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Professional Teeth Whitening For the Toughest Stains
Teeth whitening has become a very popular cosmetic dental enhancement that can transform a drab grin into a bright, gleaming smile. When teeth are stained or discolored, you may feel self-conscious and discouraged from smiling broadly or laughing. Professional teeth whitening can make an overwhelming, positive change to your appearance; however, don’t be fooled into believing that all teeth whitening products are the same.
Why Should I See My Dentist for Teeth Whitening?
As a licensed professional, your dentist has access to the most powerful whitening products available to help eliminate stain and teeth discoloration attributed to: diet, lifestyle habits, medications or medical treatments that may have discolored dentition, and/or a poor daily dental hygiene regimen.
Over the counter teeth whitening products; trays or “whitening” lights bought online; or any generic teeth whitening product is never going to be designed with you in mind. However, your dentist can guide you to the best treatment option available that will keep you safe while providing optimum results.
Maximizing Your Teeth Whitening Experience
It is important to remember that while teeth whitening may provide a boost to your smile, it is up to you to perhaps modify some of your daily habits to keep them looking great.
Of course, we all know the importance of brushing and flossing daily. But once you have invested in teeth whitening, make sure you follow this daily routine.
There are certain foods and beverages that have dental staining capability. A good rule of thumb is if what you are eating or drinking would stain a white cloth, it can likely do the same to your teeth. Beverages like red wine, coffee, tea, and colas are known to stain; as well as tomato based sauces, dark sauces like soy; many berries and fruits all have that one thing in common … they can mar your pretty smile.
Helpful suggestions include using a straw whenever possible to limit exposure to your teeth. Also, don’t nurse drinks throughout the day (except water). Consume them with meals; rinse with water following consumption.
Abstain from using all types of tobacco, brush and floss daily, and visit our team at Bliss Dental every six months for a cleaning and dental exam.
Do I Really Need Dental Check-ups Every Six Months?
In a word … YES! The importance of caring for your teeth is every bit as crucial as what you do for your overall health. Dental and overall health are closely linked so the care you provide to your teeth and gums will help to maximize your overall good health. Keeping regularly scheduled appointments with your dentist provides an important step in helping support both your appearance and your general well-being.
What Occurs During A Dental Check-up?
Either your dentist or hygienist will begin with a quick check for any changes you’ve undergone since your last visit. Any dental x-rays required are generally performed at this time. Dental x-rays provide an excellent tool that allows your dentist to see any changes you may be undergoing from visit to visit.
The actual cleaning process is done to remove tartar – this is the hard product that builds on teeth. It comes from the foods we eat and beverages we drink, and the only way to remove it is with a trip to your dental office.
Plaque and tartar generally settle around the base of teeth and can lead to decay formation and the onset of gum disease. Having these substances removed is important to maintaining oral health. In addition to tartar removal, topical dental stain is treated. Teeth are flossed and polished to look their best.
Your dentist will perform an exam that involves checking for obvious problems like cavities, broken teeth, and any dental malady. But a most crucial step in this exam is looking for signs of oral cancer. This one exam could actually save your life.
What You Are Responsible for Between Dental Visits
Brush at least twice every day using a fluoridated toothpaste. The proper technique is needed to help maintain dental enamel and prevent premature gum erosion.
Floss every day. Your toothbrush only reaches about two thirds of the surfaces of your teeth. Floss to remove what your toothbrush can’t reach.
Don’t use tobacco. Any type of tobacco use is going to impact your oral health in a negative way.
Hydrate every day. Drinking water is optimum; add fruit or a sugar free flavoring to keep it interesting.
Maintain a healthy diet – crunchy fruits and vegetables are a much healthier snack choice than crackers, chips, or sweets.
If it’s time to schedule your next checkup and cleaning, contact our team at Bliss Dental today.
Porcelain Veneers Create Stunning Smiles
Porcelain veneers provide a treatment option that allows your dentist to remedy deep dental stain; chipped or broken teeth; uneven dentition; misaligned teeth; and unwanted gaps between teeth … any or all of these maladies can be cosmetically corrected in just a few short weeks.
Veneers are Versatile
Veneers are designed to cover dental flaws. Whether you require one or multiple veneers, this treatment option is a permanent solution that can help create a beautiful smile.
Your journey to a stunning smile begins with a consultation with your dentist. A dental exam will allow for a treatment plan to be completed outlining exactly what is involved and how veneers can transform your issues into a distant memory. Patients with active dental decay, who regularly experience teeth grinding, or suffer from habits like nail biting may have to undergo some changes before moving forward with veneers.
Once ready to begin, the process commences by removing a small amount of enamel from the front of each tooth to be treated. That is the step that makes this a permanent treatment option. Once enamel has been removed, it will not grow back. It is essential to remove just enough enamel so once veneers are cemented into place, they will fit naturally providing a symmetrical appearance.
Impressions, x-rays, and photographs are used by your dentist and the lab so veneers can be designed and fabricated to your specifications. Temporaries are often applied until your permanent veneers are ready to be placed.
The Final Step
Your permanent transformation is about to begin. Teeth to be treated will be cleaned and an etching material will be applied. This roughs up the surface of the tooth so the veneer will have maximum bonding capability.
Each veneer will be tried on for fit and aesthetics. Small modifications can be completed chairside, if needed.
A special bonding cement will be applied, the veneer will be placed, and a laser or curing light will be used to expedite adherence. Your dental imperfections are resolved, and your treatment process is complete.
To learn more about porcelain veneers or to schedule a consultation, contact Bliss Dental today.
When Is A Tooth Extraction Recommended?
Whenever possible your dentist will most always try to save your biological teeth. But there are times when tooth extraction is needed; heed the advice provided by your dentist, and follow post operative instructions carefully for optimum healing.
Reasons for A Tooth Extraction
The need for having a tooth (or teeth) pulled or removed can result from:
Overcrowding: When teeth emerge that exceed the amount of jaw space available, existing teeth can be pushed out of position to make room. Or when space is limited, teeth may become impacted or grow irregularly into unusual places. The dentist will recommend extraction if this should occur. Very often, removing teeth for this reason is a precursor for teeth straightening measures.
Wisdom Teeth: Also known as third molars, these are the final teeth to erupt usually occurring in the late teens. Most people have four wisdom teeth located at the back of the mouth, one on each arch. The extraction of one or all wisdom teeth may be recommended as a preventative action to avoid future problems.
Tooth Damage: If a tooth has become deeply damaged due to trauma, its removal may be required. A tooth impacted by infection, deep decay, or damage may undergo a root canal first to see if it can be saved.
Gum Disease: There are many steps that can be taken before extraction becomes necessary, but if gum disease has ravaged the bone that holds teeth in place, those actions may not be enough to save teeth. There are a lot of reasons that gum disease can occur … lack of proper hygiene, poor diet, genetics, drug and/or tobacco use … and certain illnesses and diseases can contribute to periodontitis. Whatever the cause, if deep cleaning or dental surgery are not able to remedy the situation, extraction is likely.
The Effects of Tooth Loss
The loss of one or more teeth can be problematic … remaining teeth can shift creating bite issues, keeping the area where tooth loss occurred clean may be difficult, and aesthetics may result in a lack of self-confidence.
Our dentist will make recommendations when the need for tooth replacement is required. In many cases like wisdom teeth extraction or when overcrowding has occurred, teeth replacement is not an issue. Follow the advice provided to maintain your oral health when extraction is required.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact our team at Bliss Dental today.
Will My Dental Crown Be Noticeable?
Dental crowns are a fabulous tool that can perform many functions. Improvements to materials used to make crowns has advanced in recent years … porcelain and ceramic have been added to metallic and gold crowns. With the emergence of aesthetically beautiful treatment options, patients can undergo many dental procedures without anyone knowing dental work has been completed.
Dental Crown Uses
A broken or cracked tooth can be saved using a dental crown. Dentists will most always recommend salvaging a natural tooth over extraction wherever possible, and a crown allows for that possibility.
Dental decay can occur even in a tooth previously treated for a cavity. Very often trying to treat deepened decay can be difficult. Crowns are very useful for this application.
Trauma, infection, or decay may result in the need for a root canal. In this dental procedure, an access point is required to reach and remove the contents of the tooth’s root canals. Once completed, the access point must be sealed. A crown is often the treatment utilized for this purpose.
If tooth loss should occur, there are multiple options to replace lost dentition. A fixed partial or bridge requires that the teeth on both sides of the lost teeth be crowned. These teeth are referred to as abutment teeth and the teeth that will represent the ones lost are called pontics. The finished result will provide the patient with the ability to chew properly, speak clearly, and enjoy smiling and laughing as if tooth loss never occurred.
In some cases, tooth loss may be resolved with a dental implant. The final step with this procedure involves placing a cosmetic restoration that has been made to match surrounding teeth so perfectly, no one will be able to discern which tooth has been replaced.
Aesthetics Are Important
Required dental work can also look great. With the many tasks that dental crowns undertake, it is important that your dentist provide you with a treatment option that will work best for you, and that will also provide many years of functionality while looking fabulous.
Caring for crowned teeth is the same as what you do for all teeth. Brush twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste, floss to remove what your toothbrush missed, and visit Bliss Dental every six months for cleaning and a dental exam.
Good Oral Hygiene Benefits That Might Surprise You
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums provides many benefits. It is believed that there is a correlation between the oral health condition and the status of overall health, so developing a strong oral hygiene regimen along with regular visits with your dentist are very important.
Getting an Early Start for Maximum Benefit
Did you know that a child’s first visit to the dentist should occur around the age of twelve months? Protecting baby teeth is important as they lay the groundwork for the permanent teeth that will erupt … the teeth that are needed to chew correctly, speak properly, and that will impact appearance for the rest of our lives.
Early dental visits consist primarily of an exam. The dentist is looking for existing or potential problems. These early visits provide the perfect opportunity for caregivers to learn the advantages of proper dental care for your child. Developing a strong oral hygiene regimen will provide protection for your child that will hopefully follow them into adulthood.
The Advantages of a Good Oral Hygiene Program
Brushing teeth twice a day is fairly common knowledge. Flossing daily is necessary to reach areas your toothbrush can’t get to between teeth. Daily oral care will help control the plaque that can form on teeth. When plaque is allowed to build on teeth it provides the potential for bacteria to breach the protective tooth enamel resulting in dental decay. Decay will not go away on its own. The advantages of maintaining regular visits to the dentist are that harmful plaque and tartar is removed and a dental exam is performed that may find and resolve problems early before they can escalate.
Failure to maintain good oral health can lead to more concerns than dental cavities. While preventing decay is important, controlling the onset of gum disease is a huge concern especially as you age. Gum disease can lead to problems like bleeding gums, bad breath, and eventually tooth loss.
Additionally, the inflammation connected to gum disease may be linked to serious health issues like stroke, heart disease, Type II diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The importance of developing good oral habits early as well as eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and not using tobacco, coupled with regular visits with our team at Bliss Dental are needed to develop a strong basis for optimum oral and overall health.
Is daily flossing really that important?
When you visit your dentist, you may be asked if you are flossing … the reason is not to berate or scold. Did you know that when you brush your teeth, you’re only reaching about two thirds of the surfaces of your teeth? That is because the remaining one third is located between your teeth … an area your toothbrush can’t reach. So a simple answer to your question is YES, flossing really is that important.
What Does Flossing Do?
When you floss between teeth, you are removing food debris left behind. Areas between teeth are often the spots where decay begins. Debris that is left if you don’t floss eventually can allow plaque and tartar buildup. The bacteria in plaque and tartar work to remove the minerals in the hard outer protective layer of your teeth – the enamel. Once enamel is breached, this can mean the onset of decay.
In addition, flossing daily provides a great stimulus for gum tissue. When performed correctly, the massaging effect from flossing keeps blood flowing throughout gum tissue enhancing overall gum tissue health.
There are multiple flossing products on the market today. It does not matter which one is used, but the frequency and technique are important.
Floss once a day … it is advised that flossing at night right before bed is ideal. Brush first, floss, and be sure to rinse thoroughly as you want everything to be flushed from your mouth.
The technique can mean the difference between a good job and a painful result. Make sure to floss between all teeth. Do not exert a lot of pressure against gum tissue.
What Else Should I Know About Flossing?
You are taking steps to prevent the onset of gum disease as well as decay prevention. Patients who take great care of their teeth and gums are much less likely to be faced with problems associated with gingivitis and periodontitis.
So whether you use regular dental floss, floss picks, floss threaders, a water pic, or any other type of flossing product, you are taking the steps needed to maintain your oral health.
And remember to honor all concerns regarding your dental health … do not use tobacco in any form, watch what you eat and drink, brush and floss every day, and visit our team at Bliss Dental every six months or as directed.
If my tooth doesn’t hurt, why do I need root canal treatment?
Just because your tooth does not hurt at this moment does not preclude the need for a root canal. In many cases, there are no obvious symptoms that indicate the need for a root canal. But you could have an infection brewing that could result in a serious toothache as well as an abscess that has the potential to make you sick.
What Is A Root Canal?
When the nerve of a tooth is damaged from trauma, infection, or deep decay, the patient has two options. The first is to have endodontic therapy (a root canal); the second is extraction. Whenever possible, your dentist will always advise that the tooth be saved.
When the need for a root canal is indicated, the process is actually very simple and straightforward. A dental x-ray is taken to identify the number of roots involved and their exact position. It is important that all roots be treated to prevent further infection or the need for retreatment.
The tooth is segregated using a rubber dam. This keeps the area dry.
The tooth is anesthetized. Even though the patient may have advised that they don’t feel pain, this is a necessary action taken for the comfort of the patient.
An access point is created in the tooth. Endodontic files are inserted into the tooth to remove the contents from the canals of each root. This includes pulp, blood, nerve, and infectious material, if present.
Throughout the procedure the doctor and assistant are using suction to remove these contents. Once all canals have been treated and flushed, this part of the procedure is completed.
The Final Step
The access point must be sealed. Depending on the tooth treated, this can be done with a bonding material; in many cases, a dental crown is recommended to seal the tooth.
Before sealing the tooth, a material is used to pack the root canals called gutta percha. This material fills the now empty canals as the final step before the permanent seal is applied.
A tooth saved from extraction with a root canal can last a lifetime. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact our office today.
Top 5 Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
The porcelain veneers procedure is a non-invasive cosmetic enhancement that serves many purposes. In addition to being a permanent solution, veneers can actually strengthen treated teeth allowing the patient many years to enjoy their beautiful new smile.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
While there are many benefits with porcelain veneers, five of the top include:
- They are a solution for many issues: Unlike other dental procedures aimed at a specific problem, veneers can be used to treat deep dental stain, chipped or cracked enamel, uneven dentition, and/or unwanted gaps between teeth. A patient suffering from one or many of these dental conditions can get results from this one cosmetic process.
- Permanent: This is not a temporary fix. To place veneers, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the front of teeth to be repaired making this treatment option permanent.
- Self-confidence boost: In a matter of weeks and a couple of dental visits, you can totally revamp your appearance eliminating the things you dislike about your smile.
- Ease of care: Once porcelain veneers are cemented in place, you will provide the same care for all your teeth … brushing and flossing daily and visiting your dentist every six months for cleaning and dental exam. There is nothing special needed for their care.
- Non-invasive: The procedure does not require any surgery or treatment requiring time off from work or school
Veneers Provide A Long Lasting Treatment Option
With proper care, veneers are designed to last for many, many years. The patient is advised that they must take care to avoid biting their nails, opening packages with their teeth, and biting into hard or chewy foods. In the unlikely event a veneer should break or become dislodged, it would need to be replaced.
Veneers offer flexibility in that one or multiple teeth can be treated.
Another positive aspect of porcelain is that it is naturally resistant to stain. This also means that if the patient is considering teeth whitening, that should be completed before the veneer process is initiated so your dentist may match the veneers to your newly lightened teeth shade.
Porcelain veneers … an ideal solution that can transform your smile in a few short weeks. Contact our team at Bliss Dental today to schedule a consultation.
4 Fun Teeth Facts
If you are a dentist, teeth are a serious business. However, there are times when you may want to share some of the fun facts about teeth.
Fun Dental Facts
- Today we have access to a multitude of dental products to help us maintain great dental health. But before modern dentistry, individuals cleaned their teeth using twigs, crushed egg shells, and ground animal hooves to clean and polish their teeth.
- Dental enamel is the hardest structure in the human body, but it is not invincible. It can be worn away with improper brushing tools and technique or damaged due to teeth grinding. Consuming sugary foods and beverages can leave teeth unprotected if there is a breach in dental enamel.
- Dental decay is the second most experienced disease. Number one is the common cold. This should trigger just how important it is to manage our oral health.
- Teeth actually begin forming in the womb. Baby teeth are present at birth in gum tissue just waiting for the right time to erupt beginning at three to six months of age. Once baby teeth are lost, permanent teeth come in. We only get these two sets of teeth and no two sets are alike. Our teeth are as unique as fingerprints.
The Serious Side of Dental Care
Our teeth are important for speaking clearly, chewing our food, and smiling with self-confidence. Caring for our adult teeth is no joking matter. Things you can do to promote great oral health include:
Diet: Drink water; soda or sugary flavored drinks should be saved for special occasions. The major food groups that we should consume daily include fruits, vegetables, dairy, healthy grains, and proteins.
Lifestyle: Do not use tobacco products in any form. This includes e-cigarettes and vaping products. Do not use illicit drugs and limit alcohol consumption.
Brush and Floss Daily: Brush twice daily for a minimum of two minutes each time using a fluoridated toothpaste. Floss every day to remove what your toothbrush missed.
Visit our team at Bliss Dental at least twice a year for a cleaning and exam. Not only will teeth look their best, but regular visits allow your dentist to spot problems before they have a chance to escalate. Call our dental office today to schedule your next appointment.
