Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Around 37,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year - with only 45% of those diagnosed surviving more than five years. Cases of mouth cancer or oral cancer have risen by 20% in the past 30 years. It affects twice as many men as women.

Cancer is an abnormal and excessive growth of cells. Scientists are still trying to figure out all of the causes and cures of oral cancer. They do know however, that oral cancer is almost always caused by chewing tobacco. Tobacco use and prolonged, heavy alcohol drinking are the biggest risk factors, but it has also recently been determined that the presence of oral HPV is also a clear risk factor for the disease.

Recommendations for the prevention of oral cancer includes abstinence from all types of tobacco, only moderate alcohol consumption, limited exposure to UV light and use of a SPF 15 lip balm to protect against cancer of the lips. At Dream Smile Dental, we also recommend avoiding sources of oral irritation like poorly fitting dentures, eating the required daily servings of vegetables, fruits and whole-grains and regular dental checkups including an oral cancer exam.

Often, oral cancer is discovered too late, which is the main reason for the high death rate. Early detection and diagnosis is imperative in increasing life expectancy; it is 90% curable when found in the early stages. However, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages.

At Dream Smile Dental, our practice has incorporated VELscope, the most powerful tool available for the discovery of oral abnormal cell growth for up to 5 years before it rises to the surface and can be seen by the naked eye. If you are concerned, or have never been screened for oral cancer, contact us.

When it's time for New Year’s resolutions, many people resolve to be healthy. Well what about committing to your dental health? Dental health is directly related to your physical health and well being. Oral Health (teeth, gums and mouth) has a Direct Relationship to Your Overall Health

Taking care of your teeth and gums, allows your body to keep the naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth under control. However, oral infections like tooth decay and gum disease can be caused by harmful bacteria in your mouth when your dental health is neglected. This bacteria can enter your bloodstream.

Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease does not just affect your teeth. A correlation has been shown between oral diseases and conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and pre-term labor. There is no cure for periodontal disease, but Dream Smile Dental can help you maintain your current condition and provide therapy to help it from getting worse.

Resolve to maintain your dental health, contact Dream Smile Dental to jump start your health in the New Year.

Alarmingly, one American dies every hour from oral cancer, and this has remained unchanged for the last 40 years. Often, oral cancer is discovered too late in stage development, which is the main reason for the consistently high death rate.

With early detection, the chance for a cure is high. And now it is easier than ever to detect it. With early detection and diagnosis life expectancy can be increased; it is 90% curable when found in the early stages but 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages.

Most often occurring in those who use tobacco in any form, oral cancer can also occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors. Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth: the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate. It can also cause a change in the way the teeth fit together.

Signs of Oral Cancer include:

• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
• A color change of the oral tissues
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.

If you believe that you or someone you care about may have oral cancer, it is important to have that spot checked. Please contact Dream Smile Dental for a consultation.

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.

Gum health is the foundation of good oral health. For healthy teeth and gums it is important to brush regularly every day.
 
But believe it or not, some toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning and taking care of teeth and gums better than others.

Most dentists recommend Sonicare electric toothbrushes for kids and adults. Try the Sonicare FlexCare toothbrush to experience healthier gums.

Take care of your gums for life

Gum health means good oral health, yet most adults suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives. When left unattended, it can even lead to tooth loss in adults!

Sonicare FlexCare can improve your gum health in just two weeks.
FlexCare cleans along the gum line, removing plaque while stimulating gums. And less gum pain and bleeding will allow you to enjoy the brushing experience more while developing better brushing habits.

Gentle cleaning to reduce inflammation

FlexCare+ Gum Care mode provides two minutes of complete whole mouth cleaning, with one additional minute of gentle cleaning for problem areas and along the gum line. Brushing in this mode, along with proper dental professional care, improves gum health by reducing gum inflammation, recession and bleeding, in just two weeks. And Massage mode uses patented technology to drive fluids to stimulate gums, resulting in healthier gums.

Oral Health is a general topic that concerns taking care of your teeth, mouth and gums. As kids we learned that we should brush our teeth and floss regularly, but did you know that oral health has a correlation to your overall health?

You mouth is full of bacteria. Usually, taking care of your teeth and gums, and your body’s natural defense systems can keep these bacteria under control. Occasionally however, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow and cause oral infections, like tooth decay and gum disease. Also, medications or situations that reduce your saliva disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth which can make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.

Here at Dream Smile, we recommend the Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush. Its clinical studies show it to be far superior to manual toothbrushes.  Its motion creates a "high velocity dynamic fluid cleaning action" that is able to dislodge plaque under the gum line when used properly.

Also, antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce the bacterial count and stop bacterial activity in dental plaque, which can cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early, reversible form of gum disease.

Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease does not just affect your teeth. Research has shown the disease to be correlated with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even pre-term labor.  There is no cure for periodontal disease, however at Dream Smile we can help you maintain your current condition and provide therapy to help it from getting worse.

Additionally, your gums are at risk if you have diabetes because this disease reduces the body's resistance to infection. People who have problems controlling blood sugar may develop more-frequent and severe gum infections, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.

Approximately 3 out of 4 Americans have periodontal disease. This is the biggest cause of adult tooth loss. Regular brushing and flossing is important to maintain oral health along with your bodies overall health. Using the right tools and being conscientious about tooth and mouth care is the first step in maintaining the bacteria levels in your mouth.

If you suffer from or suspect you may have periodontal disease or gingivitis, contact Dream Smile Dental.

The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to turn a dull smile into a bright one. Dream Smile Dental in Canton has several options to restore teeth that are crooked, chipped, stained, have gaps or uneven gums and we have several ways to replace missing teeth.
 
Before we begin we will talk with you about what you want from your smile, and perform an exam to check your oral health. The goal of cosmetic dentistry is functionality along with enhancing beauty.
 
In planning your treatment there are specific measurements we take to achieve the best facial harmony. At Dream Smile Dental our dentists take into consideration the shape of your face, your individual teeth, and the width of your smile. Improving your smile may be as easy as a whitening process, or it could entail something more involved like placing crowns, implants, or orthodontics. We’ll make the best decisions with you about what is best for your case and answer all questions.
 
Cosmetic dentistry can enhance your confidence, increase the health of your teeth, and give you a more youthful smile. Contact us, so together we can begin to help you design a plan that gets you the smile you have always wanted.

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.
 

Dental Implants are a great option to consider for replacing missing teeth. Rather than resting a false tooth on the gum line or using adjacent teeth as anchors, implants act as long-term replacements that your periodontist fixes into the jawbone before the cosmetic dentist can place a permanent crown on top of it.
 
Tooth loss can have a far-reaching effect on your dental health and personal appearance. Dental implants are artificial replacements designed to fully replace lost teeth both in functionality and in appearance. Dental implants are very durable and have a long-lasting life. Once installed, they can last for at least 10 to 15 years or even more depending on the aftercare that is taken.

Due to new technology, it is now possible to replace missing teeth and actually implant a working and natural looking tooth. The most popular dental implants are made from titanium. Titanium is used because it has a number of properties which make it very suitable; it is very durable and is very resistant to corrosion. It is biocompatible, which means that the human immune system should not reject implants made from titanium.  Osseointegration is the process where the titanium dental implants implanted into the bone and the cells of the bone fuse with the titanium. They grow together making the implant very stable; because of this, titanium is the material of choice.
 
The first step to dental implants is where the titanium screw is implanted into the jawbone. Once the gum line heals fully, the crown is built over the titanium implant. The crown is constructed from porcelain or composite materials and is built in such a way that it matches the surrounding teeth.

Those who are fond of reading magazines and watching television are often curious how those models have such shiny white teeth. Well, there are people who are really gifted when it comes to their teeth. All they need is a little maintenance and they can have that bright smile for a long time. There are also people who have teeth that are easily broken or damaged. Some dentists say it is because of the lack of calcium in their body. However, we can all have that bright white smile by undergoing some dental procedures.

The most sought after treatments center around cosmetic dentistry, which has great benefits for people who have oral problems. Cosmetic Dentstry is proven to be very effective in restoring your smile. There are procedures that can be accomplished in a day's work but there are some processes that will take more time to accomplish .. such as those procedures that require surgery. The majority of restoration procedures are affordable and well worth the investment. Cosmetic dentists specialize in teeth whitening that can take as little as one visit. There are other procedures that are involved like dental bridges, gum surgery, veneers and implants. The presence of black spots can be solved by filling up your tooth with tooth colored fillings. We can also fix dentures, lengthen your crown, and repair cracked teeth all with the help of cosmetic dentistry.

The demand for cosmetic dentistry has sky rocketed over the past few years. Increasing your confidence can be done through cosmetic dentistry, in great thanks to the advancement of technology and science.