Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Canton, MA May 2012. Dream Smile Dental is pleased to announce the incorporation of AvaDent™ Digital Dentures into the practice. As one of a select number of dental practices to offer this breakthrough, digital, CAD/CAM technology, Dream Smile Dental can now create an AvaDent Digital Denture with a precise, computer fit, in just two appointments.

Traditional dentures can take as many as five or more appointments and still not have the patient advantages found with AvaDent. The AvaDent process starts with one convenient record taking appointment to capture the patient’s exact features. The information is then sent to AvaDent’s Scottsdale, AZ facility where it is imputed into a computer, digitally designed and precision milled from a compressed, pre-shrunk disk of acrylic.

In addition to the precision fit and two appointment convenience, AvaDents are more bacteria resistant than traditional fabricated dentures to help eliminate sore spots and “denture breath”. And because AvaDents are digital, each one has a permanent digital record so if they are ever lost or broken they can be replaced quickly and easily without the patient even coming into the practice.

“With AvaDent our patients can regain their youthful smile with the natural look and feel they may have thought they had lost forever,” said Dr. Evetta Shwartzman owner of Dream Smile Dental. “We tell our patients that with AvaDent you can have a smile that is virtually you!”

Dream Smile Dental is located at 2184 Washington St. Canton, MA, 02021.

On April 10th 2012, Dream Smile Dental will hold drawings for up to 10 FREE In-office teeth whitening procedures. Everyone who “likes” Dream Smile Dental on Facebook is automatically entered into the drawing.

For every 100 “likes”, we will draw one winner. If we reach 500 “likes” we will draw 5 “FREE Whitening winners”, if we reach 1000 “likes” we will draw 10 “FREE Whitening winners”.

Like Dream Smile Dental on Facebook and get your friends to “Like” it as well to increase your chances of winning. The more likes, the more FREE Whitening procedures will be given away!

Why Teeth Whitening? Over time, your teeth change color as a result of age, habits or from what you eat and drink. Teeth whitening brightens discolored or stained teeth and gives you back the natural smile of your youth.

Your smile is your first impression. One of the first things you notice when you meet someone is their smile. A self confident, white smile allows you the self assurance you deserve in social and business situations. Now you can have that bright natural looking smile too, like us on Facebook.

Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. Those who suffer from cold sores often suffer from them regularly. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and for many people, cold sores can be very painful.

Traditional treatment with pills and ointments may get rid of cold sores, but only 1 to 2 days faster. Pills and ointments can help ease the pain from the blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms. However, often the worst part of cold sores are the sores themselves. Many find them embarrassing. For this, pills and ointments do not always help.

Laser treatment for a cold sore is a fast, painless procedure. It can be performed by one of the dentists or hygienists at Dream Smile Dental on any cold sore lesion on the lips. Treatment of the cold sore during the “tingly feeling" stage can prevent the cold sore from progressing to the “full bloom" stage. Treatment after the blister has formed will greatly reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the outbreak. Laser treatment will also significantly reduce the chances of another cold sore recurring in the area that was treated.

The first symptoms of cold sores may include pain around your mouth and on your lips, a fever, a sore throat, or swollen glands. They will disappear in a couple weeks, but if this is too long for you or if you suffer from frequent or even occasional cold sore break outs, this treatment is for you!

Doctors believe that there are more than 18 million people living with sleep apnea and many of them are undiagnosed. Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night.

More men than women have sleep apnea, but in women the incidences increase after menopause, most likely as a result of hormonal changes.

Obviously sleep apnea disrupts your sleep, however undiagnosed sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke, memory problems and diabetes.

Watch for these signs that you may have sleep apnea:

• Loud or chronic snoring - Snoring is a milder form of airway obstruction. If you’re snoring loudly, chronically and keeping your partner awake, it could be a sign of sleep apnea and you should talk to a sleep apnea dentist.
• You gasp for air – Sleep apnea suffers commonly pause in breathing. Those pauses are often followed by gasping, choking or snorting. In severe cases, you may experience frenzied gasps for air every 15 to 30 seconds throughout the night.
• Exhausted all day – Poor sleeping at night leads to sleepiness during the day. But this is one of the most often overlooked signs of sleep apnea. If you’re spending seven to nine hours in bed per night and still feel sleepy during the day, it could be a sign of sleep apnea.
• High blood pressure - Sleep apnea is linked to hypertension. When you stop or pause in breathing, this causes your blood pressure to spike.
• Use the restroom often at night – This could be linked to aging, but it is also a classic sign of sleep apnea. The stress on your body caused by not breathing triggers a full-bladder sensation.
• Wake up with a headache - Frequent pauses in breathing during the night decrease the oxygen levels in the brain, causing pain.

If you suffer from all or some of these signs, the best thing to do is to contact Dream Smile Dental, a sleep apnea dentist, and schedule a consultation. We will do some diagnostic tests in the office and then most likely send you home with a sleep monitor. This will give us the necessary information to determine the level of sleep apnea you suffer from and be able to recommend the ideal treatment option for you.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and three local professionals will donate their time to speak to parents about important health issues and answer questions that concern you.

• Address your dental questions and concerns
• Find out if your child needs braces
• Learn about common misdiagnoses of ADHD and other behavioral disorders that can be eliminated by the right bite to increase brain function
• Find out how Bed Wetting, Ear infections and Sleep Apnea are Dental Related
• Learn about the importance of mouth guards in sports

Speakers: Konstantin Ronkin DMD, LVIF. Courtney Wager RDH. Wes Barton DMD.

The Event will take place at The JFK Elementary School in Canton. 100 Dedham St. Canton, MA 02021. For more information Click Here or Call (781) 330-0900.

Play Am I Wearing Invisalign with the DSD Girls on our Facebook Page for a chance to Win a FREE Just Released Sonicare Diamond Electric Toothbrush!

Answer "YES" or "No" on each photo. Anyone who guesses all 5 correctly enters a drawing to win a FREE Just Released Sonicare Diamond Electric Toothbrush.

Problem: Tooth Decay

Also known as cavities, tooth decay occurs when plaque is allowed to linger on teeth for too long.

Who can suffer from tooth decay? Anyone can get a cavity, but children and older people are the most prone. The incidence among children has been declining, because of the increased use of fluoride toothpastes, but more than half of all children have cavities by the second grade. Older adults are prone to cavities at the root because protective gum tissue often pulls away.

What to do: Brush with a fluoride toothpaste and floss every day. Children can also benefit from sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of their back teeth as soon as their adult molars come in. Older people should be vigilant and those who have a tendency toward dry mouth should receive regular fluoride treatments from a dentist. They should also use a fluoride-containing mouth wash.

Problem: Gum Disease

A bacterial infection caused by plaque that attacks the gums, bone, and ligaments that keep your teeth in place. The early stage is known as gingivitis, the advanced stage is called periodontitis.

Who can suffer from gum disease: Everyone. It is estimated that half of all adults have some signs of gingivitis. Most at risk are people with poor oral hygiene; those with a systemic disease, such as diabetes, and smokers. Women also have a tendency to develop gingivitis during pregnancy. Other risk factors are stress, which weakens the immune system, and genes.

What to do: See a dentist regularly. Let your dentist know if your gums feel tender or bleed. Gingivitis can be reversed with regular brushing and flossing. To combat periodontitis, a dentist or periodontist may perform a deep cleaning around the teeth and below the gum lines and prescribe medication to combat the infection. If the disease has progressed to affect your gums and bone, your dentist might suggest surgery, such as a gum graft.

Problem: Tooth Infection

The pulp inside the tooth is damaged or becomes infected because of decay or injury. The root canal, which connects the top pulp chamber to the tip of the root, may become infected, too.

Who’s at risk: Anyone with a deep cavity or a cracked tooth, which can let in bacteria. An injured tooth can have a problem even if it's not visibly cracked or chipped.

What to do: If you feel pain in or around a tooth, see your dentist. He may refer you to an endodontist, who specializes in root-canal procedures. In one to three visits, the dentist will perform a root canal. He will remove the pulp, clean the pulp chamber and root canal, then fill the tooth. Finally, he may seal the tooth with a porcelain or gold crown.

Problem: Enamel Erosion

Exposure to acid, primarily from soda or citrus drinks, can wear down the surface of the teeth, making them rounded and discolored.

Who’s at risk: Anyone who drinks lemonade, soda and diet soda, or sports drinks all day.

What to do: If necessary, teeth can be restored with bonding materials. But to prevent further damage, you have to change your habits. If the cause is soft drinks switch to water. Second best is to drink sodas with a full meal, then follow with a tooth brushing, sugarless gum, or a gargle with water.

Your child’s teeth and smile are important for more reasons than just aesthetics. Your child needs to develop good dental habits, and proper care of their teeth and gums begins with you. Caring for your child’s mouth includes brushing and rinsing, routine dental exams, and any necessary dental treatments. This can include fluoride, extractions, fillings, or braces and more.

Your child’s overall good health is affected by healthy teeth and gums. Poorly developed and teeth can result in poor nutrition, painful and dangerous infections, and problems with speech development, not to mention self-image.

Proper care of a Child’s Teeth

• The child's teeth and gums should be brushed at least twice daily and especially before bed.
• Your child should see a dentist every 6 months.
• When your child gets permanent teeth, they should begin flossing every night before bed.
• When your child reaches the age of 6, braces and other orthodontic appliances may be needed to prevent long-term problems.

For a pediatric dental visit, contact Dream Smile Dental or call (781) 330-0900.

Why does Starbucks sell 256 thousand gallons of coffee every day? Because the average American generally doesn’t get enough sleep and needs to compensate in order to stay focused throughout the day. Although coffee is a temporary solution, the root of the problem is not really being addressed and we’re missing out on the benefits of a good sleep.

When a person gets the necessary 7 hours of good sleep, there are effects that occur which include enhanced concentration, enhanced mood, reduction of stress effects, optimized immune system and increased pain inhibition. Simply put, good sleep makes us healthier. In fact, it even makes the flu shot work better.

So how do we get this good sleep so we can avoid the ample caffeine intake and the fatigued feeling throughout the day? Well first we have to assess the reason why we’re lacking this sleep. In most cases it’s some form of sleep apnea. This is defined as a disorder in which breathing halts briefly but repeatedly during sleep. Although this sounds like something one would know they experienced, most people don’t even realize they do this.

Snoring is the most common sign that a person suffers from sleep apnea which explains why 23% of sleep partners sleep in separate rooms. But before you send your partner to the couch, consider that they may need to see a dentist that specializes in sleep apnea. Not only because of the daily drowsiness, lack of concentration and lowered immune system, but also because sleep apnea leads to serious health issues. These issues include respiratory disease, stroke and heart attack according to sleep apnea dentist Evetta Shwartzman D.M.D.

A CPAP (machine that forces oxygen through a face mask during sleep) used to be the only way to treat sleep apnea and it still is for severe cases. For less severe cases, a comfortable mouth guard is available that is worn at night. Referred to as The SomnoDent, this guard fits the teeth in such a way that it actually opens up the airway. This allows for more oxygen to enter the body and minimizes lack of breath events throughout the night.

As a result, you wake up feeling more rejuvenated, experience less stress and build up your immune system to handle sickness. More importantly, this actually prolongs your life. By minimizing your chances of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, you’re more likely to live a longer and healthier life.

For photos and more information please contact: Diana@dreamsmiledental.com or call (781) 330-0900.

One of your resolutions this New Year may be to get fit, or in some other way improve your appearance. Well if it is more than just your weight or the shape of your body you want to improve, perhaps your smile needs a lift. Cosmetic Dentistry or Teeth Whitening may be an answer for you.

Through teeth whitening, the goal is a natural bright smile, not a startling white smile. The objective of teeth whitening, or other cosmetic dentistry procedures is to have your peers wonder “what has changed” about you.

Your coworkers and your family will ask if you’ve lost weight, have you had your hair done, is that a new outfit?

With less work and less money, you can affect your appearance and instantly have more self confidence than you have ever had. Dream Smile Dental was the first dental office in New England to introduce Laser Teeth Whitening; we have had over 15 years of whitening experience. Rather than attempting over-the-counter whitening methods, you should consult your dentist, because it is possible that bonding or porcelain veneers could be the better solution to your specific case.

Contact Dream Smile Dental in Canton for information and a consultation for your cosmetic dentistry or teeth whitening needs.