October is here and fall has officially begun, bringing with it Breast Cancer Awareness Month as well as National Dental Hygiene Month. This is a time to raise awareness for both and help to prevent problems by monitoring your health and being mindful of your lifestyle choices. Whether you are fighting cancer or dental problems, catching problems in their early... read more »
If you have ever lost a tooth, you might have more than just a gap between your teeth. If a lost tooth is not replaced, the bone in the jaw that supported the lost tooth starts to deteriorate. That's because when you chew your food, there's no more stimulation to the bone from the missing tooth's chewing action. Over time,... read more »
When it comes to protecting your teeth, your first line of defense against tooth decay and cavities is tooth enamel, as it is the outermost covering that protects the more vulnerable dentin and tooth pulp below. Your enamel comes equipped for the job as the hardest substance in your body. However, because it doesn't have living cells it can't grow... read more »
When you come in for dental exams and we have cleaned your teeth and gum line and removed any hardened plaque, our dentist can look at them for any signs of trouble, such as cavities, loose or broken teeth, damaged fillings, and evaluate your risk rate of certain diseases which might also take into account your family history. We will... read more »
Flossing is an important part of your dental hygiene regimen. Even if you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time twice a day, you are still leaving a great deal of the surfaces of your teeth untouched, and the areas between your teeth are great places for plaque and food debris to accumulate and cause... read more »
If you are suffering from minor damage to your teeth, a dental veneer may be an easy way to fix your cosmetic problems and even improve the health of your tooth. Dental veneers are thin strips made of porcelain or even a dental grade resin. A veneer can be used to cover chips in teeth, or even increase their size.... read more »
If you have recently lost a tooth, it’s important to speak with Drs. Joseph Opack, David Opack, or Peter Stanton about tooth replacement options to prevent your smile from developing further complications that impede your oral function. Even if your limited oral function and affected smile appearance may not seem significant, prolonged tooth loss can result in further oral health... read more »
A root canal procedure can often prevent a severely damaged tooth from needing to be removed due to compromised tooth pulp that has reduced the health of the tooth. We review how harmful dental conditions can affect the tooth enamel and pulp to the point that root canal treatment is needed. Certain oral health conditions can cause you to need... read more »
Daily oral care and routine dental checkups help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease from taking hold in your smile. Not only do regular checkups work to prevent dental issues, they also allow our dental team to treat problems early--when they are least invasive and most economical to resolve. But problems can still crop up in between checkups that... read more »
April isn't just for spring showers in the dental field, it is a time of year when we promote oral cancer and highlight early diagnosis for successful treatment. When you come in for yearly checkups, along with looking for cavities and gum disease, we are also on the lookout for any oral abnormalities that might indicate cancer in the mouth.... read more »
