Archive for June, 2011

Question: What special considerations should be given to the pregnant patient when they undergo dental care? Answer: The goal of dental care during pregnancy is to provide the necessary services without causing any adverse effects to the mother or the developing baby. Any extensive or elective treatment should be postponed whenever possible. However, avoiding  necessary [...]

Question: Can I use baking soda to brush my teeth instead of toothpaste? Answer: Baking Soda, sodium bicarbonate, is one of the least abrasive and most effective tooth cleaners on the market today. Date from various clinical and lab studies show that a toothpaste containing baking soda neutralizes acids and odors, removes plaque and deep [...]

Question: Why would someone need a bridge? Answer: Reasons for having a bridge include: maintaining your appearance, your dental health, and proper function of your mouth. The loss of a back tooth can cause your cheeks to sink in as you get older, resulting in a much older appearance. Additionally, when you have an empty [...]

Question: What are bridges? Answer: Bridges are dental restorations designed to replace the areas where there are one or more missing teeth. There are two basic types of bridges. One is a fixed bridge ( which gets bonded or cemented into place ) and the other is a removable bridge  ( which can be taken [...]

Question: How can you lower your risk for oral cancer? Answer: Most oral cancer is preventable. Approximately 75% of oral cancers are related to the use of tobacco and alcohol. If you are among those using both, your risk becomes much greater than if you were using each substance alone. In order to decrease your [...]

Question: What are the warning signs for Oral Cancer? Answer: The two types of lesions that could be the precursors to cancer are White Lesions (called Leukoplakia) and Red Lesions (called Erythroplakia). The res lesions are less common, but they have a much greater potential to become cancerous. If a red or white lesion does [...]

Question: What are Night Guards, and why are they important? Answer: It has been well stated that a smile is one’s greatest asset, yet it is not always safe guarded as such. Whether you have all natural teeth, or have just spent a small fortune restoring or cosmetically enhancing your smile, a night guard may [...]

Question: Why is saliva so important? Answer: Saliva is the mouth’s lubricant. It coats all the soft tissue in the mouth bathes the teeth to help prevent against cavities and infections, and aids in the digestion of food. When someone has a compromised flow of saliva, various health problems can result. With diminished salivary flow, [...]