There are many people who think that dentures are a replacement for natural teeth. While dentures function to act as teeth for a person who has been unfortunate enough to lose his or her natural teeth, dentures are not a replacement for natural teeth. Dentures are an alternative to no teeth.

Dentures are plastic artificial gums and teeth that fit over the gums when the teeth have been lost. They are held in by the suction formed between the denture and the gum. Obviously, the upper denture with six times the surface area has better suction than the lower denture. The lower denture has less suction, as well; the tongue, lips and cheeks act to help dislodge the denture. The dentures are supported on the gums, which were never designed for this purpose. (more…)

I recently returned from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s annual meeting in Hawaii. I have attended this meeting every year for the last 10 years. Each year dentists with an interest in appearance related dentistry get together, to hone their skills in the area of cosmetic dentistry. This year I was not only an attendee, I was asked to be a speaker host for the visiting lecturers. This was an interesting opportunity as it allowed me to visit with the speakers one on one before and after their courses. After three days of intense courses and professional interaction, I returned even more excited about the services we have available for our patients. (more…)

Most people are familiar with a dental check up, either having had one themselves or knowing someone who has had one. While almost everyone is aware that the dentist is looking for cavities in the teeth, there is more to a dental examination than merely looking for holes.

Today, I would like to walk you through a typical complete dental examination. Hopefully, this will help you to understand what is going on at your next dental check up.

The first part of the examination involves an interview with the patient, either by the doctor or one of the staff members. In this interview, we hope to discover what your long term plans are regarding your teeth. What do you want your teeth to be like in the future, are there any changes you want to make regarding the appearance or function? Are you currently having any dental problems, and if not, what brought you to the dental office today? What are your concerns regarding dental treatment? These are the types of questions that help your dentist establish a treatment plan that custom fits your desires. (more…)

It appears that there are still many people out there who are slightly misguided when it comes to complete loss of teeth. I would like to spend this week’s column discussing dentures and the common misconceptions surrounding these artificial body part replacements.

First and foremost, you do not naturally lose your teeth when you get older. In the past, when dental care was not generally available, it became very common for people to eventually have all their teeth out. As it takes a while for dental disease to eventually claim all the teeth, tooth loss became associated with aging. (more…)

You have decided it is time to get your teeth checked, and fixed, how do you go about choosing a dentist? Well, the obvious answer is to pick my office, but I’m not supposed to say that, so I won’t.

Choosing a dentist is a big deal, if you have any dental work done, you will live with your decision for a long time. There may also be some minor or substantial financial decisions involved. It is important that you make the right choice.

For the last 50 years, the message to the public from organized dentistry has been that every dentist is pretty much equal, a filling is a filling, a cleaning is a cleaning and a crown is a crown. This is not really the case. Just as in every other occupation, skill levels vary. Today, with the recent explosion in dental technology it is even more apparent. I will try to give you some pointers to help you choose the dental office that is right for you. (more…)

Although a vast number of people understand the importance of a good smile, only half think that their smile makes the grade. A recent study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry revealed that 9 out of 10 people agree that an attractive smile is an important social asset. Three out of four agree that an unattractive smile can compromise a person’s chances for career success, yet only ½ of those surveyed were satisfied with their smiles!

Here is a simple smile assessment test: (more…)

Sometimes, bad stuff happens. Today, I would like to discuss what to do when a tooth is knocked out or broken in an accident. If a tooth suffers a blow, it may be knocked out, loosened, or broken. If a tooth is knocked out, it is important to save the tooth, as it is possible to put it back in place. As soon as possible after the accident you should find the tooth. Do not clean the tooth, handle it as little as possible, it is best to put the tooth in a container with milk; it has been shown that this is one of the best mediums to carry the tooth to the dental office. A second choice would be to place the tooth in water. Some schools now have kits for lost teeth; these kits have a special solution in which to place the tooth. You should immediately contact a dentist who can place the tooth back in the socket and stabilize the tooth. The nerve in the tooth will have to be removed to keep it from being resorbed and to prevent it from abscessing. This treatment for lost teeth is highly effective. We have even successfully replanted a tooth that was knocked out and found in the Zamboni.

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There are many people who think that dentures are a replacement for natural teeth. While dentures function to act as teeth for a person who has been unfortunate enough to loose his or her natural teeth, dentures are not a replacement for natural teeth. Dentures are an alternative to no teeth.

Dentures are plastic artificial gums and teeth that fit over the gums when the teeth have been lost. They are held in by the suction formed between the denture and the gum. Obviously, the upper denture with six times the surface area has better suction than the lower denture. The lower denture has less suction, as well the tongue, lips and cheeks act to help dislodge the denture.

(more…)