Teeth can become stained over time by foods like coffee, tea, and wine, as well as from smoking or from certain medications and health conditions. Teeth also tend to darken in color as people age. The quest for a whiter, brighter smile is so common that tooth whitening is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. Within that...
A visit from the Tooth Fairy is a fun way for children and parents to celebrate the milestone of losing a baby tooth. But with the tooth in hand, parents might be left to wonder: How does the Tooth Fairy make the experience magical and memorable? The Tooth Fairy replaces each tooth under a child’s...
It’s human nature to avoid unpleasant things, so it is not surprising that many people try to ignore a cavity. They choose to put up with the pain and discomfort rather than finding a solution. Some fear that going to the dentist for a filling will hurt. And for those without dental insurance, there is...
Normally, a root canal procedure takes two visits to the dentist or endodontist. But advertisements promising a “same day root canal” are becoming common. Can dentists do a root canal in one visit, or is this just a marketing ploy? It turns out that getting a same-day root canal procedure is indeed possible. But the...
Cosmetic dentistry includes a number of procedures that can help patients get a whiter, brighter, smile. This can include teeth whitening, tooth restoration, veneers, and more. The biggest challenge with cosmetic dentistry is finding the right professional to do it. Some dentists advertise a specific focus in cosmetic dentistry. Others might have a different focus,...
Anyone considering Invisalign for straighter teeth has no doubt heard a lot about its advantages. But they may not have heard about Invisalign attachments, also called Invisalign buttons. Two of the biggest selling points for Invisalign are that the clear plastic aligner trays are less noticeable than old-fashioned braces, and that you can take them...
According to the CDC, 90 percent of adults over 20 years old have had a cavity in a permanent tooth. Once a tooth has a cavity, decay must be removed to prevent further deterioration. The common fix is a dental filling. While fillings are considered a permanent solution to cavities, they will eventually wear out,...
Making the choice to start Invisalign treatment is the first step toward straighter teeth. New users learn that they must keep the clear plastic aligners in for 20 to 22 hours each day. Dentists also tell patients to remove Invisalign when eating. But what about drinking? Is it okay to have a morning coffee or...
There are plenty of options for correcting cosmetic dental issues like crowded or crooked teeth. Braces are one of the most common tools used by orthodontists. Braces can be placed on the front of the patient’s teeth, or, in the case of lingual braces, hidden behind the teeth. Another less visible alternative uses plastic trays...
People do not always think of teeth as alive, but they are. At the center of each tooth is an area called the pulp chamber. Nerves and blood vessels extend through the path known as the root canal to the pulp chamber, bringing the tooth sensation and nourishment. When the nerves and blood vessels at...