During a regular checkup, the hygienist can often tell whether you are right- handed or left-handed simply by identifying the location of plaque build-up on your teeth. Depending on which hand you use to brush your teeth, some areas are likely to be brushed more rigorously than others. In addition, most people tend to… Read More…

A comprehensive oral exam involves both an examination of the teeth and a close inspection of the soft tissues of the mouth. One condition the dentist or hygientist will be looking for are “leukoplakia.” This generic term applies to any type of white patch that occurs inside the mouth that cannot be… Read More…

Do you still have your third molars, or “wisdom teeth”? Or have they been removed? You may wonder why we have them if they’re just going to come out anyway. Good question! The fact is that modern humans really don’t have a need for wisdom teeth. Our diet has changed… Read More…

During a regular checkup, the hygienist can often tell whether you are right- handed or left-handed simply by identifying the location of plaque build-up on your teeth. Depending on which hand you use to brush your teeth, some areas are likely to be brushed more rigorously than others. In addition, most people tend to… Read More…

Approved for use in food in the United States since 1963, the sugar substitute xylitol has already been proven to have decay-fighting ability as an ingredient in chewing gum among school-age children with permanent teeth. More recently, researchers have found that much younger children, who received eight grams of xylitol daily in syrup form,… Read More…

Once a tooth is extracted, the dentist likes to see good healing that leads to bone formation. Otherwise, poor healing may lead to excessive bone loss that compromises the patient’s ability to accept a dental prosthetic or implant. Consequently, there is reason to cheer a recent study that shows that… Read More…

One villain responsible for tooth decay is the bacterium streptococcus mutans, which breaks down sugar and produces the sticky molecules (glucans) that are responsible for allowing bacteria to cling to our teeth. This villainous bacterium also produces enamel-eroding acid responsible for cavities. The heroes that counter these effects are called “polyphenols,” which are found in… Read More…

Each year, dentists treat millions of cavities that result from the enameleating acids emitted by sugar-eating bacteria missed by flossing and brushing. While drilling out tooth decay and filling cavities with amalgam or composite fillings has proven extremely effective in preserving the remaining healthy tooth structure, patients often wish they could somehow magically eliminate any… Read More…

It hardly comes as a surprise that cosmetic, or aesthetic, dentistry has grown to be so popular among patient. After all, straight, white teeth are as essential to appearance as nice skin and coiffed hair. The most sought-after procedure is tooth-whitening, which can be performed in-office, at home, or a combination. The most… Read More…

A serious potential consequence of periodontal (advanced inflammation or infection of the gums) is tooth loss due to jaw-bone shrinkage and damage. The latest effort to counter this threat comes in the form of a drug called teriparatide, which has recently been proven to regrow bone in jaws. According to one study, patients with… Read More…