What’s Keeping You Up at Night?

27/Apr/2024

More than 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a serious condition that compromises your rest and can impact your health. Some symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, extreme daytime tiredness, mouth breathing, and irritability. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea, much less common, happens when the brain fails to signal your breathing muscles.

Characterized by short episodes of not breathing, which can occur from five to 50 times a night, obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the muscles in your throat relax and your airways become blocked as you sleep. Your brain senses the lack of breathing and wakes you briefly to restore airflow. These episodes disrupt sleep and keep you from feeling rested.

Not only does sleep apnea keep you from getting a good night’s rest, but it can also put your health at risk. Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, risk of stroke, memory impairment, and weight gain. As well, your sleep partner may not get enough sleep because of your snoring and/or waking episodes.

If you suspect sleep apnea, talk with your dentist, who may recommend a sleep evaluation. Through overnight monitoring, a sleep specialist can determine if you suffer from sleep apnea. Treatment for sleep apnea may include lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask, or an oral appliance. Your dentist can fit you for night guard that will hold your jaw in the correct position to keep your airways open.

Our dental office is located in Weymouth

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27/Apr/2024

If you’re looking for an instant smile upgrade, dental veneers might be your answer. These thin customized shells made of porcelain or resin are used to cover numerous kinds of teeth imperfections. They are bonded to the fronts of your teeth to give you a beautiful smile.

Why do people choose dental veneers for their smiles? The list of benefits is long!

Natural look

Veneers reflect light in the same way as real teeth, making them look very realistic. Their thin width allow them to blend into your smile.

Color

Veneers are custom-made to match the exact shade of white that you desire. You and your dentist can work together to match your natural tooth shade, or to choose a brighter color that whitens your smile.

Durability

Veneers can last for ten years or longer with proper care. Once bonded onto your teeth, they are quite strong if you avoid doing things like biting into hard foods.

Versatility

Dental veneers hide nearly every cosmetic tooth flaw that you might have. Discolorations, chips, cracks, gaps, misalignment and more can all be covered. Veneers can even give your teeth a new shape and size if desired.

Functionality

Veneers can strengthen teeth that are cracked, fractured or chipped. This can improve your teeth’s function at the same time as transforming their appearance.

Stain resistance

Porcelain and resin both resist stains so that you can expect your veneers to remain the same color as when you got them. However, it’s smart to avoid consuming items that are known staining culprits.

Speed

It may take a week or longer to create your personalized veneers in a dental lab, but the actual process of applying them takes only about an hour.

Ease on teeth

Very little of your natural tooth must be removed in order to place veneers. The nerves of your teeth should remain unaffected, decreasing the risk of sensitivity.

Recovery

You can return to your normal routine as soon as your veneers have been placed, as there is no period of recovery or adjustment needed.

Maintenance

Veneers do not require any kind of special maintenance. You can just continue with your normal brushing and flossing routines.

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27/Apr/2024

When scheduling routine dental care, you would be wise to consider making your appointments with a qualified family dentist. A family dentist is trained to not only treat adults, but also the very youngest members of your family. The ability of a family dentist to treat every age group makes the job of keeping your family’s teeth healthy easy and convenient.

An experienced family dentist provides a wide variety of services, including:

Bi-annual check-ups, x-rays, and professional cleaning
Fluoride treatments
Oral cancer screenings
Gum disease therapies
Cosmetic dental services
Cavity treatment
Orthodontics

Because this type of dentist gets to know your entire family, every member can enjoy a safe, warm, and familiar environment. Many family dental practices offer an array of amenities to make even the youngest child feel comfortable. Video games in the waiting room, televisions with movies in the exam rooms, and treats for a successful visit are all perks to help your children enjoy a stress-free dental visit.

A family dentist is also trained to treat the unique needs of the elder members of your family. Tooth loss and decay, gum recession, gum disease, and dry mouth are all issues with which senior citizens may suffer, and your family dentist is equipped to handle those problems. Advances in dental care mean people are keeping their teeth longer than ever before.

Finding and maintaining a relationship with a qualified family dentist will help ensure the dental health of your entire family and result in a lifetime of healthy smiles.

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27/Apr/2024

Your dentist plays an important role in your family’s healthcare. It’s more than just a teeth cleaning to keep your smile looking good; it’s a partner who helps ensure both your oral and your general health are the best they can be. That’s why it’s imperative to choose a qualified and skilled dental professional that you can stick with through the years to manage the oral health of each member of your family.

Ask friends, coworkers and neighbors for recommendations for a family dentist or conduct an online search. Once you have narrowed down your choices, schedule a consultation so that you can gather more information and get a feeling about the practice.

Consider the dentist’s credentials and experience. The dentist should have graduated from an accredited dental school and passed all exams and other requirements. Find out if the dentist has any specializations that you or a family member might be interested in, such as orthodontics or root canal therapy. If the practice offers more than one dentist in a group, make sure anyone you’ll see has the same level of experience and training. Ask about continuing education to see if the dentist keeps up with the most current techniques and trends.

Every family dentist should be willing to work with patients of all ages, but if you have family members who are very young or very old, make sure the dentist is skilled in their specific care. Inquire about options available for dental fears such as sedation dentistry.

Pay attention to all aspect of the dental office when you are there. Is the latest equipment available? Is the staff friendly and accommodating? Are you able to ask questions and get all of the information you need? Is the office location convenient? Are multiple appointments offered during one time slot? Do they offer emergency hours? Are financial policies outlined clearly?

A good family dentist takes the time to treat you and your family with care and personalized attention, as well as skill and confidence. Look for a professional who will play a trusted role as part of your healthcare team.

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27/Apr/2024

Neglecting the dental care of you and your family members is not a smart move. Examinations, preventive treatments, and procedures to repair dental problems are all the best pathways to good oral health. A qualified and experienced family dentist is the ideal resource for helping you achieve your oral health goals.

Follow these recommendations for ending up with the right family dentist.

Ask your last dentist.

Especially after a relocation, your previous dentist is a good place to start in finding a new one. Many dentists belong to associations that connect providers all over the country, or perhaps they went to school with someone who practices in your area. Your last dentist will want your entire family to continue receiving good oral care.

Ask neighbors and coworkers.

Don’t hesitate to ask your new neighbors and coworkers for recommendations. This is one of the best ways to locate a provider who does quality work, offers the services you’re looking for, is conveniently located, and provides a good experience for family members of all ages. Ask for details about the care they’ve received and for specific examples about what the like or dislike about the practice.

Research community forums.

Community forums are a good place to find honest feedback about a family dental practice. Members share experiences regarding both the good and bad aspects about dental providers.

Look online.

Most family dental practices have websites that answer most of the questions you might have as you search for a new dentist. You can take your time reading about the services, prices, location, hours, policies, staff, plus client testimonials.

Schedule a consultation.

Once you have decided on a family dentist that you think might be right for you and your family, make an appointment to visit the office and see what it’s like firsthand. This is the best way to ensure it’s the right fit before making your final selection for long-term family dental care.

If you live in the Weymouth, MA area and you need a great family dentist, contact our office today!

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27/Apr/2024

There’s really no way to avoid teeth becoming discolored over time. Even though you might brush like crazy, the odds are against keeping your bright white smile forever. Certain foods, aging, and habits like smoking are common culprits for staining teeth. With these factors against you, teeth whitening methods are in high demand. There are two main kinds of professional whitening methods: in-office and at-home. How do you know which is right for you?

Professional whitening in your dentist’s office is the most effective way to brighten your smile. It is the fastest way to achieve dramatic results, becoming up to ten shades brighter in just one hour. The bleaching gel used in the dentist’s office contains higher concentrations of peroxide, quickly and effectively attacking stains. In-office whitening utilizes special lights to activate the gel. The dentist is there to monitor the process to ensure you are comfortable and get ideal results.

There are a few negatives to consider with in-office whitening. Some patients experience sensitivity with the bleaching gel or the small amounts of heat during the process. Also, in-office whitening is often the most expensive way to brighten your smile, although many people consider the dramatic improvement worth the cost.

Whitening your teeth at home is somewhat less effective than in-office treatments, but many patients who don’t want to spend the time or money in the dentist’s chair appreciate this method. These kits consist of trays that your dentist provides that you fill with a lower concentrated whitening solution and wear for about thirty minutes at a time. Full results are usually possible in roughly ten days, and some patients achieve similar results as in-office methods.

Even with the lower strength gel, patients may experience discomfort during at-home whitening. You also must remember to wear the trays daily and be consistent with their use in order to obtain good results. At-home kits require patience.

Whichever professional whitening method you choose, a brighter smile is possible. Good oral hygiene practices afterwards and occasional touch-ups with home products will help maintain your brilliant new smile.

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27/Apr/2024

Root canal therapy is often recommended to restore a damaged or diseased tooth.

While many patients are frightened when they hear “root canal”, there are several tips you can follow to ensure a smooth, complication-free procedure:

Consult with your dentist or oral surgeon to find out the available options for sedation. Sedation dentistry is especially helpful if you experience anxiety or fears about your scheduled root canal therapy.
Talk to your dentist or oral surgeon about prescribing antibiotics before your root canal procedure. Treating an infected tooth with antibiotics before the therapy can help reduce swelling and encourage healing after the root canal procedure is complete.
Discuss with your dentist the option of taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication beginning several days before your scheduled root canal treatment. Taking a medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen before and immediately following root canal therapy will help control pain and reduce swelling.
Treat yourself to a healthy, filling meal at least one hour before your root canal procedure. Root canal treatment can take up to three hours, and you may have difficulty eating afterwards until the numbness subsides.
Make your scheduled follow-up visits a priority. Keeping your appointments will allow your dentist or oral surgeon to identify any potential problems before they become severe. A root canal treated tooth also requires a crown or filling to keep it healthy and free from fractures.

Your dentist will provide additional before and aftercare instructions for your root canal procedure. By following these tips, along with any recommendations from your dentist, you will have the best chance for a successful procedure. With root canal therapy, you can save your damaged and diseased teeth and return to a healthy smile.

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27/Apr/2024

When you have a tooth or multiple teeth with extensive damage, your dentist may recommend a crown or bridge to restore your smile. Most of the time these restorations provide complete and successful results, but occasionally problems arise.

Tooth decay

Good hygiene is imperative after a crown or bridge because plaque can build up in the area where the tooth and crown meet. Your crown can’t decay, but your tooth still can. Follow your dentist’s instructions for proper brushing, flossing, and fluoride use.

Gum disease

Plaque buildup around a crown can cause gum disease called gingivitis, and if untreated advance to periodontitis.

Chipping or breaking

Crowns and bridges are susceptible to damage like fracturing or chipping. Many crowns are made of porcelain, which can chip or completely fail. Heavy wear or stress such as teeth grinding can cause this type of damage, as well as an accident like hitting your restoration. Small chips may be repaired with composite filling, but larger damage can mean total replacement.

Incorrect color

When having your crown or bridge made, you can choose from a selection of colors. However, the whitest shade is not advised because it likely won’t match the rest of your smile or it can look fake. Make sure you consider the color carefully or else you’ll be faced with redoing the restoration if you dislike it.

Falling out

Several problems can cause your crown to fall out. The core may fail so that the interior portion of your crown is unable to provide a strong base for the restoration. Less likely, the cement can fail so that the crown simply needs stronger adhesion. Or, the post crown can dislodge so that you’ll see a large post sticking out of your crown. If your crown falls out, be sure to save it for your dentist in case it can be reinserted.

In most circumstances, these problems with your crown or bridge do not occur and you can enjoy a long lifespan with your restoration. If you do notice any of these issues, schedule an appointment with your dentist to ensure optimum oral health.

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27/Apr/2024

CEREC crowns are named for CEremic REConstruction. CEREC is a restorative dental treatment resulting from computer assisted design (CAD) and computer assisted manufacturing (CAM). This process was developed in the early 1980s at the University of Zurich by Dr. W.H. Mormann and Dr. M. Brandestini.

The process allows a cosmetic dentist to design, create and place computer-developed tooth restorations in one single dental appointment. With CEREC, there’s no need for a dental lab or multiple visits to the dentist. In use since the mid 1980s, CEREC is rapidly becoming the top-of-the-line choice for tooth restoration.

Because CEREC begins with a digital scan of the mouth, traditional goop-filled molds are not required. These trays are problematic for many patients, especially those with a delicate gag reflex, eliminating the possibility of retching and vomiting during the molding process.

CEREC crowns can help anyone who necessitates a dental crown to complete a root canal treatment or a dental bridge. CEREC allows a crown to be placed the same day as a root canal procedure, alleviating the need for a temporary crown. This can save a great deal of time for a busy patient, and a lot of anxiety for a fearful one.

CEREC teeth are extremely accurate. Because they were created with the help of an optical scan, they are more accurate than most teeth created by hand in a lab. This ensures proper fit and a long life for your crown.

If you have questions about whether or not you can benefit from CEREC technology, talk to your cosmetic dentist about this exciting advancement in dentistry. Find out how CEREC can improve your experience in the dental chair and in the future of your smile.

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27/Apr/2024

Have you had your photo taken recently? When was the last time you took a selfie that you thought was perfect? How many times do you wish for a “live action” retouch tool that would follow you around, brightening your smile each time you opened your mouth? If you’ve been unhappy with your smile in photos, there are things you can do to turn toward a more beautiful smile, beginning by talking to a skilled cosmetic dentist.

A cosmetic dentist can address such issues as the color of your teeth, and can provide professional treatments that can lighten your tooth shade by several levels in only a few in-office visits. Utilizing customized trays loaded with light-activated bleaching agents, your cosmetic dentist can ensure that every surface of your tooth is evenly coated, giving you the consistent, bright results you desire.

Tooth length, shape and alignment can be corrected through the use of dental veneers. Dental veneers are applied directly to a tooth or series of teeth, providing an outer layer that is white, straight and pleasing to the eye. Teeth can be reshaped and cracks and chips can be repaired through the use of composite resin material, crafted by hand and hardened and polished to shine like your natural teeth.

If you’re missing a tooth, a dental bridge or dental implant can be the solution. Filling the area where a tooth used to be is very important in order for you to maintain the correct spacing for the rest of your teeth. Without something to fill the gap, the surrounding teeth will begin to collapse into the open space, leading all the teeth in line to begin to shift, similar to dominos.

If you’re unhappy with your smile, find a skilled cosmetic dentist and get to work creating a smile you’ll love in photos for years to come!

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