When your dentist begins to prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers, he or she will use a dental tool much like a grinder to contour and smooth the surface of your tooth. Impressions of your teeth and your bite will be taken so that your porcelain veneers can be made. Temporary veneers will be constructed using an acrylic material and will be attached to your teeth with a temporary cement. These temporary veneers will resemble your natural teeth but they are not as finely finished as your permanent porcelain veneers. Temporary veneers will not be shaded as accurately and they may have a rougher feel than porcelain veneers. The reason your dentist will use the temporary veneers is to protect your teeth from sensitivity, but they are temporary. As such, you should take care when biting or chewing food and you’ll want to avoid eating gum or sticky candy. Unlike your final porcelain veneers, temporary veneers may also be damaged from biting your nails and may be stained easily by food or beverages with darker pigments.

The Final Application
Your permanent porcelain veneers will usually be ready within 7 and 10 business days. Your dentist should inspect these final porcelain veneers for any damage and to ensure that they match the colour of your surrounding teeth. Once you have also approved of your porcelain veneers, your dentist can permanently cement them to your teeth using a strong dental resin.

Caring for your Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are designed to be a permanent treatment and behave like natural teeth. In most cases, they will hold up to your normal everyday activities, but it is important to remember that they are not actually your natural teeth. As such, it is not recommended to use your teeth to open difficult items, as this may cause your porcelain veneers to break or chip. Moreover, while resistant to staining, porcelain veneers can pick up darker pigments; and as they cannot be treated with tooth-whitening gels or toothpastes, you will want to be careful to clean your teeth regularly after meals. Otherwise, your porcelain veneers can be treated like your natural teeth with regular brushing and flossing.

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Dental implants also help support your facial structure. When teeth are missing, the shape and position of other teeth begins to change and facial structures may also change. Missing teeth will obviously impact the health and aesthetics of your teeth. Bone resorption is common when a tooth is removed and other teeth begin to cave toward the gap. Dental implants will help to maintain the integrity of your jaw bone and subsequently your teeth.

The Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of your dental implants can vary widely from one dentist or surgeon to another. As is the case when you seek any professional assistance, you should screen potential dentists carefully and even seek quotes. In some cases, the fees for a single implant range from $500 to $6000, which is obviously a lot of variability. The average cost of a dental implant is in a somewhat smaller range of about $1500 to $2500. If you need more than one implant, many dentists will offer a modified fee that is slightly lower than the cost per implant, but this obviously needs to be discussed with your dentist.
There are two significant costs associated with dental implants. First, the implant must be manufactured and placed and this is a significant portion of the total cost of the procedure. The second cost is associated with the creation and anchoring of the implant. Some dentists will offer both procedures and some will offer only one of the two. You should take some time discussing your options with potential dentists.

Caring for Dental Implants
Dental implants and their tooth restorations basically act and look exactly like natural teeth. As such, caring for your implants is the same as caring for natural teeth. Brush and floss your implants at least twice a day, but dentists generally prefer that you brush after every meal. Your brushing procedure will not differ from natural teeth either; using a soft bristle brush you should clean your teeth thoroughly ensuring to clean every surface of every tooth. Finally, it is important to remember that dental implants, like natural teeth, can stain over time. In addition to your brushing and flossing you should visit your dentist twice a year in order to maintain optimal dental hygiene.

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More specifically, oral cancer screening involves looking for signs of cancer in the lips, oral cavity, and oropharynx.  In addition to the lips, oral cancer may be found in these areas:

• Oral Cavity:
• The front of the tongue
• The gums
• The lining of the cheeks
• The bottom of the mouth, under the tongue
• The palate at the front of the mouth (hard palate)
• Behind the wisdom teeth
• Oropharynx:
• The pharynx
• The back of the tongue
• The palate at the back of the mouth (soft palate)
• The side and walls of the throat
• The tonsils.

As such, oral cancer screening involves diagnostic tests that screen these regions.  During routine medical or dental check-ups, your doctor or dentist will start by searching for lesions in the oral cavity and oropharynx.  Oral cancers usually start in the thing, fat cells that line these oral regions.  Abnormal white patches of cells (leukoplakia) and abnormal red patches of cells (erythroplakia) that form on the mucous membranes may become cancerous; so if your doctor finds these lesions the tissue will need to be tested.
There are four basic methods of testing oral cells to determine if they are cancerous.

• Toluidine blue stain
• Fluroescense staining
• Exfoliative cytology
• Brush biopsy

A diagnostic procedure in which oral cells are covered with a blue dye is known as a toluidine blue stain.  Areas that are darker are more likely to be or become cancer.  With fluorescence staining, lesions in the mouth are inspected under a certain type of light after the patient has rinsed with a fluorescent mouth wash; normal tissue can be distinguished from cancerous tissue using this test.  Exfoliative cytology involves collecting cells from the lips and/or oral cavity with a piece of cotton, a brush, or small wodden stick.  Cells are scraped from the lips, tongue, mouth, or throat and viewed under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.  Finally, a brush biopsy procedure involves removing cells with a brush designed to collect cells from a lesion; again, cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are cancerous.

More than half of oral cancers have already spread to the lymph nodes by the time they are discovered.  As such, it is important to have regular check-ups from a dentist that includes oral cancer screening.

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There are different types of dental bridges, each appropriate for different parts of your mouth.  The first type of bridge commonly used in cosmetic dentistry is the traditional fixed bridge.  Fixed bridges,un like dentures can not  be removed from your mouth.  In this standard form of a dental bridge, the pontic is attached to crowns which are similarly attached to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth.  One or more missing teeth can be replaced by a traditional fixed bridge.

In addition, the resin bonded bridges are another common form of dental bridge.  Resin bonded bridges are mostly used to replace missing front teeth and tend to be less expensive than other types of dental bridges.  The resin bonded bridges provide an especially effective treatment when the bridge is formed between healthy teeth that do not have fillings.  In the case of the resin bonded bridge, the pontic is attached using metal bands that are bonded to healthy teeth with resin that is virtually invisible.  Resin bonded bridges tend to be easier to prepare and have less of an impact on adjacent teeth.

Finally, cantilever bridges are used in areas of your mouth that are under the least amount of stress.  Similar to resin bonded bridges, cantilever dental bridges are good for your front teeth and are especially effective in situations where the gap is next to only one healthy tooth.  Cantilever bridges require that the pontic is anchored to one or more natural teeth on just one side.

Dental bridges can be an excellent, cost reducing treatment for missing teeth.  When compared with dental implants, dental bridges are a more temporary solution but they are also less expensive.  Furthermore, dental bridges provide a natural appearance and the procedure usually requires only one or two visits.  While dental bridges look real and can last up to 10 years, they can increase temperature sensitivity for the first few weeks after treatment.  In addition, proper oral hygiene becomes more important when you have a dental bridge as the build up of bacteria on teeth and gums may become infected.
If you have missing teeth but otherwise good oral hygiene, you should speak to your dentist about dental bridges.  Spaces left open in your mouth may cause your teeth to drift out of position, not to mention the stigma attached with having missing teeth.

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Recent research published in a variety of medical journals including General Dentistry has pointed to the negative effects of consuming sports drinks on dental health. While sports drinks provide athletes with necessary electrolytes and fluids to rehydrate, sports drinks are linked directly to tooth damage. Unfortunately, sports drinks can cause irreparable damage to dental enamel and ultimately compromise the overall health of your teeth and gums. In fact, because of high levels of acid and sugars in sports drinks, the damage from these beverages can be as high as 3 to 11 times worse than damage caused by cola-based drinks.

Scientists recently attempted to determine the effects of drinking sports drink on tooth damage by immersing teeth in sports drinks as well as water. In their results, these researchers found that the citric acid level in sports drinks caused significant corrosion in the teeth when compared to water. Furthermore, multiple studies have gone on to replicate these results leading to the International Association for Dental Research in Miami to take a hard stance against sports drinks as a casual beverage option.

In another similar study, researchers at the New York University College of Dentistry placed halved teeth in either a sports drink or water bath and compared the effects after approximately 90 minutes. Results clearly showed that the citric acid in sports drinks was strongly linked to the erosion of tooth enamel. Indeed, within 90 minutes dozens of small holes became apparent in the teeth immersed in the sports drink while there was no damage to teeth immersed in water.

In yet another example of the link between sports drinks and tooth damage was revealed in a study by researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School. After continuously exposing cavity-free molars to a variety of popular beverages including sports drinks, energy drinks, fitness water, and non-cola beverages like lemonade and iced tea, researchers found a significant link between many of these beverages and damage to dental enamel. Indeed, the worst offenders were lemonade, energy drinks, and sports drinks.

The conclusions of these studies are important for influencing our beverage choices, especially considering the fact that brushing your teeth immediately after drinking sports drinks may actually make the problem worse than better. Acid in sports drinks soften your teeth making them vulnerable to the abrasive effects of brushing.

Certainly, we need to be careful when we go to the fridge for a drink. The obvious choice is water as no ill effects have been reported with regards to tooth damage when consuming water. However, there is a clear and almost inarguable conclusion that sports drinks will invariably lead to tooth damage. As such, athletes and the average person alike are advised to consume sports drinks sparingly and only for the purposes of rehydration when engaging in rigorous activity.

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If you’ve been wondering how to stop teeth grinding, you are no doubt concerned about the many negative results of the condition. From tooth and jaw problems to more serious symptoms such as TMJ and hearing loss, grinding your teeth is certainly serious enough to warrant visiting your dentist. Because teeth grinding may be the result of stress or anxiety, in addition to improper bite or poorly aligned teeth, your dentist may be best suited to correcting the issues and stopping the problem before it gets serious.

Before we discuss the dental treatments for teeth grinding, it is important to remember that teeth grinding may also be the result of other illnesses or medical conditions. Nutritional deficiencies, allergies, hormonal disorders, and even psychological factors may lead to teeth grinding. As such, it is also important to seek the advice of a doctor in addition to your dentist.

In order to treat or prevent teeth grinding in children and adults, there are a range of actions you can take. First and foremost, consider your stress levels and take steps to reduce your stress. Current research suggests that stress is not the main cause of teeth grinding, but it is important to your overall health to maintain low stress levels. Perhaps the best way to reduce stress levels is to exercise; but a relaxing bath with a great book might do the trick just as well.

Your dentist may advise that you try a dental device or dental treatment to treat your teeth grinding. A splint or customized mouth guard are popular treatment options designed to stop you from grinding your teeth. If your dentist determines that you are grinding as a result of an improper bite, he may even employ braces to realign your teeth. Some dental treatments may be required to correct a bite after chronic teeth grinding. Crowns, overlays, and other correctional methods can reduce problems with chewing and improve your oral health. Whether for prevention or treatment, dental treatments are not always completely effective in stopping teeth grinding. However, these treatments may be your best chance of preserving your teeth and jaw.

Recently, behavioral therapies have also become popular. Teeth grinding, especially during the day, may be a learned habit. Some people are more likely to grind their teeth when performing rigorous activities or at emotional times. Learning to avoid teeth grinding in associated situations can help reduce the consequences of the condition.

While you may be able to self-diagnose your own teeth grinding based on apparent symptoms or because a loved one has pointed it out, treatment will ultimately depend on the underlying cause. Your dentist and doctor are best equipped to determine the best course of treatment to help you overcome your teeth grinding.

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Chronic teeth grinding should be treated by a dentist because of the overall effects on your jaw and teeth.  When you regularly grind your teeth you are at greater risk of breaking, loosening, or even losing teeth.  Wear on teeth as the result of grinding makes you more likely to require major dental work including bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, and partial or complete dentures.  Recent research has also indicated that chronic teeth grinding can also impact your jaws and may even lead to hearing loss; and in the most severe cases you can change the appearance of your face.

Another possible consequence of chronic teeth grinding is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD).  TMJ is a condition characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of joint that connects the mandible (jaw) to the skull.  Sufferers experience a significant amount of pain as well as impairment of the joint.  TMJ can make it difficult to chew or bite, while causing headache, earache, or dull aching pain in the face.  Migraines, tinnitus, dizziness, and a number of other significant symptoms make TMJ a particularly bothersome condition.

While teeth grinding is not usually associated with children, it is not uncommon.  In fact, estimates of teeth grinding in children vary from 15% to 33% of children.  Yet, treatment of grinding is rarely recommended for children in the pre-school ages.  However, in older children and adults, treatment is very important to ensure total body health.

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In addition to crowded teeth, many people have problems with poor dental treatments that have been improperly fitted.  Fillings, crowns, and bridges that are not placed correctly can further exacerbate problems with brushing.  Overhangs and open margins around the teeth can make spaces between teeth inaccessible to flossing; and it may become difficult to clean around the gums.  Ultimately, it is important to remember that regular visits to your dentist can help prevent problems with poor dental fittings.  He or she can evaluate your teeth, fillings, crowns, and bridges to ensure that you are thoroughly cleaning your teeth and that challenges with brushing or flossing are reduced.

One issue that is faced by many young people concerns partially erupted wisdom teeth.  Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to form and move into the mouth, but in many cases our jaws and mouths are too small for these teeth to fit properly.  This can lead to impacted wisdom teeth, swollen or infected gums, and can even cause overcrowding.  All these consequences resulting from emerging wisdom teeth can make brushing uncomfortable or less effective.  In recent years, the removal of wisdom teeth has become the norm and if you are experiencing any problems with your wisdom teeth you should consider speaking with a dentist about extraction.

Finally, patients who have undergone orthodontic treatments will need to learn to adjust to new challenges associated with brushing.  Braces and wires make brushing less effective as parts of your teeth and gums are obscured.  Dentists recommend that people with braces brush and floss their teeth after every meal to ensure proper dental health.  In addition, there are excellent products on the market including specially designed electric tooth brushes and water picks that can improve cleaning for people with braces or other orthodontic treatments.

Despite the fact that there are many challenges to brushing that most people will encounter in their lifetime, making a commitment to your dental health needed be difficult.  Schedule yourself an extra 10 minutes after meals and before bed and you’ll have plenty of time to brush and floss thoroughly.  Also, take the time to visit your dentist and protect the health of your teeth and many of the problems discussed can be avoided.

For more information please contact Vancouver dentist Dr. Galia Anderson online or visit Vancouver Dental Clinic online.

Tooth decay or the formation of cavities affects almost everybody in today’s society.  Common in children and young adults, tooth decay is especially serious in our formative years; yet, tooth decay continues to pose serious risks to our oral health even into adult hood.  While tooth decay is the most common cause of tooth loss for young people, problems are almost completely preventable with good oral hygiene and a healthy diet.

Tooth damage as the result of decay begins when bacteria in the mouth and in the plaque on teeth begin to produce acids.  Plaque is a yellowish paste-like substance that builds up on teeth when oral hygiene is poor.  Bacteria that lives in the plaque converts foods, especially sugars and starches into acids which subsequently break down teeth leading to decay and an increased risk of damage.  As the acids in plaque dissolve the enamel of the teeth, cavities form and tooth decay becomes visibly evident.

In the early stages, damage to teeth resulting from cavities and other forms of tooth decay is rarely associated with serious symptoms.  However, in the long term, tooth damage resulting from tooth decay can lead to more serious oral health issues including tooth sensitivity, pain in the gums, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and even tooth loss in severe cases.  The most common complication reported by patients occurs when tooth decay reaches the nerve, root, and other parts at the base of the tooth.  The tooth can die and abscesses become more common.

Tooth decay is diagnosed by a dentist when he or she can observe small cracks and holes in the teeth.  As tooth damage progresses because of tooth decay, teeth soften making them more susceptible to damage.  Indeed, the damage caused by tooth decay results in a vicious circle of more damage and ultimately more serious symptoms that can cause pain and discomfort.  Treating tooth decay depends on the severity of the condition.  Because teeth cannot regenerate, advanced tooth decay is often treated through dental surgeries that include crowns, implants, or dentures.

Ultimately, the best treatment is prevention.  Tooth damage can be completely avoided when individuals follow a strict and regular oral hygiene routine that involves regular brushing and flossing.  It is recommended that you visit a dentist at least twice a year to ensure that your teeth are healthy and not full of cavities.

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Secondly, you should consider using a non-abrasive toothpaste. Choosing one with fluoride only helps to strengthen your teeth over time. There are a number of these pastes out on the market. As long as you find a good one, it should not matter what brand that you use. Fluoride is the key, but if you are unsure, ask your dentist or hygienist for suggestions. They have more experience with the teeth than anyone you know and can steer you toward the best options.

Finally, make sure that you adhere to a solid brushing technique. While some prefer up and down motions, most dentists will recommend that you brush your teeth in circular motions down and away from the gum. Doing so will protect your roots and, thus, your teeth as a whole.

While toothbrush abrasion is not the worst problem you can experience with your teeth, it can lead to greater difficulties ahead. Protect your teeth today by sticking to these three principles.

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