www.BestOgdenDentist.com Blog

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Can you close that gap?

You bet we can.

This gentlemen had a few small cavities on the sides of his front teeth.

While we were filling them we decided to go ahead and close the gap

in between those teeth that he had had for quite some time.

After about 40 minutes in the chair.

No anesthesia.

And for the same cost as a regular filling we were

able to get rid of the decay as well as close up the gap.

There are a lot of things that are possible these days in dentistry

the trick is to ask the dentist and see what might be right for you.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Are all wisdom tooth extractions the same?

Not even close.

Below is an example of why wisdom tooth extractions

differ in complexity, even from side to side in the same person.

Try getting a tooth out with a big old fish hook at the bottom.

If tooth roots are straight and tapered then they

are relatively easy to remove.

However, if they look like this tooth then that is another story.

The above picture is half of a wisdom tooth that we took out just this morning.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Orthodontics can be hard on teeth.

If you are not careful with your dental care while you

have braces you can end up in a little bit of trouble.

Not only do you need to brush, but you need

to brush even better then normal due to the fact that

your braces will collect food more then your normal teeth will.

This young lady, for instance, had a rough go of her

home care while she was in braces.

That combined with a lack of adequate home care after

the braces lead to her having several very large cavities.

There is hope however.

With a little bit of dental magic we were able to restore

her teeth to a state that allowed her to smile again.

Before

After

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

I hate the metal in my mouth!

Well then get it out.

Her are some before and after pictures of a case we did this morning.

Before with old metal filling

After with the new white filling

If fillings are done well they should not be seen.

No one will ever notice that this patient has a fairly large filling in this tooth.

Which is exactly what he wanted.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Is chewing gum a good or bad idea?

We have all seen it in stores.

Rows and rows of gum.

Bags, bottles, cans, and boxes filled with

sticks, cubes, and circles of gum.

It's everywhere.

But is it good for you?

The answer can be a little complicated.

First off if the gum is not sugar free then NO it wont be good for you.

The sugar on your teeth for the hour or so that you chew on the gum will help

in causing the formation of cavities.

If the gum is sugar free then the is better but there are a couple of factors

still left to consider.

Do you have any popping, clicking, or grinding in your jaw joint (tmj)?

If so then I would not recommend the gum.

Working a piece of gum for an hour with a jaw that already is

a little tender could lead to even more joint problems.

So if its sugar free and you are free from any TMJ discomfort then it

should be ok to go ahead and chew your gum.

And actually it may be beneficial as well.

Gum will stimulate salivary flow.

Saliva helps to even out the pH in your mouth and prevent bacteria,

and the acids they produce, from hurting your teeth.

So if the conditions are right then not only is gum not bad, but

it can also be a good thing for you to do.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Which retainer is right for me?

Lots of people ask me about retainers.

Most retainers are given to folks from their orthodontists.

The type of retainer you have really depends on the personal preference of the Orthodontist.

Some orthodontists like the retainers that you can take in and out every night.

These come in two forms. The ones that use wire to retain the teeth position

and the ones that are made simply of clear plastic.

Other orthodontists like the small metal wires that are actually

glued to the teeth and can not be removed.

So which one is better?

That depends on what irritates you most.

Would it irritate you more to have something glued into your

mouth that you could never take out?

Or would it irritate you more to always have to remember to put your retainer

in every night and take it with you on every trip vacation and overnighter you go on?

Both will do a fine job.

My Mother has a retainer that she puts in every night and has done so for over 30 years.

My wife has a bonded metal wire that she has had in place for over 20 years.

Both seem to like what they have and wouldn't change.

If you have a particular type of retainer and you would like

to try another kind that is no problem.

We can switch you to another kind, let you try it for a while, and then

switch you back if you don't like it.

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