Articles

Why Baby Teeth Are Important A healthy start is smart Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth. Baby teeth (also called primary teeth) help your child chew and speak. They also give the face its shape and hold space for adult teeth to come in the right way. That’s why it’s smart toContinue reading “Why Baby Teeth Are Important”

Tooth Whitening for a Brighter Smile If your teeth are discolored, tooth whitening may help. “Whitening” is any process that can make teeth look whiter. It may be safely done at home or in a dental office. It is best to talk to your dentist before whitening your teeth. Options for whitening your teeth Tooth-whiteningContinue reading “Tooth Whitening for a Brighter Smile”

Why Do I Need a Bridge? A bridge is a custom-made replacement tooth or teeth that fill the space where one or more teeth are missing. The bridge permanently restores your bite and helps keep the natural shape of your face. This brochure reviews the types of non-removable bridges available and the steps involved in placing yourContinue reading “Why Do I Need a Bridge?”

Why Do I Need a Crown? A crown is a cover or “cap” your dentist can put over a tooth. A crown restores a damaged or missing tooth to its normal shape, size and function. A crown can protect the tooth or improve the way it looks. Your dentist may recommend a crown to: SupportContinue reading “Why Do I Need a Crown?”

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) Do you have frequent headaches, earaches, tender jaw muscles or a dull, aching facial pain? Does your jaw lock or stray to one side when you open your mouth? These aches and pains may be related to the joint in your jaw, called the temporomandibular (TEM-poro-man-DIB-u-lar) joint or “TMJ,” and the musclesContinue reading “Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)”

Sealant Quick Reference Tooth decay often occurs on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The good news is that sealants can help protect these surfaces from tooth decay and improve your chances to stay filling-free. What causes tooth decay? Your teeth are coated with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque (pronounced PLACK). The bacteria convertContinue reading “Sealant Quick Reference”

Should You Take Antibiotics before Your Dental Treatment? Most dental patients should not take preventive antibiotics before treatment Antibiotic prophylaxis (pro-fuh-LAX-is) is when patients take antibiotics before dental treatment to prevent infection. This step is recommended for very few patients. In the past, anyone who had an orthopedic implant like a hip or knee replacement,Continue reading “Should You Take Antibiotics before Your Dental Treatment?”

Sipping, Snacking and Decay Do you sip soft drinks or other sugary drinks all day at your desk? Do you use breath mints or eat candy often? Instead of eating meals, do you snack all day? Do you often grab a sports or energy drink when you are tired? If you answered yes to anyContinue reading “Sipping, Snacking and Decay”

Tooth Erosion The harmful effects of acid What is tooth erosion? Enamel (e-NAM-ul) is the hardest outside layer of your tooth that protects a softer inner layer. Tooth erosion (ee-ROW-zhun) happens when the enamel begins to wear away, exposing the inner layer of the tooth, called dentin. When the enamel thins out, your tooth protection is weakened andContinue reading “Tooth Erosion”

Scaling and Root Planing A Treatment for Gum Disease Periodontal Disease Is Also Known as Gum Disease Periodontal (perry-o-DON-tal) disease is a bacterial infection leading to inflammation of the tissues that support your teeth. It’s also called gum disease. When your gums are healthy, your gum tissues tightly hug each of your teeth. When youContinue reading “Scaling and Root Planing”