Encinitas Cosmetic Dentistry: Your Candy Shop Of Oral Beauty And Health Treatments!

This article explores the dual-natured benefits and treatments offered by cosmetic dentistry (promotion of good oral health as well as aesthetics).

Encinitas Cosmetic Dentistry: Introduction

Encinitas cosmetic dentistry specializes in the restoration of oral aesthetics through the use of various treatments and procedures that optimize and maintain the natural and healthy beauty of the teeth and gums. Now, if there is one complement that can be paid to our attitude regarding oral health and the maintenance thereof, it’s that the healthier our teeth and gums, the more beautiful and aesthetically-pleasing they are! This may sound completely obvious, but just think about all the decisions we are forced to make on a daily basis between what we want and what we need. They never, ever seem to correspond! Life on planet Earth under the great expectations of human kind is a perpetual choice between what we crave and what is actually good for us:

• We want to sink our teeth into a greasy hamburger, but our bodies need more fruit and vegetables.
• We want to spend the evening in front of the TV, but our bodies need exercise.
• We want to be skinny so that we can subscribe to the popular perception of ‘beauty’, but unless it is genetic, maintaining a low body weight can be extremely unhealthy!

The choices are endless, but the point is this: when it comes to our teeth, what we want (a beautiful white smile) is exactly what we need; healthy teeth and gums! Our definition of the perfect smile corresponds – unlike many of our other perceptions – with a high standard of oral health and hygiene… which makes the Encinitas cosmetic dentist very happy indeed!

Encinitas Cosmetic Dentistry: Treatments

The array of Encinitas cosmetic treatments offered by dentists is a candy shop of hope for the future of your oral aesthetics! There is tooth bleaching to remove years’ worth of accumulated stains from over-indulgence and bad habits such as nicotine and caffeine addiction. For those with teeth that have suffered more wear-and-tear, staining and chipping over the years, there are ceramic restorations such as porcelain veneers and onlays, which are bonded to the tooth surface to literally erase all visibility of any damage. Encinitas cosmetic dentistry is even capable of replacing teeth that are either so badly damaged that the only part worth keeping is the root (in which case dental crowns can be placed) OR have gone missing altogether! For the latter situation, dental implants - one of the most important breakthroughs in modern dental science – can be inserted at the site/s of the missing tooth/teeth for the complete restoration of oral aesthetics and functionality.

The Dual-Nature of Encinitas Cosmetic Dentistry

It is here that we discover an important dual-nature in the field of Encinitas cosmetic dentistry. While it is the goal of this service to make us look younger and more beautiful through the correction of problems relating to our teeth, it also strives to promote an exceptional standard of oral health and hygiene. No Encinitas cosmetic dentist is going to overlook glaringly obvious problems such as gum disease just so you can get a quick teeth bleaching and leave the dental office without looking back! Furthermore, and as it was discussed in the opening paragraph, because our perceptions of good oral aesthetics are virtually inseparable from good oral health, Encinitas cosmetic dentistry is completely dual-natured in the benefits it offers.

Dental Bridges In Encinitas: The Key Benefits Of This Tooth Replacement Technology

This article explores what dental bridges are and the various important benefits and advantages they offer patients presenting with single or multiple missing teeth.

Dental Bridges in Encinitas: Introduction

Even though our adult teeth can never grow back if lost or irreparably damaged or decayed, modern dentistry has a plethora of restorative and replacement technologies, such as dental bridges in Encinitas, capable of winning you back your smile aesthetics, oral functionality and self-confidence! Dental bridges are essentially oral devices used to fill the gap of a missing tooth or teeth with an artificial porcelain crown. And it reaps all the support it needs to remain in place from the natural surrounding (abutment) teeth in your mouth. Dental bridges in Encinitas are either fixed in the mouth by placing ceramic crowns on the adjacent teeth (with the artificial tooth suspended in between the crowns), or it can be bonded with a strong cement to your surrounding teeth. Then there’s the choice between fixed bridges and removable ones. In the case of the latter, the structure is held in place with precision attachments or metal clasps and can be removed for cleaning, etc.

Dental Bridges in Encinitas: The Importance of Replacing Teeth

Cosmetic Benefits ~ Dental bridges in Encinitas effectively fill the gaps left by missing teeth, enabling us to smile with confidence and natural beauty. They also provide support for the lips and teeth, preventing that sunken and aged appearance that is synonymous with missing teeth!

Functional Benefits ~ Dental bridges in Encinitas enable you to chew and articulate (speak) properly. Many people with missing teeth that have not been replaced avoid eating certain foods because of their compromised oral functionality. Dental bridges as a replacement solution is important in allowing these people to receive the nutrition they need to remain strong and healthy.

Oral Health ~ In order to fully appreciate the benefits afforded by dental bridges in Encinitas, you need to understand how important all the teeth in our mouth are; not just as individual ‘pearly whites’, but as a coherent system for mastication (chewing), articulation (speech) and overall oral health and dental stability. Each and every tooth plays a vital role and should it go missing, the two teeth on either side are left without that crucial support. Subsequently, they become unstable and begin to shift. Without prompt treatment, the instability caused by a single missing tooth can affect the entire dental arch; much like a domino effect! For this important reason, dental bridges in Encinitas offer a crucial solution for the restoration of oral health and support for the teeth adjacent to the bare tooth socket. This means stability for the entire dental arch, even when one or more teeth have been lost to damage or decay. Dental bridges in Encinitas also minimize the risk for the development of bacterial infection and atrophy in the jaw at the site/s of the missing teeth they are replacing.

Long-Term ~ Looking at the long term, dental bridges in Encinitas save you, the patient, an incredible amount of money, time, pain and discomfort incurred by the need for more complex, invasive and expensive surgical procedures in order to fix problems and complications that could easily have been solved in the first place!

The Dentist in Encinitas: Answering your Frequently Asked Questions, PART 2

This article, part two of two, strives to address some of the questions most frequently asked of dental professionals.

The Dentist in Encinitas: Introduction

In this article, PART 2, the dentist in Encinitas will strive to answer some of those questions that patients like you frequently ask. Remember, a fundamental component of maintaining an exceptional standard of oral health and hygiene is knowing how to. So, in the interest of your information and education, here are some FAQs:

Ask the Dentist in Encinitas:

Question 3: If you lose a tooth right at the back of your mouth where it can’t be seen, do you still need to go to the expense of getting a dental implant placed?

The short answer to this is: absolutely yes! The dentist in Encinitas is entirely acquainted with the fact that the majority of patients opt for teeth replacement technologies, such as dental implants, for aesthetic reasons. After all, having gaps in your smile does not exactly conform to the common perception of ‘beauty’. However, when you lose teeth, more than just your smile becomes compromised… even if the tooth is right at the back of your mouth where it cannot really be seen. The tooth root plays a vital role in keeping the bone tissue in the jaw stimulated and, well, alive really! One of the biggest problems associated with tooth loss is the development of bacterial infection, acute and chronic conditions such as periodontal disease and atrophy in the jaw bone. It is for this reason, as well as the destabilizing affect that a missing tooth has on the adjacent teeth, that the dentist in Encinitas will want to replace missing teeth before the bone tissue in the bare socket has a chance to become re-absorbed by the jaw. In summary, missing teeth should always be addressed by dental implants or similar teeth replacement devices.

Question 4: Isn’t it normal for gums to bleed when you brush?

No, bleeding gums are not normal, but it can be explained by a variety of factors according to the dentist in Encinitas. The most common cause of bleeding gums is simply brushing too hard… so ease off your strokes a little. You might also want to change your toothbrush to one that has softer bristles, or ideally, get yourself an electronic toothbrush. If the bleeding is still present then you should seek immediate professional attention from the dentist in Encinitas. You could have periodontal (gum) disease, which is actually frightfully common amongst people in the United States. Bleeding gums are indicative of a chronic and acute bacterial infection of the soft tissue surrounding the teeth that, if left untreated, can cause serious and permanent damage to your oral health and aesthetics. The dentist in Encinitas will be able to determine the presence and extent of the infection (if any) and prescribe you a course of treatment before those nasty disease-causing pathogens have a chance to permanently mar your smile!

Other causes of bleeding gums include vitamin C and K deficiencies, injury or trauma caused by an accident, removable dentures or brushing/flossing too hard or an allergy to dental whiteners, mouth fresheners or certain medications. According to the dentist in Encinitas, bleeding gums can also be caused by certain systemic disorders or chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, liver disorders, cardiovascular diseases and kidney disorders.

Encinitas Dentists: Coming Together to Answer Your Top Questions! PART 1

This article, part one of two, strives to address some of the questions most frequently asked of dental professionals.

Encinitas Dentists: Overview

As a community of medical professionals, Encinitas dentists are frequently asked questions pertaining to oral health, hygiene and aesthetics. Since we believe that a fundamental aspect of maintaining an exceptional standard of lifelong oral health is being informed and educated, in this article, we strive to answer some of your FAQ’s regarding your teeth, your gums and their optimal health:

Question 1: I’m very self-conscious about bad breath. How can I prevent it?

Bad breath is caused by a number of factors. Garlic, onion and anchovies can all make your breath stink, but since these are not in any way detrimental to your oral health, Encinitas dentists will just tell you to keep brushing and avoid kissing anyone for a day or two! The kind of bad breath you really need to be concerned about is brought on by the odorous by-product of bacterial activity in your mouth. So, the best way you can prevent developing chronic bad breath is by maintaining a high standard of oral hygiene. This means:

• Brushing twice a day for two minutes at a time: Also include your tongue in your brushing routine. According to Encinitas dentists, the tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria and yet, most people don’t do anything to keep it clean. Brush your tongue with toothpaste as you do your teeth to prevent odor-producing bacteria from colonizing your tongue.

• Floss every day to prevent the accumulation of plaque, bacteria and food particles between your teeth.

• Drink plenty of water to irrigate your mouth and prevent bacteria from establishing a foothold on and around your teeth. Also, cut down on sugar-rich foods and drink.

• Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash: According to Encinitas dentists, this is not compulsory as far as maintaining oral health is concerned, but if you are particularly self-conscious about your breath, you may want to carry some around with you.

While all of these points are essential for our oral health and hygiene, it is as important to keep regular appointments with Encinitas dentists. After all, if you are worried about bad breath, it is possible that your sub-conscious is trying to tell you something! Or maybe it’s because you’ve noticed that those closest to you shrink away from you when you speak. Either way, it is fundamental that you seek out regular professional oral and periodontal care from Encinitas Dentists to prevent bacterial infection from causing you serious problems that go beyond the social sphere in their ramifications.

Question 2: I really love coffee, but I’m concerned about tooth discoloration. Is there a way I can prevent stains from accumulating?

According to Encinitas dentists, coffee and tea are one of the top tooth staining offenders. But there are things you can do that will allow you to enjoy your cup of Joe without the fear of discolored teeth:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially after a cup of coffee or tea; this will wash away residual coffee/tea and prevent your teeth from taking a ‘caffeine bath’.
• Drink milk with your coffee: black coffee is far more staining of the tooth enamel.
• If the damage has already been done, Encinitas dentists offer teeth bleaching treatments that will erase years’ worth of discoloration to give you a beautiful, youthful and pearly white smile!