Dental Blog

Like dental braces, the removal of wisdom teeth is one of the dental “rites of passage” for teens. Wisdom teeth — or third molars — are our final set of molars and usually start to emerge between the ages of 16 and 25. They are known as “wisdom” teeth in most cultures because of their late arrival compared to other adult molars. If...

Many adults suffer from chronic jaw and facial pain. Some common symptoms include pain in or around the ear, tenderness of the jaw, pain when biting, or headaches. Many things can cause facial pain, which can make it difficult to diagnose and treat. Your dentist will conduct a thorough exam, which may include X-rays, to determine the cause of the...

Oral health care is incredibly important for children, but some kids may not be getting the dental care they need. Poor dental health not only leaves children vulnerable to tooth decay, but can affect their overall health as well. Members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry are working to eliminate childhood dental diseases through Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: The...

More than 700 kinds of bacteria can live in your mouth — some helpful, and some harmful. Don’t run for your toothbrush or mouthwash just yet. As long as they’re in balance, the “good” kind keep the “bad” ones from hurting you. But if that balance gets out of whack, the harmful ones can take hold and lead to gum disease. You might have heard...

The soft tissue in your mouth can be extremely sensitive, so even small injuries to your gums can be unexpectedly painful. Read on for more information on the different types of gum injuries, how you can treat them by yourself, and what sort of treatment you can expect to receive from a dentist. Gum trauma This is the most common...

As the big debate of nature versus nurture continues, one thing is clear, there is no fighting genetics when it comes to dental health. Studies have shown that even those who have amazing oral hygiene habits, 30 percent of the population has a genetic predisposition for developing gum disease. Recently research was released that one’s DNA coding may also influence the success (or lack of) in...

If your TMJ pain progresses and isn’t improving, TMJ physical therapy is something patients can consider. Physical therapy for TMJ disorders can involve a number of treatments including heat/cold therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and massage. Stretching and relaxing exercises are usually combined with the treatment to further improve results. If you do suffer from TMJ pain, it may be a good idea to see...

There are a number of problems that affect the oral health of children, including tooth decay, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, and early tooth loss. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced with permanent teeth, keeping baby teeth healthy is important to a child’s overall health and well-being. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Baby bottle tooth decay (also called early childhood caries,...

Statistics show that about 15 percent of Americans suffer from dental anxiety. Dental anxiety, or dental phobia, is more serious than just getting sweaty palms at the thought of going to the dentist — it’s a paralyzing fear of dentists or dental treatment. If this sounds like you, keep in mind that you don’t have to avoid getting the dental care you need. There...