Menopause is the start of hormone changes that end a woman’s menstrual cycle and her fertility. Menopause can begin as early as the 40s, although the specific age that menopause happens will vary from woman to woman. Hormone changes—namely decreasing estrogen—in the body can impact a woman’s entire body, including the oral cavity....
With over 47% of adult Americans having gum disease, it’s important to know your risk for this oral health condition. Gum disease has the potential to ruin your smile if left untreated. Gum disease can cause the ligaments that hold teeth in place to weaken, therefore causing loose teeth. In fact, gum disease...
A dry socket is a complication of tooth extraction—typically wisdom tooth removal—that only occurs in up to 5% of patients after their procedure. Dry socket happens when the blood clot that normally forms over the areas of extraction is somehow dislodged or never properly forms in the first place. When the blood...
A dental abscess is the result of an infected tooth or may be the result of severe gum disease. The abscess itself—which is a swollen area typically filled with pus—forms at the root of the tooth that’s infected. A dental abscess is usually painful and will require treatment as soon as possible. But...
Most people don’t want to hear that they need a root canal. However, root canal therapy has changed dramatically over the years and today, having a root canal procedure isn’t much different than getting a filling. Root canal therapy allows your dentist to save your tooth and avoid the need...
A cracked tooth can happen as the result of an accident, misuse of the teeth, or even teeth grinding. For some people, a cracked tooth won’t cause any symptoms; however, an injured tooth should always be evaluated by a dentist, as cracked teeth can eventually cause tooth loss if left unchecked. Depending on...
The human mouth houses 32 teeth—which means that molars, incisors, canines, and wisdom teeth all need a place in your mouth. For some people, there just isn’t enough room for all their teeth. Due to genetics, some people have smaller mouths that aren’t able to accommodate every single tooth. When this happens, teeth...
Over 50 million adults are estimated to use marijuana, a substance that’s still considered illegal in much of the United States. Although this substance is thought by many to be safer than smoking cigarettes or using other forms of tobacco, the truth is that marijuana still has negative impacts...
Dentures provide you with an option to restore your smile after losing teeth. Whether you need a partial denture for a few missing teeth or a full set of dentures for your entire mouth, dentures can help restore the function and beauty of your smile after living with missing teeth. But how...
A receding gum line happens when the gums pull back from the teeth to expose tooth roots. This recession can not only be unsightly and harmful to the teeth, but painful as well. Gum recession can cause tooth sensitivity and even loose teeth. Receding gums can have several causes. The following are...
