A dental crown is often called a cap because it’s placed over the top of a tooth, or the tooth’s crown. As one of the earliest forms of dental restoration, the dental crown has seen many changes throughout the history of dentistry. First thought to be merely a cosmetic enhancement, crowns were crafted from gold nearly 2000 years ago by ancient Etruscans in Italy. Today, aesthetic value is just as important as the health of your teeth, and modern crowns are typically made from lifelike dental porcelain that closely mimics a natural tooth. Besides materials, porcelain crowns have also evolved in the range of services they can provide for patients with damaged, diseased, or missing teeth.
What if You Could Prevent Dental Emergencies?
Prevention is the cornerstone of good dental health. Preventing plaque buildup with your toothbrush and floss helps you avoid resulting dental diseases. If they do develop, then you can prevent dental issues from causing extensive damage if you treat them early. Sometimes, however, prevention doesn’t seem possible, like in the case of an accidentally broken or knocked out tooth. Though not all dental emergencies can be avoided, some damage can be thwarted if your teeth are strong and healthy enough, and if you take certain precautions against the most common forms of dental damage.
More than Pretty—The Hidden Benefits of Smiling
There are numerous studies that show the simple act of smiling can positively influence your health, your stress levels, and your general outlook on life. Even when you force a smile, it can cause others to smile as well, lightening the atmosphere and improving the moods of those around you. However, the human smile does more than show pleasure; it can send all sorts of subliminal signals that are often useful to us. Brighton family dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, explains a couple of the lesser-known benefits of smiling. (more…)
Why Are Dental Crowns Necessary?
Given the wide uses of modern dental crowns, you may have had one placed, or known someone who has, at some point in your life. The dental crown is one of the oldest and most diverse forms of restorative dentistry, and has helped restore many patients’ smiles under a variety of different circumstances. But are they necessary? Could you simply decide that you don’t want a dental crown, and allow your tooth to take its chances? You can, but you shouldn’t, and we gladly explain why.
What Does Fluoride Do?
Whether from dental hygiene product commercials or at your own dentist’s office, you’ve probably heard of fluoride. The mineral is a popular cavity prevention tool that helps boost your teeth’s natural defenses against harmful oral bacteria. Every time you eat, some of these germs convert the nutrients in your food (mainly sugar) into acids that attack your teeth’s protective layer of enamel. If enamel becomes weak enough, it won’t be able to protect your teeth from bacteria and infection any longer. By incorporating fluoride into your dental hygiene, you can improve your teeth’s ability to fight off harmful bacteria and the cavities that they cause. (more…)
Embarrassed by Bad Breath?
You brush your teeth twice every day and floss at least once, always before bedtime. You don’t smoke cigarettes, and you rarely eat garlic, onion, or other strong foods, and when your breath seems to go bad, you’re ready with a stick of sugarless gum. So when your bad breath refuses to go away in spite of your best efforts, it can be especially frustrating, not to mention potentially embarrassing. For some patients, persistent bad breath (halitosis) is a symptom of an underlying dental issue, and treating it is the only way for them to eliminate their offensive exhalations. Often, however, bad breath becomes prominent because a patient’s oral hygiene isn’t as effective as they believe. (more…)
Can a Dental Cleaning Preserve Your Mental Health?
The above question may seem like a strange one. However, in light of the recent findings published in a study that draws a connection between tooth loss and the decline of cognitive abilities, it is a relevant one. The study in question administered thinking and memory tests to almost 6,000 men and women, all of whom had suffered some degree of tooth loss. The results of this study are quite compelling in that the results began to stratify according to the level of tooth loss experienced by the test taker. Thus, those who had lost the most teeth performed worst on the test, while those who had lost the fewest teeth performed best. It certainly seems, therefore, that tooth loss and mental health are directly connected, although the exact nature of that connection is still very much in question. If you were to take one thing away from this study, therefore, it might be that your oral health is very valuable and in order to preserve it you should attend a dental cleaning with your Brighton dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, regularly. (more…)
Are Dentures Important?
People may grow frustrated with dentures when they slide in the mouth and slip at inopportune times. However, according to your Brighton dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, living with dentures is definitely preferable to living without teeth at all. Tooth loss can have a tremendous negative impact upon several areas of people’s lives. One very important way that tooth loss affects people is by limiting their abilities to break down food. With fewer teeth, food tends not to be broken down as well when it arrives in the stomach, a situation which makes nutrient extraction more difficult for the body. Tooth loss may also lead people to alter their diets. Typically victims of tooth loss will avoid fruits, vegetables, and tough proteins in favor of softer carbohydrates that they will have an easier time chewing. Unfortunately, a diet that is so heavily skewed toward carbohydrates is not a healthy diet, and nutrient deficiencies and other health problems may develop. (more…)
Brighton Dentist Discusses Teeth Grinding and Tooth Decay
When bruxism (teeth grinding) occurs for a prolonged period of time, teeth will begin to wear down and may eventually break. As a matter of fact, multiple dental crown restorations are a likely eventuality for any teeth grinding habit that goes untreated. But what about tooth decay? Is it possible that bruxism can increase the risk of cavities? Your Brighton dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, answers this intriguing and important question below. (more…)
Is Your Toothache Serious?
Determining the cause behind a toothache can be very important to your oral health. In some cases, toothaches are nothing more than fleeting sensitivities. In other cases, however, they can be a symptom of a serious oral health problem. How, then, can you tell the difference? Toothaches will often have slightly different characteristics depending upon what causes them. By understanding what these characteristics mean, you can often discern the cause of your toothache. However, if you are unsure whether or not your toothache is serious, it is a good idea to visit your Brighton dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, for a professional opinion. (more…)
