Whenever I present treatment options to patients who need treatment, a question that many patients often ask me is “How long will this last”? The answer to that question is often uncertain and complex. As dentists, we strive to give our patients the best possible treatment with high quality and longevity. Whether the restoration provided is a filling, crown, or... read more »
Third molars or wisdom teeth are one of the most common teeth that are removed today. These teeth erupt at around the age of 17-21 years. Why do so many people end up having their wisdom teeth removed? Well, to answer that question I have put together some facts and myths about wisdom teeth and will explain each statement as... read more »
We are often asked, “What’s the best dental insurance to have?” Of course, the answer to that question would depend on many different things. More often than not I will tell patients that the best dental insurance is whatever is offered to you by your employer -- even better if given a choice of plans. When comes to defining dental... read more »
A new year is upon us and what better time to discuss the best ways to maintain oral health. There are many factors that influence oral health and most of them can be controlled by us. Among those are diet, hygiene, and general health. I will discuss each of these factors independently but before I do so I will mention... read more »
In previous articles, I talked about the two tooth replacement options that have been around for a long time and are the most popular -- fixed and removable bridges. In this entry, I will discuss the final tooth replacement option, dental implants. Dental implants have been used for many years to replace missing teeth but not as long as fixed... read more »
In my previous blog entry, I discussed the tooth replacement option of a full or partial removable denture. The next tooth replacement option that dentistry has to offer is a fixed bridge. Both the removable and fixed dental prostheses are what I like to consider 20th-century dentistry, in that both of these options were the only options for restoring missing... read more »
If you’ve had the misfortune of removing one or more functional teeth, today’s dentistry offers several different tooth replacement solutions. In this blog entry, I will focus on the removable tooth replacement option. This option, commonly known as dentures, is usually the least expensive solution to replace missing teeth. Dentures can be designed to replace all teeth in an arch... read more »
Many people have had to experience having a tooth or teeth removed over the course of their lives. With the exception of wisdom teeth, losing teeth can lead to many different issues that can have negative consequences over time. Some of these issues can be more severe than others. For the vast majority of patients losing a front tooth is... read more »
Last time I discussed tooth decay (or caries) and listed some of the factors involved in the causes and progression of this most common of oral diseases. Yes, getting cavities is a disease, one that must be controlled and eliminated if you want to cure it. Essentially the disease of caries is a chronic bacterial infection of tooth structure, one... read more »
I brush and floss every day yet why do I continue to get cavities? People ask me this all the time and the answer I give them goes usually something like this. “Well, can you tell me more about your diet?” The answer to this question can often help us find the answer. Most people know that eating too many sweets... read more »