The Anatomy of a Root Canal

Posted April 14, 2011

The words “root canal” often evoke fear in dental patients, but the dentists at Brighton Family Dental Group have some good news for you. Modern root canal therapy is less invasive, more precise, more comfortable, and more effective than in years past.

Inside each of your teeth, a canal houses dental pulp, also known as the nerve of your tooth. This pulp is extremely important. It keeps your tooth alive by bringing nutrients to the tooth, removing waste, and keeping the tooth alive and functioning.

If a deep cavity or fracture occurs in your tooth and it’s deep enough to cut into the sealed canal, your tooth pulp can become infected.

This can be very serious and very painful. As bacteria build up in the canal, it creates pressure and can result in an intense toothache. In very severe cases, a tooth with an infected internal canal may need extraction, but often, the tooth can be salvaged with root canal therapy.

To perform a root canal, Dr. Villani will administer anesthetic to completely numb the affected tooth. Then, he’ll use fine, precise tools and technique to remove the infected pulp and leave as much of your natural tooth structure intact as possible. A 100% safe, manmade substance is inserted into the tooth’s canal before a dental crown is secured on top, giving your tooth unwavering strength and a natural appearance. Without pulp, the tooth is no longer alive, but it can remain intact if it remains infection-free and well cared for.

If you experience tooth pain, it’s possible that you may need a root canal to keep your tooth intact. Please call our dental office in Brighton, Massachusetts at (617) 562-5210.

Are you a good candidate for dental implants?

Posted April 14, 2011

A dental implant is a dental prosthetic used to replace missing teeth. Made from a titanium implant post and a ceramic dental crown, dental implants are designed to function and look like natural teeth, as well as fit and blend in with your natural tooth structure.

Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general and oral health who have lost one or more teeth due to periodontal disease or an injury. Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone density to support the implant.

While most adults can be quality candidates for dental implants, there are a few common reasons why your implants may not work. Smokers and those with uncontrolled chronic diseases or systemic problems may not be good candidates for this procedure. Smoking impairs the mouth’s ability to heal and can reduce the likelihood that the implants will be successful. People with diabetes may not be good candidates as well, due to healing problems within gum tissue.

Having a consultation is the first step in your smile transformation. If you appear to be a good candidate for dental implants, Dr. Kondrat and Dr. Villani of Brighton Family Dental Group will consult with you and plan your implant procedure. If you decide to proceed with treatment, Dr. Kondrat will complete and oversee the fabrication and placement of your implant prosthetic. After a short healing time, Dr. Villani will place your crown, bridge, or denture over your implant.

From start to finish, your entire implant procedure can be completed in our dental office in Brighton, Massachusetts. If you live in Brighton, Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, or Newton, call us today at (617) 562-5210 to reserve your appointment time.

Straighten Your Teeth without a Mouth Full of Metal

Posted March 29, 2011

Do you look in the mirror and see teeth that are crooked, crowded, or oddly spaced? Do you think that wearing braces as an adult is out of the question?

If so, think again. At this point in your life and career, wearing metal orthodontic braces simply isn’t practical, but it is possible to straighten your teeth and enjoy a straight, beautiful smile.

The dentists at Brighton Family Dental Group understand your image concerns and are here to help. We offer Invisalign clear braces in our Brighton, Massachusetts, dental office.

Invisalign is a teeth-straightening system that can give you the results of traditional braces, without the burden and eyesore of a mouth full of metal. With more freedom and less treatment time than traditional braces, Invisalign is a great option for image-conscious adults and older teens that need minor to moderate tooth movement.

And an Invisalign consultation is free at Brighton Dental, so you can learn about the procedure and make an informed treatment decisions.

At this consultation, we will help you decide if Invisalign is right for you by examining your teeth and bite and explaining how the Invisalign system works. If you decide to proceed with your smile makeover, Dr. Villani will take x-rays and impressions of your mouth, and then create a custom treatment plan.

From there, your clear Invisalign aligners will be fabricated in a dental laboratory. Once your aligners have been delivered, you will need to come in for a second appointment.

The Invisalign system is simple. Wear your aligners as often as possible, as treatment only happens when your aligners are in your mouth. The great thing about Invisalign is that you’ll have the freedom to remove your aligners to eat and for special occasions, but it is important to remember that your teeth only move when you wear them.

Generally, treatment can take anywhere from 9 to 24 months, depending on your case. You will receive a new aligner about every 2 weeks. This series of aligners will gradually move your teeth to the desired alignment.

Brighton Family Dental Group serves patients from Brighton, Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and surrounding communities. Call us today at (617) 562-5210 to begin your smile transformation.

Ask Us About Teeth Whitening!

Posted March 29, 2011

Sometimes, teeth whitening is all you need to bring new life to your smile. It has been proven that people with bright, white smiles give off a positive first impression. Often, these people are more successful, both personally and professionally, than those with dull and discolored teeth.

Teeth whitening is the most requested cosmetic dental procedure. While countless over-the-counter products claim to brighten your smile, people who are serious about whitening their teeth know to look elsewhere.

Over-the-counter products can’t give you the dramatic results you want, or only provide temporary results. As dentists, we offer a whitening system that’s more potent than any over-the-counter product. To be safe and get the bright, white smile you want, a dentist-prescribed whitening system is the way to go.

When your teeth look great, you won’t hesitate to flash your big, white, smile, so we invite you to call Brighton Family Dental Group at (617) 562-5210 or ask about our teeth whitening options at your next appointment.

We create beautiful, healthy smiles for the communities for Brighton, Massachusetts and surrounding areas, and we look forward to seeing you in our office.

Gum Disease and Your Heart

Posted March 15, 2011

More than 80 percent of American adults suffer from some level of gum disease, and many people don’t even know it. If your gums are red, tender, swollen, or bleed when you brush your teeth, you may have gum disease.

Our dentists, dental assistants, and hygienists at Brighton Family Dental Group can help you overcome this serious condition. First, it’s important for you to know what gum disease is and how it develops.

When plaque and tartar build up at the gum line, they emit bacteria that irritate sensitive gum tissue. As a result, bacterial infection eats away at the bond between teeth and gums. The bacteria thrive in the dark, moist, and warm pockets formed at the gum line, and over time, these pockets grow deeper as infection spreads. Ultimately, gums recede to expose teeth roots, and teeth can loosen or fall out. Gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss for American adults.

Unfortunately, gum disease can also lead to serious overall health problems, such as an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, respiratory disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The best prevention against gum disease is attending six month checkups and cleanings. At these routine dental appointments, we will evaluate your soft tissues and look for signs of disease. If we find gum disease in the mild to moderate stage, it may be treated in three steps. This process is usually referred to as a deep cleaning. (more…)

Screening for Oral Cancer Can Save Your Life

Posted March 15, 2011

Brighton Family Dental Group provides patients with preventive and restorative dentistry that promotes optimal oral health, a high quality of life, and a gorgeous smile. Seeing you every 6 months for routine dental exams and cleanings is the cornerstone to optimal oral health.

Regular checkups are the best preventive protection you can give your mouth. Checkups allow our doctors and team to find potential or existing problems early, so we can address them when conservative treatment is possible.

At every dental checkup, we’ll screen for oral cancer. An estimated 36,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and it causes more than 8,000 deaths annually, but we hardly hear anything about this serious problem. When treated early, people with oral cancer have more than an 80% survival rate. (more…)

What is a Smile Makeover?

Posted March 15, 2011

Believe it or not, you probably know someone with porcelain veneers. Known as instant orthodontics, veneers are often the primary procedure in a smile makeover procedure for a reason. They correct several cosmetic dental problems with just one procedure.

Porcelain veneers are thin, durable restorations crafted with high-quality porcelain. A skilled ceramist hand sculpts each veneer according to the dentist’s specifications. I’m Dr. Thomas Villani, an experienced cosmetic dentist, and I’ll design your veneers to complement your overall appearance. Once your veneers are ready, I will adhere them directly to your front teeth, giving you a beautiful, brand new smile.

When appropriate, I Brighton Family Dental Group recommend porcelain veneers to patients looking to bring new life to their smile. If your teeth are slightly misaligned, chipped, crowned, oddly spaced, or discolored, veneers may be the right — and most conservative — cosmetic dental procedure for you. (more…)

Predict the Future with Your Child’s Smile

Posted February 19, 2011

A smile can say a lot about someone. Successful, happy people who exude a lot of confidence tend to smile a lot. Also, a smile is the first thing a person notices about you.

Here at Brighton Family Dental, we’ll give your kids a reason to smile. We want to help keep your kids’ grins healthy and bright, and we know you want the same. What if we told you there is another reason to get your kids to show off those pearly whites?

A recent study at DePauw University shows how intensely people smile in childhood photographs may predict their adult marriage success.

According to the research, people whose smiles were weakest in childhood snapshots were more likely to get divorced later in life. Among the weakest smilers in college photographs, 1 in 4 ended up divorcing, compared to 1 in 20 of those with the boldest smiles. (more…)

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Posted February 17, 2011

This month is a very special month, according to the American Dental Association. Each February, the ADA sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month.

National Children’s Dental Health month is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of oral health, and the Brighton Family Dental Group team could not support the cause more!

Developing lifelong, quality dental hygiene habits starts at an early age with parental help. Teaching your children how to brush their teeth sets a great foundation. The ADA teaches proper teeth brushing in 5 simple steps.

1. Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.

2. Move the brush back and forth gently in short strokes.

3. Brush the outer surfaces, the inside surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of all teeth.

4. Tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes to clean the inside surface of the front teeth.

5. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

Of course, four year olds don’t know what a 45-degree angle is, but teach your children by example. Use Children’s Dental Health Month to make brushing and flossing a fun family activity. This will instill healthy habits in your kids that will help them achieve a lifetime of quality oral and overall health.

The ADA suggests you bring your children in for their first checkup at the age of 1, but unless there are problems, 2 is a good age for children to be seen by the dentist for the first time. Generally, these checkups are quick and simple, but they are a great way for us to make sure that your child is growing and developing properly. Get your child excited about going to the dentist by making it sound fun. The ADA has great suggestions for teaching children about their teeth in an entertaining way.

We want to see your kids in our office in Brighton, Massachusetts. For more information about family dentistry or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at (617) 562-5210.

The Brighton Family Dental staff will work with you to schedule an appointment that fits into your busy schedule. We look forward to seeing you and giving your child a reason to smile!

Three Misconceptions about Dental Implants

Posted February 9, 2011

As technology advances, the web becomes our go-to forum for information. However, you can’t always believe what you read. This holds true with dental implants. I’m Dr. Villani of Brighton Family Dent al Group, and I would like to share with you three misconceptions — and truths — about dental implants.

Misconception: Dental implant surgery has to be done at a hospital or same-day surgery center.

Truth: Dr. Kondrat, our periodontist, places implants in our office. He will consult with you and plan your implant procedure, answering all of your questions along the way. Dr. Kondrat will place the implant(s) in one visit, and when your mouth is ready, I will place the crown, bridge, or denture over the implant(s). The entire process will be completed in our office.

Misconception: Seniors, smokers, and persons with diabetes cannot receive dental implants.

Truth: Adults of any age with missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures are candidates for implant dentistry. Smokers and persons with diabetes are not ruled out, but they will have a slower healing time and must wait longer to receive their crown, bridge, or denture. This is something that we will discuss at your consultation.

Misconception: Many dental implants are rejected by the body.

Truth: Implants have a 98% success rate, and that is quite astounding. Implant posts are small, biocompatible titanium that anchors to the jaw bone, mimicking natural teeth roots. Dr. Kondrat may use special techniques to promote fast healing and your body’s acceptance of your implant(s). In addition to securing the crown, bridge, or denture, implants stimulate jawbone tissue to prevent bone deterioration. So, they’re very beneficial to the body!

Education about dental procedures helps eliminate the misconceptions brought about by Internet information overload. At your consultation, I’ll answer all of your questions with facts. To schedule a one-on-one consultation or second-opinion visit about dental implants, contact my Brighton office at 617-562-5210. I’m Dr. Villani, and I believe that you deserve to know the truth about dental implants so that you can make an informed, educated decision about the future of your smile.

Our Blog

The Anatomy of a Root Canal

Are you a good candidate for dental implants?

Straighten Your Teeth without a Mouth Full of Metal

Ask Us About Teeth Whitening!

Gum Disease and Your Heart

Screening for Oral Cancer Can Save Your Life

What is a Smile Makeover?

Predict the Future with Your Child’s Smile

National Children’s Dental Health Month

Three Misconceptions about Dental Implants

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories