Four Steps to Perfect Teeth with Cosmetic Dentistry in Arizona

This article discusses the disadvantages of dentures, the advantages of dental implants and explains the four-step process involved in the dental implant procedure.

There comes a point in many people’s life when teeth become the cause for endless trouble and frustration. No matter how hard they fight to prevent it, they are inevitably left with missing and/or failing teeth. People’s initial response to missing teeth is often to acquire traditional removable dentures.

In the past, this would have been a perfectly viable option, but due to extensive research and technological advancements in cosmetic dentistry, Arizona dentists have discovered a better solution to your dental woes. The dental implant is a revolutionary procedure that solves the problems that have been associated with denture wearers.

Removable Dentures: A Thing of the Past

Although removable dentures replace your teeth, there are many disadvantages that come with this conventional strategy. When speaking to a dentist in Arizona about cosmetic dentistry, he highlighted a few ways in which dentures cause more problems than solutions:

1. Although dentures replace the crown of the missing tooth/teeth, they do not replace the root. This is a problem because the root of the tooth is essential in stimulating the jawbone. When the root is missing the bone begins to atrophy.
2. Atrophy of the jawbone causes the shape of the mouth to change, resulting in loose fitting dentures. The looseness and shifting of the dentures in your mouth often cause pain, discomfort and difficulty with chewing.
3. Dentures cause pressure to build up on the gums. This can result in mouth sores and irritated, inflamed gums.

Dental Implants: A Look to the Future

A great alternative to traditional removable dentures is dental implants. The specialist in cosmetic dentistry in Arizona says that dental implants are the best possible solution when it comes to addressing missing teeth. There are a few different options regarding dental implants, which depend on the extent of tooth loss and the state of the patient’s oral health:

• Single tooth replacement: If only one tooth is missing, a single implant is placed in the jawbone and a temporary crown attached via an abutment. Once this has healed, a permanent custom ceramic tooth is affixed to the abutment.

• Multiple tooth replacement: This follows the same process as single tooth replacement, but places more dental implants in the jawbone.

• All-On-Four: This implant option is preferable for patients who are missing most of their teeth. The specialist dentist removes all your old or failing teeth and places four implants in the jawbone. A set of non-removable teeth is then attached to the implants.

How Lengthy is This Process?

Generally speaking, the dental implant procedure in Sun City can be completed in four steps. Step one is the initial consultation where the dentist decides on the best option for your oral rehabilitation. Step two involves the placement of the implants. In step three, your ceramic tooth/teeth are attached to the implants. And step four is simply hygiene maintenance. In just three visits to your cosmetic dentistry specialist in Arizona you could walk away with a brand new set of non-removable teeth, making denture difficulties a thing of the past.

The Sun City Dentistry Professionals Talks About Tongue Health, PART 4

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the final installment of our four-part article series in which we have spoken to Sun City dentistry professionals about all the different conditions and ailments that can affect the tongue. This essential muscle, or group of muscles rather, not only makes it possible for you to swallow and eat properly, but it also makes speech possible. We use our tongues almost constantly, so when it gets sore or uncomfortable, there’s no escaping it!

In our previous three article posts, we looked at the following three categories of tongue problems: (1) red “strawberry tongue, (2) white tongue and (3) black hairy tongue. In this, the final installment of the series, Sun City dental experts will be talking to us about the various problems that could lead to a sore and/or bumpy tongue.

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What Can Cause my Tongue to be Bumpy or Sore?

• Physical Trauma: The first point is perhaps the most obvious. If you accidentally burn your tongue on hot food, or bite down on it, you’ll experience pain and discomfort until the wound heals. Teeth grinding (bruxism) can also irritate the peripheries of the tongue, so get a mouth guard fitted and wear it at night when you’re most likely to clench your jaw without thinking about it.

• Enlarged Papillae: “Sometimes a single papillae or taste bud on your tongue can get irritated and become swollen and inflamed,” say Sun City dentistry professionals. “For something so small, an irritated taste bud can be very uncomfortable! You’ll just have to wait it out until it heals.”

• Canker Sores: A canker sore or mouth ulcer can seemingly develop for no reason, although they are linked with periods of heightened stress. They usually heal up on their own, but if you have a sore that persists for more than two weeks, seek professional Sun City dental attention for a diagnosis.

• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes can irritate the soft tissues in the mouth, causing them to become inflamed and sore. Small bumps can also develop on the soft palate in response to this irritant or any other irritant for that matter, such as alcohol.

• Burning Tongue Syndrome: “Burning tongue is a condition marked by, as the name would suggest, an uncomfortable burning sensation in the tongue,” explain Sun City dentistry experts. “It presents most commonly in post-menopausal women and the cause is as yet unclear, although treatment is available.”

• Certain Medical Conditions: Anemia and diabetes, for example, can cause your tongue to feel sore.

• Oral Cancer: “The majority of the oral sores you develop aren’t dangerous,” explain Sun City dental professionals. “Ulcers, canker sores and enlarged papillae develop just as frequently as they disappear quickly. It’s when an oral sore persists that we urge patients to come in for a closer inspection.”

An Important Note on Oral Cancer

Any lump, sore, raised patch or discoloration that doesn’t go away within a week or two could possibly be cancer or a precursor to cancer. These anomalies don’t necessarily have to be painful, either. In fact, cancerous sores or growths rarely hurt in the initial stages, so an absence of pain will tell you nothing. When you seek professional attention, a quick biopsy will be performed so that the tissue comprising the anomaly can be inspected closely for signs of malignant cell growth.

Oral cancer treated in the early stages significantly increases your chance of complete recovery so never delay or ignore an oral problem!

The Sun City Dentist Talks About Tongue Health, PART 3

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the third installment of our four-part article series on the various illness and conditions that can lead to tongue problems. In our previous two articles, we spoke to Sun City dentists about the possible causes of red or “strawberry” tongue and white tongue. Now, let’s move on to something that sounds particularly terrible and unpleasant… black hairy tongue.

What are the Causes of Black Hairy Tongue?

In spite of how awful it must sound to have your usually pink tongue turn into something that resembles a live tarantula, black hairy tongue isn't usually all that serious or dangerous, although it is linked with particularly nasty breath.

“Your tongue is covered with little bumps called papillae or taste buds,” Sun City dentist explains. “These continue to grow throughout the course of your lifetime, which is a good thing because your daily activities and eating cause them to become warn down. When this isn’t the case, they can be allowed to simply grow and grow, offering bacteria excellent shelter from your oral hygiene efforts. The accumulation of bacteria in and between taste buds that have grown particularly long can lead to the development of black hairy tongue. The “hairy” part comes from the appearance of long taste buds, which stand up out of a sea of blackish bacteria.”

Not very pleasant, is it?

The good news is that black hairy tongue is totally preventable, since it is linked with the accumulation of oral bacteria in a forest of abnormally long papillae, which, in any case, isn’t very common. It also tends to be restricted to people who aren’t good about keeping up a high standard of oral hygiene. Other risk factors include diabetes, chemotherapy and people who are taking antibiotic medication.

What you can do to Prevent Black Hairy Tongue

“The most common cause of black hairy tongue is bad oral hygiene,” says the cosmetic dentist in Arizona. “Therefore it stands to reason that upping your efforts at home will restore your tongue to its normally pink color. When you brush your teeth, make sure you include your tongue in this routine. This will discourage the growth of excessively long papillae and help to eliminate the colonies of bacteria that have taken up residence within them.

“You should also floss daily and even use an ADA-approved anti-bacterial mouth rinse. Even if you present with this condition as a result of the above-mentioned risk factors, an increase in your oral hygiene measures should help to prevent this symptom. Also, you should really seek the attention of a qualified Sun City dentist who will provide you with the appropriate diagnosis, treatment and home care advice. Black hairy tongue is wholly unpleasant and you’ll want to eliminate this condition as fast as possible.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause a sore and/or bumpy tongue.

The Cosmetic Dentist in Arizona Talks About Tongue Health, PART 2

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the second installment of our four-part article series on tongue problems! Now, we’ve all had tongue ulcers at some stage during our lives - usually caused by accidentally biting down on it - and so we all know just how hard it can be to forget it when we do have something sore or uncomfortable on our tongue. This is because we use our tongues all the time. It’s an essential group of muscles!

“Unfortunately, there is quite an impressive variety of conditions and illnesses that can affect tongue health,” explain cosmetic dentists in Arizona. “Thankfully, most of them are not serious at all and can either be treated promptly or will disappear on their own. Having said this, problems such as discoloration, textural abnormalities and growths can be indicative of far more serious ailments, including oral cancer, HIV/AIDS and vitamin deficiencies. If you notice persistent problems with your tongue, it is of vital importance that you seek professional attention.”

In our previous article post, we spoke to Sun City dental professionals about the various causes of red or “strawberry” tongue. In this article, we shall move our attention to white tongue, a condition marked by the development of white spots or a white coating.

What Can Cause White Tongue?

• Oral Lichen Planus: This condition results in the formation of a lace-like mapwork of white lines on the surface of the tongue. While the exact cause of oral lichen planus is uncertain, it often disappears on its own with the help of certain lifestyle changes. Try to avoid smoking and foods and beverages that contain irritants, such as alcohol, chili and acid. “Also, be better about brushing and flossing regularly and thoroughly,” advises the cosmetic dentist in Arizona.

• Oral Thrush: Thrush is an oral yeast infection that most commonly affects the elderly, infants or people with a compromised immune system. If your tongue and possibly mouth is covered in whitish patches that can be likened to cottage cheese, you may have thrush or candidiasis. Other risk factors for this condition include lung disease, diabetes and asthmatics on steroid inhalers. “Medications are available for the treatment of thrush,” says the cosmetic dentist in Arizona. “Also, if you’re on antibiotics for an infection and develop thrush, eating plain yogurt can help restore the balance of natural oral fauna.”

• Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia is characterized by the excessive growth of cells in the soft tissues of the mouth. This results in the appearance of white, rough patches on the inner cheeks, tongue and palate. “This condition can simply be caused by exposure to an irritant, such as smoking, but it isn’t by itself dangerous,” say Sun City dental professionals. “Having said that, leukoplakia can herald oral cancer, so it’s best to have yourself assessed before you assume it will simply go away.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for part 3 of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause a grizzly black hairy tongue.

Sun City Dental Professionals Talk About Tongue Health, PART 1

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Whether you are aware of it or not, you use your tongue almost all the time. It is an essential organ for communication, taste and digestion. Because it is integrally involved in these activities, the various conditions and ailments that can affect it can cause acute discomfort and frustration. In order to better understand the importance of the tongue, we spoke to some Sun City dental professionals about some of the common and perhaps not so common problems that can affect this major muscle.

About The Tongue

The tongue is made up of a number of interconnected muscles, rather than just one large one. These muscles work together to provide you with the incredible control and dexterity is has in helping you eat, speak, swallow and even pull silly faces. Your tongue is covered with a blanket of tiny nodules referred to as papillae (taste buds) and when it is healthy, it should be pink right to the back of the mouth.

There are four over-arching tongue problems that one might develop and our panel of Sun City dental professionals will be discussing them in detail throughout this four-part article series:

• “Strawberry” Tongue or Red Tongue
• White Tongue
• Black Hairy Tongue
• Sore and Bumpy Tongue

Let’s begin with the first...

Sun City Dental Advice: What Can Cause “Strawberry” or Red Tongue?

“A healthy tongue is a nice pink color,” say Sun City dental professionals. “But, there are a number of reasons it can become red and inflamed and for the papillae or taste buds to become swollen. This is why it is sometimes referred to as Strawberry tongue.”

Some of the causes of red tongue include:

• Scarlet Fever: An infectious disease characterized by fever, a sore throat and a red rash, hence the name. It can also cause the tongue to turn an angry shade of red. Scarlet fever typically affects young children between the age of 4 and 8 and is spread via inhalation. While there is no cure for this sickness, it can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

• Geographic Tongue: This uncomfortable condition causes the development of a network of red and, at times, white-bordered spots on the tongue. Also known as benign migratory glossitis, this condition is named after the fact that these spots develop in a pattern that looks somewhat map-like and can also shift positions.
  
  
  “Geographic tongue is typically harmless, although it can be uncomfortable and aesthetically unpleasing,” say Sun City dental professionals. “However, if the red bumps persist for more than two weeks, you should book an appointment with your dentist to make sure that you do indeed have this condition and not something more serious. Discomfort can be treated with topical anesthetic gels.”

• Kawasaki Syndrome: A condition that affects the blood vessels in the body and especially targets children younger than 5 years of age. It can cause fever, strawberry tongue and red, swollen feet and hands during the more severe phase of illness.

• Vitamin Deficiencies: “If your diet is short of vitamin B-12 or folic acid, your tongue may appear redder than normal,” say Sun City dentists.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for part 2 of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause white tongue.

Dental Myths Busted by Dental Implants Specialists in Phoenix, PART 4

This four-part article series sets about explaining and dispelling the many common myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health and hygiene and certain dental procedures.

Welcome to the final installment of our four-part article series in which we speak to dental implants specialists in Phoenix about the various myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health, hygiene and dental treatment. In our previous article post, it was explained that using toothpicks after a meal cannot widen the spaces between your teeth and that they should never take the place of brushing and flossing. The various causes of bad breath were also explored, revealing many more culprits than just poor oral hygiene. Now, in the final article installment of this series, we shall take a look at two final myths...

Myth # 7: If you’re pregnant, you should stay away from the dentist

The Facts: This myth is an especially dangerous one, since it’s vitally important that you get your teeth checked by the dentist when you’re pregnant! With all those fluctuating hormones, women are actually at a heightened risk of developing oral conditions, such as gingivitis and gum disease. By scheduling an appointment with your dentist at the beginning and towards the end of your pregnancy, you can keep your oral health in check, as well as get any existing or potential problems addressed in a timely manner.

“Preventative treatment for pregnant women is vitally important because some of the possible health problems caused by untreated gum disease is pre-term labour and low birth weight babies,” explain All On 4 implant specialists.

Myth # 8: Gum disease only affects your teeth and gums.

“What few people realize is that poor oral health and hygiene are closely linked with problems in other parts of the body,” say dental implant specialists in Phoenix. “Gum disease doesn’t only have implications for your teeth and gums; it’s a systemic disease, which means it affects your body as a whole and has ramifications for every organ. Patients are utterly shocked and surprised to learn of the whole-body consequences poor oral health has...”

The relationship between gum disease and osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high stroke risk, respiratory disease, kidney and liver disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and pregnancy complications are well documented in medical literature. In other words, not looking after your teeth properly can put your life at risk!

Myth # 9: Chewing gum is bad for your teeth

The Facts: “We actually encourage patients with problems such as dry mouth and gum disease to chew gum, as long as it’s sugar-free,” say All On 4 implant specialists. “Chewing gum stimulates the flow of saliva, which is your body’s natural defence against oral bacteria. Saliva also helps to wash away food debris and keeps your mouth nice and moist and comfortable. Just make sure that your choice in chewing gum is sugar-free and, if possible, contains Xylitol. This helps to neutralize acid in the mouth and remineralize your teeth after a meal or snack.”

One Last Myth: Whitening your teeth is bad for them

The Facts: “If used according to the directions, dental bleaching is not harmful to your teeth at all,” say dental implant specialists in Phoenix. “Follow the instructions, don’t overdo it and if you ever need any advice, speak to your dentist.”

Dental Myths and Misconceptions Busted by Sun City Dentists, PART 3

This four-part article series sets out explaining and dispelling the many common myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health and hygiene and certain dental procedures.

Welcome back to our four-part article series in which we get Sun City dentists to explain and bust the various myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health, hygiene and dental treatment. In our previous article post, the second installment of the series, it was explained that it’s not sugar that causes cavities per se, but rather oral bacteria. These tiny critters feast upon the sugars left behind in your mouth after a meal and their subsequent proliferation and nasty excretions lead to cavities, decay and gum disease. It was also explained that osteoporosis, while a disease that affects the bones, can also lead to tooth loss, which is why proper nutrition and the correct medical management are so important.

Let’s continue busting the myths!

Dental Myth # 5: Using toothpicks actually causes the gaps between your teeth to become wider.

The Facts: “There are only two things we really want patients to know about toothpicks,” say Sun City dentists. “One... that using a toothpick after a meal should NOT replace brushing and flossing; toothpicks are there to clean bits of debris out from between your teeth to relieve discomfort and to prevent you from embarrassing yourself. Two... you must be careful not to injure your gums when poking about between your teeth. Toothpicks are quite sharp and you can actually make yourself bleed.”

Beyond these two points, there is nothing more to be said. Toothpicks do not widen the gaps between your teeth. How can they? They’re made of soft wood and your teeth are made out of the strongest substance in your body! Your teeth are also rooted firmly in your jaw, so it’ll take more than a toothpick or even a lifetime’s worth of toothpicks to affect their positioning.

Dental Myth # 6: If your breath smells bad, it means you’re not brushing properly

The Facts: “True, bad breath is most commonly the result of poor brushing habits and sloppy oral hygiene, but not always,” say dental implants specialists in Sun City. “Bad breath can actually be an indicator of systemic disease, such as diabetes. It can also be caused by the food you eat, respiratory tract infections and certain habits, such as smoking and drinking (alcohol).”

In the case of diabetes, the common side effect of halitosis is a result of the body burning fat instead of sugar for fuel (since diabetics, who do not produce enough insulin, are unable to process glucose). The byproducts of fat being burned are ketones, which are either expelled from the body via the bladder or via respiration. Unfortunately, ketones don’t smell very nice, which explains the halitosis.

The Solution: If you suspect that you may suffer from chronic bad breath, the best thing you can do for yourself is schedule an appointment with your Sun City dentist. Explain to him or her your problem and they will look closely for the cause. If your teeth and gums are in good condition and you maintain a high standard of oral hygiene, you may need to go see your doctor for a more accurate diagnosis. If you are a diabetic, you will need to use extra care in looking after your teeth and perhaps carry around some sugar-free chewing gum for those up-close-and-personal social situations.

Stay Tuned

To read more dental myths and misconceptions join us next week for the final installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of Sun City dentists.