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Most of us associate wisdom teeth with adolescence because that’s when they first show up. Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that come in between ages 17 and 25. The best thing to do is to have them removed when they first show up, but many people put this off and still have their wisdom teeth as older adults. Here’s what you should know if you’re an adult and still have your wisdom teeth.
Usually any problems with your wisdom teeth are detected by examining them on an x-ray when you’re still a teenager and before they become symptomatic. However, wisdom tooth pain and problems can show up out of nowhere when you’re older if you’ve put off removal.
Wisdom teeth that are partially erupted (have only come through the gums part of the way) can create a pocket between tooth and gum where bacteria can grow. This can cause infections and cysts that can keep getting worse and even spread throughout your body.
Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that haven’t erupted at all. They are still trapped beneath the gum or bone. Impacted wisdom teeth can put pressure on neighboring molars and cause discomfort.
If you start having symptoms that may be caused by your wisdom teeth, it’s important to tell the dentist right away so we can examine you and discuss a treatment plan of your wisdom teeth need to be extracted.
Some people’s wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems for years. While this sounds like a good thing, it means that when and if the teeth do start having problems (such as mentioned above), the teeth have had more time to grow roots. These deeper roots run close to certain nerves, which can be damaged during wisdom tooth removal, potentially causing permanent numbness. Deeper tooth roots may also mean a longer recovery time. Typical recovery time is about 3 days in younger people, but may be longer with older wisdom teeth.
If you have any concerns about your wisdom teeth or have felt changes in your mouth that may be related, please talk to us sooner rather than later.
You can have a great dental hygiene routine and never miss a dental checkup and still be putting your teeth at risk for wear. Worn teeth are weaker and less able to resist the problems that cause toothaches and other kinds of urgent dental visits. Here are a few ways you can keep your teeth strong in addition to brushing, flossing and visiting us regularly!
This may sound like the kind of advice that we would give to a child, but it applies to patients of all ages! If the backs of your pens and pencils are dappled with bite marks and your fingernails are ragged stubs, it’s time to make a change. While plastic, wood or fingernails may not feel hard enough to damage teeth, chewing on these materials a lot can wear down your tooth enamel and lead to toothaches. Chewing on ice is also a big no-no. Some people say the act of chewing helps them think. If that’s the case, we suggest opting for a sugar-free gum instead.
Bruxism is a fancy dentist’s word for grinding or clenching your teeth. Many people clench or grind their teeth and don’t even know it, especially those who grind at night while they’re asleep. Considering the average human can exert about 160 pounds of force when they bite down, it’s easy to see how subjecting your teeth to this kind of relentless pressure can cause problems. Bruxism can cause toothaches, but also less obvious symptoms such as tooth sensitivity and worn tooth enamel, which makes your teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay, cracks, and chips. The dentist can check for signs of bruxism by examining your teeth and the muscles of your jaw. If you’ve been diagnosed with bruxism and have a nightguard, please wear it and prevent future problems!
Acid is a major enemy if you want strong teeth: it can eat through your teeth’s strong enamel, exposing the softer insides of your teeth and creating bigger cavities for bacteria to hide and grow in. If you’re continually bathing your teeth in acid because of what you eat and drink you may be setting yourself up for cavities and toothaches. Most people know that citrus fruits like lemons and oranges (and their juices) are highly acidic, but there are some other, sneakier foods that are also highly acidic, such as wine, soda (especially diet), pickles, cranberries and tomatoes. If you’re prone to decay, tooth sensitivity, or we’ve told you that you have weak enamel, we suggest minimizing these foods or brushing well after eating them.
Having gaps in your smile can affect your bite, your speech and your appearance. If you are missing teeth, both dental bridges and partial dentures are common options for replacing teeth. Which one is best for you depends on your oral health and your lifestyle. The dentist is best qualified to help you make this decision, but here are the basics of bridges and partial dentures as a primer.
Dental bridges are artificial teeth which are permanently attached in your mouth. We call this kind of restoration a bridge because it bridges the gap between your existing teeth. They are most often secured by being bonded or cemented to neighboring teeth. A typical bridge consists of an artificial tooth flanked by two crowns, which fit over prepared neighboring teeth. If there are no stable neighboring teeth or multiple teeth are missing, bridges are sometimes attached to dental implants. Bridges are made from gold, metal alloys, or porcelain. Which material is used depends on your preference and the dentist’s recommendation. Just to make things confusing, bridges are sometimes called “fixed partial dentures”.
Unlike bridges, partial dentures are a removable option for replacing teeth. Just like a denture that replaces an entire arch of teeth, a partial denture is removed to be cleaned and while sleeping. Another difference is that partial dentures usually include both artificial gums made from pink acrylic into which false teeth are mounted. Bridges are just the teeth. A partial denture is attached in your mouth using clasps or precision attachments that clip on to your natural teeth.
If you have several teeth in a row that are missing, the dentist is more likely to recommend a partial denture. However, if only one or two are missing, a bridge may be more appropriate. Another big factor is the dentist’s predictions about your dental health in the future. If there is a chance that you may lose more teeth, it makes less sense to attach a restoration to existing teeth. In this case, the dentist may opt for the partial denture.
While these are the basics you need to know, there are more detailed factors regarding your oral health that we may need to consider when replacing missing teeth. Any treatment we recommend will be customized to your situation and we gladly answer any questions you may have about the details of our dental bridge or partial denture treatments.
Caring for your dentures is very different from caring for your natural teeth. It’s important to know what not to do so your dentures stay looking good and serving you well. The most affordable dentures are dentures that are well cared for!
Dropping your dentures is a surprisingly easy (and common) way to damage them. When you’re handling your dentures for cleaning, try thinking of them like a delicate china teacup. We suggest standing over a water-filled sink or lining your countertop with a hand towel. That way, if you do get butterfingers, there will be cushion for your dentures when they fall.
Your dentures are made out of softer stuff than teeth (a.k.a. the hardest substance in the human body), so the products intended for teeth are too harsh for dentures. Toothpaste contains abrasives that can create micro-scratches in dentures where bacteria can hide and grow. Instead, you can use a dental cleanser or even a mild dish soap to clean your dentures.
You should also avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes (which should be banished from the Earth as far as we’re concerned). Only use a soft-bristle brush to clean your dentures, ideally a denture brush made for that purpose, but in a pinch you can use any soft-bristle or “baby” toothbrush.
Sleeping in your dentures is not recommended because it doesn’t give your gums a chance to rest. You should remove and clean your dentures before bed. Be sure to place them in a denture soaking solution or water. Dentures that dry out can crack or warp, so be sure they’re always moist. You should never put your dentures in hot water because this can cause them to warp.
Even if you have a full set of dentures, you still have to care for the rest of your mouth. Be sure to brush your gums, tongue and palate (roof of your mouth) with a soft bristle brush to remove any debris or bacteria. This will freshen breath and stimulate circulation. If you have partial dentures, remove them before brushing your natural teeth with fluoride toothpaste, paying special attention to where any metal clasps attach to your teeth.
If your dentures don’t feel like they fit right and are creating significant discomfort, don’t just ignore it or stop wearing them. Even though they’re custom-made, new dentures often require a few adjustments to get the fit just right. Going back to the dentist one or twice is normal. Your dentures will also need adjustments over the years as your mouth gets used to them and as you age. Be sure to let the dentist know at your regular checkup whether there have been any changes in how your dentures fit or feel. The dentist may re-adjust, re-line, or re-make them, depending on your situation.
We think everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin—and smile! That being said, in the age of selfies and social media, we get lots of questions about cosmetic dentistry. There’s one “Hollywood” white smile treatment that seems to breed a lot of curiosity: porcelain veneers. Here are a few basic pointers to help determine whether veneers are right for you.
When it comes to transforming your smile, there are a number of options that range in cost, permanence and complexity. Porcelain veneers fall somewhere between professional teeth whitening and dental implants. Veneers cost more than whitening, but can also solve problems that a simple whitening can’t, such as crowded, crooked, or gapped teeth. Veneers cost less than smile reconstructions that involve dental implants, and they can’t replace teeth that are missing or severely damaged (you’ll need an implant, crown or bonding for that).
Because most veneers procedures involve removing some of the natural tooth structure in order to fit a porcelain “sleeve” on top, they are irreversible. Once you get veneers, you will always have veneers and should take future maintenance (and often replacement) into account when deciding whether to get them.
While for most of us a smile makeover is a self-confidence and health decision, for some people it is also a career decision. Certain jobs require or at the very least reward a very polished and idealized physical appearance. High standards of appearance in the entertainment industry are the reason that veneers are known as a “Hollywood” smile. But there are other people for whom a great-looking smile is a career asset, such as real estate agents, politicians and even social media brand influencers. For these people, investing in their smile may be a good long-term choice.
As with any cosmetic dentistry procedure, porcelain veneers are only recommended for people with relatively great oral health. If the dentist has identified you as being at high risk for cavities or periodontitis (gum disease), the dentist may recommend that you don’t get veneers, or at least hold off on the decision until your habits and oral health are better.
There are some people whose teeth discoloration doesn’t respond well to traditional teeth whitening products, whether they’re the professional grade kind used at the dentist or the over-the-counter kind. For example, certain antibiotics can change teeth to a grayish color from the inside out, meaning that teeth whitening treatments, which are applied to the outside of the teeth, don’t have much of an effect. Someone with this type of staining can achieve the white smile of their dreams with porcelain veneers.
By the time we’re adults, most of us probably think we’ve got brushing our teeth figured out. We’ve been doing it everyday for most of our lives, after all. However, there is one part of the process that many people get wrong: they rinse their mouths after brushing!
After brushing your teeth, you should be spitting out the toothpaste, not rinsing then spitting. If the fact that you’re not supposed to rinse your mouth after brushing comes as a big shock, don’t feel bad. This is a very understandable misconception. From what we can tell, patients think of toothpaste like soap: something that aids in the removal of debris then gets washed away. But toothpaste isn’t like that for one very important cavity-preventing reason: fluoride.
Fluoride in an ingredient in toothpaste that prevents tooth decay by re-mineralizing and strengthening teeth. However, the less time the fluoride is on your teeth, the less time it has to prevent tooth decay. By rinsing with water you are limiting fluoride’s active time on your mouth to the amount of time you’ve been brushing. And given that most people don’t even brush for the full two minutes that the dentist recommends, that is not nearly enough time!
Upon hearing this prohibition of rinsing, one of the biggest questions we hear about is the dangers of swallowing toothpaste. While you should never swallow significant amounts of toothpaste, ingesting a tiny bit mixed with saliva after brushing your teeth is unlikely to do you harm (especially when compared to the risks of gum disease and tooth decay). But if you’re still very worried about it, you can rinse a little using this method: sip about a teaspoon (5 mL) of water and swish it in your mouth with the toothpaste to create a toothpaste slurry, then spit.
If the thought of having chemicals other than fluoride lingering in your mouth bothers you, you can try finding an all-natural fluoride toothpaste that has fewer ingredients. If it’s the lingering minty flavor that bothers you, there are toothpaste flavors other than mint out there, including bubblegum, watermelon and cinnamon. Just be sure they still have fluoride.
As an added bonus, not rinsing can also be better for the environment. Many of us unconsciously leave the water in the sink running as we brush our teeth, in anticipation of rinsing our mouths and the brush out at the end, wasting about 3 gallons (12 liters) of water each time. People who rinse their mouths are much more likely to waste water than those who don’t, so once you stop rinsing, you’ll probably stop wasting too!
Some patients may be surprised to know that many dentists consider themselves artists as much as medical professionals. And it’s no wonder: when it comes to creating beautiful and healthy smiles, dental care is a blend of art and science, especially when it comes to repairing broken or decayed teeth with a dental crown (a.k.a cap).
Matching the color of teeth may sound tricky and it certainly is. After all, compared to the entire color spectrum of the natural world, human teeth occupy a pretty narrow range of yellowish off-white color. Luckily, there are a lot of time-tested techniques, science and modern technology to help the dentist make aesthetic decisions.
Dentists and dental technicians refer to teeth has having a shade, not a just a color. A shade includes hue, chroma and value. Hue is the same thing as color. The hues found naturally in teeth are yellow, red, or gray. Chroma is the saturation or intensity of the hue. Value is how light or dark the shade is.
The most common tool for color matching is a shade guide, a metal or plastic card with fake porcelain teeth of many shades arranged in a particular order. The dentist will hold the guide by your teeth and compare the natural shade to the examples until a similar shade is found. The dentist usually starts by determining the value of the tooth, and then finds the hue and chroma.
While the choice of a shade is somewhat subjective, there is some science that can help. Color decisions should be made under natural light conditions (such as near a window) or under fluorescent lights that mimic natural light. Regular incandescent lights tend to be too yellow and can make colors appear differently. Patients may be asked to remove any bright lipstick or other makeup, as this can affect the perception of tooth shade.
If you are wearing bright colors, the dentist may drape you with a gray bib. This has two purposes: it reduces the any color contrast that may come from bright clothing, and it gives the dentist’s eyes a neutral place to rest between looks at your teeth and the shade guide. The eyes need to rest because the rod cells in your eyes, which perceive color, can get tired quickly. The dentist will only look at your teeth for seven seconds at the most before looking away at something neutral or gray to reset the rods.
Next, the dentist may ask you or a colleague for a second opinion. Because color perception can vary slightly from person to person, having more than one opinion can reduce the chance for inaccuracy. Technology also offers a less subjective way to test color. Dentists can use a small electronic device called a spectrometer, which uses sensors to interpret the color of teeth.
Finally, the dentist will carefully note the shade of your teeth, often including drawings and digital photos of both your existing teeth and the one that is being prepared for a dental crown. This information then goes to a dental laboratory, where an expert ceramist creates the crown. It should be noted that an absolutely perfect match between two teeth is nearly impossible. However, very good matches with nearly imperceptible differences are common. If there is a problem with the color of the crown, the dentist can send it back to the lab for another try, but we always strive to get it right the first time!
Dental radiographs, commonly known as dental x-rays, are one of the dentist’s most powerful preventive & diagnostic tools. They allow us to see potential threats to you dental health (like cavities) & plan treatment more accurately. There are several different types of dental x-rays, and it’s a good idea to know what each one is for so you’ll understand why we take so many!
Dental x-rays have been in use for a long time. A German scientist named Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered x-rays in 1895. He called them x-rays because he didn’t know what they were, hence the “x”, and the name stuck. The first dental x-ray was taken just 14 days after the discovery was announced. In the last 122 years, dental x-rays have been continuously improved to be safer, gentler, & more accurate.
These are the type of x-rays patients are the most familiar with. They are called bitewing because the patient bites down on a wing-shaped sensor or film while the x-ray machine takes the image. These x-rays show just a few teeth at a time and are used primarily for detecting potential tooth decay between teeth that isn’t visible to the naked eye. Most patients get bitewing x-rays about once a year, but patients who are prone to tooth decay may get them more often. Bitewing x-rays can also be used to monitor wisdom teeth and help plan wisdom teeth removal.
Panoramic x-rays show your entire mouth in a single image, both top and bottom jaws (or arches, in dentist-speak). They show the entire tooth, crown and root, plus the jawbone. Instead of being done in the dental chair, panoramic x-rays use a special machine that the patient stands in. The x-ray scanner itself then rotates from one side of your head to the other, creating a continuous image. There are usually braces for your head and face that help keep you very still while the scanner revolves around you. Panoramic x-rays are used in orthodontic treatment planning, such as braces, and when planning extractions, including wisdom teeth removal.
Periapical x-rays take a close look at just a few teeth at a time. Unlike bitewing x-rays, periapical x-rays look at the entire tooth, from crown to root. For this reason, they are often used in diagnosing dental abscesses, which can be caused by infections or decay on the tooth root and are therefore not visible from the outside.
It’s easiest to think of cone beam CT (computed tomography) as a 3-D version of a panoramic x-ray. Just like the panoramic, the patient stands or sits still while the sensor rotates around. This scan information is then sent to a computer where special software helps generate a 3-D model of your teeth and jaws. Cone beam scans are not a typical part of prevention or treatment, and therefore aren’t done on all patients. They are often used to plan the sizing, placement and configuration of dental implants.
Electronic cigarettes and vaporizers have quickly become a trendy alternative to smoking, in large part because people believe they are safe to use. We’d like to send this vaping myth up in smoke.
For those who are unfamiliar, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaporizers are products that heat up a nicotine-containing liquid to produce vapor instead of smoke—hence the term “vaping.” Vaping doesn’t involve burning tobacco, so users can avoid inhaling many of the nastier cancer-causing chemicals found in regular cigarettes. Because of this, e-cigarette manufacturers claim that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking tobacco. In reality, there are a number of health problems associated with the use of nicotine vaporizing devices.
While vapor is likely less toxic than smoke, you are still putting your oral health at risk if you inhale it. Researchers have found that after exposure to e-cigarette vapor on multiple days in a row, the rate of death in mouth tissue cells skyrockets! Like cigarettes, nicotine vapor is also known to dry out your mouth and reduce the flow of saliva, which is your body’s natural mechanism for cleaning your teeth and gums. You can also expect some bad breath and an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Some e-cigarette users also get cold sores, which are most often on the roof of the mouth. (Gross!)
Though nicotine vapor does not contain the deadly chemicals found in tobacco smoke, it is still harmful. On its own, nicotine is a powerfully addictive drug—many former smokers claim it is one of the most difficult addictions to beat. Nicotine is a stimulant, meaning it makes you more wakeful and alert while also increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. As with many stimulants, overuse of nicotine can lead to teeth grinding and reduced blood flow. Teeth grinding damages your tooth enamel and can cause cracks and fractures. Reduced blood flow is a significant concern for dentists because it can mask inflammation and bleeding in the early stages of gum disease. You may think your gums are fine when they are really not—even your dentist may be fooled!
If the serious side effects listed above don’t scare you, the fact remains that e-cigarettes have not been around long enough for us to fully study and understand their potential health impacts. While there is evidence to suggest they are less harmful than regular cigarettes, this does not mean they are safe to use. Some people have even reported explosions from improperly made e-cigarettes! If you currently smoke tobacco or use e-cigarettes, we can help you find a healthier way to quit.
Having a great-looking smile can change how you feel and act, and one of the easiest ways to make a big difference in your smile is with professional teeth whitening at the dentist. If you’re planning to have your teeth whitened, talk to the dentist at your next visit. We’ve noticed that there’s a pattern to when and why our patients get their teeth whitened, so here are a few suggestions so you can plan ahead.
This may sound obvious for a bride-to-be who’s planning to wear a white dress, but it’s also a great time of year for teeth whitening for those not headed for the altar. If you’ve been invited to a wedding, chances are there will be a lot of photos taken of you too, often with someone in bright white by your side.
If you’ve got a few weddings on your calendar this coming summer, we suggest getting a professional teeth whitening at the dentist then maintaining between events using over-the-counter teeth whitening products. Dentists know how to whiten teeth safely with more potent bleaching chemicals and can give you more predictable results, but store-bought products use the same chemicals in much lower concentrations and can help maintain the look of your smile after an initial whitening at our office.
Young people love returning from summer break with a tan and stories of adventure. They also want to look their best for their peers, especially with school portraits and Homecoming right around the corner. To be clear, we’re not recommending teeth whitening for little ones! Teenagers over the age of 14 generally can be treated as adults when it comes to teeth whitening because their teeth are usually fully developed. As always, however, please talk to the dentist about you or your child’s goals for their smile and whether whitening is right for them.
The holiday season is full of sparkle and shine, and we think some of that glamour should come from your smile! With Thanksgiving, the holiday office party, Christmas, and New Year’s, chances are you’ll be seeing a lot of relatives and friends you don’t see very often so you should look your best. And once again, you’re likely to be posing for a lot more photos than at other times of the year. We know you’ll want to look back on those images fondly and see your happiness, not the color of your smile!
