To have a smile that you really enjoy showing to the world, you likely want to have teeth that are straight.  That doesn’t mean you have to have a perfect set of choppers, but you probably don’t want to have pointing in different directions.  Typically, to straighten teeth, you would think to call the orthodontist straight away.  But now, your Ft. Lauderdale cosmetic dentist can be a different source from which to obtain a straight, glowing smile.

If you’ve got teeth that are overly crowded, you may have front teeth that are scrunched together, or even overlapping one another.  On the other side of the spectrum, there are teeth that are too widely spaced apart, causing gaps.  Other issues that can be helped with orthodontics are an underbite, an overbite, or a crossbite.  But here’s what a lot of adults think:  “I sure don’t want to wear braces.  Those are for gawky teenagers!” 

So here’s the good news.  Your Ft. Lauderdale dentist can help you determine if you need orthodontics.  Your Ft. Lauderdale cosmetic dentist can help you determine if you can use Invisalign to straighten out rogue teeth.  If the problems you have center around any of the above-mentioned issues, then you are likely a good candidate for this type of technique.  That means that with the help of your Ft. Lauderdale dentist, you can be on your way to a smile you want to show off.

Invisalign, like traditional braces, can be worn by just about anyone.  Age is not a factor here.  Adults and kids alike wear Invisalign for an undetectable teeth-straightening system.  That’s the advantage that Invisalign offers; people will hardly be able to notice if you are wearing them.  There are no wires or brackets, which means that there isn’t an obvious device in your mouth.  It also means that you will not experience the standard irritations that go along with traditional braces. 

Here’s the think about Invisalign that one needs to be aware of:  the clear plastic device works great…but you have to wear it.  The device is removable.  While this is great because it allows you to enjoy eating, drinking and regular teeth-brushing, it can also result in instances where you are tempted to leave the device out.  As your Ft. Lauderdale cosmetic dentist would tell you, wearing Invisalign is the way to straight teeth; keyword being wear.

As mentioned, Invisalign is basically a series of custom designed, clear plastic aligners. Each set is removable; each designed to be worn for a period of two weeks.  Within that time frame, your teeth will gradually begin to shift into the straight smile you desire.  Most of the time, the entire course of treatment is completed in under a year.  However, this is best determined by your Ft. Lauderdale dentist.  Based on your dental condition, you will find out just how long your course of Invisalign will take.

Sure, you could opt for traditional braces; but over half a million people have chosen to go the Invisalign route so far since this method has been introduced.  The main goal is to get the smile you’ve always wanted.  Invisalign is just one way to get there; a popular one!

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Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can be a real pain.  Truth of the matter is, the vast majority of people will have to have their wisdom teeth extracted at some point in time.  For most of us, the recommendation brings with it some uncertainty and some anxiety, as with anything relating to oral surgery.  Asking questions of your Fort Lauderdale dentist is the best way prepare yourself for a visit to the Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon you have been referred to.

While a Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon can extract wisdom teeth at any point, the older a patient is when they undergo the procedure can play a part in both the surgery and the recovery.  Typically, the younger the age of the patient going through a wisdom teeth extraction, the lower the risk of complications.  The results of studies conducted on the issue show a lower number of complications related to the procedure as well as the healing process in patients younger than their mid-twenties.  Most of the time, it is during the time of a patient’s teens to mid-twenties that their Fort Lauderdale dentist recommends wisdom teeth extraction.

While your Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon will not want to wait too long to take out wisdom teeth, they also won’t want to do it too early either.  Yes, there is a time that your wisdom teeth are ripe for the picking.  Trying to take wisdom teeth out too early can be difficult because if the teeth are not developed enough, they will be difficult to manipulate.  This is why it isn’t until late teens to mid-twenties that this type of extraction is recommended.

During the time your Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon is extracting your wisdom teeth, you will be sedated.  You won’t know at all what is going on; you will drift off to sleep and then wake up in the recovery room.  Although your oral surgeon will sedate you, you will also receive numbing medication to control pain.  After your procedure, you will be given a prescription for pain medication to get you through the recovery process.

Before your procedure, your dentist will assess the benefits and risks to the extraction.  Typically, the benefits outweigh the risks by leaps and bounds.  Leaving wisdom teeth in place can result in pain and swelling; even infection.  However, you need to know both the pros and the cons.

One of the most common complications experienced after wisdom tooth extractions is a “dry socket”.  Technically this is alveolar osteitis.  The longstanding belief is that dry sockets happen for one of two reasons:  either an adequate blood clot did not form in the socket of the extracted tooth or the blood clot that did form has come out.  The blood clot is a critical part of healing, so losing the blood clot can sometimes delay the healing process.  While this is a common complication, it isn’t necessarily considered a risk and therefore is not a reason to leave wisdom teeth in place.

Barbara Fife has been a dental assistant and lecturer on oral health. Her experience on dental hygiene and treatment, has inspired her to write great articles to inform people on proper oral and dental care.

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Your smile is your greeting to the world.  Every single day, you encounter people to whom you may want to extend a warm welcome.  You may have introductions through work or friends; presentations to give, or things that just make you want to laugh out loud.  All of this requires a mouth that you don’t try to cover up.

You see your Plantation dentist for all of your dental needs.  A Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist isn’t quite the same.  This is a dentist that will take a look at your mouth in a different way as does your Plantation dentist. It comes down to need vs. want; although one could argue how much a good healthy smile is just a desire and not a necessity to get through life. 

One of the things your Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist can do to help you love your smile is to correct chips that may have occurred over time.  This is done through veneers that your Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist adhesively bonds to effected teeth.   Veneers do not replace your tooth; they are a conservative way to correct problem areas while still leaving the majority of the natural tooth structure intact.

Another way to repair chipped or broken teeth is through a procedure called composite bonding.  In this procedure performed by your Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist, a dental composite material that looks like enamel and dentin is applied into a cavity or onto the surface of a tooth.  It is then sculpted into shape, contoured and hardened with a high-intensity light. What you are left with t is a restoration that blends without any lines with the remainder of the surrounding tooth structure and the rest of your natural teeth.  This leads to a healthy, bright smile.

By now you have no doubt heard about teeth whitening procedures.   It is even possible that your traditional Plantation dentist offers the service of teeth whitening at this time, since it is such a popular procedure. However, if that is not the case, then a cosmetic dentist could quickly and conveniently improve the brightness of your smile with the latest teeth whitening technology.  Why wait weeks for a brighter smile when you can get one after a short time in the dentist’s chair?

While your traditional dentist will fill cavities, a cosmetic dentist can apply inlays/onlays.  Actually, these aren’t just applied, they are actually made to fit your tooth perfectly.  Some traditional dentists may perform this service, but it still falls under the cosmetic dentistry category because inlays/onlays are only sometimes considered necessary.  Typically, traditional fillings are all that would be deemed necessary.  But the inlay/onlay is said to last longer and the look of it is much cleaner and more natural than a silver filling.

A great smile is essential.  Luckily, it really isn’t so hard to come by.  If you are like most people who tend to put off dental visits out of fear, just ask your dentist for a little something to take away your anxiety.  Most dentists have a relaxant, and some even offer full sedation so you can rest easy while your dental needs are tended to.

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It’s no secret that the vast majority of people are more than a little hesitant when it comes to seeing their dentist.  For this reason, most of us tend to let our regular checkups slip, oftentimes for several years.  If you fall into the category of those who fear dental work, and live in the Ft. Lauderdale area, there is a good chance you can find a Fort Lauderdale dentist who offers sedation dentistry.  This way you can work on your oral hygiene in the best possible way, and thus put your best smile out there for the world to see.

Aside from seeing a Fort Lauderdale dentist for regular checkups and actual dental issues, you can also improve the look and feel of your smile by paying a visit to a Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist as well as your regular dentist.  The difference between the two is that one handles all of your dental needs, while the other handles the things you want to improve; but don’t actually cause a problem.  Unless you are one who hides their smile because you wish it looked better.  That is one heck of an issue!

Cosmetic dentistry wasn’t always widely practiced.  Your Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist has likely incorporated new technologies just in the past several years; that’s how much the industry changes with time.  The advances that your Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist gets to take advantage of result in natural-looking teeth for you; even if what you have is a mouthful of veneers.

Depending on your specific clinical situation, your Fort Lauderdale dentist will act conservatively to improve your smile.  There is no need to fear sitting that dentist chair for a full mouth makeover these days.  There are so many things you can take advantage of that will maintain the natural structure of your teeth and improve your look.

Probably the most widely used cosmetic dentistry service is that of teeth whitening.   Through the things that we eat and drink; such as coffee, tea and red wine, we set up an environment that allows staining to take place.  Over time, things like smoking and coffee drinking turn your teeth yellow. This can be a little or a lot.  Either way, if you want a brighter smile with whiter teeth, all you have to do is take advantage of the technology of teeth whitening.  In just a few minutes, you will be well on your way to the smile you want to show off.

Veneers are also widely used to correct and repair cracks that occur over time.  While it can sometimes be a little tricky to match up the color of enamel, especially if you have had excessive tooth whitening, the advanced technology today makes a color match much more possible.

The bottom line is that there is no need to go through your life with the habit of hiding your smile.  If you are one who covers your mouth when you smile or laugh, make the jump into cosmetic dentistry and free yourself to show off the beauty that shines through.

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Surgical procedures are something you may typically envision taking place in a hospital, possibly much later in life.  When it comes right down to it, surgery isn’t a word many of us really like to utter when referring to ourselves and a possible experience we may have.  Pair the apprehension about surgery with the word dental and you’ve got a good cocktail for anxiety. 

Oral surgery is really nothing to fear.  If you are in the position of looking ahead to some oral surgery, the best thing you can do is talk to your Ft. Lauderdale dentist about the procedure until you have a good understanding of what you are facing.  It is likely that you have already been told why you require a visit to a recommended Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon; but until you have a full understanding, don’t stop asking questions.  This is what your dentist is there for, to help you go through whatever procedures are necessary for a healthy mouth.  If you don’t fully understand them, you may have the tendency to put them off.

Here, we will take a look at a few of the common oral surgical procedures that may be recommended by your Ft. Lauderdale dentist (and any other traditional dentist around the world).

Wisdom teeth extract is still one of the most common reasons you may find yourself sitting in the office of a Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon.  Your wisdom teeth are also called third molars.  These are the last set of teeth to develop, often not appearing until adulthood.  Every now and then, a patient experiences the emergence of their wisdom teeth without incident.  The teeth simply grow in and the jawline is able to support them with the necessary room.  However, most of the time, a Ft. Lauderdale oral surgeon is called in to extract these tricky teeth so they do not cause problems in a patients mouth.

Sometimes a dental patient has lost teeth and needs replacements.  Instead of jumping straight into dentures, something that can be extreme if only a few teeth are lost, dental implants may be recommended by your Ft. Lauderdale dentist.  An oral surgeon would then be consulted to determine if this is the best course of action.  Dental implants are tooth root substitutes and are surgically implanted into the jawbone.  This anchor stabilizes an artificial tooth that is attached to it.  In order for dental implants to work, the patient needs to have adequate bone level and density.  To maintain implants, a patient must then maintain very good oral hygiene; otherwise, infection could occur.

These are the two most common reasons why someone may need oral surgery sometime in their life.  Undergoing surgery can be an experience that brings on some stress, so it is important to be adequately prepared by asking any questions.  The fact that you will be asleep during a surgical procedure should work to ease nerves somewhat.  And considering the alternative of having pain in your mouth, getting a recommended procedure provides a more viable solution.

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If you’ve lost your teeth to tooth decay or injury, complete or partial dentures can help replace your missing teeth. You don’t have to go through embarrassing situations such as smiling with pursed lips or covering your mouth while you speak because you’ve lost all your teeth completely. Replacing your missing teeth with dentures improves your overall  appearance and your health.

Notice how the contour of the face changes when a person has a lot of missing teeth? The facial muscles sag because there’s no support from dentures. Plus, they find it difficult to talk and eat without the the support of artificial teeth.

Dentures comes in two types namely conventional full denture and immediate complete denture. Conventional full denture is intended to replace the missing teeth after all remaining teeth have been removed and the tissues have healed. Immediate dentures, on the other hand, are inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are extracted. With immediate dentures, you don’t have to be toothless during the healing period.

Dentures need special attentiion and same goes with your oral health. According to the American Dental Association, the following are some of the basic oral care procedures to ensure your dentures are in perfect condition and your gums are in the pink of health.

• Make sure that you brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning before you insert your dentures. This stimulates circulation in your gums.
• Dentures are delicate and fragile. Avoid dropping it on hard surfaces when you’re not wearing them.
• Regularly brush your dentures. This will lessen permanent stains and plaque. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures.
• Some people use ordinary hand soap and dish washing liquid to clean their dentures. These are accptable alternatives to regular dentures cleaning agents. Avoid using powdered cleansers and bleach as these are too abrasive on dentures.
• Do not let the dentures dry out when you’re not wearing them. It may get deformed as a result. Soak it in a dental cleanser solution or water instead.

Regular dental check-ups are also important. Your dentist needs to examine your dentures to see if they fit properly and if the dentures need to be relined, rebased or replaced due to normal wear. Loose and ill-fitting dentures breed infections and mouth sores. Any feeling of discomfort in your dentures should be examined by your dentist immediately. For more information about dentures and partials, consult with our Fort Lauderdale dentist for details.

Before, patients with special needs and other medical conditions find it difficult to receive dental treatment. Making them sit still on the dental chair for longer periods is a huge challenge for the treating dentist. Now, dental innovations in the special needs dentistry allow patients with disabilities needs to receive dental treatments like normal patients do. Sedation and sleep dentistry provide solutions to treat the once hard to treat patients with disabilities.

Patients with mental and developmental disabilities such as Down’s syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Cerebral Palsy and behavioral problems can undergo dental treatment by administering sedation or sleep dentistry. Each dental procedure is designed to meet the needs and goals of each patient. The treating dentist will conduct an evaluation of the patient’s dental health including mental and physical condition to determine which treatment applies to his case. Patients suffering from mild anxiety can undergo sedation dentistry treatment. This procedure involves putting the patient into a relaxed state by administering sedative drugs orally or intravenously. In the case of patients with special needs and disabilities, sleep dentistry treatment is more appropriate.

What is the difference between sedation and sleep dentistry?

Sedation and sleep dentistry are often interchanged in dental advertising. Sedation and sleep dentistry are forms of sedation dental treatments but the two are totally different methods. Sedation dentistry uses medications that will reduce the levels of anxiety during the treatment. The treating dentist will administer the sedative drug to put the patient in a deep state of relaxation. The patient will hardly recall the procedure but will remain awake and aware of his surroundings. On the other hand, sleep dentistry puts the patient in a deep level of sleep by administering general anesthesia. The patient has no recall of the procedure and unaware of his surroundings.

The treatment plan will have different level of sedation. In the case of sedation dentistry, the treating dentist can administer oral sedative drugs, use laughing gas or administer intravenous or intramuscular sedative medications. The same procedure applies to sleep dentistry; the dentist may administer general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The type of treatment depends on the needs of the patient. 

Not all dentists are qualified to practice sleep and sedation dentistry, that’s why it is important to choose the dentist carefully. In the Plantation area in the state of Florida for example, before any Fort Lauderdale dentist can administer general anesthesia, he has to have completed one year medical residency in general anesthesia in a hospital.  This is in addition to the training they received from the dental school. So before undertaking any sedation or sleep dentistry, inquire about your dentists’ education and level of training to see if he is indeed qualified to perform the specialized dental treatment.