Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

What exactly is a dental implant? What is the difference between dental implant and dentures? Well first there are basically two types of implants. Those that sit on top of the jaw bone, but under the gums, and those that fit into the jawbone similar to the root of a natural tooth. Each type offers solid, non-mobile support for replacement teeth which act and feel like natural teeth. Since both types are attached to your jawbone they can provide distinct advantages over traditional methods of replacing missing teeth. Implants restore proper chewing function and so you can enjoy foods previously too difficult to eat. Dental implants allow you to feel confident that your replacement teeth won’t move or loosen. This natural solution is the closest thing to the look, feel and function of your natural teeth. No more using those gooey adhesives. Unsightly partial denture clasps place damaging pressure on remaining natural teeth.
 
With dental implants, irritated and painful gums will be eliminated. Some people have had speech problems with dentures; dental implants can improve your speech by eliminating or reducing the fullness of full or partial dentures. Replace missing teeth with the look and feel of natural teeth without having to cut down healthy teeth. Dental implants help stop the progressive bone loss and shrinkage of your jawbone by mimicking the roots of natural teeth.

With their ability to improve the quality of your life and health it's easy to understand why they have become the accepted alternative to traditional methods of replacing missing teeth.

Do you want to win a FREE in-office teeth whitening?  Just click on the link below, to fill out a quick survey and you'll be entered to win a FREE whitening at Dream Smile Dental (www.dreamsmiledental.com)!

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For some people electric toothbrushes are a love-hate relationship. Many individuals think that electric toothbrushes are a waste of time and money, and resistant to change. And some of these electric toothbrushes don't do a much better job than a manual toothbrush. But the Sonicare Flexcare electric toothbrush is a bit different.

The Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush is an electric toothbrush that makes your teeth feel like they've just been cleaned at a dentist’s office. More plaque will be removed, and the odds of you developing gum disease decrease dramatically with the use of this toothbrush. When you purchase your Sonicare Toothbrush, you’ll get more than just the toothbrush. Your package will include a UV sanitizer, two brush heads, a travel case, and two chargers! Your toothbrush heads will also have a nice little plastic covering for the head of your toothbrush. This helps to keep dirt and other types of grime off of your toothbrush head. As for the UV sanitizer, you can use it every day or just once a week.

The Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush has five settings. The first setting is the clean setting, and it's considered the normal setting. Then there is the massage setting, which is generally used to clean your gums. There is also the sensitive setting, which is for people with sensitive teeth or gums. The next setting is the max care setting, and this is the ultimate cleaning for your teeth. It usually takes about three minutes for the best benefit. Finally, there is the go care setting. This setting is when you want a quick brushing in between meals. So dish out that old toothbrush and contact Dream Smile Dental for more info on the Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush.

First of all, sleep apnea is a common condition among Americans today. So if you are one of those 12 to 18 million people who have sleep apnea there is no need to worry, solutions are available for the condition. The biggest concern for sleep apnea sufferers is the worry whether there is a link between sleep apnea and tooth decay. While there is a bit of controversy surrounding the subject, with some arguing that there is a link, but others disputing the fact, Dream Smile Dental has the facts.
 
People with sleep apnea frequently sleep with their mouth open. This can lead to their saliva drying out and they wake up in the morning with a dry mouth. In fact it is not unusual for sufferers to go to bed with a glass of water besides their bed. The reason salvia is so important is that saliva has a protective effect on the teeth. It keeps the acidity of the mouth regulated and helps protect against bacterial infection. In the absence of saliva the teeth are less well protected against the bacteria that can cause tooth decay. The bacteria can exist in plaque and they cause damage by releasing acids that breakdown the protective enamel of the tooth.
 
So how can you try to prevent these problems? Well we know that just closing your mouth isn't as easy as it sounds, so first try to find out if there is a particular position that causes your mouth to stay open. Some people find that sleeping on their back tends to make their symptoms worse, so switching to your side is a good alternative.
 
Remember practicing good oral hygiene during the day is a good idea to reduce the number of problem causing bacteria in your mouth. This means brushing at least twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash.

Everyone likes to have a bright, white smile and teeth whitening is a great way to achieve a beautiful smile that you can enjoy. There are many things that dull or yellow our teeth such as age, as well as stains such as coffee, tobacco and food. But thanks to breakthrough science teeth whitening offers several benefits.
 
DSD’s teeth whitening method will remove any stains that are on your teeth, including the deep ones that you can't get rid of at home with an over the counter teeth whitener. Plus, the level of whitening can be adjusted to your own special needs. You can even do this at home at your convenience, or in just an hour or two in the office, it is your choice. There are many professional teeth whitening systems that are affordable, and can be done at the dentist or there are home kits that are powerful teeth whitening treatments.
 
Another teeth whitening benefit is that it is easy and painless to do. Just because it is associated with the dentist doesn’t mean it will be a drill or something. No, it is nothing like going to the dentist to have a tooth pulled or filled and having to take a shot. It doesn't hurt and there is no need for anesthetics that numb your mouth and taste bad. There is no need to fear going to Dream Smile Dentist to have your teeth whitened.
 
Everyone wants a beautiful white smile. However, not everyone is naturally blessed with white teeth, and as they begin a treatment they quickly begin to see the teeth whitening benefits. With all of the methods currently available, it is important that you choose a teeth whitening method that works best for you and your lifestyle.

The Pure Power Mouth Guard. Everyday its use increases from recreational athletes to professional. And as it stands now it is sweeping professional sports. The mouth guard is the outgrowth of a branch of dentistry known as neuromuscular dentistry.

Neuromuscular dentists, like Dream Smile Dentists'  own Dr. Ronkin and Dr. Swartzman focus on a particular portion of the anatomy, the temporomandibular joint, or known as TMJ. The TMJ is the joint where the jaw meets the skull, and, is the possible center of many complicated problems that can range throughout the body. Dentists believe that they say that because the TMJ is a complicated intersection of muscles, nerves, tendons, and other soft tissues, problems located there can have far-ranging symptoms. Some of these symptoms are spine misalignment, shoulder, back or neck pain, facial pain, headaches with migraine intensity. On top of it all they say, as many as 30 % of the population suffers from problems in the TMJ, known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD for short.

Because TMD can affect the position of the spine and can lead to muscle pain and stiffness, treatment of the condition can reverse those conditions, leading to an improvement over people's performance when they are suffering from TMD. The Pure Power Mouthguard was developed by Dr. Makkar. First starting this product on athletes since they wear mouth pieces anyway to protect their teeth, he eventually got amateur and professional athletes to try the new mouthpiece, and they reported improved performance. The Pure Power Mouthguard has said to improve performance even in athletes like Terrell Owens and Michael Redd.

There are times when going to the dentist can be a hassle or uncomfortable. Well fret no more, because at  Dream Smile Dental we make your visit enjoyable and pleasant. One of the ways we can accommodate your needs is by offering sedation dentistry. It's safe and painless and very beneficial. One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes, when in fact it might have taken hours to perform. Complex dental procedures such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments. Making this option less expensive and your visit to the dentist not filled with anxiety.

Say you've been thinking about changing your smile, and you are reluctant to change the appearance of your smile because you are afraid or anxious about undergoing long or complicated dental procedures. Well Dream Smile Dental's sedation dentistry can make you feel comfortable during the treatment process and help you achieve a smile you can be proud of.

Also, because sedation dentistry knocks out some of the fears that keep people from going to the dentist on a regular basis, sedation dentistry patients are more likely to receive recommended routine care. As a result, they are less likely to neglect their oral health  or allow oral health problems to build to the point when drastic dental treatments become necessary. So not only does sedation dentistry make your procedure quick and easy, but it can prevent other complications that might arouse from irregular visits to the dentist.

There are a number of causes of gum disease, each of which can be corrected and controlled. The causes of gum disease include:

Improper Dental Hygiene: If plaque is not removed through daily dental hygiene practices and regular professional dental cleanings, bacteria may set in and cause gingivitis, which may eventually result in gum disease.

Organic Changes in the Mouth: Changes that occur in metabolism and hormone levels during pregnancy, puberty and menopause may affect the organic balance in the mouth, and make teeth more susceptible to gum disease.

Medical Conditions: Serious conditions that affect the body's ability to produce sugar (such as diabetes or kidney disease) may contribute to periodontal disease. Furthermore, the Center for Disease Control has found an association between certain illnesses (including diabetes, stroke and heart attack) and gum disease. Finally, medications used to treat medical conditions may produce the overgrowth of gums. Overgrown gums are more susceptible to bacteria, and therefore gum disease.

Saliva Flow Inhibitors: Certain medications that produce oral side effects or dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia) may contribute to a reduction of protective saliva flow, and potentially to gum disease. Seniors may be more susceptible to dry mouth syndrome because of the natural reduction of salivary flow associated with age.

Poor Functional Habits: Teeth grinding or clenching may impair the surrounding tissue and is a possible contributor to gum disease.

Dental hygiene, also known as oral hygiene, is the process by which preventative dental care is provided to avoid dental emergencies. At the core of dental hygiene is the in-home dental care regimen you perform. Your at-home regimen is supplemented with professional preventative dental care provided by dentists and licensed dental hygienists.

While you are responsible for day-to-day dental maintenance, dental hygienists, along with general dentists, family dentists and cosmetic dentists, play an integral role in preventative oral care.

Tooth brushing is fundamentally important, though it alone will not remove the calculus (also called tartar or dental plaque) that builds up over time. Calculus must be removed to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease or even the loss of all your teeth. By removing calculus, you can reduce your chances of needing root canals, tooth extractions, dental bridges, crowns and more.

Comparing dental crowns and porcelain veneers

There are characteristics associated with both porcelain veneers and dental crowns that, in general, make one or the other more suitable for certain situations. Here are some of the factors we take into consideration when determining which type of dental restoration would be the more ideal choice for your situation. Keep in mind not all cases or situations are ideal and one solution maybe the only viable choice.

Dental Crowns:

• Can be used to produce significant color and shape changes for a tooth.
• Are often used to rebuild teeth that are badly broken or decayed.
• Are very strong. Dental crowns are a good choice in those situations where the tooth is subject to significant chewing and biting forces or else tooth clenching and grinding.
• Require a significant amount of tooth reduction when made.
• Once a crown has been made for a tooth the tooth will always require a dental crown.

Porcelain Veneers:

• Can be used to produce significant color and minor shape changes for a tooth.
• Are placed on teeth whose underlying tooth structure is generally healthy and intact.
• Are strong but brittle. Porcelain veneers typically do best in those situations where the occlusal forces they are subject to are somewhat passive.
• Typically require much less tooth reduction than dental crowns.
• For all practical purposes, once a porcelain veneer has been made for a tooth, the tooth will always require a veneering of some type, although this could be another porcelain veneer, possibly another form of tooth veneering, or else the tooth could be further reduced and a dental crown placed.