Aug 28, 2016 | Blog
Second only to the common cold, tooth decay is one of the most prevalent conditions in this country. Starting your children on the path to lifelong oral health means teaching them the importance of taking good care of their teeth.
The following tips can help you protect the health and beauty of your child’s smile:
- Schedule a first dental visit. Many dentist recommend bringing your child in on or around the first birthday, and definitely by age three. Primary, or baby, teeth allow your child to speak clearly and chew naturally. As well, baby teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth, so you need to take your child to the dentist for regular checkups.
- Give up the bottle. Young children can develop early tooth decay, also called baby bottle mouth, when parents let them go to sleep with milk or juice bottles. The best plan is to wean your child of the bottle by age one, but if that isn’t possible, make sure you only fill the bottle with water before bedtime.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps young children develop strong teeth, so it’s important to start brushing with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste once most of the baby teeth have erupted.
- Encourage healthy eating. A balanced diet promotes overall health, including your teeth and gums. Limit intake of carbohydrates, sugary treats, and acidic foods, which can weaken enamel and increase the chances for cavities. Instead, offer snacks like crunchy vegetables, cheese, and yogurt, which are good for your teeth.
Cosmetic Dentist Central Falls RI
Sep 14, 2016 | Blog, Blackstone Dental Central Falls RI Dentist
Foods that stain and lifestyle habits like smoking affect your teeth over time. One of the direct results of certain choices is yellowed or discolored teeth. Most people prefer to have a brilliant white smile that portrays good health and an attractive appearance. As a result, people are turning more and more to teeth whitening methods to restore their smile. There are two main kinds of whitening products, those that contain hydrogen or carbamide peroxide and those that don’t contain any peroxide.
Peroxide methods
This type of whitening method bleaches your teeth, which means it changes your actual tooth color. Here are some details:
- Stains – removes both surface and deep tooth stains.
- Application – may be administered professionally at the dentist’s office or at home using over-the-counter products, such as gels and strips.
- Percentage of peroxide – home bleaching products typically yield about 4 percent peroxide. Professional bleaching products contain between 25 to 40 percent peroxide, which is obviously a much stronger concentration.
- Side effects – the most common side effects of products containing peroxide are tooth sensitivity, gums and other soft tissue irritation, and redness. It is also known to sometimes cause erosion of tooth enamel.
Non-peroxide methods
Instead of using peroxide to bleach teeth, these products use chemical or physical action to remove stains and polish the teeth. Here are more details:
- Stains – removes only surface tooth stains.
- Application – most commonly found in whitening toothpastes.
- Side effects – negative side effects are minimal to none. There are no harsh chemicals that cause irritation or discomfort.
Choice
Ask your dentist first before beginning any tooth whitening method, no matter which option you are considering. Some conditions like crowns, lots of fillings, or severe discoloration can impact the type of product recommended. Your dentist can help you determine which method is right for you.
Teeth whitening dentist in Central Falls, RI
May 21, 2017 | Blog, Blackstone Dental Central Falls RI Dentist
Nothing will age your looks faster than an unsightly smile. Chipped, cracked, crooked, missing, stained or worn teeth make you look and feel older than your years. Thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry, there are a variety of options to restore your aged smile to its youthful vibrancy.
Professional teeth whitening can improve teeth marred by stains and discoloration. Your darkened teeth can lighten up to ten shades in as little as one visit. Bright white teeth will immediately take years off your looks.
Gaps, chips, and uneven teeth can be corrected with porcelain veneers. Veneers can also be used to alter the shape of teeth to create the look of longer, younger looking teeth. Certain types of intrinsic stains can also be covered with porcelain or composite veneers.
As you age, shifting occurs that causes your lips to appear thin and your mouth to look hollow. Traditional or invisible braces can straighten your teeth, therefore making your face appear fuller and less aged. Hollowness in your face created by missing teeth can be filled out with dental implants.
Veneers or bonding can be used to bolster your back teeth and support your cheekbones. This treatment acts as an instant facelift and keeps your face from losing volume as you age. Receding gums that age your smile are often linked to smoking, heredity, or your age; they may be reconstructed with gum grafting and other techniques.
Most of these cosmetic dental procedures and treatments can be completed in just one or two visits, leaving you looking and feeling instantly younger. Consult with a qualified cosmetic dentist to learn more about how cosmetic dentistry can restore your youthful smile!
May 28, 2017 | Blog, Blackstone Dental Central Falls RI Dentist
If you’ve been looking into dental veneers to achieve your smile goals, you may be aware that there are several different veneer types available to you. Each type will sit on top of your natural tooth in thin, wafer-like shells, correcting issues such as gaps, misalignment, discoloration or teeth worn with age.
The two most common materials for dental veneers are porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain veneers are created in a dental laboratory by a skilled technician. They are known as “indirect veneers.” Those veneers are then bonded to the surface of your natural teeth. Other veneers are created utilizing the composite resin directly onto your teeth while you’re in the dental chair. These veneer types are known as “direct veneers.” They require a level of artistry from the cosmetic dentist that is not as necessary as with indirect veneers.
Porcelain veneers can best correct extensive damage, discoloration, extremely worn teeth or very gapped or uneven teeth. Composite resin veneers are the best choice for small tooth issues like small cracks, chips or minor discoloration.
Porcelain veneers often require the permanent removal of some of the enamel of the tooth, a process known as enameloplasty. This is necessary in order to accommodate the bulk of the porcelain veneer on top of the tooth. If too little enamel is removed, a veneer can look puffy or artificial.
Some porcelain veneers are available that are so thin that they require only the smallest amount of enamel be ground away. These are called “no prep” veneers, and they are rising in popularity due to their ability to preserve more of the tooth’s enamel.
Talk to your cosmetic dentist to find out more about dental veneers and what type is the best one for you and your smile goals.
Jun 7, 2017 | Blog, Blackstone Dental Central Falls RI Dentist
It can be a depressing chore to go through life hiding your smile because you’re embarrassed. If you are unhappy with your teeth or gums, then you’re a candidate for a smile makeover. It’s not just for celebrities; everyday people are turning to cosmetic dentists to transform their smiles and therefore change their lives for the better.
You’ll never know what a smile makeover might mean for you unless you schedule a consultation with a qualified cosmetic dentist to find out. Various combinations of treatments are available depending on the types and extent of dental issues you have.
Here are some common procedures that smile makeovers may include:
- Crooked teeth can be corrected with Invisalign clear braces, allowing the transformation to straight teeth to be less noticeable and less painful than traditional metal braces.
- Chips, cracks or gaps can be easily repaired with bonding, which uses tooth-colored composite resin to fix imperfections in a single office visit.
- Many flaws like discolorations, gaps, cracks and more can be hidden by dental veneers, thin shells that are securely adhered to the fronts of teeth to cover problems and create a beautiful smile.
- Missing teeth may be replaced with dental implants, a modern solution that gives a natural looking and feeling new tooth using a titanium tooth root topped by a dental crown.
- Teeth stains and discolorations can be practically erased through professional teeth whitening techniques.
- Damaged teeth can be strengthened and enhanced by placing a dental crown over them.
- Unsightly gums can be recontoured either by standard oral surgery or using a special laser to alter their appearance and health.
These are just some of the popular treatments that smile makeovers may include. Your particular makeover might require only a single procedure, or you might benefit from a combination of several treatments to give you ideal results. This means that a smile makeover can be done in just a day or require months, but the end result of a whole new smile and renewed confidence will be worth it.
Jun 14, 2017 | Blog, Blackstone Dental Central Falls RI Dentist
Congratulations on your upcoming cosmetic dentistry treatment! You’re on the road toward obtaining the smile of your dreams. Before your appointment, however, it’s important to make any necessary arrangements that will allow you to get home safely and recover quickly and completely, without complications.
If your cosmetic dentistry procedure requires sedation of any kind other than laughing gas, you may not drive yourself home after your appointment. Sedation dentistry, even that which is administered by an IV, is conscious, but it leaves the patient feeling dreamy and sometimes woozy or dizzy, and although you may walk and talk and respond to instructions, you are not alert enough to drive. Driving after sedation dentistry can lead to a terrible accident in which you or someone else may be hurt. Avoid this serious issue by arranging a ride home with a trusted family member, friend or coworker.
It’s important to wear comfortable clothing to your appointment, especially if you’re going to go right home to rest. Teeth whitening or dental veneers are simple cosmetic procedures that require little, if any dental sedation; however, dental implants, crowns and bridges or gum treatments will require sedation and therefore calls for rest at home afterward. Wearing soft clothing can allow you to slip right into bed or to recline comfortably on the sofa to begin your recovery.
Many procedures will leave you with a need to consume soft foods and tepid liquids. Have plenty of yogurt, applesauce or soft cheeses on hand. Milkshakes can be an excellent source of calories and energy following cosmetic dentistry.
Be sure to have plenty of anti-inflammatory pain medication on hand, such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. This can ease common post-procedure discomfort.
Ask your cosmetic dentist for more tips on how to prepare for your particular treatment. Just a little work ahead of time can make your recovery so much more comfortable.
