No pun intended, lasers are hot. Though chances are they’ve been around longer than most people realize, lasers are only now getting to be a popular treatment in both the medical and dental communities. Laser procedures in dentistry are more favored than many other types of procedures, mainly for their precision and decreased recovery time. And it’s that precision that makes laser dentistry procedures more effective than some other types of dental procedures as well. But that’s not all. Top dentists offer dental procedures using lasers that have the capacity to reduce the pain that may be experienced with procedures that don’t utilize the precision of lasers. So what is laser dentistry? What are its applications? And, if you’re someone who’s considering having a dental procedure performed, should you opt for a laser dentistry procedure over any other?
Millions of Americans suffer with sleep apnea, and many more are diagnosed with this condition every day. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that more than 10 million people in our nation have been diagnosed with the disease, and many more don’t even know they have it. Sleep apnea is on the rise in the U.S., for reasons still largely unknown to the medical community. Many people know that sleep apnea complications can be serious, but did you know that your sleep apnea is likely affecting the health of your teeth? So, what exactly is sleep apnea? Is it really that serious? And just how does sleep apnea affect teeth? Dental offices and throughout the country recommend that all Americans educate themselves on this medical condition in order to contain its complications.
Somebody once said, “Nobody notices old clothes if you wear a smile.” By the same token, if you’re frowning, you could be wearing diamonds and no on would notice. That’s what happens if your teeth are stained, dull, and discolored. You don’t feel like smiling anymore, and it shows in your life. Thank goodness there are things you can do about tooth discolorations. But if you don’t know the causes, you’re not going to know how to solve the problem. Here’s more information about the causes of stained teeth, as well as tips from good dentists on how to get your teeth back to their beautiful, vibrant white.
Swelling that occurs in the face can be a difficult thing to deal with, especially since the face isn’t an area of the body that can be easily hidden. Facial swelling, also referred to by healthcare providers as facial edema, can occur in any of the areas of the face, including the eyes, cheeks, mouth, nose, jaw, and lips. Facial swelling can cause both physical and psychological pain, and the causes are numerous. Some of the most common causes of swelling of the face include tooth or other mouth infections and traumatic injury. Here’s more information from dental offices regarding more common causes of facial swelling and their symptoms.
Just like the rest of your baby, caring for your baby’s teeth brings with it loads of questions. And, since babies don’t come with owner’s manuals, as a new parent, it’s vital that you educate yourself on the proper way to care for her teeth from birth. New parents have many questions about baby teeth, but they generally don’t have a lot of answers. Thankfully, family dentists and throughout the country are equipped with answers to your questions that will help you care for your baby’s teeth from the beginning. Following are answers to some of the most common questions new parents have about their baby’s teeth that will help all new parents take a bite out of some of the confusion that comes with a brand new baby.
It’s no secret that smoking has its accompanying problems, not the least of which is challenges with dental hygiene. The use of any and all tobacco products can lead to teeth that are dull, discolored, and decayed, especially if a good oral hygiene routine is not observed. But the truth is that a good oral hygiene routine is only the half of it. If you’re a smoker, you need to go above and beyond in your dental hygiene regimen just to keep up with the folks who don’t use tobacco products at all. Here are some tips from family dentists and throughout the country for smokers and users of other tobacco products about going the extra mile to keep your teeth healthy.
TMJ is the term most people use for it, but TMJ actually refers to the temporomandibular joint, of which there are two, one on either side of the face or, more specifically, the lower jaw. The condition commonly referred to as TMJ is actually TMJ syndrome or TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder is a facial condition that occurs within the temporomandibular joint that causes pain and difficult mobility of the jaw. A patient who suffers from TMJ disorder may have trouble opening their jaw, causing pain, difficulty with eating, and even difficulty with speaking. Good dentists throughout the country recommend various treatment methods for TMJ disorder and the pain and restrictions that can accompany it.
A smile says a lot about someone. It’s a natural gesture to want to smile back, but what if your pearly whites are less than attractive? Products that whiten teeth have bombarded the market with effort to improve the everyday appearance of someone’s smile. What if our teeth are trying to tell us something is wrong? Okay, most people try to fix their appearances rather than read into warning signs that our bodies are giving us. What concerns should be addressed when looking at a smile that makes you question how many cups of coffee or sweets a person consumes? Well, you’ve come to the right place, these are common medical questions most people will ask the Internet for the answer before stepping foot into a doctor’s office.
Remember the feeling of the cold leather reclining chair, a blinding light, and a pair of eyes glaring into your mouth followed by the question, “Which flavor of mouthwash would you like?” Well, that’s a very typical trip to the dentist for your bi-yearly teeth cleaning. Have you ever stopped to think, what does the mouthwash contain? Also, why does the dentist tell me I can’t swallow it? Does it really help prevent cavities? American dentist offices have been using mouthwash for decades, but a lot of questions have been raised about the main ingredient fluoride.
From a young age you might remember your parents nagging you to brush before bed. If your parents were persistent they might have even made you gargle mouthwash too. In adulthood good breath is even more important because we might be facing clients and bad breath leaves a very bad impression. It’s worth keeping breath mints on hand to avoid a close encounter with gross breath. Anyways, how much does mouthwash help? Brushing your teeth regularly seems to do the trick. Besides, mouthwash stings and then there is the added fear of swallowing some. A family dentist has a few reasons why mouthwash is worth your time.