Smile File -Winter 2007

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Crown & bridge restorations rate number one

Des Plaines Smile Makeover Did you know that crown and bridge restorations are placed more often than any other? If you have a gap in your smile or restorations that have worn down or faded with time, this procedure could be for you. That's because crowns and bridges are beautiful, naturallooking, and long-lasting.

Crowns are recommended to...

support a large filling when there's more restoration than tooth;
protect a weak tooth from fracturing;
reinforce a fractured tooth;
cover discolored, poorly shaped teeth;
support a tooth that has had root canal treatment, and;
permanently affix a bridge.

Bridges are commonly used to...

permanently replace one or more missing teeth, and;
span the space where the teeth are missing because gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite.

Crowns and bridges are tops for more than great looks. Restore your oral health with a cosmetic solution!

WHAT'S AT RISK?

The research just keeps coming in. Gum disease, a chronic oral bacterial infection, is now linked to kidney disease which is linked to diabetes... which is linked to gum disease. You see how it works! What else is linked? Cardiovascular diseases, oral cancers, premature births, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, and inflammatory infections.

In the early stage called gingivitis, only gum tissue is affected. Symptoms include redness or puffiness, a bad odor, and bleeding during brushing. Periodontitis is more advanced, and now involves the underlying bone. Without treatment, periodontitis will eventually lead to tooth loss.

Your best defense is a healthy diet and regular brushing, flossing, and checkups. Uncertain about home care techniques? Let us demonstrate!

Can A Bandage Do the Job?

Would you stick a bandage on your tooth and then expect your mouth to stay healthy? Yuck - we didn't think so. Like bandages, fillings have their place to protect your tooth after the damage has been done. For sure, a filling is no cure for cavities. That's one of the reasons we encourage you to visit the dentist regularly.

Streptococcus mutans, the major cavity-causing bacterium, uses sugar to produce acids that dissolve dental enamel. Everyone is at risk for cavities and other bacterially based problems like gum disease. Your risks increase if you eat a lot of carbohydrates and if you suffer from dry mouth (xerostomia) because saliva is your natural buffer against acid.

Thanks to minimally invasive technology and procedures, we can remove less healthy tooth enamel than in the past, but prevention is still your number-one cure!

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Dr. Thomas L. Meyer - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers to the areas of Chicago and Des Plaines, Illinois.