Cigarettes are not the only form of tobacco available in the market today. Smokeless tobacco, hookah pipes and cigars are also to blame for many medical conditions. All these pose serious risks to your health.

Oral cancer is a silent and deadly killer. Since this disease progresses at a rapid rate, if detected too late it could be fatal. In addition to performing oral cancer screenings, your dentist will look for signs of nicotine stomatitis. The palate of a smoker will have patches that are red and white in color. Some studies suggest that this may progress to oral cancer after a significant period of time.

Smoking is a huge risk factor with regard to periodontal disease. A smoker is at an increased risk of developing gum problems. Most smokers will also notice that their gums have turned dark. This is a common occurrence for most tobacco users. The stain may fade in time if you stop smoking. However, it will never really return to the healthy shell pink color that it used to be.

Many smokers do not realize that their habit can slow down their healing process. After oral surgery, your dentist will inform you that it would be best if you did not smoke for at least one full day. If that does not motivate you to quit, you should also be informed that this particular vice can damage your gingival. This will cause gum recession and leave the roots of your teeth exposed. This also increases the risk of tooth decay and sensitivity to hot or cold food.

Smoking causes nicotine stains which will require intensive bleaching to remove. Then, there is also tartar build-up to think about. You will need to visit your dentist frequently to have the hardened plaque removed.

Your dentist understands that it may be hard for you to quit smoking. However, the negative side effects outweigh anything positive about tobacco products. If you have additional questions about the impact of smoking on your dental health, call 972-414-7195.

This treatment focuses on the health of the root’s pulp. This pulp is usually found in the tooth’s center and in the canals that exist in the root of each tooth. The pulp’s function is to nourish the tooth when it first comes out from the gum. However, due to certain reasons, this pulp may get infected and start affecting the tooth in a severe way. Therefore, in such cases a dentist may recommend that the infected pulp be removed through a root canal treatment. The alternative to a root canal is usually extraction and dentists try to avoid this unless absolutely necessary.

Root canals are common dental procedures and are usually recommended to save teeth. In fact, they save approximately 24 million teeth in the U.S. every year.  Patients may need root canal treatments due to two major reasons: infection or pulp damage.

Infections are usually caused due to untreated cavities. When a cavity is unattended for a long period of time, the decay can erode the dentin and enamel of a tooth until it reaches the center of the tooth and starts affecting the pulp. When this infection is further untreated, the decay can go even deeper and affect the root of the tooth.

Another reason for root canals is irreparable damage to the pulp. Sometimes, pulp can be damaged due to fractured teeth, lots of dental fillings and other restoration work done to the teeth.

Dr. Wiese can inspect your teeth and advise you on the most effective root canal treatment to save your teeth and keep you smiling.

If your dry mouth is due to a medication taken for illness, a physician may be consulted so the medication can be changed or the dosage modified.

If the salivary glands are no longer doing their job to produce adequate saliva, your dentist can prescribe medication to help the glands work better.  In addition, there are artificial saliva products you can use to help keep your mouth wet.  A lack of saliva can lead to tooth decay and other infections of the mouth, so a visit to your dental provider is needed to address the causes of dry mouth.

A suggestion that might aid dry mouth is to sip water or sugarless drinks often even while eating.  Sipping during meals will aid your ability to swallow and might even improve the taste of food.  If you are struggling to chew and swallow due to dry mouth, your nutrition may be suffering.

Things to avoid if you have dry mouth include drinks with caffeine as caffeine can dry out the mouth further.  Don’t use tobacco or consume alcohol.  Eating spicy and/or salty foods can cause discomfort in a dry mouth.

Other helps include chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy to help stimulate saliva production.  If you awake with a dry mouth, try using a humidifier during the night to prevent sleeping in a dry room.

If you feel your dry mouth is more serious than an occasional situation due to anxiety or stress, or you have noticed a sticky, dry feeling in your mouth; have trouble chewing or swallowing; have a burning feeling in your mouth; have cracked lips or a dry, rough tongue or mouth sores, it is time to see your dentist to correctly diagnose the causes for these symptoms.

If you are diagnosed with dry mouth, you will need to be extra careful and vigilant with your oral hygiene and make sure you visit Dr. Robert Wiese at least twice a year to help keep your mouth and teeth healthy.

When routine brushing and flossing are not effective at keeping halitosis at bay, a visit with your dentist in Garland may be in order. Chronic or frequent bad breath could be an indicator of other underlying issues. Your dentist and staff can provide a wealth of information as to the possible cause of your unpleasant breath.

Periodontal disease. Gum disease is a common cause of halitosis. Since this disease is a bacterial infection, a bad taste or smell is generally one of the first warning signs. Gum disease is typically caused by the presence of plaque bacteria and their toxic byproducts. Plaque bacteria are able to adhere to all of the surfaces inside the mouth, between the teeth, and beneath the gum line. As the disease progresses, you may require the services of a dental professional to remove the buildup and eliminate the odor-causing bacteria.

Cavities. Decayed teeth and partially impacted wisdom teeth can also contribute to bad breath. Cavities in the teeth provide a safe environment for bacteria to colonize and multiply. Similar to gum disease, these odor-causing bacteria must be addressed and eliminated by your dentist and staff.

Acid reflux and sinus drainage. Sometimes, bad breath is completely unrelated to your dental health. The increase of stomach acids and sinus drainage in the mouth can produce undesirable breath. During your dental visit, it is important to disclose your complete medical history. This information can provide valuable clues to the signs and symptoms that are presented clinically.

There are many factors that are notorious for contributing to halitosis. Any combination of these factors could be the cause of malodor, and determining the source can be the key to the solution. If you are concerned about your breath, or are unable to control it through proper brushing and flossing, it may be time to schedule your next visit.

Techniques Used in Restorative Dentistry

Several different techniques can be used in restorative dentistry. Some of the more common techniques include:

• Inlays or onlays to correct chipped, broken or misshapen teeth
• Tooth-colored crowns and fillings
• Bridges to replace missing teeth
• Root canals
• Dentures and partials
• Dental implant restorations

Most restorative procedures are performed with materials that match the color of your teeth, providing natural-looking repairs that cannot be distinguished from the rest of your teeth. Materials such as porcelain or composite materials provide both strength and durability for your new smile.

With restorative dentistry, your smile can be returned to its original condition or even improved so that your teeth look better than ever. If you have problems with the look of your teeth, or have damaged teeth, consult with Dr. Wiese to determine the best treatment.

Why Restorative Dentistry is Important to Overall Dental Health

It might seem that restorative dentistry primarily addresses cosmetic concerns, and so could be considered optional. But correcting broken, uneven, chipped, or missing teeth is more than a cosmetic concern.

If your teeth are broken or misshapen, or if you have missing teeth, it can affect your bite. The way your top and bottom teeth come together affects the alignment of your jaw. If damaged or missing teeth change this alignment, the result can be a variety of symptoms including headaches, earaches, teeth grinding, or temporomandibular joint disorder. With restorative dentistry, your bite can be maintained, ensuring the health of your teeth, jaw, and jaw joints. For recommendations regarding restorative dentistry treatments to make your smile look brand new again, please call our office at 972-414-7195 today.

A dental x-ray lets your dentist view the inner structures of the tooth and the underlying jaw bone, and x-rays can help to identify concerns that might go unnoticed during a routine examination. In fact, a dental x-ray may help your dentist to detect early signs of conditions as serious as oral cancer. When problems are spotted early, they tend to be more responsive to treatment.

Dental x-rays come in a few varieties, and they all highlight different structures in the mouth. Most patients are familiar with the bitewing x-rays, in which the patient bites down on piece of plastic that contains the x-ray film. A bitewing x-ray takes a picture of the entire top, or crown, of the tooth and some of the underlying bone. Bitewings are most often used to pinpoint decay between the teeth, which might be invisible to the naked eye.  A panoramic x-ray, on the other hand, will give your dentist a more complete view of your entire jaw structure. This type of x-ray can help the dentist to uncover any problems with the alignment of the teeth.

In certain cases, dentists might recommend that patients have x-rays taken more often than once per year.  For example, patients who have a greater history of tooth decay may opt to have x-rays taken every six months.

If you’re concerned about radiation exposure from a dental x-ray, rest assured that the risk is minimal. In fact, a cross-country flight will put you in contact with a higher dose of radiation than your annual dental x-ray will.

At your next dental appointment, ask Dr. Robert Wiese, a DDS in Garland, if it’s time for your annual x-ray. It’s just as important to your oral health as your prophylaxis and the rest of your examination.

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

Dentists use a variety of procedures to help restore your smile. These techniques can address a number of problems, including surface issues with the teeth as well as spacing issues or slight misalignment.

Some popular procedures for cosmetic dentistry include:

• Porcelain veneers. Placed on the surface of the teeth, veneers can cover cracks, chips, or severe discoloration that does not respond to teeth whitening.
• Cosmetic bonding. Using a naturally colored substance that bonds to the tooth surface, cosmetic bonding can be used to reshape irregular teeth, fill gaps between the teeth, or repair chips or other damage.
• Porcelain crowns. Porcelain crowns have become a popular replacement for traditional metal crowns. They are the same color as your natural teeth, and also do not conduct heat and cold, reducing discomfort.
• Tooth-colored fillings. Many dentists and dental patients have opted to switch to tooth-colored fillings instead of mercury amalgam. Tooth-colored fillings are made of porcelain or of a composite material. Like porcelain crowns, these fillings do not conduct heat and cold, and are virtually invisible.
• Tooth whitening. Treatment to reduce or eliminate staining on the surface of the teeth.

In some cases, a combination of two or more of these procedures provides the best approach to addressing your individual cosmetic dentistry issues.

Choosing Cosmetic Dentistry

If you wish to have a cosmetic procedure performed, Dr. Robert Wiese, a dentist serving Garland TX, can help you decide what techniques will help you achieve your goals. During a consultation with our dentist, we will discuss your goals and what you would like your smile to look like after treatment. Based on this discussion, we’ll help you decide what techniques will give you the best results. Cosmetic dentistry can give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.

Effective Home Care

You’ve probably heard all your life that you should brush after every meal. This remains a good guideline for day-to-day oral hygiene. If you can’t follow your usual brushing routine after a meal, using a disposable brush or even just rinsing the mouth with water can help reduce bacterial buildup.

Flossing is also an important part of home care. You should floss at least once a day to remove particles of food from between the teeth and from just under the gum line. Floss can reach bits of food, plaque, and bacterial buildup that brushing cannot effectively remove.

In both brushing and flossing, technique is important for the best results. If you aren’t sure your technique is as effective as it could be, ask our dentist to demonstrate correct brushing and flossing.

Regular Check-Ups

Regular visits to the dentist are also a vital part of preventive dental care. The dentist provides a more thorough cleaning than you can achieve at home. He will also check the health of your gums, perform a screening for oral cancer, and take regular X-rays to look for cavities or problems in the tooth roots or jawbone. About once a year, the dentist may provide a fluoride treatment to help your teeth stay strong and healthy.

By combining conscientious, thorough at-home care with regular visits to Dr. Robert Wiese, a dentist in Garland, you can ensure that your teeth and gums remain as healthy as possible. Preventive care helps detect problems before they can become serious, and will ensure that you receive any necessary care promptly.

Types of Dental Emergencies

One of the most common types of dental emergencies in adults are injuries that result from falling. If you fall and your mouth strikes the ground or another hard surface, teeth could be jarred, loosened or dislodged.

Sports injuries are also a common cause of dental injuries in adults. Using a mouthguard while participating in any sport, especially a contact sport, can help reduce the risk of suffering a dental injury. Wearing a helmet in sports where this equipment is required is also a way of avoiding dental injuries.

In some cases, dental sports injuries result in loose or dislodged teeth, but in other cases teeth can actually be irreparably shattered or otherwise damaged. This type of injury is not uncommon in professional hockey, and is often accompanied by damage to the bones of the face and jaw.

If a tooth is knocked out, follow these steps:

• Recover the tooth if possible
• Place it in a glass of warm water or milk
• Contact your dentist right away

It is possible to place the tooth back in the socket, but this it not always the best course of action because the socket or the tooth root could carry debris that could lead to further injury or infection.

Dental and Facial Injuries

Dental injuries can also be accompanied by facial injuries, depending upon how the injury occurred. In falls, facial bones can be cracked or broken when the face contacts the floor or another object. Sports injuries, especially those occurring as the result of a projectile striking the face, can also result in injuries to the facial bones.

Any type of serious dental injury should be evaluated as soon as possible by your dentist and/or a physician. The faster you receive dental care, the more likely you will be to keep your teeth and experience a full recovery.

To find out more about handling dental emergencies, or to make an appointment, please contact a Garland dental office today.

Over the last few decades, concerns have been raised about the safety of metals used in dental amalgam and their likely adverse effects on health. Concerns about toxicity and environmental protection have also arisen. Mercury is one of the key metals used in dental amalgam, although used in a small quantity. Considering that mercury toxicity is a serious health hazard, and can cause many chronic ailments like kidney damage and even birth defects, many claim that silver fillings can contribute to harmful mercury toxicity within the body. Dentists supporting this view advise caution while selecting silver fillings; especially for pregnant women, those with kidney problems or allergy to metals.

Another issue with mercury in amalgam fillings is about environmental safety. It is believed that environmental mercury contamination from amalgam fillings and related dental waste accounts for a sizeable chunk of mercury emissions. Some European countries have acknowledged these concerns and restricted the use of dental amalgams. To prevent contamination during filling, your dentist uses a powerful suction to remove any excess amalgam released. Dental offices have special disposal protocol for the amalgam waste.

Whether mercury in amalgam actually poses a health risk is still debated. Many studies show that the tiny amounts of mercury contained in dental fillings don’t lead to higher than acceptable mercury levels, as dental fillings release very small amounts, unlike occupational exposure. The American Dental Association considers dental amalgams to be safe for personal use. Contact our Garland dentistry practice to discuss concerns about health risks associated with amalgam fillings.