I recently had the frustration of being told I have a new cavity, formed where an old filling had worn down. My instinct was frustration: a moment of, “I thought I fixed that already!” A patient understandably assumes, having left that cavity in the past, it was a blip that was remedied and eventually forgotten. Unfortunately, secondary tooth decay (also... read more »

The last post covered the potentially harmful effects dental amalgam has on the human body, despite its prevalent use in filling cavities. In light of growing concerns over dental amalgam-caused mercury exposure, alternative fillings are being developed, tested and put into practice. The reason dental amalgam has maintained its commonality despite health worries is its cheapness and its durability. Very... read more »

Cavities are exceedingly common, with 90% of the U.S. population having one over the course of their life. When treating cavities, the affected area is drilled out to prevent the decay from spreading. But that hole, if unfilled, leaves the patient more susceptible to future decay, as the hole is thoroughly uncleanable through conventional means. That is why dentists fill... read more »

Is your family home filled with fading photos of you, snuggled in some onesie, with a pacifier in your mouth? Are you a parent who had 12 identical copies of your baby’s binkie, which you can go nowhere without in fear of a meltdown? Do you work at a restaurant, and often find abandoned pacifiers lying under tables, with frantic... read more »

Though the field of orthodontics has made incredible strides in recent history, with the process shifting from wildly conspicuous to almost unnoticeable, it still harbors some of its oldest "cons” -- pain. The unavoidable fact is editing one’s dentition is an uncomfortable task. Be it through the tightening of wires or the swapping of aligners, exerting the proper pressure on... read more »

Last week’s post focused on the body’s interconnectedness, and how unhealthy gums can lead to hosts of health problems in seemingly separate areas of the body, like the heart or lungs. This week, we’ll be focusing on the stages of gum disease, and the importance and efficacy of seeing a professional and treating gum conditions early. The first and least... read more »

Did you know bad breath isn’t always the result of skipping brushing or eating a basket of garlic bread? Oftentimes, continual bad breath is more indicative of something amiss in one’s dental health and is regularly linked to gum disease. Gum disease stems from behaviors like the ones stated prior, improper and irregular brushing, forgetting to floss—essentially improper dental hygiene.... read more »

How many teeth do you have? Your answer to that question varies according to multiple factors: age, surgical history the number of hockey games you’ve played. The most common change to your answer after reaching adulthood comes with the arrival of wisdom teeth. Dentition: Tooth Arrangement and Placement Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common surgeries, with 85%... read more »

Sitting in a cup, holder or drawer in almost every American home is the humble toothbrush. A twice-daily ritual of plastic and bristles, we use them to clean our teeth and maintain our dental health. The variations of a toothbrush today are staggering. You can find one in any size or shape, any character or color, all sold conveniently in... read more »

The primary image surrounding orthodontics is a metal, train-track smile. We see it plainly in orthodontics offices’ logos: brackets and wires and bands. Fixing a smile has long been a very public and noticeable affair. There is even evidence that braces existed in some form as far back as ancient Egypt! So it can be puzzling to look at Invisalign®,... read more »