What You Didn’t Know about Dental Implants

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Dental implants are a popular choice for tooth replacement because of their outstanding benefits. They are convenient to maintain, offer secure tooth function, and look like your natural teeth. However, these are not the only reasons why Dr. Thomas Villani, our Brighton family dentist, recommends dental implants. Learn about the hidden benefit of dental implants from our Brighton dental office.

The Consequences of Ignoring Missing Teeth

First, your implant dentist will explain the consequences of untreated tooth loss. A missing tooth not only makes chewing and speaking more difficult, but can also have harmful effects for the rest of your teeth. Teeth drifting, malocclusion, and excessive tooth wear are common side effects of untreated tooth loss. One little known, yet devastating, consequence of tooth loss is jawbone deterioration.

Keeping Your Jawbone Healthy

Your tooth roots provide stimulation to your jawbone as you chew. This stimulation sends signals to your brain to tell your body your jawbone needs nutrients. The cycle keeps your jawbone healthy and strong. If you have a missing tooth, your jawbone no longer receives the chewing stimulation it needs to stay healthy and your jaw will begin to deteriorate.

Dental Implants Help You Avoid Jawbone Shrinkage (more…)

filed under: Dental Implants, Patient Education

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Brighton Dentist Explores the Teeth of Our Animal Neighbors

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Your teeth are among the most interesting parts of your body. Although small, they make some everyday functions possible, such as eating and pronouncing words correctly. Taking care of them is important, too; when your permanent teeth are lost, they do not grow back. Luckily, there are myriad options for correcting, restoring, and replacing lost or damaged teeth. Since our animal friends, however, do not have the luxury of advanced dentistry to care for their teeth, Brighton dentist Dr. Thomas Villani explores the diverse teeth of the animal kingdom.

Fun Animal Teeth Facts

  • Humans aren’t the only ones who lose teeth. Sharks, for instance, lose teeth every week. They, however, grow their own replacement teeth after each one is lost. In its lifetime, a shark can grow over 20,000 teeth.
  • A healthy human mouth contains 32 teeth. Sometimes, the last four (wisdom teeth) need to be extracted to treat or prevent dental issues such as crowding and impacted wisdom teeth. Crocodiles, however, have up to 60 teeth that fit comfortably in their mouths. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Just for Fun

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Brighton Dentist Explores the Interesting History of Dentistry

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Throughout human history, we have endeavored to solve the mysterious maladies that affect our teeth and gums. As early as 7000 BC, the practice of removing decay and infection from teeth was in full swing, according to remains found in an ancient graveyard in Pakistan. The altered teeth had nearly perfect holes carved out of their centers, and since the teeth in question were molars (situated at the back of the mouth), experts believe they can rule out cosmetic reasons as motivation for the dental work. Since then, dentistry has taken leaps and strides, mirroring the advancement of the human race as a whole. In honor of our ancient profession, Brighton dentistDr. Thomas Villani lists some interesting highlights of the dental profession’s history.

Did You Know?

  • The earliest known reference to someone as a dentist is on the tomb of the ancient Egyptian scribe, Hesi-Re. The inscription reads “the greatest of physicians, and of those who work on teeth.”
  • Also in Egypt, mummies have been discovered with tooth fillings made from resin and malachite.
  • The earliest form of the toothbrush was fairly simple; a tree twig referred to as a “chewing stick,” which the Babylonians first gnawed and chewed to keep their teeth clean. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Just for Fun

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Top 3 Benefits of Porcelain Veneers from Our Brighton Cosmetic Dentist

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1. Dental Veneers Multi-Task

In a world where phones can do everything except tie your shoes, we appreciate multi-function. Porcelain veneers are the pinnacle of multi-tasking cosmetic dentistry because they can transform a variety of smile imperfections at once. Since porcelain veneers cover the front side of your tooth, they can change tooth shape, cover tooth chips, close smile gaps, create even spacing, hide discoloration, and lengthen short, stubby crowns.

2. Porcelain Veneers Transform Your Smile Quickly

One of the unique benefits of porcelain veneers is speed. Since dental veneers can be placed in as little as two office visits, you can enjoy your new smile quicker than ever. The procedure begins with a consultation to determine your goals, take an impression of your teeth, and send specifications to a dental lab. At the next dental appointment, our Brighton cosmetic dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, will place the custom-fabricated cosmetic restorations on the front of your teeth. After a quick polishing, your smile makeover is complete. Porcelain veneers are a great option for patients who need cosmetic dental work completed quickly or patients who are too busy to schedule multiple visits to the orthodontist.

3. Porcelain Veneers Are Durable

Although porcelain veneers are made from contact-lens thin porcelain, dental veneers show surprising resilience against chewing, stains, and discoloration. Since porcelain is a monolithic material, veneers hold up against normal chewing pressure like a natural tooth. In addition, porcelain is smoother and less porous than damaged tooth enamel. Therefore, veneers pick up less discoloration and stains than natural teeth. With proper dental care your porcelain veneers can last for decades to come. Our cosmetic dentist recommends brushing twice daily, flossing every day, and scheduling regular dental cleanings. (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers

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All About Fillings from Your Brighton Family Dentist

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What makes up a filling?

These dental restorations can be made from a variety of materials. Amalgam used to be the traditional source for dental fillings. However, with recent scrutiny over the safety of the mercury used in amalgam, as well as concern for esthetic appeal, our dental office in Brighton can use composite resin fillings. The composite resin starts as a liquid, poured into the tooth after the infection is removed. This allows the filling to seep into small spaces, filling every gap and preventing further infection. Using a curing light, our Brighton family dentist, Dr. Villani, will harden the material, strengthening the filling.

What are the advantages to composite resin fillings?

Unlike dark amalgam, composite fillings are discrete. The hard plastic material can be color matched to your tooth so that the white filling is almost invisible. Only you and our Brighton dentist will know you have had dental work done. In addition, tooth-colored fillings offer optimal attachment, blocking off every possible entrance for further bacterial infection.

How do I know if I need a filling?

While toothache is a common sign of a cavity, not all tooth decay will present noticeable symptoms. Many patients do not even realize they have dental caries. The best way to know if you need a filling is with regular dental checkups. At an appointment at our Brighton family dental office, Dr. Villani will use advanced diagnostics to determine if you have a cavity. Using dental X-rays, we can see tooth decay beneath the surface that would otherwise be hidden to the naked eye. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry

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Periodontal Disease Treatment in Brighton

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Last week, our Brighton dentist discussed how preventive dentistry can help protect you from gum disease. While thorough oral hygiene and professional dental cleanings can help you avoid periodontal infection, if you have gum disease, treatment is necessary to prevent the infection from worsening. Dr. Villani will explain how our Brighton periodontist can help you halt the ravages to your oral health from gum disease with thorough periodontal care.

Do Not Ignore Signs of Gingivitis

Signs of gum disease can start as seemingly harmless. While many people ignore some bleeding during brushing, this is actually a common symptom of gingivitis. In this early stage of gum disease, gums appear inflamed, or deep red. They may feel sensitive to the touch or bleed during your oral hygiene routine. Bad breath is also a sign of gingivitis. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact our Brighton dentist for a thorough dental cleaning immediately. While there is not a cure for periodontal disease, early treatment is your best option for keeping gum disease from worsening.

Brighton Periodontist Offers Scaling and Root Planing

If you ignore periodontal infection, worse symptoms may occur. Periodontal pockets are a result of gum disease. These pockets form when gums recede and separate from the tooth root. Inside the pockets is a cesspool of plaque and bacteria that continue to deteriorate your teeth and gum tissue. During this stage of gumdisease, scaling and root planing is an effective treatment. Our Brighton periodontist performs scaling by cleaning beneath the gum line around the tooth root. This removes infection from the periodontal pockets surrounding your tooth. Root planing smoothes the tooth root, encouraging gum healing and reattachment. (more…)

filed under: Gum DIsease, Oral Health

Periodontal Care in Brighton: Gum Disease Prevention

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Gum disease is an often overlooked, but serious oral health condition. With eight out of ten people in America suffering from some form of periodontal disease, prevention and awareness are imperative for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. At our dental office in Brighton, Dr. Villani takes periodontal care seriously, with advanced gum disease treatment and a periodontist on staff.

Preventing Gum Disease

Like most dental health conditions, prevention lies mostly in your hands. The tools you need to keep your gums healthy are a toothbrush, floss, and a phone to schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings with our Brighton dentist. While brushing and flossing daily can help, professional dental cleanings are necessary to remove plaque buildup left behind from your daily oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends scheduling dental checkups and cleanings every six months to help you prevent periodontal disease as well as an array of other health problems.

Your Risk of Gum Disease

Our Brighton dentist recommends more frequent dental checkups if you are at a higher risk of gum disease. This includes people who smoke or use smokeless tobacco, patients over 40, preteens going through puberty, pregnant women, or women going through menopause since hormone fluctuation plays a large role in gum tissue health. In addition, diabetes is closely tied with gingivitis and gum disease. Often, complications with diabetes can lead to periodontal disease and vice versa. Patients with diabetes are recommended to work in close collaboration with our Brighton dentist as well as their physician. (more…)

filed under: Gum DIsease, Preventive Dentistry

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Dental Bridges FAQs Answered by Your Brighton Family Dentist

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Why should I replace a missing tooth?

Tooth loss is more than just inconvenient when it comes to chewing and speaking; a missing tooth can also have vast implications for your dental health. Each tooth serves a specific purpose in your mouth and holds a specific position. When one tooth is missing, the remaining teeth will attempt to accommodate for the loss. The results are teeth drifting and excessive tooth wear. Both of these dental conditions are catalysts for other problems like cavities and misaligned bite. Replacing a missing tooth prevents the domino effect of dental health issues that arise as a result of tooth loss.

What does a dental bridge do?

A dental bridge fills the void left behind from a missing tooth. Made of two porcelain crowns and an artificial tooth, the dental restoration attaches to abutment teeth, or the teeth surrounding the void. Between the porcelain crowns is the artificial tooth, which mimics the shape, size, and coloration of the missing tooth. Dental bridges hold teeth in place, preventing teeth drifting, and restore the tooth’s function, avoiding excessive tooth wear.

How long do dental bridges last?

Dental bridges can last several years with meticulous maintenance and professional dental care. Our Brighton family dentist, Dr. Villani can offer advice for daily oral hygiene using special flossing tools or interdental brushing. This is important since the dental bridge will hover over your gum line, where food particles may become trapped. At a thorough dental cleaning, the team at our Brighton family dental office can help you maintain your dental restoration while keeping your mouth healthy. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry

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Sports & Energy Drinks Weaken Teeth

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Summer sports and activities often call for packing a lunch. Brighton family dentists Dr. Villani and Dr. Kondrat hope that you’ll opt for healthy, refreshing foods and water in lieu of pre-packaged junk food and sports drinks. Kids’ tooth enamel erosion is at an all-time high in our nation, mostly because of poor beverage choices. Enamel erosion is a permanent thinning of tooth enamel. Because enamel provides the protective barrier on teeth, when it thins, teeth are more prone to injury, decay, and sensitivity.

Sports & Energy Drinks Weaken Teeth

A study of 13 sports drinks found that acidity levels vary not only between brands, but also by flavor. The test involved exposing tooth enamel to sports drinks for 15 minutes, four times a day. The rest of the day, enamel was covered in artificial saliva. After five days, acid erosion was evident. Energy drinks caused 100% more acid erosion than other sports drinks.

Reports indicate that half of American teens consume sports drinks, and of these, over half drink sports beverages every day. And while most fruit juices have high sugar content and some acid, they are healthier and less harmful on teeth than sports drinks. The best beverage, of course, is water – and tap water fortified with fluoride is better for your dental health than bottled water. (more…)

filed under: Preventive Dentistry

Types of Oral Rinses to Better Your Dental Health

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As family dentists, Dr. Tom Villani and Dr. Richard Kondrat often mention how important it is to brush, floss, and rinse with an oral rinse or mouthwash on a daily basis. While most of our patients understand how to brush and floss their teeth properly, some don’t know how to go about choosing an oral rinse that fits their unique dental needs. Today, your Brighton dental health care providers want to explain how to choose the right mouthwash for you.

There are three types of mouth rinses:

  • Fluoride mouth rinses
  • Mouth rinses to freshen breath
  • Anti-gingivitis/anti-plaque mouth rinses

Fluoride-Containing Mouth Rinses

Because it helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening your tooth enamel, fluoride is crucial to the health of your tooth. Fluoride is found in most toothpastes and tap water, however, so people with healthy smiles don’t usually require fluoridated mouth rinses.

People who are prone to cavities and those who have xerostomia (dry mouth) should use a fluoride mouth rinse on a daily basis. If Dr. Kondrat or Dr. Villani feel that a higher fluoride intake will improve the health of your teeth, they will discuss treatment options with you at your next dental checkup and cleaning appointment. (more…)

filed under: Oral Health

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