the gum line. Point the brush upward, or toward your nose, when you’re cleaning the upper teeth; downward or toward your chin, when you’re doing the lower teeth.

2) Use a short (about the width of half a tooth), gentle back-and-forth motion to clean the outer surfaces of your teeth. Focus on just one or two teeth at a time.

3) Use this same stroke on the inside surfaces of all the teeth, except the front ones.

4) Scrub the chewing surfaces of your back teeth with the brush held flat in the same back-and-forth motion.

5) Tilt the brush vertically, and use the front part of the brush in short up-and-down strokes to clean the inside surfaces of front teeth.

6) Don’t forget to brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth.

Of course, brushing alone won’t protect you from tooth decay and gum disease since a toothbrush may not reach important areas where food residues collect and are likely to cause problems later. Regular flossing and rinsing with an effective antimicrobial mouthwash are also important. These simple measures can prevent tooth decay and gum problems that could make you look old and ugly.

To enhance your healthy smile, use Dermaxin, a popular skin cream that contains special ingredients to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by as much as 45 percent. Dermaxin repairs and rejuvenates the skin so you’ll look young, fresh, and wrinkle-free! It’s your best defense against the signs of aging. For details, visit http://www.dermaxin.com.

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.

Opt for clear braces to rectify your teeth alignment problems

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

A smile can make a major difference to your appearance and change the way people perceive you. A beautiful smile is a big advantage for any individual and it is only natural that we should take all precautions to ensure that our smile remains attractive. However, at times our dental structure may alter our appearance and make us self conscious about our smile due to the misalignment of the teeth. But there is no need to feel disheartened as restorative dentistry and processes like the application of clear braces can make a major difference to your dental problems and bring about rectification of your tooth alignment. Most of us know of someone or the other who used to wear metal braces as a school kid to rectify the shape of their teeth, and now even adults are using such procedures to change the way they look.

Clear braces or the invisalign braces are a welcome change from the regular metal braces that had been used earlier to rectify any problem regarding the shape of your teeth. However, most people do not like the physical evidence of the braces sticking out as it shows to the world that they are undergoing treatment for misaligned teeth. The metal braces also make a person self conscious about their looks in public. Also these braces cannot be taken off till the duration of the treatment is over and this may cause discomfort to many people. Clear braces come as a welcome relief due to all these factors. One wearing such braces can easily continue with their social life without people finding out that they are undergoing a dental treatment.

However, even if you opt to wear clear braces you must know that before wearing them you need to wear the metal braces for atleast two weeks. The advantage of the braces are manifolds because you can take them off from time to time without visiting your dentist like for cleaning your teeth and even while eating food. Although some people find this to be a bother if you need to take off the braces time and again. Also, the time taken for rectifying the problem of misaligned teeth is a little longer in case of the transparent braces because they are taken off from time to time.

Clear braces can therefore, solve the dental problem of any individual having misaligned teeth without causing any embarrassment to the patient. All you need to do is find a competent dentist who can provide proper care and guidance and help you in caring for your teeth in the proper manner. It is important to remember that even oral hygiene and care plays an important role in keeping our teeth clean and free from any kind of diseases. Maintain a regular dental care program and visit your dentist regularly to have sparkling, healthy teeth always. It is said that prevention is better than cure and in the case of our teeth this holds very true. In spite of your best intentions if you still face some dental problems then a competent dentist and restorative dentistry procedure can cure you of your tooth and gum ailments easily.

Erzana Jones has special interest in dentistry and health related topics.For more information about Dentist NYC,Dentist New York,Dentist Manhattan,Braces New York,Clear braces,Braces NYC or any kind of dental emergency visit http://www.manhattandentalspa.com

Achieve a wonderful smile with teeth whitening

Monday, January 14th, 2008

Whoever said that the first impression counts was right. Apart from a nice suit, a great haircut and a confident pose, a beautiful white smile is a must-have. One could think of whitening toothpaste, but it only work on surface stains because the concentration of bleaching agent is very low. This is why cosmetic dentistry comes into play.

It is a discipline within dentistry that focuses in the modification of appearance of a patient’s oral cavity, thus it is altered to match the patient’s subjective concept of what is pleasing. Teeth whitening appeals to everyone who desires a fresh and young look and because the process is pretty simple and fairly affordable, cosmetic dentistry has become popular all around the world.

Cosmetic dentistry can be a very simple procedure like reshaping a front tooth or it can be more complex involving all teeth. The most common procedure is teeth whitening. It represents a procedure that lightens teeth and helps_ remove stains and discoloration.

A popular choice is the in-office bleaching. This type of cosmetic dentistry is performed in the dentist office and requires several visits. A bleaching agent is applied on the teeth, and a special light is used to enhance the action of the agent. Laser bleaching is a similar teeth whitening procedure, but, instead of light, the dentist uses a laser. This whitening procedure is mainly used for removing stains from aging, tobacco and coffee, but it is also possible that the tooth may be stained on the inside, because of certain substances in the human body. Teeth whitening, the most popular procedure, improves the appearance of teeth at a lower cost than other techniques. The only disadvantage is that teeth whitening must be repeated from time to time to help maintain a bright color.

Another procedure, besides teeth whitening, in this ever expanding field of cosmetic dentistry is the use of tooth veneers. They represent a good alternative because they require little or no anesthesia. The dentist simply glues a specially-shaped porcelain or plastic over the front of your teeth, but unlike the teeth whitening technique they are not as natural-like.

Cosmetic dentistry does so much more than just making your teeth look whiter. Especially teeth whitening doesn’t sacrifice the quality of teeth like a bridge does, because neighboring teeth are not altered to support an implant or other elements, so you could say it’s a tooth-saving technique. Most of all you will gain confidence. Cosmetic dentistry will allow you to speak, smile and eat with comfort and a lot more confidence. A carefully chosen dentist office will make you say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures or pastes and glues.

A major problem involving teeth whitening is that bleaching may not improve your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials causing them to stand out in your whitened smile. If this is the case, in the field of cosmetic dentistry there are other options like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

Mainly used by movie or rock stars, cosmetic dentistry is now universally affordable because of the new tooth whitening kits. This means that you can perform almost the same procedures that the dentist does. Home done teeth whitening may be faster and cheaper, but it is not recommended if you have oral problems. It is better to have the opinion of a specialist than suffer from irritations or minor sensitivity. However, the choice belongs to you and with the help of cosmetic dentistry you can have the smile of a superstar.

Considering all of this, cosmetic dentistry is becoming more and more popular. As a plus, the spread of American culture worldwide, where a beautiful smile equals a “Hollywood smile”, is quite motivating. Either for closing a major contract with the smile of a winner on your face or to bring an extra spark on your teeth for your loved one, teeth whitening is the solution and it seems it’s here to stay.

By visiting this website you can become familiar with the intricacies of teeth whitening as well as other cosmetic dentistry solutions. It’s time you found out what your options are.

Cosmetic dentistry offers options for you and your teeth

Monday, January 14th, 2008

Everyone knows that a perfect smile boosts your self esteem and helps other people around you to look at you and treat you differently. A common opinion about smiles is that it is a reflection of a person’s health, personality and sexuality. However not everyone knows this, but you can gain a look closer to perfection for your smile with the help of cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry is not yet very popular and many people don’t know a lot about it. But if we try to make it easier for them to understand what cosmetic dentistry is all about and how it can improve your life, it will be beneficial for everybody. Cosmetic dentistry is one of many disciplines within dentistry. Its primary focus is the modification and improvement of the patient’s oral cavity and surrounding structures. Some of the most common dental tooth treatments that cosmetic dentistry provides are: teeth whitening, enamel shaping, bonding and tooth veneers.

With the help of teeth whitening procedures you can lighten your teeth and remove stains and discoloration. Aging, tobacco, tea, coffee, cola drinks are only a few of the reasons for which the surface of the teeth gets stained. Teeth whitening procedures are different, depending on what you are willing to spend for it. Therefore if you want to buy a bleaching kit from a local drugstore, internet or any other source for a low price, also called over-the-counter products, then you will see that the results might not be exactly as expected. However if you want breathtaking results you should consider going to a dentist that specializes among other things in cosmetic dentistry.

Of course there is another choice for teeth whitening: whitening toothpaste. Unfortunately toothpastes help remove only the surface stains with the help of mild abrasives and do not contain bleach, as opposed to professional whitening products which contain hydrogen peroxide. This is a bleaching substance and helps remove not only the surface stains, but also stains deep in the tooth.

Over-the-counter products consist of whitening gels that can be applied to the teeth with a small brush and whitening strips that are very thin strips which are coated with peroxide based whitening gel. Both products contain a much lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide than the products that are generally used in a cosmetic dentistry office.

While there are a number of solutions within cosmetic dentistry for teeth whitening, if you choose the dentist, also called chair side bleaching, you will find yourself spending more money than if you select the over-the-counter products, but at the same time you will receive a treatment fit for you and close observation with the progress you are making. The latest technique that a specialist in cosmetic dentistry uses is laser bleaching, which consists in applying a hydrogen peroxide gel over the teeth, after the dentist has isolated the soft tissues. After this gel is applied over the teeth, a laser is used to increase the whitening effects. Regardless of the procedure you choose for yourself, teeth whitening are not permanent and the whitening procedure should be repeated periodically if you want to maintain the lighter color previously obtained of your teeth.

Teeth whitening products are not recommended for everyone. Some of the people who shouldn’t use teeth whitening products are: pregnant women, children younger than 16 years of age, people who have sensitive teeth and gum disease.

Also you should know that teeth whitening products will not work on crowns, veneers or exposed roots. If any of these are visible, you should talk to your dentist about replacing them, because they will be easily noticeable against your recently whitened teeth.

Therefore cosmetic dentistry should occupy a bigger part of our oral hygiene, because if we use teeth whitening procedures we will gain a smile closer to perfection and we will better our lives in more ways than we might expect.

Information is the key to success, in any area. Keep this in mind when you find out more about cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening!

Healthy Teeth - Questions About Abscessed Teeth?

Monday, January 14th, 2008

An abscess in the tooth refers to an infection that was caused by a pocket of pus residing in the tissue around the tooth. Abscesses are very serious conditions, and can lead to serious matters if they aren’t treated immediately. When the pulp of a tooth dies due to damage or decay, bacteria will begin to grow from the dead tissue that is left. This bacteria will eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the tissue that is below and create a pocket of pus - the abscess.

Gum disease is also a cause for a tooth becoming abscessed. Gum diseases causes the gums to pull back and away from teeth, leaving pockets behind. When one of the pockets becomes blocked, the bacteria can grow and spread, or get backed up. When this happens, an abscess will start to form under the surface of the gums and become apparent will swelling as it gets bigger and spreads.

Once the infection has started to spread, your jawbone may start to dissolve as it makes room for the swelling in the area that has been infected. Once the bone starts to dissolve, the pressure will be greatly reduced, although the infection will still be there. Even though you will get relief, the infection will get worse - and the pain will always come back. Once more of the bone has been dissolved, there will be nothing left to support the tooth, meaning that it will become loose and end up needing to be extracted.

The symptoms of an abscessed tooth are easy to see, as they include severe pain in the affected area, red or swollen gums, a bad taste in your mouth, swelling around the area or the jaw, and possibly a high fever. Pain is excruciating with an abscess, normally affecting the area in a bad way. No matter what you do, the pain seems to intensify.

Abscesses mostly occur with back teeth, although they can happen in the front as well. Once your tooth has become abscessed, your dentist won’t immediately pull it. If a tooth that has abscessed is extracted once the infection is still present, it can quickly spread. Your dentist will instead prescribe you some antibiotics that can help to destroy the bacteria.

The dentist can also perform a root canal, in an attempt to remove dead or decayed tissue. Last but not least, he can also drill a hole in the tooth to give the infection a chance to drain and try to remove any dead pulp. The most common treatment with an abscess is to use antibiotics to kill the infection, then get the tooth removed. You should never let it get that bad - as an abscess is something that can destroy your jawbone.

Learn more about brushing teeth healthy at http://smilesbydawggone.com/

Smoking Is Slowly Killing Your Teeth

Monday, January 14th, 2008

There are many who consider smoking to be one of the filthiest, least healthy habits a person can have. The typical non-smoker finds cigarette smoke distasteful at best, disgusting at worst. There are also a number of side effects that smoking can have on the body which are damaging, particularly in the long-run. The fact that second-hand smoke does even more damage to non-smokers than it does to smokers does nothing to endear the habit to anyone. However, aside from the obvious respiratory and circulatory repercussions, there are other problems that are associated with smoking. Owing to the close proximity of the gums to the smoke caused by the habit, smokers now make up 50% of people with gum disease in the world.

Smoking has been known to slow the healing process of the body, particularly after surgical procedures. This is especially true for orthodontic and dental surgery, which delve into the areas that receive the most direct exposure to tobacco and nicotine. Damage on the gums was originally found to have been aggravated by smoking, accelerating the rate of decay of the gums and teeth. It was later found that it was possible to have no previous dental damage at all and still suffer from the side effects of smoking, because the smoke itself can cause cellular decay in the gums. Another, recently discovered problem is that the smoke slowly undoes any repairs done to the gums through surgery.

Aside from these issues, there are also a number of other problems that smoking can cause the mouth, teeth, and gums. Plaque, for example, becomes significantly harder to clean off. It is unknown what exactly causes this to happen, but smokers tend to have plaque build-up in their mouths that can only be cleaned off by professional tools. This would not be a problem if a person regularly visits a dentist for teeth cleaning oral prophylaxis, a procedure that should be done every six months. This runs the risk of letting the bacteria in the plaque slowly eat away at the teeth, with some cases seeking help for the problem too late.

There is also a pronounced risk of the bone and support structure of the teeth being eaten away. Smoking is known to slowly kill off the cells in the gums, as well as impede upon natural regeneration in that area. This can be dangerous if the gums and bones that support the teeth are already compromised by bacteria, tooth decay, or other damage. The fibers that hold the teeth in place recede when exposed to tobacco, loosening the teeth. This may be a slow process, but that only makes it such that most people simply fail to notice the problem until it is too late and the damage has already been done.

However, it isn’t just cigarette smoke that causes these problems. Even smoke-less products that are based on tobacco cause this damage, often in comparably similar degrees. According to several studies, both cigars and pipes cause the same cellular degeneration and damage rates as cigarette smoke. So far, all indications point to the problem being firmly rooted in the tobacco in the products and not necessarily the smoke itself.

Harvey Ong is currently working as a writer-researcher for an online pharmaceutical company.Choose Variety of High Quality Medicines at Online Medicines Enjoyed Reading this article? More here: Pharmacy Articles

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