Although dental veneers—thin yet strong pieces of ceramic designed to look like your natural teeth—are placed over your teeth, they don’t completely protect your natural teeth underneath from tooth decay. You can get a cavity under a dental veneer—and it can negatively affect your smile.

Tooth Decay Can Cause Veneers to Fail

While dental veneers have a low failure rate (less than five percent of patients have their veneers fail within the first five years), tooth decay is among the reasons a dental veneer can be unsuccessful in the long run [1].

Since dental veneers only cover the outer surface of your teeth, the rest of your tooth is still susceptible to decay, although the veneer itself cannot get a cavity. Poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, a history of tooth decay, or improperly placed veneers are all reasons you could get a cavity under a dental veneer.

Other reasons dental veneers can fail include issues with your gums, tooth fractures, and problems with the original placement. Taking care of your veneers to prevent tooth decay and gum disease is going to be instrumental in the health and appearance of your smile!

Keeping Your Veneers Strong Is Important

Although strong and more resistant to staining and damage than your normal teeth, dental veneers are not immune to harm. They can still stain, crack, and chip with abuse, which makes taking care of them all the more important [2].

Keeping up with the health of your natural teeth will support the health of your veneers. You can prevent damage to your teeth as well as your new veneers by doing all the things you would normally do for your teeth and gums: brushing twice daily, flossing, visiting your dentist, and eating healthy. Your dentist can recommend a schedule specific to your unique oral health needs to determine how often you should come in for checkups and cleanings.

Considering Dental Veneers?

While dental veneers can do wonders for the appearance of your smile, it’s important to remember that these dental restorations don’t prevent you from getting cavities. You still need to put the necessary work in to take care of your smile to protect your veneers and keep your teeth and gums healthy. With daily oral care and regular dental visits, you can prevent tooth decay and extend the life of your beautiful new smile!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652364/
2. https://www.dentalhealth.org/veneers

The post Can You Get a Cavity Under a Dental Veneer? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Since oral health can affect your body, poor dental health can actually impact your athletic performance. Whether you love to exercise at home or are an avid competitor, here’s what you need to know about your dental health when it comes to your physical performance!

Pain Can Affect Your Ability to Train

Having poor oral health—including increased plaque, tooth decay, or gum disease—can cause pain and discomfort in your mouth. Pain can affect your ability to fully participate in trainings and competitions, and can even affect eating [1]. All of these have the ability to impact your athletic ability.

Pain can make it difficult not only to concentrate, but to give a sport or competition your absolute best effort. Keeping your smile healthy can help you avoid discomfort and give your full attention and effort to your athletic performance!

Poor Dental Health Impacts Your Overall Wellbeing

Research indicates that poor oral health can affect your entire wellbeing [2]. Tooth decay and gum disease can both cause and maintain inflammation in the body, which can not only make it more difficult to reach your maximum physical performance, but also hinder your recovery time from trainings.

Poor dental health can also impact your quality of life, which can, in turn, affect your physical ability. A healthy smile is an integral part of a healthy body—so maintaining your oral health can help maintain bodily health as well!

Strong Teeth Keep You in the Game

Did you know that athletes are at an increased risk for oral disease and trauma? This is because exercise can cause dehydration, which can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth carries an increased risk for cavities and gum disease. In addition, physical stress can lead to teeth grinding, and sports snacks and drinks tend to contain a lot of added sugar.

Athletes that have existing oral health problems such as tooth decay have a higher chance of sustaining an injury to their smile during their sport or competition. Teeth that are weakened by tooth decay or gum disease are more susceptible to cracks, chips, and even to be knocked out by an impact.

Are You an Athlete?

Whether you play sports or just enjoy the occasional jog, keeping up with your oral health is essential to your performance. If you play a contact sport, it’s always a good idea to invest in a custom mouthguard from your dentist to prevent an injury that could permanently alter your smile. And by keeping up with your regular oral care habits at home and visiting your dentist, you can ensure a strong smile to support your highest physical performance!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29938820
2. https://www.fdiworlddental.org/news/20190529/poor-oral-hygiene-severely-impacts-training-and-athletic-performance

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Having several missing teeth or losing an entire set of teeth can cause bigger problems than your appearance, however—chewing food can be difficult if not impossible, and speaking can become problematic as well.

Fortunately, there are options to replace your missing teeth. Two of these are all-on-four dental implants and dentures. Let’s review the pros and cons of each of these restorative options!

Benefits of Going with All-on-Four Dental Implants

A single dental implant is designed to replace a missing natural tooth. But with all-on-four dental implants, you can replace an entire mouthful of teeth with just four dental implants.

Here’s how it works: between four and six dental implants are strategically placed in your mouth and allowed to heal, or in other words, fuse with your jawbone. Then, a restoration is placed, which is essentially a replica of your teeth that securely attaches to the implants. The results is a realistic, sturdy, and functional replacement to your natural teeth. Many patients are highly satisfied with the results of their all-on-four implants [1]!

Why Dentures Might Be a Good Fit

Dentures are cost-effective solutions to your missing teeth and can last several years with the right care [2]. Generally, dentures will need to be replaced every few years to ensure a comfortable fit.

Most dentures are designed to fit so that they create a seal with your gums, while some patients find adhesive is helpful to keeping dentures in place—they don’t “attach” to anything except your gum tissue. While dentures will stimulate your jaw somewhat, they won’t prevent the loss of jawbone the same way dental implants will.

However, with dentures, you won’t have to worry about having enough bone in your jaw to support a dental implant, which can be a concern for some people who have been missing teeth for quite some time.

What’s the Verdict?

Both all-on-four implants and dentures allow you to get a set of replacement teeth quickly. However, with all-on-four implants, you’ll need to follow a specific diet for a few months with a temporary restoration while your dental implants heal. Then, your permanent restoration can be placed [3].

So while both can offer a functional replacement for your missing teeth, many patients view all-on-four dental implants as more of an investment. Why?

Dental implants never need to be replaced, unlike dentures. They also provide a more secure option, as your artificial set of teeth will attach onto the implants, allowing you to eat whatever you like once your final restoration is in place. And finally, dental implants facilitate jawbone growth, allowing you to prevent a sunken facial appearance upon removing your dentures.

Regardless of which replacement you choose for your natural teeth, the right dental restoration can allow you to chew, speak, and smile with ease, giving you the ability to enjoy your teeth again!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253293/
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
3. https://www.aaid-implant.org/dental-implants/types-of-implants-and-techniques/

The post All-on-Four Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Should Replace Your Missing Teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Extensive Tooth Decay

The most common cause of a painful toothache is extensive tooth decay [1]. What this means is that you may have a cavity that’s gotten deep enough to cause discomfort or even an infection. You may or may not be able to see the cavity simply by examining your teeth in the mirror.

For many patients, tooth decay won’t cause symptoms until the cavity has progressed to the point that the nerve tissue becomes involved and potentially infected. Once this happens, you’ll likely need root canal therapy to save your tooth.

Damage to Dental Restorations

Another potential cause of your uncomfortable toothache could be damage to a dental restoration you’ve had done. Think a filling, crown, or dental bridge. You may have caused damage to your filling by eating a hard or sticky food, or your filling could have naturally deteriorated over time (remember, no restoration lasts forever!).

If your dental restoration is causing your tooth pain, your dentist will simply need to repair the affected tooth with a new restoration for you to begin feeling better!

A Cracked Tooth

Cracked teeth aren’t always obvious when they happen. For some, the pain and sensation of injuring a tooth to the point that it fractures will be obvious. For others, the crack won’t become apparent until pain or discomfort appears down the road.

One common symptom of a cracked tooth is pain that comes and goes when eating hot or cold foods [2]. If a cracked tooth is left untreated for long enough, it could affect the nerves of the teeth and require root canal therapy to fix.

Other Potential Causes of Tooth Pain

There are other causes of tooth pain, including a bruised tooth, which can happen when biting down on hard foods or another injury. A bruised tooth happens when the connective tissue that helps hold your tooth in place is essentially bruised and becomes inflamed due to injury.

Some people could also experience aching teeth from a sinus infection, teeth grinding, or an impacted wisdom tooth [3]. The only way to identify the root cause of your toothache is by visiting your dentist for a professional exam.

Don’t Ignore a Toothache!

Toothaches rarely go away on their own. Typically, whatever is causing the toothache will continue to get worse until it’s treated. By visiting your local dentist, you can help uncover the cause and receive treatment before it’s too late to save your tooth!

Sources:
1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003067.htm
2. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/
3. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tooth

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When considering dental implants, patients understandably have questions about the procedure. People want to know if dental implants can shift and become crooked or will become discolored over time, two things that can dramatically impact your smile.

If Placed Properly, Dental Implants Should Never Become Crooked

If your dental implant is properly placed by a trained and experienced dentist, it should never become crooked over time. In fact, dental implants are designed in part to prevent the shifting, crooked teeth, and jaw bone loss that can come with missing teeth [1].

Dental implants accurately mimic your tooth’s natural roots and essentially hold the place for that tooth, even encouraging jawbone growth so your face doesn’t take on a sunken appearance. People who are missing natural teeth and neglect to replace them often see a change in their facial structure over time as a result.

Porcelain Crowns Are More Resistant to Staining

Your dental implant will be finished with a dental crown to replicate the look and function of your missing natural tooth. Dental crowns are typically made of porcelain and are highly resistant to staining. During your dental implant placement process, your dentist will have the crown made to accurately match the shape and color of your remaining natural teeth.

However, it’s important to note that dental crowns can still be subject to staining over time, albeit not as much as your natural teeth. You’ll be more at risk for tooth discoloration if you smoke or drink coffee or red wine, which are some of the biggest culprits in tooth staining [2].

If you’re interested in getting your teeth professionally whitened, the best time to do this is before your dental implant procedure so your dentist can have your crown crafted to beautifully match your newly-whitened teeth for a seamless smile!

Dental Implants Are a Worthy Investment for Your Smile

If placed and cared for properly, your dental implants should last you a lifetime [3]. Unlike other tooth replacement options such as dentures and bridges, dental implants should never need to be replaced. Your dental crown will need to be replaced every so often, but your actual implant will be secure enough to provide you with a functional smile for the rest of your life.

With all the benefits of dental implants, it’s no wonder patients are taking advantage of this sturdy form of tooth replacement. If you’re considering dental implants, ask your dentist about their experience with the procedure or ask them to recommend you to an oral surgeon who can evaluate you for dental implants!

Sources:
1. https://www.aaid.com/about/Press_Room/History_and_Background.html
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003065.htm
3. https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-implants

The post Can Your Dental Implants Become Crooked or Discolored Over Time? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

While the technology is still relatively new, it’s being used by more and more dentists who are becoming experienced in the use of lasers for a variety of applications. When can you expect laser technology to be used at your dentist office?

For Reshaping Gum Tissue

Laser dentistry is a common tool used for reshaping gum tissue. Gum tissue may need to be restructured for a variety of reasons: a person may have too much gum tissue covering their teeth such as in gummy smile, or a person may be unhappy with unevenness of their gum tissue.

Dentists have been using laser dentistry to contour the gums in cases such as for patients who suffer from gummy smile [1]. Lasers allow for less bleeding and discomfort following the procedure, making them ideal for patients who suffer from dental anxiety or have concerns about healing time.

For Surgery

Laser dentistry is also more commonly being used for oral surgery, such as to remove tissue for a biopsy for oral cancer. There are a few benefits to using laser technology when it comes to oral surgery.

Lasers can minimize postoperative swelling and pain, such as for procedures like a frenectomy, when the connective tissue in the mouth needs to be lengthened [2]. Lasers help minimize pain, bleeding, and the need for invasive procedures, which many patients can benefit from.

For Root Canals

Dentists have also been using laser technology in root canal therapy as well. In root canal therapy, the nerves in your tooth are removed due to decay or infection, and dentists need to remove all the bacteria and dead tissue inside your tooth during the procedure. Lasers allow dentists to eliminate bacteria in places where traditional tools can’t reach [3]. What this means is that dentists can remove more bacteria and allow for a cleaner root canal to seal and protect your tooth, enhancing the chances of success for your recovery.

Is Your Dentist Experienced with Laser Technology?

The use of lasers in oral applications is growing in popularity, and it’s likely they’ll become even more common in dentistry. Ask your dentist about their experience with laser dentistry and if they offer procedures with this technology at their practice. Laser dentistry can help patients experience less discomfort, a faster healing time, and more effective procedures when it comes to dental services!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700144/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4281997/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4281974/

The post What Is Laser Dentistry, and When Is It Used? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Getting a dental implant to replace a missing tooth means you now have a permanent restoration that will, with the right care, never need to be replaced. But what should you expect after getting dental implants? Here’s what you should know following your procedure.

Immediately After Your Procedure

The majority of patients can drive themselves home after their dental implant procedure, although for the next 24-48 hours, you should try to rest as much as you can and avoid any strenuous activities, including exercise.

You can expect some swelling, bruising, and minor discomfort following your procedure [2]. Some patients may see a bit of bleeding, which is normal. If you have severe pain, swelling, or bleeding, contact your dental practice as soon as possible.

Most patients can return to their normal routine about one to two days following their dental implant procedure.

What to Eat for the Next Week

For the next seven to ten days after your appointment, you’ll want to stick to foods that are easy to eat, such as soft foods. Foods to consider eating include smoothies, yogurt, pudding, pureed vegetables or fruits, eggs, and anything you can slice with a fork or eat with a spoon.

Avoid tough or hard foods such as steak, nuts, or crunchy fruits and veggies. You’ll also want to avoid extremely hot and cold foods as well as alcohol until your implant heals, and don’t drink from a straw, as this can damage your dental implant’s healing process.

Every patient’s healing time will be different. For some people, they’ll need to eat softer foods for the next few weeks while their dental implant heals.

How to Help Your Implant Heal

There are a few things you can do to help accelerate the healing of your dental implant!

• Stop smoking. Ideally, you’ll want to stop smoking before your dental implant procedure and for as long as it takes for your dental implant to heal. Smoking can increase the chances that your body will reject the dental implant or get an infection.
• Eat healthy foods. It’s easy to consume processed foods when it comes to softer foods, but explore healthier options, such as making a smoothie with fresh greens or fruits, trying avocados or bananas, or eating fish.
• Clean your smile gently. Being harsh with your toothbrush can damage your dental implant. Be sure to brush your teeth and around your new implant very gently twice a day. Before you know it, your dentist will be placing your final restoration—a dental crown—once your dental implant has healed!

While every person’s healing time will be slightly different, dental implants have a 95 percent success rate, so you have an excellent chance for healing properly after the procedure [3]. You can help your dental implant be strong and healthy by taking care of your body and your smile following your appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.aaid-implant.org/dental-implants/what-are-dental-implants/
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-
20384622
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4028797/

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A dental implant is a post that’s inserted surgically into your jaw with a dental crown placed onto the end. While the crown part of this restoration will need to be replaced at some point, the implant never will, making this a low-maintenance option for people who need to replace their missing teeth.

Here’s how you can replace one, multiple, or all of your teeth with dental implants!

Replacing a Single Missing Tooth

If you have one missing tooth, regardless of where it is in your mouth, a dental implant could be a good choice for you. In order to qualify for a dental implant, your dentist will take x-rays to ensure you have enough supporting bone in your jaw for the actual implant.

In the event that you don’t have enough bone in your jaw—the body will absorb bone that’s not being stimulated by a tooth over time—don’t worry. Your dentist can still conduct a bone graft to build up your jaw bone for a dental implant.

The implant will be placed first and allowed to heal before it can support a crown [1]. In the meantime, your dentist may place a temporary crown so you won’t have to go without a tooth!

Getting Multiple Tooth Restorations

Did you know you can replace multiple teeth with dental implants? You have the option of replacing each missing tooth with a dental implant, or you may also have the option of getting an implant-supported bridge.

An implant-supported bridge supports a dental crown attached to two crowns on neighboring dental implants [2]. With this particular restoration, you won’t have to get dental implants for multiple missing teeth in a row, but can still see the benefits of dental implants for some of your teeth.

A Whole New Smile with Dental Implants

If you’re missing all of your natural teeth, you may qualify for dental implants. You won’t necessarily have to get implants for each and every one of your missing teeth. You have the option of getting all-on-four dental implants.

All-on-four dental implants consist of between four to six implants placed at particular locations in the jaw which support a permanent fixed restoration that attaches to the actual implants. The benefits of all-on-four dental implants include a lower cost with the benefits of dental implants.

This restoration, just like with single dental implants, has a high success rate and is considered a viable option for patients who want to replace all of their missing teeth with dental implants [3].

Are you missing some or all of your natural teeth and looking for a replacement? It’s hard to come by a better replacement than dental implants. These sturdy, permanent restorations can give you a beautiful, functional smile with a range of options to suit your preference and budget. Ask your dentist about replacing your missing teeth with dental implants today!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/i/implants
2. https://www.perio.org/consumer/multiple-tooth-implant
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253293/

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Procedures that fall under cosmetic dentistry range from porcelain veneers to teeth whitening to gum re-contouring, all to achieve your vision for your smile! Are you unhappy with your teeth and considering cosmetic dentistry? Here’s why it’s absolutely worth the investment!

Improve the Health of Your Smile

Cosmetic dentistry can not only improve the alignment of your teeth and your bite to support oral health, but is usually an excellent opportunity for patients to address underlying dental concerns.

Before most cosmetic dentistry procedures such as a professional teeth whitening or even veneers, your dentist will thoroughly evaluate your smile for any existing problems with your oral health [1].

This is because your teeth and gums will need to be at their healthiest for you to have your best outcome from the procedure. So not only will your investment into cosmetic dentistry benefit your oral health, but you’ll also be more motivated to take care of your smile afterward!

Gain More Confidence

Most people invest in cosmetic dentistry to fix issues with their smile that they’re embarrassed about. Whether your teeth are discolored, uneven, or chipped, your cosmetic dentist can help you gain more confidence in your smile.

People who are proud of their smile find themselves having the confidence to speak, laugh, and eat when in public and not be afraid that someone will see their teeth. Whether you’re investing in cosmetic dentistry for an upcoming event or just because it’s time to have the smile of your dreams, having beautiful teeth means you’ll smile more, which research has shown makes you happier [2].

You’ll also stress less about your interactions with people, from interviews and meetings to potential dates and family gatherings, you’ll never again worry that people are looking at your teeth for the wrong reasons.

Prevent Future Damage

Some people need to seek cosmetic procedures because of damage that’s already happened to their teeth. For example, someone who has grinded their teeth for years may have worn down their teeth and need crowns or veneers to restore their smile and prevent future damage.

If you have chipped or fractured teeth from years of wear and tear, dental bonding or veneers can actually strengthen your smile and reduce the likelihood that this type of damage would happen in the future.

In addition, correcting misaligned teeth can improve jaw pain and headaches from affecting your quality of life [3]. Crooked teeth can cause these symptoms because of how they affect the jaw, so by investing in cosmetic dentistry, you invest in a healthier you!

Is It Time to Consider Cosmetic Dentistry?

If you’ve been putting off treating your smile, there’s no better time than now to schedule a consultation with your professional dentist. He or she can help you review your options so you can have your best smile for life!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/About%20the%20ADA/Files/ada_house_of_delegat
es_whitening_report.ashx
2. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/msu-sfa022211.php
3. https://www.dentalhealth.org/jaw-problems-and-headaches

The post Why Cosmetic Dentistry Is Worth the Investment appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

People choose to professionally whiten their teeth when their teeth have accrued stains over time that a regular cleaning at the dentist office or home care habits won’t remove. Some patients may have tried take-home teeth whitening kits with mediocre results.

If you’re considering a teeth whitening procedure or have just gotten one done, you may be wondering just how long a professional teeth whitening lasts. Here’s what you should know when professionally whitening your smile!

How Long You Can Expect a Professional Whitening to Last

You can expect a professional teeth whitening to last for about two years up to ten years. It’s important to remember that the results will vary from person to person.

For example, people who neglect to take care of their teeth and consume heavy-staining foods and drinks can see their professional whitening fade in as little as a few weeks [1]. However, people who take care of their smiles can see their results last for years.

Lifestyle Habits That Can Prematurely Stain Your Smile

People who drink coffee, wine, or tea are more at risk to see their dazzling smile become dull and stained faster than those who don’t [2]. Foods that can stain your newly white smile can include tomatoes, berries, soy sauce, and potent spices such as turmeric.

In addition, people who smoke will see their white teeth rapidly deteriorate compared to those who don’t smoke or use tobacco products.

People who don’t visit their dentist will also see their smile prematurely stain. Your dentist
removes surface stains during your teeth cleaning to keep your smile white. When you neglect to visit the dentist, even the best home care habits can’t keep a smile white forever.

What Can You Do to Extend the Life of Your Bright Smile?

Just because you’ve gotten a professional teeth whitening doesn’t mean your teeth are now immune to stains. In fact, it’s more important to protect your smile now than before your whitening procedure to prolong the results!

Of course, avoiding all the foods and drinks that can stain your teeth is often out of the
question. So what can you do to prolong your professional teeth whitening?

First, visit your dentist for regular cleanings at least once a year but preferably every six months [3]. Your dentist will remove stains and can make touch-ups to keep your smile white over time. You can also drink water while consuming teeth-staining foods and drinks.

For example, when sipping a glass of wine, sip water too. When enjoying pasta with sauce, drink water with your meal. This will not only keep you hydrated—which is important for your smile also—but will help minimize tooth staining.

Although a professional teeth whitening doesn’t last forever, it can last a very long time with the right care. Ask your dentist how you can better care for your teeth after a whitening procedure and if whitening your teeth can help remove stains for a brighter you!

Sources:
1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/teeth-whitening/faqs
2. https://www.ada.org/sitecore/content/home-mouthhealthy/nutrition/food-tips/9-foods-that-damage-your-teeth
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-
the-dentist

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