Posts Tagged "dental"
Spring sniffles can lead to poor oral health
After a long winter, spring can literally be a breath of fresh air. However, for some, spring may mean going through countless tissue boxes. Seasonal allergies can mean lots of sneezing, and a lot of congestion, which is usually coupled with “mouth breathing.” While this may seem harmless, a clinical study published in General Dentistry pointed out that there can also be oral health repercussions to mouth breathing.
Mouth breathing, also known as upper airway obstruction, has been shown to cause abnormal facial and dental development, including long, narrow faces and mouths, and gummy smiles. Mouth breathing can lead to lack of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is essential for the reduction of acid and bacteria in the mouth, which causes individuals who lack saliva to end up with gingivitis. Crooked teeth can also be caused by an upper airway obstruction due to poor position of the tongue. Mouth breathers tend to rest their tongue on the roof of their mouths, causing cheek, muscles to relax and rest on the upper teeth. This causes the upper jaw to become more narrow leading to crooked teeth down the line. This condition can lead to poor sleeping habits, and can lead to poor oxygen concentration in the blood stream, resulting in possible high blood pressure-related conditions. Children who suffer from mouth breathing usually do not get enough rest, leading to tiredness throughout the day and lack of concentration on academics.
But no fear! There are possible treatments for mouth breathing, and it is very beneficial to discover this condition early on. A dentist is able to look for mouth breathing symptoms, including dry, cracked lips, dry mouth, bad breath, snoring and daytime fatigue. Swollen tonsils are also known to be a prominent symptom of this disease. If there is the presence of inflamed tonsils, they can be surgically removed by an ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialist. If one has narrow face and mouth, dentists are able to use expansion appliances to aid in the widening of sinuses and the opening of nasal airway passages. After surgery and orthodontic treatment, patients have been shown to improve in behavior, energy level, academic performance, and peer acceptance.
If you believe that you are a mouth breather, be sure to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment and consultation.
References:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100406125714.htm
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/video/josephson-mouth-breathing
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We couldn’t have done it without you!
Drs. Ali & Ali of Wellesley Dental Group want to thank the community for the wonderful turnout as they conclude their two-week long fundraiser for the One Fund Boston. The fundraiser was held from April 29th through May 10th. Inspired by the phrase, Boston Strong, they wanted to give the community a way to show strength through smiling. As “Smile Ambassadors” their mission was quite clear: give supporters a beautiful smile when they do good for the community. They donated 100% of all proceeds from teeth whitening treatments.Read More
Dental Implants: a Great Alternative to Replacing Missing Teeth
If you have missing teeth, dentures are just not comfortable enough, or if you want to keep tooth structure intact, dental implants may be the way to go.
Implants have been considered one of the biggest breakthroughs in dentistry within the past 40 years and have provided an innovative alternative when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are made from titanium and other materials that are very compatible with the human body. The titanium implant fuses with the jawbone and acts as a sturdy anchor for the replacement teeth. It is also shaped and colored to blend right in with the rest of your pearly whites.
When going through the process of receiving dental implants, there are three major phases one goes through.
1. The titanium implant is surgically placed into the patient’s jawbone. During this time, dentists recommend that patients should consume soft or cold foods and warm soup during the healing process following the surgery.
2. Next comes the period where the bond surrounding the implants begins the healing process, known as osseointegration. Eventually, the implant combines with the bond and forms a sturdy base for the replacement tooth. This integration usually takes several months to occur.
3. The final step is the placement of the new artificial tooth. For a single tooth, a dentist would customize a dental crown that will serve as the replacement. This crown is picked just so that its color, shape, and size will fit perfectly with the surrounding teeth. Because it takes some time to create this, the dentist will make a temporary crown, bridge or denture in the meantime; this will allow the patient to still be able to eat and speak normally until the permanent replacement tooth is ready.
If you believe that dental implants may be the right option for you, Drs. Ali & Ali and their team at Wellesley Dental Group will be very happy to discuss possible procedures that can be done. Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up a consultation!
References:
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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Make your grin pearly white for a good cause!
Wellesley Dental Group’s teeth whitening fundraiser is still running at full speed. We’d like to dedicate this post to all those who have already donated to our One Fund fundraiser! In solidarity with those affected by last month’s Boston Marathon bombings, Drs. Ali & Ali thank you from the bottom of their hearts for the steady influx of donations pouring in from all corners of the community. With your help, we’ve been making a huge impact on the physical and mental well-being of our community. It’s so inspiring to see how quickly our neighborhood has risen to the challenge, and to know that we are taking care of our own. Thank you for setting such an incredible example for the rest of us; together we are Boston Strong!
As you may have heard, Drs. Ali & Ali are taking great strides to rally our community together and help our neighbors in need. Until May 10th, Wellesley Dental Group will be donating 100% of the proceeds from all whitening treatments to Boston’s One Fund. If you haven’t heard about this great cause, it’s time to get involved!
The Wellesley Dental Group is offering two whitening options: the Sinsational treatment, in which your smile is brightened by a few shades, and the Custom Home Whitening treatment, in which Dr. Ali creates custom whitening trays tailored specifically to your needs. The suggested minimum donations are $199 and $550, respectively, and will be donated directly to help the marathon victims and their loved ones. We invite you to come in for a free consultation to explore the different options and decide which works best for you. Please call us at (781) 237-9071 or email smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to schedule an appointment today! For more information about this event, click here. Our office is open this week Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, at 5 Seward Road in Wellesley.
Remember, this is the final week of the fundraiser, so if you’ve been thinking that your smile could use a makeover, now is the time to act! A new smile, a new YOU, and a re-newed Boston is exactly what our city needs to regain its footing. Now that spring is upon us, what better way to rejuvenate your oral health, all the while rebuilding the health and unity of our community. And again, to those who have already made a difference, thank you SO much for your continued support!
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Ouch, I Just Chipped My Tooth!
You finally get some time to yourself and decide to have a quick snack. You make a grab for your favorite mixed nut bar and take a big bite. All of a sudden, something doesn’t feel right in your mouth. You realize those almonds that you just munched left you with a chipped tooth.
Even though the enamel that covers teeth is considered the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body, it may not be able to hold up against a blow to the face or even a hard bite, which can easily cause a broken or chipped tooth. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic! There are many ways your dentist can help out!
- Once a broken or chipped tooth is broken, be sure to make an appointment with your dentist before the tooth is damaged further or becomes infected. Before the appointment, here are some tips to ease the pain:
- If the tooth is painful, take acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, or other over-the-counter pain relievers. Rinsing with salt water can keep you less susceptible to infection.
- If the chipped area is sharp or jagged, stick a piece of wax or sugarless gum to keep from cutting the tongue or other areas inside the mouth.
- Be sure to eat soft foods and avoid using the chipped or broken tooth.
Once it comes time to treating the tooth, it will depend on the severity of the damage. If only a small piece of enamel is broken off, the dentist may be able to fix it within one visit. The tooth may only need a filling or bonding, which is a procedure in which the dentist will shape a tooth-colored resin to look like a natural tooth.
If it is badly broken, the tooth can be covered with a crown, which is a tooth shaped cap made to protect the tooth and improve its appearance. Permanent crowns can either be made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, all resin, or all ceramic, each with their own pluses. Metal crowns are known to be the strongest, however, porcelain and resin crowns are more aesthetically pleasing and can be made to look more like the original tooth.
When a front tooth is broken, dentists can insert a dental veneer, which is a thin shell of tooth-colored porcelain or resin composite material. The veneer will make teeth look brand new, whole and healthy again. However, if a tooth chip is large enough to expose the center of the tooth, also know as the pulp, bacteria can easily infect this area. Root Canal therapy may be necessary, which involves taking out the dead pulp, cleaning the root canal, and then finally sealing it.
If you find you have a cracked tooth, it would be a good idea to chat with your dentist about Cracked Tooth Syndrome, which is when one has cracks either under the gum, or cracks too small to see on x-rays. Generally, symptoms are heat/cold sensitivity, pain that comes and goes (unlike a cavity), and occasionally, pus under the gum.
If you believe that you have chipped or broken your tooth, Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group will be happy to answer your questions about ways to go about fixing the tooth. Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment and consultation.
Source:
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Partners
Dr. Ejaz and Dr. Femina Ali have a strong desire to provide the very best that dentistry has to offer, and have a combined 40 years of clinical experience to meet that commitment! Graduates of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Drs. Ali and Ali have become recognized leaders in cosmetic, implant, and restorative dentistry. In order to remain on the leading edge of dental technologies and techniques, their personal commitment includes hundreds of hours each year in advanced dental training. Drs. Ali and Ali consistently stay up to date on the most current techniques including procedures in restorative, TMJ, sedation, implant and laser dentistry.
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