Uncovering the Mystery of Wisdom Teeth

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For many people, wisdom teeth are a bane to their good dental health. They’re often extracted to relieve severe discomfort, and the frequency with which they’re removed may beg the question, why do we grow wisdom teeth in the first place? Although your mouth can function fine without them, the extra set of molars can prove beneficial for those who successfully grow all four of their wisdom teeth without trouble.

Their Purpose

A typical adult mouth contains four types of teeth—incisors, canines, bicuspids (premolars), and molars. Incisors and canines rip and tear your food into manageable chunks, while bicuspids and molars grind the food to prepare it for digestion. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, can provide additional chewing power to reduce the wear and tear on your other teeth. In ancient times, these extra molars were likely necessary to consume a rougher diet of raw meat and vegetation.

Their Problem

These days, with a much more forgiving diet and wider range of options for our meals, the typical adult jawbone can only comfortably accommodate 28 teeth, making the four last molars redundant and frequently troublesome. When your dental ridge doesn’t have enough room for them, your third molars will push against the existing teeth as they try to erupt from your gum line. Known as impacted wisdom teeth, they don’t erupt fully from your gums, or not at all, and can damage your other teeth while pushing them out of alignment. Extracting impacted wisdom teeth may be necessary to preserving your smile’s health and integrity.

Their Potential

Even if your wisdom teeth have to come out, they can still prove beneficial to your future dental or systemic health. According to a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the pulp (soft tissue in the middle) of wisdom teeth contain a wealth of cells known as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) that are used to create stem cells. Scientists believe stem cells may hold the key to unlocking breakthrough regenerative medical treatments, including growing biological replacements for missing adult teeth. The cache of tissues discovered in extracted wisdom teeth can prove invaluable to researchers in their study of adult stem cells and their potential applications.

About Your Grand Prairie Implant Dentist: 

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Important Info About Gum Disease Development

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Although not the most common dental disease (that accolade goes to cavities), gum disease remains the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. It affects the soft gingival tissue that protects the roots of your teeth, and when left untreated, the disease can also destroy the jawbone underneath your gums. Though many people are aware of gum disease and the fact that it’s a force to be reckoned with, the truth about its formation and the proper way to address it aren’t always as well-known.

It’s Highly-Preventable for a Limited Time Only

According to recent findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about half of Americans suffer from gum disease. For people over the age of 65, the number jumps to over 70%. Given its prevalence, you might assume that gum disease is inevitable for some people. Genetics can influence your susceptibility, but the infection that leads to gum disease (called gingivitis) results from poor hygiene and excessive mouth bacteria, not inevitability. As the precursor to gum disease, gingivitis is highly treatable with a deep periodontal cleaning and improved hygiene. If it progresses, then the infection will settle into your gums for good.

You Might Not Know You Have it Until It’s Too Late

Unchecked inflammation is the driving force behind gum disease’s destructive abilities, and is caused by certain oral bacteria that evade your immune system to survive. Gum recession (separation from your teeth), redness, swelling, and occasional bleeding are telltale marks of gingivitis, but discomfort doesn’t usually occur until the disease has advanced significantly. Since they don’t hurt, many patients disregard angry-looking gums and don’t receive treatment soon enough to prevent the onset of full-blown gum disease. Attending a dental checkup and cleaning at least once every six months will improve your chances of early detection by allowing Dr. Smith to periodically inspect your mouth for signs of trouble.

About Your Grand Prairie Implant Dentist: 

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Think You Know Tooth Loss?

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Tooth loss is self-explanatory—the loss of one or more teeth. Though the condition is straight-forward, its causes, effects, and the means for replacing your teeth aren’t always as simple as you might expect. With a wealth of experience as a restorative dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith is well-versed in the intricacies of tooth loss. Part of rebuilding your smile after losing a tooth, or several, entails educating you about your situation and your viable treatment options.

Quiz Yourself (True/False)

Tooth loss an anomaly that shouldn’t occur.

True: Though tooth loss is common, and even likely for many people, it isn’t inevitable, nor is it a natural part of aging. On the contrary, it usually results from severe damage or an extensive dental disease. In fact, the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States is gum disease, which is highly-preventable and highly-controllable when detected and treated in time.

Once a tooth is lost or extracted, it can’t affect your other teeth.

False: Extraction is a common practice when a tooth is severely infected, or if its root is fractured. Removing the tooth helps prevent injury and the spread of infection to surrounding tissues. Nevertheless, the tooth’s influence doesn’t disappear with its extraction. With the tooth gone, those that remain have to take up the slack in your bite’s balance. The increased pressure can damage your other teeth, and they may even shift towards the open space to fix your bite’s pressure distribution.

Once a tooth root is lost, it’s gone forever.

True and False: Like the rest of your tooth’s structure, its roots don’t repair themselves or grow back once they’re damaged or lost. However, modern dentistry provides the means for replacing your lost teeth’s roots with the advent of dental implants. The small titanium root devices can be surgically inserted into your jawbone and used to support an appropriate dental prosthetic (i.e., dental crown, bridge, or denture).

About Your Grand Prairie Implant Dentist: 

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Life with Dental Implants

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One of the benefits of visiting a dentist who’s skilled in multiple disciplines is that you can find a wide range of expertise within the same office. As a highly-experienced restorative and implant dentist, Dr. Gregory Wright can help you care for, treat, improve, restore, and rebuild your smile, regardless of the state of your oral health. When you’ve lost one or more teeth to extensive dental disease or damage, replacing them is vital to your smile’s integrity. With dental implants, Dr. Wright can replace your lost teeth’s roots, as well, providing unmatched, lifelike stability for your replacement teeth.

Revisiting Implants

Dental implants are among the most recent innovations in modern prosthetic dentistry. Unlike other dental devices, they replace the roots of your teeth that extend into your jawbone. A dental implant is crafted from biocompatible titanium, which your jawbone fuses to as it heals, and possesses a connective abutment that protrudes through the gum line. Your dental crown, bridge, or denture can be secured to these abutments, providing a root-and-crown structure that mimics your natural teeth’s design.

How to Care for Implants

Dental implant-supported prosthetics resemble your teeth in more than one way. For instance, caring for them is similar to maintaining a healthy natural smile. Although the titanium implants and porcelain replacement teeth aren’t subject to cavities, gum disease and other dental issues are still a relevant threat. Brush and floss with fluoride toothpaste to reduce the risk of cavities to surrounding teeth, and to eliminate the germs that accumulate behind the protection of dental plaque. The rule of thumb is to attend a dental checkup and cleaning at least once every six months, but Dr. Wright may recommend a more frequent schedule, depending on your exact needs. With proper care and maintenance, your implanted root devices can and should last a lifetime, but your replacement crown, bridge, or denture may need replacement, usually after ten or fifteen years (sometimes longer).

About Your Grand Prairie Implant Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Why Does Your Breath Stink? You Might Be Surprised

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If you just ate a plate full of garlic, or if you “forgot” to brush your teeth this morning, then your bad breath probably isn’t much of a mystery. Aside from strong foods, one of the most common reasons for bad breath is the bacteria that dwell in your mouth. Some oral germs result in tooth decay, and some facilitate gum disease, but others release volatile sulfur compounds that persistently foul your breath. If you practice good hygiene and still experience bad breath, then you might be surprised to find the reason behind it.

Other Reasons for Bad Breath

CERTAIN MEDS

Prescription medications don’t directly cause your breath to stink, but dry mouth is a common side-effect of many medicines. Dry mouth describes a drastic decrease in saliva, which is your mouth’s way of naturally rinsing away food particles and bacteria. Your saliva also slows while you sleep, explaining why bad breath is so common when you first wake up in the morning.

RESPIRATORY ISSUES

Bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and other respiratory infections that involve nasal or sinus secretions can cause bad breath. A common cold could also be the reason if your nose is stuffy and dripping. If your bad breath persists after your respiratory illness clears, then visit Dr. Smith as soon as possible to determine the cause.

INSUFFICIENT CARBS

When you don’t consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates, your body turns to fat and protein as a source of energy. In this state, referred to as ketosis, your body will release chemicals into your bloodstream and breath that cause strong, persistent odors. The smell won’t go away with brushing, flossing, or strong mints and chewing gum, like other causes of bad breath might.

About Your Grand Prairie Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced family and children’s dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Are E-Cigarettes Better for Your Smile?

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In light of the numerous effects that smoking can have on your dental and overall health, many people have successfully made the great effort to quit the habit. Over the last few years, many others have turned to innovative electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, as an alternative way to receive nicotine minus the other chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Considering the fact that a burning cigarette produces over 7,000 chemicals, a lot of which are carcinogens, eliminating the excess can help eliminate many of the risks associated with smoking; but is your smile really safer with the switch?  

What About E-Cigarettes?

An e-cigarette is a battery-powered device that converts liquid nicotine into water vapor. Although one of its main ingredients, nicotine isn’t a major contributor to the health issues linked to tobacco. Nevertheless, no scientific evidence exists to suggest that e-cigarettes are completely harmless to your dental health, and Dr. Smith advises you not to smoke at all to best protect your oral and physical health.

Consequences of Cigarette Smoke

In its package, a cigarette contains about 600 different ingredients, all of which are government approved for consumption. When burned, however, cigarette tobacco yields an arsenal of toxins and carcinogens (chemicals known to cause cancer). These toxins can interfere with the normal function of your oral tissues’ cells, and facilitate a friendly environment for harmful bacteria by damaging your salivary glands. Issues associated with smoking include;
·         Mouth, throat, and other oral cancers
·         Lung cancer
·         Respiratory infections
·         Aggressive periodontitis (severe gum disease)
·         Tooth loss
·         Jawbone deterioration
If you’d like to learn how you can quit smoking, speak with your Grand Prairie family dentist today. Dr. Quinn can also help restore the damage done to your teeth and gums caused by tobacco use, or refer you to a specialist, if necessary, to address severe health concerns.

About Your Grand Prairie Family Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced family and children’s dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Why Teeth Stains Are No Big Deal

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Unlike most other dental issues, all teeth can stain at some point, whether from darkly-pigmented food and beverages or from something more serious, like a dental infection. The good news is that most teeth stains can be addressed with a simple teeth whitening procedure. Using professional-strength bleaching agents, Dr. Smith can brighten your smile in our office, in as little as an hour, or provide you with the tools to improve your smile from the comfort of your own home.

Whiten Your Teeth Your Way

Zoom! teeth whitening is one of the more popular professional teeth whitening systems today. Often referred to as same-day whitening, the in-office procedure can be performed in a single visit, and typically lasts about an hour. After applying the whitening gel to your teeth and protecting your lips and gums, Dr. Smith will use a special light to stimulate the gel. The active ingredients (usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) penetrate underneath enamel to erase the stains on and just underneath the semi-translucent surface. As an alternative to in-office treatment, Dr. Smith can custom-design a set of whitening trays that you can take home and use to apply the whitening agent at your leisure.

For Tougher Stains

Although most teeth stains are relatively minor issues, not all of them can be effectively treated with a teeth whitening procedure. For stains and discoloration that occur in your tooth’s dentin (the main structure underneath your enamel), Dr. Smith may recommend dental bonding, a dental crown, or porcelain veneers to restore your smile’s appearance. If your teeth’schanging color is an indication of a cavity or other dental infection, then Dr. Smith will prescribe an appropriate treatment to address the issue first. Mild to moderate cavities can be treated with white dental fillings made from composite resin (dental bonding), allowing Dr. Smith to restore your tooth while maintaining its natural color.

About Your Grand Prairie Cosmetic Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced family and children’s dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

filed under: Cosmetic Dentist

Why All Teeth Can Stain

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You’re proud of your smile, so you do all you can to keep it looking as bright and as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always guarantee that your smile will remain beautiful and blemish-free. A tooth infection, systemic illness, some medications, and habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can dull and stain your teeth in spite of good hygiene. Even the foods and beverages you consume routinely leave their marks on your teeth. Professional teeth whitening can help erase most stubborn surface stains, but understanding the main reasons why food tarnishes your smile can help you prevent some of the most common teeth stains.

Top Teeth Stainers

It might go without saying, but darker foods and beverages are more likely to leave noticeable stains on your teeth. Wine, tea, soda, sports drinks, dark sauces, and sweets are among the most notorious teeth stainers, each containing acids and persistent color molecules that cling to your tooth enamel. As a general rule, if your meal is dark enough to stain your white table cloth, then it can stain your teeth to the same degree.

Molecular Imperfections

Your food owes its color to strongly-pigmented molecules called chromogens that like to adhere to your tooth’s enamel (the semi-translucent layer of minerals surrounding your teeth). Chromogens don’t cling to your teeth easily, but when enamel is weakened by acid, the molecules can gain stronger hold. Many foods are naturally acidic, and others contain sugar and carbohydrates that feed acid-producing oral bacteria. As acids raise your mouth’s pH balance, they sap minerals from your teeth and weaken your tooth enamel.

More than Stains

Aside from allowing chromogens to more-easily stain your teeth, weak enamel also increases your risk of developing cavities. Compromised enamel can allow bacteria to reach your tooth’s main structure and incite an infection. As it progresses, tooth decay can eat away your tooth’s structure, leaving cavities (holes) in your teeth that grow larger until treated. An internal tooth infection can change the color of the bulk of your tooth, or dentin, that lies underneath the enamel, and treating the cavity is the only way to improve the tooth’s discoloration.

About Your Grand Prairie Cosmetic Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced family and children’s dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

filed under: Cosmetic Dentist

How Fast are Fastbraces?

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A number of factors contribute to your smile’s good health and function, including how your teeth are situated in relation to each other. Ideally, teeth should grow straight up and down, or vertically, from your jawbone and out through your gums. Orthodontics is a focus of dentistry that involves the study and treatment of teeth that aren’t aligned properly, and orthodontic braces are the conventional method for straightening crooked teeth. Though malocclusion is usually detected and addressed in childhood, while teeth and the jawbone are still growing, it can also affect adults for a number of reasons. To help you straighten your permanent teeth in less time than traditional orthodontics, Dr. Quinn offers Fastbraces®, which utilize revolutionary brackets to reinvent the way braces move teeth.

The Consequences of Crooked Teeth

The first step to straightening your crooked teeth is choosing to straighten them. While you do have the choice of ignoring treatment, untreated malocclusion can lead to a host of serious issues that require more complex restorative treatment. Teeth that jut out at odd angles create hard-to-reach places where harmful bacteria can accumulate, increasing your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath. Crooked teeth can throw your bite off balance, causing your jaw joints and muscles to grow fatigued trying to keep your bite straight.

The Fastbraces Difference

The science of teeth movement relies on two principles—moving teeth’s crowns and moving their roots. To reposition teeth at more effective angles, orthodontic treatment is often divided into two parts based on these principles. Over the course of about two years, braces move the crowns of teeth first, and then focus on shifting the roots. The unique, triangular design of Fastbraces’ brackets allows them to simultaneously move your teeth’s crowns and roots, reducing treatment time by up to 50%. Most cases only require about a year to complete, sometimes only a few months, so you can enjoy a straighter, healthier smile in significantly less time.

About Your Grand Prairie Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced family and children’s dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

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Is Chewing Gum Good or Bad for Children’s Teeth?

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The question has flustered parents, teachers, and children alike for ages—is chewing gum good or bad for a child’s dental health? The habit can undoubtedly be annoying for adults chaperoning groups of gum-chewing children, but whether or not its detrimental to a child’s smile is a complicated question. Some additives, excessive chewing, and a lack of good dental hygiene can make chewing gum a risk, but some types of gum can benefit your child’s natural mouth defenses when chewed in moderation.

Choose the Right Gum

Considered by itself, the act of chewing something edible is beneficial for a number of reasons. The stimulation helps maintain a steady supply of nutrient-rich blood to the jawbone. Chewing also promotes a steady production of saliva, which can help clean your mouth after eating a meal or snack. Made almost entirely of water (over 99%), saliva is your mouth’s natural defense against oral bacteria and the tooth-eroding acids they produce. The sugar in many gum brands can feed these germs, increasing acid production and negating the benefits of increased saliva. Sugarless gum eliminates that risk, and many kinds of chewing gum now contain Xylitol, a naturally-occurring sweetener found in fruits and vegetables that inhibits the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.

Kids Who SHOULDN’T Chew Gum

Reducing the sugar content of chewing gum helps eliminate the increased risk of cavities, but tooth decay isn’t the only complication that can arise from the habit. Children who wear orthodontic braces, or who exhibit symptoms of TMJ disorder (a jaw joint dysfunction), should refrain from the sticky treat. Chewing gum can stick to and damage the brackets and wires of your child’s braces. Constant chewing can exacerbate the symptoms of TMJ disorder, leading to more frequent headaches and migraines, as well as jaw pain and facial soreness. If your child hasn’t been diagnosed with TMJ disorder, but complains of chronic aches and pains that might indicate a jaw problem, then visit Dr. Smith as soon as possible for an evaluation.

About Your Grand Prairie Children’s Dentist:

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced family and children’s dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Park Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you’re a new or returning patient, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.

filed under: Children's Dentist