Published Articles

Your smile is the window to the world. Smiling affects our emotions as it triggers scientifically measurable activity in the area of the brain where happiness is registered. It is an expression denoting pleasure, sociability or amusement. Smiling is a means of communication throughout the world. Your smile is the lasting impression you leave behind.
For many people, improving their smile can dramatically change their appearance, thereby raising self-esteem and confidence. There are a variety of options available to enhance, whiten and correct your smile.

One option is to simply whiten your smile. The habitual consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, soda and other deeply colored beverages and food cause considerable staining over time. In addition, acidic foods such as citrus and vinegar contribute to enamel erosion. As a result, the surface of the tooth becomes more transparent and the yellow-colored dentin shows through.
There are two professional whitening options: in-office bleaching and take-home bleaching trays. In-office whitening causes significant color changes in a short period of time. The protocol involves the use of a relatively high concentration of peroxide gel that is applied to the teeth for three intervals of 20 minutes in the office. A special light is used to accelerate the bleaching process. The other option, take-home whitening trays, incorporates an easy-to-use, lower concentration peroxide gel. The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays. The trays are worn for 15 minutes or longer per day depending on the concentration of the gel. The average patient is likely to see a change of two to seven shades.
The glamorous “white” teeth commonly seen in the movies are achieved by dental veneers, which are custom-made thin shells that are bonded to the front of the tooth. One veneer may be used to restore a fractured or discolored tooth versus multiple veneers to achieve a “Hollywood” smile. Multiple veneers are used to close spaces between teeth, correct misalignment, lengthen teeth that have been shortened by wear and fill in the black triangles between teeth caused by gum recession. Veneers can provide a uniform color, shape and symmetry.
Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers are often preferred because they are more resistant to stains and better mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth. In most cases, minimal tooth preparation is needed.
Visible injury to a tooth caused by trauma, deep decay or gradual darkening of a tooth can indicate that the pulpal tissue at the center of the tooth must be removed. A simple non-surgical treatment, root canal, is completed to save the natural tooth. Once there is significant tooth loss, the tooth is then restored with a porcelain crown. The crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is cemented over a tooth to restore its shape, size, strength and aesthetic.
If a tooth is missing or non-restorable, dental implants may be a good option. Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth while preserving the facial contour. A porcelain abutment is screwed into the implant and acts as the platform for the porcelain crown. The replacement teeth look, feel and function like natural teeth.
Severe misalignment may call for conventional braces or Invisaligns. Invisaligns are custom-made, clear plastic aligner trays that are worn over your teeth. The best part of the process is that there are no metal wires or brackets; most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth. Each aligner is worn for approximately two weeks and is removed only to eat, drink, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series your teeth will move - little by little, week to week - until they have straightened to the final position. Treatment lengths vary from case to case.
The various dental procedures available to patients are designed to enhance a patient’s quality of life by providing not only a healthy and aesthetic dentition, but also the ability to smile with confidence. So go ahead - explore your options and leave your lasting impression with pride. {Published in 25A Magazine Jan. 23rd, 2017}

 Your mouth is filled with numerous bacteria – most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defense and good oral care keep these bacteria under control. However, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause gum disease, tooth decay and oral infections. The health of your mouth affects your whole body.

Bacteria that build up on teeth make gums prone to infection. The body’s defense, the immune system, moves in to attack the infection and the gums become inflamed. The inflammation continues unless the infection is brought under control. Over time the bacterial infection and inflammation affect the gums, tissue, and bone that support the teeth. The result is known as periodontitis. This gradual loss of bone and tissue can ultimately cause tooth loss. Inflammation can also cause problems on the rest of the body.

There is a strong relationship between periodontitis and diabetes. People with diabetes have trouble processing sugar caused by a lack of the hormone insulin. Periodontal disease can further complicate diabetes because inflammation can also impair the body’s ability to utilize insulin. In addition, high blood sugar provides an ideal condition for infection to grow. Managing diabetes with your physician and controlling gum disease with your dentist is imperative to maintaining overall health. 

Studies have shown a significant correlation between gum disease and heart disease. The two conditions have several risk factors in common, such as smoking, unhealthy diet and excess weight. Researchers suspect that the inflammation in the mouth has a direct role in raising the risk for heart disease by causing inflammation in the blood vessels. This can increase the risk for heart attack in a number of ways. Inflamed blood vessels allow less blood to travel between the heart and the rest of the body, raising blood pressure. There is also a greater risk that fatty plaque will break off the wall of a blood vessel and travel to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke. Several species of bacteria that cause periodontitis have been found in atherosclerotic plaque in arteries in the heart and elsewhere.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase a women’s risk to periodontal disease. Infection and inflammation can interfere with the development of the fetus in the womb. These factors can contribute to premature birth or low birth weight deliveries, often causing other significant health problems, including underdeveloped lungs or heart conditions.

A tooth abscess is a collection of infected material (pus) due to a bacterial infection in the center of the tooth. Trauma or openings in the enamel allow bacteria to infect the center of the tooth. With time the infection may spread out from the root and into the bone supporting the tooth and tissue. If left untreated the infection can cause severe conditions, including inflammation of the connective tissue (cellulitis), bacterial infection in the blood (sepsis), brain abscess or pneumonia and can affect the lining around the heart or heart valves (endocarditis).

Researchers are also working on the possible links between oral health and osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lung conditions and obesity. Clearly, there is a direct correlation between the health of your mouth and the whole body. It is important to brush twice a day, floss and see a dentist for regular cleanings and checkups. Inform the dentist of any changes in your medical history at each visit. Our goal in dentistry is to treat each patient as a whole while concentrating on the mouth. A healthy mouth helps achieve a healthy body.{Published in 25A Magazine Feb. 28th, 2013}