Category: Patient Education

Plaque, Tartar, Bacteria, and Dental Cleanings

Your teeth begin to accumulate a sticky film of plaque immediately after you brush and floss them. The more time passes, the thicker the film becomes until you can see and feel the plaque on your teeth. If you don’t clean them again soon, then plaque can quickly calcify (harden) into tartar, and it will… Read more »

What to Look for in a Family Dentist

Family dentistry isn’t a dental specialty, like orthodontics or endodontics. Instead, family dentistry is a kind of practice philosophy, ones that’s inclusive of patients of all ages (thus, the entire family!). Having a family dentist as your primary dentist is particularly convenient because it means that you, your children, and even your parents will receive… Read more »

Top 3 Ways to Prevent Gum Disease

If you have persistent bad breath that won’t go away even when you chew on breath mints or rinse with mouthwash or if you’ve noticed that your gums bleed or your spit looks pink when you brush your teeth, you may be one of the millions of Americans living with gingivitis or gum disease. According… Read more »

How A Crown Is Placed

Although placing a dental crown is more invasive than an inlay or an onlay, it is not a very complex procedure. It takes two visits, but only because the crown is fabricated outside the office in a dental lab. During the first visit your dentist prepares the tooth, during the second visit he or she… Read more »

Bridge VS Implant

Replacing a tooth not only restores your smile, but it also restores your chewing function. Even the lack of one tooth can affect how you chew and inevitably the foods you choose to eat. Another reason for replacing a tooth is so your other teeth remain straight. When a tooth is missing, the adjacent teeth… Read more »

Are You Suffering From Xerostomia?

Are you suffering from xerostomia? You are if you have a chronic dry mouth. Xerostomia is the medical word for just that: dry mouth. Dry mouth often affects people as they age and can increase the risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Saliva may just seem like spit to you, but it… Read more »

Aging Teeth: Part 2

Although as you age your bones can become more brittle and fragile, that is not the same with teeth. Teeth tend to remain strong. However, there are several factors that come into play that can wear down, decay, or otherwise damage your teeth and gums as you age. Some of these factors include habits such… Read more »

Aging Teeth: Part 1

Have you noticed that as you get older you’re having more problems with your teeth? Maybe they are becoming sensitive, looking darker, chipping or cracking, or just aching. Your teeth do change as you age. Just think of it. The rest of your body changes why shouldn’t your teeth? After all, they chew, crunch, bite,… Read more »

Can You Still Get Gold Fillings?

There was a time when gold fillings were common. Then silver amalgam popped up. Then white composite fillings were developed. White composite fillings are the treatment of choice for anterior (front) teeth, because the composite material blends with the original dentition. Gold and silver are noticeable and not aesthetically pleasing if you should flash your… Read more »

Traditional X-Rays VS Digital

There are different types of x-rays including medical x-rays, dental x-rays, and even x-rays taken at the airport, and not all types of x-rays emit the same amount of radiation. The radiation from traditional dental x-rays is minute. However, digital x-rays have several benefits compared to traditional x-rays. Today we compare traditional x-rays to digital… Read more »