Last updated 1 year ago
Periodontal disease is a destructive condition that can damage your oral tissues and teeth. If this condition is not caught early and treated, mildly invasive treatments will be required to restore the mouth’s health. Here’s a look at common periodontal treatments:
1. Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is also known as a gum lift, and it is a treatment used to a “gummy smile.” The purpose of crown lengthening is to expose more of the tooth when enamel erodes due to gingivitis. During the treatment, excess gum tissue is removed and reshaped so as to expose more of the natural tooth, providing a fuller, more natural-looking smile. The other advantage to this procedure is the creation of a more aesthetically attractive gum line.
2. Pocket Reduction Surgery
Severe gum disease causes major tooth discoloration, tarter buildup, and brown gums. Pocket reduction surgery is used to clean and remove infection from beneath the gum line so as to restore the smile. Dentists use ultrasonic and hand instruments to lift the gums away from the teeth and remove tarter buildup and bacteria around the roots. Your dentist may also use an antimicrobial liquid to destroy more bacteria colonies, allowing the gums to heal completely and remain healthy.
3. Gum Grafts
Mild and severe periodontal disease can wear down oral tissues, making the mouth appear unbalanced. Gum grafts can restore symmetry to the gum line after gum recession has occurred. Gum grafts raise and restore the gum line, helping the teeth look more natural and function properly once again. During the treatment, the dentist removes a thin strip of oral tissue from the palate. He or she then stitches the strip over the site where gums have receded.
If you’re suffering from gum disease, call Belmont Dental Group at (617) 484-2431. We offer these treatments and a variety of others to restore the appearance and health of your smile.
Last updated 1 year ago
Previously, Invisalign could only treat minor spacing and dental crowding. However, advancements in Invisalign technology have led to the creation of aligners that can accommodate elastics. This makes it possible for Invisalign to treat severe bite abnormalities. Learn who is a good candidate for Invisalign by reading below:
Spaced teeth are the result of continued growth of the jaw bone. However, dental spacing also occurs when teeth shift to fill in the space of missing teeth. Extra space in the mouth paves the way for gum infections and other problems, because the teeth aren’t protecting the gums properly. Fortunately, Invisalign therapy can repair dental spacing, reducing the risk for periodontal disease.
- People with Crowded Teeth
Crowding usually occurs when the jaw bone isn’t big enough to fit all of the teeth properly. This can lead to plaque and tarter buildup that is hard to reach. In traditional orthodontic therapies, many orthodontists remove unnecessary teeth to make more room. However, in many cases, Invisalign can correct crowded teeth without the need for tooth removal.
A crossbite is a sign that the upper and lower jaws are misaligned. This condition causes the upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth, which can lead to abnormal tooth wear and dental chipping. Invisalign technology is designed to help move the upper teeth back and the lower teeth forward so as to create a properly aligned smile.
An underbite is the result of the lower teeth protruding over the front teeth. This can affect the function of the front teeth and molars and cause jaw discomfort. Invisalign can help by moving the lower teeth forward.
Overbite is a common condition that occurs when the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth. This can hinder communication and lead to the development of gum disease. Invisalign can reverse this condition by moving the teeth and jaw position.
If you would like to learn more about how Invisalign can repair your smile, call Belmont Dental Group at (617) 484-2431. We specialize in improving patients’ dental health and appearance.
Last updated 1 year ago
If you need help figuring out the best way to care for your teeth, use the links below. When you need cosmetic or general dentistry, look to Belmont Dental Group to receive the best high-tech service and comfortable care. Review a full list of our services by visiting our website or calling us at (617) 484-2431.
- Dental scaling is a common periodontal disease treatment. Look at this page from OralB.com to learn about what you can expect from this procedure.
- Does gum disease plague your mouth? Find out by reading through this article from Perio.org.
- If you want to know how Invisalign therapy can improve the look and function of your smile, check out Invisalign.com.
- To determine whether traditional braces or Invisalign is right for you, visit WebMD.com.
Last updated 1 year ago
If your teeth are discolored, you should start considering your options for teeth whitening. Learn about the difference between professional and store-bought teeth whitening treatments to determine which is right for you:
- Professional Whitening Treatments
If you don’t want to spend months trying to achieve a brighter-looking smile, consider undergoing a professional tooth whitening treatment. You could see a dramatic increase in the color of your teeth in less than one hour. If you choose professional treatment, your cosmetic dentist will take impressions of your smile and create a custom-fit tray. Then, he or she will supply you with a highly concentrated peroxide gel to use with your new tray. Finally, you’ll be given care and use instructions. You should plan to wear your custom trays for a few weeks until you have reached your desired tooth brightness. People with stubborn stains may need to wear the trays for longer to achieve the best results.
- Store-Bought Whitening Treatments
Many of the products designed to help you achieve a whiter smile at home are not as effective as a professional treatment. Over-the-counter treatments usually come in kits that contain a one-size-fits-all dental tray that you fill with a whitening gel before securing it over your teeth. Others come with paper-like strips that you wear over the teeth until they dissolve. To remove liability, store-bought kits are not as strong and, therefore, not as effective as professional whitening solutions. Even with time, store-bought treatments can’t whiten your smile as brightly as professional treatments.
To undergo a safe and highly effective professional whitening treatment, visit Belmont Dental Group. We’ll get started on making your custom trays so that you can enjoy a brighter smile right away. To learn more, visit our website or call us at (617) 484-2431 today.
Last updated 1 year ago
In the 1920’s, a friend approached Claude C. Hopkins, with a new product. It was a tooth paste called Pepsodent.
Hopkins, a scion of advertising, was earning $185,000 in 1907. I don’t know if he had a Mad Men lifestyle. He lived until the ripe old age of 66. Hopkins and Pepsodent would change America’s dental habits for good.
Hopkins required that his copywriters learn in depth about the products. A good product will sell itself. First, there has to be a reason to buy it. Short, accurate copy comes from writers who understand the product.
Hopkins learned from reading dental textbooks about the gooey, germy plaque that accumulates on teeth. He renamed it ‘film’.
Pepsodent’s mint flavor was from Sassafras. Pepsodent was also formulated with sodium laurel sulfate, which Hopkins renamed, “Irium”. Irium was responsible for the unique mouth tingle after brushing.
Way ahead of his time, Hopkins used a Cue-Reward loop to market Pepsodent. Inform the subject he has Film, provide a strong tingle when he is done removing it. Later, neuroscientists recognized this behavioral loop: Cue (Filmy Teeth)- Action (Brush)- Reward (Minty Tingle)
Hopkins used a scientific approach to advertising. He insisted that all efforts to promote a product must be measurable. He used coded coupons to tell which approach the public responded best to. Free samples, ads, jingles, celebrity endorsements, and cartoons took Pepsodent to the top of the charts.
Competing brands of toothpaste took ten years to figure out that it was the concern about unhealthy, unattractive film that motivated Pepsodent users, and it was the Minty Tingle that kept them coming back.
American men learned to brush their teeth while serving during WWII. They brought the habit home. In the 1949 musical, ‘South Pacific’, the sailors sing about a Philippine woman, “Bloody Mary’s chewing betel nuts/And she don’t use Pepsodent.” The great Cole Porter in ‘You’re The Top’ sings, “You’re an old Dutch master, you’re Mrs. Astor, you’re Pepsodent, Baby you’re the top!”
The Pepsodent smile was every bit as eponymous as Kleenex. Radio personality Arthur Godfrey referred to his”Pepsodent Smile”, as did many other entertainers.
Postwar appeals to health included verbiage such as, “You Men Owe to yourselves these whiter teeth.” The appeal to mothers of the baby boom was, “To give him sound teeth when he grows up- Guard Precious Whiteness NOW!”
In the 1950’s, competing brands caught onto fluoride. Without the vision of Hopkins, Pepsodent was slow to incorporate fluoride into their formulation.
Even while the Pepsodent brand faded, the tooth brushing habit remained with us. We all owe some thanks to Claude C. Hopkins, the advertising man that said “I resolved to advertise this toothpaste as a creator of beauty.” The slogan, ‘You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent” survived decades in the public lexicon.
Indeed Hopkins did us better than Rodney Dangerfield’s Doctor Vinnie Gumbache: “I said, Doctor, my teeth are turning yellow.” “No problem he says, wear a brown tie.”
Dr. Jim Nager is a practicing dentist and resident of Belmont, and a Clinical Instructor at Harvard. Questions of a general nature can be sent to drjamesnager@gmail.com
