Remain Proactive with Mouthguard Maintenance

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Athletic related dental injuries such as cracked/fractured teeth, knocked out teeth, jawbone breaks, and oral tissue abrasions lead to over 600,000 emergency room visits each year. This is according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If you play a sport competitively or recreationally, the Moreno Valley dentists at Moreno Valley Dentistry highly recommend that you use an athletic mouthguard to prevent such injuries. However, that’s just one part of the story. Just like your teeth, you need to take proper care of your mouthguard so it doesn’t cause other dental issues on its own. (more…)

Why Bother Replacing Missing Teeth?

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More people than ever are able to enjoy a full and healthy grin in spite of any oral health issues they may have had in the past. Advances in dental technology have paved the way for innovative dental treatments, including cosmetic dentistry treatments such as teeth whitening and porcelain dental veneers. Cosmetic options allow you to cover up or treat embarrassing imperfections that may otherwise give people the wrong impression and diminish your self-confidence.

Other advancements have made it feasible for almost anyone to replace one or more missing teeth which have been lost to infection or damage, allowing patients to smile confidently again. Restoring a lost tooth, however, is more important than merely feeling attractive. One lost tooth can wreak havoc on what remains of your dental health, and can even lead to further tooth loss in the future. The Corona dentists at Dental Associates of Corona will explain the importance of replacing missing teeth.

Reasons to Replace a Smile Lost

Some patients may choose not to bother replacing missing teeth, believing that a gap or two in their smile is no big deal. The truth is, leaving your smile incomplete can lead to more serious dental issues down the line. Among problems that can stem from missing teeth are:

  • Facial Collapse: The sunken-cheek appearance which follows unattended tooth loss is known as facial collapse. If the missing tooth is in the back (a molar, for instance) you may be tempted to leave it as is. After all, it can’t be noticed when you smile, anyway. However, when you lose a tooth, your jawbone begins to deteriorate because it is not receiving as many nutrients as it once was to support the tooth. Over time, this deterioration will become noticeable in the shrunken look of facial collapse.
  • Nutrition Limitations: When your gumline is not completely filled with teeth, eating certain foods becomes difficult. Crunchy fruits and vegetables, as well as other nutrient-rich foods, can become nearly impossible to masticate. Eating any food can feel uncomfortable, and general loss of appetite is common among tooth-loss patients who can no longer enjoy their favorite delicacies.
  • Shifting Teeth—The loss of a tooth is registered by your other teeth. Occlusion (the way your upper and lower teeth fit together) is affected when remaining teeth begin to shift towards the empty socket to take up the slack. Malocclusion can lead to excessive wear on your remaining teeth as well as problems with your jaw muscles and joints.

Visit your Corona Dentists

Even if you can live with one or more missing teeth, you may be concerned with a completely destroyed smile if you do not replace them. To learn more about your options for replacing teeth, or to schedule a consultation, checkup, or cleaning, call Dental Associates of Corona today at 951-273-9580.

Drool Away: The Importance of Saliva

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is secreted from several different glands which are located throughout the mouth. This bodily fluid may seem impolite culturally, but saliva contributes to a wide range of bodily functions. (more…)

Filling you in with a Cavity Quiz

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Since you are examined for cavities at each of your six month dental checkups, you probably figure you know all there is to know about tooth decay. The Corona dentists at Dental Associates of Corona would like to challenge you, however, and see if you really are an expert on the dental infection better known as cavities.

Questions

Q1. True or False – Sugar is the leading cause of cavities.

Q2. True or False – The first sign of a tooth decay is severe pain.

Q3. True or False – Untreated cavities require tooth extraction. (more…)

Try this Smile Makeover Quiz

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If you envy the straight, white smiles of celebrities, friends, or family, perhaps you wish to emulate them. Are you curious about how cosmetic dentistry can enhance your smile for the better? Cosmetic dentistry is not just for the rich and famous. All types of people improve their smiles with cosmetic dental procedures. The Riverside dentists at Riverside Dental Group offer a wide range of cosmetic dental services to all of our patients. Have you wondered if cosmetic dentistry is the right choice for you?  A smile makover is a combination of just the right dental procedures to fit your needs.Try this true-or-false quiz and find out more about smile makeovers.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Professional teeth whitening involves clinical strength bleach. (more…)

Oral-Systemic Health Evidence for the Elderly

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The concept of oral-systemic health (an oral and overall health connection) has barely been uncovered by scientists. All over the world, time and money have been dedicated to scientific research which shows compelling evidence that the various germs in our mouths responsible for periodontal disease and cavities could very well contribute to life-threatening health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and strokes. New York University (NYU) scientists have uncovered more compelling data implicating periodontal disease in Alzheimer’s disease. (more…)

Bad Dental Habits to Avoid

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You probably know how important it is to keep your smile strong and healthy. Even with the most dedicated dental hygiene routine, every day factors sometimes work against your efforts toward maintaining your oral health. People tend to be creatures of habit. Some of your bad habits may prove detrimental to the integrity of your teeth without you even realizing it. The Moreno Valley dentists at Moreno Valley Dentistry want to make sure you are aware of some of the habits most damaging to your oral health. (more…)

A Lollipop to Stop Cavities

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Kids love lollipops. Unfortunately, with a normal hard candy, pure sugar sits on teeth as the confection is sucked on and consumed over a longer period of time. By feeding the bacteria which create acid, tooth enamel weakens and teeth can become easily infected with decay. Imagine if there were a candy you could give to the children in your life without concern that you were promoting cavities. One amazing discovery called Keep 32 is working on a candy which might actually stop cavities. (more…)