Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

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.

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.

There are many dental procedures, but it may be the root canal that has the worst reputation of them all. And because of its reputation, at Dream Smile Dental we get lots of questions about them.

It is important to know that very few root canals are painful, very few deserve their reputation. We often get asked, “Will I be in pain during or after the root canal?”

During the root canal treatment your mouth and gums will be entirely numb; you will feel nothing. After the root canal, patients are rarely in pain. There are a few extreme cases, and in those cases, the dentists at Dream Smile will prescribe you something for the pain.

Because of the reputation of the root canal procedure, many patients will say, “well, I don’t feel any pain; can’t I wait on receiving a root canal?”

Unfortunately, the answer is no. It is never a good idea to wait on any needed dental treatment, especially a root canal. If you require a root canal, it needs to be done as soon as possible in order to prevent further infection. The infection can spread too, and really complicate your health, sometimes seriously.

Lastly, we often have people wondering if their insurance company will cover a root canal procedure. But we can’t answer that question. Every insurance plan is set up differently. Therefore various procedures are covered differently according to their fee schedule. Dream Smile Dental works with most insurance plans. To find out what your plan will specifically cover, contact us.

There are many people who are in need of dental health appointments w ho have a fear or phobia of the dentist’s office. Because of their fear, they have neglected their oral health.

Oral health is directly related to other health issues, and poor oral health can exacerbate existing health issues. For those people who suffer from fear or phobia of the dentist, sedation dentistry may be a viable option.

Also called relaxation or sleep dentistry, its a safe and painless way to reduce patient anxiety. Don’t let the name fool you however, you won’t actually be asleep. At Dream Smile Dental, we will provide you with sedation so you will feel comfortable yet awake, and you will feel no pain throughout the course of your dental treatment.

Sedation Dentistry is an effective and extremely safe way for patients with phobias to receive the dental care they so need. Our team and Sedation Dentists are specially trained to offer you sedation and closely monitor your progress during your dental treatment.

Contact Dream Smile Dental to find out if you are a candidate for Sedation Dentistry.

For missing teeth there is a way now to have a permanent and natural looking replacement. Missing teeth are detrimental to your overall health and your own self confidence. Replace one or many missing teeth with dental implants for a healthy and confident new smile.

Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures are not your only options when replacing missing teeth. Dental Implants vary from other solutions because with the proper dental hygiene and care, they function as a normal, natural tooth. Proper oral hygiene will help keep your implants and your mouth healthy.

Dental implants, an effective method to replace one tooth or several teeth, consist of a metal anchor that is inserted into the jawbone, and a protruding post is outfitted with an artificial tooth which replaces the missing tooth both cosmetically and structurally.

The process of integration of the implants into your jaw helps your replacement teeth feel more natural, restoring functionality and improving appearance. Patients find the secure fit of their new tooth very comfortable which gives them more confidence. A smile with confidence is a natural and healthy looking smile.

Contact Dream Smile Dental to see if you are a candidate for dental implants.

At Dream Smile Dental we believe in what we do. We are confident that you will be happy with your dental care. In fact we are so sure; we would like you to refer a friend (or two).

When you refer a friend you will receive a $25 gift card to Dream Smile Dental and your friend will receive an exam, a professional dental cleaning and polishing, all necessary dental x-rays and a dental consultation for only $99.
 
If you are new to Dream Smile, and you want to try us out on your own, print out the coupon and receive the same discounted services. You are in for a surprise though; Dream Smile isn’t your regular dentists office.

At Dream Smile Dental, we want your visits to our office to be as pleasant as possible. Our goal is to create an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation that is so enjoyable, you'll look forward to each and every dentist appointment you make with us.

For extended dental procedures, we provide our patients with hot/cold neck cushions for added comfort and support. Patients receiving a BrightSmile teeth whitening procedure or a long appointment are treated to a heated massage pad on the chair and can select a DVD from our movie library while they visit.

Our goal at Dream Smile Dental is to deliver the best dental care to all our patients. Contact us and see for yourself what a different kind of dentist can do for you.

Does your teen need braces? Invisalign teen may be able to help. At Dream Smile Dental we have a special on Invisalign just for your family. Save $1200 on two invisalign treatments, either two family members or you and a friend. But there is more. When you start your invisalign teen treatment during the promo dates, you can also get free in-office whitening at any point during your Invisalign treatment.

Invisalign is comfortable, affordable and effective. Best of all, Invisalign is invisible. Invisalign uses clear removable aligners so your teen can continue brushing and flossing the way they normally do.

Because there are no brackets or wires, your teen will have the confidence of a great smile even while their teeth are being treated. Don’t worry about them losing the aligners. You get up to six free replacement aligners.

Your teen doesn’t have to suffer, or be uncomfortable. With free teeth whitening during the Invisalign process, they’ll have a happy, confident smile for the school photo.

This Back-to-school special runs through November 11th. Contact Dream Smile Dental for more information.

Whether it is a first date or a business meeting, you need all of your tools and assets at your disposal. A self-confident smile should be one of those tools. With technology come choices that can help you smile with confidence.

Even the smallest change to your smile can affect the way you look and feel about yourself. Consider teeth whitening. But consider it the right way.

Over-the-counter whiteners are a bit of a cumbersome process that generally only whitens the front 6 teeth. Whitening toothpastes and rinses have minimal effect on the stained or yellowed teeth.

Teeth Whitening done at the dentist’s office is much more controlled, is easier to use, and produces better results. All toothpastes help remove surface stains and some whitening toothpastes contain gentle polishing or chemical agents. These have more stain removal effectiveness.

But these whitening toothpastes help remove surface stains only, they can lighten your tooth's color by about one shade. In contrast, light-activated whitening conducted at Dream Smile Dental can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter. In-office dental bleaching provides the quickest way to whiten teeth.

Call Dream Smile Dental at 781-330-0900 to schedule your teeth whitening consultation.

Several medications are available to help create more relaxed, comfortable dental visits. Some drugs control pain, some help you relax, and others put you into a deep sleep during dental treatment. You and your dentist can discuss many things when deciding which drugs to use for your treatment: the type of procedure, your overall health, history of allergies and your anxiety level. Working together you and the dentist can choose the most appropriate way to make your dental visit as comfortable as possible.

Providing you with high-quality, appropriate care and making your dental visit as comfortable as possible are top priorities for Dream Smile Dental. Advances in dental techniques and medications can reduce discomfort during dental visits. Sedatives can be administered before, during or after dental procedures.

Sedation dentistry is also called relaxation or sleep dentistry. Anti-anxiety medicines, such as nitrous oxide, or sedatives can help you relax during dental visits and often may be used along with local anesthetics. Dentists also can use these agents to induce "minimal or moderate sedation," so the patient achieves a relaxed state during treatment. At Dream Smile, the type of sedation we do is called oral conscious sedation.

Sedation Dentistry is effective and extremely safe. Our team and Sedation Dentists are specially trained to offer you sedation and closely monitor your progress during your dental treatment. Dream Smile Dental uses pain and anxiety control techniques to treat many patients safely every year. Understanding the range of choices that are available to relieve anxiety and discomfort makes you well-informed. If you have questions or concerns about your oral health care, don't hesitate to talk to us.

What is TENS?

Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) is a term given to battery operated instruments that provide a gentle painless electrical stimulus through the skin to nerve pathways. At Dream Smile Dental, we use ultra-low frequency TENS to deliver a stimulus through the nerve pathways of the head and neck. These gently exercise the muscles controlled by those nerves, and causes the muscles of the head and neck to relax.

How are muscles related to dentistry?

Head, neck and jaw muscles play a very important role in your dental health. Different muscles come into play for posturing, opening, and closing the jaw and swallowing. The muscles that keep your jaw from falling open are small and go from the jaw upward through the cheeks, into the forehead and around the ear. If your teeth don’t fit together properly, these muscles are over-worked. Subconsciously holding these muscles tense for a long time can result in muscles spasms, and tension. Tense muscles restrict blood flow and oxygen to those muscles, and also prevent the washing away of waste products like lactic acid. This eventually leads to headaches or other head and neck pain.

Can’t I just relax these muscles?

No. If your teeth don’t fit together correctly, you subconsciously hold your jaw in a position that often causes muscled tension. It is very difficult to change this on your own and often requires a lot of training. Ultra low frequency TENS relax the muscles of the head and neck.

How does it work?

Electrodes are placed on your skin over the nerves controlling the muscles of the head and neck. The TENS unit is attached to these electrodes. It delivers mild stimulus to those nerves every 1.5 seconds. This causes the muscles to react, and it causes the rhythmic exercising of the muscle. As time passes, these muscles begin to relax and blood flow through them is increased. Because it is repetitive it causes the rhythmic exercising of the muscle. As time passes, these muscles begin to relax and blood flow increases clearing away lactic acid build up and producing healthier more relaxed muscles, resulting in comfort and relief. In most cases, the muscles become relaxed after 45-60 minutes.

When does Dream Smile prescribe TENS?

If we are treating you for a dental issue where we want to relax the head and neck muscles in order to find your best bite, TENS is applied in the office. However, there are occasions when we will prescribe a small TENS unit for home use called the BNS-40. This is a much smaller version of the office  unit which applies the same stimulus to the muscles.

We may prescribe the home unit for the following:

•   To relax your muscles before you come to the office for dental treatment or analysis.
•   To relieve muscle tension pain.
•   To determine whether relaxation of your facial and neck muscles will lead to pain relief.