How we perceive our smile and appearance affects our self-esteem, our moods and how we function in social and business relationships. Common conditions that impact negatively on your smile include broken, cracked or worn teeth, discolored teeth, missing teeth, crooked teeth, decayed teeth, gaps between your teeth and/or “gummy smiles.” Each patient and each specific…

At our Family Dental Practice we treat patients of all ages and find that the large majority of children do just great at our office. Occasionally we will refer a child to a Pedodontist, or children’s dental specialist, for certain procedures or if they have a special need.   It is our approach to develop…

For patients diagnosed with periodontal (gum) disease, we may recommend a procedure called Scaling and Root Planing, often referred to as a “deep cleaning.” In a healthy mouth, a standard cleaning (or prophylaxis) focuses on removing plaque and polishing teeth above the gum line. However, Scaling and Root Planing targets below the gum line, where…

There’s more to a healthy mouth than just a pretty smile. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, nearly one in three U.S. adults ages 30 to 54 and half of adults ages 55 to 90 have some form of periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection affecting…

What we eat plays a crucial role in maintaining both our general and dental health. A balanced and moderate diet that includes a variety of nutrients from the five major food groups can help protect your teeth and gums: Dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) Protein (meat, poultry, fish) Fruits Vegetables Whole Grains (breads, cereals) Limit Sugar…

People of ancient times believed that the stabbing pain of a toothache was caused by a toothworm, which either had appeared spontaneously or had bored its way into the tooth. If the tooth pain was severe, it meant that the worm was thrashing about, but if the aching stopped, then the worm was resting. Cultures…

During the winter months and at other times when the air is very dry, it is important to keep our nasal passages moist. An easy way to do this is to sniff salt solution into both sides of the nose 2-4 times a day. To prepare a solution of proper strength, add 1/4 teaspoon of…

Baby teeth are very important to your child’s development for a number of reasons. They encourage the development of the jaw bone and they reserve the space required for the permanent teeth that will follow. They also enable your child to chew solid food and assist in speech development. Moreover, they contribute to your child’s…

In the last five years, an amazing new protocol helping people to be comfortable during dental procedures has been developed. In fact, it is being marketed as “sleep dentistry” in many places, even though that is really a misnomer. Using the drug, Triazolam, often in only a single dose, we can safely and predictably relax…

One of the more common orthodontic issues we see in our office is a dental protrusion, where the upper front teeth extend significantly forward of the lower teeth. In many cases, a protrusion is accompanied by other complications such as tooth crowding, excessive spacing, or bite issues like: Open bite: where the back teeth touch,…