Wednesday, February 27, 2013

NuCalm Now Available at Regency Dental Group!

Regency Dental Group is  proud to offer you the all-natural way to relax during your appointment. No side effects, no recovery time, no worries.
 

NuCalm ia a revolutionary technology proven to naturally relax the body within minutes- you will leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

4 Healthy Foods That Are Bad For Your Teeth

Lollies and sweets are bad for your teeth. Well, that's not a surprise; even a 3-year-old child knows that. But people are always caught off guard when they hear that certain healthy foods are just as unkind to your teeth and can cause them to rot.

I see many parents who cannot understand why their child has cavities when they have such a "good diet". However they are quite surprised to learn that in their attempts to give their family a health diet they are actually overloading on sugars and acids. So which of the so called healthy foods are actually bad for your teeth, and most likely not so healthy after all!

Fruit Juice

OJ, grapefruit, pineapple and other fruit juices are packed with sugar. Even though it's the natural kind that's supposedly better for the rest of your body, the decay-causing bacteria in your mouth like it just as much as any other type of sugar. They gobble it up and multiply in droves. Plus, fruit juices contain a lot of acid, and acid from any kind of food or drink -- even nutritious ones -- erodes tooth enamel.

Avoid having fruit juices if you can as they are nothing more than concentrated sugar and acid which has the same effect on your body as eating teaspoons of refined sugar. However if you simply can't go without these juices swish water around in your mouth afterwards to help neutralise the acids and then brush your teeth.

Dried Fruit

We are told raisins, sultanas and other dried fruit supply your body with cancer-fighting antioxidants. But once these fruits have been dehydrated and dried the sugar ratio is dramatically altered and the bacteria in your mouth just see a sugar feast. One small 30-gram serving of raisins contains about 25 grams of sugar -- as much as a slice of cake topped with ice cream! Also adding to the problem is the fact that dried fruit is sticky so it often gets caught in your teeth where it can linger for hours acting as a constant drip feed of sugar. Therefore it would probably be advantageous to eat small amounts of fresh fruit instead of dried if you don't want your teeth to decay.

White bread, potatoes and rice

The bacteria in your mouth that love sugar also adore starches like potatoes, white bread and white rice. These foods turn into a gluey paste that clings to your teeth. Bacteria prefer these kinds of starches, because they're broken down much faster than whole grains, like whole-wheat bread and brown rice. Try to choose whole grains instead as they are moderately better for your body as well as your mouth. Or avoid starchy food where you can.

Yogurt

Yogurt often contains added sugar and is quite acidic so it too feeds the sugar loving bacteria and erodes tooth enamel.

For a more holistic approach to caring for your teeth it is important to understand that essentially any foods containing sugars, carbohydrate or starch and those which are acidic even if they are supposedly healthy will increase your risk of developing tooth decay and have the same affect on your metabolism and body as eating refined sugar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7513705

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Thumb Sucking, Pacifiers And Oral Health



Is it okay to allow your fussy infant to suck their thumb or use a pacifier? What is best? Will either cause some real damage? Pediatric dentist Dr. Suzy Press shares tips on your baby's oral health.

Monday, February 18, 2013

What You Need To Know About Fluoride


Chances are you brush with a fluoride toothpaste. But do you really know what fluoride does for you? Dr. Press of Delta Dental shares the latest facts on why fluoride is an essential part of a good oral health routine, and how to incorporate it in yours.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Common Dental Problems and Their Solutions


A perfect smile can make all the difference to your appearance, and also to your self confidence. All dental problems can be fixed using state of the art cosmetic dental procedures. This article takes a look at some of the most common cosmetic dental services available, and it also provides some top tips on how you can go about finding the best cosmetic dentist in your area.

Teeth Spaces

Teeth spaces, also known as diastemas, are gaps in the upper front teeth which are caused by disproportionate sizes of the teeth and the jaw. Sometimes a diastema will appear later on in life.

The most common way to fix teeth spaces is to use veneers on the front teeth. Veneers are placed on top of the teeth, and they will close the gap in the diastema. Veneers provide an extremely realistic looking cosmetic dental solution to teeth gaps, and no one will be able to tell the difference between them or your real teeth.

Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can occur after an accident, or after a tooth has to be removed due to infection or cracking. There are two main options available to people who would like to replace missing teeth: dental implants and dental bridges.

Dental implants are tooth replacements which are designed to screw into the jawbone of the missing tooth. The implant will then naturally fuse with the bone in the jaw to create a natural looking tooth which will allow you to regain the normal chewing ability of the tooth. Not all patients will be suitable for dental implants, your dentist will be able to advise you if they are right for you.

Bridges are an artificial tooth which is designed to be attached onto the real teeth that sit either side of the missing tooth.

Yellow or Discolored Teeth

Yellow or discolored teeth can be restored back to a beautiful healthy white colour by using a special teeth whitening procedure. Teeth whitening will remove years of staining from your teeth that is often caused by tea or coffee drinking, smoking and red wine stains. There are several different types of tooth whitening available, one of the most popular ways is to have a dentist apply a special whitening gel to the teeth and then use a light to develop the gel and reveal beautiful white teeth in less than one hour. At home whitening options are also available.

You should thoroughly research some of the cosmetic dentists in your area before choosing which one to go with. All reputable and trusted dental surgeries will have a website, which will list details of the services that they offer, along with their contact details. Most dental surgeries will also have before and after pictures of some of the previous cosmetic dentistry work that they have done, so you will be able to get an idea of the quality of their work. A professional dentist will be able to give an in depth consultation, and provide information on what types of products or services will be best for the look that you are trying to achieve.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7495716

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

50% Of Americans Have This Disease


The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a study in 2009 and 2010 that measured the prevalence of periodontitis, familiarly known as gum disease, in American adults. The study estimates that 47.2%, or 64.7 million American adults, have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis. For adults over the age of 65, rates increase to 70.1%.
Conclusion: Nearly half of American adults have gum disease.
How can periodontitis affect you?
Gum disease can do irreversible damage if not treated and maintained. The plaque that builds up between teeth and gums creates pockets that bacteria can get into, causing an infection in the gums. The infection can damage the bone and periodontal ligaments (PDL) that hold teeth in place and gums may begin to pull away from teeth. At the advanced stage of periodontitis, teeth begin to shift, loosen and fall out because the PDL and bone that usually support the teeth are destroyed.
What are the symptoms of periodontitis?
  • Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
  • Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender
  • Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
  • Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
  • Pus that appears between your teeth
  • Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
At every check-up and cleaning, the hygienist and doctor measures the bone level and inspects gums for any pus, bleeding or inflammation.
How is periodontitis treated?
The doctor or hygienist recommends a deep-cleaning to patients with gum disease. The hygienist scales the teeth by cleaning off the plaque above and below the gum surface and root planing which smoothes out the rough layers of the teeth. For two weeks after a deep cleaning, chlorhexidine mouth wash is used to kill bacteria so sensitive gums will heal. If you have been diagnosed with gum disease it is important to follow the recommendations of your hygienist. She may recommend one to two additional cleanings per year.
Prevent periodotitis from affecting you.
There are simple steps that you can take to avoid developing gum disease.
  • Brush and clean between teeth with floss at least two times a day.
  • Eat a well balanced diet and avoid sugary snacks.
  • Get regular check-ups and cleanings. They are the best way to discover and treat early gum disease before it leads to a more serious problem.
Keep your teeth and gums healthy for the rest of your life by noticing the signs and seeing your dentist if you have any questions or concerns regarding your oral health. Catching potential problems early on can prevent more serious problems from occurring down the road.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7497032

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Understanding What Is Involved in Dental Veneers


Whether it is due to aging, accidents or simply poor oral hygiene, our teeth are always subject to damage. Often we get chipped, broken or worn down teeth due to years of grinding or chewing or we get discolored teeth from taking certain medications, drinking certain beverages and generally because age is creeping up on us. Whatever the reason, we can certainly change the way they look and how they are shaped with something called dental veneers.

Who doesn't want to bring back their formerly glorious smiles? When we begin to feel insecure about the way we smile, it shows in the way we conduct ourselves publicly, often refusing to smile for pictures or to smile at people when we first meet them because we are ashamed of the way our teeth look. Somehow, we feel that it may be misconstrued as a reflection of who we really are and the last thing we want anybody to think of us is as a slob.

So this is why we thank enterprising and innovative souls for coming up with dental veneers, which are custom-made shells of tooth-colored material designed to cover the front surface of the teeth to change their color, size, shape and length. They are wafer-thin so they are hardly noticeable when we smile, since they are also designed to closely mimic our real teeth's light-reflecting properties. They used to be made only from resin composite materials but these days, they are also made from porcelain, which is infinitely preferable for a lot of reasons.

For one, they resist stains better than resin composite materials and provide a more natural-looking appearance for your teeth, in addition to being more tolerated by gum tissues. You also have the option of selecting the color of your porcelain veneers so that it makes dark teeth appear whiter.

As with any medical or dental procedure, you will need to have a dentist confirm your qualification for the procedure and should you be found fit for it, there are things that you need to know and understand before getting the procedure done. First, it will require three visits to the dentist's office - the first one for consultation, wherein you get to explain to your dentist exactly the kind of look you want to achieve. The dentist will then give your mouth a thorough examination to determine what type of veneers are best for you, by taking x-rays and making impressions of your mouth and teeth.

The second and third visits are mostly to make and apply the veneers. As preparation, the dentist will remove about ½ millimeter of enamel from your tooth's surface using a local anesthetic. Next, the dentist will make an impression of your tooth which will then be sent to the dental laboratory that will make your veneers and this process usually takes 1-2 weeks. If you happen to have very unsightly teeth, temporary veneers may be put in place but it may cost you extra.

After the dentist receives your veneers from the dental laboratory, he or she will fit it on your tooth to check the color and fit before it is permanently cemented on your tooth. The dentist will repeatedly remove and trim the veneer until you and he are satisfied that it fits well over your tooth and that it matches the rest of your teeth. Next, your tooth will be cleaned, polished and etched to strengthen it for the bonding process then special cement is applied to the veneer and placed over your tooth. Once your tooth is in place, a light will be shone on the cement to activate the chemicals within so that it hardens very quickly.

Once this is done, the final steps will involve having any excess cement removed and checking your bite and making any necessary final adjustments. You will then be scheduled for a follow-up visit so the dentist can check how the veneer is doing, how well your gums are responding to it and its placement.

Remember that just like your regular teeth, veneers need to be taken care of very well via regular brushing and flossing and to prevent them from discoloring, your dentist may also ask you to avoid teeth-staining drinks like coffee, tea, chocolate, red wine, etc. With proper care they should last about 5 to 10 years, at which time you need to have them replaced. The cost for getting veneers varies from country to country but the ballpark figure is around $500 to $1,500 per tooth. They are not usually covered by insurance so you will need to check with your insurance company if they cover it or not.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7495494

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

CEREC Dental Restorations


Watch how CEREC can help you achieve all-cereamic restorations in a single dental appointment. It is the most used dental CAD/CAM system world-wide creating highly-esthetic, metal-free restorations without the need of impressions or temporaries.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Why You Should Smile: The Benefits of Showing Your Great Smile


So much can be said about someone through their smile. Smiles are the most recognizable facial expression and can be seen on someone's face nearly three hundred feet away. Because we are instinctively drawn to people who are smiling, we subconsciously see these people as warn, inviting, and self- confident.

Smiling, therefore, is a key in creating a great first impression. In fact, fifty percent of all people will say that a smile is the most memorable feature after first meeting someone, even more than the first words that person says. Through smiling, people radiate self-confidence, self-worth, and optimism. These are all qualities that help people gravitate toward, and help people create personal and professional relationships, thus positively affecting the rest of their lives.

According to the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a great smile can be one's greatest asset no matter that person's age. Not only can a beautiful smile make you more attractive and younger, smiling can also relieve stress and help boost your immune system. Because you are more relaxed, your blood pressure is naturally lower, allowing endorphins to be released, making you feel good. Additionally, smiling is contagious. By smiling, your mood, and the mood of other's around you instantly improves, causing more productivity and a better overall environment.

The psychological benefits of smiling are enormous. Unfortunately, it is believed that people with flawed smiles are less attractive and less confident than those with perfect teeth, according to the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Subconsciously, we connect a dull yellow smile with age. We make this connection because overtime the enamel on the surface of the teeth wears down, causing teeth to darken. Since smiles play such a crucial role in the impressions we make upon others, it has become a social belief that someone who fails to smile or return a smile causes an immediate breakdown in conversation. Additionally, people also associate this body language with confidence, giving the impression that this person is unconfident and unfriendly. Instead of wanting to get to know that person, we tend to associate a frown, scowl, or grimace with someone to keep at a distance. Without knowing it, the person who is failing to smile is actually pushing other people away from him or her.

A smile impacts many aspects of our culture and daily lives. Through a simple smile, our lives can be affected socially, professionally, physically, and emotionally. It is important that everyone put their best foot forward and smile daily.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7367975