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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Do You Need a Root Canal?

For many people who worry about dental treatment, the mere mention of the words "root canal" can provoke reactions of fear and distress. However the procedure sounds a lot worse than it is, and while it is a slightly involved process, it is one that dentists are well versed in and necessary if you want a healthy and happy smile.

Dentists opt for a root canal treatment of your tooth after the nerve from the soft pulp centre of your tooth becomes diseased. If the dentist does nothing, this tooth can then rot from the inside out, destroying the tooth beyond repair, and sometimes impacting neighboring teeth. You may be unaware that there is a problem as, while sometimes you experience acute pain when it is infected, other times the nerve can die without pain being present. If the nerve has died then the dentist needs to remove the nerve and the inside parts of you tooth, clean it out and fill the space with a safe filler.

While pain is not always present, pain can indicate you do need to have your tooth looked at. If you notice a tooth is particularly sensitive to hot or cold temperatures when eating or if you feel any pain when biting or chewing it's a good idea to get it looked at. Any swelling, acute pain, throbbing or discovering the tooth has become discolored, are further important issues to investigate.

It can be tempting to try to ignore a possible root canal treatment, in the hope that it will all just go away. In fact many people do ignore a short burst of acute pain, when this may have signaled internal teeth issues only a dentist can diagnose.


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Root Canals: Fact vs Myth

There are several root canal myths to be dispelled in society as follows;

• A root canal is painful. This common myth has its roots from ancient days where the procedure was done using non-advanced methods unlike today. This has been highlighted by the American Association of Endodontists. The administration of general anesthesia will numb the area and the procedure will be painless.

• Another common myth is that all root canals must be done in several appointments. This is not the case because the procedure can be completed in one or two appointments. However, there are several factors that will dictate the number of appointments including;

a) Need for referral
b) Tough root canal
c) Extent of infection

Let your dentist recommend the number of appointments after having considered your case.

• Another common myth is that a root canal treatment can cause illness such as arthritis, heart and kidney disease. Research has shown this NOT to be the case. This myth has sprouted from research done almost 100 years ago by Dr. Weston Price. In his research of 1910 to 1930, Dr. Price claimed that illness can emanate from the procedure due to infections. His claims have been refuted by modern research because there is no medical evidence to prove the same.

• Another common myth is that a tooth has to hurt to qualify for root canal. Dentists can discover teeth that are dead and recommend the treatment however painless. Therefore, screening to check the status of the tooth by the doctor is advised. Tests that are employed to check dead teeth include;


Thursday, November 18, 2010

Tooth Bonding = A Perfect Smile

Do you have rounded teeth and you would prefer them squared, or perhaps you have had an area of a tooth chipped and would like the chip fixed? Well if this is the case then you should know about dental bonding. Dental bonding can fix many problems with your teeth but one of the main purposes of the procedure is to fix or improve the shape of teeth that may be naturally rounded, chipped, or have succumb to some level of decay. If you have a chipped tooth or any of the other conditions previously mentioned then dental bonding may be the solution that you have been looking for to restore your confidence in your smile.

If you have ever felt that your teeth are less than perfect because of imperfections then dental bonding may be the answer for you. Dental Bonding can correct the appearance of many flaws in teeth. Naturally rounded teeth, chipped teeth, decayed teeth, and minor gaps can all be corrected or improved drastically with the addition of cosmetic dental bonding. Besides doing a great deal to restore confidence in the person who receives the bonding, the work is quite simple and painless and really not as drastic a procedure as you might be thinking. Really there are so many benefits and so few drawbacks to bonding that it has become a very popular procedure.

Dental bonding is essentially a material that covers the front of the tooth and a bonding material that can be used to shape and fill missing areas in your teeth. Once the materials are in place a light is used to make the materials rock hard before they are polished to the perfect shine. What remains is an incredibly natural looking area of "tooth" where there was nothing before. On a personal level I can relate information about a good friend who had some dental bonding done on his front teeth. My friend's front teeth were rather rounded on the inside and did not have a very "squared off" look when seen from the front. After he received dental bonding the area took on a natural square look that created the appearance of a normal tooth. The procedure did a great deal to improve my friend's self confidence and I am sure that it can do the same for you.


Friday, November 12, 2010

Is Tooth Bonding for You?

What is Tooth Bonding?

Tooth bonding is a composite resin filling placed in the back teeth as well as the front teeth. Composites are the solution for restoring decayed teeth, making cosmetic improvements and even changing the color of your teeth or the reshaping of teeth. Tooth bonding will lighten any stains you may have, close up minor gaps and can be used to correct crooked teeth.

Basically, bonding will cover any natural flaws applying a thin coating of a plastic material on the front surface of your teeth. After this, your cosmetic dentist will apply a tooth bonding material and sculpt, color and shape it to provide a pleasing result. A high-intensity light then hardens the plastic, and the surface is finely polished.

Tooth bonding, also known as composite or dental bonding, is an excellent way to fix cosmetic and structural imperfections in the teeth. Tooth bonding can repair cracked, chipped, and discolored teeth as well as replace silver amalgam fillings. Cosmetic tooth bonding can also repair misaligned teeth, providing a straighter, more uniform smile.

Tooth Bonding Technique

Composite tooth bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that can work wonders for your smile. Using materials that match the shade, translucency and texture of your teeth, tooth gaps can be closed, spots, chips, and discolorations can be eliminated, and your self-confidence can be enhanced through the improved appearance of your smile. It''s also great for an instant repair of a broken front tooth.

The Tooth Bonding Procedure

To begin the teeth bonding procedure, the dentist selects a composite resin (dental bonding material) that matches the natural shade of your teeth. The dentist then roughens the existing tooth so the resin can adhere properly. Next, the composite resin is carefully applied to the tooth, shaped, and smoothed to achieve the desired look. It is then quickly hardened via a high intensity light. Lastly, the bonded tooth is buffed and polished so it has the same appearance as the surrounding teeth.


Saturday, November 6, 2010

Pros and Cons of Lumineers

The field of dentistry has made a number of advances. Today, the customer has a number of options to not only improve and restore normal functions of teeth, but also to improve his or her appearance. Lumineers represent one such advancement. These are commonly used to correct various dental flaws such as chipped teeth, minor misalignments, and teeth discoloration. Lumineers are an easily affordable solution for correcting all these conditions.

Lumineers offer a number of advantages. For this reason, dentists usually recommend them over porcelain veneers. If you are given the choice to select between Lumineers and porcelain veneers, your choice should always be the former. They are not only advantageous, but also less costly when compared to the latter.

One of the major advantages of using Lumineers over conventional veneers is that the surgical procedure is much simpler. It is also less painful. This is because the teeth need not be ground down to install the Lumineers. On the other hand, a layer of enamel has to be removed before placing conventional porcelain veneers.

Lumineers also cost less than conventional veneers. They usually cost 25% less than conventional veneers. A further margin arises because of the simplicity of the surgical procedure necessary to install Lumineers. However, costs will differ from dentist to dentist. Normally, Lumineers cost $1000-$2000 per tooth. The cost will depend on the condition of your teeth, fabrication costs and the dentist's fee. You may also have to pay for other overhead costs such as screening and diagnostic procedures.

One of the major disadvantages of Lumineers is that there may be a slight mismatch with the surrounding teeth. They may not blend perfectly with the neighboring teeth. This is because the teeth are not ground down and the Lumineers are installed directly or them. For this reason, they may appear a little bigger. However, experienced dental surgeons can cover this up. Mismatches occur only rarely.


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

How Much Do Lumineers Cost?

Lumineers are a very popular and attractive option, but they do come at a cost. Below, we examine the basic costs of lumineers, and also factors of your lumineers that could affect your total cost of lumineers.

First off, though you may have an inkling of what lumineers are, do you know exactly what they are? Lumineers are a higher model of porcelain veneers. Whereas porcelain veneers are pieces of porcelain surgically affixed to the front of your teeth to optimize your smile, lumineers are made of a stronger and thinner porcelain to make the procedure easier and appearance more attractive and realistic. With porcelain veneers, a patient would have to have the porcelain ground down prior to cementing the veneer to the front of their teeth- lumineers just require the cement.

The cost? The average range of lumineers to improve the color of your teeth is between $700-$1100 per tooth. The cost of lumineers is based on a number of factors inherent in lumineers. For one, the realistic and dazzling look of lumineers is noticeably better than veneers. Two, they use much more advanced porcelain materials that makes the lumineer thinner, stronger, and easier to work with. Three, the procedure is easier and more attractive to you. All things considered, most people find it is the better way to go.

What might affect the cost of lumineers above and beyond this stated cost range? Be forewarned that there could easily be more fees affixed to the cost of your procedure to have lumineers administered based on your individual teeth needs and the procedures of the office. Choose your lumineer specialist carefully- if you receive lumineers from a dentist that is not well trained, your lumineers could possibly stain or crack which will lead to more fees on top of the original expense of getting lumineers.