Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Teeth Problems Dental Implants May Help

Missing teeth are often a fact of later life. However, getting older does not have to mean placing all your teeth in a cup before you go to bed. Dental implants are a natural-looking, permanent alternative to a full set of dentures.
Are implants right for you?
A qualified cosmetic dentist can examine and evaluate your teeth to determine whether implants are right for you. If you meet the following criteria, implants might be your solution:
- You are missing one or more teeth

- Your speaking or chewing abilities are impaired by missing teeth

- You have had a recent injury involving trauma to the mouth

- You cannot return for dentist appointments for several months

- Your jawbone is fully developed

- With grafting or in its current state, your jawbone can support the implants

- Your oral tissues are relatively healthy
What are implants?
Dental implants are actually three separate components:
1. Threaded metal cylinders that replace the roots of lost teeth

2. An extension attached to the top of the cylinder

3. A tooth-like crown, or implant prosthesis, attached to the top of the extension. Your dentist may offer the option of a removable crown or a fixed crown.
Preparing for the surgery
Your cosmetic dentist will do everything possible to tailor the procedure to your needs. It is important to mention any medical conditions you may have that might affect the process, including:
- Medications

- Supplements

- Heart problems
Your dentist will conduct a thorough dental exam to determine the fitness of your jawbone and gum tissue. Often, your dentist will take X-rays or construct a model of your mouth before proceeding.
After the examination and discussion, your dentist will design a treatment plan to restore and complete your smile.
Bone grafting
Not everyone requires bone grafting surgery. However, the jawbone endures a great deal of wear as a result of the chewing process. A narrow or unstable jawbone is unlikely to support dental implants, and bone grafting can get around this problem. Substantial grafting requires separate surgery, which takes place before the implant surgery. Sometimes the graft is very small and can be inserted during the implant surgery.
What happens during the surgery?
The process is tailored to your specific needs, so it varies for different patients. Dental implant surgery usually happens in several stages. Each stage requires a period of healing before the next surgery:
Stage 1: Your dentist inserts the cylinder or implant into your jawbone. A stage of osseo-integration follows, in which the bone grows around the implant. This healing process takes three to six months.

Stage 2: Your dentist adds the extension. A shorter healing process follows.

Stage 3: Your dentist attaches the crown.
Sometimes the extension piece is attached during the first surgery. Discuss with your dentist to decide if this option is right for you.
How long will the process take?
The entire process takes three to nine months. Keep in mind, however, that part of this time is spent healing.
Will it hurt?
Dentists can administer different levels of anesthesia, ranging from local to general. Discuss with your dentist to decide which option will make you most comfortable. You may experience some swelling, discomfort, or bleeding after the initial implant surgery. Your doctor can prescribe painkillers to help with any residual pain.
What are the disadvantages?
Like every surgery, dental implant surgery has its risks. You must be prepared to invest time and money in the procedure and follow your dentist's instructions regarding eating habits, medication, and oral hygiene.
Sometimes the implants do not settle securely into the bone tissue, and the surgery must be repeated. However, problems are uncommon, and dental implant surgery is considered one of the safest surgical procedures according to the Consumer's Guide to Dentistry.
What are the results?
Implant surgery restores your smile and aids in everyday functioning that is often taken for granted-chewing and talking. Dental implants can improve your smile and just may be the solution you've been looking for.
For more information about how dental implants can replace teeth and eliminate the need for dentures, please contact Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Kevin Sands today to schedule your initial consultation.

Bad Breath Causes and Cures

Bad breath is something all of us deal with from time to time, but if you suffer from chronic bad breath, you know that it stems from something more than just a pungent meal or random failure to brush. If you are losing the battle with bad breath after changing your eating habits, brushing obsessively, and living on what feels a diet of almost nothing but mints and mouthwash, it's time to look deeper.
Chronic bad breath is embarrassing and can radically impact your social interactions at work and during leisure activities and, worst of all, can put distance between you and your spouse and other loved ones. If you live with chronic breath problems you may feel self conscious and isolated, but you should know that it's actually quite common, and it can be solved.
This can be caused by underlying medical issues, and should not be ignored. Persistent low-grade sinus infections, diabetes, liver disease, gallbladder dysfunction, and allergies are just a few possible medical causes.
More often the source is anaerobic bacteria, hiding somewhere in your mouth. Anaerobic bacteria thrive and grow in an oxygen-free environment. They are often harbored in the grooves of your tongue and the pockets of your gums. Normal daily dental hygiene can't get to them.
Tooth decay and infection can also be the source of this and cause a bad taste in your mouth. Gum disease (periodontal disease) is another common source.
Mouthwash, breath mints, and chewing gum can make it worse
Most mouthwash contains alcohol. Alcohol actually dries your mouth out, creating a more hospitable environment for anaerobic bacteria and making it worse. Mints and gum don't really improve your breath. They only cover or mix with the bad odor, and promote tooth decay. In the long run they contribute to, rather than reducing bad breath.
Eliminating bad breath
Fortunately, it can be eliminated. The first step is talking to your dentist, because most chronic breath problems are dental in origin. Your dentist will identify the source, whether it is your tongue, gums, or teeth. He or she can also tell you if your problem lies outside of dental issues, requiring other medical attention.
Dental treatment for chronic breath problems will typically involve tongue scraping (debridement), gum treatment, and the removal of tooth decay. Your dentist may also prescribe a mouthwash or mouth rinse that is alcohol free and targeted to destroy bad breath.
To learn more about the causes and treatments of bad breath in the Raleigh and Durham areas of North Carolina, please visit the website of a North Carolina cosmetic dentist.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Get the Beautiful Smile You Have Always Wanted With Veneers

Originally designed for short term use by actors with bad teeth, veneers can drastically change the appearance of your smile. If your teeth are damaged, chipped, uneven or have unsightly gaps, veneers will instantly improve these problems, giving you something to smile about.

 

The first veneer was invented by a Californian dentist. While they looked good on his patients, they didn't last very long and proved only an aesthetic tool. After a short period of time the dental glue he used wore off and the veneers fell out. The Hollywood community picked up on the idea and used veneers for many movie stars whose smiles just didn't make the cut. Over the years better bonding techniques were developed and veneers evolved into the product we are familiar with today. While not cheap, veneers can certainly change a person's entire look. Some people have found a new confidence after having veneers and claim an attractive smile can change your life.

 

A veneer has two purposes, the first is to improve the overall look of a tooth, to give it a better shape and have it fit in with the rest of the teeth. The second reason is to strengthen the tooth and protect it from further damage.

 

Also, there are two types of veneers available. The more popular option are porcelain veneers. Composite veneers tend to be better wearing and less likely to fracture, whereas porcelain veneers provide an all over more realistic look. Composite veneers will either be placed directly on top of the existing tooth, or the dentist will grind down the tooth and bond the veneer in directly. Your dentist will choose the most appropriate option for your teeth.

 

Veneers are bonded using hydrofluoric acid. This is permanent and you will not need any maintenance to your veneers once the dentist has finished placing them, they can last up to thirty years before they need to be replaced.

 

The procedure for having veneers placed is relatively pain free. You will likely not need any aesthetic. The procedure takes place in the dentist's chair and usually takes around an hours time to be complete. Afterward, feel free to return to work or any other activities you would normally go about.

 

Recently veneers have become popular in the makeover style shows seen on television, due to the dramatic effect such a small and non invasive technique has on someone's whole look. Whether just replacing one fractured tooth, or several misaligned teeth, veneers can certainly give someone a beautiful new smile with minimum pain and fuss.

 

There are non permanent veneers available, a dentist or orthodontist can fit you with these. They really only have cosmetic value as temporary veneers chip and fall away easily and are difficult to chew with. If you have a special occasion coming up you may wish to try them as an alternative to permanent veneers.

 

You can find out more about teeth veneers by visiting http://www.CosmeticDentistNorthShoreSydney.com  or find out how David can promote your business online by going to David's blog at http://www.SydneySearchResults.com

 

David has been marketing successfully online since 2003.

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Cannell

 

Lynn & Kym Brown

SEO & Website Accessibility Consultant & Services

Hillcrest

San Diego

Home: 619 269-5372

 

www.seobycanz.com

www.canzdesign.blogspot.com

www.canzdesign.com
www.linkedin.com/in/seobycanz

 

Neuromuscular Dentistry Can Fix Jaw Problems

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) occurs as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control jaw movement and chewing. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone of the skull, located in front of the ear on each side of your head. These joints are flexible and allow the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side enabling you to talk, chew and yawn. However, when there are problems with these joints or if there is injury to the jaw, the joint itself or the muscles of the head and neck, TMD is the result.

 

Neuromuscular dentistry is the dental specialization that focuses on placing the jaw in its optimal position. Neuromuscular dentistry works with the hard and soft tissues, muscles and nerves of the jaw and surrounding area. Neuromuscular dentists can realign your bite and resolve your TMD symptoms.

 

TMD Symptoms

 

One of the most painful and debilitating symptoms of TMD is migraine headache. Many doctors and dentists do not have the training necessary to diagnose and treat TMJ disorders. Neuromuscular dentistry is the branch of dentistry that helps people correct the jaw problems that have caused them pain for years, possibly even decades.

 

TMD causes migraines because the trigeminal nerve is one of the most powerful and complex nerves in the human body. This nerve is completely responsible for the temporomandibular joint and tooth functions and accounts for over 40% of the brain’s processing. The trigeminal nerve has three branches, all affecting various parts of the face, head, shoulders and arms. The pain and muscle tightness associated with TMD can even affect your hands and fingers.

 

Pain related to TMD may be sharp and searing or dull and constant. Pain is typically over the joint immediately in front of the ear but can radiate elsewhere and cause spasms in the muscles attached to the bones of the skull, face and jaws. Some of the most notable symptoms of TMD are:

 

· Headaches

 

· Stiff jaw muscles

 

· Ear problems, including ringing (tinnitus) and pressure

 

· Neck, shoulder, and back pain

 

· Locking, clicking, and popping of the jaw

 

· Limited jaw movement

 

· Tingling or numbness in the fingers

 

· Difficulty swallowing

 

· Facial pain

 

Often times, patients see doctors for severe headache and are given medications to treat the pain of the headache; however, there is often no treatment provided for what is actually causing the headaches. Neuromuscular dentistry is the specialized area of dentistry that treats the cause, not just the symptoms, of the painful headaches (and other symptoms) associated with a misaligned jaw.

 

If you would like to learn more about how neuromuscular dentists diagnose and treat TMD, please visit the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies website to find a highly trained TMD dentist in your area.

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Fugaro

 

Lynn & Kym Brown

SEO & Website Accessibility Consultant & Services

Hillcrest

San Diego

Home: 619 269-5372

 

www.seobycanz.com

www.canzdesign.blogspot.com

www.canzdesign.com
www.linkedin.com/in/seobycanz

 

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Hate the Dentist, Dental Veneers are Perfect for you

Dental veneers are another fantastic tool used in cosmetic dentistry to help create that perfect smile. Unlike crowns which cover the whole tooth, dental veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain which are just bonded to the front of your teeth.
Porcelain itself it a fairly brittle material but the bonding process adds additional strength to a veneer leaving you with a beautiful, durable and completely natural looking tooth. Dental veneers take on the appearance of enamel and provide the means for a truly remarkable cosmetic restoration.
Although porcelain has amazing crushing strength it doesn’t react well to twisting so once you have had a tooth or your teeth veneered you need to avoid foods that will require any kind of gnawing or twisting action.
Dental veneers have a variety of uses with veneers being used as an alternative to tooth whitening, braces, crowns and other cosmetic dentistry techniques. Porcelain veneers can be used to disguise discoloured or chipped teeth, close gabs, straighten teeth, assist with realignment and reshape your smile.
Veneers have a distinct advantage over dental crowns in that there is no requirement for the tooth to be ground down prior to the veneer being bonded to the tooth. In addition, veneers tend to be more aesthetically pleasing providing you with an even more natural appearance.
Given the nature of a veneer, in that it is bonded to the front of your tooth, veneers are only of any use for cosmetic restoration of front teeth.
Getting a veneer is so easy and a great alternative for those hate the dentist chair. An initial visit will involve your cosmetic dentist taking an impression of your teeth and you may require some minor contouring work. The second visit will be purely for the veneer to be bonded into place providing you with an instant and fantastic looking result.
More information about Porcelain Veneers in Chula Vista
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You'd be surprised at how many people are wearing Dental Veneers, San Diego

Many people in the media and other visible positions have had dental veneers applied to their teeth. Anyone who wants confidence when they smile is a good candidate for dental
veneers. They are simply the fastest way to an amazing smile out there.

If you are interested in a beautiful smile, dental veneers can be the perfect answer. And, thanks to the many discount dental plans available today, dental veneers can be a very
affordable option for everyone.

More information about Porcelain Veneers in Chula Vista
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http://bonitadelreydental.com/services_and_procedures/Porcelain_Veneers 

What are Dental Veneers Chula Vista

Dental veneers are custom-made to fit your teeth and looks by your cosmetic dentist. Your dentist creates the veneers and then bonds them directly to your teeth with a very
strong adhesive product. To bond your veneers on, your dentist will first remove a bit of the outer layer of your teeth. This will allow for the bond to be quiet strong. Once the
veneers have been bonded onto your teeth they remain there permanently for the rest of your life. Thanks to great bonding technology you will likely never have a problem with
a veneer coming off of your teeth.

Dental veneers can usually be completed in two sittings at your dentist. The first sitting is to create the veneers and the second is to bond them onto your teeth. It is amazing the
transformation you can see in two simple trips to your local dentist.

More information about Porcelain Veneers in Chula Vista
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http://bonitadelreydental.com/services_and_procedures/Porcelain_Veneers 

Do you Need Dental Veneers, San Diego

Are your teeth discolored or do they have other imperfections that make you uncomfortable smiling? Are you too embarrassed about the look of your teeth to smile?
Do you wish you were born with straight, white teeth? If so, dental veneers can be the answer you have been searching for!

Dental veneers are a custom-made thin covering which is permanently applied to your teeth. Dental veneers are used to improve the look of your teeth and to hide many of the imperfections commonly found in teeth today. They can also help to hide slight misalignments in teeth.
More information about 
More information about Porcelain Veneers in Sab Diego
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http://bonitadelreydental.com/services_and_procedures/Porcelain_Veneers

Advantages of Dental Implants Chula Vista

The following are just a few advantages of implants with regard to convenience.

·         They can eliminate the inconvenience of messy denture adhesives that must be re-applied throughout the day.

·         They can eliminate gum irritation and the pain of exposed nerves associated with conventional full or partial dentures.

·         They can allow you to speak with confidence in a relaxed and natural tone.

·         They can eliminate the need to cover your mouth when you laugh or smile, worried that your denture will pop out or fall down.

·         And, they can restore chewing efficiency comparable to that of natural teeth, as well as, the natural ability to taste and enjoy your food. This factor alone helps promotes better nutrition.

More information about dental implants and tooth replacement

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http://bonitadelreydentalcare.com/services_and_procedures/implants