Posted by Meghan Weaver on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 @ 02:08 PM
Never discount the impact of a good first impression, or the role your smile can play in making or breaking it. Studies show that your smile is the first thing people remember about you and a bright, healthy smile conveys success, power and happiness. On the other end of the spectrum, individuals with visible dental problems (i.e. crooked or broken teeth, visible plaque buildup, etc.) often suffer low self-esteem or even stop smiling all together.
That’s where cosmetic dentistry comes in. There are many cosmetic dental procedures available to help you regain your bright healthy smile and the self-confidence you may have lost along with it.
Here are a few of the most popular ones (plus some great advice on how to access them at affordable prices).
Teeth whitening:
We all want a brighter smile. That’s why teeth whitening is one of the most common forms of cosmetic dentistry. For whatever reason, many of us have teeth that aren’t as white as they could be. Perhaps we’ve consumed too much coffee or tea, or forgotten to brush our teeth twice daily on too many occasions. Effects of these actions all add up and our teeth lose their luster as years go by.
Whatever the reason, you have 2 options for making your teeth bright again: at-home dental whitening kits or treatments performed by a dentist. We go over the pros, cons and specific details on these in an earlier blog entry.
Porcelain Veneers:
Another popular solution for teeth discoloration is porcelain veneers. However, they do more than just brighten up the appearance of your smile. Veneers are placed by dentists over the front teeth to change their shape and color. So, they’re ideal for individuals with oddly shaped teeth, chipped or crooked teeth or teeth with small holes in them and can significantly enhance the look of their smile in a very short period of time.
Veneers are very popular with cosmetic dentistry patients because they’re very difficult to stain, last roughly 10 to 15 years and come with very little maintenance short of follow-up visits after the procedure plus regular brushing and flossing.
Dental Implants:
Dental implants are fixtures of titanium surgically screwed into a patient’s jaw bone. The implants themselves act as anchors for a naturally-appearing false tooth or a set of false teeth.
Dental implants generally have a very high success rate and are an excellent alternative to dentures. Learn more about the dental implant process and advantages here.
Dental Bonding:
Many individuals with close, small gaps between their teeth, as well as teeth that are chipped or cracked have embraced dental bonding to even out their smiles. During the procedure, your dentist uses a composite resin to essentially bond your teeth together.
The dentist begins the bonding procedure by applying a thin coating of plastic material on the front surfaces of your teeth to cover natural flaws. Then, he or she will apply a bonding material, sculpting and shaping it to provide desired results. A high intensity light hardens the bonding material after the bonding is complete and the dentist will finely polish the surface of your teeth to complete the procedure.
As you’ve seen above, dentists can perform one of many cosmetic procedures to restore the brightness and contours of your smile. However, cosmetic dentistry can be expensive and most dental insurance will not cover it.
That’s where Universal Dental Plan comes in, with 20-50% discounts on all procedures performed by Massachusetts dentists and specialists. Visit our website to learn more and sign up.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 11:53 AM
Our smiles are made to last a lifetime and proper dental hygiene has a huge impact on the health of your mouth and body, whether you’re 5 or 85. However, as we get older, we become more susceptible to oral health problems such as periodontal disease, inflammation of the gum tissue, dry mouth syndrome (often caused by medications) and oral thrush just to name a few.
It’s plain to see that taking care of your oral health in your golden years comes with several unique considerations. Here are 5 essential tips for seniors to keep healthy teeth and gums (and ultimately healthy bodies).
#5 Keep consistent with your at home oral health care regiment: This means keep brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash as instructed by your dentist to maintain proper dental hygiene.
If brushing and flossing are difficult for you, consider using an apparatus such as a tongue depressor to lengthen your brush or flossing tool. Also, if you suffer from arthritis or a similar condition, you may want to try inserting the back end of your toothbrush into a standard tennis ball for better maneuverability.
#4 Know the warning signs to prevent harmful conditions: Elders are generally more susceptible to many major oral health problems including gum disease, tooth loss, TMJ, dry mouth syndrome and oral cancer and should be on the lookout for key signs and symptoms. Symptoms to watch out for include, swelling of the gums, teeth sensitivity, loose teeth, jaw soreness, persistent mouth sores and bumps or an unquenchable thirst. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your dentist right away for diagnosis and treatment (if you live in Massachusetts and need help finding affordable dentistry, we can certainly help).
#3 Maintain dental appliances such as dentures and dental bridges properly: Contrary to popular belief, a set of dentures won’t last you 20 plus years. The ADA recommends replacing them every 5-7 years to avoid painful consequences such as mouth sores, oral lesions and difficulty chewing/swallowing/digesting food.
For denture wearers, we’ve put together 4 helpful tips to keep them in excellent shape and maintain oral health.
#2 Talk to your dentist about any medication you’re taking as dry mouth syndrome is a common side effect of many Rx drugs. For dry mouth sufferers, dentists can prescribe an array of solution such as an artificial saliva rinse to keep your mouth moist and wash harmful bacteria away.
#1 Visit your dentist as often as he or she recommends for regular checkups: Even if you wear dentures, it’s still vital to visit your dentist twice-yearly per-ADA recommendation. On top of keeping your mouth in tip top shape, your dentist can alert you of developments in your mouth that point to problems elsewhere in your body or pick up on early signs of improper jaw alignment or poor nutrition which may become problematic down the road.
Want more advice on senior dental care? Universal Dental Plan is out on tour this year with a full presentation on the importance of oral health and hygiene in the golden years. Sign up here to bring our Golden Smiles Tour to your local council on aging or senior center.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, Apr 30, 2010 @ 10:54 AM
Contrary to popular belief, your at-home oral health care regimen doesn't stop the day you get dentures. Your dentures still need daily cleaning and upkeep. Otherwise, oral health problems such as plaque, stains and infections that you thought were long gone could very easily come back with a vengeance.
In your golden years, oral health issues should be the least of your worries. That's why all denture wearers need to follow these 4 simple steps.
Step 1: Thoroughly clean your dentures every day
Just like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed every day to remove plaque and prevent the development of permanent stains. Since dentures are very delicate, you should use a brush with soft bristles that is specially designed to clean dentures. Also, between your daily brushings, you should rinse your dentures after every meal.
Step 2: Remove your dentures at night to avoid bacteria growth
Dentures must be kept moist when they're not being worn so they won't dry out or lose their shape. Soak your dentures at night in either a denture cleanser soaking solution or water. Soak them in water if your denture has metal attachments, as they can easily tarnish when placed in denture cleanser. Also, you should avoid soaking your dentures in hot water, this will cause them to wrap.
Step 3: Be aware of any changes in the fit of your dentures
This could be a sign of gum disease. Also, if your dentures don't fit you properly, it can cause irritation and sores in your mouth. When dentures stop fitting properly, they can be repaired. However, do-it-yourself kits and over the counter denture glues can cause permanent damage or contain harmful chemicals. That's why you should always visit your dentist for denture repairs.
Step 4 Get replacement dentures every 5-7 years
Generally, complete dentures can be used for about 5 to 7 years before replacements are necessary. However, over time your dentures may need to be periodically relined, rebased or remade due to age related changes to your face, jaw and gums or if they become loose. As a general rule of thumb, people with dentures should visit their dentist every 6 months. In these twice-yearly visits, the dentist will examine your mouth for proper denture fit and check for signs of oral cancer or other harmful diseases.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Apr 15, 2010 @ 04:02 PM
Whether you're walking into a room for a job interview or meeting someone for a first date, a bright smile and fresh breath can go a long way. However, bad breath can be a huge strike against you.
According to a Massachusetts Dental Society Article, 25% of Americans suffer from chronic halitosis (aka bad breath) and nearly $10 billion is spent on this condition each year. There are many culprits out there for bad breath (i.e. garlic, spicy foods, tobacco products, etc.) and so many products on the market-mints, mouthwashes, etc.-only mask your bad breath, never getting to the root of the problem.
Here are 3 straight facts on bad breath and a few helpful tips to keep it at bay:
- 80-90% of bad breath comes from the oral cavity, specifically bacteria growing there: This bacteria develops in the crevices between teeth, the pockets of your gums and on your tongue. These are all very fertile breeding grounds for bacteria to set up camp and multiply. If the bacteria causes infections, it produces byproducts called Volatile Sulfur Compounds. Volatile Sulfur Compounds not only smell awful, they put you at higher risk for systemic health problems such as heart attacks and stroke.
- Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth: Dry mouth (or xerostomina) is one of the lesser known culprits of bad breath. Dry mouth occurs when the flow of saliva to the mouth decreases leaving less of it to naturally cleanse the mouth of odor-causing bacteria. If you suffer from dry mouth, you may want to consider using a sugarless candy, upping your fluid intake or your dentist may prescribe you an artificial saliva product.
- Bad breath could be the sign of a more serious medical condition: Bad breath can be one of the first signs of conditions such as chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbances and liver or kidney ailments. That's why if you suffer from bad breath and your dentist determines you have a healthy mouth, he or she may refer you to a family doctor or specialist to pinpoint the root cause of your problem.
To keep bad breath away, it's vital that you maintain good oral health. You should keep a consistent oral health care routine that includes the following:
- Brush at least 2 times per-day with a fluoride toothpaste to clean away debris and plaque (make sure to brush your tongue too).
- Floss (or use an interdental cleaner) at least once per-day to remove debris between teeth.
- If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.
