Not all dentures are created equal. In fact, the process of fabricating and fitting quality dentures is a blend of science and art in which several people have important roles to play. The stars of this show include our clinical staff, the dental laboratory technician – and you, the denture wearer.

How do you know if you might need a root canal? Sometimes, the answer is painfully obvious. If you feel severe aching and pressure in your mouth that doesn’t go away, or noticeable sensitivity and swelling in your gums, don’t wait – visit your dentist for evaluation and treatment right away!

If you have crooked teeth and / or a misaligned bite (an underbite or overbite), there are a variety of treatments that can help straighten teeth, including braces and retainers.

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth.

Too much stress can cause problems with your mouth, teeth, and gums. You can take some steps to keep yourself healthy, though.

It’s important for you to take good care of your teeth and gums while pregnant. Pregnancy causes hormone changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease which, in turn, can affect the health of your developing baby.

If you’re looking for natural ingredients to keep your gums and teeth healthy, you’ve got more than one product to try. Whichever you choose, don’t forget that it’s not a replacement for brushing, flossing or rinsing with a mouthwash. You’ve still got to stick with those good habits to protect your smile.

By Sonya Collins, Reviewed by Michael Friedman, DDS
As you reach for your toothbrush each morning, you may not realize what’s hanging out on its bristles.

By Connie Brichford / Medically reviewed by Niya Jones, MD, MPH
It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your overall health but using tobacco products can have serious consequences on your oral health, too.

If you have to get a filling, you and your dentist have lots of materials to choose from. Before your appointment, get up to speed on your options.

Dental Implants have changed the face of dentistry over the last 25 years. What are dental implants? What is the history of dental implants? And how are they used to replace missing teeth?

Everybody has TMJ – in fact everybody has two of them! The TemporoMandibular Joint is the connection point for the jaw to articulate (connect) with the stable upper arch. It’s a complex joint and is able to move in several directions when functioning, which is important for proper chewing and other movements.

Body piercings have been around for a long time as a way for individuals and cultures to express themselves through ornamentation. The ancient Egyptians pierced their navels to signify royalty. Roman centurions wore nipple rings as a sign of virility and courage. The Mayans pierced their tongues for spiritual purposes. The Eskimos and Aleuts pierced the lips of female infants as part of a purification ritual, and the lower lips of boys as part of passage into puberty. In the late 1990’s body piercing became popular in Western society. It has continued to be popular even at the present time.

Due to this increase in popularity, it is important that dental hygienist recognize the different types of piercings, the warning signs of infection, and understand possible complications and the professional obligations associated with oral piercings.

Every so often I get asked by a patient “why would I pay over $500 for a night guard when I could go to the drugstore and pay $40?” It is a legitimate and good question and below are just a few of the basic differences:

Drugstore night guards are not made for the specific shape of your mouth or teeth. I remember as a kid getting the ‘boil and bite’ type of generic sports guard and I could keep it in my mouth for only minutes at a time. I have never had anyone who has tried an over the counter (OTC) night guard tell me they keep it in their mouth comfortably all night. We have seen damage to the oral tissue and gums caused by OTC night guards roughness and large size.

Dentist sure do cringe as Halloween and the buckets full of candy being distributed, but were not necessarily complete scrooges when it comes to this holiday. Anything is okay in moderation but there certainly are types of candies we recommend to stay away from and others that are fine to enjoy.

Silver amalgam fillings have been used by dentist for decades. They are made of an amalgamation, or mixture, of several metal materials. Some of these materials are lead, silver, copper, and mercury. The material is soft and malleable for about three minutes after it is mixed and then hardens. It has never been shown that any appreciable amount of these materials leaches out of the teeth after it is set. Silver fillings have never been shown to cause any systemic or localized health problems. Scare tactics have been used on the public at times to promote other types of restorative filling materials, but much good dental research has been done that shows silver amalgam to be safe.

Colgate-Palmolive has announced a new partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

From October 1, 2015-December 31, 2016, Colgate will donate 4% of the sales price of every children’s toothbrush purchased by dental offices in the United States to Make-A-Wish, with a minimum financial contribution of $250,000.

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Follow these simple tips to enjoy a healthy, pain-free smile every day of the year!

1. All children should visit the dentist before age one, and children with special needs may require earlier and more frequent appointments.

2. Invest in a new toothbrush at least every three months and after every illness to avoid lingering bacteria and germs.

With all of the holiday parties and festivities comes all those goodies and sweets! Although it can be hard to limit ourselves to ‘just a few’, there are some things you can do to make sure you’re protecting your teeth. If your overall dental health is good and you practice good oral hygiene, you can probably safely indulge in some holiday treats as long as you do so in moderation. We did some research so you can enjoy the holiday season, treat yourself, but still keep that beautiful smile. Below are a few things to keep in mind...

Fractures. Intrusion. Extrusion. Knockouts. Dental injuries are all too common among today’s young athletes. And sadly, mouthguards – a cheap and easy prevention method – are vastly underutilized. For this reason, when I was asked to create a community dental health program in Yakima, Washington, I set out to change exactly that.

What causes receding gums and what can you do about them?

There can be multiple causes, including some factors you can control and others that may require help. Tobacco users are likely to have sticky plague that’s tough to remove and can lead to receding gums. Some medications and treatments like chemotherapy can damage gum tissue, and patients may want to ask about other options.