Cosmetic Dentistry – It’s Not Just For Looks
Cosmetic Dentistry. It brings to mind the photos of your favorite movie star with their $1 Million smile that probably cost that much to get. What is often times missing from the doctor-patient discussion regarding cosmetic dental procedures is the health benefits of having these procedures done. You might be wondering, “How can cosmetic dentistry benefit my health?” It’s a great question, one that many dental professionals do not regularly communicate to their patients. Cosmetic procedures include teeth whitening, veneers, crowns, dental implants, and Invisalign© Invisible Braces, just to name a few. All of these procedures have benefits that can affect your oral health and total wellness.
Reshape Your Smile and Change Your Life!
A smile is a very simple thing that means a lot. It can transform the world around you and revive the lonely spirit of a person. Having crooked or misaligned teeth can have a serious impact on your confidence and your life. There are many reasons that inspire people to change and improve their smile. Are you the only one not smiling in your holiday photos? Do you feel self conscious when meeting someone new or giving a presentation at work? You are not alone, with surveys showing that a huge proportion of people in the Western world would change something about their smile if they had the chance. From aging baby boomers to brides and grooms-to-be to job seekers, patients are getting the smile they’ve always wanted. New research has shown more than half of brides-to-be and about 40% of grooms-to-be consider cosmetic dentistry. About 60% of women have considered teeth whitening and 75% of men have considered porcelain veneers.
Can What’s In Your Mouth Really Make You Sick?
For years we have heard of the ever-growing connections between dentistry and medicine, with articles written in medical and dental journals as well as in scientific authorities such as Reader’s Digest or Ladies Home Journal. For decades dentists have looked at the increasing body of evidence that what we are doing in the mouth can affect the rest of the body. The mountain of evidence that supports the oral health-overall health connection has seen incredible growth and advancement over the past few years. There is no longer a question as to “if” the soft tissues in the mouth are connected to the rest of the body. For example, we can easily find evidence of gum disease-causing bacteria creating challenges in tissues throughout the body. However, the mouth-body connection is not limited to just infections in the soft tissues of the mouth. The impact of the mouth also extends to such monumental things as blood flow to the brain.
Having Trouble Thinking? You Might Want to See the Dentist
Throughout the years research has shown links between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer's disease. Now researchers from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York have found gum disease could also influence brain function through several mechanisms, such as causing inflammation throughout the body, a risk factor for loss of mental function. This study is another of many that have shown the importance of maintaining your optimal oral health. Your mouth and oral health are connected to more than just chewing and eating. Taking care of the health of your teeth and gums through regular visits for hygiene therapy will not only improve your oral health, but it will affect your overall health and wellness as well. Call us today to reserve your time to shape up your teeth and gums.
Have You Been Screened for Oral Cancer Lately?
Did you know that every time you visit our office for your routine hygiene therapy appointment you are screened for oral cancer? Screening for the early warning signs of oral cancer is one of the most important reasons why you should visit our office on a regular basis. More than 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. This is a number which has not significantly improved in decades. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall have decreased, both the incidence and the death rate for oral cancer have increased. Early detection and diagnosis are essential in successful treatment of the disease. Oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages.
Do You Know Your Risk Score for Periodontal (Gum) Disease?
There are many tests that help doctors predict our risk of developing certain diseases. We routinely get our blood pressure taken to assess our risk of hypertension. A blood pressure of higher than 120/80 is considered high risk and in need of treatment. We get our cholesterol checked to assess our risk of heart disease. [...]
A Child’s Poor Oral Health Can Take a Bite Out of Learning
Dental caries (tooth decay) is the single most common chronic childhood disease – 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Recent studies have also shown a link between oral disease and low birth weight, cardiovascular disease, respiratory infection, and diabetes. All of this reinforces what we have all [...]
Why Your Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait
It seems that everyone you talk to these days has been affected by tough economic conditions. Do you know anyone who isn’t trying to save money by cutting back on discretionary purchases that they may have taken for granted just a few months ago? However, there are some things that should always remain on the “must have” list unless your financial situation is critical. One such example is oral healthcare for you and your family. To be completely frank, your Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait! Unfortunately, many people still believe that the only time they really need to see a dentist is when they feel pain. Ouch! That hurts us because, as caring dental professionals, we’re primarily focused on disease and pain prevention when our patients allow us to do so.