May it be for employment reasons or pure aesthetics, whiter teeth seems to be the in thing nowadays(along with a complete set too…) But there may be no other substitute for dental clinic cleaning and bleaching which can give you whiter teeth for a longer period. Toothpastes use dyes and other chemicals to bleach the teeth but unless they are not so stained to begin with can succeed in helping one attain whiter teeth.

So which do you choose, your dentist would be the best one to ask and don’t go crying if you’ve been cheated on with the promise of whiter teeth from a tube for it really seldom works and do go see your dentist. They may be expensive but they are there to keep your smile for longer that a tube of toothpaste.

Dental researchers have found several strains of these bacteria in the nooks and crannies of dental braces raising the alarm on better and diligent cleaning of these dental appliances. Regular check-ups are also in order for this allows proper evaluation of problems as they arise. Infections are the major cause of bacteria entering the bloodstream from our mouths and once they get into the body, they wreak havoc along with many other complications.

Proper dental hygiene is the simplest way of preventing these super-bugs from getting us sick, especially when patients have braces so do keep your dental appointments!

Bleaching has always been feared that it is an unsafe procedure. But 20 years ago, “it was discovered that a 10-percent carbamide peroxide solution could be applied to the teeth safely without fear of burning or otherwise damaging the mouth, or poisoning the patient.” And there are a lot of doctors in the status quo, (8 of 10) use bleaching as an aesthetic procedure to get those pearly whites. And according to the American Dental Association, it is actually safe, and according to their statement on the matter, “Mild thermal sensitivity [sensitivity to cold] is a common side effect associated with most in-office and dentist-prescribed home bleaching methods. However, no long term irreversible tissue effects have been demonstrated in relevant clinical studies.”

The common type of braces that you see today is called the traditional braces. It is specifically designed for children. A Traditional braces is composed of small brackets placed in the front part of every tooth. A brace band is usually used in the molars as support. It is available in different colors.

The fun in wearing traditional braces is that you can actually apply fun details by decorating it with different ligatures. You also have the freedom to choose your favorite color to come up with a cool style. The brackets are actually durable and it is made up of ceramic, gold or metal.

There are instances wherein a bracket pops off especially on your first few months due to a number of reasons. Always keep in mind that your brackets are just glued on, which means that they can be removed easily later on. Once the glue bond is broken, the bracket will then come off. Call the dental office and set for an appointment for re-gluing if this happens to you. Some dental clinics are asking for extra fee on this. It is normal for the brackets to pop off from time to time. Having the brackets glued is not an easy task and it might take you minutes before it sticks.

Patients will adjust after the bridge has been placed. They may experience soreness, discomfort, or excessive production of saliva and may also need to modify their eating habits.

Changes in the mouth and jaw occur with age and regular dental examinations are important to maintain a proper fit over time. Adjustments are to be done by the dentist as bridges can be damaged beyond repair by patients who attempt to fix them.

Bridges also have disadvantages. They can break, chip or crack. Adjacent teeth, serving as abutments, are prepared by cutting away tooth enamel, which may weaken a healthy tooth. Sores and irritations may accompany poorly-fit bridges.

A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth anchored to adjacent teeth or implants. It is also called a partial denture, which may be fixed or removable and may last five to seven years or longer.

Before a bridge can be done, a patient needs to consult and be evaluated by a dentist or a prosthodontist which will include a dental examination and a medical and dental history.

A bridge is a type of indirect restoration. It will require two or more visits to the dental office – preparation of the abutment teeth and making impressions; and fitting and adjusting the bridge and securing it into place.

Crowns or caps are dental restorations made of coverings that fit over teeth. They may be necessary because of broken down old fillings, fractured, chipped or sensitive teeth and are used to improve the appearance of malformed or discolored natural teeth.

Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure. They can be made of different materials which include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain fused-to-metal crown and the all-metal crown. The patient and his dentist decide which type is appropriate, based on strength and aesthetic concerns of the tooth involved. The final crown is then fitted and cemented into place.

Currently, there are two types of dental implant in use today: Endosteal and Subperiosteal.

Endosteal (in the bone) is the most common used type of implant. This type involves screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone, and is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth.
Subperiosteal (on the bone) are implants placed on top of the jaw with the metal framework’s posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthesis. These are used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.

Today’s generation is indeed lucky compared to their parents. Why? Because the traditional way of getting braces with metal mouth is like a torture to them in the 1970’s. Unlike today, we have a number of alternatives for those who are interested to have their braces on.

One of the most popular is clear braces or invisalign. A lot of celebrities have been using this one. It is actually a type of braces that is made up of translucent brackets that are patterned from monocrystalline sapphire. The advantage of such is that the patient can smile freely without having to think of the appearance of the braces.