It can feel like you’re learning to speak a different language when you’re talking to any kind of medical or dental specialist. Here is a quick primer on some of the terms commonly used by orthodontists. Anterior Teeth: Front teeth. Crossbite: One or more upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth, instead of in front
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It’s a goal we all have: We want to walk into the dentist’s office, hear that our teeth look great, get a routine cleaning, and then not have to think about going to the dentist again for another six months. It can come as a shock when that doesn’t happen. You might think you’re taking
What?! I Have Gum Disease? Read More »
No one knew how the discovery of lasers in the 1960s would revolutionize the way we live. Laser technology allows us to play CDs and DVDs, scan bar codes at the store, and use laser pointers during presentations. LASIK eye surgery uses a laser to reshape the eye and improve vision, laser angioplasty is used
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If your smile is less-than-perfect, you don’t need to undergo a ton of drilling to get it fixed. Whether your teeth are yellowed or stained, chipped or crooked, your dentist may recommend veneers to give you the smile you always wanted. Veneers are thin, custom-made coverings that are bonded to your teeth to change their
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Your life has suddenly turned upside down. You just learned you have cancer and you’re struggling to understand the diagnosis, the prognosis and how your life is about to change. One of the first recommendations by your doctor may surprise you. Many oncologists recommend cancer patients see a dentist to correct any problems with your
Have Cancer? Why Your Doctor Wants You to See Your Dentist Read More »
Can brushing and flossing actually save your life? Researchers are asking that question as they learn more about the link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease. Periodontal disease is caused by poor oral hygiene. By brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, you remove plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that
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When your dentist suggests you have an oral cancer screening test, it can be a shock. You might think, “But I don’t smoke,” or “No one in my family has ever had oral cancer. I don’t need that.” Oral cancer is on the rise. It’s no longer mostly smokers or tobacco-users; it’s sexually-active people between
Think Oral Cancer Can’t Happen To You? Two Survivor Stories Read More »
If you have dental insurance, you may think you’re covered when you go to the dentist. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It depends on the type of insurance plan your employer has designed with the insurance company. Here is a list of questions you should ask your dental insurance provider so you know exactly
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You hope it won’t happen to you, but millions of people accidentally knock out a tooth each year. More than five million teeth are lost each year just from sports-related injuries. Other causes of accidental tooth loss include falling, fighting, car accidents and biting something hard. Lakeland dentist Dr. Shelly Prakash outlines the steps you should
Root canal therapy is used to repair and save a tooth that has been damaged either from an injury or from decay. If a cavity has spread to the tooth’s nerve tissue within the pulp chamber, then the bacteriacan cause a painful infection or an abscessed tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads past
What is a Root Canal and Crown? Read More »
It took a long time and a lot of pain before Nancy Williams finally went to the dentist. It has been 35 years since her last visit. There was always a reason to justify putting it off: She had three kids to raise, she had a job and it was tough to take time off,
What Happens When You Wait 35 Years to Visit the Dentist Read More »
Diabetes affects almost 26 million Americans, which is more than 8 percent of the U.S. population. The condition often requires them to make lifestyle changes, including what they eat, how they exercise and the medications they take. It also requires them to change the way they take care of their teeth and gums. About one-third
How Diabetes Can Affect Your Teeth and Gums Read More »