General Dentistry Archives - Page 7 of 7

Cosmetic Dentistry Explained

Cosmetic dentistry is getting more popular than ever. A beautiful smile is recognized as an asset to health and success and is important to most people. Please know that while the American Dental Association does not classify cosmetic dentistry as a specialty of training, cosmetic dentists spend thousands of hours training in the art and through education and experience become extremely skilled and well regarded in this field of dentistry. The difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry is that the procedures done are entirely elected for and approved by the patient. Patients must be well informed and ask questions such … Read more…

Fixing a Gummy Smile – What are my options?

Patients often ask if veneers or braces are the right option for them to correct a “gummy smile.” When you come into our office for an free initial consultation, Dr. Ken Cirka and Dr. Jessica Meier will evaluate your smile and see how to best achieve perfection. “Actually there are several options and considerations that we dentists have to take into consideration to fix this problem,” Dr. Cirka says. Many times when we evaluate patients a main concern is their “gummy smile.” They may feel that their teeth appear small or their gums show too much when they laugh. There is … Read more…

10 Ways to Prevent Tooth Sensitivity

There are many different causes for tooth sensitivity. Teeth are considered sensitive when you have something hot, cold, sour or sweet and it causes sensitivity, discomfort or even pain, ranging from a quick zing to a lasting throbbing feeling. Unfortunately this is quite a common problem that people suffer from. We’ve listed the different causes below to help you prevent tooth sensitivity in the future or help you narrow down the reason for sensitivity you may be experiencing today. 1. Over using mouthwash. When used properly, mouthwash is a great tool for helping to keep the oral cavity healthy. … Read more…

5 Ways to Keep Healthy – Starting with your teeth!

The gums and the teeth are frequently overlooked important areas of our health. Not only will healthy teeth give you a beautiful smile, they will increase your quality of life. Protect Your Teeth If you are an active athlete then it is highly recommended you protect your teeth with a mouth guard. This can prevent major damage to the teeth. Additionally if you are clenching or grinding your teeth then you need protection while you sleep. Clenching and grinding can also cause major headaches and jaw pain. The dentist will make you a night guard that will protect the teeth from significant … Read more…

12 Signs of Oral Cancer – When to be concerned?

Patients ask us dentists about oral cancer, mouth cancer, and oral cancer symptoms and how alcohol, tobacco and smoking contributes to forming cancers. This information will be helpful to you. Oral cancer presents itself in many different ways. Below are some of the most common ways that they appear: – Red and white patches in the mouth or lips – Lumps or swelling on the gums, lips, cheeks, and at the back of the throat – Non-healing of a sore in the mouth or lips – Unexplained weight loss – Difficulty in speaking, chewing, or swallowing – Swollen lymph nodes in … Read more…

How Important Is Flossing, Really?

Patients often ask, “Is flossing really that important? I do brush two times a day!” Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste is an extremely important way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If you are doing this now, that is wonderful news to hear! Even though brushing is an important step in proper hygiene maintenance, just doing this twice a day may not stop you from getting cavities. Brushing the plaque from the tooth is helpful, but it is nearly impossible to get all of it this way. Even patients with the best toothbrush techniques may … Read more…

Dental Visit for the New Year

We dentists often get asked “DO I REALLY NEED TO HAVE A DENTAL EXAM?” Here are the reasons why you need to be healthy for 2016! Avoid Major Dental Work You can save time and money when we dentists see something small that can be fixed quickly and easily with no discomfort. The longer you wait, the bigger the problem (and expense) it becomes. Protect Your Heart With regular cleaning and checkups, we dentists and our hygienists can identify and treat gum disease in its early stages, or even prevent it from developing in the first place. This inflammation leads to … Read more…

You and Your Toothpaste

With all many types of toothpaste on the market today, choosing the right one for you could be confusing, “I get tons of questions about toothpaste every day. I hope that I can clarify what to use and what not to use’,” says Dr. Cirka. Actually, “Toothpaste” may not always be paste! Toothpaste can come in many different forms powder, gel or paste. Many people may remember when paste was actually a powder, but rarely do you see it in mainstream America. According to the ADA, American Dental Association, toothpaste is vital to ones oral health due to fighting off gum disease by helping to remove plaque. Fluoride, which is in most toothpaste is the key component which fights tooth decay as well as boost tooth enamel.