When a tooth has been lost or extracted, many patients are primarily concerned with the effects on the smile’s appearance. More importantly, however, tooth loss can have a negative impact on a patient’s oral health.

Choosing dental implants in Dallas is the best way for patients to protect their oral health against the detrimental outcomes of tooth loss.

People lose their permanent teeth for various reasons. A traumatic injury can dislodge a tooth or damage it so severely that the tooth cannot be saved. The inflammation associated with advanced periodontal disease can also attack bone and connective tissue, resulting in lost teeth. Advanced decay can also lead to a tooth’s extraction.

Regardless of the cause, tooth loss has wide-reaching effects. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone in the vicinity will eventually atrophy as well. This process can lead to further damage and the loss of additional teeth. An implant dentist can help to mitigate these issues.

Unlike alternatives like bridges and dentures, dental implants are the only tooth replacement method that mimics the entire structure of the tooth, including its root. The implant itself, a titanium screw, is able to integrate with the bone, essentially replicating the biological tooth’s root and preventing jawbone erosion.

Beyond its effects on the stability of the jawbone, tooth loss can influence other aspects of a patient’s well-being. A dental implant allows patients to maintain a normal diet. There’s no need to give up healthy foods like apples, baby carrots or celery sticks.

Although aesthetic concern is not the most important reason to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, having a beautiful full smile does boost the self-esteem. In this way, dental implants benefit patients’ mental health, too.

If you have already lost one tooth – or more – to gum disease or decay, take steps to protect your remaining teeth even if you choose a dental implant for tooth replacement. Be sure to brush your teeth twice each day and floss daily. Good oral hygiene can prevent further tooth loss.

Call our office to make your biannual cleaning appointment today, or to discuss your implant options!

In-office teeth whitening is a quick and easy way to dramatically lighten your stained or discolored teeth. It only takes an hour, and can brighten your teeth from five to ten shades. It’s perfect for removing surface stains caused by foods or beverages, and is quick enough and easy enough that you can have a treatment as preparation for a special event such as a wedding or a reunion.

How In-Office Whitening Works

As the name implies, in-office teeth whitening is performed in the dentist’s office rather than at home. This popular cosmetic dentistry treatment uses a more concentrated form of whitening agent than is available over the counter. Your dentist can also use special whitening treatments that are activated with a light, providing even more dramatic results.

To treat your teeth, your cosmetic dentist paints the bleaching agent on the tooth surfaces. If necessary, a light is used to activate the whitener. It’s left on your teeth for about twenty minutes, then removed so the process can be repeated two more times. After the treatment is complete, you’ll see a change in the color of your teeth right away. Over the next few days, this change will become more noticeable. Your teeth will continue to look whiter for several weeks.

What Kinds of Stains will In-Office Teeth Whitening Treat?

In-office teeth whitening is most effective on stains that affect the outer surfaces of the teeth. These are most often caused by exposure to everyday staining agents. Some of the most common culprits include:

• Tea
• Coffee
• Tobacco
• Fruit juices or wine

These leave behind stains that generally respond well to whitening. If the stains are particularly stubborn, a professional-strength take-home treatment might provide better results. Other types of stains that affect the deeper layers of the teeth are more difficult to treat and often require other approaches, such as porcelain veneers. You and your cosmetic dentist can work together to determine the best treatment for your particular issues.

Contact our office in Dallas, TX, to schedule your appointment and get to a whiter smile today!

Teeth whitening is a common and very safe procedure, but it is a good idea to avoid whitening if you are pregnant or nursing a baby. While you’re pregnant, it’s important to keep your growing child as safe as possible. While whitening agents probably are not harmful, insufficient research exists to confirm this.

Teeth Whitening During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, you want to look and feel your best. This means regular visits to the dentist to be sure your teeth and gums remain healthy. However, some formerly routine dental procedures should be avoided. One of these is X-rays, which can harm a developing fetus. Another is teeth whitening.

Whitening procedures, usually administered by a cosmetic dentist, use a bleaching agent that is placed on the teeth and left there for a specific amount of time. Results are often dramatic, and can be seen immediately. The ingredients in whitening agents that remove stains and discoloration are safe for an adult, but could be harmful to your baby if you are pregnant or nursing. Insufficient research has been done into the question, so it’s best overall to avoid this procedure while you’re pregnant.

General Dental Care during Pregnancy

Taking the best possible care of your teeth during your pregnancy is the best way to keep yourself looking and feeling your best. If you’re concerned about staining, try to avoid staining agents in your diet, and definitely avoid cigarette smoking, which not only stains your teeth but can seriously endanger your unborn child. Coffee and tea can also stain your teeth, and many doctors recommend avoiding these beverages during pregnancy as well, because of their caffeine content.

Your teeth and gums are more susceptible to cavities and gum disease during pregnancy because of the changes in hormone levels in your body. For this reason, it’s important to brush and floss regularly and to visit your dentist on a regular basis. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy and letting your dentist ensure your gums and teeth are in good shape can help alleviate any concerns about stains or other dental problems.

To keep your teeth and gums healthy before, during and after pregnancy, contact our experienced dental team at Joseph R. Loftus, DDS, in Dallas, TX.

Veneers are a popular choice for cosmetic work on the front teeth. In many cases, they are an excellent alternative to a crown, particularly if the tooth is not severely damaged or has not undergone a root canal. For situations where damage is minor, or where treatment is meant to correct severe discoloration, a veneer is a much better choice.

Veneers vs. Crowns—What is the Difference?

There is a big difference between veneers and dental crowns. The major contrast is between the procedures used to place the restorations. A crown requires significant restructuring of the tooth, while a veneer requires very little modification. A veneer also looks much more natural; because the thin porcelain reflects light much like your natural enamel. A crown, even a natural-colored crown, tends to be more opaque, and does not always look like natural enamel.

Because a veneer is so much less invasive, many cosmetic dentists recommend this treatment over a crown for a number of cosmetic applications. A consultation with your cosmetic dentist will help you decide which treatment is most appropriate for your needs.

Uses for Veneers and Crowns

Veneers are used for a number of different cosmetic dentistry applications. These include treating:

•    Cracked teeth
•    Pitted tooth surfaces
•    Severe or intrinsic staining
•    Small gaps between the teeth
•    Minor misalignment

Although crowns were once used regularly for similar treatments, they are more often reserved now for more serious issues such as:

•    Anchoring a bridge for tooth replacement
•    Repairing severely damaged teeth
•    Repairing cracked teeth that have already received fillings
•    Treating a tooth after a root canal procedure

Both these procedures require a two-step process. First, the tooth is restructured as necessary and molds are made of the teeth. The veneer or crown is then constructed at an off-site lab and temporary restorations protect the teeth during this period, which usually only takes a few days. At the second office visit, the permanent veneer or crown is placed.

Contact our office and find out which option is best for you and your smile.

Proper care and regular visits to your dentist are vital to maintain your oral health. In addition to monitoring the health of your teeth and gums, your dentist provides a regular screening for oral cancer—a quick and easy examination that could save your life.

Screening for Oral Cancer

Most of us know that your dentist provides important information about your oral health. A visual examination, X-rays, digital photos, and special tools can tell him if you have soft spots in your teeth that could become cavities, if there is inflammation or infection inside the tooth or in the surrounding bone, and if there is a problem with the gum tissue. However, dentists also provide another vital service in the form of an oral cancer screening.

This screening also involves a visual and physical examination, in which the dentist looks for any lesions, sores, or unusual bumps or growths on your gums, cheeks, tongue, or lips. These could indicate the presence of oral cancer. Oral cancer should be treated as soon as possible; like most cancers, the earlier it’s treated, the more likely you are to make a full recovery.

Oral Cancer Causes and Treatment

Though cancer can’t usually be said to have one particular cause, there are several risk factors that can increase the likelihood that you will develop cancer in the oral tissues. These include:

• A history of cancer
• Smoking
• Use of other tobacco products
• Excessive use of alcohol

Cancer often develops, however, without the presence of any known risk factors, so it’s important to keep an eye out for any unusual growths or lesions that could indicate a problem.

Treatment for oral cancer depends upon the type of cancer you have and how far it has progressed. A typical course of treatment involves surgery to remove the cancerous tissue followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation to destroy any remaining cancer. If you see a lesion, a reddened area, or a growth in your mouth, have it looked at right away. In many cases, these growths are benign, but if they are not, prompt treatment is the best course of action.

If you’re concerned about your health, contact us at Joseph R. Loftus, DDS, to quell any fears and get started on treatment.