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Posts for: January, 2018

Spice Up Your Teeth

By The Smile Spa
January 17, 2018
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   cosmetic dentistry  
SpiceUpYourTeeth

As a member of the best-selling pop group Spice Girls, Mel C (AKA Sporty Spice) enjoyed her share of musical superstardom. At the band’s peak in the Nineties, the young singer’s signature look featured baggy sweatpants, an assortment of tattoos, a nose stud and a gold-capped incisor, front and center in her mouth. Today, Melanie Chisholm is still singing — but now she’s a mom, an amateur triathlete… and that gold tooth is just a memory. Not only that, her smile looks more evenly spaced and whiter than it did when she was referred to as the “tomboy” of the group.

What happened? In our view, it all boils down to changing tastes — plus a little bit of help from dental professionals. As the “wannabe” singer proves, there’s no single standard when it comes to making your teeth look their best. Your own look is unique to you — and your smile can reflect that individuality.

For example, crowns (caps) are substantial coverings that may be placed on teeth when they are being restored. They are available in three types: gold, all-porcelain, or porcelain-fused-to-metal. The latter two are tooth-colored, while the gold is — well, shiny like gold bling. Which one is right for you? In many cases, it’s your choice.

Likewise, dental veneers — wafer-thin shells that can correct cosmetic issues by covering the surface of your teeth — can be made in a variety of shades. Their hues may range from natural ivory to Hollywood white, and everything in between. What’s the best color for you? Only you can say.

Some people opt for a “smile makeover” that uses small irregularities in the spacing and color of teeth to create a more “natural” look. Other folks want a perfectly even, brilliant white smile that dazzles the eye. Still others are looking to match or restore the smile they once had — perhaps even re-creating a signature gap between the teeth. As long as there are no other dental issues involved, the choice is yours.

So if you’re unhappy with your smile — or if you feel it doesn’t reflect the person you “wannabe” — why not talk to us about a smile makeover? Just call our office to schedule a consultation. You can learn more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Beautiful Smiles by Design” and “The Impact of a Smile Makeover.”


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Treating Gum Disease may Require Invasive Procedures

By The Smile Spa
January 02, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: gum disease   oral health  
TreatingGumDiseasemayRequireInvasiveProcedures

Periodontal (gum) disease causes more than simple gum swelling—this bacterial infection can harm and destroy your teeth’s supporting structures, including the bone. Its aggressiveness sometimes requires equally aggressive treatment.

Gum disease usually begins with dental plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles on tooth and gum surfaces. Without proper oral hygiene plaque builds up with large populations of bacteria that can trigger an infection.

The growth of this disease is often “silent,” meaning it may initially show no symptoms. If it does, it will normally be reddened, swollen and/or bleeding gums, and sometimes pain. A loose tooth is often a late sign the disease has severely damaged the gum ligaments and supporting bone, making tooth loss a distinct possibility.

If you’re diagnosed with gum disease, there is one primary treatment strategy—remove all detected plaque and calculus (tartar) from tooth and gum surfaces. This can take several sessions because as the gums begin responding to treatment and are less inflamed, more plaque and calculus may be discovered.

Plaque removal can involve various techniques depending on the depth of the infection within the gums. For surfaces above or just below the gum line, we often use a technique called scaling: manually removing plaque and calculus with specialized instruments called scalers. If the infection has progressed well below the gum line we may also use root planing, a technique for “shaving” plaque from root surfaces.

Once infection reaches these deeper levels it’s often difficult to access. Getting to it may require a surgical procedure known as flap surgery. We make incisions in the gums to form what looks like the flap of an envelope. By retracting this “flap” we can then access the root area of the tooth. After thoroughly cleansing the area of infection, we can do regenerative procedures to regain lost attachment. Then we suture the flap of gum tissue back into place.

Whatever its stage of development, it’s important to begin treatment of gum disease as soon as it’s detected. The earlier we can arrest its spread, the less likely we’ll need to employ these more invasive procedures. If you see any signs of gum disease as mentioned before, contact us as soon as possible for a full examination.

If you would like more information on preventing and treating gum disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Treating Difficult Areas of Periodontal Disease.”


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  • 2022
      • May (3)
        • Emma Roberts Confesses to Having a Major Sweet Tooth While Expecting
        • Porcelain Veneers - the Answer for Many Smile-Appearance Problems
        • Implants Can Last a Long Time If You'll Do This to Maintain Them
      • April (3)
        • If You're Caring For an Older Adult, Make Their Oral Health a Top Priority
        • Olympian's Pole Vaulting Accident Puts the Spotlight on Dental Injuries
        • This Temporary RPD Could Sustain Your Smile While You Wait For Implants
      • March (3)
        • Injury Treatment for an Immature Tooth Could Impact its Long-term Survival
        • While Treating Dental Disease, Protecting Good Bacteria is a High Priority
        • Here's What These 3 Celebrities Did to Amp Up Their Smile
      • February (2)
        • Call Your Dentist ASAP if You Have a Loose Tooth
        • 4 Things You Can Do to Keep Your Children's Dental Development on Track
      • January (4)
        • Removing Teeth Could Aid Orthodontic Treatment
        • Supermodel Ashley Graham's Unpleasant Dental Encounter With a Frozen Cookie
        • The First Step To Beating Gum Disease Is Understanding How It Starts
        • Implants Streamline Dental Work Upgrades for Gradual Tooth Loss
  • 2021
      • December (3)
        • Veneers May Not Be a Good Option for a Teenager
        • Take It From Taylor Swift - Losing Your Orthodontic Retainer is No Fun
        • Sealants Can Prevent Childhood Cavities Now and a Bite Problem Later
      • November (3)
        • A Little Fluoride Goes a Long Way in Protecting Your Family's Teeth
        • A Case of Shingles Could Impact Your Upcoming Dental Visit
        • Unlike Brad Pitt, You Didn't Mean To Chip Your Tooth. We Can Still Fix It
      • October (3)
        • 5 Signs Your Child May Be Developing a Poor Bite
        • Removing a Tooth Could Help Correct This Particular Bite Problem
        • Fluoride Treatments Give Your Child Added Protection Against Cavities
      • September (3)
        • What Chrissy Teigen's Inauguration Night Cap Mishap Could Mean For You
        • Here's What's in Your Toothpaste for Keeping Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
        • Stop Tooth Decay Before It Derails Your Child's Dental Development
      • August (3)
        • Here's What You Can Expect With Dental Implant Surgery
        • Porcelain Veneers Transform Real Housewives Star's Smile Spoiled by Teeth Grinding
        • Correcting a Poor Bite With Braces - a True Wonder
      • July (3)
        • Gum Swelling Can Happen With Braces - Here's How to Avoid It
        • Surgical Cleft Correction Candidate for a Modern Day Miracle
        • Kevin Bacon's Mango-Slicing Trick and Other Ways to Rid Food Between Your Teeth
      • June (3)
        • Drawing Impacted Teeth Out of the Gums Could Help Normalize a Smile
        • What We Can Learn From Those With Chronic Jaw Pain and Discomfort
        • Do This For a Healthier Mouth and Overall Well-Being
      • May (3)
        • After a Devastating Injury, Prompt Action Saved Singer Carly Pearce's Smile
        • Removing Teeth Might Make It Easier To Straighten a Smile
        • Thumb Sucking and Tongue Thrusting Could Cause a Poor Bite
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        • 4 Ways Alcohol Could Affect Your Oral Health
        • You Don't Need to Pass a Football Like Patrick Mahomes to Remove a Loose Baby Tooth
        • Your Dental Records Keep Your Oral Care Consistent Throughout Life's Changes
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        • Eating the Right Kind of Carbs Can Help You Avoid Gum Disease
        • Here's Why Gum Disease Could Be Lurking in Your Mouth Even Now
        • Buffalo Bills' Stefon Diggs Knows There's Never a Bad Place to Floss
      • February (3)
        • 6 Signs Your Child Could Be Developing a Poor Bite
        • Eating the Right Foods Can Boost Your Efforts to Prevent Dental Disease
        • How You Can Help Your Smile Stay Attractive as You Get Older
      • January (3)
        • Mike Tyson: The Prizefighter Prizes His Unique Smile
        • What To Do and Not Do for These 3 Common Childhood Dental Problems
        • Could a Dental Bridge Be a Better Choice Than Implants?
  • 2020
      • December (3)
        • Don't Let Bad Breath Ruin Your Date Under the Mistletoe
        • Why Kathy Bates Chose This Alternative to Braces and so Might You
        • Keep Your New Straightened Smile Straight With an Orthodontic Retainer
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        • A RPD Could Be Your Answer to Replacing Missing Teeth
        • Don't Let Acid Reflux Disease Rob You of Your Teeth
        • Find Out How These Famous Celebrities Protect Their Smiles From Teeth Grinding
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        • Dental Implants Could Help You Avoid This Long-Term Effect of Losing Teeth
        • Could a Metal Allergy Stop You From Getting Dental Implants?
        • A Little Daily Brushing and Flossing Can Add Up to a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth and Gums
      • September (3)
        • NHL Iron Man Keith Yandle Suffers Dental Trauma on Ice
        • Use Appropriate Hygiene Products for Maximum Smile Protection
        • Preventing Gum Disease Could Help More Than Your Teeth and Gums
      • August (3)
        • Your 'Toothache' Might Signal a Problem Other Than in Your Mouth
        • Viggo Mortensen's Red-Carpet Smile
        • Mouth Breathing Can Lead to Serious Oral Problems, Especially for Children
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        • Some Simple Cosmetic Techniques Could Help Your Smile Age Gracefully
        • Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
        • Healthy Smiles for Alfonso Ribeiro and Family
      • June (3)
        • That Odd 'Lacy' Mouth Sore is No Cause for Alarm
        • Here Is How We May Be Able to Bring an Impacted Tooth Where It Should Be
        • 3 Reasons a Root Canal Treatment Might Fail and What You Can Do About It
      • May (3)
        • What You Can Do About Bad Breath (Unless You're a Famous Actress Pranking Your Co-Star)
        • Why Is Your Smile Gummy? Here Are 4 Possibilities
        • 3 Things You Should Do to Protect Your Teeth Later in Life
      • April (3)
        • Are Lasers the Future for Treating Advanced Tooth Decay?
        • Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
        • Oral Cancer Is Deadly - But You Can Lower Your Risk With a Healthy Lifestyle
      • March (3)
        • Don't Forget Hidden Fluoride Sources Your Family Could be Ingesting
        • What to Do About Your Child's Toothache Before Seeing the Dentist
        • How Veneers Restored Howie Mandel's Winning Smile
      • February (3)
        • A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
        • 4 Things to Do to Keep Your Child's Dental Development on Track
        • Wearing Dentures 24/7 May Not Be a Good Idea - Here's Why
      • January (3)
        • Too Old to Straighten Your Smile? Not If You're Like These A-List Celebrities
        • 3 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Tooth Enamel
        • Cleft Defects Can Be Overcome, Thanks to Advanced Surgical Procedures
  • 2019
      • December (4)
        • A Root Canal Treatment Will Improve Your Health, Not Harm It
        • NBA Player's Injury Points Out Need for Mouthguards
        • New "Behind the Teeth" Braces Could Give You the Advantage of "Invisibility"
        • 3 Things You Need to Know Before Getting a Crown Restoration
      • November (3)
        • Share These Timely Dental Care Tips With Your College-Bound Son or Daughter
        • Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
        • A Little Orthodontic Magic Could Help an Impacted Tooth Erupt
      • October (3)
        • It Takes Both You and Your Hygienist to Keep Your Smile Healthy and Beautiful
        • Here's What to Expect Before, During and After Implant Surgery
        • Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
      • September (3)
        • Topical Fluoride Offers a Protective Boost to Children at High Risk for Decay
        • Improving Hygiene Skills Maximizes Removal of Disease-Causing Plaque
        • 4 Serious Health Conditions That Gum Disease Might Make Worse
      • August (3)
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
        • Preventing Decay in Primary Teeth Promises Better Health Now and Later
        • "Tooth, Heal Thyself" May Soon Be a Reality
      • July (3)
        • To Extract or not Extract? The Big Decision About Your Child's Wisdom Teeth
        • A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
        • Floss First or Last? Here are Reasons for Either Approach
      • June (3)
        • Jaw Joint Disorders may be Connected to Other Health Problems
        • What You can Do to Stop Sugar from Harming Your Health
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
      • May (3)
        • See Your Dentist ASAP to Save Your Loose Tooth
        • How Dentists Provide Your Child the Benefit of X-Rays as Safely as Possible
        • Jaw Joint Disorders and Fibromyalgia: Is There a Connection?
      • April (3)
        • NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
        • Dentures with Implants Could Help You Avoid Bone Loss
        • A Minor Procedure Could Make Breastfeeding Easier for You and Your Baby
      • March (3)
        • You Don't Have to Live with a Gummy Smile. Here's How We Can Change it!
        • How Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus Got Their Stellar Smiles
        • A Traditional Bridge Might be the Right Solution for Your Missing Teeth
      • February (3)
        • Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
        • Test You're Brushing and Flossing Success with a Plaque Disclosing Agent
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
      • January (3)
        • Implant-Supported Dentures Could Boost Your Jawbone Health
        • Less-Invasive Pulp Capping Could Save Your Tooth
        • 3 Ways Orthodontic Techniques Could Prevent a Poor Bite
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
        • Practice the Dental Care Basics to Ensure a Healthy Smile
      • November (3)
        • Orthodontists Anticipate Future Facial Growth When Treating Poor Bites
        • Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
        • The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
      • October (3)
        • Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
        • 4 Signs Your Child May Have a Poor Bite
        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
      • September (3)
        • Keep Your New Smile After Orthodontics with a Retainer
        • Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
        • Look After Your Teeth During Cancer Treatment to Avoid Dental Disease
      • August (3)
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • Pros and Cons for Flossing Before Brushing and Vice-Versa
        • World Cup Soccer Coach-Dentist Saves the Day!
      • July (3)
        • This Young Woman's Cancer Experience a Teachable Moment for all of us
        • Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
        • Need an Effective but Affordable Tooth Replacement? Look at a Flexible RPD
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        • What You Can Do to Support Your Child's Dental Development
        • Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
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        • Sealants Could Protect Your Child's Teeth From Future Problems
        • Watch Out for Re-Infection After a Root Canal Treatment
        • 3 Possible Timing Scenarios for Getting Your New Implant
      • April (3)
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
        • Don't Let Sports or Energy Drinks Rob you of Your Teeth's Enamel
        • Learn How To Protect Your Teeth During Stress Awareness Month
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        • 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • 3 Tips for Helping Your Kids Develop Great Tooth-Friendly Habits
      • February (2)
        • 3 Orthodontic Options for Correcting Bad Bites
        • How to Get the Most from Your Daily Brushing and Flossing
      • January (2)
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
        • Treating Gum Disease may Require Invasive Procedures
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
        • 4 Tips for Avoiding Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
      • November (2)
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
        • Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes and Oral Health
      • October (2)
        • Why Your Teeth Hurt Will Determine How We Treat Them
        • New Season, New Toothbrush
      • September (3)
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
        • Need a Root Canal? Here's a Step-by-Step Guide on What to Expect
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
      • August (2)
        • The Timely Use of a Palatal Expander Could Help Correct a Cross-Bite
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
      • July (2)
        • The Simple Bitewing X-Ray is a Game Changer for Maintaining Dental Health
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
      • June (2)
        • Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
      • May (2)
        • If at All Possible, Primary Teeth are Worth Saving
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
      • April (2)
        • Don't Forget Your Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • March (2)
        • Bonded Retainers Provide a Less Noticeable Option for Keeping Teeth Straight
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
      • February (3)
        • Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Air Abrasion: An Alternative to the Traditional Dental Drill
      • January (2)
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • Disclosing Agents Show Plaque You've Missed When Brushing and Flossing
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • A Teen's Missing Tooth May Require a Temporary Replacement
      • November (3)
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth

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