What Makes Teeth Whitening Work and Why You May Need It

 Teeth whitening, as an industry, has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years. This is because more people have become aware of the importance of beautiful, healthy looking teeth. Today, you can get your teeth whitening done in a clinic with one of our experts, or use an over the counter do it yourself solution. Either way, people all over the country are whitening their teeth in record numbers.

When you consider the fast pace at which modern society functions, and the incessant need for speed and attention, there is little wonder that teeth whitening has gotten so popular. There are now hundreds, if not thousands, of products available that give you a boost in energy but also can damage, discolor, or stain your teeth. Energy drinks, cola products, and caffeine based coffee and tea are the most popular. Coffee is perhaps the most well-established of the caffeine solutions. Over 54% of the adult population drinks at least one cup of coffee every single day, of these 68% will do so within an hour of waking up. This means that a large segment of the population will drink coffee shortly before or shortly after brushing their teeth. Coffee is extremely rich in chromogens, which can and will stain your teeth with extensive use.

The widespread use of coffee and other products has resulted in an increased need for oral hygiene and teeth whitening products.

Your teeth whitening is made possible by a chemical reaction, which is caused by the formula of the teeth whitening solutions. These chemicals are designed to whiten the teeth, but not for frequent usage, which is why we make two recommendations for people who want to whiten their own teeth. We always advise that you seek the advice and guidance of a dentist prior to whitening your teeth. This will allow us to give you recommendations, and even more importantly, to inspect your teeth. Often there are small, easy to fix, underlying problems that could be irritated by the use of a teeth whitening solution. Fixing these will allow you to proceed with your whitening without any challenges. Second, we ask that you follow the instructions on the packaging or given by our team, regarding how often you should be whitening your teeth. Too frequent teeth whitening, or too much overuse of the products, can result in your teeth becoming extremely sensitive and may even lead to other challenges that you will need dental solutions for.

What makes teeth look white?

Think of you teeth as tiny reflectors, which reflect natural white light. The clearer the reflection, the better the angle of the light reflected, and the whiter your teeth will look. The purpose of the peroxide based solutions that teeth whitening uses is to make the teeth more colorless. The peroxide absorbs easily into the enamel, where it goes to work releasing free radicals into the natural organic makeup of the tooth. These free radicals remove excess color, causing the tooth to be more colorless and hence appear to the brain as being whiter and brighter that before. 

Improve Your Health by Visiting a Braces Dentist

As a braces dentist, we are often asked why people should consider braces. While to some people it might seem that the answer is obvious, there are those who want more information and we completely appreciate that. The truth is that there are very distinct advantages to having perfectly straight teeth, over and above the obvious improvements to a person's looks. There are health benefits that are at times overlooked but that are always at the forefront of our minds, as we promote the idea of straighter teeth. It is important for you to remember that your teeth are the very first step in the digestive process. Keeping your mouth healthy and your teeth in the best shape possible, which includes making sure they are perfectly straight, is one of the ways that we can help you to have better health. When you use braces, not only are you getting an amazing upgrade to your smile but you are also taking steps to improve the overall health of your mouth.

A braces dentist is someone who spends much of their life straightening people's teeth. Over the years, we have seen very distinct advantages to having straighter teeth, and given that appearance isn't everything, we wanted to share some of the other health benefits of having straighter teeth. For those who interested in having better health, here are two reasons why you should consider having an evaluation in our dentist office.
Braces make it easier to clean your teeth: When you have teeth that are misaligned very often they form barriers between the teeth that make it very hard to floss. In the same vein, when the teeth are uneven or overlapping, your toothbrush has a difficult time making it to places that are hard to reach even with straight teeth. These missed spots can start to build up bacteria and eventually will result in cavities. As we straighten your teeth and ultimately remove your braces, we will be focused on making sure that the spaces between your teeth are even. This makes it easier to brush and floss, which in turn improves your oral hygiene.
Healthier teeth and gums: If keeping your teeth clean wasn't enough of a reason to wear braces, we have found that once a person has their teeth straightened, their overall mouth condition improves vastly. Overcrowded teeth and teeth that are too widely spaced have the adverse effect of damaging the gums, which often leads to red, irritated gums or even bleeding. Unfortunately, very often badly spaced teeth can also lead to periodontal diseases because the teeth are not properly aligned, and the gums do not fit securely around the teeth themselves. These tiny gaps are enough to lead to severe bacterial infections and cavities or even more serious gum diseases. As the teeth start to realign, these gaps are taken away, and the gums fit snugly around the teeth again. This in turn makes the gums healthier, reducing the chances of getting a serious gum condition.
These are only some of the ways that we can improve your health and appearance.  To learn more, call our braces dentist office today.

Orthodontics  >  Family Dentist

What You Need to Know About Periodontics

Periodontics is the practice of dentistry that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, one of the more common being periodontitis. According to recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half of all American adults, suffer from a mild, moderate or severe case of periodontitis, or gum disease. The American Academy of Periodontology recommends that every adult in the U.S. should receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation (CPE) each year to evaluate their oral health and diagnose any periodontal disease.

Gum Disease And Periodontitis Explained

Gum disease occurs when the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth get infected. Plaque is essentially sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth and below the gum line. This bacteria feeds on sugar and forms acids that eats its way through the tooth enamel and causes cavities.  If not removed, plaque will calcify and harden, forming what is known as tartar or calculus, which is impervious to brushing and flossing and can only be removed by your dentist. Plaque and tartar are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria which is why the longer they stay on teeth, the more harmful they become.

The bacteria can cause the gums to bleed, become irritated and inflamed which leads to gum disease. The mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis, which can usually be reversed with regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleaning. However, if left untreated, the plaque and tartar buildup will form spaces or pockets between the teeth and the gums. When these spaces become infected, it is called periodontitis. While gingivitis and periodontitis are the two most common forms of gum diseases, periodontitis is the most severe form, damaging the soft tissue and the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss, or worse, has been linked to other serious health problems such as heart attacks.  By practicing periodontics, we can treat this condition.

What Causes Gum Disease?
Factors that increase your risk of gum disease include:

• Poor oral hygiene (not brushing at least twice, and not flossing at least once daily)
• Not getting regular dental checkups or teeth cleaning
• A history of gum disease in your family
• Poor diet that is lacking in essential vitamins and minerals, but is high in simple carbohydrates and sugar.
• High-stress levels
• Hormonal changes
• Diseases that weaken your immune system, such as diabetes or cancer
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Substance abuse
• Certain medications
• Misaligned teeth

What Are The Symptoms?
Healthy gums should be firm and pale pink in color. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned below, you should visit our office for a periodontics treatment as soon as possible. This is to reverse any damage and possibly prevent other serious health problems from developing. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis can include:

Reddish, puffy or swollen gums

• Gums that bleed or are tender to the touch
• Gums that are receding or pulling away from your teeth
• Spaces between your teeth that were never there before
• An infection that has signs of pus in spaces between your teeth and gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Teeth that feel loose
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite 

A big part of periodontics is the prevention and early treatment of conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis. If you think you are experiencing any of the signs of gum disease, come and see one of our specialists today and to restore your oral health.

Family Dentist  >  Dentist

How An Invisalign® Dentist Has Aligners Created

As an Invisalign® dentist, we use aligners to straighten teeth instead of traditional metal braces and orthodontics.  This is a modern and innovative way to straighten teeth that uses the same basic theories as braces.  By applying pressure to specific teeth, the aligners move them slowly into position, one at a time until the teeth are perfectly straight.  This can take time but by wearing all of the aligners in the series, your teeth will move rather comfortably.  There are many benefits to straightening teeth with aligners including the ability to take them out to eat and clean your teeth, eliminating some of the common inconveniences associated with wearing braces like getting food stuck in between teeth. 
If you are interested in using this option to straighten your teeth, we recommend scheduling a consultation to have your teeth examined.  We will want to examine both your teeth and your jaw to ensure that the procedure will be effective.  If your jaw misalignment is severe, you may need traditional orthodontics instead, but typically, aligners will work just fine.  We will also be sure that you don't have any cavities, infections, or gum disease since we will need to correct those first, prior to starting the procedure.
Once you are cleared for the procedure, as an Invisalign® dentist, we will take measurements of your teeth and create an impression of them.  This information is then sent to the Invisalign lab so that the aligners can be created.  This process starts by turning the physical impression into a digital one that is placed into the software that can project what your teeth will do over time.  Since the aligners work by wearing each one in the series for two weeks at a time, the entire treatment is designed so that each aligner is slightly different than the last one in the series.  The software is what enables the lab to design each aligner to focus on moving specific teeth without causing unnecessary irritation.  As an Invisalign® dentist, we can see what the aligners are supposed to look like and request any changes we want to be made prior to them being created.
Once the aligners are ready, we will have you come back in so that we can have you try on the first one in the series and show you how to use and care for them.  You will be given all of the aligners at the same time and need to switch them out every two weeks.  You will know when it is time to do so because the aligners start out very tight and will eventually become loose as the teeth move like they are supposed to.  In order for teeth to move, the aligners must be worn for 22 hours per day which leaves plenty of time to eat your favorite food and brush your teeth.  This level of convenience is what makes Invisalign stand out from traditional braces.  To learn more, schedule a consultation.

Braces Dentist  >  Orthodontics

How To Prepare Yourself for What Happens After Dental Implant Surgery

If you need dental implant surgery it is important to visit a dentist who is an expert at performing your particular procedure so that you can decrease your risk of a complication and make sure that you recover as quickly as possible.  We get it – no one wants oral surgery and for obvious reasons.  When possible, everyone wants to be perfectly healthy without ever visiting the doctor or dentist and without ever needing a surgical procedure.  Life would simply be easier that way but, unfortunately, this is not the reality.  Procedures like dental implants are often necessary in order to ensure that you can continue to live life without interruption.

In our office, placing dental implants is a procedure we perform on a regular basis to permanently replace teeth, and we use sedation to make sure that you are comfortable during the procedure.  Sedation is wonderful because it lets you relax and stay in a happy place, rather than being worried or having anxiety about the procedure.  The type of sedation we offer depends on your tolerance for discomfort and how many implants you are having placed.  In this scenario, you may be put to sleep or get so drowsy that you nod off, comfortably resting until we are done.  That's the good news.

The bad news is that in any surgical procedure, you are going to have a recovery process and some level of discomfort while you heal at home.  By preparing for what happens after dental implant surgery, the time can pass with you feeling relatively relaxed and comfortable.  We recommend that you ask someone with good driving skills, and a comfy car, to pick you up and drive you home.  Since you will feel slightly disoriented after anesthesia, this will allow you to get home and in bed while you are sleepy enough to fall back asleep.  Make sure that your bed is set up with extra pillows so that you can lounge at an incline rather than flat on your back.  Pull up the blankets, fall asleep, or watch a movie in bed and the day will be over before you know it.

You should also set up an area near your bed with water, pain medication, gauze, and ice packs.  It helps if you have someone that can bring you ice packs when you need it but if not, buy several so that you can rotate through them without waiting for them to freeze every time.  You can apply the ice for fifteen minutes at a time throughout the day and night so that the swelling goes down and the discomfort with it.  You should also plan on having some soft foods available to eat like room temperature soup and yogurt. Being careful after dental implant surgery is important so wait to eat anything hard or sharp for several weeks.  We will give you specific advice on what you can and can't eat based on how many implants you had placed and where they are located.  Within 48 hours, you should start to feel better and be able to head out and enjoy life while your teeth and gums finish the natural healing process.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Dentist

Learn More About the Process of Dental Veneers

Wafer thin, dental veneers gain most of their strength from the tooth that it is bonded to. These porcelain devices are attached to the tooth using dental cement, which ensures that they have the same level of support that normal enamel would have. It is an interesting fact that enamel is the body’s hardest substance and also its' most brittle. Similarly, dental veneers are brittle by themselves but strong when they are attached to the teeth. Once cemented into place your veneers will have most of the strength and durability of a naturally occurring tooth. This is important since dental veneers can be used to effectively fix such a wide variety of challenges. Everything from minor chips in the tooth to slightly misaligned teeth and even unsightly gaps can be repaired using dental veneers, so it is important that they are malleable and strong. 

While dental veneers do get their strength from the bonding, making it critical that the teeth are well prepared, the bonding itself is among the last steps that we will perform. Before you reach the bonding stage, there are several phases of preparation that go into making a dental veneer that fits perfectly in your mouth. This will involve a minimum of two visits to the clinic to prepare and ultimately to fit you with your new veneers. Since veneers are designed to give your teeth the best look possible we will be doing things like matching the shade of your teeth and ensuring that the shape of the new veneer is precisely right. 

Step one: Preparing for dental veneers. 
We will make a careful match of the shading and color of the surrounding teeth to ensure that the veneer is made to match the rest of your teeth. Next, we will take an impression, which is done using impression putty. The impression is used to manufacture a custom dental veneer to fit exactly on the tooth in question. In order to make room for the dental veneers, we will need to trim some of the enamel off of the tooth that will be holding the veneer. Typically this is between 0.5 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters and is exactly the same thickness as the veneer itself so that the tooth remains uniform. In some cases, the dentist may need to trim more, up to as much as 1.5 millimeters. During this trimming, any decay that may have occurred will also be removed from the tooth. 

Step two: Attaching the dental veneers.
Once the dental veneers return from the lab, they will need to be attached. This is an important visit, as we will need to make sure the dental veneers are an exact fit. To do this, the veneers will be placed, removed, trimmed and shaped, and then replaced until we are satisfied with the fit. The color and shading will be double checked, and once the shape and color are perfect, dental cement will be used to bond the dental veneers in place. 

Here is What to Expect Immediately Following Your Orthodontics Treatment

Finally, your orthodontics procedure has started, and your braces are fitted. Now you are on the way to having the straightest, most beautiful smile you ever thought possible. As you start this journey, there will be many appointments and much discussion about your treatment, the duration it will take to get your teeth adjusted, instructions on caring for them, fittings, measurements, and a host of other activity. Over the course of the treatment, leading up to us fitting your braces, you will have gotten a lot of information, filled out a lot of forms, and learned a great deal about your teeth. Now that the final fitting appointment is done, you are going to leave the offices with a new orthodontic fitting, and potentially even more questions. 

We know that many people feel slightly intimidated by the orthodontist’s office and save their questions for a Google search or ask friends and family for advice.  While this can be helpful, we prefer that you ask us questions since each patients' treatment plan is slightly different.  Still, we will send you home with a packet of information that you can read to get basic information and care tips.   If you have any further questions, please call us or ask them during one of your follow-up visits. 

Questions aside, orthodontics treatments and braces do take a period of adjustment before you will start to feel normal with them in your mouth. The first few days are going to be spent getting used to them. As your mouth gets accustomed to idea of something taking up more space than just your teeth, and while your gums, teeth, and tongue become acclimatized to the braces you could experience some levels of pain and discomfort. The good news is that this pain is easily controlled with over the counter pain medication.  The discomfort at this stage is the most you will experience throughout the treatment, meaning once it passes you will not have to deal with this again. 

If you need medication to feel comfortable, we recommend that you stay away from Ibuprofen products since the medication can cause the movement of your teeth to slow down. Ibuprofen is the major ingredient in over the counter pain medications like Advil and Motrin. Instead, we recommend that you take Tylenol for your pain since it contains acetaminophen and has no effect on the teeth’s movement. 

Whenever you get an orthodontics treatment, especially braces, there are certain foods you are going to need to avoid. Initially, you should eat soft foods so that you can eat in comfort.  After a few days, you should continue to avoid super sticky foods, like candy and gum, extremely hard foods, like nuts or popcorn, and other foods that can damage the teeth. We will provide you with a complete list of foods to avoid at the end of your fitting appointment. Doing so will be important for ensuring that you don't accidentally pull a bracket out of place or cause a wire to break.  If you do, they can be corrected but it will slow down your treatment time.