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Medications

Some dental procedures, such as tooth extractions and oral surgery, may call for our office to prescribe medications before or after a procedure. These medications are used to prevent or fight an infection, or to relieve any post-operative discomfort and pain. For these reasons, it is extremely important that you share your entire medical history – including any medications you
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Missing Teeth

Fixed bridges and implants are often used to replace missing teeth and to correct some kinds of bite problems. Crowns and bridges are the most effective procedure for replacing missing teeth or bite problems.
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Mouth Guards

Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. Sports like basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball all pose risks to your gum tissues, as well as your teeth. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in
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Mouth Rinses

Mouth rinses can have therapeutic benefits; others are only cosmetic in nature. Some have both attributes. The Food and Drug Administration even classifies mouth rinses this way. In general, some therapeutic rinses with fluoride have been shown to actually fight cavities, plaque and gingivitis formation. On the other hand, cosmetic rinses merely treat breath odor, reduce bacteria and/or remove food
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Nutrition and Your Teeth

It has long been known that good nutrition and a well-balanced diet is one of the best defenses for your oral health. Providing your body with the right amounts of vitamins and minerals helps your teeth and gums—as well as your immune system—stay strong and ward off infection, decay and disease. Harmful acids and bacteria in your mouth are left
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Old and Unsightly Fillings

Newer kinds of fillings made from composite resins and porcelain can restore unsightly fillings; many people are surprised how natural these kinds of filling materials can make a tooth once covered by the old-fashioned silver amalgams.
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Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers today and has one of the lowest survival rates, with thousands of new cases being reported each year. Fewer than half of all people diagnosed with oral cancer are ever cured. Moreover, people with many forms of cancer can develop complications—some of them chronic and painful—from their cancer treatment.  These include
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Oral Health Products

Visit any pharmacy or the health and beauty section of a supermarket today, and you are faced with a large, and many say confusing, array of over-the-counter remedies and devices designed to help you tend to your hygiene and health-care needs. There are many high-quality products on the market today. There also are many products of dubious value. Whatever over-the-counter
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Oral Piercing

Oral piercings (usually in the tongue or around the lips) have quickly become a popular trend in today’s society.  With this popular trend, it is important to realize that sometimes even precautions taken during the installation of the piercing jewelry are not enough to stave off harmful, long-term consequences such as cracked or chipped teeth, swelling, problems with swallowing and
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Orthodontics Overview

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with properly aligning teeth and jaws to improve facial structure (and your child’s smile), as well as overall oral health. Orthodontic treatment will help your child by: An orthodontic problem is called a malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Some examples of causes of malocclusion include crowded teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth or misaligned
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Overview

Pain can occur in any number of places in your mouth: teeth, gums, roots, the palate, tongue and jaw. Cavities are a common culprit causing pain. Untreated cavities can impact nerves because of infections of the tooth and gums. Impacted and abscessed teeth and sore jaws from teeth grinding are other common causes of pain. Improper bite relationships and jaw
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Overview and General Tips

Proper dental care begins at birth. There are many things you can do to help ensure that your child’s teeth and gums start and remain healthy. From proper oral hygiene habits (it’s never too early) to eating healthy foods, you can play an important part in laying the groundwork for your child’s oral health and overall appearance later in life.
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Pacifiers and Thumb and Finger Sucking

In general, I would discourage thumb sucking or pacifiers after the age of 4 because they may lead to overcrowded and crooked teeth, as well as bite problems. In some cases, the upper front teeth may tip toward the lip or not come in properly if thumb, finger, or pacifier sucking continues after the age of 4. From six months
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Permanent Teeth

The first permanent molars (which are not preceded by primary teeth) begin erupting around the age of 6. Extra care should be given to this first set of molars; they have a significant impact on the structure and position of future erupting teeth and, consequently, the shape of your child’s lower face in later years. Throughout your child’s formative years
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Plaque

Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and gums after eating foods that produce acids. These foods may include carbohydrates (starches and sugars), such as candy and cookies, and starchy foods such as bread, crackers, and cereal. Tooth decay, commonly known as cavities, occurs when plaque remains on your teeth for an extended period of time,
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Preventing Cavities

Saliva is your body’s best mechanism for fighting the destructive forces of acids formed by plaque. Saliva acts as a buffer and re-mineralizing agent. Sugarless gum is one way to stimulate the flow of saliva in your mouth in between brushings. The best way to prevent cavities, however, is to brush and floss your child’s teeth twice daily. (Use a
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Prevention Tips for Children

Infants Infants should be seen by our office after the first six months of age, and at least by the child’s first birthday. By this time, the baby’s first teeth, or primary teeth, are beginning to erupt and it is a critical time to spot any problems before they become big concerns. Conditions like gum irritation and thumb-sucking could create
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Primary Teeth

Teeth are a wonderfully complex part of the human body. It is easy for most of us to overlook all of the ways that our teeth have an impact upon our daily lives from birth to old age – from affecting the overall look of our face and enjoying foods, to the important role they play in helping to prevent
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Problems with Braces and Retainers

If a wire is causing irritation, cover the end with a small cotton ball, beeswax or a piece of gauze until you can get to the dentist. If a wire gets stuck in the cheek, tongue or gum tissue, do not attempt to remove it. Contact our office. If an appliance becomes loose or a piece of it breaks off,
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Ridge Augmentation

If you lose one or more permanent teeth, an indentation may result in the gums and jawbone where the tooth used to be. When no longer holding a tooth in place, the jawbone recedes and the resulting indentation looks unnatural. Ridge augmentation is a procedure that can recapture the natural contour of the gums and jaw. A new tooth can
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Root Canal

Root canals are rarely needed in children. However, there are instances when a root canal becomes necessary in an older child. Before root canal therapy came into practice, if your child had a tooth with a diseased nerve, she’d probably lose that tooth. Underneath each tooth’s outer enamel is an area of soft tissue called the pulp, which carries the
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Root Canal Therapy

Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root. All teeth have between one and four root canals. Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the inner chamber of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves and
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Scaling and Root Planing

Some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that do not respond to more conventional treatment and self-care such as flossing may require a special kind of cleaning called scaling and root planing. The procedure begins with administration of a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small instrument called a “scaler,” or an ultrasonic cleaner, is used to clean
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Sealants

Sealants are liquid coatings that harden on the chewing surfaces of teeth and are showing a great deal of effectiveness in preventing cavities—even on teeth where decay has begun. The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses these intricate structures on the chewing surfaces of your teeth. The sealants are
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Sealants

Technology today has produced sealants, which work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years. Sealants are particularly effective in children, and may help them from developing cavities
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Sealants

The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses some of these intricate structures on the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Enter sealants, which are thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces designed to prevent the intrusion of bacteria and other debris into the deep crevices on the tops of your
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Semi Annual Check-ups

We recommend that you bring your baby to see me by his or her first birthday; this is generally when the first tooth comes in. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future. It is especially important that children have semi-annual checkups. The reasons are simple: Changes are occurring in the child’s mouth
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Seniors and Oral Health

More and more people are avoiding the need for dentures as they grow older, going against the notion that false teeth are a normal part of growing older. In fact, there’s usually no reason for you NOT to keep your teeth your entire life, providing you maintain a healthy balanced diet and practice good oral hygiene. Another desirable side effect
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Sensitive Teeth

If you wince with pain after sipping a hot cup of coffee or chewing a piece of ice, chances are that you suffer from “dentin hypersensitivity,” or more commonly, sensitive teeth. Hot and cold temperature changes cause your teeth to expand and contract. Over time, your teeth can develop microscopic cracks that allow these sensations to seep through to the
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Sore Gums/Teething

When babies are teething, usually between the ages of four months and 2.5 years, they often have sore and tender gums. The pain usually can be soothed by gently rubbing the baby’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze. A clean teething ring for the baby to chew on also may be helpful.
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Sports Injuries

What do the following have in common? They all are things that could easily come into contact with your child’s mouth when participating in sports. And they all have the potential for damaging or knocking out teeth, or fracturing or dislocating a jaw. High-risk activities include “contact” sports, such as football, boxing, martial arts (including karate and kick-boxing) and hockey,
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Techniques

Since everyone’s teeth are different, see us first before choosing a brushing technique. Here are some popular techniques that work:
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Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is often viewed as a harmless, though annoying, habit. Some people develop bruxism from an inability to deal with stress or anxiety. However, teeth grinding can literally transform your bite relationship and worse, severely damage your teeth and jaws over long periods of time. Teeth grinding can cause abrasion to the chewing surfaces of your
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Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Teeth grinding (also called bruxism) is often viewed as a harmless, though annoying habit. Some people develop bruxism from an inability to deal with stress or anxiety. However, teeth grinding can literally transform your bite relationship and worse, severely damage your teeth and jaws over long periods of time. Teeth grinding can cause abrasion to the chewing surfaces of your
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Teeth Whitening

There are two types of tooth stains – intrinsic (internal stain) and extrinsic (external stain). Intrinsic stains occur from within the tooth, and cannot be removed by brushing and flossing; bleaching may also not be effective. Some causes of intrinsic staining occur from tooth injury, certain medications such as tetracycline, or an excess fluoride ingested during the formation of teeth.
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Teeth Whitening

Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco. Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth’s enamel by a certain protein. Products
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The Preventive Program

Both natural teeth and teeth with restorations survive best in an oral environment that is clean and where the intake of harmful foods is controlled. Our program is designed to help prevent new cavities, preserve teeth that have been restored and manage periodontal disease. At the initial visit oral hygiene instructions are reviewed and are reinforced at subsequent recall visits.
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Tobacco

Dentistry health care that works: tobacco The American Dental Association has long been a leader in the battle against tobacco-related disease, working to educate the public about the dangers inherent in tobacco use and encouraging dentists to help their patients break the cycle of addiction. The Association has continually strengthened and updated its tobacco policies as new scientific information has
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Toothaches

Simple toothaches can often be relieved by rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth. Avoid placing an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving aspirin can actually harm your gum tissue.
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Toothbrush Selection

Toothbrushes today come in about as many sizes and shapes as one can imagine. There are angled heads, raised bristles, oscillating tufts and handles that change colors with use. While makers of toothbrushes make a lot of claims, there isn’t any evidence that any one type of toothbrush design is better at removing plaque than another. The most important thing
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Trapped Debris/Objects Between Teeth

Try gently removing the debris with dental floss. Be careful not to cut your child’s gums. Never use a sharp instrument, such as a needle or pin, to remove any object that is stuck between teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact our office.
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Types of Floss

Dental floss comes in a variety of colors, materials and even flavors. Waxed varieties slide through the teeth, allowing people with extremely tight spaces to floss more easily. Popular flavors of floss include wintergreen and cinnamon. Waxed floss does tend to fray more than unwaxed floss. A type of material called dental tape can be effective for people with large
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Veneers

Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or
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Water Picks

There is never a suitable substitute for daily brushing and flossing. While some products, including water irrigation devices (or “water picks”), may be useful for specific applications, they may not be as effective as traditional flossing in the removal of plaque. Water picks use powerful tiny bursts of water to blast away food particles and other debris in hard-to-reach areas
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What is Plaque?

Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and gums after eating foods that produce acids. These foods may include carbohydrates (starches and sugars), such as candy and cookies, and starchy foods such as bread, crackers, and cereal. Tooth decay leads to cavities and occurs when plaque remains on your teeth for an extended period of time,
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What is Tooth Decay?

Plaque is an insidious substance—a colorless, sticky film—that blankets your teeth and creates an environment in which bacteria erode tooth enamel, cause gum irritation, infection in inner structures such as pulp and the roots, and in extreme cases, tooth loss. Some of the biggest culprits causing plaque are foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates, including soda beverages, some juices, candy
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Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, typically begin to develop in early adolescence, and may attempt to erupt into the mouth around the ages of 17 to 20. Wisdom teeth are sometimes removed after the roots are somewhat developed, or at least three-fourths developed. This is usually in the adolescent years. In many cases, wisdom teeth do not grow in properly,
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Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that erupt in the back corners of the upper and lower normal adult mouth. Unfortunately, most people experience problems from wisdom teeth; in most cases, this is because the teeth erupt too close to existing permanent teeth, causing crowding, improper bites, and other problems. If wisdom teeth are causing a
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Women and Tooth Care

Women have special needs when it comes to their oral health. That’s because the physical changes they undergo through life—menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, breast-feeding and menopause—cause many changes in the body, some harmful to teeth and gums. Lesions and ulcers, dry sockets, as well as swollen gums, can sometimes occur during surges in a woman’s hormone levels. These periods would
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X-Rays

In addition to spotting cavities early, X-rays are used to examine erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. In general, children need X-rays more often than adults because their mouths grow and change rapidly. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends X-ray examinations every six months for children with a high risk of tooth decay. Children
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X-Rays

When X-rays pass through your mouth during a dental exam, more X-rays are absorbed by the denser parts (such as teeth and bone) than by soft tissues (such as cheeks and gums) before striking the film. This creates an image on the radiograph. Teeth appear lighter because fewer X-rays penetrate to reach the film. Cavities and gum disease appear darker
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Your Child’s First Dental Visit

Your child’s first visit to the dental office should be around his or her first birthday, but could be as early as you’d like (as soon as the first tooth erupts or even sooner). Many children get scared or express apprehension when they know they are going to the dentist for the first time. All the more reason to start
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Your First Dental Visit

Your first dental visit promises to be a pleasant experience.Making sound decisions about your dental care and oral health is an easy thing to do with the right preparation beforehand:
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Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Patient

Patient Rights (Adopted by the American Dental Association in 2009) Your Responsibilities as a Patient (Adopted by the American Dental Association in 2009) American Dental Association Leads Fight for Patient Rights The American Dental Association has supported legislation that will set a few basic rules to promote high-quality care and protect patients in an increasingly bottom line-driven health care system.
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