Dental Essentials Blog

When you show off your smile, the part of your teeth that everyone sees is your enamel. This outermost layer protects the sensitive structures underneath. It’s the hardest thing your body can make, but that doesn’t mean it’s invulnerable. If you aren’t careful, it can wear down over time, but is this necessarily an issue? Here’s what you should know about this situation.

Losing a dental crown can feel alarming, especially if it happens unexpectedly while eating or brushing your teeth. The good news is that while it does require attention, it’s usually not considered a true dental emergency. Still, acting quickly and carefully can help protect your tooth and make it easier for your dentist to fix the issue.

If your crown has come loose or fallen out completely, your next steps matter. Knowing what to do if a crown falls out can help you avoid further damage and discomfort until you can be seen by your dentist.

Red wine can be a lovely beverage that pairs marvelously well with beef and lamb, but the pigments and tannins that give it its gorgeous color can cause dental stains and discoloration if you are not careful. To make matters worse, alcohol is acidic, which means it begins weakening your enamel on contact. Thankfully, you can help your smile stay white and bright by maintaining a few smart drinking habits during the holidays. Here’s a quick look at how you can prevent dental stains and how your dentist can address them with professional teeth whitening treatments.

SureSmile treatment is exciting because it promises to put your pearly whites on a path to symmetry and good oral health. But does SureSmile hurt? Aligners move your teeth over time by pressing against them. As a result, there’s often some soreness when you first begin treatment and when you switch to a new set of aligners. The good news is that it’s temporary and manageable. Here’s how you can solve your sore smile with ease.

When it comes to protecting your teeth and gums, you already know how important it is to be diligent year-round. But what you may not know is that some summertime activities could put your smile at undue risk. Here are three common things you may not have realized are dangerous, and how you can still have fun and prevent a dental emergency at the same time!

Regularly paying attention to your dental condition helps you identify concerning changes that may indicate an underlying issue. For example, if you realize that you have recently developed a small lump on your gums, it’s natural to wonder what caused it and whether it’s considered an emergency.

There are several reasons this can happen, and some are more urgent attention than others. Whatever is behind the growth, you will need your dentist’s help to identify and treat it. Continue reading to learn 3 common causes for a lump on your gums so you know when to contact your provider!

Since dentists ask embarrassing questions, patients often feel tempted to lie to them. The idea is that a small and (seemingly) harmless fib is better than a shameful dental truth. With that said, there’s no real point in hiding anything; most dentists know when you’re lying. You’d do better to talk with them honestly than to spin tall tales at a checkup. If you need proof, just keep reading to learn four lies dentists know you’re telling.

Do you have noticeable gaps between your teeth? They might make you feel self-conscious about your smile, or perhaps they allow food to irritate your sensitive gum tissue. In either case, it is understandable if you are interested in getting rid of those pesky spaces. There are a few different treatment options that may help, including clear aligners, veneers, and Bioclear. In this blog post, we focus specifically on Bioclear and its advantages.

For decades, silver fillings—also known as dental amalgam—were the go-to solution for cavities. However, while they were the best tool at the time, concerns have since arisen about their safety. This is due to mercury, a toxic metal, which makes up much of an amalgam filling. While the risk is generally low, there have been instances of health issues caused by continual exposure. Continue reading to learn why mercury-free dentistry is a modern must and how it benefits your smile.

Picture this: you’re at your dentist’s office, going over your X-rays at the end of your semi-annual exam, and you’ve just been told that you need to have a tooth removed. Not exactly the news you wanted to hear, right? Worse yet, it comes as a complete surprise, because the tooth in question feels just fine. So, why if it doesn’t seem to have any problems does it need to be extracted? While yes, sometimes a toothache will lead to needing an extraction, there are some instances where it still should come out, even if it doesn’t hurt or seem injured. Here are five common reasons this may occur.