Want To Get New Teeth? Cosmetic Dentistry Could Save You The Trouble! PART 2

Welcome to the second half of this article series on the various steps one can take to drastically improving the quality of their smile, short of getting new teeth! In Part 1, a New Jersey dental implants surgeon explained the incredible benefits good oral hygiene, a professional teeth cleaning and frequent visits to the dentist can have upon the appearance of your smile. Good oral health is first and foremost what keeps your teeth and gums looking beautiful!

The next step for those who are essentially in good oral health but who still have discolored teeth would be a professional teeth whitening treatment, which can be done in-office or in the comfort of your own home. Now, in Part 2, we shall look at some of the restorative dental options for people who are simply not happy with their smiles.

Camouflage Imperfection with Dental Veneers

"Dental veneers are wonderful cosmetic restorations that can make it look like you have new teeth," says the New Jersey dental implants surgeon. "The concept is the same as covering a battered, stained table with a beautiful table cloth. Veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material that are custom-made to fit over the outer surface of a tooth. The tooth surface is typically prepared by being slightly ground down or reduced, so that there is space to accommodate the thickness of the veneer. The veneer is then cemented in place, effectively covering up the appearance of surface and deep stains and any imperfections in the actual tooth structure, including chips, cracks, and erosion."

"Veneers not only improve the appearance of a worn and/or stained tooth, making it look new, they also reinforce the strength of a tooth that has been damaged. By covering up cracks, chips and areas of erosion, the tooth structure is effectively protected against infiltration by oral bacteria, thereby rendering it stronger and more likely to withstand decay. For this reason, veneers aren't only cosmetic in benefit."

Completely Restore With Dental Crowns

"The last measure that can be taken to restore a damaged and/or decayed tooth is a dental crown, with or without root canal therapy depending upon the recommendations of your dentist," says the dental implants surgeon in New Jersey. "Dental crowns are used to replace the visible portion of teeth that have become so damaged or decayed that a significant portion of it needs to be removed. The crown is custom made to fit the remaining tooth and resume its appearance and function."

A Final Note

"Many celebrities with gorgeous smiles have had many, most or even all of their teeth capped with crowns. Yet in spite of the benefits of these and all of the cosmetic treatments discussed really - aside from teeth whitening - the very best approach to maintaining a beautiful and healthy smile is a good standard of oral hygiene and frequent visits to the dentist and oral hygienist. Nothing can rival the strength, beauty, resilience and comfort of your own biological technology, so make sure you take all the necessary measures to keep it in fantastic lifelong condition. Do this and you won’t be likely to face the need for new teeth!"

Want To Get New Teeth? Cosmetic Dentistry Could Save You The Trouble! PART 1

This two-part article series takes a look at the various cosmetic procedures available for people who feel that their smiles could do with some improvement.

How do you feel when you look in the mirror? Are your eyes automatically drawn to your teeth? Do you find yourself comparing their color to that of your yellow wood dressing table? More importantly, does your concern over the appearance of your teeth have you hiding your smile behind your lips and feeling terribly self-conscious in company?

Smiling is a fundamental tool for human communication, so if your teeth are preventing you from doing it with confidence, it’s time to learn about what can be done to improve your situation. You don’t necessarily need to get new teeth! Here’s what a Rutherford dental implants surgeon has to say about getting back a confident smile!

When Last Did You Get Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned?

“The very best way to keep your teeth looking beautiful is to keep them healthy,” explains the surgeon. “Nothing can really rival the strength and appearance of healthy teeth, not even dental implants, which are often regarded as the best solution to missing teeth. So, if you are unhappy with the quality of your smile – if your teeth are looking a little yellow and unattractive, the best thing you can do is book an appointment with your dentist and oral hygienist.”

“A thorough teeth cleaning can lift years off your smile by removing deposits of plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) that have accumulated on them. Since plaque - which is essentially legions of oral bacteria, dead cells and other debris - irritates the gums, the removal of it allows them to heal and become nice and pink again. Improving your own efforts at home prevents bacteria from destroying your teeth, thereby keeping them beautiful and pearly white. It’s the easiest way to avoid ever needing to get new teeth!”

Teeth Whitening Treatments

“If your teeth are essentially healthy, but still appear an unattractive yellow it’s most likely that they have become stained or discolored through repeated exposure to the tannins and dyes in the foods and beverages you consume. Coffee, tea, dark berries, sodas or anything with dark pigmentation can cause your teeth to become permanently stained,” explains the Rutherford dental implants surgeon.

“If this is the case, then a teeth whitening treatment is the quickest, simplest and cheapest way to get your teeth dazzlingly white again. Most dentists sell professional teeth whitening kits, which you can take home with you and do yourself. These kits typically require that you wear a mouth tray containing a special bleaching gel for an hour or two per day, every day for one or two weeks (or as prescribed by your dentist).”

The Important Thing To Remember Is

An unattractive smile doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to get new teeth. Sometimes, a little cosmetic improvement can make the world of difference! Your first and most beneficial step is to book an appointment with your dentist and find out what they recommend.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Dental veneers and crowns can also be used to drastically improve the appearance of one’s smile, so stay tuned for the next installment of this two-part article series to find out how!

New Teeth Experts in New York: Understanding Diabetes and Your Oral Health, PART 2

This two-part article series provides an in-depth look at the relationship between diabetes and oral health and how Rutherford residents living with this condition can better protect their teeth and gums.

Welcome to Part 2 of our article series on the link between diabetes and oral health. In the first installment, we spoke to a new teeth specialist in New York about the impacts this disease has upon the health of patients’ teeth and gums. Now, we shall take a brief look at how gum disease is treated and what New York residents living with diabetes can do to mitigate the damage done to their oral health.

Gum Disease Treatment

The course of treatment prescribed by your dental healthcare practitioner will really depend on the severity of your condition. “In its beginning stages, gum disease can usually be successfully treated with a course of anti-biotic medication and rinses, a thorough professional cleaning and/or an improved home oral hygiene routine,” says a dental implants dentist in Stamford CT. “If, however, your condition has advanced and there are deep pockets of infection surrounding your teeth, you will likely need to undergo one or more dental procedures to eliminate the diseased tissue and infection and reduce the depth of these pockets.”

Having diabetes can render these procedures somewhat tricky, because this disease slows the rate at which its sufferers heal. Post-operative healing will have to be closely monitored to ensure that infection doesn’t set in again. Your dentist may prescribe a course of anti-biotic medication as a precaution. Additionally, diabetics will need to have their blood sugar levels carefully controlled before and after their procedures.

Minimizing the Oral Health Risks of Diabetes

All of this can sound somewhat frightening. No one enjoys the prospect of oral surgery, so the very best philosophy New York residents living with diabetes can adopt is to prevent rather than cure! “If you have been diagnosed with diabetes you must first accept that you will need to spend a little more time and spend a little more effort on looking after your teeth and gums,” explains a new teeth specialist in New York. “You should tell your dentist about your condition and ask him or her for advice on home oral hygiene care. You will also need to go for more frequent check-ups and professional cleanings as a part of the preventative healthcare regime that will keep your oral health in check.”

Here’s some general advice for New York residents living with diabetes:

1. Brush your teeth for two minutes at a time and brush three times a day.

2. Floss your teeth every day, preferably before you go to bed at night.

3. Make use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash to really keep your mouth clean of the oral bacteria that cause gum disease.

4. “Keep a close eye on the health of your gums,” advises a dental implants dentist in Stamford CT. “If you ever notice any bleeding when you brush or floss, or swelling and inflammation, be sure to notify your dentist as soon as possible.”

5. As a diabetic, you should have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Remember, you are more prone to infection than people without this condition, so you will need to be extra thorough in your approach to keeping your mouth clean.

6.“You must absolutely tell your dentist and oral hygienist that you have diabetes,” urges a new teeth expert in New York. “This will help them devise a preventative treatment schedule that will protect your teeth and gums. You should also let them know of any over-the-counter and prescription medications you might be on.”

A Final Note

By taking extra special care of your oral health, you can offset the damage done by diabetes and keep your smile beautiful and healthy for far longer. Work closely with your dentist to achieve your goals and keep smiling!

Am I a Candidate for the “All-On-4” Dental Implant Procedure in New Jersey? PART 2

This two-part article series provides an overview of what makes a patient the ideal candidate for the “All-On-4” dental implant protocol and what factors might compromise candidacy.

Welcome back! This is the second half of a two-part article series on the “All-On-4” dental implant protocol and what makes a patient the ideal candidate to receive new teeth in New Jersey. In Part 1, we discussed the challenges facing traditional dental implant techniques and why it is that some New Jersey residents believe they are not candidates for fixed oral rehabilitation (a non removable bridge). In this article, we shall discuss the virtues that make a patient the ideal candidate for the “All-On-4” and what health factors might compromise this candidacy.

First and Foremost...

“The great thing about the All-On-4 is that nearly every patient that walks in the doors of a dental implant center is a candidate for this procedure,” explains a dental implant professional in New Jersey. “Even if he or she has been wearing dentures for five or ten years and has been previously told by his or her dentist that they are not a candidate for dental implants. The ‘All-On-4™’ is specifically designed to provide great solutions for a group of people who formerly were not considered ideal candidates for implants.”

Ideally, of course, you should be in good general and oral health. The “All-On-4” can provide nearly everyone with new teeth, but just like any other surgery, it is important that the patient is strong and healthy. The healing success of the implants also hinges on the jawbone being in good health, so if you present with advanced periodontal (gum) disease, you will need to have the condition treated and infection eliminated first.

Having said that, few people who need new teeth are truly in good oral health, so this is by no means an insurmountable obstacle.

Potentially Complicating Factors

There are only a handful of rare medical conditions that might compel a dental implant professional in New Jersey to reconsider surgery. The safety of every patient is a primary concern of any surgeon, so if you have a blood clotting disorder, severe respiratory disease or a serious heart condition, it may not be in your best interest to proceed with treatment. Additionally, certain bone disorders and conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes, might increase your risk of implant failure. Should this risk be too high, it may not be wise to undergo such a procedure.

This is why it’s so important for you to discuss your full medical history with your dental professional before considering getting new teeth in New Jersey. You should also give him or her comprehensive list of any medications you may be taking. If necessary, the dentist will consult with your treating physician to make sure you’re in good enough health to proceed with dental implant surgery.

A Final Note on “All-On-4” Candidacy

At the end of the day, nearly 100% of the patients who want to get new teeth are candidates for the "All-On-4" technique. Few problems and challenges cannot be surmounted by an experienced and skilled dental implant professionals in New Jersey. What you shouldn’t do is allow any concerns to get in the way of consulting with a professional. They are more than happy to review your case and provide you with a treatment plan that will enable you to eat, speak and smile with the confidence you thought you had lost many years ago along with your natural teeth.

8 Things You Could Do To Avoid Needing New Teeth, Stamford Dental Implant Specialists Advise, PART 3

This four-part article series discusses 8 important tips for good oral health over and above the standard brushing, flossing and rinsing regime.

<== Flash Back -Part II

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on the efforts we can make – over and above brushing and flossing – to keep our oral health in beautiful lifelong condition. In our previous article post, Part 2, we spoke to a Stamford dental implants specialist who explained the following two important tips to us:

3. Get dental healthcare that is appropriate for your age: Be aware that young children, even babies, require periodic professional dental check-ups. At the other end of the age spectrum, elderly people should be extra careful about looking after their teeth and gums considering the greater risk of tooth loss.

4. Cut down on sugar: Sugar fuels bacterial activity and bacteria produce acidic by-products. The combination of sugar and acid takes a substantial toll on the health of your teeth and gums, which is why it’s so important for Stamford residents to minimize sugar intake.

In this article, the third installment of the series, we shall be looking at the next two bits of advice Stamford dental implants specialists have for us...

5. Give Tobacco the Kick

Oh you’ve heard this one before… but not from your dentist. Usually it’s your doctor giving you the third degree about your nicotine addiction. This time, it’s the Stamford dental implants specialist – the professional who gives patients new teeth because their original ones were lost to gum disease – who is bringing your attention to the importance of kicking the habit. The chemicals in cigarette smoke don’t only discolor your teeth, turning them a most unattractive shade of yellowy brown, they also thicken the blood and impede saliva production.

“The effects of smoking on the mouth serve to decrease your immunity to infection and slow your recovery from injury or surgery,” explains the Stamford dental implants specialist. “This means that any dental work you do have done is less likely to be successful or last as long, which is ironic because it’s often smokers that require dental work owing to the damage this habit does to their teeth and gums.”

Smoking also irritates the soft tissues in the mouth, causing them to become red and inflamed. It causes a build-up of plaque on the teeth, destroys the jawbone supporting the teeth and leads to an increased risk of gum disease and oral cancer. “The vast majority of ex-smokers who have quit sought some kind of support or help, be it therapy or medicinal. Speak to your doctor about what cessation programs are available in your city.”

6. Use the Correct Toothbrush

Modern supermarkets offer a staggering variety of just about everything and the oral hygiene aisle is no different. With toothbrushes in every conceivable color and shape, most Stamford residents find themselves simply opting for the cheapest brush. While you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a decent toothbrush, there are a couple of attributes you should be on the lookout for...

1. Go for soft to medium bristles. “Hard bristles can erode your dental enamel and irritate your gums,” says a Stamford dental implants specialist.

2. Make sure your toothbrush has a comfortable grip. You’ll be inclined to brush for longer if you don’t struggle to hold it in place.

3. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or when it starts looking frayed. Bent bristles are totally ineffectual at cleaning your teeth and gums.

4. Replace your toothbrush after a bout of the flu or any other viral infection to prevent making yourself sick again.

Stay Tuned for Part 4...

To read some final advice from Stamford dental implants specialists about the various things we can do to help prevent ourselves from ever needing new teeth, stay tuned for the fourth installment of this article series.

==> Continued in - Part IV

The Key Benefits of Getting New Teeth Using Dental Implants

This article explores the benefits of choosing dental implants to replace missing teeth and not conventional removable dentures.

We all know that your teeth are quite useful in helping you eat. This becomes especially evident when you lose your teeth to gum or periodontal disease and are forced to either manage without them entirely, or with teeth replacement devices such as removable dentures. The value in getting new teeth with dental implants goes so much further than in restoring bite function and, of course, your appearance; although these are among the most important benefits. In this article, the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons who work with new teeth implants will be explaining to us the key benefits patients can expect to enjoy from getting beautiful new teeth.

Smile Again

So many people live with failing and/or missing teeth and gum disease for so long that they forget what it’s like to smile openly without embarrassment, shame or reservation. Those family photos just aren’t what they could be with a miserable and uncomfortable-looking parent or grandparent standing in the background, are they?

With new teeth, you will immediately enjoy the ability to smile openly again. The bridge held in place using dental implants is expertly fabricated to look just like a complete set of natural teeth and gums, so your smile will once again be beautiful, healthy and natural looking without the thin, pinched appearance that dentures typically give.

Eat Your Favorite Foods

Your teeth are an important part of your digestive system! Without them or with inferior teeth replacement technologies, such as removable dentures, you simply can’t enjoy the variety of foods you used to. In fact, eating can become such a challenge that the edentulous elderly can suffer from malnutrition as a result! Patients also experience digestive problems because they are not able to chew their food properly.

A dental implant-supported bridge facilitates a strong and natural bite force that enables patients to eat most of their favorite foods and even those you thought you’d never be able to manage again, such as steak and corn on the cob. Eating and chewing comfortably, without teeth that hurt your gums and move around, is just one of the many benefits offered by dental implants.

Additionally, owing to the much lesser bulk used in the fabrication of the bridge (as opposed to dentures), it won’t compromise your ability to taste your food properly, nor sense subtle variations in its temperature and texture.

Feel Comfortable and Confident

New teeth implants offer an impressive suite of benefits and advantages over traditional removable dentures. In addition to those mentioned above, dental implants...

• Once healed, don’t typically damage the neighboring teeth in your mouth or the surrounding gums,
• Help prevent persistent pain and discomfort often associated with removable dentures
• They help to promote excellent jawbone health and in doing so, prevent atrophy and a loss of bone volume,
• This in turn helps to prevent premature aging and the need to have the dental bridge refitted to accommodate the changing shape of the jawbone (as is the case with dentures.)
• Dental implants are typically a one-time expense because they can last many decades and seldom require restoration or replacement.
• They typically do not need repeat expenses, such as adhesive strips, soaking solutions and anesthetic gels,
• Implant supported bridges do not generally trigger the gag reflex or cause embarrassing social problems, such as halitosis (as dentures can).

For all these reasons and more, new teeth specialists urge Americans in need of a second chance at a beautiful smile to seek treatment using dental implants. Make a long-term investment in your oral health and quality of life.

The Price for New Teeth: Understanding What You’re Getting with Dental Implants, PART 1

This two-part article series discusses the benefits of dental implants over traditional teeth replacement techniques: conventional bridges and removable dentures.

Dental implants get an extremely unfair and unjustified rap for being expensive. Our strange perception of value has, in many cases, deemed this advanced and sophisticated teeth replacement technology “too expensive” and “unnecessary” especially with the availability of cheaper options. These options are traditional dental bridges and removable dentures, which can be used to address single tooth loss and a failing dentition respectively. Yet, if you take a closer look, you will see that these alternative technologies simply cannot rival the benefits and longevity of dental implants. Actually, they could end up costing you more in the long run!

In order to develop a deeper appreciation for the price of new teeth, we spoke to the dental implant specialists responsible for the replacement of missing teeth using this remarkable technology. They provided the following points to explain just why traditional bridges and removable dentures can counter-intuitively work out to be the more expensive teeth replacement choice.

Reasons Traditional Bridges Ultimately AREN’T Typically Cheaper Than Dental Implants

Traditional dental bridges are designed to take the place of a missing tooth crown. They consist of a series of ceramic crowns that have been bonded together. The two outer crowns are placed over the healthy teeth neighboring the empty tooth socket, enabling them to provide support for the middle crown, which is suspended in the gap. Here, it assumes the functional role of the missing tooth crown, but not the root.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are placed directly in the jawbone into a surgically prepared “sockets”. In this respect, a dental implant resumes the role of the root, supporting the crown of the replacement tooth or teeth and thus not damaging or compromising any existing neighboring teeth. In other words, dental implants are freestanding and, just like natural teeth; they rely almost exclusively on the jawbone for support.

So, upon closer inspection, we see that the real cost of new teeth with traditional bridges can include:

• Two perfectly healthy teeth: The supporting natural crowns have to be filed down to nubs in order to support the bridge. This means that the price you pay for new teeth can “cost you” two healthy teeth as well!

• The increased risk of further tooth loss: Traditional bridges tend to leave the supporting teeth at a greater risk of bacterial decay. Bacteria and food debris can also work their way underneath the replacement tooth crown, not only risking infection, but also discomfort and unpleasant symptoms, including bad breath and a persistent bad taste in the mouth.

• Atrophy of the underlying jawbone: The tooth roots play a vital role in maintaining jawbone health. When they go missing and are left without replacement (as is the case with bridges, which only replace the crowns), the jawbone can atrophy. This causes the bone level to drop around the site of the missing tooth or teeth, contributing to the destabilization of the entire dental arch and possibly leading to a greater risk of further tooth loss.

• Restoration and replacement: Unlike dental implants, traditional bridges tend to require frequent restoration and, typically every 10 to 15 years, replacement altogether. Dental implants can boast an impressive lifespan of 20 and 30 years or even longer if looked after properly! So while you might initially fork out less money for a bridge, in the long run, factoring into account repeat costs of restoration and replacement, dental implants almost always work out to be the smarter investment.

To add insult to injury, bridges don’t tend to feel natural, which causes patients no end to discomfort and self-consciousness.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

In Part 2 of this article series, we shall discuss the many reasons removable dentures may not ultimately be cheaper than dental implants as an option for new teeth.

Part - 2

New Teeth Specialists in Rutherford Challenge Six Common Myths about Dental Implants, PART 2

This four-part series scrutinizes and dispels six of the common misconceptions people have about dental implants and dental implant procedures.

In spite of the well-known fact that dental implants offer the most sophisticated and long-lasting replacement solution to missing teeth, countless Americans still opt for older, inferior technologies, such as removable dentures and conventional bridges. In our previous article post, New Teeth specialists in Rutherford dispelled the first of the myths and misconceptions that compel people to make the wrong teeth replacement choices: that dental implants are prohibitively expensive. In this article, the second installment of a four-part series we shall address another key misconception.

Busting Myth # 2: It Hurts to Get Dental Implants

With the availability of anesthesia, sedative medications and narcotic painkillers, pain simply isn’t a factor anymore - during the procedure or after it. If you suffer from anxiety, you can take a mild oral sedative on the morning of your surgery, which will calm your nerves and make you feel more relaxed. You will receive a local or general anesthesia (depending on the nature of your procedure) immediately prior to your surgery, which will prevent you from feeling any pain or discomfort. Afterwards, you will be sent home with prescription analgesic medication to help manage any post-operative discomfort, although this in itself is typically minimal.

The use of computer imaging programs and sophisticated diagnostic medical equipment (such as 3-D Cone Beam CT scans) in the planning and execution of dental implant surgery has rendered such procedures far less invasive in nature. Instead using less accurate 2 dimensional x-rays to plan the correct sites and positioning of new teeth implants, Rutherford patients already have their surgery planned in great detail before they even walk through the door! This not only makes surgery safer and more predictable, it eliminates many risks and complications, as well as the need for incisions and sutures: the source of most post-operative discomfort.

So, quite simply, dental implant surgery is not something you need to fear. New teeth specialists in Rutherford do everything in their power to help keep patients as comfortable and as anxiety and pain-free as possible throughout the course of their experience.

Busting Myth # 3: Dental Implants will Eventually Need Replacing

Not always! Dental implants have a typical lifespan of 20 to 30 years. If you really look after your teeth and avoid detrimental habits and lifestyle choices - such as smoking, an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption and poor oral hygiene - there’s seldom any reason why you can’t keep your dental implants for life! Many of the patients who received dental implants 40 years ago still have their replacement teeth and they don’t exhibit any sign of slowing down!

The bottom line is that dental implants don’t always eventually require replacement, although even if they do they still last decades longer than traditional teeth replacement technologies. If you look after your teeth and are in good health, you should be able to keep your implants for life!

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read up on more of the common myths and misconceptions surrounding dental implants and the procedures used to get new teeth implants in Rutherford, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

Part - 1        Part - 3

Dental Implants Specialists In New Jersey Talk About The Habits That Ruin Your Teeth, PART 4

This four-part article series covers the many habits - some innocent, some not-so innocent - that could be destroying your teeth and oral health, leading to the need for dental implants.

Welcome back to our four-part article series in which dental implants specialists in New Jersey explain the top habits, behaviors and addictions that could be wrecking the health of your pearly whites. In our previous article post, the third installment of the series, we discussed the dangers of teeth grinding or “Bruxism” and how sticky, gummy candies can lead to a higher incidence of tooth decay and cavities. In this final article, we shall address some of the other habits and indulgences you should avoid to keep your teeth in excellent lifelong condition.

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 8: Sugar-Pumped Thirst Quenchers

There’s nothing like an ice-cold soda on a hot day, but busting your thirst with soda, fruit juice and energy drinks is terrible for your teeth! These should be seen as treats and not as the standard of thirst quenching. Not only are they packed with sugar, which encourages bacterial activity in your mouth; they’re also very acidic and this softens and erodes away dental enamel. If you’re thirsty, your first option should be to reach for good old H2O!

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 9: Not Flossing

Flossing is, without a doubt, a chore... but it is an absolute necessity for keeping your teeth clean. An oral hygiene routine without flossing is like taking a shower without scrubbing the nooks and crannies (i.e. your armpits): you simply aren’t cleaning effectively! You should floss your teeth every day, preferably before you go to bed at night or else you are leaving all that food debris and plaque trapped between your teeth. In the long term, you’re leaving yourself at a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease, not to mention bad breath!

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 10: Using Your Teeth as Tools

Similar to chewing ice (discussed in Part 1 of this series), your teeth were not designed to be used as tools for tearing packaging, forcing open containers and other related activities. Your dental enamel - when pitted against anything harder than food - can lose and the consequences (cracks, chips, fractures) definitely aren’t worth getting that stubborn Tupperware open, even if there is chocolate inside.

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 11: Excessive Alcohol Drinking

Alcohol is not the best hydrocarbon to put in your body and as fun as a couple of glasses of wine can end up being, you do need to appreciate the damage it or any other alcoholic beverage can do to your teeth, especially if indulged in regularly. Alcohol causes “dry mouth”, which encourages bacteria to flourish (saliva is your mouth’s natural defense against bacteria). Alcoholic beverages also tend to be high in sugar and acid, which we’ve established are not good for the health of your teeth and gums. Then there are the indirect links alcohol shares with poor oral health... those who drink heavily seldom take the time to brush carefully and floss before they go to bed at night. You also tend to lean towards starchier, fattier foods and other bad habits, such as smoking.

If you find that asking you to give up that dinner-time glass of wine is simply too much to do, you certainly can restrict how much booze you drink and how frequently you drink it. Also take proper care of your teeth, avoid social smoking and keep your dinner choices healthy. No matter how tired and, er, “impaired” your judgment is when you get home... brush and floss your teeth! Or you may find yourself needing new teeth at some imminent stage in your life.

New Teeth Specialists in NJ talk About the Habits that Ruin Your Teeth, PART 2

This four-part article series covers the many habits - some innocent, some not-so innocent - that could be destroying your teeth and oral health, leading to the need for dental implants.

Welcome back to our four-part article series in which New Teeth in NJ specialists explain the top habits and behaviors that could be wrecking the health of your teeth and gums. In our previous article post, the first of the series, chewing ice and playing sports without a mouth guard were discussed as the first two harmful habits. We’ve got many more to get through - some you may already be aware of but others that may come as a surprise - so let’s get straight back into it!

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 3: Giving Baby a Bedtime Bottle

Handing your tiny tot a bottle as they go to bed may help them fall asleep, but it could also lead to early tooth decay! Whether it’s formula or juice, both contain sugar and bacteria love sugar. Giving your child a bottle to suck overnight leaves their developing teeth and gums in a veritable sugar bath, which is oral bacteria’s idea of paradise. Feed your baby before you put him or her to bed and be sure to gently clean their mouths afterwards. If they want something to suck on, give them water or a pacifier.

‘The development of a child’s adult teeth can be severely impacted by the health of their predecessors, the baby milk teeth,” explain New Teeth or dental implant specialists. “As such, it’s imperative that parents take the correct actions in looking after their children’s pearly whites. Also note that you should throw the pacifier in the trash bin after age 1. Constant sucking on these kinds of appliances can actually change the shape of the mouth and can result in severe orthodontic problems.”

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 4: Lip and Tongue Piercings

Feeling rebellious? Try a tattoo... lip and tongue piercings can do serious damage to your dental enamel! Accidentally biting down on the stainless steel bar or the constant tapping of the piercing against the back of your teeth as you talk can cause chipping and cracks. In the case of lip piercings, the metal disk on the inside of the lip can rub against the gums causing irritation, inflammation and even infection. The gums can become so damaged that they actually recede from the crowns of the teeth, revealing the darker root underneath (see image above).

Tongue piercings can also make it difficult for you to clean your tongue properly. This is not even to mention the risk of infection such invasive activities cause. Again, if you’re feeling rebellious, do something really brave like get a tattoo or dye your hair shocking pink, instead. Leave your mouth alone!

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 5: Tobacco-Use

Perhaps the least surprising of all the bad habits on this list are smoking and tobacco-use. We won’t bore you with the details, but in short, tobacco-use:

• Stains the teeth,
• Causes dry mouth,
• Causes bad breath: “smoker’s halitosis”,
• Irritates and inflames (burns) the soft tissues in the mouth,
• Slows the natural healing process,
• Renders various procedures less likely to succeed, such as dental implants,
• Increases your risk of developing oral cancer,
• Causes gum infection and disease.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

If you like your current pearly whites and want to avoid needing new teeth later on in life, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series to find out more of the bad habits, behaviors and addictions you should be avoiding!

Dental Implants Specialists In Rutherford Talk About The Habits That Ruin Your Teeth, PART 1

This four-part article series covers the many habits - some innocent, some not-so innocent - that could be destroying your teeth and oral health, leading to the need for dental implants.

Sharks have multiple sets of teeth. In fact, they tend to grow a fresh set of teeth every two weeks or so to replace those ripped out during feeding frenzies. Rodents have incisors that just keep growing and growing, which is why - in part - beavers gnaw incessantly on the boles of trees: to prevent their teeth from getting too long. Elephants have a set of molars that steadily march towards the front of their mouth during the course of their lifetime. At age 40, a set of larger brand new molars emerge to replace those that have been ground down by day-long munching.

But, humans have only two sets of teeth. The first start to emerge soon after we are born and are then replaced with adult teeth in our late childhood.

In other words, by the time we are 12, we have the set of teeth that is meant to last us for the rest of our lives. There are no second chances for us. Unlike sharks, we won’t sprout new teeth to replace those lost through bad oral hygiene or an accident. Our teeth, if chipped, won’t keep growing and at age 40 we’re more likely to lose our molars than grow a fresh set like elephants! This is why it’s so important that we look after our pearly whites from as early an age as possible.

In this four-part article series, dental implants specialists in Rutherford - the dental healthcare professionals responsible for replacing missing teeth – will be taking us through their top list of habits and behaviors that are ruining the health of your teeth and gums and could possibly lead to early tooth loss. Some of these habits you may be aware of already, such as smoking, but others will come as a surprise! So, without further ado, let’s get started...

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 1: Chewing Ice

On a hot day, it can be wonderful to fill a cup with ice and soda and sit there chewing on the lumps and shards of ice. While ice is sugar-free and, in its liquid state, is perfectly good for you, your teeth were not made to bite into it! In a battle between enamel and ice, enamel is likely to win, but that doesn’t mean it will win every time and the result could be fractures, cracking and chipping. Also, if you make it a habit you could end up irritating the soft tissues inside your teeth, or even grind the enamel down to the dentine, leaving your pearly whites far more vulnerable to cavities and decay.

“If you’re a compulsive chewer, buy yourself some sugar-free gum,” suggests a specialist of dental implants in Rutherford. “Chewing ice is terrible for the enamel of your teeth and if you don’t address it, I will expect to see you in my office before long.”

Teeth-Wrecking Habit # 2: Playing Sports without a Mouth Guard

Think twice before getting on the field or ring without a mouth guard! It just takes one second for something to go horribly wrong and for teeth to go flying. You wouldn’t stand in front of the ice hockey goal without the correct protection - you could literally get yourself killed should the puck fly at your face at just the right angle - so why would you face the football player without a helmet and mouth guard? In fact, most sports (other than badminton… but who plays badminton?) come with a risk of facial trauma.

“Make sure you invest in a good mouth guard and wear it,” advises the dental implants specialist in Rutherford. “If your friends laugh at you, tell them to Google mouth sports injuries… that’ll zip their lips.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

If you like your current pearly whites and want to avoid needing new teeth later on in life, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series to find out more of the bad habits and behaviors you should be avoiding!

Want New Teeth Implants? Here’s Some Terminology You Might Like to Know, PART 4

This four-part article series explains the meaning to some rudimentary dental implant terminology that patients might come across on their journey to getting new teeth.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on some rudimentary terminology you might like to know if you’re thinking of having new teeth implants placed. In our previous article installment, the third part of the series, we reviewed some important terms pertaining to full mouth reconstruction, including bone grafting, which is a procedure that is done to augment and encourage the growth of new and healthy bone tissue in the jaw so that dental implants can be placed. We also provided a brief description of the All-on-4 dental implant protocol and osseointegration, the process whereby bone tissue forms a strong biological bond with the titanium surface of an implant.

In this article, the final installment of our four-part series, we’ll provide a brief explanation of tooth anatomy before discussing the various oral conditions that cause tooth loss and Cone Beam Computed Tomography, an indispensible diagnostic tool used by the oral specialists that offer patients new teeth with dental implants.

Dental Terminology You Might Like to Know!

The Anatomy of a Tooth: Your teeth consist of a hard outer coating of dental enamel, which protects the delicate insides from infection and contamination by bacteria. Beneath the enamel is a slightly softer and more porous substance called dentin. Within the heart of the tooth resides the pulp chamber, within which lie all the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels (called the pulp). This chamber narrows at the base of the tooth into the thin canals that run the length of the roots (root canals).

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CT): CBCT is a diagnostic imaging tool that emits a cone-shaped beam of X-ray radiation. The resultant images are translated into digital data by the machine and this is fed into a computer software program. The oral specialists who use CBCT can use this software to view a highly detailed and accurate 3-D picture of their patient’s dentition, tooth orientation and jawbone structure (see image below). This, in turn, enables them to plan dental implant surgery before the patient has even come in for the procedure. By determining the best possible sites for dental implant placement prior to surgery, oral surgeons can reduce risks, complications and the chance of implant failure. Cone Beam CT also decreases the degree of invasiveness, thus decreasing recovery time and patient discomfort.

Periodontal (Gum) Disease: An advanced oral bacterial infection of the gums surrounding the teeth. Periodontal disease, or periodontitis, is the advanced stage of gingivitis and is marked by gum inflammation and recession, chronic bad breath, oral lesions, tooth discoloration and tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in the United States. Risk factors for this condition include smoking, heavy drinking, poor oral hygiene and illnesses such as diabetes, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Edentulism: The state of not having a single original adult tooth left. There are currently an estimated 38 million edentulous people living in the United States. These people desperately need new teeth, yet instead of opting for a sophisticated teeth replacement solution like the All-on-4, they instead tend to wear removable dentures.

Plaque: A whitish sticky substance that can be scraped off the teeth with a fingernail. Under the microscope, plaque is revealed to be millions upon millions of bacterium. There are over 700 different kinds of bacteria in plaque!

Tartar: Hardened deposits of plaque, which offer bacteria an excellent hiding place away from the roving bristles of your toothbrush. Tartar causes tooth decay and tooth loss... and it can only be removed by a dental healthcare professional, which is why it’s so important to visit your oral hygienist twice a year!

Want to Get New Teeth? Here’s Some Terminology You Might Like to Know, PART 3

This four-part article series explains the meaning of some rudimentary dental implant terminology that patients might come across on their journey to getting new teeth.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the rudimentary terminology you might like to know if you are looking into getting new teeth in one day. In our previous article installment, part two of the series, we provided definitions for two conventional teeth replacement technologies: non-implant supported bridges and removable dentures. We then went on to explain the dangers often associated with these technologies, which only replace the visible portion of missing teeth - alveolar atrophy. Let’s now take a look at bone grafting and a sophisticated dental implant procedure that can be used to give patients presenting with advanced jaw bone loss new teeth in as little as a single day!

Dental Terminology You Might Like to Know!

Bone Grafting: “Bone grafting” is procedure whereby bone tissue is acquired from another part of the body (or another source) and used to augment the jaw in site/s of depleted bone volume. As it was discussed in Part 2 of this article series, bone loss is generally a result of tooth loss and alveolar atrophy. In the context of oral and maxillofacial surgery, bone grafting is done to augment and encourage the growth of new and healthy bone tissue in the jaw so that dental implants can be placed. Bone grafting is an invasive procedure and is therefore can be quite traumatic and painful for patients to go through. It is also expensive and usually requires many months of healing before the jawbone is strong enough to accept implants.

The “All-on-4": The All-on-4 is a revolutionary dental implant technique that was first introduced to the market in the early 1990’s. Since it’s innovation by European implantologist, Dr. Paulo Malo, it has enjoyed tremendous success worldwide due to its ability to provide patients suffering with failing dentition (or who have lost most if not all of their original adult teeth) with a brand new set of fixed teeth in as little as a single day, with a single surgery. This treatment time goes without precedent: Traditional dental implant procedures and techniques could require as many as 18 months to give patients new teeth.

This All-on-4 protocol consists of the strategic placement and angulation of four dental implants in regions of the jawbone that are more resistant to the atrophy caused by tooth loss (see image above). Through the careful planning of implant sites, oral specialists are almost always able to find enough support for a customized, non-removable (fixed) prosthetic dental bridge, without the need for bone grafting first. This saves patients in need of new teeth the trauma and expense of undergoing such a procedure, while also saving them the many months that would otherwise be spent in recovery.

For these reasons and many more, the All-on-4 is considered a “breakthrough” in the fields of dental implantology and fixed oral rehabilitation.

Osseointegration: The process whereby bone tissue biologically bonds or fuses with the surface of an implant. Titanium is completely biocompatible, so the body typically does not reject the implant. Rather, the bone cells attach themselves to its surface and new bone grows around the implant.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To learn more about dental implants and oral health terminology, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Need New Teeth? Here’s Some Terminology You Might Like to Know, PART 2

This four-part article series explains the meaning to some rudimentary dental implant terminology that patients might come across on their journey to getting new teeth.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on some rudimentary terminology you might like to know if you’re in need of new teeth in one day! In our previous article installment, the first of the series, we opened with a look at some of the most important concepts to become familiar with:

Dental implants are tiny titanium screws that are placed in the jawbone and are used to support a replacement tooth, which can either be a dental crown (in the case of a single tooth replacement) or a fixed bridge (as in the case of full arch restoration). An abutment or “collar” is the component that attaches the visible replacement tooth to the dental implant.

Let’s continue with a definition of some of the older, more conventional teeth replacement technologies that are still available today...

Dental Terminology You Might Like to Know!

Removable Dentures: Removable dentures (see image above), commonly known as “false teeth”, are the conventional teeth replacement option for patients who are in need of new teeth. They resemble a complete set of teeth and gums, but are far bulkier than fixed bridges because they rely on their mass and the support of the gums and oral structures to keep them stabilized in the mouth. Without anything “permanent” holding dentures in place - like dental implants - removable dentures are free to move around and, in extreme cases, can even fall out. They can often be uncomfortable and insecure, as well as needing to be removed for cleaning and at nighttime.

Removable dentures only replace the visible portion of the missing teeth, the crowns, and not the roots. This facilitates the bone that formerly surrounded the tooth roots to atrophy and waste away (see atrophy below).

Non-Implant Supported Dental Bridge: The conventional approach to replacing one or two adjacent missing teeth is to file down the neighboring healthy teeth and use them to support a “bridge” or linked series of replacement dental crowns as is shown in the picture below.

The two adjacent teeth are “prepared” in order to support the middle crown, which is one of the reasons dental implants are considered a more advantageous solution to missing teeth (they don’t require the involvement of adjacent healthy teeth). While non-implant supported crowns offer aesthetic solutions, they do not replace the root of the missing tooth and, similarly to removable dentures, this can lead to atrophy of the underlying jawbone.

Alveolar Atrophy: The alveolus is the part of the jawbone that houses the teeth. When teeth are lost, this bone typically disappears as it becomes resorbed by the jaw. Similar to the muscles in your body, bone tissue requires stimulation or “exercise” to stay healthy. The tooth roots are responsible for keeping the jawbone stimulated and they do this by transmitting the forces associated with eating (grinding, chewing and incising) into the underlying bone tissue. When the roots of the teeth are lost, so too is this stimulation and as a result, the bone that formerly encased the tooth roots (the alveolus) atrophies and disappears.

The result of bone loss has a widespread impact upon one’s oral health: it often upsets the stability of the neighboring teeth and can even cause further tooth loss. Bone loss also puts a patient’s candidacy for dental implants in jeopardy, because implants, just like natural teeth, require adequate bone volume in order to remain rooted in the jaw.

Replacing missing teeth with conventional technologies, such as traditional bridges and removable dentures, is ineffective in preventing alveolar atrophy because they only replace the visible tooth structure and not the roots. This is why dentures need replacing every few years or so - because they fail to fit the changing shape of the jawbone. This is also why dental healthcare specialists recommend dental implants to patients in need of new teeth.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To learn more about dental implants and oral health terminology, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.