Are you happy with your smile? What do you think of your teeth when you look in the mirror? I see a lot of patients in my practice who are not confident in the appearance of their teeth. You may think that extensive cosmetic work is necessary to regain a youthful smile, but often that is not the only solution. Tooth whitening can be an excellent beginning to a radiant, younger looking smile.

Just like we all have different hair and skin color, people also have different tooth color. Some teeth are more yellow than others, while others yellow with aging. Your natural tooth color can also be affected by many factors. The natural aging process, as well as surface staining from coffee, tea, cola, or tobacco can all contribute to the yellowing of teeth. Tooth bleaching works by applying a peroxide solution to the teeth which breaks stains apart.

There are many over the counter products available to whiten teeth, but an in-office treatment will provide the greatest results. Our office offers different intensities of bleaching, depending on your natural tooth shade and your intended goal. The most dramatic whitening results come from a procedure we are thrilled to provide called Deep Bleaching. This series of two office visits begins with the teeth being “conditioned” to bleaching. We provide take home trays for you to continue the whitening process on your own, and we finally seal the teeth after an intensive in-office whitening session.

I have seen many patients amazed with the results they have seen with this procedure. It is always a joy to see people beaming as they leave the office. Whether you are looking to impress at an upcoming special event, such as a wedding or reunion, or you want to boost your overall self esteem from having a beautiful smile, tooth whitening can provide dramatic results. If you have any questions about bleaching, or you are ready to schedule an appointment, give our office a call.

One dental topic that I think more people should know about is fluoride. Most people have heard that fluoride is good for their teeth, but few actually know what fluoride is and just how important it can be to one’s oral health. A very simple adjustment to one’s daily hygiene routine, such as changing toothpastes, can have a great affect.  

Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth's crust and widely distributed in nature. It is naturally present in all water, but has also been added to most community drinking water since it was proven to lower the occurrence of cavities in the 1930s. These days, however, more and more people are drinking bottled water and are not getting the benefits of this feature. Over the counter toothpaste and mouth wash contain fluoride, but a stronger dose can be very beneficial to some people.  

Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and solid by preventing the loss of important minerals from the tooth enamel, and also enhancing the re-attachment of these minerals. This new tooth material can actually be a harder structure than naturally present in the tooth. Fluoride also inhibits oral bacteria’s ability to create acids, lessening the rate at which teeth can decay.  Some people that are not prone to tooth decay can also benefit from fluoride’s ability to reduce sensitivity.  

At our office, we offer several forms of fluoride treatment. Fluoride foams and varnishes can be administered in the office for direct fluoride application. Prescription strength toothpastes and mouth rinses are also available to allow you to continue your fluoride treatment at home. Many people remember getting fluoride treatments as children from their dentist, but it can be helpful throughout one’s life.  

If you have questions about how fluoride treatment may be able to help your teeth, I would be happy to discuss it with you. Don’t be afraid to mention fluoride at your next appointment. 

I am excited to start an ongoing blog about Dentistry, about the areas of health that particularly interest me, and that can be helpful to my patients and friends.

Today I want to start talking about something I see frequently in my TMD practice.

TMD is an acronym for tempero-mandibular joint dysfunction. Don’t get scared everybody! Many people carry a lot of tension and stress in their face, neck, and shoulders, that is connected to the way their jaws open and close. When the teeth don’t line up to fit evenly with equal pressure, the opening and closing muscles can start working against each other.  At night, especially while sleeping, the jaws may then clench or grind for hours.  

By morning the muscles may feel tense, or are in spasm, causing headaches and migraine pain. The teeth may wear down or even break. Often the joints start popping and hurting.  In my experience, women often report headache pain as a result of this condition, while men more often seek treatment for excessive wear on their teeth. 

Treatments vary. The simplest one is  something I use called an NTI.  This is a small night guard that relaxes the jaw muscles and prevents muscle ache and damage to teeth. The appliance can be fabricated at the office in one treatment visit, and usually results in an extremely rapid relief of the pain and headaches. If you or your friends have these symptoms please  bring them up at your next appointment. I would love to be able to help.