An increasing number of people today are opting for dental implants to replace a missing tooth. For those with just one or two missing teeth, dental implants are a great alternative to other dental procedures like tooth-supported dental bridges or crowns. But the question remains for people who need an entire row of teeth, or all your teeth replaced, is it better to get dentures or implants?

Benefits of Dentures

Dentures are a removable set of teeth that come in either full or partial sets that you secure in your mouth with an adhesive. A partial set replaces either your top teeth or bottom teeth, while a full set includes both the top and bottom teeth. They have long been the treatment of choice for older people who have lost most of their teeth, and who don’t have enough healthy teeth to support crowns or bridges. With advancements in denture technology, they look more natural than ever before. Dentures are also less expensive than implants, which may be an important consideration if you don’t have dental insurance or your insurance won’t cover the cost of implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants have surged in popularity in recent years as a great option to replace missing teeth, primarily because they are designed to function just like your natural teeth. The procedure begins with the dentist installing a titanium anchor drilled into your jawbone through your gums that acts just like the root of a natural tooth. Next an abutment and crown are placed on top to look just like a natural tooth. The end result is a healthy, strong tooth replacement anchored permanently in place.

Dental implants help avoid some of the potentially embarrassing side effects of dentures, primarily that they can slip while you’re wearing them, and could even fall out of your mouth. Dental implants allow you to eat virtually any food, which isn’t the case for someone who has dentures. Chewing with teeth connected to your jawbone also strengthens the bone, so you won’t suffer bone loss or deterioration, which can cause your mouth to look “sunken in” over time and lead to discomfort when dentures no longer fit your mouth well.

The biggest challenge with dental implants is the cost and the procedure required to put them in. To replace all of your teeth with implants would require multiple surgeries and be costly, plus your jaw may not be healthy enough to support all those implants.

Implant-Supported Dentures: A Happy Medium

There is another option for someone who needs dentures but wants the benefits of implants: an implant-supported denture. This procedure places a full or partial denture permanently in your mouth with multiple anchors just like an implant. The dentures stay in place just like your regular teeth (they are not removable), but the process to place them is much easier and only requires about four implant anchors.

Talk to Young Family Dental today to learn more about dentures and implants, and which one is right for you.

Babies usually start getting their first teeth around four to six months, but even before the first tooth appears it’s important to start caring for your child’s gums and teeth. The sooner you start, the less likely your child will experience tooth decay and cavities, which affects about 4 in 10 children between the ages of 2 and 11.

Clean Your Baby’s Gums

Before the first tooth even appears, you can start by cleaning your baby’s gums. Doing so after feeding can remove sugars and bacteria, and help your baby get used to having his or her mouth cleaned. Use a clean, damp washcloth and your finger to gently rub the gums.

Keep Their Mouths Clean

Babies put a lot of things in their mouths, beyond just what you feed them. These objects could have bacteria or other germs that could lead to infection, and while you may not be able to keep your baby from putting anything in his or her mouth (since that’s an important part of his or her development), but you can avoid doing things that could introduce more bacteria to your baby’s mouth. For example, don’t put objects in your mouth before putting them in your baby’s mouth (like a utensil or toothbrush), and rinse off pacifiers and nipples with water instead of your own saliva.

See a Dentist Early and Often

As soon as your baby’s first tooth appears, or by his or her first birthday (whichever happens first), it’s time to schedule a dentist appointment. Those early dental visits can establish good oral health habits, provide you with advice and information to help keep your baby’s teeth clean as they get more, and also provide a safe, positive experience at the dentist. This reduces the chance that the first visit is a scary  or painful experience, which can make children terrified of getting dental care and cause you to avoid it in the future.

Use Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Young children and babies may accidentally swallow some of their toothpaste, so it’s important to use fluoride-free toothpaste until they understand how to spit it out. Use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush to brush teeth as soon as they appear in your baby’s mouth. Even though your baby’s first teeth will fall out, keeping them healthy holds the space for permanent teeth and prevents tooth decay that can make it hard for kids to each and chew nutritious foods, or cause them to miss school because of tooth pain.

Consider Fluoride Supplements

If you don’t have fluoride in your drinking water, talk to your dentist about the right time to start giving your child a fluoride supplement. These supplements provide small doses of fluoride that strengthens teeth and can build a foundation for a lifelong healthy mouth.

Avoid Juice and Baby Bottle Decay

Stick with milk or water instead of juice to avoid excessive sugars—dentists recommend no more than four ounces of juice per day for babies and toddlers. Also avoid putting your baby down for naps or bed with a bottle that has juice, formula, or milk. These drinks contain sugars that feed bacteria growth and can lead to decay. If your child needs a bottle to sleep, stick with plain water.

Establishing good oral habits early in your child’s life can lead to stronger, healthier teeth. Schedule an appointment with our dentists at Young Family Dental today.

Your smile is an important part of you—it’s often one of the first things someone will notice when they meet you, and having straight teeth means you can confidently smile when you are in places where it matters, like a job interview or a date. But not everyone is lucky enough to be born with a great smile; in fact, most people require some dental or orthodontic work to get that picture-perfect grin.

For adults who missed the opportunity to get braces as a teenager, it’s not too late. A smile makeover is an ideal choice for anyone who needs or wants to make some significant changes to your teeth and mouth. Makeovers at Young Family Dental employ a variety of techniques, such as porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, implants, fillings, ClearCorrect™ orthodontics, and Lumineers® to create a beautiful, radiant smile.

Here are three reasons you should consider a smile makeover today.

1: Boost Your Confidence

There are few things that can hurt your confidence more than the inability or unwillingness to smile. If you have crooked teeth and you are constantly trying to find ways to hide it—whether that means avoiding an open-lip smile at all times or simply avoiding situations where you would be around others and need to smile—you can quickly gain the confidence you want for those situations by getting a smile makeover.

2: Fix Dental Issues that Could Become Serious Concerns

Crowded or overlapping teeth and misaligned bites are more than just a cosmetic issue. Crowding can make it harder to clean between teeth, which leaves space for plaque and tartar to build up and lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Misaligned teeth or misaligned bites can put a strain on your teeth and jaw when you chew and speak. There are also an increasing number of studies linking poor dental health to chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, so it’s important to address these issues as early as possible, before they become serious health concerns. About one in five orthodontic patients today are over the age of 18, according to the American Association of Orthodontics, so it’s never too late to correct crooked teeth and improve your oral and overall health in the process.

3: Create the First Impression You Always Wanted

 Your smile can still be one of the first things people notice about you, but after a smile makeover it will be noticed for all the right reasons. Smile makeovers at Young Family Dental are a streamlined and comprehensive way to address all your smile concerns at the same time, methodically and as cost-effectively as possible, so the end result is straighter, whiter teeth you will be proud to show off.

Contact us today to learn about how easy it can be to get started with your smile makeover by scheduling a consultation with one of our dentists.

You probably learned to brush your teeth at a very young age—most parents start brushing a child’s teeth as soon as they appear and teach children to brush their own teeth as soon as they are coordinated enough to do it alone. While teeth brushing morning and night is part of almost everyone’s routine, you may not be doing it quite right. Here are some helpful dental hygiene tips to make sure you get your teeth as clean as possible to avoid cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease that can lead to even more serious dental health concerns if left untreated.

Brush for Two Minutes, Two Times a Day

Dentists have long been telling people to brush for two minutes, two times a day, but according to the American Dental Association, the average time people brush teeth falls well short of that at just 45 seconds. Brushing longer and making sure to focus on every part of your mouth is essential to clean plaque and avoid tartar buildup, which prevents cavities and lowers your risk of gum disease.

There are several different ways that you can make sure you brush for two minutes each time:

• Divide your mouth into four “quadrants” – top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right – and brush each one for 30 seconds
• Set a timer to make sure you don’t short-change your brushing time
• Purchase an electric toothbrush with a two-minute timer that vibrates every 30 seconds to let you know when to move to a new quadrant
• Kids’ toothbrushes that light up, vibrate, and include timers can help make brushing for two minutes more fun
• Even without a special toothbrush, you can find YouTube videosthat encourage proper brushing and help kids focus for two full minutes

Other Important Brushing Hygiene Tips

 In addition to doing it for two minutes, it’s also important to follow other guidelines from dental health professionals to get the most out of your brushing time:

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that you replace about every three to four months, or more often if you notice the bristles starting to fray
• Hold the brush about 45 degrees (diagonal) to your gums while brushing
• Use short strokes and make sure not to push too hard
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that can lead to bad breath
• Rinse your brush and store it in a place that is dry and separated from other toothbrushes (your roommates, spouse, or siblings)
• Floss at least once a day

Brushing more than twice a day won’t necessarily damage your teeth, but you usually don’t need to brush more often unless you have a specific reason. Brushing too hard or brushing right after consuming acidic foods could actually damage your teeth by wearing down the enamel (the hard outer coating that protects your tooth).

Finally, make sure to schedule regular cleanings and check-ups at Young Family Dental to remove plaque and tartar and support your daily brushing habits by ensuring clean, healthy teeth and gums.

Everyone has two temporomandibular joints (often abbreviated as TMJ) located on each side of your jaw. The joint helps your jaw open and close so you can speak, chew, and use your mouth each day. Millions of people experience pain as a result of TMJ disorders (also abbreviated as TMJ). In some cases TMJ could be a result of trauma to your face or jaw, such as a motor vehicle accident, but many people do not know the specific cause of their disorder, and researchers are also trying to find answers about what can lead to the condition. If you experience any of these signs of a disorder, talk to your dentist to find out what options are available.

Severe Pain

You probably use your temporomandibular joint a lot throughout the day, and sometimes you might experience mild pain. While this is usually nothing to worry about, and will often go away on its own, if you experience severe or prolonged pain in your joint (the area just in front of and below your ear), schedule an appointment to see your dentist. This is especially true if your pain is making it difficult to sleep or eat.

Frequent or Persistent Migraine Headaches

Another sign of a potential issue with TMJ are frequent headaches, especially migraine headaches that are accompanied by neck pain and stiffness in and around your jaw. While headaches could be caused by many different things, ones that occur regularly and don’t have another explanation could be the result of TMJ. It’s important to talk to your doctor and your dentist about these headaches so you can get a proper diagnosis.

Clicking or Popping Sound

If you hear a clicking sound or popping sensation every time you open and close your mouth, this could be a sign of a temporomandibular joint that is dislocated, or an indication of arthritis in the joint. Often (although not always) the clicking and popping will be accompanied by other symptoms, like jaw pain or tenderness in the area of the joint.

Painful Chewing or Grating Sensation While Chewing

It’s normal to experience occasional discomfort when you’re chewing something tough, such as a piece of steak, but if that pain occurs anytime you eat that can be a sign of a problem. Some people also report a grating or grinding sensation when chewing that could indicate a TMJ disorder.

When to See Your Dentist

If you have occasional TMJ pain you can mention it to your dentist at your next six-month checkup, but if that pain persists or starts to interfere with your daily life, you should schedule a dentist appointment right away. If you experience sudden or severe pain, or a “locked” jaw where you cannot open or close your mouth, contact the dentist immediately.

Treatment for TMJ ranges from conservative treatment you can do at home to surgery in some cases, but it’s important to talk to your dentist about what is best for you. Contact Young Family Dental today to schedule an appointment if you have experienced TMJ-related pain.

You’ve probably heard people tell jokes comparing root canals to some of the worst experiences in life, and perhaps that has made you a little nervous about the prospect of needing a root canal at some point. Before you get all worked up about how bad it might be, here are some common myths (and the truth) about this type of dental treatment.

Myth: Root canals are painful and should be avoided if possible.

There may have been a time when root canals were painful, but advances in dental techniques today have made them a very routine procedure that has a lot more benefits than drawbacks. During your root canal procedure you will get anesthetics that numb the tooth and surrounding area so the dentist can safely and painlessly remove decay. Most people report pain levels that are roughly equivalent to getting a filling, and feel much better after the procedure because their tooth pain is gone.

Avoiding a root canal when you need one could actually cause a lot more pain, in addition to more costly dental treatments if your tooth gets infected and decayed to the point it cannot be saved.

Myth: I should just have my tooth pulled instead of getting a root canal.

This is a common misconception, and while there are some situations where you will need to get your tooth pulled, if you can get a root canal and spare your natural tooth that is usually the best choice. Natural teeth allow you to chew, speak, and swallow properly. They also keep other teeth around them in alignment and strengthen your jawbone. Losing a natural tooth can have adverse effects on your mouth and the surrounding teeth that will require more dental work in the future to help you avoid infection, tooth misalignment, bite problems, and more.

Myth: Root canals take a long time.

For most patients a root canal can be done in a single visit, although there are some situations where inflammation or infection could require two separate visits. Once the dentist cleans out the decay inside your tooth, they seal off the tooth to protect against future decay. Your dentist may recommend some additional cosmetic restoration at a future appointment to restore the look and function of your tooth, so talk to them about what to expect.

Myth: Root canals kill the tooth.

Actually the opposite is true, root canals are aimed at preserving your natural tooth. These procedures clean out decay on the inside of your tooth (infected or inflamed “pulp” that is inside the roots of your teeth below the gumline), disinfect the area, then fill it in to avoid future decay. They spare the rest of your tooth, maintaining the roots that connect to your jawbone and the top of your tooth so it can heal and you won’t lose the tooth.

These are very successful procedures for most patients, and often the best way to avoid a lot of expensive dental work or the pain of future infections and tooth loss. If you think you may need a root canal, call our office today to schedule an appointment at Young Family Dental.

One of the most common questions that people ask about fillings is whether or not the amalgam ones (made of metal) are a safe option for treating cavities. While there has been a lot of controversy around these fillings, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both reaffirmed their position that these fillings are safe for you and your family in most cases.

What is an Amalgam Filling?

Dentists uses fillings to treat cavities that are the result of tooth decay. For more than 150 years they have been using a specific type of filling called amalgam. It’s a combination of multiple metals, including:

• Liquid, or elemental, mercury
• Powdered mixture of silver, tin, and copper

During the process of placing a filling, dentists combine liquid mercury with the powdered alloys to form an “amalgam” (that’s where the name comes from), bonding the various parts together in a soft putty. The dentist places this putty in the cavity, where it hardens and becomes a permanent part of the tooth.

Concerns with Dental Amalgam

When a dentist combines the elemental mercury with the powdered alloys to form the filling a small amount of vapor is released, which could be inhaled into the lungs of the person getting the filling. While high levels of mercury vapor are dangerous, there is no scientific evidence that the extremely low level of vapor released with an amalgam filling causes adverse effects for adults or children age 6 and older.

However, mercury can be harmful to a developing fetus or a young child, and there are no studies of potential adverse effects of dental amalgam for pregnant women or children younger than age 6. In those cases, talk to the dentist about what options are best if you need a filling.

Benefits of Dental Amalgam

Despite some of the concerns raised, numerous studies have provided no evidence of widespread negative health effects of metal fillings aside from the rare chance of an allergic reaction. Since the World Health Organization put out its first statement in 1997, dozens of studies published in peer-reviewed journals, as well as reviews by expert panels, have reaffirmed the findings.

Many dentists recommend amalgam fillings because they are very strong and durable, so they’re unlikely to break or come loose at a later time. They are also the least expensive material for cavity fillings.

How to Keep You and Your Family Safe

If you’re still concerned about the potential risks of dental amalgam, there are other options available. Young Family Dental also offers white fillings, which are made of a mixture of quartz, silica and barium that forms a composite resin (plastic) that hardens into a filling. These fillings contain no mercury, and are often preferred for cosmetic reasons, since the final color of the filling more closely matches the natural color of your tooth and makes it less visible.

Talk to us today to learn more about the types of fillings available and discuss which one is best for you.

Many people think of orthodontic care as something that only tweens and teens get. Just because you didn’t get braces as a teenager, though, doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful, healthy, straight-teeth smile. There are a lot of benefits to having straight teeth, which is why more adults are taking steps to correct misalignment than ever before. Here are some reasons you should consider it.

1: Gain Confidence in Your Smile

How often do you avoid smiling because you’re concerned about what others might think of your crooked teeth? Has your current smile held you back from doing things that will make you happy and fulfilled, such as applying for a new job or going out on a date? You’re not alone. Smiles are one of the first things that people notice about you, and studies have confirmed that people perceive those with straight teeth to be more successful. Beyond the potential negative judgments you may be getting from others, though, straightening your teeth can have significant positive benefits by boosting your confidence at work and in social settings.

2: Improve Overall Oral Health

Another compelling reason to consider straightening your teeth is the health benefits. Crooked teeth are more susceptible to cavities and decay because there are more places for bacteria to hide. You may have a hard time reaching all the surfaces of your teeth with a toothbrush and floss, leaving bacteria to thrive between dental visits. That can lead to gum disease and other complications that not only impact your smile, but also your overall health, and can even make other chronic health conditions worse.

Crooked teeth can also wear unevenly from bite misalignments (overbite, underbite, or crossbite), further impacting the look of your smile.

3: Straighten Your Teeth Discreetly

One of the primary reasons people avoid or put off teeth straightening as an adult is a concern about having metal braces. These braces are obvious, and can be embarrassing for adults who regularly interact with people at work and socially. Most adults feel more self-conscious about having braces as they get older than they would have as a teenager, since young people are expected to have them as a part of growing up.

However, with options like ClearCorrect Orthodontics available today, you can straighten your teeth without traditional braces. These clear aligners are designed by your dentist to slowly move your teeth from their current position into a straighter alignment. They can also help correct bite misalignments that are uncomfortable or are affecting your health.

Clear aligners like ClearCorrect Orthodontics may not be right for everyone, but they provide a great option for many adults who want the benefits of healthy, straight teeth without the metal braces. Schedule an appointment at Young Family Dental to learn more about clear aligner options today.