Receding Gums- Are You Getting 'Long in the Tooth'?

You might already know that gum disease leads to tooth loss, but you probably do not know that nearly 75% of Americans have some form of gum disease. Periodontal disease (gum disease) destroys the bone and gum tissue surrounding the teeth, causing them to become infected, loose and eventually lost.  Gum recession is well known as a sign of periodontal disease.  Did you know that gum recession can be caused by several other factors that you might not be aware of?

Aggressive Tooth Brushing

Brushing your teeth twice a day is important for gum health, but if you aren’t brushing your teeth the right way, you can actually be damaging your gums!  Improper brushing technique and aggressive brushing can cause an inflammatory response in the gum tissue, leading to recession.  In addition to following your dentist’s instructions for proper brushing technique, always use a soft bristled brush and avoid over-brushing.  Two minutes of proper brushing twice per day is enough to keep teeth and gums healthy- just don’t forget to floss!

Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth

Teeth grinding and clenching is a behavior most often seen associated with stress.  Frequent grinding or clenching can stress the delicate gum tissue and tiny periodontal attachments, causing gum recession.  In addition, stress on the teeth can cause erosion of the enamel at the gumline.  If you have problems with teeth grinding and clenching, talk to your dentist about therapeutic treatment options such as custom mouthguards to help prevent damage from clenching.

Crooked Teeth/Misaligned Bite

Crooked teeth are more than just a cosmetic concern.  When your teeth are crooked , your bite does not match properly.  This is called malocclusion.  Malocclusion causes excess stress, pressure and wear on individual teeth, often resulting in gum recession.   In addition, crooked teeth are harder to keep clean, leaving them prone to excess plaque and calculus- known causes of gum disease. Correcting crooked teeth with traditional braces or Invisalign clear dental aligners can prevent and stop progression of gum recession associated with a misaligned bite

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Piercings

Piercings in the lips and tongue are a dentist’s nightmare.  Metal jewelry in the mouth can cause friction on the delicate gum tissues, leading to gum recession.  In addition, tongue bars and other metal piercings are often the cause of fractured teeth!  Avoid loss of gum tissue and the risk of damage to teeth by removing piercings that can come in contact with teeth and gums.

Tobacco Use Causes Gum Recession

Tobacco use, especially dipping tobacco, causes damage to the delicate gum tissue.  Over time, tobacco uses experience gum recession, even when periodontal disease is not present.  In addition to all the other negative health effects of tobacco use, gum recession is just one more reason to quit smoking and using tobacco now. 

Do You Have Gum Recession?

If you have noticed that you are getting a little “long in the tooth”, it’s time to talk to your Dallas dentist about what is causing your gum recession.  Your dentist and dental hygienist can help determine the cause and work with you to make corrections in your habits to stop the progression of gum recession.  Schedule your dental check -up now, and help make sure you  preserve your gums and maintain a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Cosmetic Dentistry -Repair Chipped Teeth With Dental Bonding

Cosmetic dentistry can make a huge difference in your personal appearance.  Cosmetic procedures can make you look years younger, restore your confidence and give you the freedom to smile again! 

Even healthy teeth can benefit from certain cosmetic dental treatments like teeth whitening and veneers, but one cosmetic dental treatment that is often overlooked is dental bonding.  A chipped or misshapen tooth might be the only thing standing between you and your best smile ever.  When the repair is cosmetic in nature, sometimes the best option is dental bonding. 

How Dental Bonding Is Done

Bonding involves the reshaping of a tooth using a strong, durable tooth colored material.  There is only minimal tooth preparation required, and the procedure is painless.  When there is no other disease or damage to a misshapen tooth, bonding is a safe, economical and beautiful dental enhancement that can make a huge difference in your appearance.  The tooth is prepared with a material which makes the bonding material adhere permanently.  Your dentist is then able to apply the bonding material directly to the tooth’s surface, shaping and contouring it to the desired result.  Once the restoration is given a good polish and shine, your redesigned tooth will look beautiful and natural, matching the shade of the surrounding teeth. 

 

Why Choose Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a great option for patients with only slight cosmetic defects, a single chipped tooth or a slightly misshapen tooth.  The application of bonding material can close small gaps, reshape a peg-shaped tooth and open up your smile.  In order to use bonding as a cosmetic dental solution, the tooth must be free of disease like decay.  Dental bonding is a good option if the tooth is otherwise intact, strong and stable.  

For teeth which are damaged, decayed or fractured, other treatments such as dental crowns or veneers may be the best solution.  For the cosmetic enhancement of multiple teeth, cosmetic dental veneers might also be the best option.

Find Out If Dental Bonding Is Right For You

The best way to make a decision about whether cosmetic dentistry is right for you is to have a consultation with Dr. Burroughs.  You can schedule your appointment here.

 Schedule a Dental Appointment

Should You Remove Wisdom Teeth?

To remove wisdom teeth, or not- that is the question for many dental patients as the summer months approach.  This question is best answered by your Dallas dentist, Dr. Jack Burroughs.  Because wisdom teeth removal is a hot topic, we would like to share a few insights about wisdom teeth, clinically referred to as third molars, to help shed some light on the subject.

Does Everybody Need Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Although known for causing symptoms such as pain and infection, not all wisdom teeth must be removed.  When you see your dentist for a regular check-up, he will evaluate the health and position of your wisdom teeth to determine whether they are likely to pose a problem now or in the future.  There are a number of reasons why wisdom teeth would be recommended for extraction.  Here are some of the most common problems associated with them:

• Chronic infection, inflammation
• Tooth decay
• Gum disease or bone loss
• Impacted wisdom teeth with development of cyst
• Damage to adjacent teeth
• Dental crowding

Early Intervention for Wisdom Teeth Problems

If your dentist diagnoses a problem or a potential problem with your wisdom teeth, he will recommend that you have them removed.  Some wisdom teeth problems develop slowly over time, and some, such as tooth decay and chronic infection can be painful and require quick action to alleviate symptoms.  If your dentist has recommended removal of wisdom teeth that are not painful, ask him why.  It is important to understand the reasons why the treatment is being recommended.

Some wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning they are trapped beneath bone and gum tissue.  These teeth can be malpositioned, sometimes growing in sideways.  Impacted teeth can develop cysts or tumors around them that can destroy surrounding bone or damage the adjacent teeth.  Pain may not be a symptom of teeth diagnosed as impacted or malpositioned.

Many dentists and orthodontists recommend removal of the wisdom teeth in order to maintain the results achieved through braces or Invisalign treatment.  As wisdom teeth come in, they can place pressure on the other teeth, causing them to move out of position or relapse into dental crowding.  Removing the wisdom teeth before they are able to cause shifting of the other teeth can help maintain the results from orthodontic treatment.

Convenient and Stress- Free Wisdom Teeth Removal

Your Dallas dentist offers patients wisdom teeth removal with IV sedation right in the comfort and familiarity of our dental office.  Our in-house extraction dentist can provide the surgical services needed to remove problem wisdom teeth safely, comfortably, and in the familiar setting of our office. Patients sleep peacefully during treatment, making wisdom teeth extraction stress-free and comfortable.

Summer is a popular time for wisdom teeth surgery, and we have set aside time to make it easy for you to schedule your appointment while school is out.  If wisdom tooth removal has been recommended for you or your child, please contact our office to schedule your appointment today. 
 

Advantages of Porcelain Dental Crowns

Strength and Beauty in Dentistry

A dental crown is one of the most common dental procedures performed.  When it comes to repairing a tooth with a crown, understanding your options can help you achieve the best cosmetic and restorative result possible.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is used to replace tooth structure which has been lost due to injury or decay.  When a large portion of the tooth is damaged, a filling is not sufficient to restore the strength and stability of the tooth.  A dental crown replaces much of the tooth structure above the gum line, providing restoration of both appearance and function.

There are several types of dental crowns.  Your dentist will help you choose the option that best suits your needs and desires.  Some crowns are made from a strong base metal, overlaid with porcelain to match the surrounding teeth.  These crowns are very strong and durable, especially for restoration of molars and back teeth.  Porcelain crowns are made by layering strong porcelain to create a dental crown that is both strong and beautiful.  Porcelain crowns are commonly used in teeth along the smile line because of their aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Why Choose a Porcelain Crown?

Most people who choose porcelain crowns do so for aesthetic reasons.  When restoring a tooth in the smile line, you want it to look, feel and function like a natural tooth.  Metal based crowns can be used in the front teeth, but for cosmetic purposes, full porcelain crowns are commonly recommended for the following reasons:

• Porcelain crowns can be made to look more like the surrounding natural teeth
• Full porcelain crowns allow for a certain amount of transparency along the thinner edges, allowing light to pass through as it does in a natural tooth.  Metal based crowns are opague and do not allow for natural transparency.
• Porcelain crowns eliminate the potential for any exposure of the metal base along the gumline.  

Should You Choose Porcelain Crowns?

Your dentist can help you decide the best treatment option for your individual dental needs.  A consultation at Forest Lane Dental can help you understand your treatment options.  To schedule a consultation for dental crowns, contact the Dallas dental office of Dr. Jack E. Burroughs. 

Are You A Pain Driven Dental Patient?

Going to the Dentist Only When You Have Pain is Costing You Money

Save Money on Dental Care With Preventive Dentistry

You might think that avoiding the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings is a good way to save money on dental care.  The fact is, avoiding the dentist unless you have a painful problem costs you more money than maintaining regular check ups and cleanings.  

50% of Americans do not see a dentist regularly.  The reason for this is not that half of Americans have perfectly healthy teeth.  Avoiding regular dental care prevents your dentist from detecting small areas of tooth decay or early stages of gum disease.  Small dental problems are not usually painful, and you might not even notice them. Once these problems have progressed and become more serious, they begin to cause pain.  Advanced dental disease can be a lot more expensive to repair than early dental disease.

  

How Dental Work Becomes Expensive

 Your dentist is trained to detect early signs of dental disease, and can repair the problem more easily and more affordably than saving a tooth with advanced disease.  For example, a small cavity is painless, almost invisible.  Over time it grows and expands into the vital structures within your tooth, causing pain and infection. 

A regular check up every 6 months would ensure that the tiny cavity was detected and filled long before serious and painful damage was done to the tooth.  A small filling is one of the most inexpensive dental procedures you can have.   

Take the same small cavity, but without a regular dental check-up.  Over time, the cavity will grow, infiltrating the pulp of the tooth.  Once the cavity has grown to this point, it will become painful and sensitive to hot/cold/sweet.  If you seek help from a dentist at this point, a larger filling is almost guaranteed and a porcelain crown may be required in order to restore the tooth’s strength.  Without repair, the cavity continues to overtake the tooth.  As it reaches the pulp, it causes intense pain, swelling and even infection.  The decay may cause the tooth to fracture and chip apart.  

At this point, you are seeking an emergency dental appointment, and the cavity needs much more than a small, inexpensive filling to repair it.  If the tooth can be saved at this late stage of disease, it could need a root canal treatment and a dental crown in order to remove the decay, heal the infection and strengthen the tooth.  This type of extensive repair can be several times the cost of a small filling, even with dental insurance. 

Regular Dental Care Saves Money

Good dental habits at home, including brushing and flossing, combined with regular dental care can help you save money on the cost of dental work.  A professional dental cleaning every six months removes harmful plaque and tartar that collects along the gumline and causes tooth decay and gum disease.  Annual x-rays make it possible to detect small areas of tooth decay, making simple, inexpensive repairs possible.  Your regular dental exam allows your dentist to diagnose dental problems before they become serious and painful.  

Most dental plans cover the cost of preventive dental care, such as exams and cleanings, because insurance companies know that prevention works.  If you have dental insurance, you can stay current with your routine dental care at no cost to you.  If you do not have insurance, the cost of an exam and cleaning is far less than the cost of major dental work.  

Be a Prevention Driven Dental Patient

Save your teeth and help them last you a lifetime by having a preventive attitude about dentistry.  Practice good dental hygiene habits every day, and see your dentist for a professional cleaning and exam every six months.  This formula for success has been proven to reduce the need for expensive, extensive dental work over time.  

 Even more important than saving money on dental care, having a preventive attitude about dentistry will help you maintain healthy teeth and gums for the rest of your life.

These Foods Are Worse For Your Teeth Than Sugar

They look innocent, but these chips want to ruin your teeth!

Avoiding sugar is always a good idea when it comes to healthy teeth and preventing cavities.  Contrary to what you may have been told, sugar is not the worst food for teeth.  While it is true that sugar has been proven to promote tooth decay and even gum disease, there are other villains at work that can cause serious damage to your dental health.

Acids Damage Teeth

Acids found in foods and beverage can break down tooth enamel, thinning it and causing it to lose strength.  When enamel becomes thin or porous, it make it easier for bacteria and decay to take hold on tooth surfaces.  The worst acid for teeth is citric acid.  Citric acid can be found in everything from fresh lemonade to sodas and sour candies.  Combine acid with sugar, and you have a recipe for dental disaster.

High Carb Foods 

All dietary carbohydrates break down into sugars. Avoiding sweets, candies and sugary snacks is a good idea, but if you indulge in high carb foods like bread, pasta, cereal, even dried fruit can get stuck between teeth and break down into a sugary feast for cavity causing oral bacteria.  If you eat a diet high in carbs, take extra care to brush, floss and rinse your mouth well. 

Foods and Habits to Avoid

Avoiding highly acidic foods can help preserve tooth enamel and keep teeth healthier and stronger.  Some common acidic foods are:

• red or white wine
• sodas (even diet)
• citrus
• tomato sauce

High carb and starchy foods that break down into sugars can be hard to spot sometimes.  Some of the worst offenders are:

• breads and crackers
• cereal, even if it has no sugar added
• dried fruit, raisins
• potato chips

In addition, do not use your teeth for jobs they are not intended for.  Opening packages and removing tags with your teeth is a sure way to damage them.  Chewing/crunching on ice is also hard on your teeth.  Grinding and clenching teeth can also cause serious damage.

Maintain a healthy diet, and remember to keep all foods in moderation.  If you indulge a little, be sure to clean your teeth well after the meal.  For more information about maintaining a diet which is healthy for teeth and gums, contact Forest Lane Dental.