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.

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.

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.

Invisalign can help with many cases from simple to more complex, including crowded teeth and underbites to jaw problems to teeth misalignment.  And they're basically invisible so most people won't even notice you're wearing them.

The dentists at Dream Smile will determine if Invisalign is right for you. If so, we will take x-rays and impressions of your teeth, which Invisalign will use to create a digital 3-D image. With these images we will create a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth. Then a series of custom-made, clear aligners are created specifically for you and your mouth. These are made of a smooth, comfortable plastic.  You wear Invisalign throughout the day, and as you wear them, your teeth gradually shift gently into place.

Similar to braces, in cost, Invisalign also helps with problems like spaced teeth, cross bites, underbites, and crowded teeth. However, there are many advantages to invisalign over braces. While the results are the same, a new and confident smile, when comparing options there are many benefits to invisalign. With invisalign you can eat any foods; the aligners are removable making eating and brushing and flossing easier for better periodontal health; and the smooth comfortable plastic is easier on your cheeks and gums than metal braces. Additionally, there are less office visits than with braces. Invisalign visits range from every 4 to 6 weeks. Contact Dream Smile Dental for a consultation. See if Invisalign is right for you.

Halitosis is the technical name for bad breath. Halitosis is the third-most-frequent reason for going to the dentist, behind tooth decay and periodontal disease. The intensity of bad breath changes during the day, because of eating certain foods, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Bad breath may be transient or persistent. Transient bad breath disappears after eating, brushing, flossing, or rinsing with mouthwash.

Persistent or chronic bad breath is a more serious condition, affecting 25% of the population in varying degrees. At Dream Smile Dental, we have some tips for you to rid yourself of bad breath.

Tongue scraping- Bacteria collects on the tissue of your tongue and causes a bad odor. To avoid this, brush your tongue while brushing your teeth with your tooth brush or a tongue scraper.

Regular flossing- Bacteria can colonize in the gums between the teeth and if not removed at least once per day, an unpleasant odor can result. The solution: Floss at least once per day!

Regular hygiene visits- The hygienist uses special instruments to remove plaque and calculus leaving your teeth biologically sound. A toothbrush and floss alone, no matter how frequently used, cannot reach areas that the dental hygienist can. It’s important to attend regular hygiene visits to stop periodontal disease from developing.
 
Regular Dental Exams- Tooth decay is also a form of disease. Bacteria cause the tooth to erode which releases a foul odor. To detect any untreated decay it’s important to come in for a dental exam at least twice per year.

Regular use of alcohol-free mouthwash- Mouthwash helps lower the level of bacteria that causes bad breath. We recommend using alcohol-free mouthwash to prevent from dry-mouth.

Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol- Chewing gum helps loosen soft depositing that may accumulate on your teeth after eating and in between brushing.

The right toothbrush- An electric toothbrush is far superior in removing the bacterial layer than a manual toothbrush. Use an electric toothbrush and make sure to replace the head every 3 months.