Having a beautiful smile can make you look great and feel more confident. With dentistry, your dentist can remove flaws and revive your smile. Many people have mistaken ideas about dentistry. To have the most up-to-date information about your options, learn the facts:
• Cosmetic dentistry costs lots of money.
Not true. Just as automobiles come in different styles and prices, dentistry isn’t one size fits all. Your dentist can work with you to create a smile enhancement plan that fits your personality and budget. Options like teeth whitening and bonding are less expensive than porcelain veneers, for example.
• Cosmetic dentistry is for aesthetics only.
Wrong again. While the goal of updating your smile is to give you a gorgeous appearance, dentistry can also benefit your oral health. Replacing old metal fillings with tooth-colored fillings can strengthen the tooth and make your smile look better. Straightening teeth not only creates a flawless image but it makes brushing and flossing more efficient.
• Any dentist can perform dentistry.
Although many dentists claim to have skills in dentistry, make sure you get referrals and see examples of finished cases before you settle on a dentist to perform cosmetic work.
• Over-the-counter whitening works as well as professional options.
Not so. The drugstore whitening kits may lighten stains some but they don’t contain high enough concentrations of a bleaching agent to significantly brighten your smile. For a brilliant, white smile, talk with your dentist about professional teeth whitening either in the office or with take-home trays.
• Metal braces are the only way to have a straight smile.
Actually, thanks to modern advances in orthodontics, you can achieve a perfect smile without the discomfort and embarrassment of traditional braces. Invisalign clear braces, ceramic brackets, and lingual braces enable image-conscious adults to straighten teeth and maintain their dignity.
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When you develop decay, the dentist must remove the damaged area and repair your teeth. Usually, your dentist will use a dental filling for the restoration. Two types of dental fillings exist. Talk with your dentist about the pros and cons of each. The following information with give you an overview of your filling options:
Amalgam Fillings
For years, dentists have used amalgam metal fillings to repair teeth damaged by cavities. These fillings aren’t as expensive as composites, and they offer durability, especially for back teeth. Amalgam fillings do contain mercury, and questions have arisen about whether these fillings can contribute to overexposure to mercury, which can cause health concerns. As well, amalgam fillings darken with time, which can detract from your smile’s appearance. If they crack or leak, which can happen due to wear, more decay can develop in and around the compromised filling.
Composite Fillings
At one time, composite fillings were used just for patients who were concerned about how the metal feelings might impact their smiles. Recently, the mercury in amalgam fillings has come under fire for potential health concern. Now, tooth-colored fillings are becoming the accepted standard.
Designed to blend in with your natural tooth coloring, composite fillings offer other benefits as well. With composite fillings, your dentist can leave more of the healthy tooth structure in tact, allowing for more conservative repairs. Because tooth-colored fillings bond to the tooth, they won’t leak or change shape over time. Many patients have opted to start replacing their metal fillings with these tooth-colored alternatives.
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When a woman is pregnant, her body experiences many changes. Feet swell, food cravings occur, and her stomach expands to make room for the growing baby. A woman’s health is also impacted by pregnancy, so it’s important to take care of your teeth.
While X-rays or cosmetic procedures should be avoided, you should schedule a routine check up. Most doctors recommend making this appointment during your second trimester. A professional cleaning and exam will help keep your mouth in top health.
With pregnancy, the excess hormone levels make your teeth and gums more susceptible to bacteria and plaque build up. Many women develop pregnancy gingivitis because of the extra bacteria in the mouth. Signs include swollen or bleeding gums, space between teeth, and bad breath. If you experience these symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
Left untreated, pregnancy gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease (gum disease). Although gum disease is a concern for everyone, it can cause serious issues for pregnant women. Research has linked periodontal disease to pre-term labor and low-birth weight in women who don’t receive treatment for the condition. Additionally, gum disease can wreak havoc on your mouth, causing bone degeneration and tooth loss.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy, follow these tips:
• Remember to brush twice a day and floss regularly
• Eat a balanced diet
• If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth after vomiting
• Contact your dentist if you experience any problems
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Millions of people don’t get the dental care they need because of fear or anxiety. Not only can this decision impact your self-esteem, but it can also lead to oral health problems. Without proper care, you can develop cavities, gum disease, and other issues. Sedation dentistry can enable nervous patients to feel relaxed and at ease during dental visits.
You may want to consider sedation dentistry if you:
• Dislike needles
• Don’t like the sounds and smells of the dental office
• Feel anxious about dental appointments
• Have a strong gag reflex
• Need extensive restoration work
Thanks to modern advances, sedation dentistry offers patients several choices for comfort during dental treatment. These options include:
• Nitrous Oxide Gas
Also called laughing gas, nitrous oxide allows patients to feel totally relaxed. The gas is inhaled through a mask that rests over your nose and the effects of nitrous oxide only last as long as you breathe in the vapors.
• Oral Conscious Sedation
With oral sedation, patients take a dose of anti-anxiety medication, in the form of a pill, before treatment. Patients will enter a state of complete peacefulness. Most people have little memory of their time in the chair.
With all sedation options, you must plan to have another responsible adult to drive you to and from your dental appointment.
You can relax while under the care of our dental team at Dr. Yolanda Cruz Dentistry – Sedation Dentistry
Many people can benefit from orthodontic treatment. Straightening your teeth can not only improve your smile, but it can correct bite issues and make your teeth easier to care for on a daily basis. Often, would-be patients feel reluctant to pursue treatment because of their negative feelings about traditional orthodontia.
If the idea of a metal mouth doesn’t appeal to you, consider other options, like ceramic braces. This orthodontic option is more discreet and can correct alignment and improve your smile without the stigma of traditional metal braces. Created from a ceramic material, the brackets on these braces are designed to blend in with your natural tooth color. Although the arch wire is visible, this small line is much less noticeable than a complete set of metal braces. Ceramic braces are constructed so that they don’t stain or discolor over time, which adds to their appeal.
Another option for straightening teeth is Invisalign clear aligners. Invisalign aligners are a series of clear acrylic custom fitted trays that fit over your teeth. The purpose of these aligners are to gently move teeth into the right position. Your dentist will instruct you to wear each set of aligners for a designated time period, and then move on to the next set. For most patients, in just 12 to 18 months, you can enjoy a straight, attractive smile!
Come in for an orthodontic consultation at Dr. Yolanda Cruz Dentistry in Toronto Canada – it’s time that you had the smile you’ve always wanted.
Most of the time, dental care involves brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits. If you do have issues, your dentist can usually treat them with fillings or crowns. In some cases, you may need oral surgery to address certain problems. Though the idea of surgery on your mouth may seem overwhelming, your dentist will explain the procedure in detail and answer any questions so that you feel comfortable about your treatment.
Common dental surgeries include:
Tooth Extractions
Occasionally, your dentist may need to pull a single tooth. This procedure will likely occur with local anesthesia and involves minimal recovery. When wisdom teeth come in, they are often impacted and must be surgically extracted. Your doctor must make an incision below the gum line and may have to use a drill to remove the teeth. Usually, this type of surgery requires general anesthesia.
Dental Implant Placement
If you have lost a tooth and have decided to replace it with a dental implant, the first step in the process is surgical placement of the metal post, which serves as an artificial tooth root for the prosthetic replacement. With implant surgery, the post is set below the gum line.
Gum Grafts
To repair receding gums, you may need a gum graft. In this situation, tissue is usually taken from the roof of your mouth and carefully placed over the area where the gums are receding. Then, your dentist will suture the tissue in to position.
Root Canal Therapy
When a tooth sustains severe trauma or damage, the pulp, or soft center, may die, causing pressure and infection to build up inside the tooth. To save the tooth, your dentist will perform a root canal. During the procedure, the doctor will remove the diseased tissue, clean out the tooth area, and seal the tooth chamber to prevent future problems.
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