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Photography by Dr. Padval

Is Snoring an Issue at Your House?

Do the walls of your house vibrate at night? Does your dog or cat sleep with his paws over his ears? If so, you may find some benefit in this article. In some men or women, snoring can be reduced or eliminated simply by wearing an oral appliance at night. The appliance enlarges the airway by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward. The appliance fits snugly onto the teeth of each arch with the teeth slightly apart. The procedure to make the appliance is [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:28:51-07:00January 21, 2025|Patient Education|

5 Ways to Protect Children’s Teeth at Home

Parents typically provide oral hygiene care until the child is old enough to take personal responsibility for the daily dental health routine of brushing and flossing. A proper regimen of home preventive care for children's teeth is important from the day your child is born. Clean your infant's gums with a clean, damp cloth. Ask your dentist if you may rub a tiny dab of toothpaste on the gums. As soon as the first teeth come in, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristled [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:28:22-07:00January 14, 2025|Children's Dentistry|

Dental Bridge FAQs

What is a dental bridge? A bridge is a dental appliance that replaces one or more natural missing teeth, thereby "bridging" the space between two teeth. Fixed bridges are cemented into place next to the "abutment" teeth--the surrounding teeth on either side of the space, or "span." Unlike removable partial dentures, bridges are not removable. A bridge is a device that typically consists of three units--a false tooth fused between two crowns that are cemented onto the abutment teeth. Who should get a bridge? [...]

By |2024-09-03T14:27:52-07:00January 7, 2025|Restorative Dentistry|

Quitting Chewing Tobacco

Chewing tobacco affects your dental health as well as the rest of your body. If you use smokeless tobacco and have thought about quitting, we can help. How do you kick the habit? We can help you kick your chewing tobacco habit. In addition to cleaning teeth and treating bad breath and puffy, swollen gums associated with tobacco use, we may decide to prescribe a variety of nicotine replacement therapies, such as the transdermal nicotine patch or chewing gum that helps to wean addicted [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:04:14-07:00December 24, 2024|Patient Education|

Brushing Tips

What is the best technique for brushing? There are a number of effective brushing techniques. Patients are advised to ask during an appointment to determine which is the best one for them, since tooth position and gum condition vary. One effective, easy-to-remember technique involves using a circular or elliptical motion to brush a couple of teeth at a time, gradually covering the entire mouth. Place a toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45-degree angle and gently brush teeth in an elliptical motion. Brush the [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:03:49-07:00December 17, 2024|Preventative Dentistry|

Can You Catch a Cavity?

When you have a cold, we all know to cover your mouth before you sneeze and not to drink out of the same glass. We do this because we know that a cold is contagious. Now we know that, chances are, so is tooth decay. Recent research suggests that the germs responsible for cavities may be "catchy." Likewise, scientists suspect that bacteria associated with gum disease may be transferable from husband to wife, or mother to child. Infants get the bacteria that come to [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:02:25-07:00December 10, 2024|Patient Education|

Update on Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and strikes over 43,000 people each year in America. Over the past 30 years, survival rates have only increased from 45 percent to 54 percent, with survival rates lower among African Americans and people under 40. In a recent poll, the National Institute of Dental Research found that a sizable population understood the causes and early signs of oral cancer. Along with genetic disposition, risk factors include: smoking or chewing tobacco, regular alcohol [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:02:04-07:00December 3, 2024|Patient Education|

Listen to Your Teeth

An aching tooth’s a warning. Often it's a cavity, but not always. Other Toothache Causes... After a filling, a tooth can sometimes be a bit sensitive. It’s a normal reaction that should soon correct it-self. In the morning, an aching tooth could be the result of grinding or tooth-clenching overnight. Not a cavity, but a habit you need to shake. Aches can also come from unfamiliar pressures due to tooth movement, especially when a tooth has shifted because a lost tooth wasn't replaced. Sinus [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:01:13-07:00November 26, 2024|Restorative Dentistry|

MMMMMM! It’s Mouth-Watering

You stand to speak to a crowd of thousands–and your mouth is desert-dry. That’s normal. But under less stressful circumstances, a dry mouth is not normal. In fact, it’s cause for concern. Saliva has a critical role in the health of your mouth and your body. It flushes out the plaque that causes tooth decay and periodontal disease and acts as a buffer against overly acid mouth. Dry mouth, then, can lead to cavities—and to any of those sometimes serious disorders lately linked to [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:00:51-07:00November 19, 2024|Restorative Dentistry|

Check Your Dental I.Q.

Read each question and choose the best answer. Scoring below. 1. The best toothbrush bristle is: (a) Medium (b) Hard (c) soft (d) electric 2. Teeth grinding and gnashing (bruxism) can lead to: (a) a pain in the neck (b) Sore teeth (c) Headaches (d) all of the above 3. The dentist’s word for cavities: (a) holey teeth (b) caries (c) cartels (d) fillings 4. Straightening of the teeth is called: (a) orthodontics (b) pediatrics (c) geometry (d) endodontics 5. It’s been proven that [...]

By |2024-09-03T10:00:27-07:00November 12, 2024|Patient Education|