Month: April 2017

Your teeth are built-to-last. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be repaired or restored on occasion.

Dental fillings are a common restorative treatment when your teeth have damage caused by decay or trauma. There’s also a cosmetic benefit as well…if you select the appropriate dental filling.

Tooth-colored dental fillings provide you a more natural looking solution when you need to have a tooth filled. The materials used are designed to match the natural shade of your teeth.

The “price” of silver

Silver (amalgam) fillings have been popular for years. There were some advantages but more disadvantages have evolved including being more noticeable.

Amalgam fillings are also known to darken over time. Plus they can “leak” or require more of your tooth structure to be removed during placement.

The natural (looking) choice

Tooth-colored dental fillings improve your tooth restoration results. Your treatment need will determine the specific type of material that’s used to create the filling.

Composite resin is a top choice. The material used to craft your filling is designed to have a consistent white shade.

Porcelain is also a popular tooth-colored option. Porcelain based fillings are often used for larger fillings such as inlays and onlays and is also used for many dental crowns.

It’s important to know that you have options when you need to have a dental filling. Tooth-colored fillings can require a bit more time to prepare but the advantages are worth it.

Contact your Roswell dentist about your tooth damage or tooth decay. Schedule an oral examination to discuss your treatment options including tooth-colored dental fillings.

No doubt you would consider your wardrobe an essential when you’re planning for an event. Weddings, class reunions, and more are among the moments you want to look your best.

What about dentistry? And more specifically, cosmetic dentistry?

More than eye appeal

Let’s start with your oral health. There’s more to cosmetic dental treatment than appearance enhancements.

Some cosmetic procedures are not necessarily visible. Remember that healthy teeth and gums translates to a healthy, attractive smile.

For starters, cosmetic dentistry includes a few health enhancing treatments.

Tooth colored fillings can replace old, ineffective silver (amalgam) fillings and match your surrounding teeth.

Dental inlays and onlays are used to replace large, visible dental fillings with a natural looking porcelain material.

Enhance your smile

Teeth whitening is a go-to smile enhancement. The professional, in-office procedure is fast and can whiten your teeth up to 10 shades brighter in a single appointment.

Dental bonding improves the surface appearance of your teeth and helps prevent cavities and tooth decay. This treatment is an effective alternative to porcelain veneers for restoring your teeth that are cracked, chipped, or have gaps.

Consider these and more cosmetic dentistry procedures as you prepare for your upcoming social events. More important, are the health benefits that support your smile appearance.

Contact your Roswell dentist about cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an oral examination to discuss the treatment solutions that can restore you dental health and enhance your smile.

Sometimes it helps to know you’re not alone. If dental anxiety is causing you to delay treatment you’re among the 15 percent of Americans who do the same.

Dental anxiety is more than procrastination about a dental appointment. It’s a legitimate and potentially paralyzing fear of a procedure or even interacting with your dentist.

What you’re facing

Not all anxiety or fear is the result of genetics. It could be more the result of a conditioned response due to a bad experience or the knowledge of one.

Your dental fear can also be caused by a painful or negative experience during a dental appointment, the feeling of helplessness during a procedure, embarrassment about the condition of your teeth and gums, or fear associated with neglecting your oral health.

The other side of dental anxiety

There’s a downside beyond the anxiety you feel. You put your dental health at risk when you delay or avoid recommended treatment.

Tooth decay, dental cavities, bad breath, oral infection, oral disease, and the need for additional and potentially costly dental treatment can result from avoiding treatment due to anxiety.

The functional affect can include an impact on your tooth function such as chewing and eating, your smile appearance, your speech, and tooth loss.

Solutions that help

Your Roswell dentist provides a few solutions to assist with your dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry with oral sedation and/or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) helps you relax and experience a more comfortable procedure.

Laser dentistry eliminates the need for a dental drill for certain treatments. The use of lasers is a safe and virtually pain free technique for treatment that might otherwise require a surgical procedure including a lengthy recovery period.

Other solutions can include the use of your personal media device (iPod, etc.) during your procedure to help you relax.

Dental anxiety is real. It’s important to communicate any fear or concerns you have about your dental appointment or procedure.

Contact our Roswell dental office about any apprehension you feel about your next dental appointment. Discuss our solutions for helping you experience anxiety free dentistry.

Facts are facts. Data that supports your health is worth listening to.

Oral cancer awareness provides you a statistically solid reason to trust the facts. Thousands of deaths occur each year because of oral cancer according to the Oral Cancer Foundation.

Many of those deaths could be prevented!

First things first

Oral cancer CAN be prevented. Your awareness is the first vital step to understanding its impact on your mouth and general health.

Your mouth, tongue, and throat are vulnerable to oral cancer. Lifestyle decisions can be blamed for approximately 90 percent of diagnosed cases.

Tobacco and alcohol use are common causes. That said, data is now revealing that oral cancer is being diagnosed in non-tobacco users and among those who rarely or infrequently drink alcohol.

An increasing number of cases are emerging due to the human papilloma virus (HPV16). This currently ranks as the largest source of oral cancer cases.

Other causes are worth noting. Poor dental hygiene, diet, and over exposure to ultra-violet radiation are also to blame.

What you shouldn’t ignore

It’s vital to know the warning signs. Changes that occur in your mouth, on your tongue, or in your throat should be considered.

Pain could be present but not always. Pay attention to any sores or lesions in your mouth that do not heal after a period of two weeks or more.

Watch for these symptoms:

• White or red patches in your mouth
• A thickened area of skin or a lump in your mouth or on your tongue
• Face, neck, or mouth numbness
• The sensation that something is caught in your throat
• Bleeding in your mouth
• Persistent sore throat

Your best solution

Awareness is supported by staying current with your dental examinations and teeth cleanings. Consistent oral check-ups can make you aware of any abnormalities in your mouth, on your tongue, or in your throat.

Your best solution is an oral cancer screening. The screening is fast and painless.

An oral cancer screening is your best solution for early detection of any tissue abnormalities. Suspicious tissue will be sent for a biopsy to determine if further treatment will be necessary.

Your screening can also be included as part of your next dental examination and teeth cleaning appointment.

Contact your Roswell dentist about any abnormalities in your mouth. Schedule a dental examination and request an oral cancer screening.