Cinnaminson Family Dentist Blog

Preventive Dentistry

Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:00:00 EST

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The old analogy works especially well in dentistry. There are many forms of preventive dentistry such as daily brushing and flossing and twice yearly periodic exams and professional cleanings. Brushing is the most important aspect. It should be done with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association. (The ADA.) You should replace your toothbrush every month. YES!!! Every month!!! Don’t wait until you go on vacation or visit me and get one in your take home bag....

Geriatric Dentistry

Sat, 10 May 2014 12:00:00 EST

Today let’s talk about geriatric dentistry. Not too long ago the general public would joke that you had three sets of teeth. Your “baby” teeth that naturally fell out, then a second set of teeth and lastly a set of dentures!!! At the end of the nineteenth century the average life span was 49 years. At the end of the twentieth century it was 76. People are obviously living longer and the need for geriatric dental care is increasing. So what happens as the dentition ages? Attrition (wear and tear) is very common. Of course, the more teeth the individual has retained the more evenly the workload can be distributed....

Today I’d like to talk about replacing missing teeth.

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 12:00:00 EST

Loss of one or two teeth in section of your mouth can lead to drifting of neighboring teeth, whereby the adjacent teeth lean over into the vacant space where the teeth have been lost. Similarly, loss of a tooth or teeth can lead to shifting of opposing teeth as they drift down into the open space. Could you imagine so many changes happening from the loss of a single tooth??? YIKES!!! Now the teeth that have drifted down are not contacting their adjacent teeth properly allowing food to collect causing decay and periodontal disease. These areas are very difficult to clean even by a hygienist....

Let’s talk about silver fillings.

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:00:00 EST

The old fashioned way to fill back teeth is to use a silver amalgam filling. What you may not realize is that a silver filling is 50 percent mercury! Yes that’s right a full half of your silver filling is mercury. That is not a good thing. The newer tooth shaded filling materials are so much better for your teeth. They mechanically bond to the dentin and enamel to strengthen the tooth. The tight seal of this type of restoration helps to prevent new decay from starting at junction of the filling and the tooth. There are many disadvantages of a silver filling. The esthetics is not good: especially in someone who likes to smile....

Let’s talk about the newest, most exciting procedure in dentistry today: Implants.

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST

Implants are a way to permanently replace missing teeth or even all your teeth. How do they work? An implant consists of a new titanium root, a support section, and lastly a crown (that’s the part that looks like a tooth). Four to six implant roots with their support sections can be used under a denture which then “snaps” into place. This increased stability makes eating a pleasure. The implant retained denture is smaller and more comfortable than a traditional denture....