Reconstructive Dentistry Turns Damaged Teeth Into Brilliant Smiles

Reconstructive dentistry has improved the quality of life for countless dental patients. A dentist in the Jacksonville, FL area that specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry can eliminate serious dental problems caused by ageing, heredity or accident. It just isn’t easy to enjoy life when a tooth, bone or muscle is making it difficult to smile, breathe, chew or speak normally. Reconstructive dentistry can eliminate pain and restore normal function to your mouth.

Among the many dental problems that can be resolved with the aid of reconstructive dentistry include:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Damaged teeth or bones due to injury
• Decay of gums, teeth or jaw
• Genetic speech impairment
• Jaw injuries
• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)
• Overcrowding

Insurance Coverage

Although many insurance companies will not pay for cosmetic procedures such as tooth whitening, most insurance companies provide coverage for reconstructive procedures. While cosmetic surgery is primarily aesthetic in nature, reconstructive dentistry has the potential to restore essential functions such as chewing or speaking without pain. Nevertheless, reconstructive dentistry frequently improves a patient’s appearance. Several common reconstructive procedures are:

Dentures
• Dental implants
• Root canal
• Dental crowns

Modern Dentistry

The dental profession is meeting the unique needs of older patients. Dental procedures to repair or replace worn and missing teeth are now commonplace. Missing or damaged teeth can have a dramatic effect on mouth tissue and bone. As we age, our teeth become worn down. Worn teeth can now be lengthened and rounded to make them as good as new. Even a single worn or damaged tooth can negatively impact the health and alignment of nearby teeth.

Many reconstructive dentists combine cosmetic and reconstructive procedures to restore the health and appearance of dental patients. They often employ porcelain veneers to revitalize worn teeth. Extremely thin veneers can be used to restore the size, shape, spacing and shade of worn or damaged teeth. The patient can even select the shade of their new custom-made teeth.

Sedation Dentistry

These days, reconstructive dentistry is performed while the patient is in a state of conscious sedation. Serious dental issues can be caused by trauma, genetics, aging or poor oral hygiene. When the normal function of the mouth is impaired by a serious dental condition, reconstructive dentistry becomes a medical necessity. Teeth can literally be reconstructed through the use of composite materials and modern dental techniques. Otherwise, healthy teeth may be provided with additional support to prevent future damage, or a bridge may need to be rebuilt or repaired to promote oral health.

When necessary, a reconstructive dentist can provide a patient with a full or partial set of dentures. It’s not at all uncommon for someone to endure the inconvenience of missing teeth for many years. Fortunately, the use of dental implants can restore normal chewing capacity and improve the overall health of a patient. Unfortunately, there are instances when a severe accident necessitates the complete reconstruction of a patient’s mouth. Advanced dentistry techniques can perform miraculous transformations to improve the quality of life for an accident or abuse victim.

David and Associates is a cosmetic and implant dental office specializing in dental restoration and the creation of brilliant smiles. The reconstructive dentistry specialists and support staff at David and Associates look forward to serving anyone that needs a quality dentist in the Jacksonville, FL area.

Healthy Family Dentistry Involves Oral Cancer Screening

When people are concerned about their oral health, they don't normally think of being screened for oral cancer in addition to normal checkups and cleanings. Unfortunately, oral cancer is a very real disease, and screening is the best way to prevent and detect before it's too late.

Healthy family dentistry is all about making sure everyone in your family has proper oral hygiene. This includes screening for oral cancer. This quick, non-invasive procedure simply involves an oral examination of the gums, inner cheeks and teeth of the patient to check for anything abnormal. It’s painless and can be performed right along with any other dental work, including checkups, x-rays, cleanings and other procedures.

The reason why oral cancer screening is rising in urgency is due to the fact that most patients don't even know they have the disease until it has spread to other areas of the body and is nearly impossible to treat. In fact, the five year survival rate after discovering a spreading oral cancer is only 50 percent. Caught early, survival rates are much higher. A great dentist in Jacksonville FL understands the need to check for oral cancer for the overall health of their patients, so any threat can be caught early on.

Another reason for the increase in oral cancer screenings is the number of people being diagnosed each year with the disease. Oral cancer used to be a rare form of cancer that afflicted mainly heavy drinkers and smokers, but a recent connection with HPV is believed to be causing the numbers to rise in oral cancer patients. Every year, 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer, which is an alarming rate of increase.

Patients can make sure they are screened for oral cancer when they get their normal checkups and cleanings. A quality dentist in Jacksonville FL can use their expertise and skill to check certain areas of the mouth for signs of oral cancer quickly and discreetly. There is no pain, little discomfort, and the procedure can be done right along with other dental procedures. Since oral cancer is difficult to treat once it has spread, these simple screenings for oral cancer can make a huge difference and even save lives.

With good oral hygiene, healthy family dentisty and proper screenings, a patient can know if they have oral cancer sooner than ever before. Painless, quick and potentially life-saving, oral cancer screening is something that every person should think about when it comes to oral health. A simple screening can make a huge difference in a patient's health, and can help catch oral cancer before it spreads to other areas of the body.

Words of “Wisdom” from Jacksonville Florida Dentists: Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

One of the most frequently posed questions to a Jacksonville Florida dentist is, “Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?” If you do just a little research, you will find conflicting information about whether or not wisdom teeth should be removed. So, here is a guide that will tell you everything you need to know about wisdom teeth.

What Are They?

Wisdom Teeth are the last set of teeth that humans grow, and they are the very last teeth in the jaw. A final set of molars, wisdom teeth usually sprout at the end of puberty. Most people’s wisdom teeth come in between the ages of 17 and 22.

The problem with wisdom teeth is that they are not really necessary. Like the appendix, they are an unnecessary part of the anatomy that is left over from earlier versions of human beings. Back before humans had tools to cut their food, they had to do an awful lot of chewing to digest their food. This required a bigger, stronger jaw that had room for wisdom teeth. However, now our jaw sizes have shrunk as the need to chew has drastically diminished. Unfortunately, wisdom teeth still exist.

The Problem With Wisdom Teeth

Because wisdom teeth were designed for the older, larger human jaw, they do not fit in the more recent, smaller jaws that we have. This means they often come in crooked or push into existing teeth. This can cause other teeth to go crooked, and it can lead to a lot of pain as well as infection.

Because of this, specialists in cosmetic dentistry in Florida sometimes recommend that everyone get their wisdom teeth removed when they come in. This has been the standard course of treatment for several decades.

However, new evidence shows that wisdom teeth removal may do more harm than good in some instances. The procedure can be very painful, and it can lead to complications such as infections. For some people with large jaws, the wisdom teeth will not have any kind of negative effect on the rest of their teeth. People like this can avoid the pain, expense and hassle of having their wisdom teeth removed.

It Helps

For the vast majority of patients, the removal of their wisdom teeth will be beneficial. Any professional of cosmetic dentistry in Florida can remove the wisdom teeth with a minimum of pain. Removing the wisdom teeth will ensure that they do not have a chance to overcrowd the jaw, which can lead to crooked teeth and excessive pain.

Also, if wisdom teeth are not removed, they can sometimes become infected. If this infection gets into the bloodstream, it can lead to life-threatening problems. Therefore, it is important for anyone who has wisdom teeth to get them checked by a Jacksonville Florida dentist. Even if your wisdom teeth have never given you any problems, you should check with a professional to be sure that they will not lead to any complications down the road.

You need your teeth for life. Take care of them by getting your wisdom teeth checked out. It could save you from a lot of pain, and it could even save your life.

Answers from Jacksonville Florida Dentists: “Does Bleaching Damage Your Teeth?”

Do a quick Google search and enter the words Jacksonville Florida dentist or cosmetic dentistry Florida, and it becomes clear David and Associates knows a thing or two in this sector. As cosmetic and implant dentistry experts in the Sunshine State, we are asked a myriad of questions by patients and prospective patients on a variety of topics. Yet one subject tends to stand out amongst the rest in terms of frequency and popularity—and that is teeth bleaching. It seems everyone wants to know how it works and, perhaps more importantly, “Will the process damage my teeth?”

In fact, teeth bleaching does not “damage” teeth. Often confused with “negative effects” of the process, teeth bleaching can sometimes heightens sensitivity in the gums and teeth while the process is occurring, however, the normal sensitivity range returns once whitening is completed. Contrary to popular myths circulating out there in the public sector, teeth bleaching causes no damage to the tooth structure, nor does it make the teeth weaker. The heightened sensitivity is simply what’s known as an “oxidation reaction” where electrons are exchanged.

Interestingly, the pursuit of super-white teeth dates back thousands of years – not just since the average public has been smitten by the look after sensationalized shows such as The Real Housewives Of… or Vegas Bad Girls made flashing sexy smiles all the rage. In fact, the National Museum of Dentistry has said ancient Greeks and early Renaissance Europeans applied mixtures and chemicals such as full-strength bleach to their teeth for the purpose of making them gleam. However, these legends also told of instances when the individuals would damage and lose their teeth in this ancient whitening procedure, and it may be from these annals of history that such rumors came to pass about damaged teeth from bleaching.

Fast-forward to circa 2000. Solutions such as teeth whitening strips found their way onto the market with a bleaching solution in a much safer and less-painful way than in Renaissance times, at least. Still, the question has been raised even in the midst of this phenomenon, “Do teeth whitening strips damage the teeth?” According to the American Dental Association (ADA), both over-the-counter and whitening products purchased from dental offices are “mostly safe and effective.” Some products are even eligible for the SDA Seal of Acceptance. There have been reports, though, of whitening agents in these strips causing gum irritation and tooth pain and/or sensitivity. What is paramount to consider in these situations is whether or not an individual patient’s teeth will respond to whitening strips or another method of bleaching. Dentists such as those practicing with David and Associates in Jacksonville can study tooth discoloration and recommend the most effective whitening path to take. Further, it has been established that gray and brown-tinged teeth often times won’t respond as well and sometimes not at all to whitening strips while yellow-stained tooth surfaces more often improve with bleaching.

But, studies of the effectiveness of whitening strips as a whole show that they do brighten and whiten smiles for most users, and at a cost ranging from less than $10 to about $30 for drugstore-branded whitening strips—and most well under $100 for strips sold through Jacksonville Florida dentist offices. Because whitening options are readily available, millions of individuals on a worldwide basis are “bleaching away” without worry. For more information on teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry in Florida, visit drjoeldavid.com.

Tooth Sensitivity: Information and Advice from a Jacksonville Florida Dentist

We've all been there. You bite into an apple and feel a sudden ache, or you're brushing your teeth and they start to hurt for no apparent reason. You can't see any cavities and you haven't suffered any blows to the mouth. So what's the problem?

Tooth sensitivity affects one in eight Americans. Many people brush it off as a non-event, but it isn't actually a joke; in fact, it can be an indication of serious problems, like gum disease or tooth decay.

But how do you know when you should worry, when you can simply switch toothpastes and when you should start thinking about more serious options, like an appointment with a Jacksonville Florida dentist? Here are some basic facts to consider about tooth sensitivity.

Causes

It's a common misconception that you must have a cavity if your teeth start to hurt. Cosmetic dentistry in Florida actually reports that most sensitivity is caused by a breakdown in enamel, AKA the tissue protecting your teeth from the elements. Under the enamel is a substance called dentine, which is connected to the nerves of your mouth by a series of tubules. If your enamel thins or wears away, your dentine is exposed to air, cold and pressure, thus sending signals through your tubules that are interpreted as pain.

It doesn't take much stimulation to hurt your dentine. Remember, it's spent your entire life being protected by your enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. When dentine loses that cover, it is shocked and pained to be suddenly confronted with, say, ice cream.

Symptoms

Tooth sensitivity can come in any forms. Most patients report a dull aching sensation that seems to be everywhere and nowhere; others may consider it more of a stabbing or stinging. A strong sign of tooth sensitivity, as opposed to just a cracked tooth, is when multiple teeth are affected at once.

Other Potential Problems

If you think your enamel is fine, try taking a look at your gums. Are they receding from your teeth? Do they look discolored or inflamed in any way? Certain gum diseases can erode cementum, the stuff covering the roots of your teeth. As you can probably guess, exposed roots aren't any fun at all.

Other possible causes of tooth sensitivity include teeth grinding, teeth bleaching and the consumption of acidic foods. You may have also broken a filling or cracked a crown.

If you can't see any apparent reason for your tooth sensitivity, consider consulting a dentist instead of sleuthing it out on your own. There may be a deeper problem at work, and if you poke around too much without knowing what you're doing, you may wind up needing cosmetic dentistry in Florida!

Treatment

Stopping your tooth sensitivity depends on what's causing it. For example, if you're grinding your teeth while you sleep, buying a mouth guard will protect you from your nocturnal habit. If you've just been brushing too hard, you can switch to a softer toothbrush.

The bad news about enamel is that it can't be replaced. Once it's gone, there's no recovering it. The good news is that there's plenty you can do to strengthen and protect what you have left. Make an appointment with a Jacksonville Florida dentist and talk to them about special toothpastes and fluoride gels that are designed to help patients suffering from tooth sensitivity. Remember, you're far from alone in this problem. Your dentist can help!

Jacksonville Florida Dentists Dimystify Dental Implants

A Comprehensive Overview Of Dental Implants

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are titanium, root-like devices that are used to replace missing teeth. In many cases, dental implants are the best choice for replacing missing teeth. The vast majority of people with missing teeth are considered good candidates for dental implants.

Am I A Good Candidate For Dental Implants?

If you want to get dental implants, then you should see a dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry Florida. A Jacksonville Florida dentist will perform a thorough examination in order to determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. Keep in mind that there are a few issues that may prevent you from getting dental implants including the following:

Uncontrolled Diabetes

If you have uncontrolled diabetes, then your chances of suffering an infection after dental surgery will be greater. You may also have problems healing.

Periodontal Disease

You will need to get treatment before you get dental implants if you have periodontal disease. Your Jacksonville Florida dentist may refer you to a periodontist.

Certain Medications

Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may increase your risk of bleeding. They may also slow down the healing process. If you take one of those medications, then you will be asked to discontinue them before you get surgery.

Insufficient Bone Mass

You must have a sufficient amount of bone in the area to anchor the implant. The dentist may choose to perform a bone graft in order to ensure that the implant will adhere.

Smoking

Smoking decreases blood circulation, which can interfere with the healing process. It can also increase the risk of infection.

Pros of Dental Implants

There are several benefits that you can reap from getting dental implants. Below are some of those benefits:

• Look and feel natural—No one will be able to tell that you are wearing dental implants.
• Improved speech
• Improved self-esteem—You will be able to smile with confidence.
• Look younger—Missing teeth can cause your jaw line to sag, which can cause you to look older. Dental implants can help restore your youthful appearance.
• Long lasting—Dental implants can last anywhere from 20 to 25 years.
• Easier to eat

Cons Of Dental Implants

Even though there are a number of benefits to getting dental implants, it is important to remember that they do have their disadvantages. Below are some of those disadvantages:

• Expensive—Cosmetic dentistry in Florida is not cheap. The cost of getting dental implants can vary from dentist to dentist, but you can expect to pay at least $2,100 for a single implant. Dental insurance can offset some of the cost, but you will most likely have to pay for a portion of this procedure out of pocket.
• Pain—You will be given anesthesia before your dental implant surgery. However, you can expect to experience some pain after you get this surgery. This pain may linger for a few weeks.
• Complications—Just like any other procedure, dental implant surgery has its risks. Infection, sinus problems and bone loss are some of the potential complications.

Dentists in Jacksonville Warn Habits and Food May Be Staining Your Teeth

Want a bright and sparkling smile? Common foods and drinks can contain natural pigments that slyly grab on to your tooth enamel and invade your tooth’s protective barrier. This can seriously derail your quest for striking white teeth. Dentists in Jacksonville offer expert advice on everyday habits and foods that can stain your teeth and strain your smile. Learn about these culprits so that you can lower your risk, and keep your pearly whites gleaming.

Tobacco

Smoking causes terrible stains and is public enemy number one to teeth. Teeth stained by nicotine will eventually turn a dingy brown. The best way to stop nicotine stains is to quit smoking. If that isn’t feasible, try chewing sugar free gum the minute you finish a cigarette. This will help swish away the nicotine and reduce your risk.

Wine

If red wine can stain your carpet, rest assured it has the potential to stain your teeth. White wine is extremely acidic and can also lead to teeth stains. Experts recommend drinking wine fairly quickly. The longer wine lingers in your mouth, the more your teeth are exposed to stains.

Coffee and Tea

A lot of folks love their caffeine addiction. Several cups a day can cause significant discoloration on white teeth. Black tea is even worse than coffee, since it is rich in tannins that promote teeth staining. Try drinking less of these stain-producing beverages, or dilute them with milk to reduce the risk.

Soda, Cola and Sports Drinks

Soda and sports drinks can be very acidic. The acidity level is so intense that it compares to battery acid. Yikes. Imagine acid on your teeth, eroding your enamel and opening the pores. Your teeth will quickly become much more susceptible to staining. To make your teeth happy, drink water. If you can’t possibly give up soda, energy drinks or the like, always use a straw to limit the liquid’s contact with your teeth.

Berries

Many types of brightly colored berries such as blueberries, blackberries, cherries, dark grapes and others can cause teeth stains. Intensely pigmented molecules in these fruits stick to tooth enamel. To offset the staining effect, swish your mouth with water after eating, and be sure to brush and floss.

Sauces

They may be yummy, but intensely colored sauces such as tomato, soy and curry can stain your teeth. As with berries, rinse your mouth after consuming to lessen staining.

Candy and Sweets

Hard candies, popsicles, lollipops and other colored and sugary sweets can stain your lips, your tongue and your teeth. Luckily, if you don’t chomp on these treats regularly, your risk is minimal.

For a confidant smile, it’s important to keep your teeth clean by brushing, flossing and rinsing frequently. If teeth are already stained, dentists in Jacksonville can help you with comprehensive teeth cleaning and whitening.

Porcelain veneers are another option for badly stained teeth. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that the dentist uses to restore the look of your natural teeth. The bond between the tooth and the porcelain veneer is critical to ensure correct function. Resin is placed between the original tooth and the veneer and hardened with a special curing light. Porcelain veneers can be a very successful option to change your grin from rather ghastly to simply great. For more details visit-  www.drjoeldavid.com