Our Blog

Today we thought we would remind our patients to practice good oral hygiene to keep those pearly whites shining and happy! This includes brushing and flossing on a regular basis, brushing after consuming foods that can stain your teeth and visiting our office every six months or as recommended.

The American Dental Association, or ADA, also recommends the following for ideal oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.

• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Tooth decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where your toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.

• Visit our office on a regular basis for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Lastly, a great reason to smile is this: smiling can actually help you live longer according to recent studies! Have you visited our office lately for a cleaning or checkup? If not, give us a call to set up an appointment! The beginning of the year is a great time for a visit!

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as we reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? Hitting the slopes? A clean slate for 2013? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food?

Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year? We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to limit the amount of sweets you eat!

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

We know dental emergencies are never convenient nor timely. If you are a patient of record, we are committed to your dental health and are happy to see you.

When your dental health is at risk, we will do everything we can to make sure that you’re treated as soon as possible. While dental emergencies are certainly rare, we know they can happen at any moment, and it’s important to know how to deal with them.

Common dental emergencies may include:

• A bitten lip or tongue
• Broken or cracked tooth/teeth
• Permanent tooth that has been knocked out
• Object caught between teeth
• Severe toothache

If you have a dental emergency after regular office hours, please give us a call.

We hope you’re all having a great holiday season!

One of the most common questions we hear is, “is there a difference between a dental implant and a dental bridge?”

Both implants and bridges are permanent, non-removable replacements for your missing tooth, or teeth. The biggest difference between an implant and a bridge is how your new teeth are held in place. While a bridge may be used to literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress in your bite, implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.

Visually, there is little difference between the two, but they both have different advantages. Bridges, which can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials are bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. A bridge can help restore your smile, as well as your ability to properly chew and speak. They can also maintain the shape of your face and prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position. If you can replace a missing tooth or teeth with a bridge, the major advantage is that your solution is immediate because you do not need surgery to successfully complete this procedure.

There are many benefits to dental implants as well, but the biggest advantage of an implant is that you do not use the neighboring teeth to support the replacement of the missing tooth. Just like bridges, they provide improved appearance, self-esteem, comfort, speech and oral health, as well as the ability to eat all your favorite foods with confidence and without any pain. As for how long they last? Implants are extremely durable and with good care, can last a lifetime.

To learn more about dental implants and bridges, or to schedule an appointment to select the option that's right for you, we invite you to give us a call!