If your gums are puffy, tender or bleed when you floss, then you may be among the 75% of American adults who have some form of gum disease. Gum disease, which is also called periodontal disease, starts as gingivitis. Many people are shocked to realize gingivitis is an infection caused by bacteria. Untreated gum disease […]
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Lydia Valdez thought she had a canker sore. The 70-year-old California woman never dreamed the spot on her tongue could be oral cancer. She didn’t smoke. She had no history of cancer in her family. She didn’t have any of the known risk factors. When she felt a sore spot on her tongue, she thought
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Dental x-rays have gotten a bad rap this year and a lot of people are asking, “Are x-rays really necessary?” The answer is yes. Dental x-rays are used for diagnosing and treating problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye. X-rays reveal cavities between the teeth or hidden by fillings, infections in the bone,
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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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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
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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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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 »
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 »
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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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
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Do you know somebody who hates going to the dentist? The answer is probably yes. More than 80 percent of American adults have some fear of the dentist, a study by the American Association of Endodontists discovered in 1999. Nearly 25 percent of Americans are so fearful, they avoid their dental check-ups unless they’re in
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You know that you should visit the dentist every six months or even more often if you have gum disease. But did you know it’s your daily home care routine that makes the biggest difference in keeping your mouth healthy? In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a
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