Diamons

Restorative Dentistry

Photography by Dr. Padval

Older and Healthy…a Natural Match

The words "aging" and "healthy" don't have to be either/or propositions. Fact is, in some ways we grow healthier as we age. We've built up so many antibodies that our resistance to virus increases. Years of brushing with fluoride toothpaste actually strengthens tooth enamel. A little effort on your part now can help insure you'll feel as good as you'll look—years from now. As mouths age, the potential of periodontal disease is ever present. So brushing and flossing become more important than ever—along with [...]

By |2018-02-13T08:00:16-08:00February 13, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

When a Tooth Goes Missing

Harrison Ford took a nasty fall and lost two of his teeth. Thanks to modern dentistry, he went on to become a major Hollywood star. For as long as we humans have been losing teeth, we've been filling the gaps. Early dentures were made from ivory, bone, silver, gold, agate, mother-of-pearl and teeth removed from cadavers. These were held in place with steel springs and silk thread. Only the wealthiest could afford them, and they didn't hold up well. Worse, they often hurt. People [...]

By |2018-01-23T08:00:26-08:00January 23, 2018|Restorative Dentistry|

Frank Talk About Bad Breath

Social embarrassments come in many sizes. But chronic bad breath is near the top of the list. It affects those nearest and dearest to us and may limit the close social contacts we treasure most. Worse yet, a person with bad breath may be unaware he's offensive—we "turn off" our sensitivity to bad odors over time. Bacteria, plain and simple, are the culprit. Bacteria do their work in the mouth, lungs, sinuses and stomach. All the store-bought fresheners on the market won't remedy the cause. [...]

By |2017-12-19T00:00:46-08:00December 19, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Have You Knocked Out a Tooth?

Cheat The Tooth Fairy We sure can try, but your help is needed, and the most important word is TIME. When a permanent tooth is knocked out, the less time it is out of the mouth the better. In fact, the best results are obtained when the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes! A parent or friend can place the tooth back into the socket or place it in a wet issue and bring the patient, and the tooth to the dentist at once. [...]

By |2017-10-03T00:00:09-07:00October 3, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Making Sure Dentures Will Look Natural

Have you ever looked at swatches of wallpaper or carpeting and tried to imagine how it might look in your living room? Not easy to do. Choosing a denture that fits your face—and looks and feels natural—poses a similar problem. You never really know how they're going to look and feel until you get to wear and chew with them. Our customized denture technique begins with a special treatment denture that you actually wear with the same teeth that will be placed in your [...]

By |2017-07-18T00:00:34-07:00July 18, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Help for Dry Mouth Sufferers

Does your mouth seem uncomfortably dry? Or have you actually been diagnosed with dry mouth (as a side effect of certain types of medication or radiation therapy for cancer)? Either way, here's what you need to know about your condition: A dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, it's a cavity-prone environment. Normal saliva flow is the body's natural way of flushing plaque between brushings. Dry mouth can result from normal aging, some medications, or simply dehydration. All our patients should be drinking at least [...]

By |2017-07-04T00:00:37-07:00July 4, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Even When Tiny… Tooth Cracks Need Attention

Every tooth fracture needs prompt treatment. No chip or crack is insignificant. Unfortunately, some cracks are too small to be seen, even by a trained eye. Sometimes the culprit is a hairline crack in what looks like a healthy tooth. You may not be aware of the damage until pain fills your mouth. You may not even be sure which tooth is causing you trouble. Chips and cracks cannot be safely ignored. Untreated, tooth fractures grow larger and longer, inviting bacteria and tooth decay. [...]

By |2017-06-13T00:00:42-07:00June 13, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Root Surface Caries

We are Growing Older... As the population ages—more gracefully than ever, of course— we're keeping more teeth. Along with wisdom and experience, however, come different health problems. Among them, cavities on the surface of the tooth root, what we call root caries. Growing up, most decay is found on the surface of teeth, usually the crown. But gum tissue has a way of receding as the years go by, and this exposes the root to bacteria that cause decay. Periodontal (gum) disease worsens the [...]

By |2017-03-28T00:00:59-07:00March 28, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Do You Have A Salivary Stone?

A healthy flow of saliva is critical for chewing and digestion, bathing gums, and bacterial control. And we owe it all to salivary glands, three pairs of organs in the cheek and floor of the mouth. Each gland secretes saliva into the mouth via a tube, and this is where trouble can begin. Sialolithiasis—whew—names the condition that results from a small calcified stone blocking the salivary duct. Clearly, a kink in the duct will cause swelling of the gland itself. And swelling usually means [...]

By |2017-03-21T00:00:10-07:00March 21, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|

Making Bad Breath Go Away

Where Bad Breath Comes From Most, but not all, bad breath comes from bacterial plaque and food accumulated mainly towards the back of the tongue. The problem is, there are all sorts of not-likely-but-possible other reasons for halitosis: upset stomach, anxiety, inflamed gums, saliva deficiency, infections and removable dentures are among them. What Not To Do Because nobody—but nobody!— wants bad breath, a billion-dollar industry has sprung up hawking a variety of mouthwashes, rinses, drops, pastes and mints to mask halitosis. But there's a huge [...]

By |2017-03-07T00:00:20-08:00March 7, 2017|Restorative Dentistry|