Crowns can be created from various materials. The primary option is the one made of metal. This type of crown is typically made of metal alloy and has many advantages. Metal usually requires less tooth structure to be removed and it supports the everyday demands of your mouth far better than other materials. However, one setback of metal crowns is the color. Many people don’t want others to notice that metallic color inside their mouths.
As for the color, an option would be to have porcelain fused to metal. This provides you with the advantages of having a metal crown with a color to match your other teeth. Although this type can wear down more quickly, they can be a good choice.

Other dental crown types include crowns made of resin, all-ceramic or all-porcelain. Ones made from resin are usually less expensive, but probably wear down more quickly compared with other materials. All-ceramic and all-porcelain options are capable to give your teeth their natural color as they are an excellent option for people with metal allergies. However, these types are easily fractured and may also result in some general wear towards the surrounding teeth.

After discussing the choices with your dentist, it’s time to have the crown put in place. You’ll have one appointment wherein the dentist will prepare your tooth for the new addition. He or she will either file down or perhaps build up (with regards to too much decay) the tooth to ensure that he can place it on top. Then you’ll have some paste-like substance out surrounding the tooth so your crown can be created. Next, you may be given a temporary solution while the permanent one is being created.

As soon as the permanent crown comes in, your dentist will make sure that it fits appropriately and will make use of dental cement to stick it in place. It is essential to remember to always take proper care of your teeth since you are still vulnerable to things like gum disease. The crown typically lasts five to fifteen years based on how you take care of it, oral hygiene as well as the wear and tear you place on your teeth.

In spite of which choice you go with, getting a dental crown can protect as well as enhance the appearance of your teeth. They are guaranteed to provide you with more comfort and confidence.

Today, dental in-office teeth whitening are not the only choice. A lot of home teeth whitening products are now dominating the market with a remarkable rate as they are considered a convenient way of dental treatment for whiter teeth. Home teeth whitening system makes use of various teeth whitening products such as whitening strips, teeth whitening trays along with whitening gels as well as brush-on whitening.

Several of the basic home teeth whitening tip or perhaps ways of teeth whitening, as used by people around the world are as follows:

1. Applying a paste of lemon juice along with salt on the yellowish tint of the teeth. It is an excellent method of getting rid of that dull color of the teeth.
2. Rubbing the inner white portion of an orange peel through the tainted teeth provides a pearly white shine.
3. Frequent use of paste of bi-carbonate of soda together with water gets rid of the surface stain on the teeth.
4. Dried and powdered Bay leaves mixed with dried orange peel also serves as an excellent whitener.

All of these home teeth whitening techniques, if carried out on a regular basis, can provide excellent results.

Before making use of teeth whitening kits, you will need to follow certain instructions to apply teeth whitening procedure appropriately. For instance, it is recommended that the person should use oxygenating toothpaste to clean the teeth because it contains substances which strengthen gums and forestall sensitivity from occurring in the teeth.

Now, have you asked yourself, how convenient it is to just schedule an appointment with a dentist that could give you proper teeth whitening treatment instead of risking your time and effort to do it at home?

During pregnancy, mothers are at high risk of having inflamed and bleeding gums. Maintaining good oral hygiene and having regular dental checkups are the best actions to be taken in prevention of gum diseases. Dentists will give you advices on how to take care of your teeth at home since pregnancy is a very crucial stage.

Although it is best to have dental visits during your pregnancy, there are a number of dental treatments that should be done after you have given birth. For example, if you need to have an amalgam filling because of tooth decay, the dentist will most likely advise you to have the treatment only after your delivery. In addition to that, if they require you to have a dental x-ray, this should also wait until you give birth, given that amalgam contains substances and x-rays have radiation which can harm the baby.

Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can be dangerous for the baby. Recent studies have shown that pregnant women who have both smoked and drank alcohol during pregnancy result in underweight babies. This will put the child at a greater risk of having poor teeth. Mothers should take as much calcium as they can during pregnancy.

Pregnant women must maintain good oral health and have a well-balanced diet in order to have a healthy baby. Getting all the vitamins and minerals is good for the good development of the baby’s overall and dental health.

Dental prosthesis

Dental prosthesis involves having a tooth replacement for good looks. Some people have uneven teeth that may discourage their appearance. Then, the dentist will offer them a cosmetic dentistry procedure to make them look good as it suits their facial structure. This process is known as cosmetic dental prosthesis. A dental prostodontist should have a 4 years experience after their dental studies in college.

The most common cosmetic dental prosthesis is dental bridge. Artificial tooth is used in dental bridging. The qualities of an original tooth cannot be compared to an artificial one. Because they differ in hardness, a crown is usually used to support the tooth. Dentists place the artificial tooth over the area where the original tooth is broken and then they make it glued there permanently. The removal of this tooth can only be done by a dentist. The materials to be used for dental bridges are chosen by the patients. The materials like that of china ware, metallic porcelains and gold are used in making artificial teeth. The dentist will explain to you which of these materials best suit you.

In preparation for making an artificial tooth, the materials that are chosen by the patient and decided by the dentist will be used. Paying close attention in the production of the tooth and artistry is combined to create the appropriate tooth for you. An impression using an x-ray of your teeth is made by the dentist before tooth preparation and tooth implantation process are to be done. Using the impression, the tooth is then made at a dental laboratory. The last step is the implantation known as cementation. The bridge and the tooth should be at the same position, the dentist will make certain of that. The tooth will then be cemented on the right location where the original tooth has been located.

Halitosis

Odors from bad breath vary depending on the origin or the cause of bad breath. Because self- assessment of bad breath is difficult, you may ask someone close to you to confirm your worries.

What to do:

If you are aware or have been told by someone that you have bad breath issues, try examining your oral hygiene habits. If after making these changes in your lifestyle the bad breath is still there, it is suggested to see your dentist immediately. You may be having a more serious condition associated with bad breath.

Treatment:

• You can try drinking lots of water, flossing after every meal and brushing three times daily. Seeing your dentist for regular checkups may reduce bad breath. Some dentists may recommend brushing your tongue, since the tongue absorbs and traps most of the bacteria. Using a mouthwash after brushing can be an added protection against bacteria build-up in your mouth. Mouthwashes containing cetypyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine can prevent production of bad breath odors. Odor-neutralizing products such as chlorine dioxide and zinc may also be used.
• If you have a gum disease, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist, a gum specialist. Gum diseases can cause the gums to drag away from the teeth leaving deep areas where odor-causing bacteria may be accumulated.
• Your dentist may advise you to replace ill-fitting tooth restorations which can be a reproduction ground for bacteria.

• Routine examinations
• Prophylaxis
• Restorations
• Dentures

*Some services may be subject to prior authorization.   Procedure codes for those ages 21 and above who are Medicaid beneficiaries are available on the dental procedure code database, hosted at:

www.michigan.gov/medicaidproviders > Billing and Reimbursement > Provider Specific Information > Dental

The Michigan Department of Community Health will comply with the 15 day window required for prior authorizations for your scheduling needs.

There is a $3.00 co-pay for visits that are reimbursed separately, although some exclusions may apply, such as for nursing home residents.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has also reinstated transportation services for this Adult Medicaid Dental Care benefit.  The office of Paul M. Blank, D.D.S. will be happy to assist you with your scheduling and dental care services!

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/MSA_10-47_334247_7.pdf Accessed February 5, 2010

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned – they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward.

Here are the types of wisdom teeth, in order from easiest to remove to most complex to remove:

• Erupted (already in the mouth)
• Soft-tissue impacted (just under the gum)
• Partial-bony impacted (partially stuck in the jaw)
• Full-bony impacted (completely stuck in the jaw)

In addition, if your wisdom teeth are tilted sideways, they can be harder to remove than if they are vertical.

While healthy wisdom teeth don’t usually cause a tremendous amount of pain, they can be bothersome. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help stop your wisdom tooth pain.

• Your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend that your wisdom tooth be extracted even before problems develop. This is done to avoid a more painful or more complicated extraction that might have to be done a few years later. Removal is easier in young people, when the wisdom teeth roots are not yet fully developed and the bone is less dense. In older people, recovery and healing time tend to be longer.
• After your wisdom tooth have emerged completely, your pain should stop. If it doesn’t, consult your dentist.
• For some people there is not enough room in their mouth for their wisdom teeth to come in and this can result in teeth drifting and crooked teeth
• Call your dentist immediately if you find it difficult to close your mouth completely or if you are unable to touch the affected area without experiencing severe pain.

If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other treatment. Sometimes, though, there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired. This is the most common reason for tooth extraction.

We all know what the processes for tooth extraction are. But do you know how to properly take care of it after the tooth extraction?

Tooth Extraction Care and Aftercare

The care and aftercare of a tooth extraction entails following the five suggestions below:

1. Do not rinse your mouth out for 24 hours following a tooth extraction – doing so may cause the blood clot that is sealing the hole and allowing healing to take place longer.

2. You should not smoke, use a straw or spit after surgery. These actions can pull the blood clot out of the hole where the tooth was. That causes more bleeding and can lead to a dry socket, which occurs in about 3% to 4% of all extractions. Dry socket occurs 20% to 30% of the time when impacted teeth are removed. It happens more often in smokers and women who take birth control pills. It is also more likely after difficult extractions.

3. Only warm, soft foods and drinks are to be taken, and should be kept as far from the extraction hole as possible – Definitely no swishing in the mouth, as the blood clot may be removed or a piece of food may enter the hole and become lodged in causing much pain. You can normally return to a normal diet after 7 days.

4. The day following the tooth extraction and for at least the next 5 days, stir a teaspoon of salt into 250 ml – a glass – of warm water until dissolved.  Rinse the mouth gently with the salt water and give the salt water a little time to be soaking the tooth extraction point.  Use after eating or drinking anything, as it keeps the extraction wound clean and the salt helps to keep the area sterile from germs.  Use the salt rinse every night before you go to bed as well.

6. You can put ice packs on your face to reduce swelling after the operation. If your jaw is sore and stiff after the swelling goes away, try warm compress.

5. Resume good teeth cleaning practices from about 2 days following the tooth extraction, but be careful near the extraction site.

Understanding Our Teeth

Our teeth are entirely covered by very strong, porcelain-like enamel that acts as a shield. Due to the daily pressure we put our teeth; this enamel slowly wears off, becoming more translucent. This permits the yellow color of dentin (the tooth’s core material) to show through, giving your teeth that stained, unattractive look. Due to constant chewing, millions of micro cracks can occur over the years and these cracks get easily filled up with excess debris, allowing stains to form and causing cavities. Taking care of your teeth, as well as using the proper techniques to whiten teeth, can help this plague build-up and the stains associated with the wear-and-tear of your daily eating routine.

How to prevent teeth discoloration?

There are many causes of teeth discoloration. The most common include aging and consumption of staining substances such as coffee, tea, colas, tobacco, red wine, etc. During tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline, certain antibiotics or excessive fluoride may also cause tooth discoloration. By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you may be able to prevent teeth discoloration. For example, if you are a coffee drinker and/or smoker, consider cutting back or quitting all together. Also, improve your dental hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly and getting your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every 6 months.

Do many people whiten their teeth? More people than you might imagine. A bright sparkling and shiny teeth can make a big difference in someone else’s life.